Course Description: During this semester you will develop your writing, reading, and critical thinking abilities. The theme for our course is “Visual and Verbal Literacy,” and we will learn how to read and write successfully through the study of visual composition principles of art and graphic design. You will relate visual principles to verbal and written compositions by completing both art and writing projects throughout the semester. While a background in art is not required for this course, you are expected to participate in and complete every project in order to receive a passing grade for the semester.
Required Textbooks/Materials:
McQuade, Donald and Christine McQuade. Seeing & Writing 2.
MLA Handbook. 6th Edition.
Other materials you will need include:
White, loose-leaf college-ruled paper; a bound journal that is at least 8x10
in size
Web Access: Assignments will be given in class and then posted on Blackboard. If you do not have a computer, you will be expected to use the ones available for student use in the library or other on campus computer labs. Lab use is free. In the event of inclement weather, instructor absence, or during conference weeks, you may be assigned online activities to complete that will count as your attendance for days missed.
Disability Access Statement: If you have a disability that may affect your academic performance and are seeking accommodations, it is your responsibility to inform the Office of Disability Services at 334-5440 or ods@uncg.edu.
Learning Objectives: To understand, practice, and actively engage in the steps of the writing process; to communicate effectively and clearly; to understand the aims and methods of intellectual discourse; to evaluate different viewpoints; to explore individual voice in writing; to write thoughtful responses to articles and prompts; to learn about documentation, formatting, grammar, and punctuation to clarify meaning.
Grade Composition:
Projects (5 total: 2 @ 5% each; 3 @ 20%) 70%
Commonplace Book (15 entries minimum) 20%
Attendance/Participation 10%
IMPORTANT CLASS POLICIES
In order for our academic community to function with trust and respect and
to be fair to all students, the policies explained below are considered as
a contract between you, other students in the class, and myself as fellow classroom
community members.
College Classroom Behaviour: All of your work is a direct representation of who you are, so make sure all you say and do is executed in a mature, professional manner.
? I expect you to come to class on time and prepared with all books and materials and with assignments complete, and I expect you to pay attention in class by following along, taking notes, and asking relevant questions at the time information is presented.
? I expect you to treat your fellow classmates and me with the utmost respect. Remember that any exceedingly negative comments or reactions in class can severely hinder another student’s academic development. Not liking something (or someone) does not give you a right to make derogatory comments.
? Never disrupt the class in any way. (This includes making rude noises, remarks or gestures, throwing things, etc.). If you do, you will be asked to leave and you will need to meet with me for a conference before you are allowed to return.
? I expect you to keep all electronic devices (including cell phones, text messengers, Palm Pilots, and stereo headsets) off and put away.
? Work done in class, such as quizzes, class activities, discussion, and peer workshops cannot be made up. You will receive zeros for these assignments if you miss them.
Attendance: You are allowed three non-penalized absences from class. Use these days wisely, such as when you are sick or have an emergency. After three absences, the attendance part of your grade will be affected negatively. After six TOTAL absences you will be dropped from this class or receive an F for the semester. It is your responsibility to get any missed assignments from the postings on Blackboard or from a fellow student. If you are absent, you should still come to the next class with assignments completed. Please note that missing a conference with me is the same as TWO absences, since class does not meet during the week of conferences.
Add/Drop and Withdraw: If a class, time, or teacher is not right for you, you may make schedule changes. If you decide not to complete the course, you are responsible for withdrawing from the class. If you just stop coming to class and never officially withdraw, you will receive an “F.” The last day to drop a class without penalty is October 7, 2005.
Plagiarism:
Part of your work and responsibility as a scholar is that you accept the rules
and ethics of writing and documenting your outside sources. In addition to
downloading a paper off of the Internet or getting someone to write one for
you, plagiarism is:
• Verbatim copying without proper acknowledgement—whether you copy a phrase, a sentence, a paragraph, or a whole paper, the source material must be introduced, in quotation marks, and documented.
• Paraphrasing without proper acknowledgement—reworded source material must be introduced and documented; again, the length of the paraphrased material doesn’t matter—you still have to cite it!
• Failing to acknowledge sources—any time you use sources, you need to identify the source material both within the essay and on a works cited page.
• Use of other's ideas without acknowledgement.
When you submit work, your reputation as a writer is at stake. Do not risk a grade on a project or in the course by either deliberately or accidentally plagiarizing.
Visit http://studentconduct.uncg.edu/policy/academicintegrity/ for more information on the University’s Academic Integrity policy.
