Course Philosophy and Objectives

I write when I'm inspired, and I see to it that I'm inspired at nine o'clock every morning. -- Peter de Vries

All Missouri Western composition classes address particular College Objectives, as well as the statewide Institutional Competencies for these courses. Information about this course's Objectives and Competencies can be found at http://www.missouriwestern.edu/eflj/eng108.asp.

Required Materials

Texts:

• Eschholz, Paul, Alfred Rosa, and Virginia Clark. Language Awareness. Eighth Edition. Boston: Bedford, 2000.
• Palmquist, Mike. The Bedford Researcher. Boston: Bedford, 2003.
• Your choice of a collegiate dictionary, but it should be a behemoth of a dictionary. Size really does matter. Must be available to use in class regularly.
• Your almost free choice of a NEW grammar handbook. The bookstore stocks The New Century Handbook. Avoid Shrunk and White's book at all costs--it's way out of date.
• Photocopies of articles and other texts used in research projects.

• Disks and Storage Case for revising, saving, and backing up your work.
• A LARGE Binder Notebook with Notebook Paper and Dividers for holding hard copies of your projects, notes, and copies of materials gathered and received. The notebook should be used exclusively for English 108--no history notes or  math equations--just English. Love letters are allowable if the content is sufficiently interesting and the language sufficiently literary.
• A Hole Punch, so that articles and other materials may be inserted into your notebook.
• A Pocket Folder, Binder Notebook, and Plastic Page Sleeves  in which to submit disks and hard copies of final research papers.
• Stamina and Good Humor.

Assignments

Pre-Writings, Responses, Research Exercises, Quizzes
To find and develop topic ideas, students will do a number of brainstorming, freewriting, and invention exercises for each project. Students will also develop their skills of summary, synthesis, and argumentation by responding to the readings and to each other. Research exercises will provide an  introduction to the library and the other information sources. Quizzes will be random, if at all, occuring only when I feel that we're falling down on our responsibilities, becoming lax in our standards, or succumbing to a general apathy for college and its power to enrich all our lives. Please don't make me give quizzes; it's best for all concerned.

Project One
For this project, students will write a profile and analysis of a speech community that they belong to, will belong to, want to belong to, or are just plain interested in. In addition to the class readings and activities for this paper, students will do interviews, fieldwork, and formal research.

Project Two
For this project, students will write a two part, formal research paper on a language issue read about and/or discussed in class or that is tangential to issues raised in class. In the first part, students will provide an overview of the scholarly background of the issue, including an annotated bibliography of important books and articles on the topic. The second portion of the paper is a formal researched essay, in which the student argues for a particular perspective on the issue, appropriately citing critical source material. This paper involves formal library and online research, but may involve other kinds of research, like surveys, fieldwork, or interviews.

Final Exam
The final exam will test your knowledge of research and writing by asking you to rate statements as "true" or "false." Statements that you rate as false must be accompanied by an explanation of why the statement is false.

Grading

We will do two research projects in this course and a final exam. In order to pass the course, you must complete the two formal research projects and take the exam. In addition, the quality of your work, the percentage of the work that you complete, and your efforts at participation will determine your final grade.

A word of caution: don't underestimate the value of small assignments, preparedness, and daily participation. Even if you receive passing grades on your projects, you can fail the course because of poor performance on daily assignments. Occasional lapses are understood, but chronic lapses can only pull your grade downward.

Your Final Grade Distribution is as follows:

• Research Project #1 = 30%
• Research Project #2 = 60%
• Final Exam = 10%

Attendance and Promptness

Attendance is mandatory. School functions, illness, and personal crisis do not absolve you from your classroom obligations. So while due consideration is given to the student struck by lightening on the way to class, an absence cannot be designated as "excused" or "unexcused" --it simply "is." I consider two absences to be reasonable; absences beyond two will likely effect your final grade, as you are not here to participate or turn in your work. Chronic lateness will count toward this total.

Regular attendance is an essential part of the student's educational experience and a requirement for an adequate evaluation of student academic progress. You are responsible for material covered or assignments given which you missed because of absence. All out-of-class assignments are due at the beginning of the class period. No late assignments are accepted, except as noted below.

