English Rhetoric and Composition

Course Details

Course Number: 1113 Section Number: 208

Spring 2011

Location: Dillard College of Business Administration

Classroom Number: 345

Days & Times:

Class meets T/R 8:00 to 9:20 T/Tr

Course Attachments

Textbooks

MSU Faculty Member

Elizabeth Gibbs
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Course Objectives

Write thesis-based essays that provide strong support and specific details
Engage in a writing process that includes invention, drafting, and revision
Demonstrate proficient use of Standard Written English

Course Expectations

Assignments % of Grade

Minimum of 4 In-Class Essays (350-word min. each)

Minimum of 4 Formal, Revised Essays (750-word min. each).

Writing assignments should require students to produce approximately 5000 words of graded writing and count for at least 80% of the final grade

Submission Format Policy

All formal essays will follow the MLA format and will consist of 2½ to 3 typed pages. Please note that I will not read anything over 5 pages. All required pages (the topic, the rough draft, etc.) must be included with the final essay.

By enrolling in this class, the student expressly grants MSU a “limited right” to all intellectual property created by the student for the purpose of this course. The “limited right” shall include but shall not be limited to the right to reproduce the student’s work product in order to verify originality and authenticity, and for educational purposes.

Note: You may not submit a paper for a grade in this class that already has been (or will be) submitted for a grade in another course, unless you obtain the explicit written permission of me and the other instructor involved in advance.

Late Paper Policy

No late work will be accepted unless arrangements have been made with the instructor by providing a written letter from your doctor or from MSU for a school-sponsored event (i.e. athletes). If you will be absent on a day that work is due, you must arrange a time to turn in your work in person. I will not accept work from another student. If you miss work, it is your responsibility to find out what was missed and if you can make it up. Missing work will earn you a zero grade for that assignment. In addition, once quizzes have been returned, they cannot be made up; however, if you provide a letter from your doctor, you will have the opportunity to make up major exams by 12:00 pm on a day specified by the instructor. You will have only two class periods from the day you missed the exam to make it up

Essays turned in late (after 9:20 PM for 1113-208 AND 12:20 PM for 1113.210) will immediately lose ten points. Please note that I will not accept late work. Laziness and procrastination will not be rewarded.. It takes only one essay handed in late to ruin your average—get your essays in on time. If you know in advance that you will be absent from class the day an essay is due, make arrangements with me ahead of time to turn in your work early for full credit.

Plagiarism Policy Plagiarism is the use of someone else's thoughts, words, ideas, or lines of argument in your own work without appropriate documentation (a parenthetical citation at the end and a listing in "Works Cited")-whether you use that material in a quote, paraphrase, or summary. It is a theft of intellectual property and will not be tolerated, whether intentional or not.

Student Honor Creed

As an MSU Student, I pledge not to lie, cheat, steal, or help anyone else do so."

As students at MSU, we recognize that any great society must be composed of empowered, responsible citizens. We also recognize universities play an important role in helping mold these responsible citizens. We believe students themselves play an important part in developing responsible citizenship by maintaining a community where integrity and honorable character are the norm, not the exception. Thus, We, the Students of Midwestern State University, resolve to uphold the honor of the University by affirming our commitment to complete academic honesty. We resolve not only to be honest but also to hold our peers accountable for complete honesty in all university matters. We consider it dishonest to ask for, give, or receive help in examinations or quizzes, to use any unauthorized material in examinations, or to present, as one's own, work or ideas which are not entirely one's own. We recognize that any instructor has the right to expect that all student work is honest, original work. We accept and acknowledge that responsibility for lying, cheating, stealing, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty fundamentally rests within each individual student. We expect of ourselves academic integrity, personal professionalism, and ethical character. We appreciate steps taken by University officials to protect the honor of the University against any who would disgrace the MSU student body by violating the spirit of this creed. Written and adopted by the 2002-2003 MSU Student Senate.

Students with Disabilities The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Disability Support Services in Room 168 of the Clark Student Center, 397-4140.

Safe Zones Statement The professor considers this classroom to be a place where you will be treated with respect as a human being - regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, political beliefs, age, or ability. Additionally, diversity of thought is appreciated and encouraged, provided you can agree to disagree. It is the professor's expectation that ALL students consider the classroom a safe environment.

Contacting your Instructor All instructors in the Department have voicemail in their offices and MWSU e-mail addresses. Make sure you add your instructor's phone number and e-mail address to both email and cell phone lists of contacts.

Attendance Requirements

Regular class attendance will be expected. Roll will be taken at every class. MSU allows TR students two absences without repercussions; however, more than two absences will effect your class participation grade and could mean the difference of a letter grade or more when figuring your final grade. Tardiness to class is disruptive and disrespectful. Two late arrivals equal one absence. You are late if you arrive to class after class begins and I’ve taken attendance. If you arrive at ten minutes after the hour or later, you will be counted absent.

Note: Students with only one or fewer absences will receive a reward for being awesome: if the student has zero absences, I will drop two of the student’s lowest reading quiz/ homework grades and if the student misses only one time, I will drop one of his/her lowest quiz/homework grade.

Other Policies

Cell phones and other gadgets will not be used during class. Please turn them off when you enter the room. If you have an emergency, let me know before class starts that you are either expecting a call or a message. Disruptive behavior effects the education of your colleagues who have paid to attend this class; they and I, deserve respect and the prospect of a “mature” classroom environment, therefore, if I am forced to comment on cell phone or other gadget usage, a five point deduction will be applied to your final grade. Please see the sheet on Old Fashion Behavior.

Grading Policies

Your grade will depend primarily on your essays; however, you will also be responsible for quizzes, tests, portfolio, and class participation. You will be assigned a total ten essays, six of which will be written outside class and the remaining four will be written in class; the combined average of all ten essays will count for 80% of your final grade. (The In-Class Writing will be 20% of your grade. The remaining 60% will be from formal essays.) Your reading quizzes, homework assignments, portfolio, and participation grades will amount to 10% of your final grade. All major exams, including grammar and punctuation, will count double and will amount to 10% of your final grade. This is the English Department’s policy and is not negotiable.

Writing Proficiency Requirement All students seeking a Bachelor's degree from Midwestern State University must satisfy a writing proficiency requirement once they've 1) passed English 1113 and English 1123 and 2) earned 60 hours. You may meet this requirement by passing either the Writing Proficiency Exam or English 2113. Please keep in mind that, once you've earned over 90 hours, you lose the opportunity to take the $25 exam and have no option but to enroll in the three-credit hour course. If you have any questions about the exam, visit the Writing Proficiency Office website at http://academics.mwsu.edu/wpr, or call 397-4131.