English 1302.009
Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays: 12:20pm-1:15pm
BUS 258
Dr. Emily Standridge
Office: BUS 268
Email:
Office hours:
MWF: 11:10am-1:00pm; 1:20pm-2:20pm
TTH: 11:00am-1:00pm
And by appointment (just send an email with your available times and we’ll make something work!)
Required Textbook:
-Reading and Writing About the Disciplines
Course Description:
Intensive study of and practice in the strategies and techniques for developing research-based expository and persuasive texts. Emphasis on effective and ethical rhetorical inquiry, including primary and secondary research methods; critical reading of verbal, visual, and multimedia texts; systemic evaluation, synthesis, and documentation of information sources; and critical thinking about evidence and conclusions.
Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this course, students will:
1. Demonstrate knowledge of individual and collaborative research processes
2. Develop ideas and synthesize primary and secondary sources within focused academic arguments, including one or more research-based essays
3. Analyze, interpret, and evaluate a variety of texts for the ethical and logical use of evidence
4. Write in a style that clearly communicates meaning, builds credibility, and inspires belief or action
5. Apply the convention of style manuals for specific academic disciplines (e.g., APA, CMS, MLA, etc.)
Units, Papers, and General Timeline
Unit 1: Summary (Weeks 1-6)
This unit explores the best ways to read, process, and summarize academic sources. During this unit, you will work with 2 different journal articles from the textbook, completing a variety of activities with both articles. Paper 1 will be a summary and analysis of the journal article “Professional Writing Expertise” that we read as a class. Paper 2 will be an article abstract (with reflective analysis) of a journal article you choose from the textbook.
Unit 2: Rhetorical Analysis (Weeks 6-11)
This unit focuses on reading an article for the rhetorical contents of journal articles. Paper 3 will be an analytical essay of the rhetoric in “The Impact of Internet and Television on the Reading Habits and Practices of College Students” which we will analyze as a class. Paper 4 will be an analytical essay of a journal article you choose from the textbook (can be the article you worked with in Project 2). Paper 5 will be a comparative analysis of the articles you used in Papers 3 and 4. You will work in the citation style of your field and will be responsible for discussing how the article works to convey its message NOT summarizing what it says.
Unit 3: Literature Review (Weeks 11-14)
Unit 3 explores finding journal articles in your field as well as what can be done with a collection of journal articles. Paper 6 will have you write about at least 5 journal articles with related topics and come to a conclusion or question about that topic.
Unit 4: Conclusions (Weeks 14-16)
Unit 4 has you collecting the work of the semester and reflecting on what you have done and what you have learned.
Final Exam: You will write a “final exam” essay for me. It will be reflective and you will know the prompt ahead of time. (Final Exam: Wednesday, May3, 12:30pm)
Grading
Daily Homework grades: 10%
Daily homework is the day-to-day work of the class. The readings quizzes and short writings we do in-class and at home. All homework will be due at the beginning of class time. There will be no late work for daily homework.
Daily homework is graded on completion: did you meet the minimum requirements of the assignment? Are you on topic? Did you try?
§ Your final grade for Daily homework will be calculated by the total percentage of activities you receive credit for. For instance, if there are 20 activities and you have credit for 18 of them, you will get 90% of the teamwork grade, which would be an A for that portion of your grade.
Unit Homework Grades: 20%
At the end of each Unit, you will choose 2-4 of the already completed homework assignments to submit for grading on the quality of what you have done. The purpose of this is to practice keeping track of your work and to practice assessing what is of the best quality.
§ Your final grade for Unit Homework will be an average of all the homework submitted.
Daily Draft Grade: 15%
Daily drafts are you in-progress work toward a “Unit Draft” of your papers. These drafts will have specific word and content requirements each time one is due. So long as you meet those requirements, you will get credit for your Daily Draft grade.
§ Your final grade for Daily Drafts will be calculated by the total percentage of activities you receive credit for. For instance, if there are 20 activities and you have credit for 18 of them, you will get 90% of the teamwork grade, which would be an A for that portion of your grade.
Unit Draft Grade: 40%
At the end of each Unit, you will submit a “Unit Draft” that is revised from your “Daily Drafts” and takes into account all feedback you have received on the draft. Each Unit Draft will be weighted somewhat differently to reflect the difficulty and importance of the work.
§ Paper 1: 3%
§ Paper 2: 4%
§ Paper 3: 6%
§ Paper 4: 8%
§ Paper 5: 6%
§ Paper 6: 9%
§ Final Exam: 4%
** You will be able to revise your Unit Draft Grade (within certain stipulations) up to an A, if you choose.
Metacognition Grade: 5%
During each Unit there will be short written exercises asking you to consider how you are learning, why you are learning, and how you will use what you are learning. At the end of each unit, you will combine those exercises into a Metacognition Statement. Both the short writings and the longer Statements will be calculated on completion and depth of thought for this portion of your grade.
Teamwork Grade: 5% total grade
Teamwork activities include group work (in and out of class) and peer review sessions. Every teamwork activity is graded on a “credit/no credit” basis. To earn a “credit” you must:
· show up on time
· do your fair share of the work
· provide quality feedback OR ask quality questions during peer review
· use positive tone and body language during group work
· treating group members and their work with respect
§ Your final grade for teamwork will be calculated by the total percentage of activities you receive credit for. For instance, if there are 20 activities and you have credit for 18 of them, you will get 90% of the teamwork grade, which would be an A for that portion of your grade.
