English 104 College Writing and Rhetoric I. General course information: Course and section number: ENG 104, Section 02 Meeting time and place: 9-9:50 MWF, JGM 104 Instructor: Nancy Reese-Dillon Office location: SS/C, Suite 222, Office T Office hours: 7:30-9:00 Mondays, 8-9 a.m. WF, or by appointment only Office telephone: 271-4239 Home telephone: 233-0386 Voice mail: 390-3146 email: dillon@griffon.mwsc.edu II. Required Texts and materials:
Reading Critically, Writing Well, Fifth Edition, by Rise B. Axelrod and Charles R. Cooper
Two, two pocket folders. One to be used as a Reading Journal and one to turn in final writing assignments.
Loose-leaf notebook paper
Photocopies of drafts for group work
III. Recommended Texts:
The New Century Handbook, by Christine A. Hult and Thomas N. Huckin.
College dictionary and Thesaurus
IV. Objectives of ENG 104:
Course Objectives: Means:
Writing can be used (a) Use invention techniques to discover new ideas
for different purposes (b) Make journal entries to explore your mind and to extend
the range of your personal life
(c) Write summaries to distill ideas
(d) Write essays to communicate ideas and impose order on
your thoughts and experiences
Multiple audiences exist (a) Do some private writing for yourself
(b) Write other work for your classmates or for an audience beyond the classroom
(c) Write still other work where your teacher is the principal audience who responds to and evaluates the product
Writing is a recursive process (a) Write drafts of material meant for an audience other than yourself
(b) Reread first and second copies to rethink what you want to say
(c) Revise for an organization appropriate to your main
purpose
Many productive ways exist (a) Practice various invention techniques, some of which
to generate ideas and images may be brainstorming, listing, free-writing, looping,
for your work clustering, cubing, reading, interviewing and researching
Common patterns of (a) Describe people, objects, events or processes
organization exist (b) Illustrate points
(c) Compare and contrast people, objects, events, processes
ideas, texts, or styles
(d) Learn to write essays that display personal involvement
unity, coherence, clarity, development
Formal distinctions exist (a) Learn to write summaries that accurately reflect the
among different prose genres explicit ideas and supporting reasons of written texts
Editing skills enable writers (a) Learn how to identify and correct your own spelling,
to polish their work in order grammatical, and mechanical errors in the final stage of
to keep the reader's attention the writing process
focused on the message conveyed
or the experience created
Reading is an interactive (a) Identify the main concepts of written works
process that functions in our (b) Locate supporting details
lives as a pleasurable activity (c) Read for organization
as well as a means of acquiring
knowledge
For more information about the English Department at MWSC, students may check the web site at: http://www.missouriwestern.edu/`engdept/genstud.html. Sample papers and a complete listing of common course goals and objectives for English 100, 104, 108, 112 and 210 can be found here.
V. Basic writing requirements for ENG 104:
Students will engage in exploratory journal writing and/or prewriting exercises in which they will learn how to discover ideas, respond to texts and summarize texts. Students will be expected to develop these exploratory writings into major writing assignments. In these assignments students will recreate or reflect on personal experiences, share information, (gathered in part from library research), and analyze and synthesize readings.
Students will complete five major writing tasks that will be graded by the instructor. A student who does not turn in a response to all five tasks will not pass the course even if the grades achieved on the writing tasks are satisfactory.
All drafts of essays must be word processed. Handwritten major papers will not be accepted. Additional information regarding paper format will be given prior to each paper due date.
Students must keep a complete portfolio of all writing that is done in ENG 104. It is important that students save and date all materials generated as a part of this class, including homework assignments and in-class work. Before any grade appeal will be processed for a student in ENG 104, the complete portfolio of writings will have to be submitted to the Departmental Review Committee.
VI. Grading policy:
Student grades will be determined on the basis progress as a writer, homework and quizzes, the writings submitted, and class participation and attendance over the course of the semester.
