Tuesday, August 28, 2012

1010 Syllabus




READING IS THE FIRST STEP TO WRITING


English 1010—Spring Semester

Section 47--TTh 1:00 


Instructor:  Louise Plummer
Sparks Automotive Building 303                                Email: louiseplummer@gmail.com
                                                                                    www.louiseplummer.blogspot.com
Phone: 801-208-5518 (before 10 pm)
Required Texts
The Allyn & Bacon Guide to Writing, 6th ed. John D. Ramage et al.
                        ISBN 13 978-0-205-82315-4
The Little Penguin Handbook, 3rd ed. Lester Faigley
                        ISBN 13 978-0-205-21134-0
Please have your text ready to use in class by Thursday. If you do not have it, you will have to arrange to share with someone else.

Course Description
This course emphasizes building your reading, critical thinking, and writing skills.
We will approach writing as an open process of communication and investigation, one that moves us toward an involvement with academic sources. You will learn how to enter into a meaningful, written conversation with a broad audience of readers.  Outside of class, you will conduct personal research and report back your findings by completing written and oral assignments.

Course Requirements  
Attendance:  In as much as this course is designed as a writing workshop, all class members must be in attendance for us to achieve this goal.  You may miss no more than four of our class meetings, or you will fail the course.  Please contact me about extraordinary circumstances that would cause you to miss more than four sessions.  Furthermore, you must contact one of your classmates to find out what you missed, so that you are fully prepared for the next meeting.  Students with perfect or near perfect attendance may be rewarded in terms of their grade. I don’t want to deal with late work (unless the reason for the lateness is extreme). Your best move will be to be here every class period, on time.  Right now, please ask two of your classmates for contact information.

Preparation for Class:
               Complete assigned readings
               All assignments must be typed, with the exception of daily assignments done in class
               Submit all drafts with final writing projects, binder clipped, newest draft on top, oldest draft on the bottom.
               Be prepared to participate and share
               Argue your opinions with respect.  Civil dialogue accepts the notion that we can agree to disagree.


Class Particulars
Brief Description of Writing Projects
Writing Project #1: A Self-assessment of Academic Writing Skills, 1 page
Writing Project #2: Rhetorical Analysis, 3 pages
Writing Project #3: Synthesis Paper, 3 pages
Writing Project #4: Research Proposal, 2-3 written and oral
Writing Project #5: Annotated Bibliography, 3 pages
Writing Project #6: Researched Argument, 6 pages
Writing Project #7: Self-Reflective Essay, 1 page, and possibly a Final Portfolio

For all papers: 12 pt. font; Double spaced; Times New Roman; one-inch margins
Each of these papers should be formatted according to MLA guidelines.

Daily Assignments:  
Daily assignments are worth ¼ of your final grade and are due at the beginning of class when assigned ahead of time; daily work done in class will be collected at the end of the hour. If you are absent, you may not make up daily work or turn it in late, except in rare circumstances by prior arrangement. Most daily work will be marked primarily for completion, though some assignments may be graded. Daily work will be assigned as we go, and you should expect to have something due or to do almost every class period. It is essential that you pay attention and make sure you understand what is due each day.

Group Assignments:  We will engage in cooperative learning & writing groups frequently.  When written work is assigned during these times, please label your work with all students’ names at the top of the paper.  Groups will also give presentations in class for credit.  

Course Policies
Disposition of papers:  Keep copies (on disk and a hard copy) of all writing projects.  

Plagiarism:  To ensure that your work is your own, for each Writing Project you will be required to hand in:  all drafts, all peer reviews, hard copies of all sources marked with your annotations, and anything else I ask you for.  For your protection, I have listed below any acts that might constitute fraud in this regard.  If you engage in any of these acts, you will fail the course.
            Acts that Constitute Plagiarism
               Using another’s paper as your own
               Rewriting another’s paper and submitting it as your own
               Hiring someone to write your paper and submitting it as your own
               Using someone else’s ideas  and submitting them as your own (w/out documentation)
               Using someone else’s words exactly or paraphrasing and/or summarizing someone else’s words and submitting them as your own (w/out documentation)
               Using a paper purchased from a friend or a service and submitting it as your own
               Using a paper bought, and/or downloaded from the Internet and submitting it as your own

Late Papers and Work:  I don’t want to deal with late work. At all. Make every effort to meet due dates.  If you know or suspect you will miss class on a due date, make arrangements to get the paper in ahead of time.

Knowledge of Crimes:  In this course please do not write about any criminal activity of which you have knowledge—as a witness, a victim, or a perpetrator.  I may be legally bound to report the crime to the authorities.

Texts and Supplies:
Always bring the text, paper, a pen or pencil, and a highlighter to class.

Photocopy Fee:
A $3.00 dollar fee has already been assessed at the time of registration for this class.  This fee allows students to receive approximately 20 copies (in addition to tests and syllabi) during that course that may consist of exercises, handouts, and copies of others papers for peer review.

Students with Disabilities:  If you have any disability that may impair your ability to successfully complete this course, please contact the Accessibility Services Department (LC 312).  Academic accommodations are granted for all students who have qualified, documented disabilities.  Services are coordinated with the student and instructor by the ASD.

Student Rights and Responsibilities Code:    You should familiarize yourself with the Student Rights and Responsibilities Code that can be found in your University Catalog.  

Grading:
Your Writing Projects will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
               Demonstrates an attempt to enter into an academic conversation
               Expresses interesting, relevant, and coherent ideas
               Demonstrates the writer’s organization skills
               Demonstrates a clear purpose
               Demonstrates awareness of the audience
               Demonstrates attention to conventions
               Demonstrates significant revision and response to peer/instructor reviews


Grading Breakdown:            Writing Projects=75%            Daily Assignments=25%

50 pts
Writing Project 1: Self-Assessment of Academic Writing Skills
 1/2-2 pages
100 pts
Writing Project 2: Rhetorical Analysis  
4-5 pages
100 pts
Writing Project 3: Synthesis Paper
4-5 pages
100 pts
Writing Project 4: Research Proposal
3-4 pages
100 pts
Writing Project 5: Annotated Bibliography
3-5 pages
250 pts
Writing Project 6: Researched Argument
6-7 pages
50 pts
Writing Project 7: Self-Reflective Essay & Final Portfolio
2-3 pages
250 pts
Class Participation and Daily Assignments