Allen C.

Jones
Office: Wyatt 334
Office Hours: 2-3pm MWF
Email: allenjones@pugetsound.edu
Doc Joness Phone: x3027

University of Puget Sound

SSI 1: Utopia and the Imagination
Writing Center Liaison:
Liaison email:

SSI 1: Seminar in Scholarly Inquiry

Utopia and the Imagination:

Reading Sequence
(This sequence is subject to change as I find necessary for our class)
Note 1:
This list represents the readings we will discuss each day. Be sure to read all
assigned materials and write all assignments BEFORE the day we discuss them.
When in doubt, do it anyway. Empty-handed students dont do well. Students who
say I wasnt exactly sure what to do so I worked hard on this more often do
well.
Note 2: BRING ALL READINGS TO CLASS. Readings not in reader can be
found on Moodle.

Week 1
W: Sept. 3

Introduction
Reading: Moodle: Syllabus and Sequence.

Utopian Beginnings
F: Sept. 5

The Golden Age

Reading: Utopia Reader: Introduction (1-5), Utopianism Before Thomas
More (6-7), Genesis The Garden of Eden (9-11); Moodle: Yeats The
Lake Isle of Innisfree (Listen to the poem),
Homework: Moodle: Reading Questions on Utopia Reader Intro, Genesis,
Innisfree.

Jones/ UPS SSI 1 / page 1 of 5

Possible Pop Quiz on all readings including syllabus. (From now on Pop
Quizzes will not be announced. Do your reading. Be ready!)

Week 2
M: Sept. 8

Cannibals in Paradise?: Eurocentric Framing of the New World

Reading: Utopia Reader: Montaignes Of the Cannibals. Moodle: New
World Images, Reading Questions on Montaigne.
More Reading: Critical Response 1 Prompt. Focus on first paragraph.
Bring to Class: Writing Templates (either hard copy or digital)
Summary 1 Due Today: following the critical summary model (first
paragraph) in Critical Response 1 Prompt EXACTLY, type a one
paragraph summary of Montaigne reading.

W: Sept. 10

Writing as Cannibalism
Reading: Moodle: Dudley Marchis Montaigne and the New World: The
Cannibalism of Cultural Production (read pages 35-41).
Also Read: Definitions for Marchi Essay.
Writing Due: Extensive marginal notes (handwritten okay).
Also Due: Critical Response 1, Rough Draft, First Paragraph: 1
paragraph: using the critical summary form you have learned, summarize
one of Marchis arguments. Typed.

F: Sept. 12

Read: Moodle: Essay 1 Prompt. (Just read this; dont write the essay
yet. We will work on this essay together).
Quiz on Atwood novel chapters 1-9 is coming Monday.
Bring to Class: your CR1 First Paragraph from last class.
Binder Check!

Week 3

Utopian Endings

Jones/ UPS SSI 1 / page 2 of 5

M: Sept. 15

Utopia as Apocalypse
Reading: Moodle: Jeffers: The Purse-Seine; Harjo:
When the World as We Knew it Ended; Yeats: The Second Coming
Homework Question: Please handwrite your answer: choose one poem
and explain how it uses the end of the world to make an argument.
Quiz on Atwood novel chapters 1-9
Critical Response 1, First and Second Half Due, Rough Draft. 2
paragraphs. Paragraph 1: summary of one argument in critical essay from
last Wednesday; Paragraph 2: Forward the argument using any of our
readings/images. Use one of our theoretical terms/definitions if you can
make it interesting. Typed. (See prompt.)

W: Sept. 17

Utopia as a Fiction.
Reading: Utopia Reader: Thomas Mores Utopia
Writing Due: marginal notes using Reading Questions.

F: Sept. 19

Scholarly articles: read one of the seven articles on Moodle: Seven

Secondary Sources: Scholarly Articles.
Writing Due: Critical Response 1 Final Draft Due
Reading: Note-taking Techniques
More Writing Due: Use two different note-taking techniques to take
notes on the essay you chose. Handwritten okay.

Week 4:
M: Sept. 22

Utopia as Republic I: Utopia Reader: Platos Republic

Homework: Use Reading Questions to take notes.

W: Sept. 24

Utopia as Republic II: Utopia Reader: Platos Republic (continued).

F: Sept. 26

Be prepared to formally present the scholarly article you have chosen

for Essay 1 (1-2 minute presentation with no props/slides or reading: just
talking).

Jones/ UPS SSI 1 / page 3 of 5

In presentation, answer these three questions: 1. What is authors

argument? 2. What examples does he/she use? 3. In your essay, how will
you use his/her argument to raise a question about one of our texts? (Your
central goal is to come up with a fascinating question.)
Warning: Quiz on Atwood chapters 10-20 coming next week.

