Department
of English, Foreign Languages, and Journalism
Fall
2007 • MWF:
Writer’s
Workshop:
Instructor: Ms. Susan Garrison
Office: English, Foreign Languages and
Journalism Dept., Room T
Phone: Office – (816) 271-4239; Cell – (816)
262-1082
Office Hours: 11 – 11:50, MW or by appointment
E-mail: garrison@missouriwestern.edu
Attendance
Policy:
In order to
improve student learning and to achieve compliance with federal financial aid
policies, MWSU has a mandatory attendance policy for all 100-level courses.
This course has a very strict attendance policy in class as well as in Writer’s
Workshops. If you miss seven class periods for MWF classes or four Writer’s
Workshops, you will receive an F in the class. A student will be given an
excused absence when acting as an official representative of the university,
provided the student gives prior written verification for the faculty/staff
supervisor of the event; however, there are no other excused absences,
exceptions or “make-ups” for this attendance requirement. Furthermore, the
maximum number of absences allowed before the midterm report, Oct. 18, for this class is
five. Thus, when you have six absences, you will be reported to the Registrar’s
Office, who will automatically withdraw you from this class. The Financial Aid
Office will reduce financial aid as appropriate.
If
you miss a class session, you are responsible for all material covered and
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.
There
is an opportunity to make-up missed
Workshops on that Friday at
Required
Texts and Course Materials:
Introduction
to College Writing – ENG 100, McGraw-Hill, 2006
A
Troubleshooting Guide for Writers, McGraw-Hill, 2005
Savage
Inequalities, By Jonathan Kozol, Harper Perennial, 1991.
Computer
disks/jump drives
Photocopies
for group work as requested
Course
Goals and Class Assignments:
Reading Goals:
At the completion of ENG 100 students should be
able to:
• Read actively for greater understanding;
• Use reading to improve their writing by
drawing ideas and information from written
material;
• Use texts to understand their own and others’
experiences;
• Read writing assignments effectively as a
guide to creating better papers;
• Recognize good writing by actively reading
good prose.
Writing Goals:
At the completion of ENG 100 students should be
able to:
• Move easily from writing for self-expression
to writing for readers;
• Write at greater length more easily, more
quickly, and more usefully;
• Structure their writing to fit the assignment,
purpose, and audience;
• Develop their ideas and concepts with specific
details, examples, and explanations;
• Craft more effective and polished sentences
and paragraphs;
• Use effective planning, invention, revision,
and editing to complete successful writing tasks.
General Studies Goals:
In ENG 100 students should improve their ability
to:
• Think critically and reason analytically;
• Write ad speak clearly and effectively;
• Gain a greater awareness of the present
through an understanding of other cultures and times;
• Understand and appreciate moral values and
ethical choices;
• Understand and enjoy aesthetic experiences and
share in related creative activities.
Civility
and Cooperation:
MWSU
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.
Please
turn off all cell phones, pagers, etc., before class. Text messaging and other
cell phone activities are not allowed during class time.
Grading
Policy:
Writing.
You will complete four major writing tasks that will be graded by your teacher.
A student who does not turn in complete responses to all four tasks will not
pass the course even if the grades achieved in the other writing tasks are
satisfactory.
Writer’s Workshop.
Throughout the course of the semester, you will attend the once-a-week small
group Writer’s Workshops (listed as “labs” in the class schedule). Some of your
Writer’s Workshop materials may be used in class, and some of your class papers
will be critiqued and proofread in Writer’s Workshops. You must ensure that you
have the right materials in the right place. Your teacher may also consider
your Writer’s Workshop participation as part of your grade.
Your
grade will be determined on the basis of your progress as a writer, the
writings you submit, and your class participation over the course of the
semester. You need a C or higher to pass ENG 100 and enter ENG 104. The
components of your grade in the course are:
Task #1:
• Assignments that lead to Task #1 (including
participation, quizzes, journals): 10%
• Paper, 500-600 words, Describe a significant
person, place or event in your life:10%
Task #2:
• Assignments that lead to Task #2 (including
participation, quizzes, journals): 10%
• Paper, 500-600 words, Describe the impact of
three possessions: 10%
Task #3:
•
Assignments that lead to Task #3 (including
participation, quizzes, journals): 10%
• Paper, 750-1,000 words, Blending Writing and
Reading using MLA documentation: 10%
Task #4:
•
Assignments that lead to Task #4 (including participation, quizzes, journals): 10%
• Paper, 600-750 words: 10%
Final Portfolio: All your semester’s work, plus
a 600-700 word self-critique: 10%
Final Exam: In-class Essay, 500-750 words: 10%
Final course grades: A=90% and above; B=80-89%;
C=70-79%; D=60-69%; F=59 and below.
Due
Dates for Formal Writing Assignments: (These may change)
Task One: Sept. 17
Task Two: Oct. 10
Task Three: Nov. 7
Task Four: Nov. 30
Final Portfolio: Dec. 7
Final
Exam Schedule:
ENG 100-06: Friday, Dec. 14,
ENG 100-09: Wednesday, Dec. 12,
Essay
Format:
Papers
must be word-processed, double-spaced, and use a 12-point font such as Times
New Roman. 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.
Free
Tutoring!
The
Center for Academic Support is an excellent resource. I encourage you to make
use of their services during the semester.
Journals:
You
will keep a journal in here. We will write in it during class and you will
write in it at home. Please keep a section of the journal reserved for
vocabulary words. As you come across words in the reading that you don’t know,
write them in this section, look up and write the definition, then explain how
the author uses it and what it means to the reading.
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 your teacher
personally as soon as possible so that the two of you can discuss class
requirements.
Academic
Honesty Policy:
Academic
honesty is required in all academic endeavors. Violations of academic honesty
include any instance of plagiarism, cheating, seeking credit for another’s
work, falsifying documents or academic records or any other fraudulent
classroom activity. Cheating and plagiarism are not acceptable. If I find
evidence of cheating or plagiarism, you have the burden of showing that the
paper has in fact been written by you. 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 (0 points) for any paper/assignment/exam
that shows evidence of cheating and/or plagiarism. If you plagiarize a paper,
you forfeit the right to revise that paper; if you cheat on an exam, you will
not be allowed to retake the exam. Violations of academic honesty will be
reported to the Provost or the designated representative on the Academic Honest
Violation Report Forms. Please see the 2006-2007 Student Handbook and Calendar
for specific activities identified as violations of this policy and the student
due process procedure. The handbook is also available online at: missouriwestern.edu/handbook/index/pdf.