WELCOME TO ENGLISH 101 FOR TABLET USERS!
Course Syllabus
English 101, Spring 2009, MWF 10:00 and 1:00, 329 CB
SDSM&T, 3.0 credit hours
Who's Teaching This Class?
Instructor: Dr. Sally B. Palmer, Office 316 CB, Phone 394-5197 or 343-3075 (home)
e-mail: , office hours TTh9:30-11:00
What Books Do I Need?
Mims and Nollen, Mirror on America: Short Essays and Images, 3rd Edition
Trimmer, Joseph F. A Guide to MLA Documentation. Houghton Mifflin, 7th edition.
What Will My Grade Be Based Upon?
Short quizzes on the readings.
Class assignments requiring demonstration of concept and skill familiarity.
A graded group project displaying textual analysis.
A quiz on details of MLA style format.
At least two writing conferences with the instructor on your writing.
Four three-page essays written and revised by you.
A final portfolio of revised essays.
Papers: 10% each (45%)
Quizzes and Assignments:20%
Oral Presentation:10%
Portfolio:15%
Attendance and Participation 10%
The grading scale is: A = 90%-100%
B = 83%-90%
C = 75%-83%
D = 68%-75%
F = below 68% OR failure to submit all 4 essays
What are the Class Policies?
1. Attendance. Because this is a workshop class, your attendance is necessary. Each absence
deducts 3 points from your attendance score of 100. After 8 absences, you will be dropped from
the course. No distinction is made between excused and unexcused absences. However, in case of serious illness, accident, or other emergency that results in extended absence, exception may be made; see me.
- Preparedness. Bring your tablet computer to every class, with enough battery power to last
through the class. As soon as you arrive, boot up and log ontothe class website. This can be found at
3. Electronic Devices Policy.Please turn off your cell phone before class starts and put it away. If your cell phone is heard during class, tradition dictates that you must bring donuts for the entire class next time we meet! No text messaging in class. No headphones. This is a tablet PC class so you are required to bring your tablet to class each time we meet (fully charged). Do not surf the Web, do personal email, etc. on your computer in class; if you do, you will be asked to leave. Note that according to “Policy GoverningAcademic Integrity” in the SDSM&T Undergraduate Catalog, the instructor of record for thiscourse has discretion of how acts of academic dishonesty are penalized, subject to the appeal process, and that “Penalties may range from requiring the student to repeat the work in question to failure in the course” (72-73). No other use of any other electronic/computer media is allowed during class time.
4. Assignments. In addition to reading assignments, you will write four out-of-class papers, which
will be revised, and some in-class assignments which will not be revised. You will be
expected to come with your drafts to the writing workshops and conferences: if you do not
participate in these with your essay drafts, ten points will be taken off that paper. Late papers
will also lose ten points. But YOU MUST TURN IN ALL PAPERS in order to pass this
course, so handin (upload) your work even when it’s late. At the end of the semester,you will
create a portfolio of your two best re-revised papers for final grading.
5. Exams. There will be daily quizzes on your assigned reading. There is also a longer quiz on MLA
style format.
6. Oral Presentation. We will have group presentations of some course material. This presentation will count for as many points as one revised essay.
What About Meeting with the Professor?
I will always be available in my office during office hours or by appointment to help the students in this class. Use these consultation hours! If your schedule conflicts, let me know and we'll set up alternative times to meet. Or, feel free to call or e-mail me. If you e-mail me a draft, I will give you some feedback on how to revise it. This will not, however, substitute for a face-to-face writing
conference. YOU MUST CONSULT WITH ME AT LEAST TWICE DURING THE SEMESTER, during days set aside for draft consultations.
Another way to communicate personally about your writing is the comments I write on your essays. It takes me considerable time to write these comments. So take maximum advantage of this personalized tutoring, by reading these comments, particularly before revising your essay or writing the next one.
What If I Have a Disability?
Students with special needs or requiring special accommodations should contact me and/or the campus ADA coordinator, Dr. Jolie McCoy, 394-1924, at the earliest opportunity.
What if I disagree with the teacher’s views?
Freedom in learning. Under Board of Regents and University policy student academic performance may be evaluated solely on an academic basis, not on opinions or conduct in matters unrelated to academic standards. Students should be free to take reasoned exception to the data or views offered in any course of study and to reserve judgment about matters of opinion, but they are responsible for learning the content of any course of study for which they are enrolled. Students who believe that an academic evaluation reflects prejudiced or capricious consideration of student opinions or conduct unrelated to academic standards should contact Dean Hrncir to initiate a review of the evaluation.
