Michael Lund's Fall 2001 Course Syllabus

Division of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Department of English, Foreign Languages, and Journalism

Semester:        Fall 2001, Missouri Western State College

Course Title:    English 104 - College Writing and Rhetoric

                            Section 62 - 9:00 - 9:50 MWF JGM Bldg. 119
                                                                and
                            Section 9   - 10:00 - 10:50 MWF JGM Bldg. 205

Credit Hours: 3

Instructor: Michael Lund

Office Location: SS/C- 222 T 

Office Hours: By appointment

Telephone: 271-4239

Required Texts: Axelrod and Cooper, St. Martin’s Guide to Writing, 6th Edition Hult
                            and Huckin, The New Century Handbook, 2nd Edition 

I also suggest that you purchase a good collegiate dictionary and a 
thesaurus.

Course Description: Composition Course Guide may be viewed online at:
                                        http://www.missouriwestern.edu/eflj/genstud.asp

Additional Materials: Each student will need a three-ring binder for their portfolio.

Method of Instruction: Lecture, discussion, and small group activities; this class     allows for active learning by participation; therefore, students’ involvement in all discussions and peer evaluation sessions is expected.

Assessment Tools: Students will write a total of 8 essays (5 formal essays @100 points each; 3 informal essays @ 50 points each, 650 points total.) Students will assemble a portfolio inclusive of all class notes, pre-writings, drafts, peer editing sheets and final drafts, 250 points total (portfolio must be complete to receive maximum credit.)

Attendance: There are 100 points possible for attendance: (no draft for peer-evaluation sessions = 1 absence.) Total for class = 1000 points.

0-2 Absences = 0 point deduction
3 Absences = 10 point deduction
4 Absences = 20 point deduction
5 Absences = 30 point deduction and a required conference with instructor to discuss continuation of the course

Please Note: More than 5 absences may result in failure of the course.

Students with special needs/disabilities should identify themselves for accommodations per M.W.S.C. policy.

Tentative Class Schedule, Reading Assignments, and Essay/Portfolio Due Dates

M     8/20     Introductions, syllabus, course expectations


W     8/22     Chapter 1, St.Martin’s Guide to Writing (hereafter St. M.)

F     8/24     Writer’s Workshop, Lecture: The Writing Process in Action

M     8/27     Chapter 2, St. M. 

W     8/29     Continue Ch. 2

F     8/31        Prewriting due, essay #1: “Remembering an Event”

M     9/3     Labor Day - NO CLASS

W     9/5     Drafts due of essay #1 for peer editing/evaluation

F     9/7     Essay #1 due 

(For all essays except #8: any absent student must get his/her essay to me by the next class session they attend; otherwise, the grade for the assignment will be 0.)

M     9/10     Chapter 3, St. M.

W     9/12     Continue Ch. 3

F     9/14     Prewriting due, essay #2: “Remembering a Person” 

M     9/17     Drafts due of essay #2 for peer editing/ evaluation

W     9/19     Essay #2 due

F     9/21     Chapter 5, St. M.

M     9/24     Continue Chapter 5

W     9/26     Prewriting due, essay #3: “Explaining a Concept” 

F     9/28     Drafts due of essay #3 for peer editing/evaluation


M     10/1     Essay #3 due

W     10/3     Chapter 6, St. M. 

F     10/5     Continue Chapter 6

M     10/8     Columbus Day - NO CLASS

W     10/10     Prewriting due, essay #4: “Arguing a Position”

F     10/12     Drafts due of essay #4 for peer editing/evaluation

M     10/15     Essay #4 due

W     10/17     Chapter 7, St. M.

F     10/19     Continue Chapter 7

M     10/22     Prewriting due, essay #5: “Proposing a Solution”

W     10/24     Drafts due of essay #5 for peer editing/evaluation

F     10/26     Essay #5 due

M     10/29     Chapter 10, St. M.

W     10/31     Continue Chapter 10

F     11/2     Prewriting due, essay #6: “Interpreting a Story”

M     11/5     Drafts due of essay #6 for peer editing/evaluation

W     11/7     Essay #6 due

F     11/9     Chapter 9, St. M.

M     11/12     Continue Chapter 9

W     11/14     Prewriting due, essay #7: “Speculating about a Cause”

F     11/16     Drafts due of essay #7 for peer editing/evaluation

M     11/19     Essay #7 due

T-F     11/20-11/25     Thanksgiving Vacation - NO CLASSES


M     11/26     Chapter #8, St. M.


W     11/28     Prewriting and drafts due, essay #8, “Justifying an Evaluation”


F     11/30     Essay #8 due, portfolios due, No Late Work Accepted

Final Class Schedule: 

ENG104 Section 62, 9:00-9:50am Class  Final is Friday Dec. 7 at 8:30-10:20am

ENG104 Section 9, 10:00-10:50am Class  Final is Monday Dec. 3 at 11:30-1:20pm

Grading Scale: Each individual assignment, and your overall course grade, will be determined by the following scale:

90-100 % A
80-89% B
70-79% C
60-69% D
59% or less F

Essay Requirements, Formal Essays: 500-600 words, final drafts must be word-processed and inclusive of all prewriting, peer editing and drafts

Informal Essays: 300-400 words, may be hand written if legible but inclusive of all prewriting, peer editing and drafts

Students may select which essays they wish to complete as “formal” or “informal.” 
However, it is recommended that you do not put off all the formal essays until the latter 
portion of the course; instead, space these longer papers out throughout the semester and you will be much more successful.

Academic Honesty Policy: Cheating, plagiarism, or knowingly furnishing false information to the college constitutes a violation. A grade of zero may be assessed in the evaluation instrument.

Have a Great Semester!
Michael Lund