WR-097 XX 1
WR097Syllabus Template
Please use the following template when creating your WR097 syllabus.
The Writing Program requires certain parts of syllabi to be common across all course sections. Text that must be included verbatim in your syllabus is in black. Section headings in black indicate that you must include such a section in your syllabus, although its contents are up to you.
Slots for section-specific information are in {brackets and red}.
Recommended, suggested, or optional text is in blue.
You may format your syllabus as you choose. You are not required to retain the formatting of this document.
Suggested calendars for Fall 2015 are at the end of the document.
WR097{Your section designator}
English Grammar and Composition
Fall 2015
{Course Room and Time (e.g., CAS 200, MWF 12-1; TTh 9:30-11)}
Instructor:{Name}
Office:100 Bay State Road, Room 3XX
Contact:{email & phone and your preference}
Office Hours:{times: CAS policy is a minimum of one hour per week per course}
Course Description
WR 097 is designed to prepare students for the challenges of WR 098 and WR 100. We study the conventions of academic writing along with review of grammar and prose mechanics. Our emphasis is on comprehension, summary, and critical analysis of a wide range of readings, and we focus on accuracy and fluency in writing and speaking. There are frequent papers and in-class writing in addition to student presentations and individual conferences.
Course Goals
Use effective strategies for reading college-level texts and for acquiring new vocabulary in academic contexts
Begin to build up a logical analytical argument in a short essay
Identify and practice various writing styles and formats
Fluently perform classroom language functions
Express ideas using a controlled range of structures
Understand the culture of the American academic classroom
Acquire knowledge of basic grammar and meta-language
Begin to perform meta-cognitive and self-reflective tasks
Course Requirements
Assigned readings with written assignments such as journal entries, summaries, outlines, and vocabulary logs
In-class writing
Two formal papers with drafts
Several minor papers
Presentations
Three quizzes
Mandatory instructor conferences and WC tutoring appointment
Class attendance and participation
Course Materials
Required Texts (available at BU Bookstore)
- Cooley, Thomas.The Norton Sampler.8th ed., 2013 (main text - anthology)
- Ferris, Dana. Language Power: Tutorials for Writers. Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2014. (grammar/academic literacy text)
- Watson, Larry. Montana 1948. Perseus, 2007. (longer work)(or Atticus, by Ron Hansen – please check in with Maria Zlateva if you opt for that)
Advanced English-English dictionary (your choice)
Our class has a Blackboardsite that contains the syllabus, assignments, and other course-related materials. You can log in to our Blackboard page at:
{Insert additional information about your course-management site.}
Email Policy: I welcome your email communications. Please allow 48 hours for a response.
Assignments
You will be given a range of writing assignments in this course, including a self-assessment, various reading and writing exercises, several minor and two major papers.Some of this work will not be graded, but that does not mean it is unimportant. Students who prepare diligently for class, participate actively, and take the homework exercises and drafts seriously generally learn more and write better final papers than those who do not.
Major Papers (drafts and final versions): We will use the term draft to refer to unfinished or preliminary versions of your major papers. You will be required to write drafts of each major paper and will receive feedback from me and your classmates. Drafts will not receive explicit grades, although you will receive credit for completing them on time. Remember that you are more likely to write a better final paper if you write a substantive draft. Your performance on your drafts may also affect your participation adjustment (see below). Your course grade will be determined primarily by the quality of the final versions of your major papers. All drafts and final papers must be word-processed and be documented in MLA style. Please include a word count (available as a function on most word processors) at the end of all written work.
Homework Assignments andExercises:You will be assigned weekly HW (varying assignments based on the readings covered) and occasionally exercises and activities. You will do some of these in class; others will be given as homework.I recommend that you purchase a notebook to contain your in-class writing and that you bring this notebook with you to class each day. Your exercises may not receive explicit grades, although you will receive credit for completing them on time. Your performance on these assignments may also affect your participation adjustment (see below).
Self-assessment: Mid-semester, you will be asked to respond to the goals of the course in the form of self-evaluation, reflecting on your writing progress.
