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English 111, Section 10
English Composition I
Professor: Dr. Lisa A. Kirby Fall 2005
Office: Pearsall 177 MWF, 2:20-3:20
Office Hours: MWF, 1:10-2:10 Classroom: GS 103
Tuesday, 9:30-1:00 and by appointment
Phone: 252-985-5337
E-mail: LAKirby@ncwc.edu
Website: http://faculty.ncwc.edu/lakirby
This is an introductory college course in expository writing emphasizing critical reading and thinking. This course is required for graduation and is a prerequisite for English 112. The goals of this course are:
Students are responsible for completing all reading, writing, oral presentation, and library assignments. In addition, any student given extra tutoring assignments will be expected to fulfill this task as part of the course requirements. Final grades will be determined as follows:
Whether they take the form of in-class or out-of-class writings, I expect you to put forth effort and take each writing assignment seriously. We will be using the writing process in this class, which means that each essay will be taken through the prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing stages. You must turn in all stages of your writing in order to receive credit for an assignment. To stay organized, you should purchase a paper folder for this class. All essays, along with all stages of writing, will be turned in with this folder.
Paper Format
All of your major papers should be typed, double spaced, and in 12 pt. font. You should turn in all of your papers in a folder to keep your work organized. For all assignments, I will require that you turn in your prewriting, rough drafts, peer review, final draft, Works Cited page, and any required sources. Without these materials, I will not grade your paper.
Most informal or in-class writings can be hand written, although it is best to type your work whenever possible. Please ensure that your handwriting is neat as neither your peers nor I can fairly assess illegible work. Handwritten work, whether written in class or out, should be submitted on lined paper and you should skip every other line. All work must be dated and must state your name, course name and section, and my name.
Response Journals
An important part of your writing for this class will be weekly response journals over the assigned readings. Each week, you will complete either an in-class or out-of-class response journal that I will assign. Sometimes these journals will be over specific prompts; other times, I will let you freewrite on issues that are of interest to you. The purpose of these responses is to give you a place to engage with the reading assignment in preparation for class discussion as well as an opportunity for me to respond to your writing. If completed out of class, your response journals must be at least one full page and no longer than two pages, typed, double-spaced, and using proper MLA style. If completed in class, the journals can be handwritten. Each journal is worth one point, and I will be using a check system. In other words, if you receive a √+, that means you get the full one point credit. If you receive simply a √, then you get only half credit. Together, these journals will be worth 10% of your final grade. If you are going to be absent, your out-of-class response journal must be turned in prior to the day it is due. If you miss an in-class writing journal due to an unexcused absence, you will not be allowed to make up this writing assignment.
Towards the end of the semester, all students in English 111 will be required to present a brief presentation to the class. This presentation will be tied to your final writing assignment, and all students must complete the presentation in order to receive credit for the course. More information on this assignment will follow as we near the end of the semester.
As part of our course requirements, you will be expected to meet with me for individual conferences. We will meet together several times during the semester. Your attendance at these conferences is a required component of this course, and you will receive a class absence for each missed conference.
Students with Disabilities
North Carolina Wesleyan College complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 regarding students with disabilities. The College shall provide reasonable accommodations for each eligible student who a) has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity, b) has a record or history of such an impairment, or c) is regarded as having such an impairment. Eligible students should let me know as soon as possible so that we can make proper accommodations for this class. Please also refer to page 82 of your College Catalog for information on the support services that Wesleyan offers.
The Writing Lab is an academic support service available to Wesleyan students. Writing specialists and peer tutors are available for one-on-one tutorials in Pearsall 186. The Lab also offers an Online Writing Lab (OWL) that allows students to e-mail questions about their writing, submit drafts online for review, or access handouts on various writing-related topics. Please call (252) 985-5325 or visit the Lab’s Web site at http://annex.ncwc.edu/writing_lab/ for more information. The Lab is a wonderful resource for all Wesleyan students, and I strongly encourage you to visit the Lab for additional help with your writing.
