Class: 9:00 am MWF | Writer’s Workshop: 3:00 pm MW
Teacher: Dr. Keith Rhodes
Phone: 271-4314
E-mail: rhodes@missouriwestern.edu
Office: JGM 309U
Office Hours: MW 10-12; Th 1:20-3:20
Web Page: http://www.missouriwestern.edu/~rhodes
Attendance Policy:
This class has a very strict attendance policy in Writer’s Workshops
as well as in class. If you miss seven class periods or five Writer’s Workshops,
you will receive an F in the class. Ordinarily, there are no exceptions
and no "makeups" for this attendance requirement. If you know of any circumstances
likely to make this policy difficult for you this semester, you may wish
to consult with your advisor to review your options.
If you miss a class session, you are responsible for all material covered
and assignments given during your absence. All out-of-class assignments
are due at the beginning of the class period. No late assignments will
be accepted unless you have received prior permission from your teacher.
Required Texts and Course Materials:
Dietsch, Betty. Reasoning and Writing Well. 2nd edition.
Mountain View, CA: Mayfield, 2000.
English 100 Writer’s Workshops. Fall 2000 ed.
3-1/2" floppy disks and a disk storage box
Photocopies for group work as requested
Course Goals and Class Assignments:
Reading Goals:
At the completion of ENG 100 students should be able to
- Read actively for greater understanding;
- Use reading to improve their writing by drawing ideas and information from
written material;
- Use texts to understand their own and others’ experiences;
- Read writing assignments effectively as a guide to creating better papers;
- Recognize good writing by actively reading good prose.
Writing Goals:
At the completion of ENG 100 students should be able to
- Move easily from writing for self-expression to writing for readers;
- Write at greater length more easily, more quickly, and more usefully;
- Structure their writing to fit the assignment, purpose, and audience;
- Develop their ideas and concepts with specific details, examples, and explanations;
- Craft more effective and polished sentences and paragraphs;
- Use effective planning, invention, revision, and editing to complete successful
writing tasks.
General Studies Goals:
In ENG 100 students should improve their ability to
- Think critically and reason analytically;
- Write and speak clearly and effectively;
- Gain a greater awareness of the present through an understanding of other
cultures and times;
- Understand and appreciate moral values and ethical choices;
- Understand and enjoy aesthetic experiences and share in related creative
activities.
Civility and Cooperation:
Missouri Western requires all students to help us maintain good conditions
for teaching and learning. All students will treat their classmates, teachers,
and student assistants with civility and respect, both inside and outside
the classroom. Students who violate this policy may, among other penalties,
be counted absent and asked to leave. You should review your Missouri Western
student handbook for further information.
General Grading Policy:
Your grade will be determined on the basis of your progress as a writer,
the writings you submit, and your class participation over the course of
the semester. The components of your grade in the course are:
Writing. You will complete four major writing tasks that will
be graded by your teacher. A student who does not turn in responses to
all four tasks will not pass the course even if the grades achieved in
the other writing tasks are satisfactory.
Progress as a writer. Your progress as a writer will be assessed
through an end-of-semester portfolio in which you must put your revised
responses to the writing tasks. Your portfolio must receive an "acceptable"
evaluation in order for you to pass ENG 100.
Writer’s Workshop. Throughout the course of the semester, you
will attend the twice-a-week, small group Writer’s Workshops (listed as
"labs" in the class schedule). Some of your Writer’s Workshop materials
may be used in class, and some of your class papers will be critiqued and
proofread in Writer’s Workshops. At the end of the semester, you will turn
in selected writings from Writer’s Workshop to your teacher. You must submit
these materials in order to pass ENG 100. Your teacher may also consider
you Writer's Workshop participation as part of your grade.
Due Dates for Formal Writing Assignments:
Task 1: Friday, September 8
Task 2: Friday, September 29
Task 3: Friday, October 27
Task 4: Wednesday, November 15
Grading Requirements and Evaluations:
All graded materials will receive scores in points. The point scale
will become letter grades according to the following percentages.
90-100% = A
80-90% = B
70-80% = C
60-70% = D
% of final grade per task:
Task 1 paper: 10%
Task 2 paper: 10%
Task 3 paper: 15%
Task 4 paper: 15%
Journals: 10%
Participation: 10%
Final Portfolio: 20%
Final Exam: 10%
Task Papers
Task papers will be evaluated according to the criteria discussed in
their assignment descriptions. Link
here to the assignment web page
Journals
You should write at least 3 full pages of journal entries each week.
You will get further suggestions for journal writing, but the topics are
open. Do consider that I am not a counselor and have no legal obligation
to keep your journals secret. I will evaluate journals for the following
traits: diligence, thoroughness, initiative, commitment,
and thoughtfulness. You will receive frequent early responses to
help you understand how these traits are evaluated to make up your grade.
Dates for submission are shown by the letter "(j)" on the following class
schedule.
Participation
I will keep daily ratings for participation, including but not nearly
limited to your quiz grades. I will report your current standing along
with all evaluations of finished Task Papers. I will also review your Writer's
Workshop materials before mid-terms and at the end of the semester to figure
your final participation grade.
Final Portfolio
The final portfolios will be evaluated for these traits: development,
organization,
critical
thinking, rhetorical awareness,
writing processes, and
style.
Throughout the semester you will receive information and responses that
help you understand these traits and how they are evaluated to make up
your grade. You will need to include two task papers revised into their
best form, one complete set of process materials for one task paper, your
final "reader/writer profile" from the Writer's Workshop, other materials
of your choice, and a reflective cover letter.
Final Exam
Your exam will have two parts. In the first part, you will demonstrate
your ability to write in response to a prompt much like that you were given
for the Writing Placement Exam. In the second part, you will need to answer
questions about writing like the ones that will be on your quizzes.
Student Disability:
Any student in this course who has a disability that prevents the fullest
expressions of abilities should contact Missouri Western's special needs
coordinator, Lois Fox, for possible certification of special needs and
expert recommendations for assistance. You should also contact the teacher
personally as soon as possible so that the two of you can discuss class
requirements.
Academic Honesty Policy:
You will receive a grade of F for any paper that shows evidence of cheating
and/or plagiarism. You have the burden of proving that a paper showing
evidence of cheating or plagiarism has in fact been written by you. You
should keep thorough evidence of your writing processes for all papers
so that you can meet this burden of proof. Stronger evidence proving plagiarism
may lead to further penalties. Please note carefully the statement on plagiarism
on the departmental website, found at http://www.missouriwestern.edu/EFLJ/plagiarism.asp.
Schedule:
Link here to the schedule.
This will take you to the version of the syllabus posted within Dr. Rhodes's
own web pages for the class.
Go to Dr. Rhodes's English 100 site