Sharing of Student Writing: Experienced writers routinely share their work with others, because they understand that the best way to improve a piece of writing is to test it out with actual readers. In this class, you will learn how to respond productively to the writing of others and how to use feedback from others to improve your own work. All students in the class will be required to share at least one draft of each paper. If you are concerned about sharing your writing, please talk with me about your concerns.
Oral presentation: You will be responsible forleading a class discussion on an assigned Norton Sampleressay and will receive evaluation and feedback from the class and the instructor. The oral presentation will allow you to practice public speaking.
Grading and Evaluation
Final course grades will be based on the major papers, written homework, in-class assignments and participation, oral presentations, and quizzes. Late papers will be penalized by one-half letter grade. Due dates will be outlined on the course schedule, and you are expected to plan accordingly and allow sufficient preparation time.
Your final grade will be calculated as follows:
{Sample grade breakdown:}
Two major papers with drafts (Summary/Argument-based analysis)-30 %
(paper I,Summary: 10%; paper II,Argument-based analysis: 20%)
Three minor papers (Basic summary/Outline/Response to rhetorical technique) =15%
Unit quizzes and in-class writing 15%
Homework 25%
Oral presentations 10%
Participation 5%
Your final grade may also be adjusted to reflect your attendance and participation as described below.
Late and Missed Assignments:Unless you make other arrangements with me in advance, graded assignments will be penalized by one-third of a letter grade for each class day they are late. If you submit a homework exercise or draft late, I cannot promise to read it in time for my comments to be useful to you. If you do not turn in drafts, you are still responsible for turning in final versions of your papers when they are due. Please note too that we will regularly work with our exercises and drafts in class. If you are habitually late with your assignments, you will be unable to participate fully in the class.
As your instructor, I am committed to providing you with timely written or verbal feedback on one draft of each major paper and written feedback and a grade on the final version of each major paper. You can generally expect my responses to your drafts within ______of your punctual submission of them; graded final versions will be returned to you within ______.
Participation and Attendance:Since this course is a seminar, your regular attendance and participation are essential both to your own learning and to your classmates’ learning.
Under ordinary circumstances, missing more than one week of class will lower your final grade. Missing more than two weeks of class may lead to a failing grade in the course. Note that these absences need not be consecutive.
{Here the instructor should state his/her specific attendance policy, within the guidelines indicated above. Please note: 1) Students must be able to miss one week of class with no direct penalty; after that, some direct penalty should be applied, either to the participation grade or to the final course grade. 2) The absences required for a student to fail a course should not be fewer than two weeks of class plus one (5 TR classes / 7 MWF classes) nor greater than three weeks of class plus one (7 TR classes / 10 MWF classes). Exceptional circumstances should be handled on a case-by-case basis.
Examples
A more forgiving TR policy might read as follows:
“The second and third weeks of absences (3-6) will each lower the participation grade by a third of a letter for each class missed (e.g., B becomes B-C+CC-). Seven or more absences (more than three weeks) could be grounds for an “F” in the course.”
A more conservative policy for a MWF class might read as follows:
“The second week of absences (4-6) will lower the final course grade by a third of a letter for each class missed (e.g., B becomes B-C+C). Seven or more absences (more than two weeks) will be grounds for an “F” in the course.”}
If you have a special obligation that will require you to miss several classes (e.g., varsity athletics, religious observances), please talk with me at the beginning of the semester. Missed conference appointments will be counted as absences.
{If you choose to figure participation in your grading (some teachers do not), you should describe here one of the two mutually exclusive ways to do so: “5% of your course grade is allocated to participationand ungraded work over the course of the semester.” Or: “Your final grade may be adjusted up or down by one-third of a letter grade to account for the quality of your participation and ungraded work over the course of the semester.” Please make sure the grading breakdown above reflects your policy on participation.}
CAS Center for Writing
At the Writers’ Studio in the CAS Center for Writing (100 Bay State Road, 3rd floor with a satellite office at Mugar Library) students enrolled in WR courses can receive one-on-one consultations about their writing with well-trained tutors familiar with WR assignments. When you visit the Writers’ Studio, you should expect to be actively involved in your session. Tutors will work with you at any stage in your writing process, but they will not edit or correct your paper for you. Rather, they will work with you to help you do your own best work. The Writing Studio is a resource for all WR students. Whether you consider yourself to be a strong writer or a weak one, you can benefit from consulting with a tutor.
