Instructor: Dr. Roberts
Office: SSC 208G
Phone: 816-271-5810
E-mail: robertsi@missouriwestern.edu
Office Hours: 8:00 - 10:00 MWF and by appointment

Course Description and Objectives:
Students will complete three formal research projects in addition to other graded and ungraded work. In these assignments, students will learn to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate the thinking of others in order to discover, develop, and test their own points of view.

As part of the general studies goals for the course, students in ENG 108 will learn to write for different audiences and purposes, to use active reading and critical thinking, to use writing processes and conventions, to write for different audiences and purposes, and to use active reading and critical thinking. This course also meets the state level competencies of communicating, higher order thinking, and managing information. For more information on the institutional and state goals and competencies, see the English Department website for general studies courses at http://www.missouriwestern.edu/eflj/genstud.asp. Click on English 108.

Required Materials:

• Maner, Martin. The Research Process: A Complete Guide and Reference for Writers. 2nd ed. Mountain View: Mayfield, 2000.
• A notebook exclusively devoted to keeping a research journal.
• An up-to-date unabridged college dictionary.
• A college handbook (guide to style, grammar and usage).
• At least two computer disks.
• Stamina and good humor.

• Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers . 5th ed. New York: Modern Language Association, 1999.

Preparation and Participation:
You are required to make significant contributions to class in the form of preparation and participation. Preparation includes completing the readings and daily assignments, as well as bringing your assignments, textbook, and other materials with you on the appropriate days. If you come unprepared, you will receive a zero for any work due that day.

Participation includes the help you give to fellow writers and the contributions you make to class discussion. Active and insightful contributions to class discussion are therefore not "extra credit." Like the written assignments, your regular, tactful and substantive comments are part of the minimal requirements for successful completion of the course. If you are a naturally quiet person, force yourself to be more vocal; do not assume that if I do not call on you that you need not participate, as it is your responsibility to voice your observations at appropriate and relevant times. Conversely, if you are a naturally talkative person, you may have to restrain yourself so that everyone has the opportunity to contribute. Since you obviously cannot make up for discussions from which you were absent, attendance is again critical.

Why is discussion such a large part of your grade? Because live classroom discussion:

• allows me to better determine how to regulate time and assignments for your greatest benefit.
• gives me an additional indication of how closely and thoughtfully you have read, enabling me to evaluate your knowledge and abilities more fairly and accurately.
• helps you think in terms of the subject matter by giving you practice in thinking.
• helps you learn to evaluate the logic of and evidence for your own and others' positions.
• helps you learn what counts as evidence and how to evaluate knowledge claims.
• helps you understand how knowledge is arrived at in the discipline.
• gives you practice arguing with others respectfully and professionally.
• gives you opportunities to formulate applications of principles.
• helps you become aware of and formulate problems using information from lectures and readings.
• helps you construct knowledge you can recall and apply when needed.
• gives you prompt feedback on difficult or confusing issues and material.
• increases your retention of material through explaining, summarizing, and questioning.
• stimulates new ideas, approaches, questions, reading and research.

Assignment Requirements:
All out of class written assignments for this course must be word processed unless otherwise specified. Non-word processed submissions will be returned with no credit. Assignments should follow MLA format, and pages should be stapled together before you come to class (do not use folders or paper clips and do not fold down the corners of papers). Do not throw away any work you do for this class, from notes to drafts to final papers, and keep back-up copies of all papers you turn in to me.

Late Work:
All assignments are due at the beginning of the hour on the due date. Learning is a cumulative process, and each assignment is designed to build on the previous one. Hence, late work disrupts this important aspect of the learning process. Major papers will be lowered one letter grade for each day they are late. No other late work is accepted, and there is no "make up" for any daily work. No work will be accepted after the last regular class day, and you must turn in all major writings to pass the class.

Revision is an important part of the writing process, and each major paper we do will go through an intensive draft stage before being turned in. Because each paper will receive extensive critiques before the final version is submitted for grading, you must consider the final version to be final. There will be no further opportunity for revision after that point.

