Course Syllabus for English 101: Introductory Writing

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Instructor: Lori Beth De Hertogh Office Hours: Tu 1:30-2:30, W 1:00-2:00 and by appointment Virtual Hours: I typically respond to emails within 24 hrs. of receipt. Office Location: Avery Hall 217 Email: lori.dehertogh@email.wsu.edu

COURSE INFORMATION

*Please refer to your section for details. Course: English 101: Introductory Writing Term: Spring, 2012 Section: 19 (9:10) & 34 (10:35) Location: 19 (WLSH 5) & 34 (CUE 407) Days/Time: 19 (T/Th 9:10-10:25) & 34 (10:35-11:50)

CATALOG DESCRIPTION
Students must complete the prerequisite writing placement exam or English 100 which is designed to develop students academic writing, critical thinking, rhetorical strategies, reading, and library skills. Credit is not granted for more than one of the following: English 101, 105, and 198.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The purpose of this class is to help you practice writing processes appropriate for collegelevel reading and writing by identifying rhetorical contexts, researching, and engaging in academic readings. By writing and revising several essays, I hope you will refine your prewriting, drafting, and revising strategies to produce focused and research-driven papers. This class is also designed to equip you with transferable writing and reading skills that will serve you in a range of academic and professional contexts. To help facilitate your development as a critical writer and reader, this course is designed around group discussions and collaboration. You will work regularly with your peers both in person and online on in-class writings, readings, and draft workshops to establish the idea of a writing community and to share your ideas with others.

COURSE TEXTS & MATERIALS

The Academic Writer by Lisa Ede Course Website Twitter Daily access to the internet & WSU email A reliable method of storing and backing up electronic files Access to Microsoft Word

PORTFOLIO

An important aspect of this course is the midterm and final portfolio. The portfolio system is the primary means for evaluating student work in the composition program at WSU because it honors both the processes and products of writing. Your midterm portfolio will include the first two major writing assignments you have completed for the course (along 1

with several drafts) and your final portfolio will include up to twenty-two pages of significantly revised coursework, including but not limited, to: a cover letter, each of our major essays, and several other assignments which will be announced in class. You will receive feedback on your writing from both your peers and me, but you will not receive grades on the drafts of your portfolio projects. Every composition course at WSU uses this method of postponed grading in order to ensure that the focus of the course is on your writing. After I return a draft with my comments, you will have the rest of the semester to revise your projects before submitting them for the final portfolio. The portfolio will be evaluated holistically at the end of the semester, and may be reviewed by other readers. You must turn in every major project in order to pass the course. SAVE ALL DRAFTS! I will not accept a project for which you have no preliminary drafts. Also note that only essays which have received both instructor and peer feedback are eligible for the final portfolio.

PORTFOLIO EVALUATION CRITERIA

All students in English 101 will be assessed on the following criteria: Critical thinking, reading, and writing (Meets Goals 1, 4, 5, 6) Rhetorical knowledge and awareness (Meets Goals 1, 4, 5, 6) Information literacy (Meets Goals 1, 4, 5, 6) Processes of writing (Meets Goals 1, 4, 5, 6) Knowledge of conventions (Meets Goals 1, 4, 5)

Indicates which of the Seven Learning Goals of the Baccalaureate are met by English 101.

ATTENDANCE
Because of the collaborative nature of the course and the intensive in-class work required, more than two weeks of absences will result in course failure. Roll will be taken during each class period. In addition, you will be counted absent if you: Arrive more than 15 minutes late Leave early, sleep, or do work for another class Use unapproved electronic devices (laptops, cell phones, ipods, etc.) Disrupt classthis includes chatting, text-messaging, or generally disrupting the flow of class.

If you do any of the above, I will likely ask you to leave class and you will be counted absent. Dismissal from class counts toward your allotted class absences. Im certainly not a Luddite, but I do find the use of personal electronic devices in class distracting, so please leave them at home or tucked away in your book-bag unless you are 2

asked to use them. If you use an electronic device without prior permission, I will automatically count you as absent without warning. I do not differentiate between excused and unexcused absences. Furthermore, Universitysponsored absences, illness, and planned absences will count toward your allotted class absences. Once you are tardy 2 times, it will count as one class absence. You are tardy after class has begun. If you come in late, it is your responsibility to notify me or you may be marked as absent instead of tardy. If for some reason you experience an extreme illness or must be gone for a Universitysponsored absence, please get in touch with me ASAP so that we can discuss ways to accommodate your needs.

