Missouri Western State College, Division of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Department of English, Foreign Languages, and Journalism
English 100-08: Introduction to College Writing
11:00 - 11:50 MWF, MC211
Writer's Workshop: 12:00-12:50 MW
Fall 2000 Teacher: Bill Church
Office: JGM309Q
Phone: 271-5966
Office Hours: 10-11 MWF; 11-12 TTh
E-mail: church@griffon.mwsc.edu 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. There are no excused absences. Students must be in class at the beginning of the hour or be counted absent. 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: A fuller discussion of the topics covered below may be found at the following website: www.missouriwestern.edu/~engdept/eng100.html 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. Classroom behavior:
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. As stated in the MWSC Student Handbook, instructors "may establish additional classroom rules and expectations for conduct in the classroom. Behavior which disrupts the classroom environment or interferes with
other students' ability to learn may be grounds or justification for dismissal
from the classroom" (29-30). Sleeping, conducting private conversations, using
computers for other than assigned purposes, eating, drinking, damaging property,
and using vulgar or deliberately offensive language are some of the more common
acts that can damage the learning environment. Likewise, all telephones are to be silenced during class time. Let's establish a cordial and respectful atmosphere in which we can have fun while learning together. Promptness for attendance and submission of work: Students are responsible for all material covered and assignments given during their
absence. All out-of-class assignments are due at the beginning of the class period. Late
assignments will be penalized, and any paper not submitted at the beginning of the hour on the
due date will be considered one day late. Course Requirements and Grading Policy: Your grade will be determined by the papers, reflective letters, and questions you
submit, as well as your class participation over the course of the semester. The components of
your grade in the course are as follows: Major papers (75%): You will complete multiple drafts of four major writing tasks on specified
deadlines. Throughout the semester I will read and return your papers with my responses to your
cover letters and questions and an evaluation deeming the work "Acceptable" or "Unacceptable."
I will neither mark on your papers nor edit them for you. The amount of feedback and the
quality of feedback you receive from me will depend entirely on the level of responsibility you take for your own learning and the caliber and quantity of questions you ask me about your writing. Because I want you to strive continually for improvement and growth as a writer, I will assign neither points nor grades until you submit your final portfolio (See "Course Portfolio"
below). A student who does not complete all four major tasks will not pass the course even if
the evaluations on the other writing tasks are satisfactory. All work must be complete for you to
pass this course. Reflective Letters (15%): Critiquing your own writing process as well as your papers is an
important step in learning to write, revise, and communicate with others. Reflective letters
are due with each draft submitted to me for each of the four major writing assignments. Reflective letters should focus the reader on any questions you have about your work. The quality and number of thoughtful questions you pose with each draft will impact this part of your learning and, by direct connection, your grade. Participation (10%): Participation in daily class discussions, coming prepared for peer
revision workshops, group participation, written and oral feedback to others, and group and/or
individual oral presentations will count toward oral participation credit. Also, your
willingness to complete tasks in Writer's Workshop and contribute to a positive learning
environment there may also be considered. The highest grades in this course will go only to those students who are always prepared and always willing to ask or answer thoughtful questions about the work at hand. 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 for you to pass ENG 100. Students With Disabilities: Any student in this course who has a disability that prevents the
fullest expression of abilities must notify me in writing as soon as possible so that we can
discuss accommodations. ENG 100 Course Portfolio: During the last week of classes, you will submit a FINAL PORTFOLIO of your four major writing assignments along with copies of all drafts, all reflective letters, all peer evaluations, all my written responses to you, and your strongest work from WW at the end of the semester. I will assign a grade to the portfolio (75% of the course grade) based on the final quality of the work submitted. Since grades will NOT be assigned to individual
writing assignments during the semester, portfolio assessment provides an opportunity for
multiple revision and continued improvement. You will be informed throughout the semester if
your drafts are unacceptable (i.e., would result in a failing portfolio and course grade). Throughout the semester, I will designate "Revision Conferences," during which time I will
schedule individual meetings with you to discuss your works. In the meantime, I expect you to
revise with input from your WW leaders and from Center for Academic Support tutors. At the end of the semester, your portfolio must contain a persuasive/analytical cover letter written
during the Final Exam period, your best piece of writing from Writer's Workshop, and all four formal writing assignments. All texts except the final exam paper submitted for the portfolio
must be word-processed in 12-point type. They are to be single-spaced within paragraphs and double-spaced between paragraphs, with 1" margins all around, and they are to be proofread and edited for all spelling and mechanical errors. KEEP ALL OF YOUR DRAFTS. Academic Honesty Policy: Most cheating is accidental. When I see proof of excessive help in a student's paper or writing clearly not that of the student and not credited to its proper
source, I will caution the student and explain how to avoid such mistakes. If, however, the
"mistakes" continue because a writer is attempting to receive credit for someone else's
thoughts and words, I will assign an F to the work in question and, if necessary, an F for the
course. Also, when I have cause to suspect a pattern of cheating, I will document what caused
my suspicions and forward my report to my department chair and the dean of students. The only
way to learn and improve as writers is to do our own work. Nothing less is acceptable. In
questions of authorship, the burden of proof is on the student, so it is in your best interest
to keep every draft and every prewriting activity. Please note carefully the statement on plagiarism on the departmental website, found at the following site:
http://www.missouriwestern.edu/EFLJ/plagiarism.asp . 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. I will consider your Writer's Workshop participation as part of your grade. (Please see "Participation" grading above.) Tentative Due Dates for Formal Writing Assignments: Task One: Friday, September 8
Task Two: Friday, September 29
Task Three: Friday, October 27
Task Four: Wednesday, November 15 Final exam: Monday, Dec. 4, 8:30-10:20. Room to be announced. |