Course Description: This course aims to provide you with a solid foundation for the types of reading, thinking, and writing you will be doing in college. You will learn skills of composing—how to formulate ideas, get them onto paper, revise them, and polish the final product with the reader and audience in mind. The work you do both in and out of class will give you confidence in your ability to write for a variety of purposes and to express your thinking in a variety of ways.
Textbooks:
Writing Matters (2005 edition)
M-A-C-N-O-L-I-A, A. Van Jordan
The Mercury Reader
The Little, Brown Essential Handbook, Jane E. Aaron (5th edition)
Learning Objectives: Interpret and evaluate argumentative discourse, including writing and speech. Construct cogent arguments. Communicate those arguments clearly, coherently and effectively. Locate, synthesize, and evaluate relevant information. Demonstrate an understanding of the aims and methods of intellectual discourse. Weigh evidence and evaluate the arguments of differing viewpoints.
Requirements:
3 essays (4-5 pages each)
Journal entries
In-class writings/group activities
2 conferences with me
Portfolio (20 pages of revised writing)
Grading: You might be surprised to find that your papers and assignments will not be marked with a specific letter grade. This is because our focus will be on writing as a process, and you will therefore be working on revising your work throughout the semester. Your portfolio will play a significant part in your final grade, and I will be looking not only at final essay drafts but also at the time and effort you’ve put into your revisions. At midterm, I will provide you with an estimate of your grade up to that point.
Participation 10%
Essay drafts 10%
Journals/In-class writings 30%
Portfolio 50%
Attendance & Policies: Participation is a vital aspect of this course: please attend each class and arrive on time. You are allowed 3 absences throughout the semester. After 3 absences, your participation grade will be marked down a full letter grade for each additional class missed. After six TOTAL absences you will be dropped from the class or receive an F for the semester. Late work is not accepted. If you are absent, please email me your assignment BEFORE the start of class, then provide me with a hard copy when you return to class. Please read the Plagiarism Statement in Writing Matters. Plagiarism is a violation of the Academic Integrity Policy as defined in the student handbook or at www.uncg.edu/saf/studiscp/Honor.html and will be treated as such. Please see me if you have any questions or concerns.
Journals & In-Class Writings: You are expected to make 1 journal entry each week, spending at least 20 minutes per entry. Typically, I will ask you to write on a specific topic or provide you with a choice of topics. Otherwise, you are free to reflect on your own writing, as well as on any of the class readings or discussions. You may also choose to write observational pieces focusing on some aspect of the world outside of class. Creative work, such as poetry or fiction, is also encouraged.
Please (neatly!) write out all journal entries using a pen on loose-leaf college-ruled paper. You will also need to use this paper for all in-class writings, as well. Keep all of these writings, along with ALL of your drafts and revisions from the semester, organized within a 3-ring binder. You will need all of this for your final portfolio, including the drafts I return to you with my feedback.
I will collect journal entries every other Friday. Typically, I will not collect in-class writings unless I inform you otherwise at the start of class. You will, however, be responsible for turning these writings in with your portfolio.
Portfolio: By the end of the semester, you will have 20 pages of polished writing to turn in as your final portfolio. The portfolio must include revisions of at least 2 of the assigned essays, but can otherwise consist of any other revised writing from the semester, such as journal entries or in-class writings. Any creative work revised throughout the semester may also be included. I will provide more specific guidelines later in the semester.
The Writing Center: The Writing Center provides free, individual writing assistance to students seeking feedback on drafts in progress for any class. It is located in 101 McIver and is open M-R 9am-8pm; Fridays 9am-3pm and Sundays 5pm-8pm. The Writing Center accepts walk-in appointments or you can call to schedule a time at 334-3282.
Disability Clause: If you have a disability that could affect your performance in this course or for which you need accommodation, please contact me and/or the office of Disability Services at 334-5440 or ods@uncg.edu.
Important Dates:
9/12: Essay 1 due
10/17: Essay 2 due
11/14: Essay 3 due
12/5: Portfolio due