ONLINE COURSE RESOURCES

We will use three online resources for this class: 1. Course website 2. Personal blog 3. Twitter The course website will be your primary resource for this class. Here you will find the course syllabus, essay handouts, schedule, etc. Please plan to check the course website daily to ensure that you are up to speed on class assignments and due dates. In addition, youll also want to create a personal blog so that you can post weekly blog entries as well as other course content that interests you. Feel free to use any platform you wish for your blog. Ive listed several on the course website that might appeal to you under the assignments tab. Finally, youll need to create a Twitter account if you dont already have one. To do this, visit the above link and follow the directions. For this class, youll want to use the following hashtag (#) for tweets: #101lb Please be sure to create your blog and Twitter accounts by the end of the first week of class.

COURSE GRADING SYSTEM

Points 94-100 90-93 80-89 70-79 60-69 0-59

The final grade you receive in this class is based on a 100 point scale. Grade A AB+ through BC+ through CD+ through DF 3 Quality Exceptional Outstanding Excellent Competent Weak Inadequate

COURSE ASSIGNMENTS

Below is a brief overview of each major assignment you will complete for the course. All assignments must follow the guidelines of the assignment in regards to length, content, and focus to be considered for credit. Assignments must also be submitted in the designated format (i.e. electronic or hard copy) to be considered for credit. Final Portfolio Major Assignments (50 points total) The following assignments will be graded holistically at the end of the course. Assignment #1 Rhetorical Analysis Essay: In this essay, you will rhetorically analyze several advertisements using comparison and contrast. Assignment #2 Persuasive Essay: This essay will help you develop persuasive writing skills using advanced research. You will also complete a proposal and an annotated bibliography. Assignment #3 Remediated Persuasive Essay: For this assignment, you will repurpose or remediate your persuasive essay into a new medium. This process asks you to consider the importance of audience, genre, and the role of research in different media. Assignment #4 Personal Ethnography: In this essay, you will engage in primary and secondary research about your academic or professional field. You will also conduct interviews, investigate cultural artifacts, and observe individuals and/or groups within your field. Your final essay may be published in a digital or multi-modal medium. Assignment #5 Cover Letter: In your cover letter, you will discuss how your writing has progressed throughout the semester, skills you have learned, and areas you feel still need improvement. Other Assignments (50 points total) The following assignments will receive grades throughout the course. Midterm Portfolio (5 points): During midterms, you will submit a portfolio that contains selected pieces you have completed for the course thus far. We will meet for an individual conference to discuss your portfolio and course progress. Drafts (26 points): For each major essay you write, you will complete 3 drafts and a final essay which will be submitted with your final portfolio. Each draft is worth 2 points and is either pass/fail. To receive draft credit, you must be present in class with a draft that meets the assignment guidelines. Partial credit is not given. Blogs (13 points): Each week I invite you to post a brief response to a discussion prompt on your personal blog. These posts are informal written conversations about our course materials. Each post is worth 1 point and is due by the beginning of class on assigned days. 4

 Tweets (3 points): Throughout the semester, I will ask you to tweet about various readings, writings, and in-class activities. To receive these points, you will need to respond to at least 90% of the Twitter prompts listed on the course schedule. Proposal (3 points): Prior to beginning your persuasive essay, you will write a proposal which outlines your project idea and demonstrates preliminary research.

MIDTERM GRADES
Due to the nature of the portfolio system which emphasizes process over product, students who are making satisfactory process in the class (i.e., turning in assignments on time, meeting basic assignment requirements, attending class regularly, etc.) will not receive a mid-term grade. This policy has been approved with the Registrars Office and the Center for Career Development and Advising and applies to all sections of English 101. If for some reason you are not making satisfactory progress in the class, you may receive a grade of C- or below as a warning, and you are strongly encouraged to meet with your instructor. If you belong to an organization that requires proof of satisfactory progress (not a grade) in writing, you may request that your instructor sign a Satisfactory Progress Form. Forms are available at the Composition Website.

