ENWR 1510 – Accelerated Academic Writing         

Medieval Romance and Popular Culture

9-9:50 MWF, Bryan Hall 334

 

Instructor: Chelsea Skalak                                                                                                      OH: MW 10-11:00

Email: cskalak@virginia.edu                                                                                                       Dawson’s Row 202

 

Course Description       

ENWR 1510 introduces students to the principles of college-level writing in a focused, workshop-style environment. In this class, you will learn the techniques necessary both to articulate and support your own arguments as well as to analyze the arguments of others. In order to achieve these ends, we will consider the ways in which medieval legends and ideas influence our modern notions of love, gender, and romance. Among the questions to be considered: What effect does the concept of chivalry have on modern gender roles? What are the responsibilities of lovers to one another? How is the ideal of “true love” socially constructed? How do, or how should, those in a relationship navigate between self-interest and self-sacrifice?

 

Requirements

Essays: You will complete four essays over the course of the semester. Each of these essays will receive extensive revision following in-class workshops.

 

Portfolio: In order to demonstrate your understanding of the class writing principles, you will turn in a final portfolio reflecting upon the details of your revision process. Choose two of your essays written for this class and revise them up to the current standards of the class. Include with your revisions a cover letter in which you explain the reasons for your changes. We will discuss the final portfolio in more detail as the time approaches.

 

Participation: Successful completion of this class depends on active and engaged participation. Each student must complete the daily assignments, prepare for workshops ahead of time, print out all workshop materials, and engage in class discussion.

 

Policies

Attendance: Class attendance is essential. You may miss up to three classes without penalty, following which each absence will result in a loss of one third of your final letter grade. I do not differentiate between excused and non-excused absences.

 

Late Work: I grant essay extensions only in extraordinary circumstances, and only to those who give me their reasons at least 24 hours in advance. Otherwise, your grade drops a full letter for each 24-hour period it is late.

 

Laptops and Cell Phones: No laptops are permitted in class. You must print out all course and workshop materials. Keep all cell phones silenced and out of the way.

 

 

 

Grading

Essay 1A:  5%

Essay 1B: 10%

Sample Problem Frame: 5%

Essay 2:   15%

Essay 3:   20%

Final Portfolio: 30%

Participation: 15%

 

Texts

The Craft of Argument: Concise Edition, Gregory G. Colomb and Joseph M. Williams

Other readings available on Collab

 

Writing Center

The UVA Writing Center staff are all trained in the principles learned in this class, and can be an ideal resource for anyone needing additional help. To make an appointment, call 434-924-6678 or visit the Writing Center website at http://wc.engl.virginia.edu.

 

Class Schedule

 

Unit I: The Parts of Argument

Theme: Chivalry and Gender

 

Week 1

Wed 8/28            Introduction

Fri 8/30            Craft of Argument, 77-86 (Claims)

 

Week 2

Mon 9/2            Song lyrics: “Chivalry,” Usher; “Chivalry is Dead,” Natalia Kills;

“No Princess,” Lynn

Wed 9/4           Craft of Argument, 21-26 & 95-106 (Reasons and evidence)

Fri 9/6              Craft of Argument, 113-122 (Weighing Evidence)

                         Selections from Le Morte d’Arthur (In Class)

 

Week 3

Mon 9/9           In-class screening: “The Once and Future Queen,” Merlin

Wed 9/11         Discussion: “The Once and Future Queen”

Fri 9/13            Draft of Essay 1 due for workshop

 

Week 4

Mon 9/16            Essay 1A Due                                               

Wed 9/18           Craft of Argument, 149-56 (A&R)

                          Book of Chivalry, 119-123 (Collab)

Fri 9/20              No Reading, A&R cont.

 

Week 5

Mon 9/23            Craft of Argument, 130-143 (Warrants)

Wed 9/25            Book of Chivalry, 189-195 (Collab)

Fri 9/27             A&R/Paper 1B Workshop           

 

Unit II: Problem Statements

Theme: Adultery and True Love

 

Week 6

 

Mon 9/30            Essay 1B Due

   Craft of Argument, 45-51 (Conceptual v. tangible problems)

Wed 10/2            Craft of Argument, 51-55 (Problem Frames)

Fri 10/4               Chrétien, The Knight of the Cart, beginning + 251-69 (Collab)

 

Week 7

Mon 10/7            Craft of Argument, 56-64

Wed 10/9             Malory, Conspiracy Against Guinevere and Lancelot, 646-651 (Collab)

Fri 10/11              Movie Trailers: Tristan and Isolde, King Arthur

                              Problem Frames Workshop

Week 8

Mon 10/14            Reading Day – No Class

Wed 10/16            Midterm Conferences – No Class, sign up online

Fri 10/18               Chrétien, The Knight with the Lion, 311-13 (Collab)

                              Sample Problem Frames Due

 

Unit III: Focus, Cohesion, and Style

Theme: Power and Sacrifice

 

Week 9

Sun 10/20            Screening of A Knight’s Tale

Mon 10/21            Discussion of A Knight’s Tale

 Wed 10/23           Craft of Argument, 227-33 (Characters and Actions)

Fri 10/25               Two Movie Reviews (Collab)

 

 Week 10

Mon 10/28            Chrétien, The Knight of the Cart, 276-81 (Collab)

Wed 10/30            Topic Strings

Fri 11/1                 Draft of Essay 3 Due for Workshop

 

Week 11

Mon 11/4            Essay 3 Due

Wed 11/6            Chaucer, The Wife of Bath’s Tale (Collab)

Fri 11/8                Chaucer, The Wife of Bath’s Tale (Day 2)

 

 

Week 12

Mon 11/11         Library Day   

Wed 11/13          Chrétien, The Knight with the Lion, 326-30 (Collab) 

Fri 11/15            Stress Position

 

 

Week 13

Mon 11/18         Marie de France, Lanval (Collab)

Wed 11/20         Craft of Argument, 236-243 (Concision and Vividness)

Fri 11/22            Draft of Essay 4 Due for Workshop

 

Week 14

Mon 11/25          Essay 4 due

Wed 11/27          Thanksgiving – No Class

Fri 11/29             Thanksgiving – No Class

 

Week 15

Mon 12/2            Writing Workshop

Wed 12/4            Writing Workshop

Fri 12/6               Final Portfolio Due