The Writers’ Studio’s hours are Monday through Thursday 9:00 am to 7:30 pm and Friday 9:00 am to 5:15 pm.While the Studio accepts walk-in visits, you are strongly encouraged to make an appointment in advance. Because of the high demand for consultations, students are limited to one reservation per week. You may schedule a session online at:
You may also schedule a session in person at the Arts & Sciences Writing Center or by calling 617-358-1500. Cancellations must be made at least 12 hours in advance.
Please make sure to book an appointment with a designated ESL tutor, who has the competence to help with specific language issues.
WR
The Arts & Sciences Writing Program publishes an online journal of exemplary writing from WR courses. If you are interested in looking at samples of successful WR papers, or if you just want to read some good essays, I encourage you to visit the journal at:
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the passing off of another’s words or ideas as your own, and it is a serious academic offense. Cases of plagiarism will be handled in accordance with the disciplinary procedures described in the College of Arts and Science Academic Conduct Code. All WR students are subject to the CAS code, which can be read online at:
Penalties for plagiarism can range from failing an assignment or course to suspension or expulsion from the university. In this class, we will discuss conventions for using and citing sources in academic papers. If you have any questions about plagiarism, I invite you to speak with me.
Resources
Arts & Sciences Writing Program: Administers all WR courses and the Arts & SciencesWritingCenter. You may contact the Writing Program if you have any concerns about your WR class.
100 Bay State Rd., 3rd Floor
617-358-1500
BostonUniversity Libraries: Offer a wealth of online and print resources. Research Librarians will introduce you to the many resources the library offers in any field of research. They can work with you to develop a research plan and organize your sources. The ResearchCenter welcomes you for walk-in consultations on the first floor of Mugar Memorial Library or at any other library on campus.
Research appointments can be made at
Mugar Memorial Library
771 Commonwealth Avenue
Phone: 617-353-2700
EducationalResourceCenter: Offers tutorial assistance to all undergraduate students in a range of subjects, including writing. You should use the Writing Program’s WritingCenter for your WR classes, but you may wish to visit the ERC for tutorial assistance in other subjects.
100 Bay State Rd, 5th floor
Phone: 617-353-7077.
DeanRalphW.TaylorAcademicAdvisingCenter: A central resource for all questions concerning academic policy and practice in the College of Arts and Sciences. The office is headed by the Associate Dean for Student Academic Life and has a staff of fifteen faculty advisors and five academic counselors. All students can receive academic advice about and assistance through this office. Students who have not yet declared concentrations can receive pre-registration advising through this office.
Dean Ralph W. Taylor Academic Advising Center
100 Bay State Rd. 4th Floor
Email:
Phone: 617-353-2400
Office of Disability Services: Responsible for assisting students with disabilities. If you have a disability, you are strongly encouraged to register with this office. You may be entitled to special accommodations in your courses, such as additional time on tests, staggered homework assignments, or note-taking assistance. This office will give you a letter outlining the accommodations to which you are entitled that you can share with your teachers. If you require accommodations, you must present me with an official letter from Disability Services.
19 Deerfield Street, 2nd floor
Phone: 617-353-3658
Student Central: Web page that provides direct access to public and personal academic, financial and institutional data maintained in the University's central computer system.
Student Health Services: Offers an array of health services to students, including wellness education and mental health services (behavioral medicine).
