WRITING 150: WRITING & RHETORIC

Winter 2013 Section 078: SNLB 132 T/H 3:00-4:15 P.M. Section 083: C266 ESC T/H 5:10-6:25 p.m.
Name: Anne Turner, B.S. Phone: (801) 707-1679 (feel free to text) Office: 3004 JKB Email: annetiffanyturner@gmail.com Office hours: MW 9:30-11:00 a.m.; T/H 4:15-5:10 p.m.; or by appointment (please note that I may not always be in my physical office space during these hours so you must make an appointment if you want to catch me).

TEXTS
Writing Matters: A Handbook for Writing and Research by Rebecca Moore Howard Writing and Rhetoric by Brett C. McInelly and Brian Jackson Supplemental Guide to Writing and Rhetoric by Brett C. McInelly Perspectives on the Environment by BYU Academic Publishing

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Writing 150 is designed to introduce students to college-level writing, reading, and research with an emphasis on argumentation and rhetorical analysis. Writing 150 pays particular attention to the ways arguments work within discourse communities. Individual sections are structured around a focused topic area. Our section of WRTG 150 is focused on the environment.

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
Why do you never find anything written about that idiosyncratic thought you avert to, about your fascination wit h something no one understands? Because it is up to you. There is something you find interesting, for a reason hard to explain. It is hard to explain because you have never read it on any page; there you begin. You were made and set here to give voice to this, your own astonishment. (Annie Dillard, The Writing Life p. 67-68)

COURSE OBJECTIVES
Understand rhetoric and the rhetorical situations you and others inhabit Write clearly, correctly, and compellingly for different audiences in different situations Develop a reflexive, personal writing process that includes invention, arrangement, style, and revision Analyze thoroughly the persuasive power of texts using a rhetorical vocabulary Respond critically and constructively to the writing of others Perform library and internet research competently Understand how the principles of rhetoric can help us become ethical, wise, and persuasive saints and public citizens

ATTENDANCE & PARTICIPATION

According to departmental policy for classes that meet two times a week, if you are allowed to miss up to two class periods with no penalty on your grade, no questions asked. Please not that each additional absence will result in a one-third reduction of your final grade (A to A-; B to B-; etc.).

If you come to class late or you leave class early you will be counted absent for the day. If you have to miss class because of emergency circumstances beyond your control and report it to me at the time it occurs, we can work out a fair and reasonable solution to accommodate you. The key is communication. Talk to me as soon as possible to avoid grade penalties. Excused absences for athletes and university organizations count toward the permitted number of absences. In accordance with university policy, you must bring me a letter from your coach during the first two weeks of the semester that outlines your absences so that we can negotiate an individual contract. Failure to bring me the letter will result in the deduction of your grade by one-third of a letter grade per absence.

GRADING POLICY
I believe that all students can earn an A in my classif they are willing to turn in assignments on time and are present and participating in class. I have designed the course so that this is entirely possible! Please take advantage of the opportunity. Grading Scale Grade A AB+ B BC+ Percent 93% 90-92% 87-89% 83-86% 80-82% 77-79% Points 930-1000 900-929 870-899 830-869 800-829 770-799 C CD+ D DE 73-76% 70-72% 67-69% 63-66% 60-62% 0-59% 720-769 700-729 670-699 630-669 600-629 0-599

ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTIONS
Major Assignments Opinion Editorial Paper: Three to five page (double-spaced) opinion editorial on a topic of your choice. Rhetorical Analysis Paper: Four to six page (double-spaced) analysis of an essay in Perspectives on the Environment. Four written pages plus the works cited page is a minimum. Annotated Bibliography: Bibliography with eight sources (minimum). Two paragraphs per source; one paragraph summarizes the source (in your own words) and the other indicating how you would use this source in your research paper. Issues/Research Paper: 8-10 page (double-spaced) researched argument on a current issue in your focus area. 8 sources minimum. Multimodal Argument (collaborative project): Design two rhetorical strategies that use more than just words. You have your choice of collaborating on both projects or just on one. You must use 250 words of text in addition to images, audio or visual clips, hyperlinks, tables, graphs, charts, bullet points, or whatever else might be visually stimulating.