Attendance and Participation Grade: 5% total grade
While I expect you to show up for class regularly, I know that certain absences are unavoidable. If you miss 6 or more classes, the highest grade IN THE COURSE you will receive will be a C. If you miss 9 or more classes, you will receive and F FOR THE SEMESTER.
Coming to class is the first step to doing well. Being prepared for class is the next step. Simply showing up without having done the reading or writing assigned will negatively affect your grade.
To me, participation means having at least attempted the homework, knowing the readings enough to understand what is going on, volunteering answers on occasion, answering questions when called on, and generally trying when you are here. Even if you have wrong answers or aren’t sure, trying hard does count for you in my book.
A: 100%-90%
B: 89%-80%
C: 79%-70%
D: 69%-60%
F: 59%-0%
Classroom Policies:
Late Work
All late work is accepted completely at my discretion. This means that it is totally my call whether or not to even accept late work as well as how much credit to assign to it. I do not have to be consistent in how I accept late work or the credit I give it. This is because late work is a huge inconvenience in a tightly planned schedule. I give this word of advice: if you know something is going to be a problem, let me know beforehand. Excuses given after work was due rarely inspire me to accept the work.
Classroom Conduct
You have all been in classrooms a great deal of your lives. You know how to behave and how not to behave. However, I do have one rule that I will enforce quite strongly: Be respectful.
By this I mean that you must be respectful of me, your classmates, the assignments, and the work process of the class. You may disagree with any of the above, but you may not be disrespectful.
If I see you being disrespectful, I will ask you to leave the class for an absence.
Conferences
At specific points throughout the semester, I will be holding individual and small group conferences with you both in class and outside of class. Missing one of these conferences without prior notification will result in 2 absences.
Standard UT Tyler Syllabi Policies
Students Rights and Responsibilities
To know and understand the policies that affect your rights and responsibilities as a student at UT Tyler, please follow this link: http://www.uttyler.edu/wellness/rightsresponsibilities.php
Grade Replacement/Forgiveness and Census Date Policies
Students repeating a course for grade forgiveness (grade replacement) must file a Grade Replacement Contract with the Enrollment Services Center (ADM 230) on or before the Census Date of the semester in which the course will be repeated. Grade Replacement Contracts are available in the Enrollment Services Center or at http://www.uttyler.edu/registrar. Each semester’s Census Date can be found on the Contract itself, on the Academic Calendar, or in the information pamphlets published each semester by the Office of the Registrar.
Failure to file a Grade Replacement Contract will result in both the original and repeated grade being used to calculate your overall grade point average. Undergraduates are eligible to exercise grade replacement for only three course repeats during their career at UT Tyler; graduates are eligible for two grade replacements. Full policy details are printed on each Grade Replacement Contract.
The Census Date is the deadline for many forms and enrollment actions that students need to be aware of. These include:
· Submitting Grade Replacement Contracts, Transient Forms, requests to withhold directory information, approvals for taking courses as Audit, Pass/Fail or Credit/No Credit.
· Receiving 100% refunds for partial withdrawals. (There is no refund for these after the Census Date)
· Schedule adjustments (section changes, adding a new class, dropping without a “W” grade)
· Being reinstated or re-enrolled in classes after being dropped for non-payment
· Completing the process for tuition exemptions or waivers through Financial Aid
CENSUS DATE FOR SPRING 2017 IS January 30, 2017.
State-Mandated Course Drop Policy
Texas law prohibits a student who began college for the first time in Fall 2007 or thereafter from dropping more than six courses during their entire undergraduate career. This includes courses dropped at another 2-year or 4-year Texas public college or university. For purposes of this rule, a dropped course is any course that is dropped after the census date (See Academic Calendar for the specific date).
Exceptions to the 6-drop rule may be found in the catalog. Petitions for exemptions must be submitted to the Enrollment Services Center and must be accompanied by documentation of the extenuating circumstance. Please contact the Enrollment Services Center if you have any questions.
Disability Services
In accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) the University offers accommodations to students with learning, physical and/or psychiatric disabilities. If you have a disability, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, PTSD or ADHD, or you have a history of modifications or accommodations in a previous educational environment you are encouraged to contact the Student Accessibility and Resources office and schedule an interview with the Accessibility Case Manager/ADA Coordinator, Cynthia Lowery Staples. If you are unsure if the above criteria applies to you, but have questions or concerns please contact the SAR office. For more information or to set up an appointment please visit the SAR office located in the University Center, Room 3150 or call 903.566.7079. You may also send an email to
Student Absence due to Religious Observance
Students who anticipate being absent from class due to a religious observance are requested to inform the instructor of such absences by the second class meeting of the semester.
Student Absence for University-Sponsored Events and Activities
If you intend to be absent for a university-sponsored event or activity, you (or the event sponsor) must notify the instructor at least two weeks prior to the date of the planned absence. At that time the instructor will set a date and time when make-up assignments will be completed.
Social Security and FERPA Statement:
It is the policy of The University of Texas at Tyler to protect the confidential nature of social security numbers. The University has changed its computer programming so that all students have an identification number. The electronic transmission of grades (e.g., via e-mail) risks violation of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act; grades will not be transmitted electronically.