ITW 101 – Spring 2008

Comic Books and Current Events: The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Prof. Beth Stickney


Vital Contact Information

Office: Parker 202

Office Hours: Mon and Wed, 3:00 – 4:00

Office Phone (during office hours ONLY): 603-358-2364

Voicemail: 603-358-8888, box 4300

E-mail (best way to reach me): bstickney@keene.edu


Library Liaison: Kathy Halverson

Office Phone: 603-358-2712

E-mail: khalvers@keene.edu

IM info: AIM & Yahoo! -- kathkayaker; MSN -- khalvers@keene.edu


Library Reference Desk: 603-358-2710

E-mail for reference desk: reference@keene.edu

IM for reference librarian: AIM & Yahoo! -- kscreference; MSN -- reference@keene.edu


Required Materials

Palestine, by Joe Sacco

Exit Wounds, by Rutu Modan

Palestine Peace, Not Apartheid, by Jimmy Carter

A Writer's Reference, by Diana Hacker

The Craft of Research, by Wayne C. Booth, et al

Middle East Map from Rand McNally


A notebook dedicated to this class

A folder for your Research Log

A folder for papers, hand-outs, writing exercises


Course Policies/Requirements

  1. Please bring texts to class as indicated on syllabus.

  2. Please have a notebook for this course and a separate folder in which you will keep all papers, hand-outs, and writing exercises. You will also need a folder for keeping your Research Log, which I will periodically collect and review.

  3. Even though our class sessions will consist largely of discussion and writing, you should get in the habit of taking notes when appropriate, e.g. when I am giving homework assignments or discussing paper topics, when we are discussing assigned readings, when a new term or concept is introduced or when an important point of grammar or usage is being reviewed. It is also a good idea to take notes at home when you are doing your assigned reading; at the very least, you should be using some kind of highlighting or underlining system when you read.

  4. All cell phones, MP3 players, and other devices you carry with you must be turned completely off when entering classroom.

  5. Attendance is required. I do not recognize “excused absences.” You have three absences to use for emergencies/personal reasons. Additional absences will begin to affect your final grade in the following way: for each absence beyond the first three, your grade will be reduced by a half-letter. For example, if you are working on an A, four absences will bring you down to an AB, five to a B, and so on. If you do not attend class regularly, you will not do well.

  6. Preparation for and participation in class are required. Preparation means reading the assigned selections as indicated on your syllabus for each class, and submmitting all writing assignments on time; participation means being able to respond to questions about those readings, responding to writing prompts on the readings or other topics, and engaging in small group work when such activities are assigned. A pattern of failing to prepare and participate could reduce your final grade by as much as a whole letter.

  7. My approach to grading is a holistic one. That is, I look at the total picture of your performance in this course. Rather than assigning a specific percentage of your grade to each paper, I look for improvement and steady progress throughout the semester. Attendance and participation are also crucial to doing well in this course; they will be factored into your final grade according to policies 5 and 6 above, and will be reflected in the quality of written work you submit.

  8. I do not tolerate plagiarism. If you plagiarize, you will fail this course and may face college disciplinary action.

  9. Late assignments will not be accepted unless you contact me before the due date to request an extension.

  10. You are responsible for following and keeping up with the syllabus, even if you must be absent because of illness or emergency. Do not lose your syllabus. Please get the phone number and/or e-mail address of at least one classmate so that you can stay abreast of any syllabus changes, should you have to be absent. Also check your campus e-mail frequently; I will sometimes send you a note if you have been absent.



ITW 101 Spring 2008 Comic Books & Current Events: The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Professor Beth Stickney


Sections:

08 – Mon,Wed 4:00 – 5:45 MORRISON 205


09 – Mon 6:00 – 7:45 PARKER 013

Wed 6:00 – 7:45 MORRISON 205


LIBRARY SESSIONS

Go directly to the COMPUTER CLASSROOM in the LIBRARY on these dates:

Monday, Feb 18

Wednesday, Feb 27

Wednesday, March 12

Bring your notebook and RESEARCH LOG folder.


TEXTS

Sacco = Palestine, by Joe Sacco

Carter = Palestine Peace not Apartheid, by Jimmy Carter

Modan = Exit Wounds, by Rutu Modan

Booth = The Craft of Research, by Wayne C. Booth, et.al.


