Syllabus
Semester: Fall 2008 Missouri Western State University
Course Title: English 108-College Writing and Research
Credit Hours: 3
Instructor: Michael Lund
Course Locations: Section 12, 12-12:50 p.m., MWF, Popplewell 101
Office Location: Eder Hall 213
Office Hours: 11-12:15 TR and by appointment
Telephone: 271-4310 (messages) lund@missouriwestern.edu
Required Textbook: Eschholz, Rosa, and Clark, Language Awareness, Ninth Edition.
Additional Materials: You will need standard writing supplies daily, a spiral bound notebook for your journal, and CD/flashdrive/31/2 inch diskette for use in the computer lab. I also suggest you purchase a collegiate dictionary and a thesaurus.
Course Outcomes/Objectives: The course outcomes and objectives are available online. Go to the EFLJ Website for details.
Course Requirements: You will write three response essays and one longer research paper for this course. In addition, you will keep a journal over the reading assignments from LA. Additional paper and journal specifics will be detailed shortly, so do not panic.
Daily writing assignments, quizzes and group exercises also carry value in determining the student’s overall grade.
Attendance Policy: In order to improve student learning as well as achieve compliance with Federal Financial Aid policies, Missouri Western has implemented a mandatory attendance policy for students in all 100 and 200 level courses. Instructors are required to monitor and track student attendance. 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. All other absences will be deemed unexcused. The maximum number of unexcused absences allowed before the midterm report, October 17, is five. Thus, when you have six unexcused 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. In addition, if you exceed five absences at any time before the completion of the course, you will receive a grade of FA. I expect you to arrive in class on time and with what ever is due that day; if you do not have the assigned draft, etc. you will be not be given credit for any assignment due. I will never accept any assignment after the announced due date without substantial reason or documented emergency and always at my discretion.
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 Student Handbook and calendar 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
Accommodations for Disability:
Point Values and Overall Grading: The point values are as follows:
Response Essay I: 100 points
Response Essay II: 100 points
Response Essay III: 100 points
Daily quizzes, etc. in class: 200 points
Journal: 100 points
Research Paper: 400 points
Total Possible Points: 1000 points
I will use the following scale to determine your overall grade:
90-100 % (900-1000 points) A
80-89% (800-899 points) B
70-79% (700-799 points) C
60-69% (600-699 points) D
59% and below (599 points or below) F
Tentative Class Schedule and Assignment Due Dates
All
Only Beginning Page Numbers are Listed; You are
Responsible for the Entire Selection
Journal Entries Required when J Follows Assignment
8-25 Overview of course, syllabus, course expectations, writing samples
8-27 Review of essay format and required process
8-29 Introduction to the reading and writing process. Read: pp. 1-33
9-3 Read: p. 37 J
9-5 Read: p. 43 J
9-8 Read: p. 48 J
9-10 Read: p. 53 J
9-12 Read: p. 73 J
9-15 Read: p. 98 J
9-17 Review
9-19 Drafts Due, D.E. #1
9-22 Final Drafts Due, D.E. #1
9-24 Read: p.138 J
9-26 Read: p.152 J
9-29 Read: p.172 J
10-1 Read: p.180 J
10-3 Read: p. 217 J
10-6 Read: p. 229 J
10-8 Review
10-13 Drafts Due, D.E.#2
10-15 Final Drafts Due, D.E .#2
10-17 Read: p. 328 J
10-20 Read: p. 351 J
10-22 Read: p. 363 J
10-24 Read:
p. 442 J
10-27 Read:
p. 455 J
10-29 Read:
p. 556 J
10-31 Drafts
Due, D.E. #3
11-3 Final
Drafts Due, D.E. #3
11-5 Begin Research Project
11-7 TBA
11-10 TBA
11-12 TBA
11-14 TBA
11-17 TBA
11-19 TBA
11-21 TBA
11-24 TBA
12-1 Drafts Due, Research Project
12-3 Revised Drafts Due, Research Project
12-5 Final Drafts Due, Research Project
Finals Schedule
Sec. 12 Wednesday, December 10, 11:30 a.m.-1:20 p.m.
Journal Entries and Requirements
Students will complete a one full-page (minimum) hand written journal entry in his/her standard sized spiral notebook for each reading assignment designated by J on the Course Schedule. Entries must be legible and inclusive of:
Summary: A summary is a brief retelling in the student’s own words of what the selection was about, inclusive of the main idea/thesis and the method(s) used by the author in making his/her point.
Analysis: This is the breaking down of the selection into sectional divisions and making a personal judgement concerning the validity and/or success of the work. (A simple “I did not like/understand the reading” will not suffice: give specific reasons or examples for your evaluation.)
All journal entries must be dated and titled to receive credit! No exceptions!
Response Essay
Requirements
These brief essays will afford the student opportunity to combine their own personal thoughts, reactions, etc. with those of the author(s) in response to a choice of writing topics found at the end of each selection from LA, “Writing Suggestions.” Each option is different and proposes various rhetorical situations, so students should read and choose carefully. In-text citations using MLA format must be included in every case) an approximate 80:20 mix of your own words to quoted, paraphrased, or summarized materials is the goal.) A “Works Cited” entry is also required for each source used. Numbers of sources will vary between questions but must always include the work/s chose. Ask!
Length, etc.
800-1000 words; word-processed (accurate word count
mandatory) in 12 point Times New Roman or standard print font only; double
spaced in black ink on white paper. Never make a cover sheet; simply follow MLA
format for a paper without a title page. Word count reflects actual text only
and does not include header information, name or “Works Cited” material. Drafts
must be at least 800 words word processed and inclusive of all citations to be
deemed acceptable for peer/instructor editing and review. Final drafts will not be accepted without clear indication of
selection(s) chosen and the specific question identified on a separate page.
The Research
Project
This is a longer work of 1500-1800 words that will reflect
an in-depth study of a language based thesis or research question. Student have
options regarding format, and these will be explained later, but in any case
the student must use a minimum of ten (10) sources not to exceed five (5) from
the Internet. In addition, students must have his/her thesis or research
question approved by the instructor before any actual writing of the
assignment. Finally, there will be specific due dates added to the schedule to
help ensure timely completion of the various tasks involved in this assignment.
Remember that this work is due on the
specified date at the beginning of class and will not be accepted thereafter!