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College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Department of English, Foreign Languages, and Journalism ENG
108-08, -10 College Writing and Research In contrast, when I'm greatly inspired, only four revisions are needed." --John Kenneth Galbraith |
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College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Department of English, Foreign Languages, and Journalism ENG
108-08, -10 College Writing and Research In contrast, when I'm greatly inspired, only four revisions are needed." --John Kenneth Galbraith |
Professor: Dr. Roberts
Office: Eder Hall 222G
Phone: 816-271-5810
E-mail: robertsi@missouriwestern.edu
Office Hours: 8:00-9:30, 1:00-2:00 TTh
Course Description and Objectives:
Students will complete three formal research projects in addition to
other graded and ungraded work. In these assignments, students will
learn to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate the thinking of others in
order to discover, articulate, develop, test, and support their own
points of view.
As part of the general studies goals for the course, students in ENG 108 will learn to write for different audiences and purposes, to use active reading and critical thinking, to use writing processes and conventions, to write for different audiences and purposes, and to use active reading and critical thinking. This course also meets the state level competencies of communicating, higher order thinking, and managing information. For more information on the institutional and state goals and competencies, see the English Department web site for general studies courses at http://www.missouriwestern.edu/eflj/eng108.asp .
Required Materials:
Preparation and Participation:
You are required to make significant contributions to class in the
form of preparation and participation. Preparation includes completing
the readings and daily assignments, as well as bringing your
assignments,
textbook, and other materials with you on the appropriate days. If you
come unprepared, you will receive a zero for any work due that day.
Participation includes the help you give to fellow writers and the contributions you make to class discussion. Active and insightful contributions to class discussion are therefore not "extra credit." Like the written assignments, your regular, tactful and substantive comments are part of the minimal requirements for successful completion of the course. If you are a naturally talkative person, you may have to restrain yourself so that everyone has the opportunity to contribute. Conversely, if you are a naturally quiet person, force yourself to be more vocal; do not assume that if I do not call on you that you need not participate, as it is your responsibility to voice your substantive observations at appropriate and relevant times. Since you obviously cannot make up for discussions from which you were absent, attendance is again critical.
Why is discussion so important? Because live classroom discussion:
"Writing is the hardest work in the world not involving heavy
lifting." --Peter Hamill
Student Conduct:
As a condition to remaining at MWSU, 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. Behavior that disrupts the
classroom environment or interferes with other students' learning will
result in dismissal from the classroom. Passionate and forceful
language is sometimes appropriate; intolerance and dogmatism are not.
Assignments and Requirements:
In Project One, students will learn how to find and narrow topics,
develop well focused and doubtable theses, generate arguments, find and
evaluate sources, compile an annotated bibliography, and write a
prospectus
for a formal academic research paper. In Project Two, students will
learn
how to write, revise, and edit a formal academic research paper based
upon
the prospectus developed in Project One. In Project Three, students
will
gain practice going through the entire research and writing process
from
finding a topic to editing a formal academic research paper.
All out of class written assignments for this course must be word processed unless otherwise specified. Non-word processed submissions will be returned with no credit. Assignments must follow MLA format using no larger than twelve point font, and pages should be stapled together before you come to class (do not use folders or paper clips and do not fold down the corners of papers). Do not throw away any work you do for this class, from notes to drafts to final papers, and keep back-up copies of all papers you turn in to me.
Late Work:
All assignments are due at the beginning of the hour on the due date.
Learning is a cumulative process, and each assignment is designed to
build on the previous one. Late work disrupts this important aspect of
the learning process. Major papers will be lowered one letter grade for
each day late. No other late work will be accepted.
"If we had to say what writing is, we would define it essentially
as an act of courage." --Cynthia Ozick
Grading:
The standards for college English classes are higher than those used in
high schools. All the guidelines and standards for classes at MWSU are
similar to those used by other colleges and universities throughout the
country. You, as a serious student, will appreciate the fact that we
hold high standards for your work. Your grade will be determined by the
quality of your drafts, major papers, quizzes, and other assignments,
as well
as by your preparation and participation. Assignments will be evaluated
according to how well they meet the requirements outlined in the
assignment
descriptions and the following general scale.
