ENGLISH 1101
Composition I
Spring 2009
Section 37 TR 2:00-3:15 CRN 10425 Location: TLC 1110
Dr. Katie Chaple
Office: TLC 1113-E
Phone:
678-839-4860
Use your WebCT course email to contact me. I will only respond to email through
official channels, meaning your WebCT course email address.
Web address: http://www.westga.edu/~kchaple
Office Hours:
Tuesday: 9:00-10:00
Thursday: 9:00-10:00, 11:00-12:00 & 5:00-6:00
& by appointment
Writing Center Schedule:
Tuesday: 10:00-12:00
Thursday: 10:00-11:00
Course Description
This course is writing intensive, and its assignments include in-class responses, out-of-class responses (both to the assigned texts as well as to your peers’ rough drafts), a test on MLA formatting, in-class essays, out-of-class essays and rough drafts of those essays. You will write two timed essays in class, two out-of-class rough drafts, and three out-of-class essays. We will make use of WebCT, and you will be posting each out-of-class rough draft to WebCT for your peers to read and comment on. We will then workshop each essay in class. The topics for all essays will be based on assigned readings and our discussions of those readings. You will need access to a computer with an internet connection.
Catalogue Description
A composition course focusing on skills required for both effective writing for various rhetorical situations and critical reading of texts. In writing, students must demonstrate competency in argumentation, and writing that is strengthened by the use of multiple textual sources.
Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in ENGL 1101 in order to move on to ENGL 1102.
Required Texts
Additional Required Reading, Online
General Learning Outcomes
· To read, understand, and interpret a broad range of written and visual texts from a variety of genres (including but not limited to nonfiction, fiction, poetry, drama, and film).
· To understand literary principles and use basic terms important to critical writing and reading.
· To develop skills in all the tools necessary for effective argumentation.
· To develop facility with the whole writing process from invention through revision.
· To understand and employ a variety of rhetorical modes and techniques of persuasion.
· To acquire reasonable mastery of conventions of college-level prose writing.
· To incorporate and document additional textual materials to strengthen and support argument.
Specific Learning Outcomes
Critical Reading and Analysis
· Develop close reading skills through the analysis of textual passages.
· Identify in readings the main purpose, central arguments, and cultural contexts implied by the text in relationship to the course content.
· Learn to recognize recurring patterns of development and persuasion among course texts.
Writing Process and Rhetorical Objectives
· Develop an understanding of varied compositional strategies for both revised writing and in-class timed writing.
· Understand that the composing process is a continuous cycle of invention, drafting, and revising.
· Survey and practice some of the best-known techniques of invention.
· Practice techniques for analyzing specific audiences and adjusting one's style and presentation to those audiences.
· Understand the fundamentals of essay organization and logical argument.
· Understand persuasion as a fundamental exchange between reader and audience.
· Demonstrate the writing styles appropriate to academic audiences.
Minimal Competency Requirements
Essay Level
· Be able to recognize and generate competent thesis sentences.
· Write effective introductions and conclusions.
· Organize essays according to recognizable patterns.
· Be able to recognize and employ standard expository modes.
· Develop a logical argument advancing a particular explication or interpretation of a literary text.
Paragraph Level
· Be familiar with the various methods of developing paragraphs.
· Recognize and generate topic sentences where appropriate.
· Employ details and examples for concrete paragraph developments.
Sentence Level
· Write coherent sentences that conform to the grammar and usage conventions of Standard Edited English.
· Avoid short choppy sentences through variety of sentence structure and sentence combining abilities.
· Effect a clear style of expository prose by using parallelism, clearly placed modifiers, complete predicates, logic and other devices of clear style.
· Demonstrate the use of a vocabulary appropriate for freshman-level college discourse.
Documentation Style
· Use the MLA style for documenting sources.
Technological Objective
· Demonstrate the ability to use word processing and to find and evaluate electronic resources.
Assessment Activities
· The course will require at least 4000 words of graded writing.
· The class will require no fewer than three out-of-class essay assignments that make use of revising opportunities and are graded according to the Grading Rubric for out-of-class writing.
