English 100: Introduction to College
Writing
Spring 2006
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Department of English, Foreign Languages, and Journalism
Section 1: MWF
Writer’s Workshop: MW
Theme: The Looking
Glass
Instructor: Tom Pankiewicz
Office:
Phone: 816-271-4156
Office Hours: MW
E-mail: mailto:pankiew@mwsc.edu
Required Texts and Course Materials:
Introduction to College Writing: English 100. Second Edition.
Bragg, Rick. All Over but the Shoutin’.
English 100 Writer’s Workshops. Spring 2006 ed.
Course Goals and General Policies are found on pages vii-ix on the English 100 textbook.
I imagine you have heard before how necessary it is to be a good reader and a good writer if you wish to succeed in college. I know that when I was a high school teacher I was guilty of preaching this message. When I see myself giving that lecture, I recall the rows of rolling eyes, gaping yawns, and bored sighs. So I hesitate to tell you that this is what this class is all about. Over the next semester you will discover the reading and writing strategies that work best for you.
I hope you noticed that last sentence. “You will discover the reading and writing strategies that work best for you.” The emphasis here is on you and your attention to the topics. I know that you will not survive in this course if you come to class unprepared, if you do not revise your writing, if you do not ask questions, if you wait until the last minute to draft an essay or build a portfolio. I also know that you probably will succeed if you become a “mirror maker,” someone who connects reading and writing to your life, to your experiences, and who reflects on the impact of these connections. That is why the theme of this course is The Looking Glass; the course will provide you with the time to reflect on, to study and to express your ideas about yourself.
Writing Tasks:
You will complete four major writing tasks and submit a course portfolio. A student who does not turn in all four tasks or submit a course portfolio will not pass the course even if the grades achieved in the other writing tasks are satisfactory.
Each task will focus on a theme. A variety of class activities including assigned readings, class discussion, and multiple drafts reflecting response group suggestions will accompany each writing task.
The Tasks are:
· Task One: The Memoir. Write a narrative essay about an experience in your life that has had a significant effect on you and has changed you and your beliefs in some important way.
·
Task Two: The
· Task Three: The Question. After raising a course question on a critical issue, research the questions and teach the audience your response.
· Task Four: The Argument. Write an argumentative essay to persuade the audience of your position.
· Portfolio.
Portfolio:
Each of the tasks mentioned above and other writings will be revised and collected in an end-of-course portfolio. The portfolio will account for approximately 60 percent of your course grade. A portfolio allows your final grade to be based on your best writing; it places you in control of the quality of your writing. The portfolio, due at the end of the semester, will include published drafts of your essays, previous drafts and responses of at least one essay, selected course writing, and a final essay. I will evaluate the portfolio and return it by the final exam.
Since writing is a process, I encourage you to revise your essays throughout the semester. I will respond to your essays with written comments; I will hold a series of revision workshops throughout the semester; I will be available to confer with you about your writing throughout the semester. But I will not assign a grade to any essay until it is published in the portfolio.
Process Folder:
Each task will conclude with the submission of a process folder, a collection of the work that led to the essay. No essay will be accepted without a process folder. The folder will include:
· Polished draft of the essay;
· Working drafts of the essay with peer group responses attached;
· In-class reflection and questions.
Each process folder will
be graded and returned. The process
folder will evaluate work on the task, but it will not evaluate the essay. No essay will receive a grade until it
is published in the portfolio.
Reading, Journal,
Quizzes, and In-class Participation:
You will be expected to participate fully in all class activities. Missing work, of course, receives a zero.
The components of your grade in the course are:
·
Process Folders,
· Portfolio ………………………………………………………………………….…………..60%
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.
If you are facing difficulties in completing a task paper, discuss the
problems with me before the deadline.
During our conference, we will work out a plan to complete the
assignment.
Conferences:
I will schedule several
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 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 seventh class absence or on
the date of the fourth missed Writer’s Workshop. 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://www.missouriwestern.edu/EFLJ/plagiarism.asp.
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.