ENGL 1109: 11
Reading and Writing About Science
Cape Breton University
Fall 2016
Monday and Wednesdays 1-2:15pm
B 227
Instructor: Dr. Dana Mount ([email protected])
Office: CC223
Course Description and Objectives
This course is an introduction to university-level writing and critical reading with a focus on science.
After completing this course, students will be able to:
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Summarize and analyze basic literature and prose
Develop arguments about science-related texts
Write effectively in a variety of genres
Edit their own writing
Required Texts
 Essay Do’s and Don’ts: A Practical Guide to Essay Writing by Lucia Engkent and Garry Engkent.
 All other readings will be on the Moodle site.
Assignments and Grading
Active Participation (10%)
You are expected to attend class on a regular basis. You are expected to read all the materials prior to
class. You are expected to contribute to the classroom discussions (either by speaking up in class, or by
commenting on the Moodle forum in a meaningful and steady way).
Writing Portfolio (60%)
Over the semester you will write many assignments; these will be commented on by the instructor. At
the end of the semester you choose your best work to edit and re-work and you submit it as one final
assignment introduced by an explanatory cover letter (a single pdf).
Exam (30%)
Date and time set by the University. No exceptions will be made.
A Note on University Grading
Please note the following grading rubric. This should help you establish your goals and expectations for
this course.
F (0 – 49) = did not follow instructions or serious flaws. May be unreadable. A failing grade.
D (50-59) = serious flaws but some merit to the work. May be difficult to read in places but some attempt at
editing was done. A passing grade.
C (60-69) = meets the requirements for the assignment and is well written. Editing is apparent; may contain
predictable grammatical/syntactical errors.
B (70-79) = meets the requirements for the assignment and shows some strength in style or content. Well-edited
for grammar/syntax (may still be evidence of some predictable errors).
A (80-89) = meets the requirements for the assignment and brings something special in terms of style or content.
Few errors.
A+ (90-100) = exceeds the requirements in form and content. Very few errors.
Weekly Schedule (subject to change – watch Moodle for announcements)
TOPICS/READINGS
Week 1
Syllabus/Course Outline
Introduction
Chapters 1-2 Essay Dos and Don’ts
Week 2
The Science of Story and the Story of Science
“The Science of the Story” (Moodle)
“What Science Is, and How and Why it Works” by Neil deGrasse
Tyson (Moodle)
Week 3
ASSIGNMENTS DUE
Write a 450-500 word
essay on any topic
found on page 39.
Follow the writing
advice of Chapters 1
and 2.
Submit three thoughtful
questions inspired
by/based on each of
these readings.
Types of Essays – Writing About Literature
Chapters 3 and 4, and “Appendix A” of Essay Dos and Don’ts
Week 4
Writing by Scientists
Essays on earth and the universe (Moodle)
Essays on Life (Moodle)
Week 5
Introduction to Science Fiction/Speculative Fiction
“People of Sand and Slag” by Paolo Bacigalupi (Moodle)
http://windupstories.com/books/pump-six-and-otherstories/people-of-sand-and-slag/
Research Assignment:
Write a profile (250
words) on one of the
Scientists from this
week’s readings. Cite
your sources.
Summary (75 words) +
Analysis (350) of one of
the short stories. Due
Friday at 4pm on
Moodle.
“Vaster than Empires and More Slow” by Ursula K. LeGuin
(Moodle)
Week 6
More Sci Fi + Cli Fi
“Weather Versus Climate Change” Neil deGrasse Tyson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBdxDFpDp_k
Write a short-short-story
(300 words min), or, 6
6-word stories. Sci-fi!
“Global Warming: The Rise of ‘Cli-Fi’ The Guardian
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/may/31/global-warningrise-cli-fi
Week 7
Climate Change: Documentary in the North
Movie Screening: “Lament for the Land”
Week 8
Climate Change Meets Hollywood
Movie Screening: “The Day After Tomorrow”
Week 9
Research and Documentation
Chapter 5 from Essay Do’s and Don’ts
Writing Centre Visit (MLA)
Week 10
Nature Writing, Nature Photography
Excerpts, Silent Spring (Moodle)
Submit an annotated
bibliography on
film/documentary and
climate change in MLA
style (5 entries)
Submit and share your
photo essay (250
words)
(Field Trip – possibly??)
Week 11
TBA
Comparison &
Research Essay (750
words): documentary
versus fiction in
representing climate
change
Week 12
Course Wrap-Up and Exam Preparation
SUBMIT YOUR
WRITING PORTFOLIO
Course Rules/Regulations
Attendance/Participation
 Absences of more than 2 classes will jeopardize your participation grade.
