COURSE OBJECTIVES

For the specific course objectives for English 108, please visit the English Department web site, http://www.missouriwestern.edu/eflj/eng108.asp.

REQUIRED MATERIALS

Ambrose, Stephen E. Undaunted Courage. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1996.

Hacker, Diane. A Pocket Style Manual. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s: 2004.

New York Times on the Web (Free Registration). www.nytimes.com

Two spiral notebooks.

COURSE INFORMATION

The theme of this course is “The Traveler’s Eye.” For this course you will travel to a new culture or subculture. You will visit the culture, talk with members of the culture to learn their stories, examine the culture’s artifacts and language, learn the culture’s values and beliefs, and teach the culture to those of us in class.

To accomplish this you will complete four research projects that will lead to a major research paper and a class presentation. The projects include:

· A research proposal

· A descriptive essay or travel piece based on a visit

· An interview essay that shares cultural stories

· An annotated bibliography including at least one full-length general interest book

· A research essay teaching the culture to the readers

· A class presentation and discussion of the research essay.

To aid your research you are required to keep a field journal, a notebook record of observations, interviews, artifacts, questions, and impressions. Field journals will be collected with each research project.

You are also required to keep a classroom journal, a notebook of reading responses and specific classroom writing activities. The classroom journal will be collected and read several times during the semester.

Grading:

The components of your grade in the course are:

· Journals …………………………………….20%

· Research projects ………………………….40%

· Research essay and presentation …….…….40%

Essay Format:

Papers must be word-processed, double-spaced and use a 12-point font such as Times New Roman or Century. Be sure to save each assignment on the university’s “P” drive, a computer disk or jump drive, and keep a hard copy of each assignment for yourself.

Late Work:

Late assignments will not be accepted unless you receive permission.

Late task papers will not be accepted for full credit after one day unless we have worked out an alternative plan. If you are facing difficulties in completing a task paper before the deadline, discuss the problems with me. During our conference, we will work out a plan to complete the assignment.

Conferences:

The most effective and valuable help that I can give you is through a conference or a conversation about your writing. While I will schedule several required conferences throughout the semester, my office hours are listed above if you wish to drop by. I will also bring my calendar to every class to schedule appointments. If at any time during the semester, you do not understand an assignment or a task, see me, call me, or e-mail me to discuss the confusion.

Center for Academic Support:

In addition to conferences with me, you may find help with your writing at the Center for Academic Support. There is no cost to students for using these services. I encourage you to make use of these services throughout this course.

POLICIES

Attendance:

For this class to be successful and for you to be successful in it, attendance is mandatory. I expect you to be on time and ready to participate for every class meeting. A course failure will be recorded on the date of the sixth absence. In counting absences, I will follow my attendance record, not my memory. If you arrive late, see me after class so I can adjust my record. If not, you will be counted absent. If you know of any circumstances likely to make this policy difficult for you this semester, you should consult with your advisor and me to review your options.

Due to the noise in the hallway, I will close the classroom door shortly after the beginning of class. If you arrive after the door is closed, please do not disturb the class by knocking.

If you miss a class session, you are responsible for all material covered and all assignments given during your absence. All out-of-class assignments are due at the beginning of the class period. No late assignments will be accepted unless you have received prior permission from your teacher.

Academic Honesty Policy:

Plagiarism is an act of theft. It is taking another’s words or ideas and calling them your own. That does not mean you cannot use another’s words or ideas to illustrate and to support your thoughts, but it does mean that you must give credit to the one whose words and ideas you are using.

If I find evidence of cheating or plagiarism, you have the burden of showing that you have in fact written the paper. You should keep thorough evidence of your writing processes for all papers so that you can meet this burden of proof. You will receive a grade of F for any paper that shows sufficient evidence of cheating and/or plagiarism. Stronger evidence proving flagrant cheating and/or plagiarism may lead to stronger penalties. Please note carefully the statement on plagiarism on the departmental web site, found at http://www2.mwsc.edu/eflj/plagiarism.html.

Civility and Cooperation:

Missouri Western requires all students to help us maintain good conditions for teaching and learning. All students will treat their classmates, teachers, and student assistants 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 Missouri Western student handbook for further information.

Student Disability:

Any student in this course who has a disability that prevents the fullest expressions of abilities should contact Missouri Western's special needs coordinator, Michael Ritter, for possible certification of special needs and expert recommendations for assistance. You should also contact me personally as soon as possible so that we can discuss class requirements.

Tentative Schedule

Weeks One

Introductions. Types of journals. Reading and discussion of Undaunted Courage.

Week Two

Research Proposal is due. Continue journaling. Continue reading and discussion of UC.

Week Three

Continue journaling. Continue reading and discussion of UC.

Weeks Four and Five

Outdoor Semester students Field Research. Field Journal. Research Travel Essay. / Selected readings. Research Visit.

Week Six

Field journals are due. Draft of Travel Essay or Descriptive Essay is due. Selected readings including Undaunted Courage.

Week Seven

Revised Travel Essay or Descriptive Essay is due. Selected readings.

Week Eight

Argument. Selected readings.

Week Nine

Draft of Interview Essay is due. Selected readings.

Week Ten

Interview Essay is due.

Week Eleven

Annotated Bibliography is due.

Week Twelve

Draft of Research Essay is due.

Week Thirteen

Research Essay is due. Begin Presentations.

Weeks Fourteen and Fifteen

Presentations.