MWF 1:00-1:50
Additional information about course objectives can be found on the department webpage, http://libarts.mwsu.edu/english/.
Students will meet these goals by completing five writing projects, each of which will develop from a sketch to a draft (both of which will receive peer review) and be revised into a professional essay of 750 to 1,000 words. Each professional essay will receive a letter grade, but each will be revised again before being placed, along with all preliminary sketches and drafts, in a writing portfolio to be submitted at the end of the semester. At that time I will read the revisions, and significant improvement—beyond simple correction of mechanical errors—will result in a higher grade for that project. The average of these five project grades will account for 75 percent of the course grade.
Near the end of the term students will receive instruction in and have four opportunities to practice in-class writing. The final two in-class papers—one of which will be written during the final exam period—will receive a letter grade. The average of these two in-class-writing grades will account for another 15 percent of the course grade.
The final 10 percent of the course grade will be based on class participation as exhibited not only by regular attendance but engagement in class discussions, peer review, and journal writing.
In this class, the following numerical equivalents for final grades are used: A = 100-90%; B = 89-80%; C = 79-70%; D = 69-60%; F = 59-0%.
Sketches may be hand-written if legible, but all drafts and professional essays must be word-processed. Professional essays will follow MLA manuscript format.
Students will learn how to write, edit, and transmit their papers electronically. However, all materials for peer review must be printed out so they can be passed around in class. Ultimately, all materials placed in the writing portfolio must be in print form.
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.
Peer review is available only on those days it is scheduled in class unless students make their own arrangements to review each other’s work. Additional review is also available at the MSU Writing Labs noted below.
Professional drafts are due on the date announced, but I will allow a grace period until the beginning of the next scheduled class. Except in documented emergencies, I will accept no late assignments after that point.
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 quotation, paraphrase, or summary. It is a theft of intellectual property and will not be tolerated, whether intentional or not. Thus no work containing plagiarism will be accepted. However, papers containing unintentional plagiarism may, with my permission, be rewritten. If I deny you the opportunity to rewrite the assignment, I will report the incident to the English department chair, and you may exercise your right to appeal my decision by following the procedure outlined in your Student Handbook, “Rules of Procedure in Student Conduct Matters, Section 4, Academic Misconduct Procedures” (75-76).
Regular attendance is obviously key to doing well in this course. It will affect all aspects of your work, and thus its impact is much larger than the 10 percent of your grade officially dependent on class participation. If you know you must be absent on a given day, please make arrangements in advance to turn in any work due that period. If you miss class unexpectedly see me immediately on your return about turning in missed assignments.
If you should find yourself impossibly behind in the course, please officially withdraw on or before Monday, October 18, or you will receive an F for the course.
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 have voicemail in their offices and MWSU e-mail addresses. Consider adding my office phone number and e-mail address to both your email and cell phone lists of contacts.
A Final Word
As your instructor, I will do everything I can to encourage you to improve your writing, including pushing you if necessary to help you reach your potential. In other words, I’ll try to be a good coach. But remember that I am also required to judge your writing. Don’t misinterpret my encouragement as a promise of an easy grade. I hope you’ll discover this semester that writing can do more for you than you ever imagined. Good luck.
University Writing Labs
I encourage you to begin drafting papers as early as possible and to take advantage of the MSU Writing Labs located in 224 Bea Wood and RC246 Moffett Library. Writing tutors will not edit your papers for you, but they will provide you with specific suggestions for improving your writing.
Writing Proficiency Requirement
All students seeking a Bachelor’s degree from Midwestern State University must satisfy a writing proficiency requirement once they have 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 have 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.
Daily Schedule of Readings and Assignments
See attached calendar.