Justin J. Bain
PhD Student in Composition and Cultural Rhetoric
Syracuse University
315-443-1412
jjbain@syr.edu
• Philosophy
• Writing 105
• Writing 205
• Writing 307
• Writing 110
Summary:
In this unit, we will confront the notion of home as an important ideological signifier in our lives, attempting to come to a more complete understanding and appreciation of both your own sense of home, the ways in which it functions to determine experiences in your life, and the ways in which the term "home" is employed in recent discussions and debates.
Structure:
This unit requires you to work in groups (four groups of five). Each week your group will experiment with a different research method in an attempt to come to a more critical understanding of home. Your work with the library module and research in unit two will serve as a basis for getting started.
Working with various research methods:
Group Method Subject Group 1 Interview/Survey
Syracuse Group 2 Newspapers/Magazines/TV SU Group 3 Journals/Books Your "Home" Group 4 Websites Idea of Home All Groups Ethnography Each week groups will switch methods, and the subject will become more "local." Information regarding method will be transferred to the next group using that method.
Minor Products:
You will be required to give one multi-media presentation toward the end of the unit, and write a critical essay (with your group) of about 10 pages. More information about these assignments will be given as the unit progresses.
Major Products:
The central products of this unit will be a research anthology and a research log. You will be collecting various bits of data (notes, copies of text/pictures, writing that you do on the subject, etc) regarding your growing understanding of home as this unit progresses. These will be shared with other groups and collected at the end of the unit.
Weekly activities:
• Thursday: Learn a method or cover related readings/topics. Do research over the weekend.
• Tuesday: Discuss findings and readings. Discuss methodological implications.Unit 3 Calendar
Feb 14th Discuss Unit 3; form groups; begin research Feb 19th Share Research and discuss method Feb 21st Discuss Becky Howard's Essay "Plagiarism, Policing, Pedagogy" and discuss plagiarism samples Feb 26th Share Research and discuss method Feb 28th Discuss chapters from Vietnam: Working Class War Mar 5th Share Research and discuss method Mar7th Discuss Chapters from Villanueva and Heath; begin ethnography Mar12th Spring Break Mar14th Spring Break; Complete assignments as usual Mar19th No Class Mar21st No Class; Meet with your group as usual Mar26th Share Research and discuss method Mar 28th Workshops Apr 2nd Research Anthology Due