Missouri Western State University

College of Arts and Sciences

Department of English, Foreign Language, and Journalism

ENG104-40 College Writing and Rhetoric

Online

Dr. Stacia Bensyl, Eder Hall 222 I

Phone 271-5936 email—bensyl@missouri western.edu

Office hours: 9:00-11:00 MWF, and by appointment

Required Text:

Escholz, Paul and Alfred Rosa, eds. Subjects/Strategies: A Writer’s Reader. 11^th ed. Boston: Bedford, 2008.

Optional Text:

I cannot stress the importance of having a good handbook. If you already have a handbook from another class, that is fine.

Course Objectives:

This course is the first of a two-part composition requirement at Missouri Western. In this course you will begin to look at your own, your peers’ and professionals’ writing as ways to communicate complex ideas effectively. For the purposes of this course, let’s define rhetoric as the art of employing specific modes, or elements, in your writing, usually with the idea of influencing your reader in some way. The term also applies to speaking, and you may have heard it used in that context.

In English 104-40 you will meet the following objectives:

· Learn the elements of four specific rhetorical modes

· Be aware of the audience for each of these papers

· Practice pre-writing as a way to organize your ideas for your papers

· Edit your own and your peers’ papers

· Read essays which use each of the four modes and be able to evaluate their effectiveness

To meet these objectives you will:

• Write four papers, each of which uses one of four modes
• Share ideas with others in the class to establish a sense of audience
• Complete pre-writing assignments
• Edit your own and your peers’ papers both for content and form

Grading policy:

The grading scale is as follows:

100-90% = A

80-89% = B

70-79% = C

60-69% = D

59-0% = F

Remember, you must receive a grade of "C" or above to enroll in English 108 next semester.

Each assignment you are given will be worth a specific amount of points, and the possible total points value of each assignment will be clearly indicated on the assignment.

Requirements and advice:

• Because this is an online class, I expect you to have daily access to a computer. You must have an open email account at MWSU in order to participate in this class.
• One idea some people have about online classes is that they can do the work “any time they want to.” That is true, up to a point. You cannot, however, turn in work “any time you want to.” I have specific due dates and time restrictions on assignments. The key to being successful in a course of this nature is keeping up with daily work and pacing yourself. Waiting until the last minute to do your work is the kiss of death.
• I will not accept late work. If you are having technical difficulties, contact me.
• Make sure you save your work to something you have access to. Don’t save it to a desktop you may not be able to get to each day. NEVER save anything to a MWSU desktop. They are cleared daily and your work will disappear.
• I insist on professionalism and respect in your interactions, both with me and with your peers. Postings for class discussion should contain language your grandmother could read without blushing. This doesn’t mean we can’t disagree. I encourage it, as long as we are all civil with one another. Sometimes it is difficult to convey tone effectively online.
• If you have some unforeseen problem, contact me. I cannot help you if I don’t know what is going on. Students often think the problem will just go away.
• If you don’t hear from me for a few days, or don’t get a response to your paper, please contact me to see if there is a problem. I may not have received your work. Keep on top of our communication and I will do the same.
• Feel free to stop by my office if you wish. Just because we are online doesn’t mean we have to be completely anonymous.

Paper Topics and Due Dates:

Paper #1: Process Analysis essay--Due September 17

Paper #2: Comparison/contrast essay--Due October 13

Paper #3: Cause and Effect Analysis essay--Due November 7

Paper #4: Argumentative essay—Due December 5

Attendance policy:

In order to improve student learning as well as to achieve compliance with federal financial aid policies, Western has a mandatory attendance policy for all 100 and 200-level courses. You will be given an excused absence when acting as an official representative of the university, provided you give prior written verification from the faculty/staff supervisor of the event.

All other absences will be deemed unexcused. The maximum number of unexcused absences allowed for this class before the midterm report, October 15, is five (5). Thus, when you have five unexcused absences you will be reported to the Registrar’s Office, who will automatically withdraw you from this class. For the purposes of this online class, failing to turn in daily work or participate in the weekly online discussion constitutes an absence. Furthermore, if you fail to post or turn in your work during the first week of class 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.

Student Disability:

Students with disabilities (impaired hearing, vision, reading disorders, etc.) should notify me in writing of the disability before the end of the first week of class. In consultation with the Center for Academic Support, I will work out a course of study for such students.

Academic Honesty Policy:

I abide by all the regulations outlined in the Missouri Western State College Catalog and Student Handbook:

Academic Honesty Policy and Due Process

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 activity. Violations of academic

honesty may result in a failing grade on the assignment, failure in the course, or

expulsion from the University. When a student’s grade has been affected, violations of

academic honesty will be reported to the Provost or designated representative on the

Academic Honesty Violation Report forms.

Please see the 2006-07 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 online at http://www.missouriwestern.edu/handbook/index.pdf

I will not tolerate plagiarism, cheating, or claiming another's work as your own. Please don't cheat! If I find evidence of academic dishonesty, I will automatically assign that student an “F” for the course.

Aug. 26 Read “Welcome” on WebCT

27 Read “The Reading Process” pages 3-6

29 Read “Process Analysis” pages 207-219

Sept. 2 Read “How to Mark a Book” pages 220-224

5 Read “How to Say Nothing in 500 Words” pages 227-238.

8 Read “Why Leaves Turn Color in the Fall” pages 244-247

Read “Campus Racism 101” pages 249-253 10 prewrite

12 rough draft/post

15 comment

editing strategies

17 final draft due

19 self-evaluation

22 Read “Comparison and Contrast” pages 258-271

24 Read “Neat People vs. Sloppy People” pages 276-278

26 Read “Of Weirdos and Eccentrics” pages 280-282

29 Read “Sex, Lies, and Conversation” pages 293-298

Oct. 1 Read linked assignment

3 prewrite

6 rough draft/post

8 comment

13 final draft due

15 Read “Cause and Effect Analysis” pages 408-420

17 Read “How Boys Becomes Men” pages 421-423

20 Read “How Reading Changed My Life” pages 426-429

22 Read “iPod World: The End of Society?” pages 432-435

24 Read “The Real Computer Virus” pages 437-443

27 Read “The Great Kern County Mouse War” pages 446-451

29 Read linked assignment

31 prewrite

Nov. 3 rough draft

5 comment

7 final draft due

10 Read “Argumentation” pages 454-473

12 Read “The Case for Short Words” pages 480-483

14 Read “I Have a Dream” pages 486-489

17 Read “What Does It Mean to Love One’s Country?” pages 492-497

19 Read “My Father Was an Anonymous Sperm Donor” pages 500-505

21 Read linked assignment

24 prewrite

Dec. 1 rough draft

3 comment

5 final draft due