Department of English, Foreign Languages, and Journalism
English 104: College Writing and Rhetoric
English 104-14 • Tuesday/Thursday 11 a.m. – 12:20 p.m. •
Murphy 103
English 104-21 • Tuesday/Thursday 12:30 p.m. – 1:50 p.m. •
Murphy 113
Instructor:
Phone: (816) 262-1082
Office Hours: By appointment
E-mail: garrison@missouriwestern.edu
Course
Description & Objectives:
ENG 104 students will complete four
formal writing assignments in addition to other graded and ungraded work
through which they will learn how to discover ideas, respond to texts, and
summarize others' ideas. In these assignments, students will learn how to
analyze readings and share information with others by reading and responding to
course texts and other materials gathered through research. Final drafts of all
formal writing assignments must be word-processed. All students are expected to
be prepared for class and participate in class discussions related to reading
and writing assignments. In addition, students will keep complete portfolios of
all their writings.
Objectives
Students will…
• make journal entries to explore
their minds and to extend the range of their personal lives.
• write essays to communicate ideas
and impose order on their thoughts and experiences;
• use organizational methods and
genres appropriate for different purposes;
• construct academic essays that
meet criteria for thesis, rhetoric, organization, development, and language.
Please see the Internet site:
http://www.missouriwestern.edu/eflj/eng104.asp for more details.
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. If you miss three class periods for a Tuesday/Thursday class prior to
March 18, 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 from 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, March 18, for this class is three. Thus, when you have four 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 material covered or
assignments given which you missed because of absence, so ask another student
to inform you of what happened while you were gone. Quizzes or other graded
assignments done in class the day you miss cannot be made up. All out-of-class
assignments are due at the beginning of the class period. No late assignments
will be accepted.
Participation:
This is important. Come to class prepared to participate.
Students
with Disabilities Policy:
Any student in this course who has a disability that requires any special
consideration needs to meet with me as soon as possible to discuss class
requirements.
Academic
Honesty:
Do your own work. In the event that
you do turn in an assignment using someone else’s work, you will receive zero
points for that assignment. A second offense means that you will fail the
course. We will discuss plagiarism and the importance of crediting your source
in this course.
Free
Tutoring!
The Center for Academic Support is staffed by professionals and trained student
tutors. It is an excellent resource for the English 104 student. There is no
cost for the tutoring. The Center is located in LRC 213.
Journals:
You will keep a journal for the entire semester. You are expected to write in
it 15 minutes per day, at least five days a week. Sometimes we will write in it
in class, sometimes at home. Do not write anything in your journal that you do
not want me to read. If you write about hurting yourself, hurting others or
others who are hurting you, I have a moral and legal obligation to report it to
the authorities. By the same token, I will not read all of your journal
entries. If you are having a problem, do not depend on me to “rescue” you by
reading about it in your journal.
I will occasionally pick up and give points for the journal. Please date, title
and use a new page each time you write in your journal.
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.
Format:
The English Department at MWSC has a policy that all drafts are typed. If you
do not have access to a computer at home, as a student you can use the computer
labs on campus. 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. Always save your work because you will make changes to it as each draft
evolves.
E-mail:
You must have e-mail and an active account that you check regularly at MWSU.
Grades:
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 104 and enter ENG 108. The components
of your grade in the course are:
Essay #1:
• Assignments that lead to Essay #1 (including
participation, quizzes, journals): 10%
• Essay #1: 10%
Essay #2:
• Assignments that lead to Essay #2 (including
participation, quizzes, journals): 10%
• Essay #2: 10%
Essay #3:
• Assignments that lead to Essay #3 (including
participation, quizzes, journals): 10%
• Essay #3: 10%
Essay #4:
• Assignments that lead to Essay #4 (including
participation, quizzes, journals): 10%
• Essay #4: 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)
Essay One: Feb. 3
Essay Two: Feb. 26
Essay Three: March 26
Essay Four: April 16
Final Portfolio: April 23
Final
Exam Schedule:
ENG 104-14 (11 a.m. class): Tuesday, May 5, 11:30 a.m.
– 1:20 p.m.
ENG 104-21 (12:30 p.m. class): Thursday, April 30,
11:30 a.m. – 1:20 p.m.