SYLLABUS

Please Note: I reserve the right to make changes to the syllabus as needed. When I do so, it will most often be to your benefit (i.e. giving you more time to work on readings or an assignment, if I feel we have fallen behind or need to cover additional material). You are responsible for keeping up with the syllabus, including all changes that I ask you to make or any changes that I distribute to you on additional pages. Please keep all syllabus-related items together in your class folder.


Jan 23 (W) Intro to class; History of State of Israel, Zionism


Jan 28 (M) History cont.

READ FOR CLASS: Sacco, pages i – 50 (including foreword and author's

introduction); Carter, pages 1 – 19 (including Historical Chronology)


Jan 30 (W) READ FOR CLASS: Sacco, 51-92; Carter, 21-35

DISCUSS RESERVE READING ASSIGNMENT


Feb 4 (M) READ FOR CLASS: Modan, 7-39 (Chapter 1); Booth, 3-33

SUBMIT RESERVE READING ASSIGNMENT (2 pages, typed)

Brainstorming Project Ideas


Feb 6 (W) READ FOR CLASS: Sacco, 93-113; Carter, 37-69; Booth 37-55

IN-CLASS FILM: Peace, Propaganda, and The Promised Land


REVISED – REVISED -- REVISED SYLLABUS/ PAGE 2



Feb 11 (M) SHORT ESSAY EXAM (45 – 50 mins) ON READINGS COVERED TO DATE

(Sacco, Carter,and Modan)

Brainstorming Project Ideas – Present Broad Topic by end of class


Feb 13 (W) SUBMIT TENTATIVE PROJECT TOPIC (1 paragraph, typed)

READ FOR CLASS: Modan, 43-96 (Chapter 2)


Feb 18 (M) LIBRARY SESSION

Bring Notebook and Research Log folder, Tentative Topic


Feb 20 (W) In-class Film: Peace, Propaganda, and the Promised Land

Hand-out: Article on history of Hamas


Feb 25 (M) READ FOR CLASS: Carter, 71-102; Sacco, 117-141; Modan, 101-140

Article on Hamas


Feb 27 (W) LIBRARY SESSION

Bring Notebook and Research Log Folder


March 3(M) READ FOR CLASS: Booth, 56-89


March 5 (W) IN-CLASS RESEARCH. BRING TOPIC IDEAS, RESEARCH LOG FOLDER.

Discuss Project Proposals

Continue Reading: Sacco, Carter, Modan


March 10 (M) Read for Class: Scholarly Articles (to be provided and/or read online)

Discuss Research Proposal


March 12 (W) LIBRARY SESSION – BRING NOTEBOOK AND RESEARCH LOG

March 17(M) SPRING BREAK

March 19 (W) SPRING BREAK


March 24 (M) SUBMIT PROJECT PROPOSAL (3-5 PAGES, TYPED)


March 26 (W) READ FOR CLASS: Sacco, Carter, Modan – finish each


April 7 (M) READ FOR CLASS: Booth, 90-150


STICKNEY SYLLABUS/PAGE 3


April 9 (W) SUBMIT FIRST DRAFT OF RESEARCH PROJECT (7-10 PAGES, TYPED)

In-Class Research – Bring Research Log Folder


April 14 (M) BRING 3-5 RESOURCES TO CLASS (articles plus at least one book)


April 16 (W) READ FOR CLASS: Booth, 151-181 AND 208-240

RECEIVE AND REVIEW FIRST DRAFT WITH COMMENTS


April 21 (M) READ FOR CLASS: Booth, 263-282


April 23 (W) SUBMIT SECOND DRAFT OF RESEARCH PROJECT (15-20 Pages, Typed)


April 28 (M) BRING RESOURCES TO CLASS FOR IN-CLASS WORK


APRIL 30 (W) RECEIVE AND REVIEW SECOND DRAFT WITH COMMENTS

LAST DAY OF CLASS – DO NOT BE ABSENT!


MAY 5 (M) FINAL PROJECT DUE – LATE PROJECTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED


DEPOSIT IN BOX OUTSIDE MY OFFICE, PARKER 202