English 101: Section 21

Course Requirements and Syllabus

University of MississippiFall 2009

Instructor:Susan Major, Ph.D.

Office:Croft Institute 211

E-mail:

Office Phone: 915.6655

Office Hours:MWF 1:00 to 1:50

Text: Ballenger, Bruce. The Curious Writer, 2nd ed. Boston: Longman, 2006.

Useful supplieswill include a loose-leaf notebook, preferably one with plastic display covers; a small stapler; a hole-punch, several two-pocket folders for submitting assignments, and two large bluebooks for assessment writing early and late in the semester.

Course Objectives

English 101 is an introductory composition course designed to improve the reading, writing, and critical thinking skills of beginning college students. Upon successful completion of English 101 students should be able:

  • To write effectively and enjoyably in a variety of genres (letters, parables/fables, memoirs)
  • To create a working relationship between an imaginary writer and an imaginary reader, and to channel ideas and images effectively through that relationship to an actual reader
  • To organize ideas dramatically, using a variety of dramatic strategies
  • To revise, edit, and improvetheir writing through a series of drafts
  • To engage effectively in the peer-review process with classmates
  • To play effectively with the conventions of standard written English (grammar, punctuation, spelling)
  • To read analytically
  • To employ efficient study skills

Course Requirements for all ENGL 101 Sections

This course requires a significant amount of reading as well as writing. We will examine assigned essays for content but also for structure and for elements of effective presentation.

1) Students will write fourmajor out-of-class essays, each three to five pages long, double-spaced, word-processed (12-point font), edited through a series of drafts.The preparation of each essay will involve combinations of in-class peer responses and instructor evaluation to facilitate revision. Each major assignment submission requires all notes, drafts, and responses collected into a pocket folder. A folder will be graded only if it is complete.

2) Students will also write in-class freewrites, essays, journals, quizzes, and other assignments as designated by the instructor. Students may be called upon to write during any class meeting, so students are expected to bring to each class paper and pencils/pens as well as textbook(s).

3) Students will meet with the instructor for one or more writing conferences during the semester, generally in connection with a paper draft.

Attendance

COME TO CLASS REGULARLY, PROMPTLY, AND WELL PREPARED. Roll will be checked at each class meeting. Students are allowed 4 absences in classes that meet three days a week. Absences beyond this limit will affect the final course grade, as specified by the instructor.

There are no distinctions between excused and unexcused absences.

NOTE ALSO that habitual arrivals late to class will accumulate into additional absences. Failure of the course for excessive absences is possible, regardless of the grade average on work completed. Students who miss a class meeting are responsible for assignments due when they return; it will be helpful to have contact information for one or more classmates to reconfirm syllabus assignments. ATTENDANCE IS CRUCIAL FOR SUCCESS IN ENGLISH 101.

Please e-mail me in advance of each absence, or as soon afterward as possible, before you return to class; include your name, the date you missed class, and the reason.

Assignment Deadlines

As a department policy, late assignments are not accepted in English 101. You need to submit each major assignment on the due date, by the required hour—either in person at the beginning of class or by e-mail attachment (using Word). If you foresee difficulty in meeting a deadline, alternative arrangements can sometimes be made with the instructor IN ADVANCE, but almost never after the fact. Quizzes and in-class writing given at the start of class cannot be made up if a student arrives late; these omissions will be reflected in the portion of the course grade based on participation (see next item).

Grading Policies

Thefourmajor, out-of-class essay folders (including all drafts and peers reviews) will count a total of 65% of the final course grade. The portfolio will count 15%. The remaining 20% will be based on scores from daily work, including attendance and participation in all class activities.

Academic Honesty

The university’s policy on academic honesty (plagiarism, or cheating) can be found in the M Book. It provides for several penalties for academic dishonesty—-including probation, suspension, or expulsion from the university. At the very least, Freshman English Program policy dictates that any student guilty of academic dishonesty will automatically receive a failing grade on the assignment in question. A second violation will result in failure of the course.We will discuss what constitutes plagiarism.

Students with Disabilities

Please note that it is the responsibility of any student with an authenticated disability to contact the Office of Student Disability Services in Martindale Hall (915-7128) to arrange for reasonable classroom accommodations. Such students will need to acquire a form from that office to deliver the instructor early in the semester because no accommodations can be made without official notification from the Office of Student Disability Services.

Internet Access

It will be important that students activate their olemiss.eduwebmail accounts. I will communicate with you outside of class through group e-mail. In addition, I will often ask you to submit quiz responses before class via e-mail. Get used to checking daily for messages pertaining to this course.

Course Schedule for ENGL 101: Section 21

Fall 2009

Week 1: August 24-28

  • Introduction to the course; course policies and procedures; syllabus
  • Read Chapter 1 of text
  • Reaction paper in response to quote from Iris Murdoch

Week 2: August 31-September 4

  • Read Chapter 2 of text; respond to assigned topics
  • Wednesday: pre-course writing assessment (50 minutes required). This is the 1st formal in-class essay. Please bring bluebooks to class.
  • Discuss portfolio requirement

Week 3: September 7-11

  • September 7th is Labor Day
  • Introduce "Woman in the Garden" essay and writing assignment
  • Specifications for Essay #1
  • In-class exercise on mechanics

Week 4: September 14-18

  • Draft of Essay #1 due to peer groups on Monday
  • Revision and Rewriting
  • Specifications for Essay #2 distributed

Week 5: September 21-25

  • Monday: Essay #1 due. Submit in a pocket folder your final draft, all previous drafts, and all reader responses.
  • Readings in preparation for Essay #2
  • In-class mini lessons on usage and mechanics

Week 6: September 28-October 2

  • Wednesday: In-class essay #2
  • Readings in preparation for Essay #2

Week 7: October 5-9

  • Monday: Draft of Essay #2 due to peer groups

Week 8: October 12-16

  • Wednesday: Essay #2 Due
  • Mid-term conferences with instructor

Week 9: October 19-23

  • Read selections in preparation for Essay #3

Week 10: October 26-30

  • Monday: Draft of Essay #3 due to peer groups.
  • Specifications for Essay #4 distributed

Week 11: November 2-6

  • Read selections in preparation for Essay #4
  • Wednesday: In-class essay #3.

Week 12: November 9-13

  • Monday: Essay #3 due

Week 13: November 16-20

  • Monday: Draft of Essay #4 due to peer groups.
  • Paper Conferences

Week 14: November 23-27

  • FALL BREAK

Week 15: November 30-December 4

  • Monday: Portfolio due
  • Wednesday: Essay #4 due
  • Friday: Post-course writing assessment.

Please bring a bluebook.(This is in-class essay #4.)

Delineation of Grading Categories:

1. The four major essays will count a total of 65% (your best essay 20%; all others 15%).

2. The portfolio will count 15%.

3. All additional work, including daily written work (inside and outside of class), mechanics exercises, class discussion and participation will be averaged together for the remaining 20%.

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