Syllabus for English 104-03

College Writing and Rhetoric

 

Missouri Western State University

Department of English, Foreign Languages, and Journalism

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

English 104-03 -- College Writing and Rhetoric

Instructor- Kathy Miller

Fall 2008

T-TH 8:00 A.M-9:20 A.M., Spratt Hall 109

Email: mlrfam@yahoo.com or millerk@wprii.k12.mo.us or kmiller@missouriwestern.edu

 

Required Text:

*Axelrod, RiseB.  St. Martins Guide to Writing. 8th Edition

 

Required Materials:

*Notebook for notes, class work, journal entries, etc.

*Folder(s) to keep all writing and portfolio work.

 

Course Goals:

 

Reading and Writing:  Reading is the basis for all learning.  It helps us to connect to others and the world around us.  It forms us into a community.  As human beings we must be able to see how we fit into society as an individual and how the common language affects society.  We must be able to adapt to our world as it changes around us.  Through language we have the opportunity to affect the change itself.   In this course, we will be reading various texts and then writing about those texts.  In developing the ability to react to text in a logical, emotional and intellectual manner, we will be able to see a clearer and more meaningful language.  In order to achieve these goals, we will:

·         Read and respond to various texts, such as textbook readings, media such as television, movies, theatre, advertising and our peers’ work.

·         Read and study written texts to improve our own writing.

·         Summarize, analyze and evaluate texts.

·         Understand, find, shape, address and write arguments.

·         Engage in meaningful journal writing and collaborative writing.

·         Revise our written work.

·         Participate in peer revision groups.

·          

The process of reading is not a half sleep, but in highest sense an exercise, a gymnast’s struggle; that the reader is to do something for himself, must be on the alert, must himself or herself construct indeed the poem, argument, history, metaphysical essay-the text furnishing the hints, the clue, the start or frame-work.

Walt Whitman

 

For common objectives/means and institutional competencies for ENG 104, also refer to the English department website at http://www.missouriwestern.edu/eflj/eng104.asp

 

 

 

 

Methods of Instruction:

Methods of instruction include textbook, lectures, class discussions, group work, presentations, informal writing assignments, and formal writing assignments.  Students will be expected to participate in peer revision group and in-class writing exercises. 

 

Journals:

You will write (informal) daily journal entries/responses to most of your assigned readings.  These entries will be your explanations of and reactions to the readings.  Each journal entry will consist of both summary and response/analysis and be, on average, one full page.  The collection dates will be announced one class period in advance. Journal entries will be graded on content and will be part of your grade for the course.

 

Peer Revision Group:  Prior to submitting your formal writing assignments, you will be required to participate in peer revision groups in which you will bring in word-processed copies of your rough draft to share with your group and receive feedback from your group in order to help you strengthen and revise your own written work.  This is a required activity and will be part of your grade for the course.  If you miss a class that has a scheduled peer revision you will NOT be able to make up the assignment.

 

Policies: 

 

Attendance and Class Preparation/Participation: 

 

In order to improve student learning and to achieve compliance with federal financial aid policies, Western has a mandatory attendance policy for all 100-level courses.  A student will be given an excused absence when acting as an official representative of the university, provided the student gives prior written verification from the faculty/staff supervisor of the event.  A student will also be given an excused absence if he or she can provide documentation and prove that the absence was unavoidable.  Please feel free to speak to me about any extenuating circumstances.  All other absences will be deemed unexcused.  The maximum number of unexcused absences allowed before the midterm report, October 16, for this class is 3.  Thus, when you have 4 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 exceed the allowed absences after midterm, your final grade will be affected.

 

Students are expected to attend every scheduled class meeting and arrive on time.  Arriving to class late is disruptive.  As a result, chronic lateness will likely affect your final grade.  Any student who is more than 10 minutes late is absent.  You are welcome to stay and learn, but you will receive an absentee for the class.  Students are also expected to come prepared to every class meeting and participate in class discussion for this is the only we can all share ideas, ask questions and learn.

 

Late work:

 

All writing assignments are due at the beginning of the class period on the due date.  I will not accept late papers. If you are not in class on the due date you are still responsible for submitting your assignment on time.  Late journals and in-class writing assignments will not be accepted.  If you miss class you miss the points for any in-class work.

 

Revision:

All formal, graded writing assignments can be revised and resubmitted for a “new” grade.  You will have two weeks from the date the paper is returned in class to revise and resubmit each paper.  This is only for formal writing assignments.  It is required that your original, graded essay accompanies your revised essay.  Revision is important because each paper covers important skills that you will need to know for the next paper.