Grading scale: 90-100% = A
80-89% = B
70-79% = C
60-69% = D
59% and below = F
Essay #1 - Autobiography 50 points
Essay #2 - Observation 50 points
Essay #3 - Evaluation 100 points
Essay #4 - Speculation about Causes/Effects 100 points
Essay #5 - Proposal to Solve a Problem 100 points
The course grade will be determined as follows: Major papers, 60% of the course grade. Reading Journal, 20 % of the course grade. Quizzes and Participation, 10 % each of the final course grade.
Failure to attend the final exam will result in failure of the course.
Participatory points will accumulated all semester and will be awarded at the end of the semester based on classroom preparedness, classroom participation and leadership, and homework assignments, in-class writings, and quizzes.
Student grades will also be affected by lack of attendance. This will be discussed in more detail in Section VIII of the syllabus.
A student must receive a final course grade of a “C” or better before he will be allowed to enroll in English 108.
VII. Academic Honesty:
Plagiarism or other academic dishonesty as assessed by the instructor will be the basis for a zero on any exercise or major paper affected. The student’s name and information about the violation will be forwarded to the Department Chairman of the English, Foreign Language and Journalism Department as well as to the Dean of Students. A second violation will result in failure of the course. Students are expected to show “proof of process.” That is, when a major paper is turned in, the student must also submit all in-class writings and drafts so the instructor may adequately see that the work and the ideas originated from and belong to the student submitting the work. The work must be done in accordance to the classroom schedule and deadlines to provide appropriate “proof of process.” This policy covers any and all participants involved with the cheating of any exercise. Total honesty is stressed and expected.
VIII. Attendance Policy:
Each student enrolled in the class is expected to arrive at each class meeting with any assigned material read and prepared for discussion. If a group evaluation is taking place, each student is expected to have his/her material ready for the group evaluation. Since class attendance, participation, discussions, and group work are such an important part of this course, your grade in the course is directly affected by your attendance or lack of. When a student has had four absences, that student will receive an "F" for the final course grade. Excessive tardiness may also be counted as absences.
It’s important to understand that an absence is neither “excused” or “unexcused,” it just is. Students are advised to use absences wisely and take into account bad weather, bad luck with alarm clocks, and other personal or family emergencies, illness, etc. If a student misses class, it will count as an absence regardless of the circumstances. Important reminder: Tardiness may also be considered an absence.
When students are absent, they are responsible for getting the work missed in class BEFORE the next class period. An absence does not dismiss the student from the obligations of homework or deadlines.
There will be announced and unannounced writing exercises and quizzes. No in-class assignments may be made up. If a student is absent, the points are lost.
IX. Group evaluation or Writing Conferences
If a group evaluation or writing conference is being performed the final draft of the paper will be unacceptable without the required evaluation or conference. If a student misses the in-class group evaluation or fails to keep a scheduled writing conference with the instructor, (or show up late), the paper will automatically receive a grade of "F." These conferences are considered an integral part of the writing process, so the paper is considered incomplete without them. The evaluation and conference procedure will vary from paper to paper, so it’s important to listen to information given during class regarding these evaluations or conferences. Since some writing conferences may take the place of a regularly scheduled class session, it is important to understand that a missed writing conference is the same as a class absence and will be treated as such.
X. Deadlines:
All assignments are due and will be collected at the beginning of the hour, unless otherwise noted by the instructor. Any assignment turned in after the end of the class period on the same day as the due date will be considered late and may carry an automatic 50% reduction of the final grade. Any paper turned in the following class session will be considered too late and may be given a grade of "0".
XI. Disabled Student Policy:
Any student enrolled in this course who has a disability that prevents the fullest expression of abilities or that prevents or hinders the completion of class requirements as stated in this syllabus should contact the instructor immediately in writing so it can be discussed how he/she can be helped to meet class requirements.
XII. Center for Academic Support:
The Center for Academic Support provides trained tutors for students requiring additional reading or writing instruction. There is no cost to the English 104 student for using these services. The Center can be of assistance to the student in the following areas: writing a thesis statement, organizing ideas, structuring ideas into an essay form and more. Students are highly encourage to make use of these services throughout the course of the semester.
