English Department: 334-5311

Mailbox: McIver 132A, English Department Office

Office: McIver 334-G

Office Hours: MWF: 9:00-10:30; TR 4:00-5:00; & by appointment

Office Phone: 256-0482

Simply put, we are going to study the Art of Argument. It also called Civic Discourse, Intellectual Discourse, and Rhetoric. Over the duration of this semester, we will read and respond to arguments, many in number, and different in presentation. We will also compose our own arguments, each varying in scope and purpose. As we do so, we will learn more about the writing, reading, and speaking processes. We will also continue to practice those skills you learned in your English 101 class: voice, development, organization, evaluating and synthesizing evidence, among other things. And by the end of the semester, you will not only be able to understand how effective arguments are made, but also how to make them.

Everythings an Argument (with readings) edited by Lunsford, Ruszkiewicz, and Walters. 2^nd edition.

Writing Matters edited by Jones, Grutsch McKinney, & Tower.

Everyday Writer edited by Andrea Lunsford

Dictionary & Thesarus

A loose-leaf three-ring binder

Loose-leaf paper for the binder

Floppy disks to save your work on

Your brains and heart

1) Understand argument and know the rhetorical triangle.

2) Participate in writing-for-learning activities both during class time and in your journal outside of class.

3) Draft and revise your papers so as to help you develop and practice your understanding of audience, purpose, focus, language, and voice.

4) Compose clear and coherent arguments that are well organized, fully developed, and convincing.

5) Compile your work in a portfolio, which will demonstrate your awareness of your growth in thinking and communicating.

6) Read texts with careful attention so that you can understand how authors and readers create meaning in texts.

7) Recognize a texts key ideas and the rhetorical strategies used to develop them.

8) Locate "evidence" from both your personal experience and the public world and learn how to synthesize, evaluate, and communicate relevant information.

9) Participate in a speaking project so as to better understand how writing and speaking are closely related in the communication process.

Throughout the course of this semester, you will draft and revise four different essays. At the end, you will compile these essays as well as other writings from class in a collection that will represent your growth and development as a writer and thinker. This portfolio is worth fifty percent (50%) of your final grade.

To help you understand how writing and speaking are closely related in the communication process, and to help you understand the rhetorical triangle more completely, you will present each of your first three essays. The first two will be more informal in nature and are worth ten percent (10%) of your final grade. Combined, that is worth twenty percent (20%) of your final grade.

Your third presentation will require you to participate in a small group (3-5 people), as you inform and persuade your audience of some "idea" or "thing." Well call it the "Informercial." This is worth twenty percent (20%) of your final grade.

As you are a member of this class, you are expected to be an active part of it. This means you need to be prepared to discuss the readings in both small groups and as a whole class and to respond to them in writings. It also means that you need to listen attentively. Participation counts for ten percent (10%) of your final grade.

Because this class is designed around what happens in class, it is important that you be present and active during class meeting. I assume you will attend class regularly, but you have three (3) free absences for illness, car trouble, funerals, hospital visits, and other various emergencies. If you are absent more than three times, a letter grade will be deducted from your final grade at the end of the semester. If you miss more than five (5) classes, two letter grades will be deducted from your final grade at the end of the semester. Should you miss seven (7) or more classes, you are encouraged to drop so as to avoid a failing grade.

Always be prepared for class so that you can actively contribute to discussion. If written assignments or drafts are due for group work, and you are not prepared, I will count you absent. The same rule applies to reading assignments.

Walking into class late is disruptive and annoying. Class starts at 6:00 and I assume everyone has put that in their schedules. If you are more than five minutes late to class, I will count you absent. Two lates equals an absence and carries the same consequences stated under the "Attendance" section.

Before class starts, please turn off beepers, cell phones, and any other noise-making devices. Also, please refrain from eating, reading the newspaper, doing other homework, chatting with neighbors, and/or sleeping during class. The same goes for thoughtless and hurtful speech or behavior. I reserve the right to ask students to leave class at any time and to drop students from the course.

Late work will not be accepted. Everything must be ready to hand in at the beginning of class.

Plagiarism (using another persons words, ideas, and/or efforts as your own) constitutes a failing grade. If you are not entirely certain what plagiarism is, then lets talk. Also, please read the "Academic Integrity Policy" in your Student Calendar and Handbook or on the UNCG website.

The Writing Center is a wonderful resource available to you, and I encourage you take full advantage of it. There, you can learn more about writing and sharpen the skills you already have. It is located in McIver 101 and is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m., and Friday from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. To schedule an appointment at the Writing Center, call 334-3125.

The library on campus is another wonderful learning resource. And, just so you know, it is also what the majority of your tuition supports. But it is not the only library available to you; with the help of the librarians there, you can also borrow materials from other university libraries.

These labs are located all across the campus. They contain both IBM and Macintosh compatible computers on which you can find all kinds of cool software, including Microsoft Word, and they provide access to the Internet as well as your email account.

If you have a disability that can or will affect your performance in this class or for which you need accommodating, please let me know and/or contact Disability Services at 334-5440. This information will remain confidential, and I will do all that I can to help you meet your needs.

I am here to help you, and should you have any questions about your writing or the readings, I encourage you to visit me during my office hours or set up an appointment so that we can talk about answers.