Syllabus for ENG 104-50
College Writing and Rhetoric
Missouri Western State College
Department of English, Foreign Languages, Journalism
Division of Liberal Arts and Sciences
English 104-50 -- College Writing and Rhetoric
Instructor: Dawn Terrick
Spring 2000
MWF 1:00-1:50 SS/C 223
Instructor: Dawn Terrick
Office: SS/C 208T
Office Phone: 816-271-4313
Office Hours: 10:00-11:00 MWF, 12:30-1:30 TTh and by appointment
Email: terrick@griffon.mwsc.edu
Required Texts:
Perspectives: Readings for Writers. DiYanni, Robert. McGraw-Hill, Inc.
Rules of Thumb: A Guide for Writers. Silverman/Hughes/Wienbroer.
McGraw-Hill, Inc.
Required Materials:
o Computer disks for revising and saving work.
o Notebook for journal entries only.
o Folder to keep all graded writing.
Course Description:
o "Language is the most vivid and crucial key to identity: It reveals the private identity, and connects one with, or divorces one from, the larger, public, or communal identity."
-James Baldwin
o "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
Reading and Writing: Reading can help us to understand ourselves and the world
around us. Reading can help us to make sense of our experiences and of our
lives by providing us with connections between ourselves and the larger world.
We, as human beings, must understand our complex and changing world and we
can accomplish this by understanding how language reflects and affects our
world. In this course, we will be reading various texts and then writing
about those texts. Writing about a text leads us to read that text critically
and intelligently, stimulates our thinking and will enable us to react to that
text. In order to achieve these goals, we will:
oRead and respond to various texts, such as textbook readings,
media such as television, movies and advertising, and our
peers' work.
o Read and study written texts to improve and refine our own
writing.
o Summarize, analyze and evaluate texts.
o Understand, find, shape, address and write arguments.
o Engage in journal writing.
o Revise our written work.
o Participate in peer revision groups.
For common objectives for ENG 104, also refer to the English department website at http://www.missouriwestern.edu/eflj/eng104.asp
Methods of Instruction:
Methods of instruction include textbook, lectures, class discussions, group work, individual student conferences, informal writing assignments and formal writing assignments. Students will be expected to participate in peer revision groups.
Policies:
Attendance and Class Preparation/Participation: Students are expected to attend every scheduled class meeting. Each student will be allowed four absences. More than four absences will likely effect your final grade. However, please feel free to speak to me about any extenuating circumstances for I reserve the right to excuse some absences. If you are going to miss class due to a school-sponsored event you must notify me in advance. Also, arriving to class late is disruptive. As a result, chronic lateness will likely affect your final grade. Students are also expected to come prepared to every class meeting and participate in class discussion for this is the only way we can all share ideas, ask questions and learn. Preparation includes coming to class with all assigned work completed. If you do not have your rough draft on the day of peer revising, you will receive a zero and will be marked absent.
Late Work: All writing assignments are due at the beginning of the class period on the due date. Each student is allowed one late paper (and only one late paper) and this must be discussed with the instructor. I will not accept/grade any other late papers. This is important because you must complete, turn in and receive a grade for all papers in order to pass this class. If you are not in class on the due date you are still responsible for submitting your assignment on time. Late journals and in-class writing assignments will not be accepted.
Students with Disabilities: Anyone who has a disability that prevents the fullest expression of his or her potential to succeed in this course must notify me as soon as possible so that we can discuss class requirements and accommodations.
Grading: Your final grade will be based upon five formal writing assignments, various in-class writing exercises, journal entries, class preparation and participation. Please remember that smaller assignments and class participation are very important and do effect your grade.
o Formal Writing Assignments -- 70%
A student who does not turn in all formal writing assignments will not pass the course even if the grades achieved in the other assignments are satisfactory
o Journal Entries -- 20%
o In-Class Writing Assignments, Class Participation and Preparation -- 10%
Portfolios: Students must maintain a portfolio of graded papers and revisions. This must be turned in during the last week of class.
Revision: All five formal writing assignments can be revised throughout the semester and resubmitted. It is required that your original, graded essay accompanies your revised essay. The deadline for revisions will be set at a later date, usually a week or two before the end of the semester.
Academic Honesty Policy: Cheating and plagiarism on assignments/papers are not acceptable. You will receive a grade of F for the assignment/paper that shows evidence of cheating and/or plagiarism.
Miscellaneous: Please note that you must complete all writing assignments in order to pass this course. In addition, admission into ENG 108 requires a "C" or higher in ENG 104. All drafts and final papers for this course must be word-processed. It is also important to save all work on disks, keeping back-ups if necessary.
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.
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