 Don’t be put off this class if you don’t like to speak up in class – there are ways you can contribute and
be recognized by using Moodle.
 This is a discussion-based class.
Email Information
 Use email sparingly and wisely. Do not ask a question that could be answered in class or from the
syllabus. If that’s the case, I may not respond (certainly not in a timely manner).
 If you need to miss class, etc., don’t email me to let me know unless you were supposed to present.
Handing in your work
 Submit your assignments electronically directly onto the Moodle site
 Late assignments will be penalized 5% per day (and will receive no written comments)
Returning Assignments
 Papers will be returned to students within two weeks.
 Papers that raise questions about academic dishonesty will not be returned to students in class.
Students may be required to meet with the Instructor, Chair or Dean in such cases.
Writing Centre and Getting Help
 Students are encouraged make use of the Writing Centre (book an appointment online at
http://www.cbu.ca/writing-centre). The service is free and confidential.
 No other forms of help or editing (paid or unpaid) are acceptable.
Accommodation
 If you think you may need accommodation, please contact the Jennifer Keeping Accessibility Centre at
www.cbu/ca/jkac for available resources.
In-class assignments, tests and quizzes
 There will be no alternate test or assignment dates made for in-class work. No make-ups.
Cell phones and laptops
 As a general rule: no calls, texts, email or personal internet surfing. I will take your device away from
you if you are causing a disturbance of any kind.
 Students who are also caregivers may keep a phone with them (on silent) and leave the class to take a
necessary phone call.
 If you do have a laptop, we may put you to use!
Inclement (bad) weather policy:
 (http://www.cbu.ca/sites/cbu.ca/files/pdfs/3-1-Weather.pdf)
 Dial 539-5300 (press 9)
Plagiarism and Academic Integrity
At CBU, we take academic honesty very seriously. We need to be sure that a) our students know how
to cite their work properly; and b) our students are being graded for work they did independently.
When you submit work for this or any other course, it is assumed that the work is yours and yours
alone, except when you clearly indicate otherwise. Any words, ideas, data, or other intellectual material
that you draw from other sources, whatever they may be, must be acknowledged in a way that make it
absolutely clear what you have taken, how you have adapted it, and from whom. To present the work of
others without clearly indicating that it is the work of others is plagiarism and constituted serious
academic misconduct.
This class has many in-class writing assignments. Samples of these will be held by the instructor. If any
work submitted by a student differs significantly in style and/or skill from the in-class written
assignments, we can and will test the student (in a proctored setting) on the content of the work. If the
student is unable to write about the material he or she has written about in the essay, we do have the
right to produce the original and test document as our proof of a plagiarism charge.
It is the responsibility of every student to familiarize themselves with the Academic Dishonesty
section of the Academic Calendar: http://faculty.cbu.ca/lsyms/libguide/CBUplagiarism.pdf
From the CBU Academic Calendar, p.37-38
“Plagiarism is the act of representing the intellectual work of others as one’s own. Such
misrepresentation is treated as a serious violation of academic standards and principles. When a student
submits work for a course, it is assumed that the work is original except where the student properly
acknowledges the use of other sources.”
On Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism
This is a partial list of things that you should NOT do, in order to avoid academic fraud and
plagiarism. Please see the CBU Academic Calendar for the official policy
(http://www.cbu.ca/academic-calendar). Note that you are responsible to learn the
academic standards at CBU.
Compiled by J. Ferguson. Adapted by D. Mount.
1. Do NOT copy any words from websites, books, newspapers, etc., unless you
use quotation marks and proper citation method.
2. Do NOT copy any ideas from websites, books, newspapers, magazines, etc.,
unless you use proper citation method.
3. Do NOT share your words, ideas or research with other students in the class
or another class, unless the instructor has indicated that this is group work and
the names of all contributors appear on the assignment.
4. Do NOT assume that putting someone else’s work “in your own words”
(paraphrasing) means that you don’t need to cite those ideas properly.
5. Do NOT reuse old assignments from previous courses, unless you have
permission from the instructor of the current class.
6. Do NOT have your essay translated by another person, or by a software
program.
7. Do NOT have anyone other than a CBU Writing Tutor (whether friend, family
member, classmate, non-CBU tutor, or a paid service) re-write, research, or
edit your work for you.
8. DO go to the CBU Writing Centre for the right kind of help with your
assignments. 
9. DO keep all notes and drafts of your work and research. 