ENC 1145 - Writing About Football Fall 2002

Instructor: Dr. Kevin McCarthy Office: 4360 Turlington Hall

Office hours: T 5th-6th per., Office phone: 392-6650, ext. 281

R 6th per. or by appointment.

Do not call the professor at home. Please do not eat or drink in the classroom. Have breakfast before coming to class. ENC 1145 fulfills 3 hours of the General Education requirement in English Composition. It presupposes no previous knowledge of football.

Email: kmccarth@english.ufl.edu

Required texts: The Dark Side of the Game: My Life in the NFL by Tim Green (Warner Books, 1996). Plus, Fightin' Gators: A History of University of Florida Football by Kevin McCarthy. Both are available in the Campus Bookstore.

Purpose of course: to think, learn, and write about football by reading literature and writing a series of varied assignments. We will discuss the history of the game in some detail, both the college and professional levels, have an appropriate guest lecturer, and see at least one video on the sport. We will have an etymology and rule quiz every class session.

Writing assignments: Because this is a Gordon Rule course, students will write a minimum of 6,000 graded words: four four-page essays plus two in-class essays, each 1,000 words long. Assignments will include different types of writing, for example, the Argumentative Essay (Should high schoolers be allowed/encouraged to jump to the NFL? Should there be a cap on rookie salaries?), the Comparative-Contrastive Essay (on two different football teams or positions or leagues or on the difference between football and another sport), a Descriptive Essay (on one player or team or league), and a Critique Essay about a football-related book to be read outside of class. Late papers will be penalized two points for each day late; a paper due on Thursday and handed in on the following Tuesday will lose ten points.

Tests: There will be five tests for a total of 60 points, which will be divided by two for the test component part of the grade. Tests will be on the following dates: Sept. 10, Oct. 1, Oct. 22, Nov. 12, & Dec. 10.

Grading: A: 90-100: this person writes clearly, has a strong thesis, organizes the material well, offers insight, uses creativity, and is free of errors. Participates regularly in class.

B: 80-89: this writer is articulate, concise, and clear; has an occasional off-day, commits some errors, but has flashes of brilliance. Participates occasionally in class.

C: 70-79: this student does competent work, but occasional errors and inconsistencies detract. Participates infrequently in class discussions. Misses class occasionally.

D: 70-69: poor writing and thinking skills will send this person to the showers early. Seldom participates in class discussion. Misses many classes.

E: 0-59: poor writing, thinking skills, poor attendance, lack of participation, and no motivation characterize this student.

Attendance is required; every three unexcused absences will result in the loss of one point from the total.

Percentage of components:

60% - 6 written assignments, each worth 10 points.

30% - quizzes on readings and class materials.

10% - class participation and regular attendance

100%