Syllabus Fall 2007

Office Hours: Mon: 3:30-4:30; Wed: 10:00-1:30, 3:30-5:00; T/Th: 12:30-1:30; and by appointment

"Thought... had let its line down into the stream. . . . It swayed, minute after minute, hither and thither... until--you know the little tug--the sudden conglomeration of an idea at the end of one's line: and then the cautious hauling of it in, and the careful laying of it out"

Section 1101-LCE

TLC 1110

MW 2:00-3:15

Section 1101-32

TLC 1110

TR 11:00-12:15

Section 1101-23

TLC 1109

MW 5:30-6:45

Section 1101-LCT

TLC 1110

TR 2:00-3:15

Fishing in the Imagination: In our readings for this semester, we will focus on reading and writing in an imaginative and critical fashion. The characters we will study struggle to find their places in the world and finally succeed through the use of the mind and the imagination. We will study two novels: The World Made Straight by Ron Rash and Violet Clay by Gail Godwin. We will also study a film titled Big Fish, directed by Tim Burton, a book of poetry titled Say Uncle, and other materials. Our writing reference book will be The St. Martin's Handbook.

While we are studying literature, this class is primarily a composition class wherein we will be writing a great deal in and outside of class. It is important to understand that writing is a process, one that takes a great deal of critical thought, revision and rewriting.

Participation: Because this is a writing- and reading-intensive course, student participation is both essential and mandatory. As much of this class is discussion and workshop oriented, your presence, careful preparation, and active participation are crucial to your success. Students should come to class prepared to contribute to class discussion, listen attentively and critically to others’ comments and questions, respond collegially to others’ views, and generally conduct themselves in a professional manner. I expect you to take your work very seriously, preparing for each class by carefully reading each assignment, reflecting upon that reading, and thinking about the implications of the reading.

<emma> & Technology: This is a technology-enhanced course. This semester, you will become familiarized with a program called <emma> (“electronic management markup application”). As such, you will need to have basic computing skills to take this course. Don’t worry, however! I will take a gradual approach to introducing this technology into the learning fabric of the classroom. Much like WebCT, <emma> is a practical online tool that provides tutorials and peer discussion forums as well as models skills related to the writing process. You can find all information for this course posted on <emma> Using Firefox as your browser, go to the following website to log in to the system: http://www.emma.uga.edu/cocoon/emma/home

Course Description

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.

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: Available at http://www.westga.edu/~engdept/FirstYearWriting/ENGL1101and1102/English1101CourseDescrption.htm

Assessment and Assignments:

4000 words of graded writing
No fewer than 4 out-of-class essay assignments that make use of revising opportunities
A minimum of 2 in-class essays, one of which must be 60 minutes long and count for 15% of the overall course grade.
One of the in-class essays may be given during the final exam period.

Texts: You are responsible for purchasing each of the following books, including the film.

The St. Martin’s Handbook (6^th ed.) and <emma> (provided on a Flashdrive) – both items jointly packaged. ISBN: 0-312-47961-1.
Violet Clay by Gail Godwin
The World Made Straight by Ron Rash
Big Fish, Directed by Tim Burton
Say Uncle by Kay Ryan
How to Read Literature like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster

An on-line collection of essays and short stories will be made available.

GRADING: You must complete all your assignments in order to pass this course, and you must earn a letter grade of C or better in order to pass.

In order to better understand what is expected in your essays, review UWG’s adopted standards for grading. Rubric is available on <emma>

55% of grade:

3 essays written outside of class--All three papers must be written and turned in to pass this course.

Essay #1 = 15% due week 6
Essay #2 = 20% due week 12
Essay #3 = 20% due week 15

10% of grade

Daily quizzes, in-class and out-of-class writing.

5% of grade

Presentation on How to Read Literature Like a Professor. Must be presented and written in order to pass this course.

30% of grade

Portfolio: A collection of writing and revisions from the semester, including a further revision of two essays. Must be presented and written in order to pass this course.

Numerical grade equivalents: A+ = 98; A = 95; A- = 91; B+ = 88; B = 85; B- = 81; C+ = 78; C = 75; C- = 71; D+ = 68; D = 65; D- = 60; F = 50 and below; no work turned in = 0.

EXTRA CREDIT: No extra credit will be assigned for this course. Your composition grades will comprise the bulk of your grade because the goal of this class is to acquire good writing skills.

If you are absent, you are still responsible for all the work that you missed. Depending on the nature of the assignment, you may not be able to make up a missed assignment such as a daily quiz or in-class viewing and related in-class exercise or group work. Essays and assignments are still due on the day assigned regardless of your personal situation. Get them to me via a friend, parent, or pet. E-mail is an option only for validated emergencies. I must agree to accept email attachments before you are allowed to send it to me. Workshop sessions are essential to receiving a good grade; if you miss these workshops, you can make no higher than a C on your paper. The workshop and the time until your paper is due are considered your revision period. Use your time and resources wisely. Midterms and Finals cannot be made up.

