Missouri Western State College
Department of English, Foreign Languages, Journalism
Division of Liberal Arts and Sciences
English 104-51 -- College Writing and Rhetoric
Course Syllabus -- Spring 2000
Instructor: Bill Church
Office: SS/C 208R
Phone: 816 271-5966
email: church@griffon.mwsc.edu
Office Hours: 10-11 MWF; 9:30-10:30 TTh; and by appointment
Class Meeting Time and Room: 8:00 - 9:20 TTh, MC211
Required texts and materials: Critical Thinking, Thoughtful Writing, John
Chaffee; The Contemporary Reader, Gary Goshgarian; Writing From A to Z. Sally
Ebest et al. You will also need computer disks formatted for IBM compatible
computers, and you will need a spacious journal that will endure heavy use.
Recommended text: A collegiate dictionary with at least 200,000 entries.
Students with Disabilities: Anyone who has a disability that prevents the
fullest expression of her or his potential to succeed in this course must
notify me in writing as soon as possible so we may discuss course requirements,
options and accommodations.
Course Description & Goals: Please see the following Internet site.
http://www.missouriwestern.edu/eflj/eng104.asp
Academic Honesty: Most cheating is accidental. If, however, I determine that a
student is cheating deliberately or repeatedly, I will minimally award a failing
grade for the project. I may submit a failing grade for the entire course if
circumstances warrant. In addition, I will forward in writing the names and acts
of all involved students to the chairperson of the English department chair and
to the dean of students. In cases of suspected plagiarism, the burden of proof
is on the student, so it is in your best interest to keep every piece of writing
you generate for every assignment.
Grading Method: I use portfolio grading, which means that I assign neither a
letter grade nor points to any writing assignments until the end of the
semester. I respond to each major paper by informing students that it is either
"acceptable" or "unacceptable." If I deem the work "acceptable," that assessment
will convert to at least a "C" for that paper at semester's end. Further
revision is completely at the student's discretion. If I deem a work
"unacceptable," the paper in question would be at best a "D" at semester's end
and likely result in a repetition of the course if all other work were of the
same quality.
Grading Criteria:
* Quality and completeness of your portfolio (65%)-- by this I mean
not only the caliber of your final drafts but also the number of
revisions you have done and the extent and quality of those revisions.
Your portfolio will contain varied works such as summaries, letters,
critical analyses, major papers, and assorted other writings as
assigned. No one will pass without completing all assignments,
regardless of the quality of work submitted.
* Reflective letters and questions (10%) – you will write in-class
reflective letters on the due dates of all major papers. Within or
attached to your letters you will pose questions you have about
your writing. Your letters and questions will frequently provide more
insight into your growth as a writer and thinker than the papers will.
The quality and quantity of responses you receive from me will be in
direct proportion to your analyses and questions.
* Participation (10%) – this means you will have read all assigned
readings carefully and have been prepared to discuss them
intelligently. It also means you always met deadlines for all stages
of each assignment, from posting the earliest working drafts to
offering insightful comments on your peers'work during peer review
sessions.
* Journal entries (15%)-- means you will have completed a thoughtful
entry on the assigned subject to full length (usually about 250 words)
each time such writing was assigned, approximately three to five
times weekly.
* Quiz scores – I will regularly reward careful reading and consider
your scores as part of participation.
* Timeliness – students who receive grades higher than C will meet all
deadlines for all aspects of the composition process on all writing
tasks.
* Attendance – your constant presence is mandatory for your success
(please see Attendance Policy below).
The highest grades will go to the students whose efforts and intellects
allow them to produce the most complete, clear, correct, and insightful writing.
Portfolios from these students will contain multiple drafts of every assignment,
thoughtful reflective letters with every submission of every draft, and
thoughtful questions for me to answer about their writing. In addition,
students who receive the highest grades will have completed all assigned
journal entries to full length and truly engaged the subject matter
thoughtfully. Likewise, students who receive the highest grades will have
received the highest quiz scores, contributed meaningfully to class discussions,
and met all deadlines for drafting and submitting work, in addition to
fulfilling the attendance requirements.
Missing deadlines, major papers, excessive classes, journal entries, and
quizzes will result in substantially lower grades, in many cases to the point of
failure. Also, superficial or off-topic journal entries, superficial or poorly
edited papers, or an unwillingness or inability to contribute meaningfully to
class discussions or to revise papers effectively will result in low final
grades.
Midterm grades: I submit a "C" for students whose work is complete and passing
and whose absences are below the limit. I submit a "D" for students whose work
is complete but not acceptable. I submit an "F" for students whose work is
incomplete and/or who have exceeded the absence limit.
Attendance:
*you may miss all or part of two classes without penalty beyond missed
points;
*the third and fourth absences (more than fifteen minutes of any class)
will lower your final grade by one-half of a letter grade per absence;
*the fifth absence results in an automatic "F," and you should withdraw
immediately
*I reserve the right to waive the penalties for extenuating
circumstances, though I accept no obligation to do so.
Although all of us will occasionally experience an emergency or illness that
causes us to miss or arrive late, students who succeed will minimize absences.
Make-up Work: This course doesn't lend itself to make-up work. When we read and
discuss a selection, we can't recreate that experience later. Nor can in-class
writings and group work be recreated later. And obviously I can't allow make-up
quizzes after we've gone over the answers in class, which we will always do.
Therefore, in this course, missed work is permanently missed.
Excused Absences: Common sense must prevail. I may grant special consideration
to students who can document extenuating circumstances or who are representing
MWSC. However, students need to notify me of planned outings in advance and
turn in their work or take their quizzes before each absence. I will confirm
absences representing the college by contacting the appropriate MWSC personnel.
Classroom behavior: 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" (28). 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. Let's establish a cordial and
respectful atmosphere in which we can have fun while learning together.
Final Exam: Will write argumentative paper in class.
Section 51 – May 4, 8:30 - 10:20, MC 211
Section 08 – May 4, 11:30 - 1:20, MC 211
Section 12 – May 4, 2:00 - 3:50, MC 211
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