English 1301 Composition and Rhetoric I
Fall 2016
Instructor:
Dr. Jeanna White
Office: 407 Scarborough Hall
Phone: 923-2283
Email:
Office hours:
Monday / 9:00-10:00, 1:00-2:30Tuesday / 9:00-11:00
Wednesday / 9:00-10:00, 1:00-2:30
Thursday / 9:00-11:00
Friday / 9:00-10:00
Or by appointment
I write entirely to find out what I'm thinking, what I'm looking at, what I see and what it means. What I want and what I fear.
--Joan Didion
When I face the desolate impossibility of writing five hundred pages a sick sense of failure falls on me and I know I can never do it. This happens every time. Then gradually I write one page and then another. One day's work is all I can permit myself to contemplate and I eliminate the possibility of ever finishing. ~John Steinbeck
Required Textbooks:
A Little Argument by Lester Faigley and Jack Selzer ISBN-13: 978-0321852762
Electronic resources available through Blackboard or on the internet
Course Description:
This is a course in the reading and writing of prose, mainly exposition.
NOTE: You must make a C or better in this class to enroll in English 1302
Course Prerequisite None
Student Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Identify conventional rhetorical concepts and their place in academic and professional discourse and apply them to the activities of both reading and writing (Reading assignments and class discussion).
2. Describe the various components of the writing process and demonstrate the writing process in their own body of writing (Class discussion, writing assignments, reading assignments).
3. Compose a series of original, purpose-driven essays (Essay writing assignments).
4. Competently formulate written prose that upholds conventions of academic discourse by developing and supporting a clear position (Essay writing assignments).
Attendance
This course follows the university’s policy, which states that students should attend at least 75% of class meetings. This means that you may not miss more than 11 absences in a MWF course or 7 in a MW or TTH course in order to be eligible to pass the course. However, after your absences have exceeded this number you will fail the course. The following policies apply:
1. There is no such thing as an excused absence; all absences, for whatever reason, count as an absence.
2. A student must stay for the entire class meeting in order to be counted present for that day.
3. Arriving late to class three times will be equivalent to one absence.
4. Students are required to keep up with their own absences. Do not email me to ask how many absences you have. College is a time to learn how to be responsible for yourself and keeping up with your own absences is one small step in that direction.
5. Absences begin with the first meeting of class, and students registering late incur absences from the first meeting.
6. Students are responsible for all materials covered in class meetings and are expected to meet all class requirements for the course.
7. Students who accumulate university-approved absences (athletic teams, musical organizations, other authorized groups) will be allowed to make up work missed as a result of that activity, provided that:
a. The activity was properly scheduled.
b. The absence was authorized in advance.
c. Arrangements were made with their instructors prior to the absence.
d. Such absences are, nonetheless, counted as classes missed. Missed work should be completed and handed in in advance of the absence.
If you must miss class, please arrange to turn in work, via email or a classmate, and check your syllabus and with a classmate to see what you missed and what is due for the next class meeting. Work missed due to absence is missed work. You will not have the opportunity to make up that day’s work, so manage your absences wisely.
Chronic lateness is also unacceptable, as is coming to class unprepared or without having read the assignment. If you are late, you will not be able to make up what you missed. You must come to me at the end of class to be sure that I have not counted you absent. If you arrive more than 10 minutes late, you will be counted absent. Any work that you miss as a result of arriving late cannot be made up, including quizzes, in class writing, journal assignments, etc.
Attendance Policy in a nutshell: Come to class. Don’t be late. Don’t leave early.
Participation
Your active participation in this course is an integral part of a writing workshop. This is not a course where you will sit and listen, but a course where you will actively engage with the material and with your classmates. For that reason, participation is a part of your grade. You are expected to participate constructively in class discussions, small group activities, and individual work. Understand that if you choose not to participate, I will not poke, prod, or beg you to join the discussion. I will simply make note of it and points will be deducted from your class participation grade. If you don’t attend class, you can’t participate, so absences will also affect this grade.
Assignments/Grading Policy
Your final grade for this course will be based on several essay projects and your participation in class.
KEEP ALL PAPERS UNTIL FINAL GRADES ARE RECEIVED! You cannot formally challenge a grade if you do not have evidence of your work.
Your final grade for this course will be calculated in the following manner:
Non-Researched EssaysEssay 1 / 15%
Essay 2 / 15%
Essay 3 / 15%
Final Essay / 15%
In class essay / 15%
Additional Work
Reading Journal, Daily Assignments / 15%
Class Participation / 10%
All major essays must be completed in order to be eligible to pass the course.
