English 2230 Fall 2005 Syllabus HERE

English 2230 Fall 2005 Course Outline

English 2230 is a composition course that builds on writing competencies developed in English 1101 and 1102 by introducing students to more advanced rhetorical strategies and theory.  It introduces students to a variety of academic, professional, and public genres, such as memoirs, letters, and proposals.  Emphasis is placed on evaluating and integrating various kinds of evidence and on managing stylistic features.  Students will also be introduced to basic principles of visual rhetoric.  The course considers the composing process in light of rhetorical theory, current research in writing, and technological advancements.

Students will demonstrate

• the ability to analyze, respond appropriately to, and practice writing in a variety of academic, professional, and public genres;

• knowledge of and the ability to apply classical and contemporary rhetoric and composition theory, including an understanding of the rhetorical appeals ethos, pathos, and logos; the five rhetorical canons; and the ethics and politics of writing;
• knowledge of the basic principles of visual rhetoric;
• knowledge of theories of the composing process and advanced practice in managing that process, including evaluating and incorporating evidence, drafting, revising, peer responding, and editing;
• the ability to write and speak intelligently and effectively about their own writing and the writing of others, including a solid understanding of stylistic terminology and concerns;
• knowledge of the place of  technology in the composing process.

Also, this course enables students to meet the following NCTE standards: 1. Understand text and culture, fiction and non-fiction.   2. Periods/Genres/Dimensions of human experience.  3. Employ strategies of comprehension.  4. Practice active and effective communication.  5. Employ writing strategies.   6. Apply detailed knowledge of language conventions.   7. Conduct focused research.   8. Use technological and information resources.   9.  Understand/respect linguistic diversity.  11. Participate in literacy communities.  12. Use language to accomplish own purposes.

REQUIRED TEXTS

Bloom, Lynn Z.  Fact and Artifact: Writing Nonfiction.  2^nd ed.  Boston: Blair P, 1994.

Glaser, Joe.  Understanding Style.  New York: Oxford UP, 1999.

Various Handouts

METHODS OF INSTRUCTION

During class, you will learn by writing, revising, talking about writing, and responding to the writing of others.  This course will include in-and out-of-class writing, individual and collaborative writing exercises, and writing that asks you to engage with different genres.  The course will also include class discussion, the occasional lecture, readings that include classical and contemporary rhetorical and composition theory, readings that ask you to engage with a variety of written genres and forms, and student oral presentations.  Please note that elements of this course will be team-taught with Dr. Linda Williams.

Writing Assignments:  Major writing assignments will include a memoir, an expository essay, a letter to the editor and a letter of complaint (each of which will require that you understand and apply principles of argument), a review, and a proposal and related Powerpoint presentation.

Readings:  You will be reading a variety of texts in this course, including your textbook Fact and Artifact and additional works on rhetorical theory and history. 

Exams:  You will have a final essay exam in this course.  Should the need arise (i.e., should I sense that you need additional motivation to study the rhetorical vocabulary we will be building), I will institute a mid-term exam that will test your understanding of and ability to apply these terms.

EVALUATION

Evaluation in this course will be based on the following factors.  Please note that you must complete ALL major assignments in order to receive a passing grade in the course.

¨       Memoir                                12%

¨       Expository Essay                   12%       

¨       Letter to the Editor                12%

¨       Letter of Complaint                12%

¨       Review                                  12%

¨       Proposal & Presentation         15%

¨       Daily grades                           15%

 (homework, exercises, group work, etc)

¨       Final Exam                             10%

Standard Grading Scale:

A+= 98, A = 95, A-=90     B+= 88, B = 85, B-=80      C+= 78, C = 75, C-=70      D+= 68, D = 65, D-=60      F = 59-0

COURSE POLICIES

Paper Format:  Generally, the format of major written assignments will follow current MLA guidelines.    If you do not have a handbook or style guide that shows correct MLA format, please procure one.  We’ll discuss length, content, and format for varying genres for each major assignment.  No binders or folders, please; simply staple pages together.  You should always have loose-leaf notebook paper available in class for in-class writing assignments; daily assignments and exercises may be handwritten or typed, unless you are otherwise instructed.

Classroom Etiquette:  As advanced students, you are well aware of appropriate classroom behavior, such as ensuring that you always have the appropriate textbook(s) and writing utensils on hand, but there are a few things specific to our class you should be aware of.  Please turn off all cell phones and pagers during class, and please keep them out of sight.  And while drinks are fine, no eating in class, please. 

Attendance, Tardiness, and Withdrawals:  We need you in class every day for you and the class to be successful.  To allow for illnesses and other unforeseeable misfortunes, you are permitted a limited number of absences.  If you must be absent, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed and what assignments, if any, will be due at the next class, so that you might turn them in on time.  Foreseeable problems must be discussed with me before the absence.  Make-up essays and exams will be permitted only for valid and documented reasons.  Please note that university policy states that if your total absences exceed 14% of the scheduled classes (6 classes for us), you may be dropped from the class with a "WF."  

Late Assignments:  All assignments are due at the beginning of class on the due dates specified on the syllabus.  Late papers as a rule are unacceptable; this includes drafts and peer responses.  You will receive a “Late Assignment Coupon” that you may use to turn ONE assignment in late (see restrictions on the coupon); once you’ve used the coupon, I will not accept any more late work—so please save it for an emergency!  If you know you will be absent on the day something is due, you must make arrangements with me to turn it in ahead of time.  Please do not ask me to make exceptions to this policy.

Incompletes: Incompletes are awarded only when a student is doing satisfactory work, but for non-academic reasons beyond the student’s control, is unable to meet the full requirements of the course.  Only students can initiate the request for an incomplete.

Academic Integrity:  Plagiarism is a serious error, one that will not be tolerated at NGCSU.  Ethical and responsible writers do not use another’s words or ideas as if they were their own.  The Writer's Harbrace Handbook, currently in use in English 1101 and 1102, notes that you must document all the following material derived from sources: direct quotations, summaries or paraphrases of material; ideas, illustrations, tables, graphs, and charts; and public electronic and personal communication (236-237). You are responsible for reading and following the guidelines on plagiarism presented in the North Georgia College & State University Undergraduate Bulletin: “Academic Integrity Policy” (64-68).  The student who is found guilty of plagiarism will be given a zero for the assignment, typically an F for the class, and should expect disciplinary action by the university.

RESOURCES

Conferences:  I encourage you to seek out, and may require, individual conferences with you over the course of the semester.  Conferences are a great resource for you, and my pleasure.  If you cannot make my office hours and would like to schedule a conference, please let me know and we will make arrangements.

Writing Center:  YES: Advanced writers DO BENEFIT from visiting The Writing Center!  I will require one visit minimum from each of you this semester.  The Writing Center is in Dunlap 111.  Writers working at any level and at any stage of the writing process may use the Writing Center; it is always helpful to have a dialogue with someone about your work.  The staff will not write, revise, or edit your papers FOR you, but they will respond thoughtfully to your work and help you discover and employ effective writing and revision strategies.  When you visit the Writing Center, please take your work AND the writing assignment. 

Office of Student Disability Resources:  North Georgia College & State University is committed to equal access to its programs, services, and activities for people with disabilities. If you will need accommodations in this class, reasonable prior notice needs to be given to the instructor, and you will need to register with the Office of Student Disability Resources. Please contact Elizabeth McIntosh at 867-2782, 221 Barnes Hall.