College Writing and Rhetoric

Department of English, Foreign Languages and Journalism
MWSC, Division of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Fall 2003

ENG 104 College Writing and Rhetoric
1:00 MWF 119 Murphy

Professor: Dr. Kaye Adkins
Office: 222J Eder (SS/C)
Phone: 271-5967
Email: kadkins@missouriwestern.edu
Office Hours: 10:00-10:50 a.m. MWF, 2:00-3:30 WF
and by appointment

Objectives: The course objectives are outlined on the EFLJ Department web page. These include:

Learning to write for different audiences and purposes
Learning to use active reading and critical thinking
Learning to use writing processes
Learning written conventions

In this course, I will place special emphasis on writing in an academic environment.

Required Textbooks and materials:

Anderson and Runciman, A Forest of Voices
Hult and Huckin, New Century Handbook (Do NOT sell this book back. Not only should it become part of your permanent library, but you will need it for other English classes and all of your writing assignments in college.)
A good college dictionary
Spiral notebook for freewriting

Assignments: In addition to reading assignments and short writing exercises, there will be five long writing assignments required. You cannot pass the class without turning in all of these assignments These longer assignments should be word processed or typed. After each assignment (except the final exam) is returned, students will complete a revision log. These will be used to develop individual proofreading strategies. For each assignment, students will collect a portfolio that includes at least one marked draft of their paper and editing sheets from members of their workshop groups. The final essay will be written in class during the scheduled final exam time.

Students will also be required to keep a spiral notebook of freewriting. Please use this only for freewriting. Keep notes and homework in another place. Bring this notebook to class each day. Most class periods will begin with a 5 minute freewriting session. I will look at your freewriting periodically to see if your speed is improving. I will not be concerned with correctness or content.

Grading: As the semester progresses, I will consider more elements of papers as I grade them. By the end of the semester, a passing paper will:

clearly respond to the assignment
focus on one distinct idea (a thesis, hypothesis, or question)
have a coherent general structure
have paragraphs that have a clear internal structure and a use of specific details
have sentences whose grammar is acceptable as English
be relatively free of blatant errors in idiom, diction, spelling, and punctuation.

Papers with four spelling errors will lose one letter grade. I will count typos as spelling errors. Papers turned in late will lose one letter grade for each business day they are late.

Grades will be weighted as follows:

Essay 1
Essay 2
Essay 3
Essay 4
5%
10%
15%
20%
Essay 5 (Final)
Portfolios (drafts, editing, workshop participation, revisions)
Class participation
10%
20%
20%

Essay 1 Essay 2 Essay 3 Essay 4	5% 10% 15% 20%		Essay 5 (Final) Portfolios (drafts, editing, workshop participation, revisions) Class participation	10% 20% 20%

Extra credit: In my writing classes, there is one way to earn extra credit. Visits to the Center for Academic Support to work on your papers will earn points in the Portfolio grade.

Absences: Students missing four class periods will have their semester grade lowered one letter grade. If you miss class, check with your classmates (especially your workshop members) to find out what short assignments you missed. If you must be absent and you know in advance, please talk to me about it; otherwise, talk to me when you return. I understand that many of you have work and family responsibilities, but you should make success in your college courses your priority. Your classes are "more important" than your job, so you should arrange your schedule accordingly.

Academic honesty: "Since honesty in the classroom is required, cheating, plagarism, or knowingly furnishing false information to the college constitutes a violation." Policy Guide II, B, C. In short, the work you turn in should be your own.

Disabilities: Please let me know during the first week of class about any physical handicap or learning disability if you need special help or accommodation in order to do your best work.

Schedule of Assignments: Since I try to adapt each of my classes to the needs and interests of the students, check this often for changes. If for some reason, class is canceled, check this site for the new schedule.