 

Grading Policy:

Your grade will be determined on formal papers, journal entries, quizzes and the final examination.  Please note that smaller assignments and class preparation/participation are very important and do affect your grade.  The components of your grade in this course are:

Formal writing assignments. 

            Paper 0ne :  100pts

            Paper Two : 100pt

            Paper Three: 100pts

            Paper Four :  150pts.

            Journal Entries:  100pts.

            Quizzes: 50pts.

            Final Exam:  100pts

 

Students with Disabilities:

Anyone who has a disability that prevents the fullest expression of his or her potential to succeed in this course must notify me as soon as possible so that we can discuss class requirements and accommodations.  You must also contact Michael Ritter, Special Needs Coordinator, and submit all necessary documentation to his office.

 

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, and falsifying documents of academic records or any other fraudulent classroom activity.  Cheating and plagiarism are not acceptable.  You will receive a grade of F (0 points) for any paper/assignment /exam that shows evidence of cheating and /or plagiarism.  You have the burden of proving that a paper/assignment/exam showing evidence of cheating and/or plagiarism has 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.  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 of the designated representation on the Academic Honesty Violation Report Forms.  Please see the 2006-08 Student Handbook and Calendar on page 21 for specific activities identified as violations of this policy and the student due process procedure.  This handbook is also available on line at http://www.missouriwestern.edu/handbook/index.pdf.

 

Miscellaneous:

Civility and Cooperation:  Missouri Western requires all students to help us maintain good conditions for teaching and learning.  All students will treat their classmates and teachers 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 remember to turn off cell phones and pages.

 

Please note that you must complete all writing assignments in order to pass this course.  In addition, admission into ENG 108 requires a “C” or higher in ENG 104. 

 

Please feel free to come see me if you have any problems or questions.

Tentative outline of assignments

Aug 26

Intro to class

Syllabus

Writing Autobiography

 

Aug 28

Intro:  Why Writing is Important-Group Response

Collaborative Activity  p. 18

Assignment to work towards:  Paper 1  Page 43

 

Sept 2

Read Pages 22-37 in St. Martins

Includes essays by the following:  Dillard, Wolf, Bragg

Choose the essay you like the best and write a 1 page analysis of it to be turned in.

Journals to generate ideas for paper 1.

 

Sept 4

Read “Narrating” pages 625-633

Read “Describing” pages 639-649

Do exercise 15.1 page 640 to turn in. Look at exercise 15.3 to help you be more specific

Have the event you are writing about decided on; in class writing

 

Sept 9

Work on Rough Draft in class with teacher assisstance

 

Sept 11

Rough draft due

We will be going through a series of editing strategies together. You MUST have your paper to do these activities. 

 

Sept16

Peer Revision:  Have 4 copies of your paper to share with peers.

 

Sept 18

PAPER # 1 DUE

Sept 28 (continued)

Begin discussion of “Arguing a Position” p. 297

Read pages 276-279.  In class summary.

In class collaborative exercise

 

Sept 23

Read pages 276-295.  Pay special attention to the 3 essays contained in these pages.

Do a dialectical journal for each essay to turn in.

Journaling for ideas on a controversial essay

 

Sept 25

Skim chapter 19 “Arguing” p. 670-685

MLA documentation workshop

Use in class article to practice documenting

 

Sept. 30

“Read” Time magazine photo essays to generate ideas.

Finalize idea for essay on controversial issue

In class writing

 

Oct 2

Library Tour Day

 

Oct 7

Writing Workshop day. Bring in articles from research to incorporate into paper.

 

October 9

Rough Draft Due

Peer Revision

 

Oct 14

Midterms

PAPER #2 DUE

Read “Justifying an Evaluation”  pages 402-414

Preview assignment page 425

 

Oct 16

Journal and Practice Evaluating Video

 

October 21

In class writing Day. 

Bring sources to write and edit

 

October 23

Paper # 2 due

3 page Persuasive Paper with one source

Introduce Evaluation Paper

Read pages 402-414

Read pages 422-427

 

October 28

Evaluate something

CD, television program,book, movie, restaurant,

Coffee house, etc.  in a chart

This class period is provided for that

 

October 30

Evaluation paper due

Turn in cart with paper

 

November 4

Introduction to Cause/Effect

Do a dialectical entry for

“Fitness Culture” pages 457

“Why We Crave Horror Movies” pages 461-463

“The Gorge Yourself Environment” page 465-471

 

November 6

Continue discussion of Cause/Effect

Discover a trend or phenomenon to

Review/photograph/Advertise

 

November 11

Review of group/partner/solo project 

 

November 13

Work on cause/effect projects

 

November 18

Presentation of Cause/Effect Projects

 

December 2

Discussion of Final Paper

 

December 4

Edit Final paper