Week 5
M: Sept. 29

Writing Workshop 2: Thesis Forms.

Essay 1 Rough Draft Due Today: Use Rough Draft Prompt to format
this document. Make an argument by presenting the conversation
surrounding a utopian idea and applying it to one of our texts. (See prompt
for details.) Note: for the draft you must have all sections labeled in bold.
Put whatever you have so far for that section. This will help you see how
far you are and what you need to work on. Your final draft will not have
these section labels.
Reading: Revision Packet (print and bring to class or bring digital copy).
Also Read: Rough Draft Prompt

W: Oct. 1

Reading: Moodle: Sample Essay 1

Moodle: Revision Packet (bring to class).
Quiz on Atwood chapters 10-20.

F: Oct. 3

Writing Workshop 3: Old/New

Old/New is a technique for constructing coherence and cohesiveness at the
sentence level. This revision process will be used on all three major
essays.
Moodle: Revision Packet (bring to class).
Homework: three versions of your thesis using three different forms from
our revision packet. Name the type of thesis. Make sure each pushes your
thesis in a really different and interesting direction (that you may not ever
pursue). TYPED.

Jones/ UPS SSI 1 / page 4 of 5

Week 6
M: Oct. 6

Homework: a paragraph (only one) from your essay marked for Old/New.
Circle the old in each sentence. Every sentence must follow old/new.
In class: final questions regarding Essay 1.
Bring to Class: Essay 1 Draft

W: Oct. 8

Utopias in Practice I. Utopia Reader: The Shakers

Essay 1 Final Draft Due Today: turn in rough draft and final stapled
separately. Make marginal notes on final for structure (hook, thesis, my
argument etc.) and all revision (old/new, etc.). Attach Grade Sheet to front
of final draft.

F: Oct. 10

Utopias in Practice II. Utopia Reader: Oneida System of Criticism

Reading: Essay 2 Prompt. Read this closely and come to class with
questions.
Also Read: Critical Response 2. Do not write the response yet.
Just read the prompt and bring it to class.

Week 7
M: Oct. 13

A Naturalists Version of Utopia: Moodle: Edward Abbeys Desert

Solitaire (excerpt). This is a long reading, but it has a great ending! Quiz
warning.

W: Oct. 15

Reading: Utopian Political Philosophy. Moodle: Natural Capitalism.

Quiz warning.
Homework: Natural Capitalism is a difficult article. Read it thoroughly.

F: Oct. 17

Critical Response 2 Due (on a real world utopian endeavor). See prompt.
Workshop: Active Writing. In this workshop we will learn how to move
away from static to be writing and develop sentences that move from
actor to action.
Bring to class: Revision Packet.

Jones/ UPS SSI 1 / page 5 of 5

Remember: over break you will need to choose two of the essays from
the sources I have provided. You will use these to create a conversation for
Essay 2.

Week 8
Fall Break!

Quiz after break on Atwood chapters 21-30.

W: Oct. 22

Moodle: The Five Arguments.

Bring to class: the two essays you are using as sources for Essay 2.
Quiz on Piercy novel chapters 10-15.

F: Oct. 24

Writing Workshop 4: Advanced Rhetoric

Moodle: Conservative/Liberal Definitions, Political Spectrum Test.
Homework: take the political spectrum test. Remember that it is asking
you about trust. Dont try and get the answers right. Simply see how you
feel about the questions.

Week 9
M: Oct. 27

Writing Due: Critical summary of two scholarly articles for Essay 2.

Make their arguments fascinating even if you disagree with them. Do not
respond. (The Encyclopedia articles are informational but do not aim to
make arguments. Therefore, they do not count as one of your two critical
sources.)

W: Oct. 29

Utopia and Advanced Argument. Michael Moores Sicko

Homework: watch Michael Moores film Sicko on Moodle. If you have
trouble, try a different browser. A trick: click the shield in Firefox and then
click allow download. Watch it at library computer if all else fails.
Reading: Ethos, Pathos, Logos; CR 3 Prompt.

F: Oct. 31

Utopia and Advanced Argument. Michael Moores Sicko

Critical Response 3 Due: 2 pages detailing an argument from the film
(include two argument types, all rhetorical techniques, and use of
audience). See prompt.

Jones/ UPS SSI 1 / page 6 of 5

Bring to Class: the 2 scholarly essays you will use for Essay 2

Week 10
M: Nov. 3

Review for Midterm. Discuss Essay 2.

