Class time will be spent in large and small group discussions. You may be required to participate in class debates and give formal presentations of your work. I have no intention of standing at the front of the class lecturing at you, so class participation is vital; it is also impossible if you’re not here, so attending each class is very important. More than two absences will adversely affect your grade. More than six absences will cause you to fail this course.  Speak with me in advance if you’re worried about meeting a deadline or missing a class. Also, lateness is a distraction to everyone. If I am ever more than ten minutes late to class, you can leave. By the same token, if you are more than ten minutes late to class, you will be marked absent.

Grading is based on a variety of factors--meeting course requirements, quality of written work, participation, general improvement, and willingness to try new perspectives and take chances--and I do not grade individual assignments. You will turn in a mid-term and final portfolio, which is a collection of writing that you have done in the course. I will talk more about your portfolios as the semester progresses. We will have several conferences throughout the semester to talk about your progress and you will receive a mid-term and final grade.

The materials you will need for this course include a loose-leaf binder and paper. Do NOT use a spiral notebook. You will also need two plain folders for your portfolios (one for the finished product and one for the drafts that you will be handing in). Never show up for class or a conference without these things.

Writing requirements for the course include:
 a)  4 three to five page formal essays
 b)  7 one to two page response essays
 c)  several brief in-class and out-of-class writing assignments
 e)  various other group activities and quizzes

I will discuss the requirements for the formal essays later. There will be a response essay due nearly every week, and I will pass out a list of topic choices the week before each due date. Of course, if there is something else you would rather write about that week, feel free. There will be ten responses assigned, of which you only need to do seven (you are free to choose which three you will skip).

All out-of-class assignments should be typewritten on clean paper with at least a one-inch margin on all sides—
that’s including the top and bottom. Use a plain, regular font type, like the one I’m using now, with no larger than a 12-point size. I can spot the difference. Make sure your work is free of typos and misspelled words, but, please, don’t use a computer grammar check unless you are really sure you know how to use it. The same goes for a thesaurus. And, please, make sure your name is on every assignment you turn in to me.
 Assignments must be turned in at the beginning of class on the day they are due. No late papers will be accepted.  If you are having difficulties with a particular paper, please come and see me before it’s due. No excuses will be accepted on after the due date.

The books for this course will be as follows:
 Petracca & Soropure, eds., Common Culture
 Stephen King,  Misery
 Aaron, The Little, Brown Essential Handbook for Writers, 2nd ed.

I also included Donald Murray’s The Craft of Revision (3rd ed.) as a recommended textbook. If you do not wish to purchase Murray’s book, a copy will be put on reserve for your use. All books should be available at the campus bookstore or Addam’s Bookstore at 326 South Tate Street. There isn’t much of a price difference but Addam’s generally has a more generous buy-back policy. You can probably pick up a copy of Misery for about a buck at any used book store (try the Book Rack or Secondhand Prose).

Classroom etiquette is also important. It is extremely rude to carry on a conversation while I or another student is speaking. Also, I will not tolerate verbal or physical intimidation from any student directed at anyone in this class. Anyone displaying rude or aggressive behavior will be asked to leave, and I reserve the right to not allow disruptive students back into the class.

One final note, I encourage you to speak with me whenever you feel like it. My office location and office hours are at the top of the syllabus for a reason. I truly enjoy spending time with my students and don’t feel inconvenienced at all when they need a bit of my time. I also encourage you to explore the campus Writing Center, located in McIver 101. It is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Fridays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and it is a wonderful resource for writers of all skill levels.

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Tentative Schedule of Assignment Due Dates

Tuesday, January 13:  introduction to course and course syllabus

Thursday, January 15:  in-class diagnostic writing exercise

Tuesday, January 20:  no class, writing conferences

Thursday, January 22:  1st draft of Formal Essay #1 due

Tuesday, January 27:  Response Essay #1 due

Thursday, January 29:  2nd draft of Formal Essay #1 due

Tuesday, February 3:  Response Essay #2 due

Thursday, February 5:  3rd draft of Formal Essay #1 due

Tuesday, February 10:  1st draft of Formal Essay #2 due

Thursday, February 12: Response Essay #3 due

Tuesday, February 17:  Response Essay #4 due

Thursday, February 19: 2nd draft of Formal Essay #2 due

Tuesday, February 24:  no class, mid-term grade conferences; one page mid-term evaluation due

Thursday, February 26: no class (get a jump start on Spring Break)

     Classes are cancelled from February 28th through March 8th for Spring Break.

Tuesday, March 10:  1st draft of Formal Essay #3 due

      Note:  The last day to drop classes without penalty is Wednesday, March 11.

Thursday, March 12:  Response Essay #5 due

Tuesday, March 17:  Response Essay #6 due

Thursday, March 19:  2nd draft of Formal Essay #3 due

Tuesday, March 24:  Response Essay #7 due

Thursday, March 26:  3rd draft of Formal Essay #3 due

Tuesday, March 31:  1st draft of Formal Essay #4 due

Thursday, April 2:  Response Essay #8 due

Tuesday, April 7:  Response Essay #9 due

Thursday, April 9:  2nd draft of Formal Essay #4 due

Tuesday, April 14:  Response Essay #10 due

Thursday, April 16:  3rd draft of Formal Essay #4 due

Tuesday, April 21:  draft of final portfolio cover letter due

Thursday, April 23:  in-class revisions on final portfolio

Tuesday, April 28:  no class; final portfolio conferences

Thursday, April 30:  last day for questions on final portfolios; in-class revisions on final portfolios

Tuesday, May 5:  final portfolios due; ne page final class evaluation due (anonymous)

Our final conferences will be held during our exam block.