DISRUPTIONS: As stated above, all cell phones, pagers, PDAs or any other communication devices must be turned off at the beginning of class. Any disturbance caused by such devices or by disruptive student behavior can result in said student being dismissed from class, which will be counted as an unexcused absence. Late arrivals are disruptions. Any arrival after 10 minutes into the class will be counted as an absence.

FORMAT FOR ALL PAPERS: All papers must be typed according to MLA guidelines (see St Martin's Handbook chapter 18 beginning on page 300) including in-class writings. I reserve the right to refuse any paper that does not meet MLA standards.

NO REVISIONS—NO MAKEUPS—NO REDOS: Welcome to the adult world. Life does not have an undo button, neither does this class. Before each essay is due, we will have workshops to help you with elements of your full first draft. These sessions are your opportunity to solicit assistance in revising your essay. Although I will not pre-grade a paper, I will advise you on what you need to do to make your paper better. I advise you to take full advantage of the workshops and to seek my help outside of the classroom if you need additional help. I also advise you to seek help from the Writing Center. Seeking my advice on a paper does not guarantee that you will earn the grade you want. Writing is a process, and for most (if not all) students, more than one work session with me and/or the Writing Center is needed for any substantial improvement. You, and only you, are responsible for improving your writing and grammar skills. I, as your teacher, and the Writing Center can only guide and assist you in attaining your goals.

LATE WORK: See attendance policy above. I reserve the right to refuse to accept excessively late work. Items more than one class period late is considered excessively late. Tardiness impedes your ability to progress in your writing. Any late work, if accepted, will be docked at least one grade level for each day late.

Computer/printer problems are no excuse for not turning papers in on time. Do not wait till the last moment to write and print your paper. Do it ahead of time, then if you have difficulties you will have time to get assistance. We all have printer problems from time to time; as adults we learn to work around life’s difficulties. The college has several computer labs at your disposal. I recommend that you e-mail your papers to yourself. That way, you can access them in any lab for correction and printing. Lab locations and hours are posted at http://uwglabs.westga.edu/default.asp under the tab labeled Information.

You are also responsible for keeping copies (electronic or paper copies) of all your essays and assignments. This is a safeguard in case an essay or assignment is misplaced or damaged. We will also share papers in the classroom. Bring copies of current assignments on your thumbdrive with you to class every day.

THE WRITING CENTER: The Writing Center is such an excellent resource for writing students, and the staff encourages you to visit as often as you’d like. To make an appointment, call 678-839-6513. The Writing Center’s website is located at http://www.westga.edu/~engdept/writing/index.htm.

PLAGIARISM AND ACADEMIC HONESTY: 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, which is another form of misrepresenting the truth. Having another person write any portion of your essay, called excessive collaboration, is considered plagiarism. Plagiarism is grounds for failing the course. The University and English Department policies for handling Academic Dishonesty are found in the following documents:

SPECIAL NEEDS: If you have a registered disability that will require accommodation, please see me at the beginning of the semester. If you have a disability that you have not yet registered through the Disabled Student Services Office, please contact Dr. Ann Phillips in 137 Parker Hall at 678-839-6428. See website at http://www.westga.edu/~dserve/. Please do not wait until the end of the semester to plea for special accommodations; they cannot be applied retroactively.

THE REGENTS’ EXAMINATION: Plan to take the exam this semester. Register via Banweb or the Excel Center. The Regents’ Examination is a two-part test of minimum-level reading and writing proficiency. Students must take this examination after passing English 1102 or after 30 hours of coursework. In the hour-long written portion of the Regents’ Exam, students are required to write an essay based on personal experience and a general understanding of current events. The essay is expected to be clearly focused, well articulated, and relatively free from patterns of error; however, no particular studying should be necessary for the exam besides a few general rehearsals, a general cognizance of current events, and close attention to the lessons of English 1101 and 1102. Students who do not pass the Regents’ Exam by the time they have completed 45 hours of coursework are automatically placed in classes which provide additional writing support and for which you will not receive academic credit.

IMPORTANT DATES:

Essay Due Dates:

IMPORTANT: Changes may be necessary.

Please check on-line reading schedule weekly.

Section 1101-23	Monday, December 10, 5:30-7:30
Section 1101-32	Tuesday, December 11, 11:00-1:00
Section 1101-LCE	Monday, December 10, 2:00-4:00
Section 1101-LCT	Tuesday, December 11, 2:00-4:00