Each student is expected to attend class regularly and participate in class activities. Because we will be doing so much in-class discussion of your writing, your attendance is crucial. If you are going to be absent, it is your responsibility to contact and discuss with me any work you may have missed, even if the absence is excused. If you are going to be absent on the day an assignment is due, the assignment must be turned in to me prior to class time on the day of the absence or it will be considered late. You must let me know if you have a legitimate reason for missing class such as participation in college-related activities or athletics. If you are an athlete, it is your responsibility to get in touch with me prior to being absent from class regardless of whether I receive e-mails from coaches or the athletic department. You are allowed three unexcused absences. For each absence beyond the third, your semester grade will be penalized by 5%. Generally there will be no exceptions to this policy, and any requests for exceptions must be made before a fourth absence is incurred. Students are responsible for all work missed due to absences. With your sixth absence, you will be dropped from the class with a grade of “F.” Please also be aware that three tardies or leaving class early three times counts as one absence. While I expect you to be in class and keep up with your assignments, I will not accept notes from parents, doctors, or the like as excuses. The only excused absences are those sanctioned by the College.
Late work
You should arrive to class prepared to discuss that day’s reading and writing assignments and participate in any assigned group work. While from time to time I may volunteer you for certain questions, I rely on you to voice your opinions and participate in class discussion.
Additionally, before submitting final drafts of some of your major papers, you will work in small groups evaluating each other’s work in peer review workshops. How seriously you evaluate, how specific your comments, and how helpful you are will be evaluated by your peers as well as me. If you do not have a rough draft on the day of the workshop or you are absent without turning in your draft, a full grade will be deducted from the paper.
On selected Fridays during the semester, we will meet in the computer lab in PC 189. I will let you know in advance which days you should come to the lab. This will allow us time to work on our writing in a computerized environment. This time is meant as “work time.” That means that there should be no surfing the Web, instant messaging, or e-mailing during this time. Instead, this hour each will be used to work on your out-of-class essays or for activities that I assign during class. If this time is not used wisely, we will no longer go to the computer lab.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism, or academic dishonesty, is the appropriation, theft, purchase, or obtaining by any means another’s work, and the unacknowledged submission or incorporation of that work as one’s own offered for credit. Appropriation includes the quoting or paraphrasing of another's work without giving credit therefore. Please refer to pages 74-75 of your North Carolina Wesleyan College Catalog for the official university policy on plagiarism. There is a zero tolerance policy on plagiarism in this classroom; if you are found guilty, not only will you be penalized in this course, but you will also be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs.
Class Environment
Our class will be most successful if we work in an environment of respect, cooperation, and good citizenship. In addition to completing your assignments in a timely manner, we can foster a successful classroom environment if we all observe the following policies:
· Cell phones and pagers should be turned off and out of sight at all times;
· We will be discussing many issues as a class, so I expect and encourage students to speak during class time. This is not a lecture-style course, and it will be much more interesting if students participate fully. However, when side conversations take place among individual students, this can prove very disruptive. Please make certain that you give your peers and me the proper respect by refraining from individual conversations during class time;
· You should arrive prepared with your books, paper, and writing instrument on a daily basis;
· Please arrive on time to class and remain for the entire class period unless you have made prior arrangements with me;
· Remember that this is an academic environment and proper language and behavior are expected. We are all adults and while mature language is appropriate in certain circumstances, offensive language and profanity will not be tolerated;
· You must complete all of the reading assignments for this class. Reading comprehension and critical thinking are essential parts of making sure you have achieved the goals of this course. If you come to class without having completed that day’s reading assignment, I have no way of evaluating your progress;
· The time you spend in this classroom is reserved for this course. Please do not spend time studying for other classes or reading other materials; and
· Please respect your peers’ views, comments, and ideas. You do not have to agree with all opinions expressed, but you should express any dissent in a mature and respectful manner.
Observing these policies will ensure that we have the best semester possible. I retain the right to count you absent should you engage in any of the above behaviors. Remember there is more to attending class than merely being physically present.
