English 101-06 MWF 11:00-11:50 in McIver 139A Instructor: Rod Spellman Office Hours: MWF 12-1 or by appointment Office: 137 McIver Office Phone: 334-5867 Department Phone: 334-5311 Mailbox: 133 McIver E-mail: rbspellm@uncg.edu Web: www.uncg.edu/~rbspellm	Writing the World; Knowing Yourself You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club. --Jack London In baseball you only get three swings and you're out. In rewriting, you get almost as many swings as you want, and you know, sooner or later, you'll hit the ball. --Neil Simon "A writer who waits for ideal conditions under which to work will die without putting a word to paper." --E.B. White This is the first requirement for good writing: truth; not the truth . . . but some kind of truth--a connection between the things written about, the words used in the writing, and the authors real experience in the world he knows well--whether in fact or dream or imagination. --Ken Macrorie
what this class is about	This course is designed primarily to help you become a better writer. To reach that end, however, requires that you also become a better reader and thinker. In the end, hopefully, you will even feel that you are a better person, one more capable of communicating with others and more understanding of others because of increased self-understanding. The most important element in achieving this goal is not an already established ability to write, but the more difficult ability of keeping an open mind. This course is centered on writing, and lots of it. You will write numerous small writings in response to readings, to your own life, and to other topics. Sandwiched among these smaller writings are larger essays. The goal of all this writing is to produce a portfolio of at least twenty pages of polished prose.
what you need for this class	BOOKS: Jones, Rebecca, Jackie Grutsch McKinney, and Jason Tower. Writing Matters. 2001-2002 ed. MATERIALS Disk(s) for saving writing 3-ring notebook for portfolio (preferably floppy plastic) 3-ring notebook for accumulated writings Lots of loose leaf paper to go into the notebooks Pen and pencil (This IS a writing class, yknow!) OTHER: E-mail account (available for free on campus) Access to typewriter, word processor, or computer. Willingness to write and learn
what you will not need for this class	v Too much ego v A closed mind v A disrespectful attitude v A belief that you can be absent and still pass v Tendencies to procrastinate v An unhealthy reliance on grades v A sleep-deprived or substance-abused mind and body
learning goals	ü To read more effectively, and to evaluate what you read. ü To learn to write more effectively: including idea generation, pre-writing, and revising. ü To understand the rhetoric lurking behind virtually every type of communication. ü To create and evaluate effective arguments.
attendance policy	Because this class will be heavily centered on in-class discussion, group work, and in-class writing, your attendance is required. Missing more than four classes will lower your grade for this course. Being late for class, or leaving before class is over, will count as one-half of an absence. If you miss more than nine classes, you will not pass this course. **I will not allow make-up work for classes missed.** Four absences should be more than enough to accommodate any necessary absences: illnesses, doctors appointments, hangovers, sunny days, etc. If you must miss class, notify me ahead of time, if at all possible, that you will be away.
academic misconduct	Using someone elses words or ideas as your own on any assignment is plagiarism. It is a violation of the Academic Integrity Policy as defined in the student handbook. Plagiarism is grounds for failing an assignment, or possibly failing the course. (Check the Academic Integrity policy in the Student Handbook, pp. 205-214)
classroom behavior	Just in case anyone was raised in a barn . . . *Have courtesy and respect for yourself, your fellow classmates, and your instructor. Avoid distracting or disrespectful behavior (eating, talking while others are talking, insulting others, etc.). *Turn off cell phones and pagers. (See Student Code of Conduct in the Student Handbook, pp. 183-204)
grading policy and late work	The grading in this course may be a bit different from what you have previously encountered. Grades will only be given on your portfolio at midterm and at the end of the semester. You will still get credit for all work that is completed on time, and this work will count towards your final grade. Instead of receiving letter grades on assignments, you will receive comments that will guide you in the revising process. Your grade will be determined by two things: participation and portfolio. Each item counts for approximately half of your total grade. Late work will not be accepted without prior consideration.
students with disabilities	If you have any sort of disability that could affect your performance in the class or for which you need accommodation, please contact me and/or the office of Disability Services at 334-5440.
writing center	The Writing Center is a valuable resource for all writers on the UNCG campus. It is located in 101 McIver. It is open Monday-Thursday from 9am to 8pm, and on Friday from 9am to 3pm. You can just drop in, or you can schedule an appointment by calling 334-3125.
group work	Much of the activity in this class will be centered around group work. You will be placed in a group that will stay together for the entire semester. Much of the group work will be based on responding to the reading we do for class, but the group will also be helpful as a support group and as readers of your writing.
conferences	Our class meetings are not always the best place to receive individual attention on your concerns about your writing. While you are always welcome to visit me during office hours, you will also be required to chat with me at least three times during the semester. Failing to show up, prepared, for an assigned conference date will negatively affect your grade.
accumulated writings	Throughout this course, you will keep a notebook that contains all of the writing you do for this class: in-class writing, pre-writing activities, journal entries, group work, rough drafts, reading responses, etc. KEEP EVERYTHING!! I know that it may offend the sense of order of some of you, but for this class, I expect you to become a writing packrat. The material that you keep will be useful to you when it comes time to decide what to revise to put in your portfolio. Please put a date on everything you put in this folder. (And making a note of what exactly the writing is may be of help to you as well.) You will be generating at least 4 pages of writing per week that will fall under the category of Accumulated Writings.
portfolio	In short, your portfolio will be your representation of the work you have accomplished during the semester. It will include at least 20 pages of work that have been extensively revised and polished. I will collect portfolios at midterm and at the end of the semester. More details on the portfolio will be forthcoming as the semester progresses.
formatting your writing	All writing that is turned in to me (unless it is turned in during the class in which it was written) must be typed with the following guidelines: Double-spaced 1 margins on top, bottom, and sides 12-point font (Times New Roman)
online readings	As you have probably noticed, we only have one small book required for this class. However, I will be putting additional readings online using the Librarys e-reserve system. It will be your responsibility to download and/or print these readings as necessary.

First Schedule:

Monday, January 14:

First class meeting

--Syllabus discussion

--Initial introductions

Wednesday, January 16:

--Have syllabus read for class. (Yes, we went over it on Monday. Read it again!)

--Syllabus quiz.

--More introductions.

Friday, January 18:

--Groups assigned.

--Group gelling activities.

Monday, January 21:

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

No class.

Wednesday, January 23:

--Discussion of writing habits

--Discussion of rhetoric (basic terms).

Friday, January 25:

--Pre-writing for diagnostic essay

--Group work on diagnostic essay

Monday, January 28:

--Diagnostic essay.