Missouri Western State University
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Department of English, Foreign Languages, and Journalism

ENG 108-04, -09 College Writing and Research
Murphy Hall 106, 9:30-10:50 (04), 12:30-1:50 (09), TTh
Spring 2006

"There are days when the result is so bad that no fewer than five revisions are required.
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: 11:00-12:00, 2:00-3:30 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/. 

Required Materials:
Attendance:  
Regular attendance is an essential part of the student's educational experience and a requirement for an adequate evaluation of student academic progress. For this and other reasons, attendance is mandatory. While certain absences may be necessary or unavoidable in the case of genuine illness, emergency, or when acting as a representative of MWSU, excessive absences will result in failure of the course. If you miss more than two classes during the semester, your final grade will be seriously affected. Lateness and/or leaving early will also seriously lower your grade. You are responsible for material covered or assignments given which you missed because of absence, so ask another student to inform you of what happened while you were gone. If I should be unable to meet class, you will be notified by the secretary, a fellow instructor, or an officially stamped and dated note on the classroom door.

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 may 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 University 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. The three major papers, if submitted late, will be graded significantly lower. In the event of an unforeseen and properly documented emergency, certain other late work may be accepted at the instructor’s discretion. No other late work will be accepted without prior notification and approval.

"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. To this end, 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.

Jan. 17             Syllabus and Ch. 1: Getting Started
Jan. 19             Ch. 2: Exploring and Narrowing Your Topic; Bronner 260 and Ravitch 276 (Censorship)

Jan. 24             Ch. 3: Developing Your Research Question and Proposal; Lutz 152 and Murphy 165 (Doublespeak and Euphemisms)
Jan. 26             Ch. 4: Getting Ready to Collect and Keep Track of Information

Jan. 31             Ch. 5: Searching for Information with Electronic Resources
Feb. 2              Ch. 6: Searching for Information with Print Sources

Feb. 7              Ch. 7: Searching for Information with Field Research Methods
Feb. 9              Ch. 9: Evaluating Sources

Feb. 14            Ch. 17: Understanding Documentation Systems; Ch. 18: Using MLA Style (244-47 only)
Feb. 16            Cont.

Feb. 21            Project One Due
Feb. 23            Ch. 8: Reading Critically

Feb. 28            Ch. 10: Taking Notes
Mar. 2              Ch. 11: Organizing and Outlining

Mar. 7              Ch. 12: Drafting; Flower 88 (Audience)
Mar. 9              Ch. 13: Integrating Sources; Ch. 18: Using MLA Style (247-285 only)

Mar. 21            Ch. 14: Avoiding Plagiarism; Byron 423 and Lutz 442 (Advertising)
Mar. 23            Draft Critiques; Federman 471 (Advertising cont.)

Mar. 28            Ch. 15: Revising and Editing; Cross 123 and Birk 351 (Propaganda)
Mar. 30            Project Two Due; King 180 and Hayakawa 190 (English-Only)

Apr. 4              Joining the Conversation; Cobb 300 and Thompson 322 (Gender)
Apr. 6              Collecting Information

Apr. 11            Working with Sources
Apr. 13            Organizing and Outlining

Apr. 18            Drafting; Lamott 93 (Drafts)
Apr. 20            Draft Critiques; Malcolm X 37 (Vocabulary)

Apr. 25            Revising; Zinsser 98 (Revision) and Editing; Iyer 111 (Commas)
Apr. 27            Project Three Due
         
May 4              Final Exam - Section -04 8:30-10:20 am
                        Final Exam - Section -09 11:30 am -1:20 pm