Élan Young
Email: ejyoung@uncg.edu Spring, 2002, McIver 138
English
101.03 Office:
McIver 137 MWF
9:00-9:50
Office Hours:MW 9:50-11:20
The Language of Writing
What
this Course is About
This
class is an introduction to college-level composition and reading. The
aim of this course is to help you become critical readers, writers, and
thinkers. You will read works of different genres in order to expand your
knowledge of literature and literary analysis.
With the vocabulary and tools you gain from the readings, you will be
able to improve your own writing. You will practice
composition skills, organization, editing and revision with emphasis on forms
appropriate to collegiate writing. The
main goal of this course is to develop your ability to write effective essays
that have a variety of purposes and audiences.
Your work in this course will help prepare you to think and to write
effectively in your other college courses, on the job, and in the world beyond
college.
Texts
Dreams
and Inward Journeys by Marjorie and Jon Ford
Writing Matters
E-Reserve Readings
Requirements
5
Essays/ 3 Revised
Reading
Journals
In-Class
Freewriting
Discussion
Board Participation
Lead
1 Class Discussion
Attend
1 Community Reading
Group
Activities
One-On-One
Conferences with me
Final
Portfolios (20 pgs of revised writing)
Attendance
Your participation in the
class is mandatory. Without your
presence, you and your classmates will not gain as much from the course. In addition, I will assign homework separate
from the readings on the syllabus or might rework the schedule to fit the needs
of the class. As a result, missing a
class will require you to contact a fellow student or your instructor in order
to determine your missed work. The
official policy of this course is that after three absences your overall grade
will begin to drop. On your sixth absence you will be dropped from the course. Please do not show up late for class, I
consider it extremely rude, and will affect your participation grade if it
becomes a problem. In addition,
lateness over 15 min. will be counted as an absence.
Journals
You are to keep a notebook
that will contain all freewriting, reading responses, double-entry journals,
and various other journal entries throughout the semester. Because you will be asked to hand these in
occasionally, I ask that you keep this in a loose-leaf notebook. Generally speaking, you will be asked to
write several freewrites and one reading response per week. They count as part of your participation
grade, and cannot be turned in late or made up for missed classes. The freewriting is often geared to help you
get your essays started, whereas the reading response format is designed to
demonstrate your level of engagement with the texts we read. Both are equally important and should not be
taken lightly.
Class Discussions
·
This course will require
that you lead the class in at least one discussion during the semester on a
reading. This is not merely a
presentation. Further details will be
discussed in class.
·
Outside of class you are
to participate in an online discussion board, bringing up relevant points to
the readings, the craft of writing, or simply to continue in class
discussions. I require a minimum of 10
postings of significant length during the semester.
Community
Readings
You
will be required to attend on community reading given by an author of fiction
or poetry and write a 1 pg. response.
Conferences
Conferences
serve as a valuable part of a first year writing course and allow the
instructor and student time to discuss writing issues one-on-one. As a result, missing a conference will count
as a class absence. Please be courteous
and call when you know you cannot make an appointment. (The TA Office # is 334-5867) We will meet at least three times during
the semester to discuss your work in the course, but you are always welcome to
set up additional appointments with me as you see necessary.
Mutual Respect
Because
we are going to be in the process of community building, the most important
policy of this course is mutual respect.
I will respect you as a writer and fellow learner with valuable ideas to
contribute to this course, make myself available for questions, return your
work in a timely manner, and come to class prepared. In return, I expect you to do your work to the best of your
ability, come to class on time, and treat your instructor and peers with
respect. In addition, I expect absolute
academic honesty. See note on
plagiarism.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
is intentionally or knowingly representing the words of another as one's own in
any academic exercise. This is a
SERIOUS offense punishable by failure or even expulsion from school. I will not tolerate any act of plagiarism in
this course, and ask that you sign the Academic Integrity Pledge each and every
time you turn in a major assignment. The pledge reads: I HAVE ABIDED BY THE
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY ON THIS ASSIGNMENT.
Signature___________________________________________________
Date__________________
If
you feel you cannot complete your own work, please discuss this with me before
being tempted to cheat. Please see the Academic Integrity Policy III.2 for
further information on how plagiarism is handled at UNCG.
Writing Center
If
you feel you need additional help with any aspect of your writing or your
writing process, you may visit The Writing Center at any point in the
semester. I highly recommend you visit
the writing center at least once during the semester, even if you feel
confident as a writer. The Writing
Center is located in 101 McIver. It is open Monday-Thursday 9am-8pm and Friday
9am-3pm. You may make an appointment by calling 334-3125. The Writing Center is
a very valuable resource for your writing in this class and for your other
classes.
Students
with Disabilities
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.
Portfolio
Though
it may be hard to grasp, you will not be graded on individual papers. Instead, you will collect your papers to
turn into a polished final portfolio, a collection of the best work you have
completed (up to 20 pages.) There will
be many opportunities to revise your work throughout the semester, so your
portfolio will not only show your efforts to revise, but also your progress. We will discuss the portfolio format and
process in detail throughout the semester.
Grading Process
55% Participation (includes, but is not limited
to, all types of journal entries, discussion board participation, attendance,
attitude, group work, all writing activities, peer critiques, and conferences)
45%Final
Portfolio (includes, but is not limited to, 3 revised essays, revised journal
entries, reflective letter)
Student Learning
Goals
By
the completion of this course, you should be able to write, revise, and read
more effectively. In addition, you'll learn rhetorical analysis, research
techniques, and how to use MLA citation style. And, you
General
Expectations
Courses
will be broad and foundational in nature; they will not assume extensive
previous knowledge.