English 102S-16-17

Instructor: Ms. Joyce Traver

Office Location; McIver 137

Office Hours: Thursday 3:00 to 6:00

Phone: (Home) 336-292-7918 e-mail: Joyceuncg@aol.com (call anytime up till 9:00pm)

Mailbox: McIver 133 Office phone: 334-5867

Give me liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience, above all liberties. John Milton

Course Objectives:

English 102S is designed to provide you with a basis for effective written and oral rhetoric in order to prepare you for writing, speaking, and analytical thinking in your academic career and beyond in a multicultural world. Therefore, we will read and respond to essays, short stories, and poems by authors from various cultural backgrounds and periods. We will discuss and debate articles in newspapers and magazines regarding current events, and analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of various advertising techniques in order to examine cultural messages in the media. You will attend at least one on-campus speech and critique it in a written report. You will write at least one letter to the editor of a newspaper in addition to four (4) formal essays. Because this course is speaking intensive, you will give oral presentation, work in groups, lead discussions, and participate in debates. This classroom will be lively and noisy!

Learning Goals:

Upon completion of the course, you should be able to: locate appropriate information from a variety of sources to develop college level essays, support with evidence a position on a controversial issue, use a variety of organizational strategies to develop arguments, handle opposing arguments, learn to use rhetoric to find compromises between opposing positions, develop an extended essay that makes substantial use of sources, be able to document sources using MLA style formats. Additionally, you will understand the principles of effective oral and written rhetoric (the rhetorical triangle), participate in group feedback for improving writing and speaking skills, and understand effective listening/analytical skills as part of the speaking/writing process.

Texts:

The Informed Argument: Robert K. Miller

The Bedford Handbook: Diana Hacker

Writing Matters: Eds., Carithers, Hanrahan, and Perkins

A good dictionary

One novel to be chosen by the class

Assignments:

Introduction Letter Two In-class debates

In class writing Group presentations and activities

Weekly newspaper article summary Oral presentation(s)

Letter to the Editor (1) In class discussion leader

Written analysis of advertisements In class discussion participation

Four Essays (drafts and revisions) Review of an on-campus speech (written with optional oral presentation)

Final Portfolio

Teacher/Student conferences (mandatory-does not replace class)

Requirements:

Reading: This class will be reading intensive as much as it is writing and speaking intensive. You will not be successful in this course unless you do all of the reading and come prepared to participate in the class discussions.

Discussion Leadership: Each class member will take a turn being the in-class discussion leader. This person will bring a topic for the class to discuss for about 15 to 20 minutes. Requirements: Select a controversial topic, explain it to the class in an objective manner, lead a brief discussion, and keep track of the time. You may set up this discussion in any way you wish such as a debate, a group response, or individual responses.

Essays: You will produce four formal essays based on a controversial topic that you want to learn more about. 1.) Fact essay, 2.) Causal analysis 3.) Evaluation essay, 4.) Argumentative research paper. You will build from each essay as you refine your argument. Your final portfolio will contain all four essays with their revisions. You will receive an assignment sheet with instructions on how to successfully complete each essay. No late papers will be accepted. Failure to turn in an essay will result in a letter grade deduction of your overall final grade and will also impact your portfolio grade.

Oral Presentations: This course provides many opportunities to practice oral communications skills. Much of our class time will revolve around informal discussion and group work. You will also be expected to declaim in class, attend a campus presentation and report on the event, give a group presentation, and give a formal presentation on your research topic.

Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Using someone else’s words or ideas as your own on any type of written or oral assignment is plagiarism. The policy is defined in the student handbook and online (www.uncg.edu/saf/studediscp/Honor.html). Please see me if you have any questions about what constitutes plagiarism.

Attendance: Since much of the written work is done in class, and all of the oral communication and spoken project, you must be here in order to do your job. Thus, each absence has a negative effect upon your final grade. If you miss more than two classes your grade will drop by one letter each time. At six absences, you will be dropped from this course with a grade of “F”. Absence is not an acceptable excuse for late papers. You are responsible for making up all missed class work and for coming prepared to the class following the absence. Three tardies equal one absence (5 minutes).

Respect for Others: Respect for others is expected. Any behavior that distracts (eating, talking while others are talking, etc.) Or is disrespectful (personal attacks, etc.) Is unacceptable. Students my be asked to leave the classroom if they choose to act in such a way. Cell phones and pagers must be turned off during class time. You may be reached during classes or conferences at the department phone (334-5311) in case of an emergency. Heads o the desk, sleeping, or reading outside class material will not be tolerated.

Evaluation: Evaluation is based on a variety of factors--- meeting all course requirements, quality of written work, quality of speeches, participation, attendance, general improvement, and willingness to try new perspectives and to strive for general improvement. You will receive extensive comments for improvement on your formal essays which you must improve through revisions. In class written assignments, oral presentations and home work will be assessed as check plus, check, or check minus depending on their quality. Your final grade will be highly influenced by the quality of your portfolio, so you should be working on that throughout the semester.

The Writing Center: This is a resource open to all students in the University for getting feedback on drafts in progress. You will receive help on brainstorming, planning, organizing, composing, revising, editing, and proofreading. I encourage you to take full advantage of this service. Once you have visited, the center will send me a note saying that you’ve been there. Of course this will reflect positively upon your final evaluation. The Writing Center is located at 101 McIver and is open Monday through Thursday 9:00am - 8:00pm, and Friday 9:00am-3:00pm. Phone: 334-3125.

The Speaking Center: Services offered: upon request we will assist students individually and in groups with the organization of their outlines, the variety of their supporting material, the clarity of their message, and the delivery of their message. They also have the resources in the center to videotape and view both individual and group presentations. Students can also bring outside tapes of their presentations in for viewing. The Speaking Center is located in 22 McIver Building and is open Monday through Thursday from 12 noon until 8:00. On Friday it is open from 10:00am until 2:00 pm. To schedule an appointment or ask questions call 256-1346.

Special Accommodations:

If you have a disability that could affect your performance in this course of for which you need accommodation, please contact me and/or the Office of Disability Services at 334-5440.