· The class will require no fewer than two in-class essays, one of which must be 60 minutes long and count for 15% of the overall course grade.
· The course will require that students earn a passing score (the equivalent of a 2 on the Recommended Grading Scale for In-Class Essays) on at least one in-class essay in order to receive a C in the class. One of the in-class essays will be completed during the final exam period.
TLC 1201 678-839-6513
Writing@westga.edu www.westga.edu/~writing
If you know that English is not your best subject, I recommend you visit The Writing Center. The Center is an excellent resource.
The University Writing Center works with students and other members of the UWG community to improve writing skills.
What We Do:
· Discuss ideas, read drafts, and work through revisions of essays; we do not proofread
· Regents’ Test Preparation (both the reading and essay sections)
· Creative Writing Consultations
· MLA, APA, Chicago/Turabian, and other citation formats
Policies:
· Please make appointments in advance. We accept walk-ins, but we cannot guarantee that a tutor will be available.
· If you cannot keep your appointment, you must call or email us 24 hours in advance to cancel. If you do not notify us 24 hours in advance, you will be counted as a No Show.
· Please arrive at your appointment on time. If you are 10 minutes late or more, you will be counted as a No Show and will not be able to have your appointment.
· If you have 3 No Shows in one semester, you will not be able to have any more appointments for that semester.
Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 10:00am-7:00pm
Thursday 10:00am-3:00pm
Friday 10:00am-12:00pm
The Regents’ Examination is a two-part test of minimum-level reading and writing proficiency. Students are required to take this examination during their first semester of coursework at UWG. Students who wish to seek preparation for the exam beyond that provided by this course may visit the Writing Center or the Excel Center.
For more information about the exam, please visit http://www.westga.edu/~lst/RegFAQ.htm.
For general info: http://www.gsu.edu/rtp and for sample topics: http://www.gsu.edu/~wwwrtp/topics.htm
Disability Pledge
I pledge to do my best to work with the University to provide all students with equal access to my classes and materials, regardless of special needs, temporary or permanent disability, special needs related to pregnancy, etc.
If you have any special learning needs, particularly (but not limited to) needs defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and require specific accommodations, please do not hesitate to make these known to me, either yourself or through Disability Services in 272 Parker Hall at (770) 839-6428.
Students with documented special needs may expect accommodation in relation to classroom accessibility, modification of testing, special test administration, etc. This is not only my personal commitment: it is your right, and it is the law!
For more information, please contact Disability Services at the State University of West Georgia.
Course Policies
I expect your participation and your attention during class-time. I will expect you to be prepared: I will expect your assignments to be complete and ready to hand in, and I will expect you to have read that day’s assigned text(s). I also expect that you will be an active participant in your own education. If you don’t understand, ask. If you have difficulties with grammar, ask. We will figure out how to improve any aspect of writing that you have difficulty with. I have listed my office hours, office phone and email. Let me know how I can help.
Attendance Requirements
COME TO CLASS. BE ON TIME. The nature of this class requires that you attend.
****Students will be administratively withdrawn from class based on the following attendance policy: For classes that meet twice a week, a student is allowed three absences. Upon the fourth absence, the student will be withdrawn. Be aware that no distinction exists between excused and unexcused absences.
If the withdrawal occurs prior to March 2, the student will receive a grade of W. (FYW Department Policy)
Disruptive Behavior
Students may be dismissed from any class meeting at which they exhibit behavior that disrupts the learning environment of others. Such behavior includes – but is not limited to – arriving late for class, allowing cell phones to ring, speaking disrespectfully to the instructor and/or to other students, checking email or surfing the web, and using personal audio or visual devices. Each dismissal of this kind will count as an absence and will be applied toward the attendance policy above. (Department Policy)
I expect civil and polite behavior. I do not mind limited food or drink, but do not show up with your McDonald's cheeseburger and fries.
Department Paperless Policy
As of Fall 2006, the English Department implemented a “paperless” policy in its classrooms. Therefore, all materials (handouts, assignment sheets, notes, etc.) will be made available online. Students may print these necessary course documents, including the syllabus, on their home computers.
