课程描述

正如这门课的名称，本课程的目的是要让你精通短文的写作和修辞的传统常例。有学者说，短文是「艺术和哲学之间的交会处」，也有人说短文是「一个自我在世界中找到自身模式的地方，也是世界在自我中找到运转模式的地方」。虽然短文是古代流传下来的散文传统之一部份，但它也是非常现代且普遍的写作形式，在印刷媒体和网络上都看得到。本课程将着重于短文的功能：

• 对其他文章以及本文／数字数据做评论
• 透过经验的叙述，探讨个人经验的意义
• 对一般大众传递专门知识的媒介

到学期结束时，你就会熟悉课堂上的阅读材料中以及自己作品中的每一种模式。

教学要求

• 指定阅读（参见下列时间表）
• 5篇短文（每篇5-7页），草稿 和 最后完稿
• 2次口头报告（约5-10分钟长）
• 参与课堂讨论
• 课程的同侪评论（参见下述）
• 同侪评论要用的影印本
• 课堂上及课堂外的写作练习（1-2页）
• 资料保存夹（参见下述）
• 按时出席上课（参见下述）

备注：如果你的短文有一次不及格；没有参加同侪评论；或者缺席超过五堂课，你就不可能通过这门课。没有参加课堂讨论，则将视情节严重程度，从期末成绩扣半级分或一级分。

出席规定

由于这门课是写作和解说的研究室，你必须每堂课都出席且准时到教室。只允许5次未请假的缺席。

未出席同侪评论，将计为一次缺席，期末作文成绩降2级分（譬如，B降为C+）。2次迟到=1次缺席。如果你在开始讲课之后才到教室，就算迟到。

如果因个人的紧急状况、严重的生病或受伤，可不用来上课，但必须尽快告诉我缺席的原因。〔在这种情况之下，需要有系主任的通知才能请假。〕因宗教仪式而缺席是准许的，但得事先告知我。

资料夹

在这学期，你必须有个数据夹（或其他工具）收集你的错高和最后完稿。在这门课的最后一天，这个数据夹要交给我评分以代替期末考。

同侪评论

你的每篇草稿都必须经过同侪评论，也就是说，除了我的意见，你也会听到同学们的意见。这个过程的设计是要让你的每一篇短文能得到多元看法，并模仿出版过程中，短文所经历的编辑过程。如果你勤加练习，同侪评论会让你在读自己的短文上获益无穷，并成为他人作品的良好对话者。

每堂同侪评论，你都必须备妥几份你的草稿。影印是你的责任，上课前必需准备妥当。

评分标准

参阅评分标准单(中文PDF)

剽窃

当别人的作品被使用或被仿照得像你自己的作品时，就是剽窃。剽窃是学校所唾弃的。麻省理工学院不容许剽窃，故意剽窃的后果相当严重，有被开除的可能。请再看一次麻省理工学院有关剽窃的政策，进入「写作中心」的网站就可看到。

弹性措施

经过我同意，第2、3或4篇短文的最后定稿可以迟交。〔就像Daffy鸭吞了铀-238，你只能用一次。〕这个办法是考虑到其它事务可能占用你的时间，请妥善使用。

Course Description

As the course title suggests, this class is meant to acquaint you with the literary and rhetorical tradition of the essay, a genre which has been described by one scholar as "the meeting ground between art and philosophy," and by another as "the place where the self finds a pattern in the world, and the world finds a pattern in the self". Though the essay is part of a tradition of prose which stretches back to antiquity, it is also a thoroughly modern and popular form of writing, found in print media and on the web. This class will emphasize a specific range of the essay's functions:

• The essay as commentary on the writing of others and on textual/numerical data.
• The essay as the discovery of meaning in personal experience through the narration of experience.
• The essay as a vehicle conveying specialized knowledge to a general audience.

By the end of the semester, you will be familiar with each of these modes in the class reading and in your own writing.

Course Requirements

• Assigned reading (see schedule below)
• 5 essays (5-7 pages each), rough and final drafts
• 2 oral reports (5-10 minutes long)
• Participation in class discussion
• In-class peer review (see below)
• Peer-review-related photocopying
• In-class and out-of-class writing exercises (1-2 pp)
• Maintenance of a portfolio (see below)
• Regular attendance (see below)

NOTE: It is not possible to pass the course if you have failed one of the essays, if you have failed to participate in peer review, or if you have more than 5 absences. Failure to participate in class discussion will result in a deduction of one-half or one grade point from the final grade, depending on the severity of the problem.

Attendance Policy

Because this course is a laboratory for composition and interpretation, you must be present at every class and arrive in a timely fashion. Only 5 unexcused absences are permitted.

An absence on a peer review day will count as a regular absence and result in the deduction of two grade-steps from the final draft (e.g. B reduced to C+). 2 latenesses = 1 absence. You are late if you arrive at class after I take attendance.

In case of personal emergency, serious illness, or injury, do not come to class, but inform me of the reason for your absence as soon as possible. [A dean's note will be necessary to be excused from class under these circumstances.] Absence for religious observance is automatically excused; nonetheless, please inform me before the fact.

Portfolio

During the semester, you are required to keep a folder (or whatever) in which you collect all of your rough and final drafts. This portfolio will be handed in for assessment in lieu of a final exam on the last scheduled day of class.

Peer Review

Each of your rough drafts will undergo peer review, meaning that, in addition to my comments, you will receive comments from your classmates. This process is designed to provide multiple perspectives on each of your essays, and imitates the editorial processes that essays endure during the process of publication. If diligently practiced, peer review will make you a better reader of your own essays and a better interlocutor for the work of others.

For each day of peer review, you will be required to bring several copies of your rough draft. The copying process is your responsibility; please take care of it BEFORE coming to class.

Grading Criteria

See Grading Criteria Sheet. (PDF)

Plagiarism

Plagiarism occurs when the work of others is used and represented as if it were your own. Plagiarism is anathema in academe. MIT does not tolerate plagiarism, and the consequences of conscious plagiarizing are severe, and include the possibility of expulsion. Please review the MIT Policy on Plagiarism, available through the Writing Center web site.

Wiggle Room

The final draft of Essay 2, 3, OR 4 may be handed in late with my permission. [Like Daffy Duck swallowing Uranium-238, you can only pull this trick once.] This policy takes account of the other demands on your time; use it wisely.