Academic Writing I
English 104.002 - MWF 9:30-10:20am
English 104.005 - MWF 11:30-12:20am
Office - VM 107 Office Hours - MW 10:30 -11:30am and by appt.
Phone - x6216 E-mail - lorem@goucher.edu
(It is better to contact me by e-mail for brief questions or clarifications; that way I can respond right away and we don't end up playing telephone tag.)
Academic Writing I is an introduction to critical writing, analytical reading, and research methods at the college level. Students will read and discuss model essays; write logical, well-organized papers using a variety of developmental patterns; engage in peer-review sessions; and learn to locate, evaluate, and incorporate source material into scholarly essays. The structure of the class will be lecture/discussion (that means you have to talk, too), and will include group work and individual conferences.
You should expect to spend 6-8 hours per week outside of class on reading and writing assignments. Please plan accordingly. The most common problem that first-semester freshmen bump up against is poor time-management. Dont wait until the last minute to start your essays. No one wants to be sitting in front of a computer screen at four in the morning.
Steps to Writing Well, with Additional Readings. Ed. Jean Wyrick. 5th Edition
A Writer's Reference. Ed. Diane Hacker. 4th Edition
A pocket dictionary, any variety, brought with you to every class.
A two-pocket folder
ALL OUT-OF-CLASS ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE COMPLETED ON A WORD PROCESSOR. NO HANDWRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
4 out-of-class essays of 1000 words each will be assigned. For each essay, a completed sentence outline will be turned in; the student will meet with the instructor for a 15-minute conference to the organization, thesis, and projected plan for the essay. Next, the student will complete a preliminary draft, which will be worked on during peer-review sessions. Those with incomplete drafts will not be permitted to participate in the peer review session.
No conference or peer-review session can be made up.
The breakdown in grading essays is as follows 10 points for the outline/conference; 20 points for the draft/peer review; and 70 points for the final copy of the essay.
For each essay, students will turn in a completed error log, in which they have identified and corrected the grammatical and mechanical errors in their papers. Each error log is worth 25 points. Error logs are due the next class after graded essays are returned. Failure to turn in an error log lowers that essay's grade by one letter.
Graded essays and completed error logs are to be kept together in a two-pocket portfolio, so you and I can both chart your progress over the semester.
In-class essays 15%
In lieu of a mid-term and final exam, two in-class essay assignments will be given.
Homework 10%
A number of short (generally 2 pages or less) homework assignments will be given. These will usually be due at the following class meeting.
This includes participation, preparation, and attitude. I'm big on effort.
Attendance is mandatory. You are expected to be here, on time and prepared, for every class. Three absences, for any reason, will lower your final grade by one letter. Religious holidays are excepted, but you need to let me know ahead of time that you will not be present, and you will need to make specific arrangements with me for any missed work. Four absences will lower your final grade one letter more. Five absences will result in an F for the course.
If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to get the notes from a fellow student. In other words, do not come to me or e-mail me and ask, "What did I miss?" Pick up any reading material at my office (see the box by my door), and print out any handouts from Microsoft Outlook under "Public Folders-Academic-English-English 104 Orem."
Late assignments. I do not accept late assignments. Deadlines are just that the final day on which an assignment will be accepted. A one-time exception may be made, at the instructor's discretion, for a legitimate reason WITH DOCUMENTATION. (Please note - the Health Center will not provide you with a note for missed classes.) Computer glitches - hard drive crashed, printer ran out of ink, the computer ate my floppy -- are
NOT legitimate reasons for an extension.
I do not accept assignments by e-mail. Hard copies only.
Plagiarism (deliberately passing off someone else's work as your own) will not be tolerated. It is thievery, plain and simple. See the Torah, the Koran, the Bible, the Code of Hammurabi, and Dear Abby if you are not clear on this. Offenders will be reported to the Honor Board. No second chances.We will discuss this issue at further length when we begin the research process so that inadvertent plagiarism (incorrectly documenting source material) can be avoided.
Beepers, pagers, and cell phones are not permitted. In case of an emergency (someone is ill, you're a paramedic, etc.),see me.
Sleeping in class. Don't do it. Trust me.