XIII. Code of Behavior:
First and foremost, students are expected to be responsible. This includes doing reading and writing assignments according to deadlines (whether absent or not), obtaining help when needed - either from myself, the Center for Academic Support, or from another classmate , and becoming truly engaged and committed to improving writing skills.
Students are expected to come to class promptly and regularly, respect deadlines, and conduct themselves appropriately. Students are asked and expected to cultivate a strong work ethic; that is showing up consistently and on time for class, performing duties asked, being responsible for one’s own progress, and an overall desire to become a better and stronger writer.
When a student does not understand a concept, does not agree with an earned grade, or has any other questions or concerns, it is expected and hoped, that the student will take the responsibility to talk to the instructor. I want to see you succeed in this class and will be willing to help you develop and improve your writing skills. I have given you my home telephone number and a number where I can be reached by voice mail. I encourage, in fact I insist that you call me if you have any questions about assignments, concepts, etc. I have also provided you with my email address. I periodically check my email - normally in the early morning and in the evening - so please feel free to use this as a means of communication with me. I expect each student to take responsibility in the classroom.
XIV. Tentative course schedule:
Students will move from personal writing to explanatory writing to writing arguments. The following is a tentative course schedule which includes tentative reading and writing assignments and paper deadlines. This is only a tentative course outline. The instructor reserves the right to make changes to the outline dependent on the needs of the class.
Students will generally be expected to complete multiple drafts for each major paper. The third part of the cycle will be used for revision, editing, peer reviews and writing conferences.
Throughout the semester there will be a series of editing workshops that will include mini lessons on mechanical issues (grammar, punctuation, spelling problems, sentence construction, editing, etc.) These mini lessons will be determined by student need.
Paper #1 - Autobiography
Reading Assignments: RC,WW, Chapters 1 and 2
Tentative peer review date: Wednesday, August 29
Paper due date: Friday, August 31
Mon. 8/20 Introduction to course, Chapter 1
8/22 Invention phase
8/24 Chapter 2
Mon. 8/27 Drafting phase
8/29 Revision phase
8/31 Paper #1 due
Paper #2 - Observation
Reading Assignments: RC,WW, Chapter 3
Tentative peer review date: Wednesday, September 19
Paper due date: Friday, September 21
Mon. 9/3 No Class - Labor Day
9/5 Begin Paper #2. Invention phase
9/7
Mon. 9/10 Drafting phase
9/12
9/14
Mon. 9/17 Revision phase
9/19 Peer Review
9/21 Paper #2 due
Paper #3 -Evaluation
Reading Assignments: RC,WW, Chapter 6
Tentative peer review date: Wednesday, October 10
Paper due date: Friday, October 12
Mon. 9/24 Invention phase
9/26
9/28
Mon. 10/1 Drafting phase
10/3
10/5
Mon. 10/8 No Class - Columbus Day
10/10 Revision phase
10/12 Paper #3 due
Paper #4 -Speculation about Causes and Effects
Reading Assignments: RC WW, Chapter 7
Tentative peer review date: Wednesday, October 31
Paper due date: Friday, November 2
Mon. 10/15 Invention phase for Paper #4
10/17
10/19
Mon. 10/22 Drafting phase
10/24 Midterm grades due
10/26 Last day to drop a class
Mon. 10/29 Revision phase
10/31 Peer Review day
11/2 Paper #4 due
Paper #5 - Proposal to Solve a Problem
Reading Assignments: RC, WW, Chapter 8
Tentative peer review date: Monday, November 19
Paper due date: Monday , November 26
Mon. 11/5 Invention phase, Begin Paper #5
11/7
11/9
Mon. 11/12 Drafting phase
11/14
11/16
Mon. 11/19 Revision phase
11/21 No Class - Thanksgiving Vacation
11/23 No Class - Thanksgiving Vacation
Mon. 11/26 Paper #5 due
11/28 Final exam preparation
11/30 Last Day of Class
Final Exam : Wednesday, December 7
Janet Gorman Murphy Building , (JGM) Room 104
8:30-10:20