The Writing Center The WC is an asset to you and your writing as you have someone look at your paper objectively. The WC is very busy, so you will need to make an appointment. Please call (801) 422-4306, visit 4026 JKB, or go to english.byu.edu/writingcenter In-Class Work Occasionally I will ask you to write thesis statements, outlines, short papers, or complete a worksheet in class. These are no stress assignments whose points are tied into your attendance/participation points for that class period. Be in class and you get points! Final Exam Our final exam will take place TBA. You are required to attend the final, so please do not schedule any travel plans until after your finals are over. If you are not present for the final, you will automatically fail the course (see the failure policy). There will be no early finals given.

CONFERENCING
Peer Conferences You will be required to attend peer conferencing where you and your peers will swap drafts of your papers and offer suggestions (both grammatical and big picture) to improve your writing. While these conferences will not directly affect your grade, your paper will significantly improve from attending and participating. Paper Conferences You are welcome to meet with me as many times as you need (or want) to discuss your paper(s). I have an open door policy whether or not I actually have an office door to open. Please make an appointment with me during my office hours if possible. For each major paper you write in this course you will be required to attend a paper conference with me before the paper is due. These paper conferences allow you to meet with me one-on-one about your paper. Dont miss out!

MERCY & JUSTICE POLICY

Revision Policy The writing process is not just about typing a paper two hours before it is due it is about writing, rewriting, revision, and editing. Because I believe that you will learn more from revising your papers, I will allow you to revise all papers in order to receive a better grade. This opportunity comes with stipulations: 1) You must turn in your draft and paper ON TIME. 2) You must meet with me to discuss the revision of your paper. 3) You must significantly revise the paper. 4) You must include the pre-revision version of your paper. Late Paper Policy Turning in a late paper and expecting full credit is unfair to the other students who turned in their work on time. I understand that there are some circumstances that may delay your paper, and am therefore willing to work with you. I will deduct the grade on your paper by a full letter for every day that it is late. Late papers are not eligible for revision. Failure Policy As a student in Writing 150, you are required to turn in all assignments. More specifically, you are required to turn in the major papers required in this course: the Opinion Editorial, the Rhetorical Analysis, the Issues paper, the Multimodal assignment, and the Final Exam. If you do not complete ALL of these assignments, you WILL AUTOMATICALLY FAIL the course. This is department policy.

Cell Phone and Electronics Policy I believe that technology can be used to benefit the classroom. But technology can also be a double-edged sword. Personal electronic devices should be turned to silent while in class. I understand the uncontrollable urge to check for text messages or send off a quick message to your mom or roommate, so therefore, I will not ban cell phones from my class. Use of cell phones in class is a privilege. Anyone who consistently texts throughout class and abuses the privilege will be responsible for the loss of the privilege for all. Personal computers and iPods/iPads or other like devices are allowed for taking notes or researching; the use of such devices for entertainment purposes is not allowed.

UNIVERSITY POLICIES
Honor Code and Plagiarism You are expected to uphold the Honor Code, which you signed in order to attend BYU which includes being honest in your academic work. Academic dishonesty is not tolerated in any academic sphere, whether that is the professional world or our own BYU campus. Plagiarism is the intentional use of any material by another author and claiming it as your own. Any academic dishonesty will be addressed and if you have plagiarized you will receive a zero grade on your assignment, automatically fail the course, and even be reported to the Honor Code office. Please just do your own work. See http://campuslife.byu.edu/honorcode for more information. Sexual Harassment Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sexual discrimination against any participant in an educational program or activity that receives federal funds. The act is intended to eliminate sex discrimination in education and pertains to admissions, Academic and athletic programs, and university-sponsored activities. Title IX also prohibits sexual harassment of students by university employees, other students, and visitors to campus. If you encounter harassment or gender-based discrimination, please talk to your professor; contact the Equal Employment Office at (801) 422-5895, or http://www.ethicspoint.com; or contact the Honor Code Office at (801) 422-2847. We live in a beautifully diverse world which allows for harmony to exist should we choose to embrace it. I have no tolerance for harassment or discrimination and if you harass or discriminate within my classroom, you will be given a warning and possibly dismissed for the rest of the class period. Disability Accommodations According to university policy, you may be eligible for accommodation if you have a disability. To see if you qualify or for more information, please contact Disability Services at (801) 422 -2767; visit their office at 2170 WSC; or visit their website at https://uac.byu.edu/ .