English 104: College Writing & Rhetoric
Fall 2002
104-92
I. General Course Information
Instructor: Lisa C. Rule
Meeting Time & Place Saturday 9:00-11:45 am in SSC 210
Office Location & Phone SSC 222T 816-271-4239 (messages only)
Office Hours By appointment only
Home Phone 660-646-0135
Alternate Phone (daytime) 660-646-2231
Cell Phone 660-752-3501
Email rule@missouriwestern.edu or therules@greenhills.net
II. Required Texts and Materials
Reading Critically/Writing Well (Sixth Edition) by Axelrod & Cooper
The New Century Handbook by Hult & Huckin
III. Objectives of ENG104
Course Objectives Means to Objective
(You should understand that…) (You will…)
Writing can be used for different purposes 1) use invention techniques to discover ideas
2) make journal entries to explore your thoughts and to extend the range of your personal life
3) write summaries to distill ideas
4) write essays to communicate ideas and impose order on your thoughts and experiences
Multiple audiences exist 1) do some private writing for yourself
2) write other work for your classmates or for an audience beyond the classroom
3) write still other work where your teacher is the principal audience who responds to and evaluates the product
Writing is a recursive process 1) write drafts of material meant for an audience other than yourself
2) re-read first and second copies to re-think what you want to say
3) revise for an organization appropriate to your main purpose
Many productive ways exist to generate practice various invention techniques, some of
ideas and images which may be brainstorming, listing, free-writing, looping, clustering, cubing, reading, interviewing, and researching
Common patterns of organization exist 1) describe people, objects, events, or processes
2) illustrate points
3) compare and contrast people, objects, events, processes, ideas, texts, or styles
4) learn to write essays that display personal involvement, unity, coherence, clarity, and development
Formal distinctions exist among prose genres learn how to write summaries that accurately reflect the explicit ideas and supporting reasons of written texts
Editing skills enable writers to polish their work learn how to identify and correct your own spelling,
In order to keep the reader’s attention focused grammatical, and mechanical errors in the final stage of
On the message conveyed the writing process
Reading is an interactive process that functions 1) identify the main concepts of written works
in our lives as a pleasurable activity as well as 2) locate supporting details
a means of acquiring knowledge 3) read for organization
IV. Basic Writing Requirements
Students will complete four formal/major writing assignments in addition to other graded and non-graded work. It is
from this work that you will learn how to discover ideas, respond to texts, and summarize others’ ideas. In your assignments, you will learn how to analyze readings and share information with others by reading and responding to course texts and other materials.
Final drafts of major assignments should by typed or word-processed.
All students are expected to be prepared for class and participate in class discussions related to reading and writing assignments. A caveat: we will share our writing with our peers. Do not write about a subject that you wouldn’t feel comfortable sharing in the classroom! In addition, students are expected to keep complete portfolios of all writing. It is important that you save and date all materials relating to this class, as any grade appeal will only follow the submission of your complete portfolio of writings to the Departmental Review Committee.
V. Grading and Attendance
A= 90-100%
B=80-89%
C=70-79%
D=60-69%
F=Below 60%
Essay 1 (Observation) 150 points
Essay 2 (Explaining Concepts) 200 points
Essay 3 (Causes/Effects) 200 points
Essay 4 (Position) 200 points
Journal Writing 100 points
Quizzes/In-Class Writing 100 points
Final Exam 50 points
Total Points 1000
You must submit all four major writing assignments and your journal in order to pass this course. You must receive a course grade of “C” or better in order to enroll in ENG108.
You are expected to arrive prepared to class each class session. Since our class meets only once each week, it is imperative that you are physically and mentally present at each class. No in-class writings or quizzes may be made up; if you are absent, then you lose those points. If you know you will be absent on a certain date, then I am happy to work with you to accomplish the submission of your work early.
Assignments are due at 9:00. The overall percentage grade for any assignment turned in late will be reduced by 20% for each class session late, unless prior arrangements have been made.
VI. Communication
Meeting only once a week has its drawbacks. One of those is lack of communication. I live outside St. Joseph, but will be on campus occasionally if you must meet in person. It is far more efficient that we communicate throughout the week by email. I check and respond to my email in the late evening. If you have an urgent need, then you are welcome to call me at home or on my cell phone (at a reasonable hour). If I’m not available, then please leave a message and a number where I can reach you.
VII. 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 that it can be discussed how he/she can be helped to meet the class requirements.
VIII. 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 you 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 encouraged to make use of these services throughout the semester. Be sure to take your assignment and textbook.
IX. Academic Honesty
Plagiarism or other academic dishonesty as assessed by the instructor will be the basis for a zero on any assignment. 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 be ready to submit all in-class writings and drafts so that 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.” Total honesty is expected.
X. Tentative Course Schedule
The next page is a tentative course schedule which outlines reading assignments and paper deadlines. Readings are due on the day they appear. There will be additions and substitutions to this outline. Reading and assignments from The New Century Handbook should be expected both individually and for the group.
XI. Inclement Weather
I live 75 miles outside of St. Joseph. If the roads are hazardous, then I will call you by 7:30 Saturday morning to let you know that class is cancelled. If you do not hear from me, then assume class is in session.
Fall 2002 Calendar
August 24 Introduction to Course
August 31 JT#1 (Autobiography);
RCWW Ch. 1, Ch. 2 (pp 12-19),
September 7 JT #2
RCWW Ch. 3
September 14 JT #3
September 21 Observation Essay Due (via email?)
September 28 JT #4 (no class?); RCWW Ch. 5
October 5 JT #5
October 12 JT #6
October 19 Explaining Concepts Essay Due;
RCWW Ch. 7 (pp. 313-319)
(October 25 is last day to withdraw)
October 26 JT #7;
RCWW Ch. 7 (remaining)
November 2 JT #8
November 9 Cause/Effect Essay Due;
RCWW Ch. 9 (pp. 445-450)
November 16 JT #9;
RCWW Ch. 9 (remaining)
November 23 JT #10
November 30 No Class-Thanksgiving Holiday
December 7 Final Exam Date: Position Paper Due