Reading Journal
You must complete a reading journal for every reading that is assigned in this class. Reading journal entries are due on the day for which the reading is assigned. No reading journal entries will be accepted late for any reason or under any circumstances. Each entry should be submitted to turnitin.com before class begins. Any that come in after the stated start time will not be accepted. You must complete the following questions. Your answers should be thorough and demonstrate both that you read and that you thought about the content of the reading. All answers should be in your own words. Do not copy the author’s words.
· What is the author’s focused purpose (What is the author trying to say here?) Write it in one sentence. What is the larger revelation that his/her stated belief has for his/her life? For instance, if she believes in always going to the funeral, what is the larger lesson for her life that this belief represents?
· Identify which supporting details in each piece most effectively contribute to the author’s purpose. List what life events have shaped the stated belief or life lesson.
· What is the “life lesson” or writing lesson that the author reveals?
· How could the author’s view of things affect your life and your views on this issue? In other words, what could you learn from this author?
This I Believe
From 1951–1955, Edward R. Murrow hosted This I Believe, a daily radio program that reached 39 million listeners. On this broadcast, Americans— both well known and unknown—read five-minute essays about their personal philosophy of life. They shared insights about individual values that shaped their daily actions.
We will be exploring the essays from the 1950s radio show, as well as contemporary examples. Then we will write our own This I Believe essays. You will need to familiarize yourself with the This I Believe website at www.thisibelieve.org
Late Paper Policy:
Major essay projects which are turned in late will have ten points deducted for each late day. If you will be absent the day a paper is due, please make arrangements to turn in your paper early. Summary/Response papers, creed statements, and reading questions will not be accepted late. There are NO EXCEPTIONS to the late policy.
Grades in a nutshell: Do your reading and your Reading Notes. Write your papers. Do your best. Turn things in on time.
File Management
You MUST bring an electronic copy of your paper drafts with you each day. You can do this by:
· Saving your paper to a flash drive (jump drive, pen drive, USB storage device) that you bring with you to class each day.
· Emailing your paper to yourself as an attachment.
Tutoring
ETBU provides free tutoring for students who want and/or extra help with their writing. The tutors can assist at any stage of the reading or writing process, from invention to revision and editing. However, the writing center is not an editing service; the tutors will not “fix” your paper. S/he will help you to improve your own work and to improve your writing skills overall.
Tutoring hours will be announced to the class and posted on the English Department’s bulleting board in Scarborough. All students are encouraged to call upon the tutors as they prepare their assignments. I reserve the right to require individual students to visit the writing center.
Academic Integrity
Writing for college courses depends on your learning to generate and appropriately communicate your own ideas even while you read, discuss, and synthesize a range of ideas from others. Plagiarism is claiming (or implying) that the ideas of another writer came from you. Plagiarism is a serious crime. Avoid unintentional plagiarism by carefully citing and documenting all your sources.
Another form of academic dishonesty is collusion: the lending, borrowing, buying, or stealing of another's written work. While you can and should seek the help and advice of friends, classmates, tutors, outside sources, and tools such as the Internet, be sure that your written work is completely your own.
Academic dishonesty can be easily detected, and will not be tolerated: it can cause the student to fail the course, and it can result in expulsion from the university. If you have any questions about this serious issue, please refer to your student handbook, or see me.
Egregious examples of plagiarism will cause you to fail the course. At a minimum you will receive a zero on the assignment and will not be given the opportunity to rewrite it. You will not get a do-over. There is no excuse for cheating and none will be accepted.
Plagiarism in a nutshell:
If you copy and paste, reword, summarize, or quote another person’s writing
without giving that person credit and giving a citation,
YOU MAY FAIL THIS COURSE,
not just the assignment itself, but the course.
Student Code of Conduct
In order to make this course as enriching as possible for all class member, each student should
· Understand and observe policies and requirements outlined in the syllabus and other documents
· Be prepared for class
· Attend all class meetings
· Arrive on time and be present the entire period unless arrangements have been made in advance
· Turn off pagers and cell phones during class
· Refrain from disrespectful or disruptive behavior during class. Violators will be asked to leave.
