ENGLISH 052

REQUIRED TEXTS:

Flachmann, Kim, et. al. Mosaics: Focusing on Paragraphs in Context.
Fowler, et. al. The Little, Brown Handbook

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

This course is designed to help you become a more effective and more confident writer through practice, revision and editing, grammar exercises, and studying the writing process. By the end of this course, you should be able to produce well-organized, clearly written essays containing well-developed, focused paragraphs and correct sentences. You will develop the ability to write effectively on a variety of topics and for a variety of purposes and audiences. Through reading and analyzing the writing of others (both peers and professional writers), you will learn to recognize effective writing and to adopt techniques that will strengthen your own work.

Because good writing is essentially good re-writing, your work in this course will be approached as an ongoing process. Each of your major assignments will be taken through a series of revisions; you will be required to complete at least three drafts of each paper and to submit a final portfolio containing revised versions of your best work. You will also develop your editing and revising skills by acting as a peer editor, reading and critiquing drafts of your classmates' work. Since classes will consist primarily of discussions, group work, and writing exercises, you will be expected to participate in all activities and to add your own voice and perspectives to class discussions.

REQUIREMENTS:

1. Attendance and Participation: Since much of what you learn in this course will be the result of participation in discussions, group work, and writing activities, regular class attendance and active participation are required. English Department policy mandates that a student may miss no more than a total of six classes and still pass a writing course. In rare cases involving very serious, well-documented emergencies, with my permission you may write a letter to the Writing Program Director explaining the reasons for your absences and why you should be retained in the course. Two late arrivals equals one absence. Coming to a draft workshop without the required writing equals one absence. Failure to attend a conference equals two absences.

2. Writing Journals: All in-class and out-of-class writings and assignments should be done in a separate notebook used only for this purpose. Bring your writing journal with you to class each day. These will be checked and/or collected periodically.

3. Essays: You will complete six essays during the semester. For all except the last essay, which will be written in class, you are required to complete three drafts. The first two drafts will be read by your peers during draft workshops; the final draft will be turned in to me for revision suggestions and a mark of check, check-plus, or check-minus. Essays that receive a check-minus must be revised and resubmitted within a week after they are returned. If you come to a draft workshop without the required writing, you will receive an absence for that day. If you miss a draft workshop, or turn in your final draft after the due date, your essay will no longer be eligible for a check-plus. For the second essay, and at the end of the semester when you are preparing your portfolio, you will also meet with me individually to discuss your progress; failure to attend this conference equals two absences.

4. Final Portfolios: At the end of the semester you will turn in your final portfolio. This portfolio will consist of three of your best essays, developed and revised over the course of the semester, and your final in-class essay. The portfolio will be the most important factor in determining whether you will pass the course.

THE WRITING CENTER:

The Writing Center, located in H338 (phone # 780-6799), provides free one-on-one assistance with any stage of the writing process, including generating ideas, organizing, revising and editing. I encourage you to take advantage of this important resource. Bring a draft of the paper (or notes or an outline) to your appointment. To insure that a tutor will be available, set up your appointment in advance.

PLAGIARISM:

Plagiarism, "cribbing," copying from others in class, and other violations of academic honesty will not be tolerated. All ideas that are not your own, and any wording that is not your own, must be properly documented, giving credit to the original source. The minimum penalty for plagiarism or cheating is failing the course; a more severe penalty may be recommended.

GRADES:

This course is not graded. You will receive a mark of "Satisfactory" or "Unsatisfactory" which will determine whether you can pass to the next writing course. Your mark will be determined by an evaluation of the following:

1. Your essay writing throughout the semester: timeliness and quality
2. Participation in discussions, group work, and draft workshops, and completion of exercises and informal assignments
3. Final portfolio

WITHDRAWAL FROM THE COURSE:

If you decide you do not want to complete this (or any other) course, you must withdraw formally by April 17. Fill out a "Change of Schedule" form at the Registrar's office; otherwise, a grade of "Unsatisfactory" will appear on your transcript.

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SYLLABUS

Please note: Dates and assignments are subject to change. Bring your syllabus to class with you each day so you can write in any changes.
Readings and assignments listed on each date are due on that date.
Readings are in Mosaics unless otherwise indicated.

