ENGLISH 103, COMPOSITION

MW 1:30 – 2:45, Fall 2002

Pamela H. Sheff, professor                                   Off-Campus Office Phone: 410-433-0509

Campus extension: 6256 (Please do not leave important messages at my Goucher extension – I rarely check it)

E-mail: pam@sheff-lano.com                                  Office:            VM 219

Office hours: M: 2:45 – 3: 15 p.m., W:12:30 – 1:15 p.m., and by appt.                

Required Text: Pocket Keys for Writers, Raimes

COURSE OBJECTIVES

This course will focus on the fundamentals of writing. We will approach writing as a workshop.  That means that we are going to write and revise short pieces, both in and out of class.  You will learn by planning, researching ( a bit ), writing, editing and revising.  My goal is to focus on quality, rather than quantity, continued improvement, rather than grades. Think of it as an opportunity to develop skills that will contribute immeasurably to your academic success.  To that end, I urge all of you to take this course on a P/NP basis. 

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Attendance: Attendance is required. You can neither benefit from nor contribute to a workshop if you are not present.

Peer Review (PR): Much of our work in the classroom will involve peer review exercises. For classes when PR is scheduled, you must bring copies of your work for distribution (two for normal PR, more if we are doing larger group or collaborative work). Learning to edit effectively is a vital part of writing, and learning to work collaboratively is a key component in academic success. Serving as an intelligent, articulate peer reviewer is one of your key responsibilities in this class. That means coming to class prepared to discuss your own work and to respond carefully to the work of others. I consider your work in peer review as part of class participation.  Excellent work in peer review will help you improve your own writing.

Required Self-Evaluations (SE): You must turn in a brief (less than one page) self-evaluation memo addressed to me with each paper you submit. The SE’s are your side of an ongoing conversation with me about the progress of your writing.  My grading notes are my side of this conversation which we will pick up in our conferences.  Each SE must include the following:

a. a brief description of the special challenges you faced in this assignment - this is not a reiteration of the assignment, but an analysis of your approach to it;

b. an assessment of the paper’s strengths and weaknesses, including the grade you would give the paper;

c. acknowledgment of all assistance you received in writing the paper - peer evaluations, conference discussions with me, proofreading by your roommate, help from the writing center, etc.

Required conferences: I will cancel class at times to hold conferences. You are responsible for knowing when and where your conference is.  If you are unable to keep your appointment, you must call me to reschedule.  You are responsible for scheduling additional conferences when you have work in progress or want to review your work.

Due Dates & Late Papers: All papers and assignments are due at the beginning of class on the due date.  Copies of drafts must be ready to distribute at the beginning of workshop/peer editing session.

·        Absences do not excuse you from paper due dates.  If you are ill, a classmate may turn in your paper.  If this is not possible, call me no later than the due date to make other arrangements.  Do not email your paper to me unless I have authorized you to do so.

·        Papers that are not double-spaced, do not meet other format requirements or do not include required self-evaluation memo will be returned to you.

Paper Formats: Papers must meet the following requirements.

·        All papers must be word processed and double-spaced with 1.25” left and right margins and 1” top and bottom margins.

·        All pages must be numbered (upper right corner or bottom center).

·        All pages must be stapled or clipped together.  Papers with folded corners as a means of attachment will not be accepted.

PLEASE NOTE:

·        A rewrite is a significant rethinking of the paper, not simply a re-typing that corrects errors I have marked.  If the paper is not significantly improved, it may receive a lower grade than the original.

·        My grading notes are holistic, rather than detailed.  I do not mark every error or everyplace where improvements can be made.  You must use the editing skills you develop during the semester to identify all the areas where your papers can be improved.

THE BIG “P”: The issue of plagiarism is more serious than ever now that the Internet has enabled us to fingertip our way to almost anything, instantly. In short, plagiarism means presenting someone else’s ideas or words as your own.  This usually appears in two forms: premeditated (with malice aforethought) thievery and careless documentation.  Even though the latter is not intentional on the part of the student, we will spend some time going over MLA documentation rules, and I will hold you responsible for learning them and using them correctly.  A note to those who feel they can “get over:” it will take only one writing sample for me to determine your level of writing.  A sudden, amazing leap in your ability will seem awfully suspicious to one whose profession is writing.  In other words, it will be fairly easy for me to distinguish between your prose and writing produced by another. (see attachment titled: “An explanation of Plagiarism”)

Major Essay Assignments: At this point, I see us completing 3 short papers ( 2 – 3 pages) and a number of smaller papers and/or exercises.  I am far less interested in the quantity of pages you produce than in your growing ability to write and revise confidently. 

Schedule: to be determined by the progress of the class; key dates include the following:

8/28 – introduction; syllabus review, questions.  In class diagnostic.

Assigned: letter of intent

9/2 – no class (Labor Day)

9/4 – learning how to do peer review

Due: rough draft of letter of intent (3 copies)

9/9 -- Due: final draft of letter of intent

9/16 – no class (Yom Kippur)

9/25 – Library Instruction.  Meet at the reference desk on the first floor of the library at regular class time.

12/9 – final paper due