Academic Calendar Fall 2015
{FYI, here is the official Fall 2014 calendar from BU's Registrar (
Classes Begin Tuesday, September 2
Labor Day Holiday, Classes Suspended Monday, September 7
Last Day to Add/Drop WR Classes Wednesday, September 9
Last Day to Add Non-WR classes September 16
Last Day to DropNon-WR classes(without a ‘W’grade) October 7
Columbus Day Holiday, Classes Suspended Monday, October 12
Substitute Monday Schedule of Classes Tuesday, October 13
Last Day toDrop Classes(with a ‘W’ grade) November 6
Thanksgiving Recess Wed, November 25 -Sun, Nov. 29
Classes Resume Monday, November 30
Last Day to Officially Take a Leave of Absence
or Withdraw from the University December 1
Last Day of Classes December 10
WR 097 Suggested Schedule
MWF Sections
Week 1
W 9/2First day of classes; Do diagnostics
F 9/4Review and plan class priorities (syllabus adjustment; level changes)
Week 2
M 9/7No classes (Labor Day)
W 9/9 Acculturation activities; Last day to add or change writing seminars
F 9/11 Minor paper: Basic Summary
Week 3
M 9/14 Conferences this week
W 9/16 Discussion of academic integrity
F 9/18 Assign Paper 1
Week 4
M 9/21 Oral presentations begin
W 9/23Minor paper: Outline
F 9/24
Week 5
M 9/28Quiz 1
W 9/30Draft of Paper 1; Conferences this week
F 10/2
Week 6
M 10/5
W 10/7Last day to drop classes without a ‘W’ grade
F 10/9 Paper 1 due
Week 7
M 10/12No classes (Columbus Day)
Tu 10/13Substitute Monday schedule of classes
W 10/14 Self-assessment done this week
F 10/16
Week 8
M 10/19Quiz 2
W 10/21Minor paper: Analysis of Rhetorical Technique
F 10/23
Week 9
M 10/26
W 10/28Review
F 10/30
Week 10
M 11/2
W 11/4 Introduce novel
F 11/6 Quiz 3; Last day to drop classes with a ‘W’ grade
Week 11
M 11/9
W 11/11 In-class writing practice
F 11/13
Week 12
M 11/16 Draft of Paper 2 workshopped
W 11/18 this week
F 11/20
Week 13
M 11/23
Fall Recess: 11/25 –11/29 (Thanksgiving)
Week 14
M 11/30 Classes Resume
T 12/1 Last Day to Officially Take a Leave of Absence or Withdraw
W 12/2 Draft of Paper 2 workshopped
F 12/4 this week
Week 15
M 12/7 Course Evaluations this week; Review
W 12/9 Last Day of Classes; final paper 2 due
***********************************************
Tu/Th Sections
Week 1
Th 9/3First Day of Classes; Do diagnostics
Week 2
Tu 9/8 Review and plan class priorities (syllabus adjustment; level changes)
W 9/9 Last day to add or change writing seminars
Th 9/10 Acculturation activities; Minor paper: Basic Summary
Week 3
Tu9/15 Conferences this week
Th 9/17 Discussion of academic integrity; Assign Paper 1
Week 4
Tu 9/22Oral presentations begin
Th 9/24 Minor paper: Outline
Week 5
Tu 9/29Draft of Paper 1; Conferences this week
Th 10/1 Quiz 1
Week 6
Tu 10/6 Paper 1 due this week
W 10/7 Last day to drop classes without a ‘W’ grade
Th 10/8
Week 7
Tu 10/13 No class:Substitute Monday schedule
Th 10/15 Self-assessment done this week
Week 8
Tu 10/20Quiz 2
Th 10/22Minor paper: Analysis of Rhetorical Technique
Week 9
Tu 10/27Review
Th 10/29
Week 10
Tu 11/3Introduce novel
Th 11/5Quiz 3
F 11/6Last day to drop classes with a ‘W’ grade
Week 11
Tu 11/10
Th 11/12In-class writing practice
Week 12
Tu 11/17 Draft of Paper 2 workshopped
Th 11/19 this week
Week 13
Tu 11/24
Fall recess: 11/25—11/29 (Thanksgiving)
Week 14
Tu 12/1 Draft of Paper 2 workshopped this week
Last day to officially take a leave of absence or withdraw
Th 12/3
Week 15
Tu 12/8 Course evaluations this week; Review
Tu 12/10 Last day of classes; final paper 2 due