College Writing 101 Syllabus

IUP – Spring Semester 2012

TH, 11-12:15, 12:30-1:45, 3:30-4:45

Instructor: Dr. Jeff Dories

Office: Keith 118 (In the Adult Ed Office)

Classroom: Eicher 106

Phone: 724-357-1354

E-mail:  J.S.Dories@iup.edu

Office hours: TH 8:30-10:30 or by appointment

Course Description and Rationale

There are many different methods of reading and writing—in this course, we will focus on a few of these methods in order to discover a technique that best fits your learning style. The most important part of any writing is discovering your voice and eliminating the anxiety that normally comes with the writing process. Once this anxiety is eliminated and you are comfortable writing, then many of the mechanics will come naturally or will be easily encouraged.

At the same time, we will examine how our identities are shaped through writing, culture, and many other factors. Through the creation and exploration of various texts (your own and those of professional writers), this course will help you to: further develop your voice, reduce anxiety concerning writing, evaluate your audience, think critically, work on drafting and revising, develop techniques for collaboration, and explore your writing process.

Because this course is four credit hours, it will be reading and writing intensive–-expect to spend many hours reading, writing, and revising. Throughout the course, you will notice that I have a great deal enthusiasm for the study of writing, and it is my hope that you will develop, if you have not already done so, a similar enthusiasm. This course is designed to help you become an efficient and confident writer who possesses an independent and distinct voice. A writer that has confidence and control of their voice is an asset in any profession and will find it helpful in life in general. Other goals for the class include:

• To synthesize, evaluate and interpret material presented in an innovative way
• To understand and develop your writing process
• To create an open community for discussion where all opinions are welcomed
• To work effectively in small groups to discuss and evaluate each others’ writing and to collaborate in accomplishing various writing and reading tasks
• To understand and achieve effective revision of your own texts, so that they are clear, cohesive, well-developed and well-organized

Required texts

• None
• A portable flash drive.
• Allow extra money for printing / copying (Approximately 10 dollars)

Plagiarism Statement

Unacknowledged borrowing of ideas, facts, phrases, wordings, or whole words in a paper (from books, on-line, or any other source), as well as the copying of another student’s work all constitute plagiarism and are unacceptable in the university community.  Students turning in plagiarized work may receive a failing grade for the essay or for the entire course.  It is standard policy that any form of plagiarism be reported to the University and recorded. Also, all papers turned in will be submitted to www.turnitin.com to check for authenticity as well as any other means necessary. For more information, see the university policy on plagiarism in your student handbook, or ask me. We will also be discussing this topic more in class.

Course Requirements

1. Conferences (2 x 2.5% = 5%):  You will meet with me two times during the semester to discuss your writing.  I expect you to prepare for these meetings and you will be graded on attendance, as well as your preparation. There will be absolutely no makeups! If you need to reschedule, e-mail me well ahead of time.

2. Essays (Paper One = 20%, Paper Two = 30%):  The grading will be focused on your effort, but of course, part of the grade will be quality based as well. Each paper will be a minimum of 5 full pages of double-spaced writing. If the paper is short of the 5 page mark, it will be 10 points of per half page up to 2 1/2 pages – the paper will receive a zero below 2 1/2 pages. You will revise each of these papers at least twice (from freewrite to draft and from draft to final) and an important part of the grade for each essay will be the quality of the revisions. Essays must be turned in with all previous drafts, peer responses, and preparatory work – any essay turned in without these accompanying materials will be returned to the writer ungraded. Essays must be turned in class and e-mailed to me before class. Essays turned in later than this (i.e.; after class!) will lose one full letter grade for each day late.

** All papers must be typed in black, 12 point, Times New Roman font with standard Microsoft Word margins (1 inch on bottom and top and 1.25 inches on sides) and standard spacing. All work must be submitted electronically via e-mail in Microsoft Word (if you have Open Office or Microsoft Works, you must convert your papers on campus, then send them to me).

3. Final Paper (5%):  The final paper will involve the editing and extending one of the papers that you have worked on in class to six pages. Requirements will be given at a later time.

4. Homework (15%): For each homework assignment you will receive a grade of either full, half, or no credit.

5. Newsletter Project (15 %): More information will be provided later in the semester.

6. Leading Classroom Discussion (10 %): Over the course of the semester, your group will be required to lead the conversation on the reading from the previous night. I will provide a handout with the requirements for this early in the semester.

Grading:

Competent, thoughtful, well-written work will receive a ‘B.’ In order to receive an ‘A’ your writing must be outstanding and your ideas complex and exceptionally well-supported. Grades are earned, rather than given, and I am happy to help you with your work both in and out of class so that you may earn the grade you desire.

Grading Scale:

90-100% = A     80-89% = B     70-79% = C     60-69% = D   59% and below = F

Attendance Policy

You are permitted 2 absences. A half an absence will accrue when you come to class unprepared, use a cell phone during class time (including texting, e-mailing, instant messaging, etc.), show up late, or need to leave early. Each absence beyond that will result in your final grade being lowered by one-half letter grade. The reason for your absence is inconsequential; however, I may be willing to make an exception for emergencies on a case-by-case basis if you communicate with me prior to the absences. Most importantly, all assignments are required to be turned in on their due dates regardless of whether you are absent or not. Stay in communication with me – if you notify me prior to an absence you may be able to make up participation and/or journal points from that day.

Other Classroom Policies

• I expect you to be actively engaged in work for this course during class time. Idle chatting, texting friends, doing work for other courses, etc. will result in lowering of your participation grade or being marked absent for the day.
• Treat everyone in the class with respect – this is possible even during a heated discussion. If your behavior is disruptive, I will ask you to leave the class and will mark you absent for the day.
• Cell phones, pagers, etc. should only be visible in class if you have an emergency (e.g.; your wife is expecting a baby at any time) and have cleared it with me ahead of time.
• Your work must be carefully proofread and edited. Papers with multiple typos and careless errors demonstrate your lack of engagement with this class and receive lower grades. Reading your work out loud can help you avoid many of these mistakes. You may also want to ask a friend to proofread.

Grade Worksheet:

Paper #1 (20  points)                                               ___________ out of 20

Paper #2 (30 points)                                                ___________ out of 30

Conference #1 (2.5 points)                                    ___________ out of 2.5

Conference #2 (2.5 points)                                    ___________ out of 2.5

Leading Class Discussion (10 points)                ___________ out of 10

Homework Assignment 1 (1.5 point)                      ___________ out of 1.5

Homework Assignment 2 (1.5 point)                      ___________ out of 1.5

Homework Assignment 3 (1.5 point)                      ___________ out of 1.5

Homework Assignment 4 (1.5 point)                      ___________ out of 1.5

Homework Assignment 5 (1.5 point)                      ___________ out of 1.5

Homework Assignment 6 (1.5 point)                      ___________ out of 1.5

Homework Assignment 7 (1.5 point)                      ___________ out of 1.5

Homework Assignment 8 (1.5 point)                      ___________ out of 1.5

Homework Assignment 9 (1.5 point)                      ___________ out of 1.5

Homework Assignment 10 (1.5 point)                    ___________ out of 1.5

Homework Assignment 11 (1.5 point)                     ___________ out of 1.5

Newsletter Project (15 points)                                ___________ out of 15

Final Paper (5 points)                                             ___________ out of 5

Total (100 points)                                                      ___________ out of 100