Despite all of the foregoing, I prefer a relaxed, open atmosphere in class, as long as common courtesy to fellow students and your instructor is observed. Please don't hesitate to ask me to clarify or repeat something. I don't know if you are confused unless you tell me. If you prefer to ask me in private, see me before or after class, or we can make an appointment at a mutually convenient time.
Please note: it is illegal, as well as inappropriate, for me to discuss your grade with you in front of other people. I will be happy to talk it over with you in private.
You may feel the need for some extra help with your writing skills beyond this class. The Writing Center provides trained tutors to assist you. The number is x6551. Please note: the Center provides specific help for specific writing issues. They are not proofreaders.
Schedule of Assignments
You are expected to come to class having read the material listed for the date indicated. Do not do any of the written exercises in either book unless I specifically assign them to you. This schedule is subject to revision, but no written assignment due date will be moved up.
Fri 8/30 The prewriting process Wyrick Chap. 1, Hacker pp 3-9
Mon 9/2 - LABOR DAY. COLLEGE CLOSED.
Wed 9/4 - The thesis statement - Wyrick Chap. 2, Hacker pp 13-16
Fri 9/6 - Organizing your ideas - Wyrick, Chap. 3, Hacker pp 10-13
Mon 9/9 - Writing clearly and effectively - Wyrick Chap. 6 & 7, Hacker pp 97-122, 139-
157
Wed 9/11 - Good beginnings and endings - Wyrick Chap. 4
Fri 9/13 - Drafting and revising - Wyrick Chap. 5
Mon 9/16 - Grammar/mechanics review - common errors and how to avoid them
Wed 9/18 - The reading/writing connection - Wyrick Chap. 8
Fri 9/20 - Writing a paper using research, MLA documentation format
Wyrick Chap. 14, Hacker pp 49-94
Mon 9/23 - Library Instruction Session. Meet in Library.
Topic for Essay 1 due.
Wed 9/25 - Avoiding plagiarism
Bring in a database article related to your topic.
Fri 9/27 Sentence outline for Essay 1 due Individual Conferences
Mon 9/30 Individual Conferences
Wed 10/2 - Draft of Essay 1 (summary/response) due - Peer review session
Fri 10/4 Essay 1 Due
The compare/contrast essay Wyrick pp 226-247
Mon 10/7 Writing in-class assignments Wyrick Chap. 16
Wed 10/9 Error log for Essay 1 due.
Mid-term in-class writing assignment
Fri 10/11 The process analysis essay Wyrick pp 208-221
Mon 10/14 The Zero-Moment Point handout
Wed 10/16 Sentence outline for Essay 2 due Individual Conferences
Fri 10/18 - MID-SEMESTER HOLIDAY. NO CLASS.
Mon 10/21 MID-SEMESTER HOLIDAY. NO CLASS
Wed 10/23 Individual Conferences
Fri 10/25 - Draft of Essay 2 (process analysis) due - Peer review session
Mon 10/28 - Essay 2 due.
The cause/effect (causal analysis) essay - Wyrick pp 270-282
Wed 10/20 -"Welcome to My Country" handout
Fri 11/1 - Error log for Essay 2 due.
Sentence outline for Essay 3 due Individual Conferences
Mon 11/4 Individual conferences
Wed 11/6 - Draft of Essay 3 (cause/effect) due - Peer-review session
Fri 11/8 - Essay 3 due.
Argumentation - Wyrick Chap. 10
Mon 11/11 - Emotional appeals - video, handout
Wed 11/13 - Error log for Essay 3 due.
"I Have A Dream" - video, Wyrick pp 609-612
Fri 11/15 12 Angry Men" video, part 1
Mon 11/18 12 Angry Men video, part 2
Wed 11/20 12 Angry Men video, part 3
Fri 11/22 Sentence outline for Essay 4 due Individual conferences
Mon 11/25 Individual conferences
Wed 11/27 THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY, COLLEGE CLOSED
Fri 11/29 THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY, COLLEGE CLOSED
Mon 12/2 Draft of 4 (argumentation) due - Peer-review session
Wed 12/4 Essay 4 due
Fri 12/6 Course review, celebration
Mon 12/9 Error log for Essay 4 due.
Final in-class writing assignment
Grading Criteria and Guidelines for Academic Writing I
Ill tell you right up front: Im tough.