Grading:
The standards for college English classes are higher than those used in high schools. All the guidelines and standards for classes at MWSC are similar to those used by other colleges and universities throughout the country. You, as a serious student, will appreciate the fact that we hold high standards for your work. Your grade will be determined by the quality of your drafts, major papers, quizzes, and other assignments, as well as by your preparation and participation. Assignments will be evaluated according to how well they meet the requirements outlined in the assignment description and the following general scale.

A = Superior
B = Above Average
C = Average
D = Minimum = passing below average
F = Failing

Paper #1 = 25%
Paper #2 = 25%
Paper #3 = 25%
Other Assignments = 25%

Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is a most serious offense and, therefore, will incur harsh punishment. Don't think you won't get caught; writing style is distinctive and verifiable. It is the student's responsibility to prove that all work is their own. Papers with evidence of plagiarism, intentional or not, will fail. Plagiarism may also result in failure of the course.

Disabilities:
Any student who has a disability that prevents the fullest expression of abilities should contact me immediately so that we can discuss class requirements.

General:
This syllabus is of a contractual nature, and by remaining in the course you acknowledge your acceptance of its stipulations in their entirety. If the goals, policies, procedures, standards, expectations, or obligations are unclear, then you should speak with me immediately. If they are clear but unacceptable to you, then you should drop the course.

If you choose to remain in the course, be sure to keep a copy of this syllabus with you and to refer to it regularly. Policies are enforced without exception to ensure uniformity and predictability, to avoid confusion and anxiety, and to facilitate fairness and objectivity for all students. In the interest of efficiency, however, I reserve the right to make necessary alterations to this syllabus and to make announced changes in daily plans. Any announcements made in class automatically supersede this syllabus. It is your responsibility to find out about announced changes.

Final Thoughts:
For further explanations, comments, and advice, I am available during office hours. For additional help outside of class, I strongly recommend the Center for Academic Support.

I genuinely want you to succeed in this class and at MWSC generally. I therefore urge you to keep in mind that what you gain from this course, and from your education generally, is proportional to the amount of productive time and careful attention you devote to it. In the words of Abigail Adams (1744-1818), "Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence."

Course Outline:
This outline shows major readings and assignments, but additional readings and assignments will be given in class throughout the semester.

1/14    Syllabus and Paper Assignment
16    Introduction; Ch. 1: The Nature of Research Writing
18    Ch. 2: Finding and Narrowing the Topic

21    Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
23    Ch. 2 Cont.
25    Ch. 3: Generating an Argument

28    Ch. 4: Finding Sources
30    Ch. 4 Cont.
2/01    Ch. 5: Writing a Short Plan

04    Ch. 6: Gathering Information
06    Ch. 6 Cont.
08    Ch. 7: Research Paper Formats: MLA (p. 153-193)

11    Bibliography Due; Ch. 9: Writing the Rough Draft
13    Ch. 9 Cont.
15    Ch. 9 Cont.

18    Presidents' Day
20    Paper #1 Draft Due (4 Copies)
22    Ch. 10: Revising the Rough Draft

25    Ch. 10 Cont.
27    Ch. 11: Editing
3/01    Paper #1 Due

04   Topics/Theses
06    Arguments
08    Prospectus

11 - 15 Spring Break

18    Finding/Gathering Sources
20    Cont.
22    Bibliography Due; Drafting

25    Cont.
27    Paper #2 Draft Due (4 Copies)
29    Revising; Last Day to Drop

4/01    Revising/Editing
03    Paper #2 Due
05    Topics/Theses

08    Arguments
10    Prospectus
12    Finding/Gathering Sources

15    Cont.
17    Bibliography Due; Drafting
19    Cont.

22    Paper #3 Draft Due (4 Copies)
24    Revising
26    Revising/Editing

30    Paper #3 Due

5/03    108-07 Final Exam: 11:30-1:20 p.m.
5/06    108-15 Final Exam: 2:00-3:50 p.m.