A = Superior
B = Above Average
C = Average
D = Minimum = passing below average
F = Failing
Project #1 = 25%
Project #2 = 25%
Project #3 = 25%
Participation and Other Assignments = 25%
Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is a most serious offense and, therefore, will incur harsh
punishment. Don't think you won't get caught; writing style is distinctive and
verifiable. It is the student's responsibility to prove that all work is their
own. Papers with evidence of plagiarism or academic dishonesty of any kind,
intentional or not, will receive a zero. Plagiarism and/or academic dishonesty
will also likely result
in failure of the course.
Disabilities:
Any student who has a disability that prevents the fullest expression
of abilities should contact me immediately so that we can discuss class
requirements.
General:
This syllabus is of a contractual nature, and by remaining in the
course you acknowledge your acceptance of its stipulations in their
entirety. If the goals, policies, procedures, standards, expectations,
or obligations are unclear, then you should speak with me immediately.
If they are clear but unacceptable to you, then you should drop the
course immediately.
If you choose to remain in the course, be sure to keep a copy of this syllabus with you and to refer to it regularly. Policies are enforced without exception to ensure uniformity and predictability, to avoid confusion and anxiety, and to facilitate fairness and objectivity 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. Any announcements made in class automatically supersede this syllabus. It is your responsibility to find out about announced changes.
Final Thoughts:
For further explanations, comments, and advice, I am available during
office hours. For additional help outside of class, I strongly
recommend the Center for Academic Support.
I genuinely want you to succeed in this class and at MWSU generally. I therefore urge you to keep in mind that what you gain from this course, and from your education generally, is proportional to the amount of productive time and careful attention you devote to it. In the words of Abigail Adams (1744-1818), "Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence."
"I write when I'm inspired, and I see to it that I'm inspired at
nine o'clock every morning."
--Peter De Vries
Course Outline:
This outline shows major readings and assignments, but additional
readings and assignments will be given in class throughout the
semester.
8/30 Introduction, syllabus
9/1 Doublespeak: Lutz (152) and Cullen (165) in LA
9/6 English Only: King (180) and Hayakawa (190) in LA
9/8 Ch. 1: Understanding the Research Process in WRP
and Censorship: Bronner (260) in LA
9/13 Ch. 2: Deciding on a Topic in WRP and Censorship:
Ravitch (276) in LA
9/15 Ch. 3: Moving from Topic to Hypothesis in WRP and
Gender: Cobb (300) in LA
9/20 Ch. 4: Developing a Search Strategy in WRP and
Gender: Thompson (322) in LA
9/22 Ch. 5: Finding Books and Ch. 6: Finding Periodicals in
WRP
9/27 Ch. 7: Finding Internet Sources and Ch. 8: Finding Other
Kinds of Sources in WRP
9/29 Ch. 9: Developing a Working Bibliography and Ch. 10:
Evaluating Potential Sources in WRP
10/4 Ch. 11: Taking Effective Notes and Ch. 12: Paraphrasing,
Summarizing, and Quoting in WRP
10/6 Ch. 18: Using MLA (p. 250-266) in WRP and work on
bibliographies
10/11 Project One (Prospectus/bibliography) due and
film TBA
10/13 Ch. 14: Organizing and Outlining and Ch. 15: Writing the
Rough Draft in WRP
10/18 Drafting day
10/20 Drafting day
10/25 Ch. 13: Avoiding Plagiarism and Ch. 16: Revising the
Rough Draft in WRP
10/27 Ch. 17: Understanding Documentation and Ch. 18: Using
MLA (p.240-249) and Ch. 21: Following Format Requirements in WRP
11/1 Project Two (Paper) due and film TBA
11/3 Advertising: Bryson (423) and Lutz (442) in LA;
11/4 Last day to drop
11/8 Advertising: Federman (471) and Critser (476) in LA
11/10 Names: Wach (605) and Hayakawa (611) in LA
11/15 Topic formation
11/17 Gathering sources
11/22 Gathering sources, taking notes
11/24 Developing prospectus/bibliography
11/29 Prospectus/bibliography due and work on drafts
12/1 Drafts due for critiques
12/6 Editing, formatting
12/8 Project Three (Paper) due
12/13 Final Exam (section 08: 11:30-1:20; section 10:
2:00-3:50)