Course Syllabus & Policies
UN1015 - Composition
Humanities
Fall 2014
Instructor Information
Instructor: Jen Pelto, Instructor
Office Location: 311 Walker
E-mail:
Office Hours: Tuesday 1:45-2:45 or by appointment (recommended)
Course Identification
Course Number: 84344-R09
Course Name: Composition
Course Location: 144 Walker
Class Times: MWF 2:05pm –2:55pm
Prerequisites: None
Course Description/Overview
In this class, you’ll examine and interpret communication practices and apply what you learn to your own written, spoken, and visual compositions. While writing is the core focus of our class, you will also practice composing in other modes, as well. Class projects will ask you to attend to audience, purpose, and context. You will produce texts over a series of drafts in order to hone your skills as a thoughtful multimodal communicator.
Course Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to:
● recognize and use several strategies for producing and interpreting persuasive texts that are appropriate for a particular context, audience, and purpose;
● know how to develop an organized text in written, aural, and/or visual modes and demonstrate a basic understanding of the conventions of a genre or discipline;
● develop carefully crafted arguments informed by research, critical reasoning, and persuasive techniques
This course is designed to meet two of Michigan Tech’s General Education Student Learning Goals: Communication (Goal 5) and Information Literacy (Goal 6). To learn more about these learning goals, please see the rubrics posted at http://www.mtu.edu/assessment/program/university-learning-goals/
Course Resources
Course Website(s)
· Canvas http://www.courses.mtu.edu
Required Course Text
· Course Alfano, Christine, and Alyssa O’Brien. Envision: Writing and Researching Arguments, 4th edition. New York: Longman, 2013
· Composition Notebook
· Other assigned readings will be posted in Canvas
Assignments & Grade Distribution
Participation & Process (20%)
Includes the quality completion of readings, discussions, in-class and homework activities, informal writing assignments, project drafts, and peer review exchanges.
Rhetorical Analysis Essay (15%)—due Sept. 29 (11:59PM) on Canvas
A 1,500-word essay that identifies the rhetorical elements of a multimodal text of your choosing. This essay will be written in multiple drafts.
Research Process Portfolio (15%)—due Oct. 22 (11:59PM) on Canvas
A collection of documents that traces the steps of your research for the researched argument essay.
Researched Argument Essay (25%)—due Nov. 12 (11:59PM) on Canvas
A 2,500-word essay that uses the findings of your research to develop a thesis on an unsettled question or issue. This essay will be written in multiple drafts.
Multimodal Project (25%)—due Dec. 5 (11:59PM) on Canvas
A multimodal “text” that persuades an audience using a combination of aural, visual, and/or written modes of communication.
Final Portfolio—due Dec. 12 (11:59PM) on Canvas
A digital collection of your best, final efforts at the Research Process Portfolio, Researched Argument Essay, and Multimodal Project, submitted in separate files. Although this portfolio is used for program assessment purposes and will not be graded, it must be turned in before your final grade will be posted. Missing portfolios will result in an “I” (incomplete) grade in the course, until the portfolio has been received.
Grading Scale
Letter Grade / Percentage / Grade points/credit / RatingA / 93% & above / 4.00 / Excellent
AB / 87% – 92% / 3.50 / Very good
B / 82% – 86% / 3.00 / Good
BC / 76% – 81% / 2.50 / Above average
C / 70% – 75% / 2.00 / Average
CD / 65% – 69% / 1.50 / Below average
D / 60% - 64% / 1.00 / Inferior
F / 59% and below / 0.00 / Failure
I / Incomplete; given only when a student is unable to complete a segment of the course because of circumstances beyond the student’s control.
X / Conditional, with no grade points per credit; given only when the student is at fault in failing to complete a minor segment of a course, but in the judgment of the instructor does not need to repeat the course. It must be made up by the close of the next semester or the grade becomes a failure (F). A (X) grade is computed into the grade point average as a (F) grade.
Late or Missing Work
Under typical circumstances, late work will not be accepted unless you have made arrangements with me in advance. Late essay and project drafts submitted within 2 days of the due date will receive partial credit; final drafts of essays and projects turned in late will receive a reduced grade. Students must turn in complete, final drafts of ALL major assignments in order to receive a passing course grade.
Course Policies
Attendance
Uninterrupted attendance at class meetings and in conferences with the instructor are mandatory. More than 6 absences for MWF courses is grounds for failing the course. If you have extenuating circumstances that will interfere with consistent attendance in class, please communicate your concerns with me and/or the Dean of Students at 906-487-2212 or .