W Jan. 30 Introductions

F Feb. 1 Diagnostic Essay

M Feb. 4 Diagnostic Essay
Read Chapter One "The Writing Process"

W Feb. 6 Read Chapter Two "Recalling" p.10-16
Answer any two "Questions for Critical Thinking" in your journal

F Feb. 8 Read Chapter Two p. 16-27
In your journal, make a list of possible topics for your "Recalling" essay

M Feb. 11 Read p. 28-35 "Tips for Revising"
Complete exercise R2-8

W Feb. 13 DRAFT WORKSHOP: REVISION
Bring to class two copies of a typed rough draft of your "Recalling" essay

F Feb. 15 Read p. 36-64
In your journal, list the three parts of speech that cause you the most difficulty or that you find most confusing

M Feb. 18 DRAFT WORKSHOP: EDITING
Bring to class two copies of a typed revised rough draft of your "Recalling" essay

W Feb. 20 Final draft of "Recalling" essay due
Read Chapter 3 "Observing" p. 66-72
Answer any two "Questions for Critical Thinking" in your journal

F Feb. 22 Read p. 72-84
In your journal, make a list of possible topics for your "Observing" essay

M Feb. 25
through Individual Conferences--classes canceled
F Mar. 1 Bring a rough draft of your Observing Essay to your conference

M Mar. 4 Read p. 85-92 "Tips for Revising"
Complete exercises R3-8 and R3-11
Read p. 93-110 "Tips for Editing"

W Mar. 6 DRAFT WORKSHOP: REVISION AND EDITING
Bring to class two copies of a typed revised rough draft of your "Observing" essay

F Mar. 8 Final draft of "Observing" essay due
Read Chapter Five "Investigating" p. 149-159
Answer any two "Questions for Critical Thinking" in your journal

M Mar. 11 Read p. 159-174
In your journal, make a list of possible topics for your Investigating essay

W Mar. 13 Read p. 131-137 "Tips for Revising"
Complete exercise R4-8

F Mar. 15 DRAFT WORKSHOP: REVISION
Bring to class two copied of a typed rough draft of your Investigating Essay

M Mar. 18 Read p. 138-148 "Tips for Editing"
Complete exercises E4-2 and E4-7

W Mar. 20 Professional Study Day--All CCBC Classes Canceled

F Mar. 22 DRAFT WORKSHOP:EDITING
Bring to class two copies of a typed revised rough draft of your Investigating essay

M Mar. 25 Final draft of Investigating essay due
Read Chapter Six, "Restating" p. 207-216
Answer one of the "Questions for Critical Thinking" on p. 212 and one of the "Questions for Critical Thinking" on p. 216

W Mar. 27 Read p. 217-231
Bring in the article or web site that you intend to use for your Restating essay

F Mar. 29
to SPRING BREAK
F Apr. 5

M Apr. 8 Read p.232-240 "Tips for Revising"
Complete exercise R6-4

W Apr. 10 DRAFT WORKSHOP: REVISION
Bring to class two copies of a typed rough draft of your Restating essay

F Apr. 12 Read p. 187-206 "Tips for Editing"
Complete exercises E5-7 E5-12, and E5-18

M Apr. 15 Read p. 289-321 "Tips for Editing"
Complete exercises E7-6, E7-10 and E7-23

W Apr. 17 DRAFT WORKSHOP: EDITING
Bring to class two copies of a typed revised rough draft of your Restating essay

Last day to withdraw from classes with a "W"

F Apr. 19 Final draft of Restating essay due
Read Chapter 9 "Problem Solving," p. 403-409
Answer any two "Questions for Critical Thinking" in your journal

M Apr. 22 Read p. 410-423
In your journal, make a list of possible topics for your Problem Solving essay

W Apr. 24 Read p. 368-375 "Tips for Revising"
Complete exercise R8-3
Read p. 424-428 "Tips for Revising"
Bring in a thesis statement for your Problem Solving essay

F Apr. 26 DRAFT WORKSHOP: REVISION
Bring to class two copies of a typed rough draft of your Problem Solving essay

M Apr. 29 Read p. 241-259 "Tips for Editing"
Complete exercises E6-7, E6-12 and E6-23

W May 1 DRAFT WORKSHOP: EDITING
Bring to class two copies of a typed revised rough draft of your Problem Solving essay

F May 3 Final draft of Problem Solving essay due
Discuss final portfolios and final essay

M May 6 Individual conferences
through Classes canceled
F May 10 Bring revised essays for your final portfolio to your conference

M May 13 Final In-Class Essay

W May 15 Final In-Class Essay
Final portfolios due