EXTRA CREDIT

You may earn up to three points of extra credit (which will be added to your final course grade) for visiting me in my office to talk about your writing twice during the semester. Each office visit is worth 1.5 points. Please note that mandatory conference/office meetings or simply dropping by to pick up a paper do not count. Well talk more about how this works in class.

ESSAY HANDOUTS & RUBRICS

I will provide a handout and rubric for each essay assignment specifying the general focus of the essay, how many secondary sources are required, where to submit the assignment, etc. Many students use these materials as a checklist to ensure they have covered all aspects of the assignment.

FEEDBACK

My goal is to return all assignments (i.e. drafts, in-class writings, etc.) to you within ten days of submission, if not sooner. If you ever have questions about my feedback or a grade, please do not hesitate to ask.

LATE WORK POLICY

I do not accept late work unless there are extenuating circumstances. Having a hangover or your dog eating your homework is not extenuating. Having the flu or a family crisis is. Documentation is required for such circumstances. Please note that all work is due at the beginning of class and must be submitted according to the directions outlined on the assignment handout and/or in class. 5

COURSE ETIQUETTE

Simply put, this means we should always be polite and respectful to one another, whether we are interacting online or in person. This is an academic learning environment and should be treated as such.

COURSE WRITINGS

Please be aware that this is a public writing course which means that most of your writing will be shared with me and/or your classmates as well as posted online. With this in mind, feel free to write about whatever you wish, so long as you feel comfortable sharing your ideas publically and do so in a respectful manner.

CONFERENCES
We will meet for conferences several times during the semester. During our meeting we will discuss your writing, revision possibilities, and additional concerns you may have about your drafts or the course. Missing a conference will count as 2 absences. Conference times may not be made up. If you are more than five minutes late for a conference, you are considered absent.

PLAGIARISM

The Council of Writing Program Administrators (CWPA) argues that In an instructional setting, plagiarism occurs when a writer deliberately uses someone elses language, ideas, or other original (not common-knowledge) material without acknowledging its source. The WSU Academic Honesty Policy (based on State of Washington Code) expands the CWPA definition of plagiarism as well as explaining other categories of academic misconduct. As a WSU student, you are bound by these policies and are responsible for being aware of and abiding by them. Students who commit intentional acts of plagiarism risk failing the class and will be reported to the Assistant Director of Composition and the Dean of Students Office.

DISABILITY ACCOMMODATIONS
Reasonable accommodations are available for students with a documented disability. If you have a disability and may need accommodations to fully participate in this class, please visit the Access Center. All accommodations MUST be approved through the Access Center (Washington Building, Room 217). Please stop by or call 509-335-3417 to make an appointment with an Access Advisor.

WSU SAFETY STATEMENT

Please familiarize yourself with information regarding campus emergencies/school closings by visiting these websites: University Emergency Management http://oem.wsu.edu/Emergencies and WSU Alert http://alert.wsu.edu

AVERY MICROCOMPUTER LAB (AML)

All English 101 students have access to the services and facilities of the AML (Avery 101, 103, & 105), including free printing.

WRITING CENTER

You are encouraged to visit the Writing Center, which provides free, walk-in peer tutoring service. The Writing Center is located in CUE 403. The English 101 program strongly encourages use of the face-to-face Writing Center. Online tutoring is available through eTutoring.

ENGLISH 102

This is a one-credit writing workshop. Beginning the third week of classes, students and a facilitator meet in small groups once a week to revise projects for English 101 or any other course. Please contact Writing Programs for more information. You can sign up for the class at www.my.wsu.edu.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

Please refer to the tentative schedule available on our course website for an outline of major assignment due dates, course readings, and homework assignments. Once again, keep in mind that all work is due at the beginning of class and must be submitted according to the directions outlined on the assignment handout and/or in class. Be aware that additional readings or activities may be assigned in class which may not be reflected on the course schedule. It is therefore in your best interest to regularly attend class so that you are up-to-date on assignments.

Note: This syllabus is tentative and may be amended at my discretion. Every effort will be made to cover the material identified herein, but occasional changes may be made for educational purposes or scheduling reasons.