Group work/Collaboration
Unless otherwise instructed, all work produced in this course (including informal writing) must be your own. In group work, students are expected to contribute meaningfully and equally. Group work may be graded individually.
Cell Phone/Computer Use
Cell phones, Blackberries, iPods, PDAs, or any other electronic devices are not to be used in the classroom, unless explicitly stated.
University Policies
Academic Integrity: Plagiarism, or “knowingly copying another's work or ideas and calling them one's own or not giving proper credit or citation,” is a violation of the MTU academic integrity policy: <http://www.admin.mtu.edu/usenate/policies/p109-1.htm>. In this class, we’ll discuss source attribution so you can learn how and why to avoid plagiarism in your work. It is crucial that you take care to acknowledge the sources of your written, audio, or visual material in this and other classes. Instances of plagiarized work will be handled according to university procedures for reporting incidents to the Office of Student Affairs.
Assessment: Student work products (exams, essays, projects, etc.) may be used for the purposes of university, program, or course assessment. All work used for assessment purposes will not include any individual student identification.
Disability Services: http://www.mtu.edu/deanofstudents/students/disability/
If you have a disability that could affect your performance in any class or that requires an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact your instructor or Disability Services at 487-1494 as soon as possible so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
Veterans / Military: http:www.mtu.edu/registrar/students/veterans/
Veterans and active duty military personnel with special circumstances (e.g., upcoming deployments, drill requirements, disabilities) are welcomed and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to their instructor(s).
The Office of Institutional Equity: http://www.mtu.edu/equity
Equal Opportunity, Discrimination, or Harassment Statement: http://www.admin.mtu.edu/admin/boc/policy/ch5/
Course Schedule (Subject to Change at Instructor’s Discretion.)
Week 1
W 9/3 Course introduction
Intro to Rhetoric
HW: Read Chapter 1 (pg. 2-33); Find 5-6 multimodal artifacts and bring to class on Monday (9/8)
F 9/5 *K-day recess begins at noon* (No Class! Have fun!)
Week 2
M 9/8 Analyzing Texts and Writing Thesis Statements
HW: Read Chapter 2 (pg. 44-72); Writing Assignment (#1 on page 41; Due Wed 9/10); develop a potential persuasive thesis statement. Be prepared to discuss your artifact on Wednesday.
W 9/10 Strategies of Persuasion: Rhetorical Strategies
HW: Read Chapter 2 (pg. 72-75)
*Last day to drop full semester courses with a refund
*Last day to add full semester courses or change a section
F 9/12 Strategies of Persuasion: Doxa and Kairos
Introduction of Rhetorical Analysis Essay
HW: Written Analysis of an Advertisement (Assignment #1 on page 75.) Be prepared to discuss your artifact in a group on Monday (9/15) and bring printed copies with you to class.
Week 3
M 9/15 Kairos and Doxa (continued)
Five Canons of Rhetoric
HW: Read Chapter 3 (pages 78-112.)
W 9/17 Editors and the Canons
F 9/19 Strategies of Arrangements
Invention
HW: Rhetorical Analysis Essay Draft Due on Sunday, 9/21 by 11:59PM. Bring two copies of your draft to class on Mon., 9/22 for peer review.)
*Last day to drop full semester courses without a grade appearing on the academic record - No Refund
Week 4
M 9/22 Writing Style Introduction
Peer Review Workshop
HW: Watch Navigating the Library video tutorial (here: www.mtu.edu/library/research/tutorials); Revise Drafts by Fri., 9/26.)
W 9/24 Library Tutorial
Introduce Reflective Writing assignment
F 9/26 CONFERENCES
Week 5
M 9/29 CONFERENCES
Rhetorical Analysis Essay AND Reflection Essay Due Mon. 9/29 at 11:59PM on Canvas.
HW: Read Chapter 4 (pg. 116-132, 139.)
W 10/1 Exploring a Potential Research Topic
Introduce Research Process Document assignment
HW: Read Chapter 5 (pg. 142-157 and 166-174) and part of Chapter 6 (pg. 190-197.)
F 10/3 Library Session: Meet at Library (TENTATIVE)
HW: Bring Source materials to class on Monday (Research Process Document.)
Week 6
M 10/6 Narrowing a Topic
Finding and Evaluating Sources
W 10/8 Evaluating and Integrating Sources
F 10/10 Summary & Paraphrase
Weeks 7-14
TBA