All assignments must be word-processed on white 8½ x 11 paper. No handwritten assignments accepted. No title pages, illustrations, or decorations, please.
All assignments must follow MLA format. This is not optional. Failure to use correct MLA format will result in deductions of up to 1 letter grade per essay. We will be discussing MLA format in class; you may also refer to Wyrick and/or Hacker for examples.
All material not your own ideas or common knowledge must be cited and a Works Cited page included at the end of the paper.
Each essay must incorporate information from one or more articles retrieved from the Goucher Library databases. We will be discussing AT LENGTH how to locate and evaluate source material, as well as how to incorporate and cite it properly so that no inadvertent plagiarism occurs.
You are expected to have a college-level mastery of grammar, mechanics, and style. More than three (3) major grammatical or mechanical errors on any assignment will result in a grade no higher than C for that assignment. Major errors include:
Comma splices
Run-on or fused sentences
Sentence fragments
Misconstructed sentences
Dangling modifiers
Misspelled words
Misused homophones (their, theyre, there, etc.)
Missing or incorrect apostrophes
Noun-verb agreement
We will be reviewing the most common errors seen in college papers prior to the first essays due date. In addition, the Writing Center will help you with any or all of these issues if you need a review. (PLEASE NOTE: they are not proofreaders. You are responsible for copy-editing your own work.)
For each essay, the student will complete an error log in which he/she identifies and corrects any mechanical and grammatical errors. Failure to turn in an error log will result in a deduction of one letter grade on the final essay.
The breakdown of grading for each essay is as follows:
10 points Sentence Outline/Conference
The student will bring a completed sentence outline of his/her essay to a 15-minute conference with the instructor.
20 points Draft/Peer review
The student will complete a preliminary draft (that means the essay has been written through completely at least once) and participate in a peer-review session with a fellow student or students. The draft must be at least 1000 words long, include a Works Cited page and source material, and must be printed. No handwritten drafts.
70 points Final copy of the essay
The student will turn in a final draft of the essay, including the sentence outline, reviewed draft, and a print-out of the article(s) used as sources.
Failure to meet the minimum length requirement for any assignment will result in a grade no higher than D for that assignment.
Failure to include an article, cite sources or include a Works Cited page will result in a failing grade for that assignment.
Please note: I dont give grades; you earn them. I look at the essay in its entirety and evaluate how each required element works to create a coherent whole. IMPORTANT: the standards for college-level papers are considerably higher than those for high school English. An A-paper in 12th grade is not necessarily an A paper here.
A papers fulfill the requirements of the assignment. They have no mechanical or grammatical errors. They show sophisticated, thoughtful, and creative use of language. They present a strong, clear, focused thesis. They are well-organized, logical, and convincing in their arguments and use of supporting evidence. They show a clear understanding of audience, mastery of language, and are exciting to read. (Please note: just because a paper has no mechanical or grammatical errors does not automatically mean it deserves an A.)
B papers fulfill the requirements of the assignment. They may have one or two minor mechanical or grammatical errors that do not interfere with the sense of the essay. The thesis is clear and focused. These papers show control of language and understanding of audience, and are clearly organized and logical. While they may not be as stellar or exciting as A papers, they present a reasonable point of view that is supported by relevant and believable evidence.
C papers fulfill the requirements of the assignment. They may have some major mechanical or grammatical errors that may interfere with the sense or logic of the essay. The thesis may be weak or muddy, but it is clearly identifiable as the thesis. These papers may have some issues with organization and/or logic, but overall they present a plausible argument or point of view that is supported by relevant evidence. Sense of audience may be weak, as is control of language, but in general C papers make an honest, thoughtful attempt at completing the assignment.
D papers do not fulfill the requirements of the assignment. One or more of the following problems may be evident: they may be too short, off-topic, or attempt to follow an inappropriate pattern of development. The thesis may be undeveloped or unclear. There may be significant problems with mechanics and grammar; sentence structure may be weak, incorrect, and/or repetitive. The argument presented may be confusing, unconvincing, and/or unsupported. No sense of audience or purpose, although some attempt has been made at completing the assignment.
F papers show me that Im putting more effort into grading them than the writers did into writing them.
No rewrites of any papers will be permitted.