The Writing Center:
The Writing Center is a wonderful tool for you to use for help with any aspect
of the writing process and for any of your classes. The Writing Center is
located in 101 McIver and is open M-R 9a.m.-8p.m; Fridays 9a.m.-3p.m. and
Sundays 5p.m.-8p.m. You can call the Writing Center at 334-3282 to make an
appointment.
GRADED ASSIGNMENTS
Projects:
You will be given assignments for five projects throughout the course of the
semester. They will be due at the beginning of class on the day designated.
If the project is not on my desk when class begins, I will count it as late.
Late Projects: A late project will receive a letter grade reduction for each day it’s late. Turning the project in after class on the day it is due still counts as one day late! Thus, if your project is due on Monday at 9 am, and you turn it in Monday at 1pm, it still receives a letter grade reduction. If you turn it in on Wednesday, you get a two-letter grade reduction, and so on, including weekends. The late penalty applies until I receive the project. After the project has lost 3 letter grades (3 days), I will no longer accept it and no credit will be given for that assignment. If you are absent the day a project is due, you may turn it in to me before class time or you may have another student submit the project with your permission to avoid the late penalty.
Extensions: If you have a major emergency, I may allow you to prearrange an extension. You will need to contact me prior to the due date to discuss whether the circumstance warrants such an extension. You are allowed one such extension. If you have not prearranged an extension, the late penalty will apply.
Format: Some projects require an essay, which must be typed, double-spaced, with 12 pt. Times New Roman font. A hard copy (print out) is the only acceptable format for formal essays. Printer or computer problems are not acceptable excuses for failing to have an essay. You will print one copy of the essay for me for grading; save another copy to keep. Papers that do not meet the assigned length requirement will be docked the number of points for the missing length. For example, if a 2-page paper is ½ page short, 25% of the paper is missing and 25% will be deducted from your grade.
Academic Topics: You will be completing college-level, academic projects that will be viewed and read by strangers. You are responsible for selecting suitable topics, but the following topics are off limits for ALL assignments: explicit sexual activity, criminal/illegal activities, and prejudicial/hate-based ideas.
Commonplace Book:
Since our class focuses on connections between visual and verbal composition,
you will keep a record of your thoughts and responses to a wide variety of
texts. Suitable texts include: advertisements, magazine or newspaper articles,
cartoon strips, poems, short stories, essays, paintings, drawings, sculptures,
web pages, etc. Your entries will be graded based on three required parts:
text choice, reaction, and response. You must have a minimum of 15 entries
by the semester’s end in order to receive a C or higher for your final
course grade. See additional handout for more detailed instructions on this
assignment.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE AND DUE DATES
Week Topic
Week One:
August 15, 17, 19 Introductions; Assign Groups; Discuss Commonplace Books
Week Two:
August 22, 24, 26 Learning to See: Principles of Visual Composition; Project
#1 Assigned
Week Three:
August 29, 31; Sept. 2 Project #1 Due – Discuss projects
Week Four:
Sept. 5, 7, 9 Monday’s Class Cancelled for Labor Day Holiday; Learning
to Write: Principles of Verbal Composition; Project #2 Assigned
Week Five:
Sept. 12, 14, 16 Project #2 Due – Discuss projects
Week Six:
Sept. 19, 21, 23 Seeing and Writing
Project #3 Assigned
Week Seven:
Sept. 26, 28, 30 Conferences and online assignments
Week Eight:
October 3, 5, 7 Project #3 Due – Discuss projects
Project #4 Assigned
Week Nine:
October 10, 12, 14 Monday’s Class Cancelled for Fall Break; Research
for Project #4 and online assignments
Week Ten:
October 17, 19, 21 Rhetorical triangle and argument fallacies
Week Eleven:
October 24, 26, 28 Project #4 Due – Presentations
Week Twelve:
October 31; Nov. 2, 4 Presentations Continued
Project #5 Assigned
Week Thirteen:
Nov. 7, 9, 11 Close Reading and Explication
Week Fourteen:
Nov. 14, 16, 18 Conferences and online assignments
Week Fifteen:
Nov. 21, 23, 25 Wednesday and Friday Classes Cancelled for Thanksgiving
Week Sixteen:
Nov. 28, 30; Dec. 2 Project #5 Due – Discuss Projects
Week Seventeen:
Dec. 5
Class does not meet on last day – Turn in your Commonplace Book at my
office during class time on Monday (12/5)
I reserve the right to make changes to this syllabus at any time. You will
be notified when these changes are made.