· Refrain from packing up books and supplies until class has been dismissed
· Notify the instructor immediately if s/he cannot take an exam or turn in an assignment on time
· Keep appointments made outside of class
· Check Tigermail frequently--preferably every day, but at least several times per week
Student with Disabilities
A student with a disability may request appropriate accommodations for this course by contacting the Office of Academic Success, Marshall Hall, Room 301, and providing the required documentation. If accommodations are approved by the Disability Accommodations Committee, the Office of Academic Success will notify the student and the student’s professor of the approved accommodations. The student must then discuss these accommodations with his or her professor. Students may not ask for accommodations the day of an exam or due date. Arrangements must be made prior to these important dates. For additional information, please refer to page 15-16 of the 2016-2017 Undergraduate Catalog.
Weapons in Class
The on-campus possession of firearms, explosives, or fireworks is prohibited with the exception of the transportation and storage of firearms and ammunition by concealed handgun license holders in private vehicles (as described in SB1907) Pursuant to Section 30.06, Penal Code (trespass by license holder with a concealed handgun), a person licensed under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code (handgun licensing law, may not enter this property (ETBU) with a concealed handgun. The ETBU President may grant authorization to a qualified and certified full-time faculty or staff member, who is a license holder with a concealed handgun to conceal carry on the University campus, at a University-sponsored event or within or on a University vehicle.
Daily Schedule
Week 1 / Before Class / During ClassAugust 22 / Introduction to the course;
August 24 / Goals; Skill, talent, and practice
August 26 / Visit www.thisibelieve.og / Belief and values; Introduce This I Believe
Week 2 / Before Class / During Class
August 29 / The Writing Process
August 31 / Read “A Shared Moment of Trust” by Warren Christopher; “Always Go to the Funeral” by Deirdre Sullivan; don’t forget to complete reading notes on each essay / Critical Reading
September 2 / Read Faigley and Selzer Ch 1; remember to complete reading notes on all reading assignments before class / Thinking about Ideas and Argument
Week 3 / Before Class / During Class
September 5 / Labor Day, no class
September 7 / Read “Disrupting My Comfort Zone” by Brian Grazer (TIB) / What is Personal Writing and how does it make arguments?
September 9 / Make a list of things you love, experiences that have taught you an important lesson, values that you hold dear, etc. and bring that list to class. / Generating ideas; planning your essay
Week 4 / Before Class / During Class
September 12 / Write one sentence that sums up your topic for the TIB essay / The Fundamentals of Good Writing What writers are expected to do
(Faigley and Selzer)
September 14 / Writing Workshop; developing your essay
September 16 / Writing workshop
Week 5 / Before Class / During Class
September 19 / Paragraphs – Introductory and Concluding
September 21 / How to take an essay exam
September 23 / Revision and Editing
Due Today: This I Believe Essay
Week 6 / Before Class / During Class
September 26 / In-class writing assignment –
September 28 / In class assignment con’d
September 30 / Read “The Choice to Do It Over Again” by Dan Flanagan; “In Praise of the Wobblies” by Ted Gup; “The Joy and Enthusiasm of Reading” by Rick Moody (TIB) / Core Values and Education;
Week 7 / Before Class / During Class
October 3 / Read Friere (Blackboard) / Discuss Friere’s philosophy of education
October 5 / Read Faigley and Selzer Ch 3 / Discuss the fundamentals of academic writing
October 7 / Fall Break, no class
Week 8 / Before Class / During Class
October 10 / Read Alexa (Blackboard) / Discuss reading; consider thesis
October 12 / Read TBA / Discuss reading
October 14 / Begin working on your thesis and bring a draft to class / Planning your next paper
Week 9 / Before Class / During Class
October 17 / Be planning and outlining your essay; how will you support your thesis? / Development
October 19 / Write your essay before class / Revision
October 21 / Due Today: Second essay
Week 10 / Before Class / During Class
October 24 / Read The Sermon on the Mount (Blackboard) / Introduce next unit; Discuss reading
October 26 / Read TBA / Discuss reading
October 28 / Moral dilemmas and how we address them
Week 11 / Before Class / During Class
October 31 / Read TBA / Discuss reading
November 2 / Writing a Thesis and planning your paper
November 4 / Development
Week 12 / Before Class / During Class
November 7 / How to incorporate sources in your writing
November 7 / Be working on your draft / Revisiting Introductions
November 11 / Writing workshop
Week 13 / Before Class / During Class
November 14 / Due Today: Essay 3
November 16 / Introducing the last unit; Writing skills and graceful writing
November 18 / Simplicity and clarity in writing
Week 14
November 21 / A Writer’s Decisions
November 23-25 / Enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday
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