Composition
II
Section
888
MWF
Spring
2007
BH
201
Professor: Laura Gray, Ph.D.
Phone: 918-343-7593
Email: lgray@rsu.edu
Office: BH 204C
Office Hours: (appointments encouraged)
Monday,
Wednesday, and Friday
9-11
Tuesday
and Thursday
11-1
Course Introduction
The second semester of college writing builds on the foundation started in Comp I, reinforcing the skills necessary for successful academic writing. Analytical and argumentative reading, writing, and research are emphasized. This course will help students:
1.
Build
on the writing skills gained in English 1113.
2.
Sharpen
the ability to read critically, to think critically, and to express opinions in
writing about subjects that are still at issue.
3.
Understand
the importance of argument as it functions in a democratic society and join in
academic discourse by reading and responding to others’ ideas on contemporary
issues.
4.
Understand
and implement the rhetorical process as it applies to critical reading,
writing, and research.
5.
Improve
research skills especially as they apply to academic writing.
6.
Read
and analyze literature.
7.
Produce
a Writing Portfolio.
Required
Texts:
·
Dial-Driver, Emily. Guide
to College Writing.
·
McQuade,
Donald, and Robert Atwan. The Writer’s Presence: A Pool of
·
Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein.
Longman, 2003.
File
folders to submit major papers
RSU
student email account
At
least one computer disk dedicated to Comp II
Notebook
Blue
Books (2)
To be a good writer, one
first must be a good reader and critical thinker. We will read a wide variety
of writings, mainly short essays, and I will expect students to demonstrate
deep and critical understanding of the writers’ purposes and rhetorical
strategies. In turn students should be able to think more deeply and critically
about their own writing, thus becoming better thinkers and writers in the
process. This course consists of lectures, class discussions, in-class writing
and reviewing sessions, and group work. Students will also read and write
outside of class. To highlight the writing process, the greater part of the
semester grade will be based on the successful execution of this writing
process as demonstrated in prewriting, essay drafts, revisions, and reflective
writings as well contributions to the writing process of the class. Students
are also expected to meet with me throughout
the semester to discuss their progress as writers. Finally, each student
will submit a Portfolio in which they highlight their writing process and
demonstrate their progress as academic writers.
Final Grades will be based on the following:
Process (300
points)
Product—The
Portfolio (450 Points)
Exams (250
points)
Total Course Points
900-1000 = A
800-899.9 = B
700-799.9 = C
600-699.9 = D
0-599.9 =
F
Attendance
Policy
Class
attendance and participation are crucial to individual student success as well
as to the success of the class as a whole. Students missing 4 or more classes
will have their final course grade lowered accordingly. On the rare occasion
that you must miss class, you are responsible for obtaining, from a reliable
classmate, any information covered in your absence. You are expected to
return to class fully prepared to participate.
Daily
work, responsive writings, peer reviews, and rhetorical précis are in-class
projects and cannot be made up for any reason. If you miss class, or are late,
you will receive a zero for the missed activity.
The following applies to
rhetorical précis:
Each assigned précis
is due, typed, at the beginning of the class period in which the
essay/article will be discussed. These due dates are outlined in the Schedule
and confirmed in class. No late précis will be accepted. Please make
sure that you have typed and printed out your précis by the beginning of
the class period.
Should a student be absent
from class on the day a précis is due, she or he may turn in the précis prior
to class discussion either in person or via email.
Each student is
allowed one précis makeup. Makeup précis should be written over an
assigned reading that does not already have a précis due. The above guidelines
apply to makeup précis. The student should turn in the makeup précis to me the
day the essay/article will be discussed in class.
If a student chooses
to complete all assigned précis, he or she may write an additional précis as extra credit. Again,
only one précis may be used as either makeup or extra credit.
Late Papers
In this
class, papers will be graded by Portfolio. Part of this Portfolio method is the
use of paper conferencing and grading. You must have your paper completed by
the scheduled conference time. If you miss this time, I will deduct a letter
grade from the final paper. You will
then have to schedule another conference time, at my convenience, to receive
your grade and feedback for the final submission of the paper.
