Missouri Western State University, Division of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Department of English, Foreign Languages, and Journalism

English 100:  Introduction to College Writing

Class: Section 10  MWF 10:00-10:50 Agenstein 111

Section 11  MWF 11:00-11:50 Agenstein 111

Writer’s Workshop:  Section 10 M & W Eder 214 & 216

Section 11 MWF Eder 214 & 216

 

Teacher:  Kelly K. Seymour               

Office: Eder Hall 222T                      

Phone: (cell) 816-456-5648

Office Hours:  Wednesdays 12-2 pm; Mondays 12-1 pm & by appointment

E-mail: kseymour@missouriwestern.edu

 

Required Texts and Course Materials:

  • Introduction to College Writing – ENG 100, McGraw-Hill, 2008 (Fourth Edition)
  • A Troubleshooting Guide for Writers, McGraw-Hill, 2008 (Writer’s Workshop book included)
  • The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
  • USB Key/Flash drive
  • 4 pocket folders with brads for Writing Tasks
  • 3 Ring Binder
  • Photocopies for group work as requested

 

Course Objectives:

At the completion of ENG 100 students should be able to

·         Read actively for greater understanding

·         Use reading to improve writing by drawing ideas and information from written material

·         Use texts to understand own and others’ experiences

·         Read writing assignments effectively as a guide to creating better papers

·         Recognize good writing by actively reading good prose

·         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

·         Think critically and reason analytically and write and 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

 

 

Purpose:  I hope English 100 helps YOU develop an awareness of self, of the world and of your purpose in it.  We will accomplish this by strengthening your approach to writing.  You have a voice that can be clear and that can communicate.

 

Civility and Cooperation:

Missouri Western 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.  This handbook is available online at http://missouriwestern.edu/handbook/index.pdf.

 

Attendance Policy:

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.  This course has a very strict attendance policy in class as well as in Writer’s Workshops.  If you seven class periods for MWF classes or four Writer’s Workshops, for the entire semester, you will receive an F in the class.  There are no excused absences, exceptions or “makeups” for this attendance requirement.  Furthermore, the maximum number of absences allowed before the midterm report, October 9, for this class is 5.  Thus, when you have 6 absences for MWF the Registrar’s Office 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 unless you have received prior permission from your teacher.

 

Grading Policy:

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 will complete four major writing tasks that will be graded by me.  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.  You need a C or higher to pass ENG 100 and enter ENG 104.  The components of your grade in the course are:

 

ASSIGNMENT

POINTS

GRADING SCALE

Point Coorelation

4 Writing Tasks

400

A—90 - 100

720-800

Final Exam

100

B—80 - 89

640-719

Daily Warm Ups

100

C—70-79

559-639

Writer’s Workshop

100

D—60-69

478-558

Reading Workshop

100

F  59 and below

477 & Below

 

Late Work Policy: 

I do not accept late work.  Furthermore, if absent, one cannot get credit for writings done in class.

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. 

 

If you miss four Writer’s Workshops, you will fail ENG 100.  You can make-up an absence, but you must attend the make-up session on Friday of the week you missed.  You can only attend the make-up session three times throughout the entire semester. 

In addition to not showing up for workshop, you can also be counted absent for the following reasons (these situations also apply to class as well):

-arriving late; tardies will be added up for an absence

-not having required materials (textbook, draft of paper, portfolio, etc.)

-not participating/not paying attention to the SA and the lesson

-sleeping

-unacceptable behavior that impedes others’ learning such as being disruptive, showing disrespect to your SA and/or peers, using foul language, using a cell phone or other electronic devices, working on other coursework.

 

Due Dates for Formal Writing Assignments:

Task One:        September 18

Task Two:       October 7

Task Three:      October 28

Task Four:       December 2

 

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 your teacher finds 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.  You have the burden of proving that a paper/assignment/exam showing evidence of cheating and/or plagiarism has been in fact 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 or the designated representative on the Academic Honesty Violation Report Forms.  Please see the Student Handbook for specific activities identified as violations of this policy and the student due process procedure.  This handbook is also available online at http://missouriwestern.edu/handbook/index.pdf.

 

Tentative Weekly Schedule: 

Date

Writings

Readings

Week of Aug. 24

Course introduction. Exploratory Writings 1 and 2.

"Sister Flowers" p. 92.

Troubleshooting reading TBA.

Week of Aug. 31

Exploratory Writing 3. Introduce Task One

"Rite of Passage" p. 124.

Troubleshooting reading TBA.  

Week of Sept. 7

Labor Day - No class. Task One Draft is due for peer review.

Troubleshooting reading TBA.

"Casa" p. 131.

"In Praise of the "F" Word" p. 217.

Week of Sept. 14

Final Revision of Task One is due.

Troubleshooting reading TBA.

Week of Sept. 21

View The Motorcycle Diaries. Introduce Task Two. Exploratory Writings.

Troubleshooting reading TBA

"How I Learned to Read and Write"   p. 137.

"Reparation Candy" 237.

Week of Sept. 28

Text readings will be assigned. Exploratory Writing. Draft of Task Two is due for peer review.

Read The Glass Castle p. 1-38 .

Troubleshooting reading TBA.

"Graduation Day" p. 81.

Week of Oct. 5

Final Revision of Task Two is due.

Mid-term Break, Oct. 9 - No class

Read The Glass Castle p. 39-75 .

Troubleshooting reading TBA.

"A Modest Proposal" p. 132.

Week of Oct. 12

Introduce Task Three. Exploratory writing.

The Glass Castle p. 76-115.

Troubleshooting reading TBA.

Week of Oct. 19

Draft of Task Three is due for peer review.

The Glass Castle p. 116-154 .

Troubleshooting reading TBA.

Text readings will be assigned.

Week of Oct. 26

Final Revision of Task Three is due.

The Glass Castle p.155-192.

Troubleshooting reading TBA.

Text readings will be assigned.

Week of Nov. 2

Introduce Task Four. Exploratory writing.

The Glass Castle p. 193-230.

 Troubleshooting reading TBA.

Text readings will be assigned.

Week of Nov. 9

Draft of Task Four is due.

The Glass Castle p. 231-268.

Troubleshooting reading TBA.

Text readings will be assigned.

Week of Nov. 16

Revised draft of Task Four is due. Introduce portfolio and writer's notebook audit.

The Glass Castle p.269-288.

Troubleshooting reading TBA.

Text readings will be assigned.

Week of Nov. 23

Peer Review workshop. Thanksgiving.

 

Week of  Nov. 30

Final Revision of Task Four is due.

Preparation for Final Exam & Semester Review

Week of Dec. 7

Final Exam

TIMES TBA.