Syllabus for ENG 100
Introduction to College Writing
Composition and Language Missouri Western State College
Division of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Department of English, Foreign Languages, and Journalism English 100-05: Introduction to College Writing – Composition and Language
9:00-9:50 MWF JGM 113 (lecture)
Writer’s Workshop: 8:00-8:50 MW JGM 120,303,A201
Fall 2000 Instructor: Dawn Terrick
Office: JGM 309L
Phone: 816-271-4313
Office Hours: 1:00-1:50 PM daily and by appointment
E-mail: terrick@griffon.mwsc.edu 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 Description: “One thing that is always with the writer – no matter how long he
has written or how good he is – is the continuing process of learning
how to write.”
-Flannery O’Connor In this course we will discuss writing as a process. And you may ask, what does this
statement mean? The truth is, no one just sits down and instantly produces a perfect piece of
writing. There are many steps a writer goes through when producing a text, including pre-
writing (or gathering and organizing ideas and thoughts), writing, revising and editing, and
we will discuss these steps in this course. By breaking down these steps, hopefully, the
writing process will seem less difficult. Course Goals and Class Assignments:
Reading Goals:
? Read actively for greater understanding;
? Use reading to improve writing by drawing ideas and information from written texts
? Use texts to understand 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:
? Move from writer-based to reader-based prose
? Write at greater length more easily, more quickly, and more usefully;
? Structure writing to fit the assignment, purpose, and audience;
? Develop 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:
? 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. For common course goals and objectives for ENG 100 also refer to the English department
website at http://www.missouriwestern.edu/EFLJ/eng100.asp Methods of Instruction:
Methods of instruction include textbook, lectures, class discussions, group work, informal
writing assignments and formal writing assignments. Students will be expected to participate in
peer revision groups and in-class writing exercises. Journals:
In a separate notebook you will write (informal) journal entries/responses to most of your
assigned readings. Please refer to your assignment schedule for journal entries. These entries
will be your reactions to and analysis of the readings. You can also answer the questions under
“Reflecting and Interpreting” in your textbook at the end of each essay. The average length for a
journal entry is one full page. Entries can be hand-written or word-processed. I will announce
the collection dates of journals and the collection dates will also be listed on your assignment
schedule (about three times throughout the semester). Journal entries will be graded on content
and will be part of your overall grade for the course. Peer Revision Groups:
Prior to submitting your writing tasks, you will be required to participate in peer revision
groups in which you will bring in copies of your rough draft to share with your group and receive
feedback from your group in order to help you strengthen and revise your own written work.
This is a required activity and you will receive points for participation. (Note: During these
sessions I will also evaluate drafts). Policies:
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 me. Grading Policy:
Your grade will be determined on the basis of your progress as a writer, the writings
(informal and formal) you submit, and your class participation over the course of the semester.
Also note that smaller assignments and class preparation/participation are very important and do
affect your grade. The components of your grade in the course are:
? Four writing tasks. 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.
Writing Task One: 10%
Writing Task Two: 15%
Writing Task Three: 15%
Writing Task Four: 15%
? Journal entries: 15%
? Peer revision groups: 10%
? Class preparation and participation (including in-class writings, discussions
and group work): 10%
? Final essay exam and compilation of all tasks: 10% Progress as a writer:
For all writing tasks you will be required to participate in peer revisions groups. Graded
writing tasks (tasks one-three) can be revised throughout the semester and resubmitted for a
“new” grade. It is required that your original, graded essay accompanies your revised essay.
You will not have the opportunity to revise Writing Task Four; however, you will have ample
opportunity to share and revise drafts with me and with your peers. The deadline for revisions
will be set at a later date, usually a week or two before the end of the semester. 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. You must submit these materials in order to pass ENG 100. 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 me personally as soon as possible so that we 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. Miscellaneous:
Please note that you must complete all writing assignments in order to pass this course.
In addition, admission into ENG 104 requires a “C” or higher in ENG 100. All drafts and final
papers for this course must be word-processed. It is also important to save all written work on
disks, keeping back-ups if necessary, and to save all research. Please feel free to come see me if you have any problems or questions. I believe
communication is very important between an instructor and her students and, as a result, I will
make myself available to you for any reason. |