MWF
1200-1250 PM.
4 In-class Essays (including final) (10% each) 40%
4 Formal, Revised Essays (10% each) 40%
Free-writing Journal 10%
Class Participation and Preparedness, Class 10%
writing, and Quizzes
Writing assignments will produce approximately 5000 words of
graded writing and count for 80% of the final grade.
This class will not use the plus/minus grading system. In this class, the following numerical equivalents for grades are used: A = 100-90%;
B = 89-80%; C = 79-70%; D = 69-60%; F = 59-0%.
IMPORTANT: For freshmen or transfer students entering Midwestern in the fall of 2011 or later, a grade of C or higher in ENGL 1113 is a prerequisite
for enrolling in ENGL 1123, and a grade of C or higher in 1123 is required for graduation from Midwestern.
Final and intermediate drafts of written work completed out of class must be typed. Each assignment will indicate precise formatting and
composing requirements. All essays will be submitted in MLA form.
By enrolling in this class, the student expressly grants MSU a “limited right” in all intellectual property created by the student for the purpose of this
course. The “limited right” shall include but not be limited to the right to reproduce the student’s work product in order to verify originality and
authenticity, and for education 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 work will not be accepted. If you are absent on an assignment due date, then the assignment must be e-mailed to me
(vickie.starr@mwsu.edu) prior to the beginning of the class period. Students are welcome to turn in their work early if they know that they are going to
miss a class.
Regular attendance is both encouraged and expected. Roll will be taken at the beginning of every class. If you miss or
have more than eight (8) absences, excused or not, you will fail the class. Please note, however, this is not an invitation
to miss class. You are responsible for keeping up with your absences and will be dropped if you exceed 8 absences.
Because of the leniency of the absentee policy, tardys and leaving class early will be counted as an absence. Any student who arrives after roll
has been taken will be marked as absent, and any student that leaves before class dismissal will be counted as absent for that day.
Please note that being absent does not excuse you from turning in the required work on time. Students should contact the instructor as soon
as possible If there are extenuating circumstances.
Plagarism Policy Plagiarism is the use of someone else’s thoughts, words,
ideas, or lines of argument in your own work with
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.
All written work will be turned in accompanied by drafts.
So, please save all drafts of everything you write. In any case
when I suspect undeclared influence, I will immediately
ask you to demonstrate at an office conference, through
your drafts and understanding of the essay at hand, how
you wrote it and that you wrote it. Any work about which
I have doubts will be assigned an F. Additionally the
student will be dropped from my class, with a grade of F
and reported to the Provost, Dean of English, and the Dean
of Admissions. Thanks for your understanding.
Disruptive Any behavior that inhibits a fellow student from learning or
Behavior obtaining information in the classroom is considered
Policy disruptive behavior. Disruptive Behavior will not be
tolerated. A college education is expensive, each student
pays to be in this classroom, and I demand that the utmost
respect is given to each individual.
Cell Phones CELL PHONES will be turned off and out of sight during
all class time. If your phone rings during class or the
instructor spots or suspects cell phone use during class,
then you will be asked to leave class and counted as absent
for the day.
This policy also applies to any electronic device that is not
medically necessary, or deemed necessary for the student
to learn or participate in class.
The English Department number should be given out as an
emergency contact number for you during class time.
Please Note: Use of any electronic device during any
graded effort will be awarded a zero.