English 104.018 and 104.014 Fall, 2002 (Tues., Thurs., 10:00 to 11:15 & 1:30 to 2:45)  

Instructor: Dennis Kaplan   E-Mail: menke_dak@hotmail.com Phone: x6245

Office Hours: Tues., Thurs., 11:30 to 1:15, 219 Van Meter

Text: Hacker, Diana. A Writer’s Reference.  Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s Press.

Purpose: To help develop the skills necessary to produce academic writing on a level compatible with Goucher’s College Writing Proficiency Criteria (copy attached).

Rationale: College/Academic writing is a departure for most students from the forms of written expression that they are used to producing.  Once the process is understood, the student should be able to produce papers for any academic endeavor.

Policies:

Attendance:  You are expected to be in class as well as to be in class, which means that you not only show up, but that you are also ready to work, to write, to think, to discuss.

More than three unexcused absences will result in a lowering of your grade.  Written excuses must conform to those listed in the Student Handbook.

Grades:  This is a writing class; you will be graded primarily on the strength of your writing, improvement shown over the semester, technical expertise, and the effort that you make.  There will be five major essay assignments, with the fifth being a revision of your fourth with added research.  These essays will determine 60% of your grade.  The other 40% will be based on in-class writing, attendance and participation, as well as several smaller homework assignments. 

The Big “P”:  The issue of plagiarism is more serious than ever now that the Internet has enabled us to fingertip our way to retrieving 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, the result is the same.  To avoid the latter we will spend sufficient time going over MLA documentation rules.  A note to those who feel they can “get over”: it will only take one writing sample for me to determine your level of writing.  A sudden, amazing leap in your writing ability will seem awfully suspicious to one whose profession is writing.  In other words, it will be fairly easy for me to see the difference between writing that is yours and writing produced by another.  (See attachment titled: “An Explanation of Plagiarism”) 

Essay Formats:  (See attachment titled: “Helpful Hints for MLA Papers”)

Submission of essays:  Essays should be submitted in person.  Submission by e-mail will be allowed only by prior arrangement and only for the most unusual of circumstances.

Writing Center: The Writing Center in Froelicher Hall (x6551) is a valuable campus resource.  Feel free to use it.

Major Essays: There will be 5 major essay assignments.  The fifth will be a revised version of the fourth adding research (minimum 4 sources, maximum 2 from Internet).

All drafts must be typed in adherence with MLA guidelines in handout.  No title page necessary.  Type your name, the class and section, and the date on the top right hand corner of the first page.

1)      Argument

2)      Theme essay (film)

3)      Theme essay (short story)

4)      Position paper

5)      Research paper (minimum six sources)

Final Notes: There are 26 letters in our alphabet.  From these spring over 6 million words.  Don’t just imagine the power of an army that large—use it!

Schedule:  (not etched in stone)

Note—L/D=Lecture/Discussion

Th. 8/29—Introduction; syllabus review; questions.  Short essay assignment.

Tu. 9/3—Short essay due.  L/D: Argument

Th. 9/5—Grammar Workshop (based on class needs) 

 

Tu. 9/10—First draft argument essay due. L/D: Punctuation

Th. 9/12—L/D: “It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that theme.”

 

Tu. 9/17—Revised argument draft due.  Film (to be announced)

Th. 9/19—Final draft for argument due.  Film (continued)

 

Tu. 9/24—Individual conferences, no class.

Th. 9/26—Library session (Meet in lobby of library at regular class time)

 

Tu. 10/1—First draft theme essay due. Peer editing

Th. 10/3—Peer editing continued.  L/D: Vocabulary

 

Tu. 10/8—Final draft theme essay due.  L/D: Audience.

Th. 10/10—L/D: Responding to literature

 

Tu. 10/15—Individual conferences, no class.

Th. 10/17—Individual conferences, no class.

 

Tu. 10/22—First draft for 2nd theme essay due.  Peer editing.  L/D: Grammar II.

Th. 10/24—L/D: “Corner your prey with concise description.”

 

Tu. 10/29—Revised draft for 2nd theme essay due.

Th. 10/31—L/D: Choosing and narrowing topics

 

Tu. 11/5—Final draft for 2nd theme essay due

Th. 11/7—Submit topics for position paper.  L/D: Backing up your position.

 

Tu. 11/12—Rough draft or outline due for position paper.  Group discussion on editing process.

Th. 11/14—L/D: Research overview.

 

Tu. 11/19—Revised draft for position paper due.  L/D: Research continued.

Th. 11/21—L/D: Documentation—just when you thought your paper was done…

 

Tu. 11/26—L/D: “Documentation (continued)

Th. 11/28—Giving thanks for a day off!

 

Tu. 12/03—Draft for final paper due.

Th. 12/05—Last day of class

Note that Dec 13 (a Friday), is the last day to submit papers.