Late Work
All work is due in class on the days listed below. Any essay turned in a day late (THE NEXT DAY, NOT THE NEXT CLASS MEETING) will result in a letter grade deduction. For every day that the paper is late, I will deduct another letter grade. **Assignments submitted late due to computer, printer, computer lab, or disk “problems” will not be excused and will be penalized as indicated above.
**THIS POLICY ONLY APPLIES TO ESSAYS. ALL OTHER ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE AS INDICATED.
**FOR ROUGH DRAFTS: IF YOU DO NOT TURN IN A ROUGH DRAFT BY THE DAY & TIME INDICATED, YOU WILL BE AWARDED A ZERO FOR THE ASSIGNMENT, AND YOUR PAPER WILL NOT GO THROUGH THE ROUGH DRAFT PROCESS. NO EXCEPTIONS.
Submission and Format of Essays and Out-of-class Work
All assignments must be in MLA format—typed, 12-pica type, one-inch margins, and double spaced. Use Times New Roman font. If you do not follow correct formatting, your essay grade will suffer (a letter grade). You can find MLA guidelines in your handbook, A Writer’s Resource or online through my website under the link, “MLA Documentation.”
Rough drafts are due by the dates and times indicated below. You will be required to post your rough drafts on WebCT. See Getting Started Using WebCT for help.
Essays are due at the beginning of class on the date due; do not email me your papers. You must attach a copy of your rough draft (with my comments) to your final paper when you submit it for a grade.
Because of the rough draft process, there are no revisions for final essays.
Plagiarism & Excessive Collaboration Policy
It is always disappointing to discover a student has plagiarized. If you have any questions regarding incorporating outside material, ask me. Ignorance will not be an excuse. Because of the way in which this class is organized, if you plagiarize it will be immediately apparent to me. Do not risk it. ***If you turn in plagiarized work in regards to any assignment, you will immediately fail the course. This policy also refers to a student turning in work/essays that you have written for any other class or professor.
Plagiarism & Academic Dishonesty
The Department of English and Philosophy defines plagiarism as taking personal credit for the words and ideas of others as they are presented in electronic, print, and verbal sources. The Department expects that students will accurately credit sources in all assignments. An equally dishonest practice is fabricating sources or facts; it is another form of misrepresenting the truth. Plagiarism is grounds for failing the course.
See also, excessive collaboration.
The University policies for handling Academic Dishonesty are found in the following documents:
The Faculty Handbook, sections 207 and 208.0401 http://www.westga.edu/~vpaa/handrev/
Student Uncatalog: "Rights and Responsibilities"; Appendix J. http://www.westga.edu/handbook/
Excessive Collaboration
By the end of the term in both ENGL 1101 and 1102, students should demonstrate the ability to produce independent writing (writing without collaborative assistance of peers, writing tutors, or professionals in the field) that shows an acceptable level of competence. Although classroom activities and out-of-class assignments may highlight collaborative learning and collaborative research, excessive collaboration (collaboration that results in the loss of a student's voice/style and original claims to course-related work) is considered another form of academic dishonesty and therefore will not be permitted.
Role of the Writing Center
The role of the Writing Center is to offer consultation in which tutors question, respond to, offer choices, and encourage revision in student essays. Tutors do not evaluate or prescribe solutions to problematic areas in student essays, and tutors are specifically trained to avoid appropriating the student's work. For more information, visit the Writing Center online at http://www.westga.edu/~writing.
Grading Procedures:
In order to advance to English 1102, students must pass English 1101 with a grade of “C” or better. Any work completed for other classes will not be acceptable for credit in this course.