Student
Conduct
I
encourage free and open exchange of ideas and opinions in this class. To ensure
that each student has this opportunity, each of us must respect every student’s
right to meaningfully contribute to the current discussions at hand. This class
focuses on the power of language, both written and oral, and the successful
student will learn how best to use language appropriately and persuasively.
Misuse of language can act as a silencing tool; therefore, no overtly hostile,
sexist, racist, or other xenophobic language or behavior will be tolerated.
Learning
is a collaborative process. Each student has an
important and unique role in this class and should be prepared to contribute
fully throughout the semester. Arriving late, leaving early, sleeping in class,
talking out of turn, or other disruptive behavior, interferes with the learning
experience of every student and, therefore, will not be tolerated.
It is disruptive and rude for cell phones and
portable music devices to be used during class—turn them off and put them away
during class time.
Cheating and Personal Misrepresentation and Proxy
Taking another person's place in an exam, placement
test, or other academic activity, either before or after enrollment; having
another person participate in an academic evaluation activity or evaluation in
place of oneself all constitute cheating and violate the Student Code of
Conduct.
Students should see and adhere to the RSU Code of
Conduct, printed in Student Code of
Responsibility and Conduct and online. See Title 12.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is a form of academic dishonesty.
Plagiarism is representing someone else's ideas or work as your own. To avoid
plagiarism, when you use someone else's data, arguments, designs, words, ideas,
project, etc., you must make it clear that the work originated with someone
else by citing the source. Please review the Student Code of Responsibilities
and Conduct published by
Contacting the Professor
My communication information is posted at the top
of the syllabus. When sending an email, please include your name, class, and
question in the subject line. All emails should be signed with your full name.
Otherwise, I can not guarantee that your email will receive appropriate attention.
I will make every effort to respond to emails within 48 hours. Emails received
after
Americans with Disabilities Act
Computers are available in the UPA, Stratton Taylor
Library, and Student Support Services. Computers are available for class use in
BH 207.
The schedule and procedures in this course are
subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances.
Schedule
Below
is the Master schedule for this class. This schedule provides an overview of
the assigned readings from our text and the due dates of major papers. I may
also provide supplemental readings, not listed below, as deemed beneficial to
the class. Specific details for each paper and assignment will be given
separately throughout the term. This schedule may change as necessary to
benefit the class. It is the student’s responsibility to stay apprised of any
changes. Students should be prepared, on any day, to write an in-class essay
or response, or turn in their journals. |
Personal and
Expository Writing
Week
1 (1/8-1/12) Introduction to Course Assessment Students read for class: “Homeboy” “The Joy of Week
2 (1/15-1/19) Students read for class: “What’s
Your Name, Girl?” “My
Father’s Life” “Salvation”
—Practice Précis Due Week
3 (1/22-1/26) Students read for class: “Is a Holy War Inevitable?” “Why McDonald’s Fries Taste So Good”—Précis I Due
for this Week
4 (1/29-2/2) Personal Essay Due |
Literary
Analysis
Week
5 (2/5-2/9) Introduction
to reading and writing about literature. Selections announced in class. Week
6 (2/12-2/16) Students read for class: Frankenstein Week
7 (2/19-2/23) Continue discussion of Frankenstein Work with Literary Analysis Week
8 (2/26-3/2) Students read for class: “How Computers Change the Way We Think”—Précis II
Due for this Reading The Midterm Exam Week
9 (3/5-3/9) The Literary Analysis
Due |
Argumentative
Writing
(As a class, we will read and discuss the
below-listed classical writings. Additionally, each of you will select a
contemporary argument to read and discuss with the class).
Week
10 (3/12-3/16) Students read for class: “The Declaration of “I Have a Dream” Week
11 (3/19-3/23) Spring Break Week
12 (3/26-3/30) Students read for class: “And Ain’t I a Woman?” “A Modest Proposal”—Précis IV Due for this Week
13 (4/2-4/6) Continue work with argument and research Week
14 (4/9-4/13) The Argumentative Research Paper Due |
|
Portfolio Week
15 (4/16-4/20) Reflection and Portfolio Week
16 4/23-4/27) Portfolios Due Final
Exam Period (4/30-5/4) Final Exam,
Wednesday, May 2, 11:30-1:30 All students will
take the exam at this time—no exceptions. |
|
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