Missouri Western State University

Division of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Department of English, Foreign Languages, and Journalism

English 108-07 College Writing and Research

SSC, 210:11:00-12:20 TTh

Instructor: Teena Sims

Office: E/FL/J Department, office T

Phone: 271-4239

E-mail: tsims@missouriwestern.edu

Office hours: by appointment

Purpose:

To provide practice with writing effective papers using field and document research

Text:

Maner, Martin. The Research Process: A Complete Guide and Reference for Writers;

journal; college dictionary

Objectives:

As part of the general studies goals for the course, students in ENG 108 will learn to

write for different audiences and purposes, use active reading and critical thinking,

and use various writing processes and conventions.

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.html

Attendance:

You are expected to attend every class meeting. If you should miss a class, contact

another student to obtain class assignments/information. Your fourth absence will

constitute a serious decline in your grade.

Academic honesty:

Your work is to be exactly that. Submitting someone else’s work will result in a zero

for the course. Additionally, serious infractions may be referred to the dean of students

for disciplinary action.

Disabilities:

Please see me as soon as possible if you have a disability which you believe may

compromise your academic goals in this class.

Assignments and requirements:

There will be three Projects. Project One students will learn how to find and narrow

topics, develop well focused 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 other-

wise specified. Assignments must follow MLA format using no larger than twelve

point font, and pages should be stapled together before submitting. Keep all work, and

a back-up copy of all papers turned in.

Late Work:

All assignments are due at the beginning of the hour on specified due date. Major papers

will be lowered one letter grade for lateness. NO OTHER LATE WORK WILL BE

ACCEPTED.

Grading:

Project #1=20%

Project #2=20%

Project #3=30%

Assignments, participation, quizzes, etc.=20%

Final:10%

Course Outline:

This outline is not necessarily all inclusive. Deletions, changes and additions are possible.

8-30 Syllabus, Introduction

9-1 Ch. 1 (Nature of Research Writing), Ch. 2 (Finding/Narrowing Topics)

9-6 Ch. 2 Cont.

9-8 Ch. 3 (Generating an Argument)

9-13 Ch. 4 (Finding Sources)

9-15 Ch. 4 Cont.

9-20 Ch. 5 (Writing a Short Plan)

9-22 Ch. 6 (Gathering Information)

9-27 Ch. 7 (Research Paper Format: MLA)

9-29 Ch. 7 Cont.

10-4 Project One Due, Ch. 9 (Writing the Rough Draft)

10-6 Ch. 9 Cont.

10-11 Ch. 10 (Revising the Rough Draft)

10-13 Ch. 10 Cont.

10-18 Ch. 11 (Editing)

10-20 Project Two Drafts Due, Critiques

10-25 Project Two Due, Finding/Narrowing Topic (Ch. 2)

10-27 Finding/Narrowing Topic Cont.

11-1 Generating an Argument (Ch. 3)

11-3 Finding Sources (Ch. 4)

11-8 Writing a Short Plan (Ch. 5), Gathering Information (Ch. 6)

11-10Gathering Information Cont.

11-15Writing the Rough Draft (Ch. 9)

11-17Writing the Rough Draft Cont.

11-22Project Three Drafts Due, Critiques

11-29Revising the Rough Draft (Ch. 10)

12-1 Format (Ch. 7) and Editing (Ch. 11)

12-6 Project Three Due

12-8 TBA

Final: TBA, and posted, one week prior to scheduled date and time.