* The following chart will be used when calculating your numerical grade at the end of the semester with regard to letter grades received on in and out-of-class essays:
In-Class Essay: 4=95%; 4/3=92%; 3/4=88%; 3=85%; 3/2=82%; 2/3=78%; 2=75%; 2/1=72%; 1/2=68%; 1=65%; 1/0=62%; 0=50%
Out-of-Class Essay: A+=98%; A=95%; A-=92%; B+=88%; B=85%; B-=82%; C+=78%; C=75%; C-=72%; D+=68%; D=65%; D-=62%; F=50%
Daily Work/Participation 10%
Daily work includes in-class assignments—consisting of quizzes, exercises and responses to your own and others’ work as well as your group project, which is worth ten daily grades. Daily work also includes homework, which will consist of your responses to peers’ rough drafts, but which will also include assignments regarding research. Your responses to rough drafts will be posted to WebCT. Daily work may not be made up. If you are absent, you will receive a zero for that day’s in-class work. I will drop the lowest two daily grades.
In-class Essays 15%
There will be two in-class essays. They are listed on the calendar below. The topics will be in regards to the
material we have read and discussed during class.
Rough drafts for Two Essays 10%
Each student will workshop the first two essays listed below. You will be required to post your drafts for the entire class on WebCT. I ask all students to bring copies of the rough drafts we will be discussing to class, and I ask that each student bring his/her responses to those essays to class. You may be called on to read your essay aloud. You will receive grades on each of your rough drafts. Grades on these rough drafts will be based on completeness and your ability to follow directions and meet deadlines. The grade on your rough draft is approximately 2 to 2 ½ letter grades higher than you would receive if you’d turned in the draft as a final essay. Your final essay grade can go either up or down dependent on how carefully you revise. If you have questions about the advice you are given in class, ask me. In the rough draft, you must address the assigned topic. If you do not turn in your rough draft by the assigned deadline, you will be awarded a zero for that rough draft—there are no reprieves. You should post attached files, so that they maintain your formatting. See WebCT File Attachments.
***You must complete all three essays in order to pass this class.
3 Essays: 65%
Percentage broken down as follows:
Essay 1 20%
Essay 2 20%
Essay 3 25%
**I do not offer extra credit.
Schedule of Events
Please Note: Reading and writing assignments are due at the beginning of class on the day for which they are listed. The following is a tentative daily schedule. Modifications may be needed as we proceed. I will advise of any deviations ahead of time and will provide detailed instructions for any assignments. You are responsible for keeping up with any changes and work missed due to absences.
R, 1/8 WebCT, website, syllabus
T, 1/13 Signs & MLA formatting
R, 1/15 MLA formatting, Bird by Bird reading assignment, essay organization
T, 1/20 **Diagnostic Essay
R, 1/22 The Good Life, Group 1 presents
T, 1/27 The Good Life
R, 1/29 Rough Draft 1 Due
T, 2/3 Workshop Rough Drafts
R, 2/5 Workshop Rough Drafts
T, 2/10 Workshop Rough Drafts
R, 2/12 Workshop Rough Drafts
T, 2/17 Workshop Rough Drafts
R, 2/19 Workshop Rough Drafts
T, 2/24 **Essay 1 Due Atonement
R, 2/26 Atonement
M, 3/2 Last day to withdraw with a “W”
T, 3/3 **In-class Essay 1
R, 3/5 Atonement, Group 2 presents
T, 3/10 Atonement
R, 3/12 Atonement
F, 3/13 Rough Draft 2 Due
***3/11-3/24: Regents’ Testing—all first semester students MUST register for and take the exam during this period
T, 3/17 ***Spring Break, no class
R, 3/19 ***Spring Break, no class
T, 3/24 Workshop Rough Drafts
R, 3/26 Workshop Rough Drafts
T, 3/31 Workshop Rough Drafts
W, 4/1 Eclectic Release Party
R, 4/2 Workshop Rough Drafts
T, 4/7 Workshop Rough Drafts
R, 4/9 **Essay 2 Due
T, 4/14 James Frey’s A Million Little Pieces, Group 3 presents
R, 4/16 James Frey’s A Million Little Pieces, Group 4 presents, thesis & outline for essay 3 due
T, 4/21 James Frey’s A Million Little Pieces, quotations/evidence for essay 3 due
R, 4/23 James Frey’s A Million Little Pieces, peer editing
T, 4/28 **Essay 3 Due
Final in-class essay during exam period.