The course will begin with a diagnostic/placement essay,
which, though not graded, will give me an indication of your proficiency in
written composition. I will keep this
essay on file and use it to evaluate your progress at the end of the course. You will draft, revise and submit three major
essays during the course of the semester, and I will grade the final drafts on
the basis of content, organization, development of ideas, style, and
polish. A Composition Journal will be
required, in which you will need to include your in-class exercises, short writing
assignments, pre-writing documents, drafts of papers, peer critiques, and so
on. The last required project for the
course is the assembling of a Final Portfolio, which will include the original
(graded) copies as well as the newly revised copies of two papers which you
have submitted during the semester.
Revision portfolios will be graded based on evidence of substantial,
effective revision. As part of this
Final Portfolio, you will write an in-class timed essay which will serve as a
final exam. The Revision Portfolio and
its accompanying in-class Final Essay Exam will count as 30% (combined) of the
final course grade.
Service
Project:
This section of English 101
requires participation in a community service project. You must participate in
one of the projects connected specifically with English 101. Service in an
alternative project or for another organization will not meet the course
requirement. Note that informal and formal writing projects may be connected
with your service. If you do not participate in an approved project, your
related written work can earn no higher than a “D,” as it will not have met the
basic assignment requirements.
Blogging:
As part of your Composition Journal requirement, in
addition to the material mentioned above, each of you will need to create a
weblog (“blog”), and post your reflections at least once a week. A specific assignment sheet will be
distributed during the first week of the term which will give more detailed
information about this component of the course.
Dr. Randle’s blog is located here;
from it you will be able to access your classmates’ blogs – as well as those
from other sections of Eng 101.
Assessment:
Three
submitted essays 45%
(3 @15% each)
Composition
Journal / Blogging Assignment 15%
Writing
portfolio
Final
essay exam 30%
Participation 10%
(including, but not limited to, attendance,
contribution to discussions and large-group workshops, and participation in the
peer editing process).
Grading
scale:
Grading will be on a 10-point scale.
A
= 90-100%
B
= 80-90%
C
= 70-80%
D
= 60-70%
F
= below 60%
Policy on Student Absences
The English Department
adheres to
“Class
attendance is an essential part of university education, and students are
expected to attend regularly and punctually all classes and laboratories for
which they are registered. Cumulative absences may result in a lowered grade or
loss of credit for the course. Tardiness
is also subject to penalty, as is any failure to complete
required class work on time. Although some specific requirements may vary
according to the nature and structure of the course, the following guidelines
summarize university policy:
1. Class attendance is required,
and accurate records are kept.
2. Students must not accumulate
excessive absences.
A student
receives a grade of F in a course immediately upon accumulating the following
number of absences, whether excused or unexcused:
[. . .]
8 in semester classes meeting 3
times per week
[. . .]
For lesser
numbers of absences, the student should expect a lowered grade in the course,
with the maximum penalty of one letter grade for each week of absences (in a
semester) or the equivalent.
Absence
Appeal. If a student misses more than the number
of class periods specified in university policy and believes that there are
reasonable explanations for the absences, he/she may appeal the absences to the
dean of the school in which the course is being taught. Students may obtain a
Student Absence Appeal Form from the office of the appropriate dean.”
Late Papers Policy
The English Department has
established the following policy for late work submitted in core English
courses:
“Grades for papers as assigned on syllabus will be reduced
according to the following schedule:
·
after
time due and up to 24 hours late: one
letter grade;
·
after
24 hours and up to 48 hours late: two letter grades;
·
after
48 hours and up to 72 hours late: three letter grades;
·
after
72 hours, any paper turned in will be
given an ‘F.’
Failure to turn in an assignment will result in a
grade of zero on that assignment.”
Please note that A computer or printing problem is not an
acceptable excuse for late work. An
essay is considered late if it is not submitted when others are collected in
class on the date due.
All essays must be submitted to receive course credit. Late homework assignments will not be
accepted.
Additional Classroom Policies
- Tardiness
is both disruptive and a sign of
disrespect. Be here on time,
prepared for class, at 12:00 sharp each day. To this end, tardiness for any given
class period will be assessed as ½ an absence.
- Mobile
phones are a distraction and
nuisance to both me and your classmates; please turn them off before class
begins, and refrain from using them until you are dismissed.
- You are responsible for any changes to assignments or reading schedules made in
class. I will try to keep the
webpage updated with any announced changes, so you should check with your
classmates or on the website should you miss class.
- All reading
assignments (listed below) must be completed for the date assigned.
- Unless assigned to be completed during a class
period (as a journal or brainstorming exercise), all writing must be typewritten in order to be submitted.
- Critical correspondence or announcements may be
sent out by e-mail, but only to
your MC account.
Conferences and Office Hours
Conferences may be required at certain times during
the semester and are designed to aid the writing and revision process. These conferences will be used to discuss specific
writing strengths and/or weaknesses, and may occur on either a small group or a
one-on-one basis. My scheduled office
hours are posted on my office door and on my webpage. If you cannot meet me at these times, then
feel free to make an appointment outside of the scheduled office hours.
The
final day to drop any class without receiving an “F” is 31 October.