Department of English, Foreign Languages, and Journalism
English 104-01 – College Writing and Rhetoric
Meredith Katchen, SSC 222-P
Office Hours: M, W, F
Telephone: 271-5815
E-mail: mkatchen@missouriwestern.edu
I will also be in my office at times other than those posted. Feel free to stop by, or make an appointment. I encourage everyone to come by during the semester.
Course Overview
This course introduces students to ideas and information about rhetoric. Above all, this class will help students to control their written work to favorably impress an academic audience. For a detailed description of course objectives, please refer to: http://www.missouriwestern.edu/eflj/syllabi/2005/Fall/Eng104-xx.html.
Course Structure
The course will be roughly divisible into four units. I encourage you to make connections between them. Each unit will consist of writing assignments stimulated by required readings.
Required Books and
Materials
1. Inherit the Wind, Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee
2. Savage Inequalities, Jonathan Kozol
3. Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, Annie Dillard
4. Various handouts
5. One spiral notebook, 40 to 70 pages, to be used for this class only
Basic Writing Components
of the Course
* Journals: Bring journals to each class meeting. Use them for notes, quizzes, reading responses, exercises, initial drafting, and other in-class writing. I will collect journals periodically during the semester. Journal entries will earn points for thoroughness, volume, and thoughtfulness. Missing journal entries cannot be made up.
* Essays & Other Writing: You will be assigned a mix of written work, some to be completed quickly and some to be brightly polished over time. All assignments will be given in writing, and each assignment will specify criteria by which your work will be evaluated. An essay will earn zero points until it meets the basic criteria.
Final Exam – There will be a final exam. Attendance is mandatory.
Revision of Written
Work
Major writing assignments, with the exception of the final assignment, may be revised for a higher grade. Your grade will never go down as a result of revision. Requirements and deadlines for revisions will be announced during the semester. In addition, I may require you to revise any work I consider unsatisfactory, and such work will receive zero points until that work reaches acceptable quality.
Grading
Each student may earn up to 1000 points. Each piece of writing will be worth a specified number of points. At the end of the semester, total points will be converted to a letter grade by the following scale:
900 to 1000=A, 800 to 899=B, 700 to 799=C, 600-699=D, below 600=F.
A student must earn a grade of “C” or above to advance to English 108.
Note: I reserve the right to adjust the point values of new work in order to better meet the needs of the class. Any changes will be put into writing. In the event that we do not reach the target of 1000 points, letter grades will be proportionately calculated as a percentage of that total.
Attendance/Absences
Poor attendance reaps its own rewards. In other words, poor attendance generally leads to poor grades. Because journal work cannot be made up, each absence will limit your overall point total. In addition, I plan on the following point reductions:
3rd absence - 10 points
4th absence - 25 additional points
5th absence - 50 additional points
6th absence -100 additional points
7th absence -125 additional points
Absences will be counted beginning the second day of class.
Lateness
One of my pet peeves is a lack of punctuality, particularly when it is chronic. Therefore, once roll has been called, I may require a late student to explain his or her disruption of the class. In addition, after roll has been taken a late student will be penalized ½ of an absence until the bottom of the hour and a full absence thereafter. Therefore, every two times late will equal at least one absence.
Late Work
Late work may be refused and marked as not done. Accepted late work may still be subject to point deductions of 10% of available points per class period. I may give you a deadline extension at my discretion if you confer with me prior to the due date. Further, late work may not be promptly returned, which in turn will compromise the effectiveness of your revisions, and the opportunity to revise may be eliminated.
Plagiarism
Any deception regarding the authorship of written work will be dealt with harshly, up to and including a failing grade for the assignment, failure for the course, and my written recommendation for expulsion from MWSC. If I suspect that you have plagiarized, the burden of proof will be on you to recap your writing process and demonstrate your command of the material.
Disabilities and
Special Needs
Any student who has a special need or disability that may affect his or her performance in this class should contact MWSU’s Special Needs Coordinator for assistance. Also, let me know right away so that appropriate arrangements can be made to make sure your needs are met as quickly and completely as possible.
Civility and
Cooperation
Missouri Western requires all students to help us maintain good conditions for teaching and learning. All students will treat their classmates and teachers with civility and respect, both inside and outside the classroom. Students who violate this policy may, among other penalties, be counted absent and asked to leave. You should review your MWSC student handbook for further information.
Tentative Schedule
200 points (journal = 50; draft=30; peer review=20; other writing = 100)
Unit 1: Introduction to Rhetoric.
8/29 Welcome! Syllabus. Corax & Tisias.
8/31 What qualifies as rhetoric? Persuasion? Parables? Signs? Relationships between rhetor and audience. Rhetoric for academic audiences.
9/2 Very quick introduction to the genius of Aristotle
9/5
9/7 More about Aristotle
9/9 Thucydides handout
9/12 Thucydides handout
9/14 peer review
9/16 Essay #1 due
Projected Schedule
Unit 2 - Inherit the Wind 9/19 – 10/12
Unit 3 – Pilgrim at Tinker Creek 10/17 – 11/4
Unit 4 – Savage Inequalities 11/7 – 12/9
9/19 Inherit the Wind
9/21
9/23
9/26
9/28
9/30
10/3
10/5
10/7
10/10
10/12
10/14 MID-TERM BREAK – NO CLASS
10/17 Pilgrim at Tinker Creek
10/19
10/21
10/24
10/26
10/28
10/31
11/2
11/4
11/7 Savage Inequalities
11/9
11/11
11/14
11/16
11/18
11/21
11/23
11/25
11/28 Review, take stock
11/30 Review, take stock
12/2
12/5 revisions due
12/7
12/9 Last day of class; Essay due.