Course Schedule
Wednesday, August 24 Discuss syllabus
Homework: Read Subjects, pages 1-8, 13-18
Friday, August 26 In-class writing
Discuss reading
Homework: Read Subjects, pages 19-37
Week 2: The Writing Process
Monday, August 29 Return in-class writings
Discuss reading
Discuss writing process
Homework: Read Subjects, pages 226-30, 651-56
Wednesday, August 31 Discuss reading
Discuss prewriting strategies
Hand out guidelines for Essay #1
Begin work on Essay #1
Homework: Read Subjects, pages 233-44
Work on Essay #1
Friday, September 2 Discuss reading
(meet in computer lab) Work on Essay #1
Week 3: A Sense of Self
Monday, September 5 No class—Labor Day Holiday
Homework: Read Subjects, pages 130-34, 151-52
Wednesday, September 7 Discuss reading
Work on thesis statements
Homework: Read Subjects, pages 174-76, 405-07
Friday, September 9 Discuss reading
(meet in computer lab) Work on Essay #1
Homework: Read Subjects, pages 657-61, 670-74
Monday, September 12 Discuss reading
Discuss revision strategies
Homework: Finish rough draft of Essay #1
Wednesday, September 14 Rough draft workshop—Essay #1
Homework: Prepare for conference
Friday, September 16 No class—conferences
Homework: Finish final draft of Essay #1
Monday, September 19 Essay #1 due!
Discuss plagiarism
Discuss handout on plagiarism
Hand out guidelines for Essay #2
Wednesday, September 21 Library Orientation
(meet in library)
Friday, September 23 Library Orientation
(meet in library) Homework: Read Subjects, pages 338-49, 492-96
Find one source for Essay #2
Week 6: Working with Sources
Monday, September 26 Discuss reading
Review sources
Homework: Finish source activity
Read Subjects, pages 589-96
Wednesday, September 28 Discuss reading
Homework: Read Subjects, pages 693-700
Friday, September 30 Discuss evaluating sources
(meet in computer lab) Work with sources and direct quotes
Homework: Finish source activity
Finish direct quotes
Monday, October 3 Source due!
Prewriting activity in class
Homework: Prepare for Essay #2
Wednesday, October 5 Essay #2 (in-class writing)
Friday, October 7 Discuss visual rhetoric and public discourse
(meet in computer lab) Online activity with visual rhetoric
Homework: Read Subjects, pages 312-17
Monday, October 10 Discuss reading
Hand out guidelines for Essay #3
Prewriting for Essay #3
Homework: Read Subjects, pages 444-46
Find ad to bring to class
Wednesday, October 12 Discuss reading
Work with ads
Friday, October 14 No class—Fall Break
Homework: Read Subjects, pages 365-69
Monday, October 17 Discuss reading
Homework: Read Subjects, pages 538-40
Wednesday, October 19 Discuss reading
Homework: Find three forms of public discourse
Friday, October 21 Review public discourse
(meet in computer lab) Work on Essay #3
Homework: Read Subjects, pages 542-44
Week 10: Evaluating Internet Sources
Monday, October 24 Discuss reading
Homework: Finish rough draft of Essay #3
Wednesday, October 26 Rough draft workshop—Essay #3
Homework: Finish final draft of Essay #3
Friday, October 28 Essay #3 due!
(meet in computer lab) Discuss evaluating Internet sources
Homework: Read Subjects, pages 483-91, 602-05
Week 11: Diversity in the United States
Monday, October 31 Discuss reading
Hand out guidelines for Essay #4
Hand out guidelines for presentations
Prewriting for Essay #4
Homework: Read Subjects, pages 497-502, 525-28
Wednesday, November 2 Sign up for presentations
Discuss reading
Homework: Read Subjects, pages 508-10
Friday, November 4 Discuss reading
(meet in computer lab) Work on Essay #4
Homework: Read Subjects, pages 622-32
Week 12: Argumentation
Monday, November 7 Discuss reading
Homework: Read Subjects, pages 193-95, 360-62
Wednesday, November 9 Discuss reading
Homework: Prepare for conference
Friday, November 11 No class—conferences
Homework: Work on Essay #4 and presentation
Week 13: Presentations
Monday, November 14 Presentations
Homework: Work on Essay #4 and presentation
Wednesday, November 16 Presentations
Homework: Work on Essay #4 and presentation
Friday, November 18 Presentations
Homework: Work on Essay #4
Week 14: Thanksgiving Break
Monday, November 21 Work on Essay #4
Homework: Work on Essay #4
Wednesday, November 23 No class—Thanksgiving Holiday
Friday, November 25 No class—Thanksgiving Holiday
Week 15: Conclusion
Monday, November 28 Rough draft workshop—Essay #4
Homework: Finish Essay #4
Wednesday, November 30 Essay #4 due!
Last day of classes
Friday, December 2 No class—Final Exams
Wednesday, December 7 Final Exam (2:00-4:00)