Reading: Midterm Review (This is only a study guide. You will need to
look up the answers in your notes).

W: Nov. 5

Midterm on Fundamentals: Att. tag, quote sandwich, in-text citation,

hook types, revision techniques, forwarding an argument, etc.

F: Nov. 7

Essay 2 Rough Draft Due TODAY: analyze the real-world utopian

endeavor you have chosen. Make a definitional argument concerning how
this group reframes a central concept in our society. As part of this essay,
you will do a rhetorical analysis of a primary text connected with this
group. You will analyze how this group uses conservative and liberal
values. (See prompt for details.)
Writing Workshop 5: Style
In the style workshop, we will learn the 12 elements of style that allow
critical arguments a rhetorical power beyond logos. As shown in the
Cynthia Ozick example, moving the readers mind with style can become
a rhetorical device as powerful as any logical evidence. The Sophists were
right!
Moodle: Revision Packet (bring to class).
(Start reading Hedges excerpts: War is a Force that Gives us Meaning)
Warning: Hedges excerpt is long but very good. Start early.

Week 11
M: Nov. 10

Discuss Final Projects

Moodle: Final Project Prompt. Read twice and bring to class with
specific questions. Essay and presentation. See prompt for details.
Final project: write a proposal argument using the readings from this
class as sources. Each member of the group will write their own essay
making a detailed argument including a thesis and evidence. You will
propose a utopian version of one of the topics we have covered in this

Jones/ UPS SSI 1 / page 7 of 5

course: healthcare, government, architecture, sanitation, gender relations,

etc. Remember to include a dystopian counterargument. See prompt.
Think About: Making groups for final project.
W: Nov. 12

Utopia as War: Utopia Reader: Orwells Nineteen Eighty-Four

(Newspeak). Moodle: Chris Hedges War is a Force that Gives us
Meaning (excerpts).

F: Nov. 14

Essay 2 Final Draft due Today: rough draft and final with
Revisions. Make marginal notes for structure and all revision. (See
prompt for details.)
Make groups for final project.

Week 12
M: Nov. 17

Utopia and Gender. Atwoods The Handmaids Tale (finish it for today)

W: Nov. 19

Utopia and Gender. Atwoods The Handmaids Tale

F: Nov. 21

Utopia and Rhetoric

Reading: Moodle: Kings I Have a Dream

Week 13
M: Nov. 24

Utopia as Technology.
Reading: Digital Utopia: Cyborgs

W: Nov. 26

Thanksgiving

F: Nov. 28

Thanksgiving

Week 14
M: Dec. 1

Utopian Economics. Moodle: Albert and Hahnels Looking Forward:

Participatory Economic for the Twenty First Century

W: Dec. 3

Utopian Architecture and Design. Moodle: Architecture and Urbanism:

The Faces of Utopia.

Jones/ UPS SSI 1 / page 8 of 5

Brainstorm Due TODAY (15 points): your own one-page typed

brainstorm about the proposal argument you are thinking of doing for your
final paper: ideas, dreams, nightmares, poems, art, speeches, diatribes,
stories, games, manifestos, festivals, religions, technologies, medicines,
labor organizational methods, interactions with nature, alternative physics,
sports, wars, brainwashing, interactive workshops, etc. that you might use
as a springboard for your critical analysis of one utopian topoi. No need to
talk to your group about your brainstorm. This is a space for you to begin
your creative process. While this process begins with the imagination, the
paper must be a proposal argument with a thesis and supporting evidence
(see prompt).
In class: present ideas. Meet with groups.
F: Dec. 5

Group Work Day.

Week 15
M: Dec. 8

Group presentations I.
Group presentations: While earlier presentations have been less formal, in
this presentation I will expect more professional attire, and you will stand
in front of the class. You should include one aspect of multimedia and one
interactive aspect. You must open with a hook, close with a dynamic
summary, and involve all members in speaking roles. You will each need
to present your proposal argument clearly, present supporting evidence,
and raise counterarguments (see prompt).
Remember: you may not read to us. You may, however, glance at notes.
Note: You must attend both as a presenter and as the audience for all
presentations. Supporting your fellow utopian thinkers is not only
required, it is a measure of your seriousness in this adventure. Imagine a
utopia where no one listened. Not a likely utopia.

W: Dec. 10

Last day of class: Group presentations II.

Final Essay Rough Draft Due Today

Week 16
Final Essay due at end of scheduled final time. Please turn in to Moodle.
Check Peoplesoft for final day and time. No in-class final.

Jones/ UPS SSI 1 / page 9 of 5