Department of English, Foreign Languages and
Journalism
MWSU College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Fall 2005
ENG 104 College Writing and Rhetoric
9:00 MWF 105 Murphy
10:00 MWF 103 Murphy
Professor: Dr. Kaye Adkins
Office: 222J Eder (SS/C)
Phone: 271-5967
Email (my preferred form of communication): kadkins@missouriwestern.edu
Office Hours: 11:00 a.m.-12:50 p.m. MWF and
by apppointment
Schedule
of Assignments
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
-
Kischner and Wollin, Writer's Choices: Grammar to
Improve Style
-
A good college dictionary
-
Spiral notebook for freewriting
Resources:
Because you will continue writing (for
both personal and professional reasons), it is a good idea to build a library
of resources for writing. Next time someone asks you what you’d like
for your birthday, you can tell them you’d like one of these books:
-
Glenn, Word Pocket Guide. One of the
excellent series of software guides from O’Reilly, this book will explain
the basic features of Microsoft Word. It is useful for writing papers,
letters, and reports. (In other words, buy it now!)
-
Lanham, Revising Prose. Lanham has several
books on creating clear, readable writing, but this one is a guide for
all kinds of writing.
-
Alred, Oliu, and Brusaw. The Business Writer’s
Handbook. No matter what career you are entering, you will probably
need to write memos, letters, professional emails, and reports. This
book is an indispensable guide. Consider buying it when you start
writing letters to apply for scholarships, internships, or jobs.
-
A couple of good resources on line–You can
find just about any used book (even rare ones) at www.alibris.com.
While you are a student, you can get low-priced software and computer supplies
at www.academicsuperstore.com.
Assignments: In addition to reading assignments,
informal writing assignments, and style exercises, there will be five major
writing assignments required. You cannot pass the class without turning
in all five of the major assignments These major assignments should
be word processed or typed. After each major assignmen 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 |
10%
15%
15%
20% |
|
|
Essay 5 (Final)
Portfolios
(drafts, editing, workshop participation, revisions)
Class participation, homework, daily work |
10%
15%
15%
|
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. (The class participation
grade is "F".) If you miss class, check with your classmates (especially
your workshop members) to get notes and find out what we worked on.
Daily work and homework assignments can not be made up. 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 education is your most important job, so you should
arrange your schedule accordingly.
Academic honesty:
"Since honesty in the classroom is required, cheating, plagiarism, or knowingly
furnishing false information to the college constitutes a violation." Policy
Guide II, B, C. Papers that have been plagiarized will receive no
credit, and the student who submits such a paper will have to meet with
me before any other work will be accepted.
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.