You should note, however, that mere attendance does not mean you will pass the course. You must perform adequately on the tasks required and show initiative in completing the course requirements.

If I should be unable to meet class, you will be notified by a secretary, fellow instructor, or a note on the classroom door. Be sure to note any assignments due upon my return.

You will be expected to make significant contributions to the class in the form of participation and preparation. Participation includes the contributions you make to class discussion and the effort you make to be a part of our discourse community. Preparation includes doing the daily readings and responses as assigned, as well as engaging exuberantly in our activities. Keep in mind that live classroom discussion

gives you practice arguing with others respectfully and professionally

gives you opportunities to formulate applications of principles

gives you prompt feedback on difficult or confusing issues and material

increases your retention of material through explaining, summarizing, and questioning.

Students are expected to share their writings and other work with members of the course and, therefore, should not choose to write on topics they consider of a sensitive nature. Further, all work that a student produces may be shared by the instructor with the class for purposes of example and training. Such work will be as anonymous as possible. Finally, the instructor may share your work anonymously with future classes or in her own writing and research.

. . . it is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation. -- Herman Melville

Plagiarism is literally the stealing of others' words and ideas and using them as your own. Make every effort to give credit where credit is due, and if you are not sure of "how"--ASK. Students are responsible for proving that all work turned in for grading is their own original work. Plagiarism is a serious offense and, therefore, will receive harsh punishment. Papers with evidence of plagiarism will result in failure of the course. Don't think that you won't be caught; writing style is distinctive and verifiable.

Students are expected to be courteous and respectful in all of their exchanges with the instructor and other students and students should be particularly careful to note how tone, rhetoric, and language all contribute to the overall impression of their words and writings. The college expects all students to conduct themselves so as to maintain an effective environment for learning; to act responsibly in accordance with good taste; and to respect fully the rights of others.

Any student in this course who has a disability that prevents the fullest expression of abilities should contact me by the end of the first week so that we can discuss class requirements.

Revision is an important part of the writing process, and each project that we do will go through an intensive draft and revision stage before being turned in. Drafts will be graded for completion, and each final essay will be graded on its merits and appropriateness to the assignment. Since each paper will receive critiques before the final version is submitted for grading, you must consider the final version to be final.

All assignments are due at the beginning of the hour on the due date, unless otherwise specified. Learning is a cumulative process and each assignment in this course is designed to build on the last assignment; therefore, late work disrupts this important aspect of the learning process. Except for the final papers, no late work will be accepted. Final papers will not be discounted if turned in within 24 hours of the due date. Otherwise, they will be discounted one letter grade for every class period past the due date. No work will be accepted after the last class day before final exams.

You will be called upon to read materials online, use Webboard, and to use computers in and outside of class time. Further, all drafts and final papers for this course must be word processed, in accordance with Missouri Western's desire for you to become computer proficient. MWSC has a number of computer labs to help you complete this requirement. Learn to use the labs early and plan ahead to get into them during the busy parts of the semester.

Students should save all their work, both graded and ungraded, for this class--from notes to drafts to final papers. There may be occasions when work needs to be re-submitted or grades verified. Back up disk copies should be made religiously at the end of each day's work, and if possible, make a current print copy as well.

As with all college courses, a steady devotion to duty is expected; thus, while much work will be done in class, you must set aside an appropriate amount of time EACH day to completing your assignments, including time to go to the library and the computer lab.  Remember: no late work is accepted under any circumstances, so anticipate that there will be occasional glitches, whether personal or technical, and be sure to allow an extra hour or two in your schedule each day to handle unanticipated problems.

This syllabus is of a contractual nature, and by remaining in the course you acknowledge your acceptance of its stipulations. Policies are enforced without exception to ensure uniformity and to facilitate fairness 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.

Life is unpredictable--at least for the most part. I recognize that at times your outside life may interfere with your classroom life. It is up to you to set your priorities and to realize that "doing it all" is not always possible or even desirable. If you are feeling stressed about all you have to accomplish, remember that sometimes you can mess up without it effecting your grade unduly. If, however, what should be an occasional problem completing your work becomes a chronic problem, we need to talk. If I understand what is going on in your life, I can more easily help you achieve your goals.