Crystal VanKooten, Instructor
WR 121, Spring 2004
Office: Moreland 202
Office hours: Mon/Wed 9:00 – 10:00 AM
Email:
Required Texts:
Lisa Ede, Work in Progress, 5th ed.
Andrea Lunsford and John Ruszkiewicz, The Presence of Others, 3rd ed.
Diana Hacker, Rules for Writers, 5th ed.
Purpose of Writing 121:
In today’s world, and especially at the university level, writing is a powerful tool. It is a way to communicate with others, to develop ideas, and report research. Writing keeps you in touch with the world through technologies like email and the Web. It offers you ways to explore academic interests and to share those interests with others. Because of these reasons, to be able to write well is an invaluable skill in any department or profession. This course will help you to develop and strengthen your academic writing skills and to prepare for the other writing you will be doing in the university.
Style of the Course:
In this course, we will view writing as a process, as work that is always in progress. This process will include prewriting, drafting, revision, and group work. Many of these steps in the process of writing will be completed IN CLASS. Therefore, attendance is very important. If you miss class, you will miss an opportunity to work on and improve your own writing, as well as miss the chance to help your fellow students with their work.
Attendance:
If you miss more than three classes, you will receive one grade lower for the term. For each additional three classes missed, you will receive one additional grade lower for the term. If you miss a conference, writing group, or library session, you will receive one grade lower on your portfolio.
Late Papers:
You must hand in reading journal entries, conference drafts, writing group drafts, and portfolios on they day that they are due, IN CLASS. I will not accept papers via email. LATE PAPERS OR LATE PORTFOLIOS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
The Writing Center:
The Writing Center is located in the basement of Waldo Hall, Room 123. They are open Monday-Friday 9-4. It is a great resource if you need help with any step in the writing process. The tutors at the Writing Center are not editors, but they will help you with the content of your paper, the development of ideas, organization, citing sources, ideas for revision, and much more. You will be required to visit the writing center once during the term. To make an appointment, you can stop by Waldo 123 or call 737-5640.
Honesty and Civility:
A plagiarized paper will receive an F, and a report will be filed with the Student Conduct and Mediation Program. Two reports at OSU can lead to suspension or expulsion.
Behaviors that are disruptive to learning will not be tolerated and will be referred to the Student Conduct and Mediation Program for disciplinary action. These behaviors include, for example, talking in class. Behaviors that create a hostile, offensive, or intimidating environment based on gender, race, ethnicity, religion, age, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation will be referred to the Affirmative Action Office.
Grading:
The course consists of three main papers: Analyzing an Event (3-4 pages), Arguing a Position (5-6 pages), and Explaining an Image (4-5 pages). The papers will be graded in a portfolio format along with the Reading Journal and other work/writing:
Portfolio 1 20% of final grade
Portfolio 240% of final grade
Portfolio 340% of final grade
Reading Journal:
For each assigned reading (or group of readings) on the syllabus, you will write an entry in a Reading Journal. Entries should be 1-2 pages, single-spaced if hand written, double-spaced if typed. Please hand in your entries at the beginning of class and specify which type of journal entry it is. Journal entries will be handed in again with the portfolio. Options for journal entries:
- Believer: take the stance of agreement with everything the reading(s) states. Argue for the truth of the reading(s).
- Doubter: take the stance of disagreement with everything the reading(s) states. Argue for the falsehood of the reading(s).
- Responder: link the reading(s) to your personal experience. Respond and react to the reading(s).
- Questioner: Point to places you did not understand or fully comprehend. Ask questions and speculate about answers to your questions.
- Any of the “For Exploration” writing assignments in Work in Progress.
- Any of the “For Thought, Discussion, and Writing” questions in WIP.
- Any of the “Questioning the Text,” “Making Connections,” or “Joining the Conversation” questions in Presence that can be done individually.
- Your own option.
Additional Contacts:
Professor Chris Anderson Composition Coordinator
Moreland 324, 737-1653
Patrick Peters
Assistant Coordinator
Moreland 360, 737-1666
Schedule
This schedule is tentative and subject to change at any point.
UNIT ONE—ANALYZING AN EVENT
Mon March 29Introductions, Syllabus
Wed March 31WIP Chap. 1, “On Writing” 3-15; Presence Chapter 1, “On Reading and Thinking Critically” 1-11 (Journal #1)
Fri April 2NO CLASS
Mon April 5Paper One Assigned; Presence Walker, “The Place Where I Was Born; Presence Smith, “Home” 601-605 (Journal #2)
Wed April 7WIP Chap. 8,“Strategies for Invention” 223-239 (Journal #3)
Fri April 9WIP Chap. 5, “Analyzing Rhetorical Situations” 145-157 (Journal #4)
Mon April 12Presence hooks, “Keeping Close to Home” 93-104 (Journal #5)
Wed April 14Writing Group Draft of Paper One due in class
Fri April 16Portfolio One due, Library Assignment 1 due;
WIP Chapter 14, “Understanding Academic Analysis and Argument” 355-376 (Journal #6); Paper Two Assigned
UNIT TWO—ARGUING A POSITION
Mon April 19WIP Chapter 4, “Understanding the Research Process 95-125,
look over 125-142 (Journal #7)
Wed April 21Presence Rose, “Lives on the Boundary” 105-119 (Journal #8)
Fri April 23Presence King, “Letter from Birmingham Jail” 142-156 (Journal #9)
Mon April 26MEET IN LIBRARY—Library Assignment 2 due
Wed April 28Conference Draft of Paper Two due in class
Fri April 30NO CLASS—CONFERENCES
Mon May 3MEET IN LIBRARY—Library Assignment 3 due
Wed May 5Conference Report due;WIP Chapter 11, “Strategies for Revising Structure and Style” 294-313 (Journal #10)
Fri May 7Writing Group Draft of Paper Two due in class
UNIT THREE—EXPLAINING AN IMAGE
Mon May 10Portfolio Two Due; Paper Three Assigned
Wed May 12Presence Stephens “‘By Means of the Visible’: A Picture’s Worth” 473-486 (Journal #11)
Fri May 14Presence Postman “The Great Symbol Drain” 513-530 (Journal #12)
Mon May 17Conference Draft of Paper Three due in class
Wed May 19NO CLASS—CONFERENCES
Fri May 21NO CLASS—CONFERENCES
Mon May 24Conference Report due;Presence, Plato, “Allegory of the Cave” 467-472 (Journal #13)
Wed May 26Presence Truth “Ain’t I a Woman?” 348-349;
Presence Barry, “Guys vs. Men” 372-383 (Journal #14)
Fri May 28Grammar and Punctuation Review; Catch-up
Mon May 31Grammar and Punctuation Quiz in class
Wed June 2Writing Group Draft of Paper Three due in class
Fri June 4Portfolio Three due in class; final in-class writing activity
PORTFOLIO 3 DUE FRIDAY, JUNE 4 IN CLASS.