Where Can I Get Computer Help?
- The first and best place to go if you need help (technical or software) with your tablet PC is the basement of the library.
- The friendly folks there will answer questions, checkout rental tablets, and do whatever it takes to get you the help you need.
- The Tablet PC repair shop is on the lower level of the library (just down the stairs from the Circulation Desk and right next to the Tech Learning Center). You may be sent down there by the folks at the front desk.
- So, whether you are a student or a faculty or staff member, the library is where you go for help with your tablet PC. The number is 394-2418.
ASSESSMENT STATEMENTS FOR ENGLISH 101
GenEd GOAL#1: Students will write effectively and responsibly and will understand and interpret the written expression of others.
Student Learning Outcomes: As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will:
1. Write using standard American English, including correct punctuation, grammar, and sentence structure.
Assessment: Students will:
- Recognize and repair common errors in grammar, punctuation, and usage in their papers.
- Apply standard English grammar, punctuation, and other mechanical aspects to all written assignments.
- Compose clear, effective sentences and combine them into focused, coherent paragraphs that match the assigned writing purpose.
- Improve their mastery of punctuation, grammar, and sentence structure through class discussions and exercises, quizzes, instructor feedback, and the draft and revision process.
2. Write logically.
Assessment: Students will:
- Recognize and repair common focus and organization errors in their papers.
- Apply common organizational strategies to all written assignments.
- Write clear, effective paragraphs and combine them into a logical sequence and focal pattern that matches the assigned writing purpose.
- Improve their mastery of organization and logical writing through class discussions, written exercises, instructor feedback, and the draft and revision process.
3. Write persuasively, with a variety of rhetorical strategies (e.g. expository, argumentative, descriptive).
Assessment: Students will:
- Identify and repair common rhetorical and reasoning errors in their papers.
- Apply common rhetorical and reasoning strategies to all written assignments.
- Design and produce writing using appropriate rhetorical strategies that match audience needs and assigned writing purpose.
- Improve their mastery of persuasion and rhetorical strategies through class discussions, written exercises, instructor feedback, and the draft and revision process.
4. Incorporate formal research and documentation into their writing, including research obtained through modern, technology-based research tools.
Assessment: Students will:
- Identify and repair common documentation errors in their papers.
- Apply common research strategies to all written assignments that require it.
- Design and produce writing using appropriate research tools that match audience needs, proper documentation requirements, professional ethical standards, and assigned writing purpose.
- Improve their mastery of research and documentation methods through class discussion, written exercises, quizzes, instructor feedback, and the draft and revision process.
CLASS SCHEDULE (Subject to Change)
DateTopic Assignment Due______
January 16Introductions, syllabus, photos
Interviews
January 21Critical ReadingTyped profile (send via email)
Analysis
January23Critical ReadingMOA 41, "Monumental Taste"
Previewing
January 26Deconstructing adsBring product and written analysis
January 28MappingMOA 48, “Carefully Taught”
January 30MappingMOA 97, “Dying to Be Bigger”
February 2BrainstormingMOA 127, “Venus Envy”
February 4Argumentation
February 6Logical FallaciesBring 2 advertisements
February 9Logical AnalysisLogic quiz
February 11Peer ReviewEssay #1 Draft due
February 13Writing Research PapersEssay #1 due
February 16No class--holiday
February 18No class—individual conferences
February 20No class – individual conferences
February 23Using and Citing Sources
February 25Research Methods
February 27MLA Style Formatting
March 2MLA Quiz, Vampire Paper
March 4Titles, theses
March 6Research ColloquiumEssay #2 due (hard copy)
March 9-13No class – spring break
March 16Textual AnalysisMOA 186, “Mad Ave”
Group Formation
March 18Textual AnalysisMOA 77, “How Boys Become Men”
Group Rehearsals
March 20Group RehearsalsMOA 264, “Why We Crave Horror Movies”
March 23Group PresentationsMOA 192, “Illusions are Forever”
March 25Group Presentations
March 27No class – write essay #3
March 30Peer ReviewEssay #3 Draft due in class
April 1OpenersEssay #3 due
April 3No class - individual conferences
April 6No class – individual conferences
April 8No class – individual conferences
April 10-13No class – Easter vacation
April 15Punctuation, new methods of persuasion
April 17Satire, pronouns
April 20Peer Review Essay #4 draft due
April 22Point of ViewEssay #4 due
April 24No class – individual conferences
April 27No class – individual conferences
April 29Evaluation,Syntax, Portfolio Preparation
May 1Portfolios due