The main purpose of this course is to help you to become a better writer. Toward that end, you will write - and rewrite - frequently, engaging in different types of writing designed to develop particular skills. You will write three formal assignments during the semester: an argumentative essay, a visual analysis, and a research paper. In these assignments, you will be asked to formulate your own thesis and to provide evidence to support it. After you have written the first version of each formal assignment, and before you complete its revision, we will hold a student-instructor conference. In preparation, I expect you to complete a writer response checklist. You will also write a series of informal assignments designed to exercise your writing and critical thinking skills.
Oral participation is also an important part of the learning process; you will be expected to arrive to class prepared to discuss the assigned readings. From time to time, you will be asked to present material to the class informally and to complete in-class writing assignments.
Over the course of the semester, we will go on a number of excursions to different architectural and urban landmarks in and around Philadelphia. I hope we will take one group trip to New York City. These excursions are designed to sharpen your observation skills and to get you thinking about the built environment. We will use this time to question the authors we read and test their conclusions. We will also take at least one class-trip to the library for a tutorial with a reference librarian; this will introduce you to the variety of materials available in Penn's many libraries as well as familiarize you with paper indexes, electronic databases and special collections.
The following texts are available at the Penn Book Center, 130 South 34th Street (SW corner of 34th and Sansom). All books are also on reserve in the Fine Arts Library.
James F. O'Gorman, ABC of Architecture. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1998. [NA2530 .O36 1998]
James F. O'Gorman, Three American Architects: Richardson, Sullivan, and Wright, 1865-1915. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1991. [NA710 O35 1991]
William Strunk & E.B. White, The Elements of Style. New York: MacMillan Publishing Co., 1979. [PE1408 .S772 1979]
Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 1996. [LB2369 .T8 1996]
Grading:
You will be given a letter grade for the three formal assignments and a check, check plus, or check minus on your informal assignments. At the end of the semester, I will assign one letter grade to your informal assignments as a group. If you chose, you may revise any 3 informal assignments and resubmit them by May 12, 2000 for a regrade. You may also elect to submit and present additional New York Times informal assignments in order to practice your writing and presentation skill and to improve your grade. I will calculate your final grade based on the following percentages: argument paper (20%), visual analysis (20%), research paper (25%), class participation, writing conferences and in-class writing (15%), informal assignments (20%).
Late formal papers will be penalized one grade step for every day late (i.e. an "A-" becomes a "B+"; a "B" becomes a "B-"). Because the informal papers will often serve as a launching point for class discussion, it is important that you submit them on time. Your informal assignments grade will be penalized one grade step for every day late. If you miss a conference without email or phone notification at least 24 hours in advance, your paper will be penalized one full grade (i.e. an "A" becomes an "B"; a "B-" becomes a "C-").
You are allowed two unexplained absences from class. All other absences must be for medical reasons (with a note from Student Health only) or verified emergencies. All other unexcused absences will result in a failure for the day. Three unexcused absences will result in automatic failure of the course.
The quality of work and the degree of improvement will be the basic benchmarks by which your grade will be determined. Average work that meets the minimum requirements of the class will receive a "C"; good work will receive a "B"; only outstanding effort and quality will earn an "A". Any evidence of plagiarism will result in a failing grade and the institution of appropriate disciplinary measures. This class is designed to prepare you for the rigorous writing and thinking demanded of you by other courses and instructors. If you do not demonstrate the necessary skills, you will receive a D- or below, and this course will not count toward fulfilling your writing requirement.