Department of English, Foreign Language, and Journalism

English 104-03 9:00-9:50 MWF

JGM 105

English 104-08 12:00-12:50 MWF

JGM 119

Dr. Stacia Bensyl  SSC 222 I

Phone 271-5936  email—bensyl@missouriwestern.edu

Office hours: 11:00-12:00 daily, and by appointment

 

Required Text:

The Presence of Others

Optional Text:

The New Century Handbook

I cannot stress the importance of having a good handbook.  If you already have a handbook from another class, that is fine.

Please bring your books to class every day. 

 

Course Objectives:

The course objectives for English 104 are outlined at http://www2.mwsc.edu/eflj/eng104.html#Institutional.  I strongly recommend that students review these course objectives in addition to my going over them the first day of class.

 

Paper Topics:

Paper #1: Narrative Essay

Paper #2: Comparison/contrast essay

Paper #3: Solution essay

Paper #4: Position essay

·     Your four portfolios are each worth 20% of your final grade. 

  • Because good writing hinges on one’s ability to read well, accurately, and actively, you will be quizzed over each reading assignment.  The total of your quiz scores is worth 20% of your grade. 

 

NOTE:  I will bring portfolios to class once to hand them back.  If you're not in class to receive your portfolio, you need to come to my office to pick it up.

 

Final Exam Period:

·        You MUST attend the final exam period to pass the class.  It is college policy that we meet during the final exam period.  I will hand back your fourth portfolio and give you your final grade at that time.  If you do not attend the final exam meeting, you will fail the class.

 

In class writing/portfolio policy:

You will write something in class almost every day.  I say almost, because sometimes peer reviews or class discussion will take up all of our class time.  You cannot make up the in class writings.  Each day's assignment must be dated.  Individual assignments will not be graded; instead, you will be graded on your portfolio performance as a whole. You will receive instructions for each of the four papers well in advance of their due dates.  All rough drafts must be word-processed.  Handwritten rough drafts will be docked points.  On portfolio due dates, I will collect your completed portfolio.  You will receive an evaluation of the in class work in the portfolio, as well as an evaluation of the process and final draft of your paper.

 

Attendance policy:

I don’t take daily attendance.  Quizzes cannot be made up, so please do not ask to do so.  Students who arrive late will not be given the quiz.  Remember, there will be a quiz over each reading assignment.


 

Student Disability:

Students with disabilities (impaired hearing, vision, reading disorders, etc.) should notify me in writing of the disability before the end of the first week of class.  In consultation with the Center for Academic Support, I will work out a course of study for such students.

 

Grading policy:

First off, you can't pass this class without turning in all four of your portfolios and attending the final exam meeting.  The grading scale is as follows:

100-90% = A

80-89%   = B

70-79%   = C

60-69%   = D

59-0%     = F

Remember, you must receive a grade of "C" or above to enroll in English 108 next semester.

 

Academic honesty policy:

I abide by all the regulations outlines in the Missouri Western State College Catalog and Student Handbook.  I will not tolerate plagiarism or claiming another’s work as your own.  Please don’t cheat!  If I find evidence of any academic dishonesty, the student will receive an “F” in the course.

 

Late paper policy:

You may turn in one late portfolio.  Your late portfolio cannot be the final portfolio.  The late portfolio must be turned in the class meeting after its original due date.

 

Rewrite Policy:

You may re-write papers in portfolios #1, #2, and #3 for a better grade.  Due dates for re-writes will be announced in class when I hand back papers.  The grade you receive for the re-write will be averaged with the grade you initially received for the portfolio.  I do not require students to re-write.  The process is optional.  I do require you, however, to take the re-write process seriously.  Simply making mechanical changes in the paper is not re-writing--it's editing.  That should have been done initially.  Re-writes will be handed back to you at some point during the semester, but I give precedence to current assignments.  It is possible that a re-write might not get back to you until the last week of class. 

 

Class Assignment Schedule:

Please remember that this is a TENTATIVE schedule.  We may need to adjust due dates or assignment dates as the semester progresses.  The term "invention" refers to any writing that we do which is "brainstorming" or "prewriting" for your final paper, or any writing which lets you practice techniques and methods of writing.  Please come to class having read the assignment for that day.  Be prepared to take a quiz over the assigned writing and to discuss your ideas in class.  Also be prepared to write in class every day.

 

Reading/Writing Assignments:

 

Aug.       30            Introduction and class standards

Sep.          1            “No Name Woman” page 391

                  3            “A Hope in the Unseen” page 634

                  6            Labor Day—no class

                  8            Gardenland, Sacramento, California” page 647

                10            invention—Narrative essay

13            invention—Narrative essay

                15            invention—Narrative Essay

17            Rough draft of Essay #1 due for peer review

20            Portfolio #1 due/Introduction to Comparison/Contrast essay

22            “A Whole Lot of Cheatin’ Going On” page 207

24            “The Future of Modesty” page 251

27            “Guys vs. Men” page 402

29            “Where I Come From Is Like This” page 458

Oct.           1            invention—Comparison/Contrast essay

  4            invention—Comparison/Contrast essay

  6            invention—Comparison/Contrast essay

                  8            No class

                11            invention—Comparison/Contrast essay        

13            Rough draft of Essay #2 due for peer review

15            Bensyl at conference—no class

18            Portfolio #2 due/Introduction to Position essay

20            “Learning in the Key of Life” page 64

22            “What Does a Woman Need to Know?”  page 72

25            “The Re-Coloring of Campus Life  page 78

27            “Can This Campus Be Bought?”  page 99

29            “Football is a Sucker’s Game  page 124

Nov.         1            “What is a Liberal Education?”  page 141

  3            invention—Position essay

  5            invention—Position essay

  8            invention—Position essay

10            invention—Position essay

12            Rough draft of essay #3 due for peer review

15            Paper #3 due/Introduction to Solution essay

17            “Work Makes Life Sweet  page 774

19            “Behind the Counter” page 787

22            “Speech to the Nation on Stem Cell Research” page 353

24            No class—Thanksgiving Break

26            No class—Thanksgiving Break        

29            invention—Solution essay

Dec.          1            invention—Solution essay

  3            invention—Solution essay

  6            invention—Solution essay

  8            Rough draft of essay #4 due for peer review

10            Portfolio #4 due

 

FINAL EXAM:

 

ENGLISH 104-03  8:30-10:20 Friday, December 17

 

ENGLISH 104-08  11:30-1:20 Wednesday, December 15