Composition Syllabus (ENG 101-07) Fall 2014

Minnesota State University, Mankato                                                                                
Fall 2014

Monday/Wednesdays 2:00pm-3:45pm                                                    
Armstrong Hall (AH) 331

Instructor: Daniel DeWolf                                                                                  
 Office: AH 201K

Office Hours: Mondays/Wednesdays 12:00pm-2:00pm                     
Office Phone: 507-389-5540

Email: daniel.dewolf@mnsu.edu                            

Course Goals:  develop writers to use the English language effectively in their work and to read and write critically. The course objective is to prepare students for the writing that they’ll be required to do throughout their college careers. By the end of the class, students will be able to do the following:

a)      demonstrate and practice strategies for idea generation, audience analysis, organization of texts, drafting, evaluation of drafts, revision, and editing;


b)      write papers of varying lengths that demonstrate effective explanation, analysis, and argumentation;


c)      become experienced in computer-assisted writing and research;


d)     locate and evaluate material, using PALS, the Internet, and other sources;


e)      analyze and synthesize source material, making appropriate use of paraphrase, summary, quotation, and citation conventions;
demonstrating knowledge of proper source documentation;

f)       employ syntax and usage appropriate to academic writing and the professional world.

Required Texts:          
Current Issues and Enduring Questions by Sylvan Barnet and Hugo Bedau 
ISBN-13: 978-1-4576-2260-1 
OWL at Purdue: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/

Required Coursework/Grading:

Weekly Writing Responses                                                           20%

Each week we will have a written assignment due. These assignments include reading responses, critiques, and rough drafts of your formal essays. I will provide you with detailed guidelines for each of these writing assignments prior to their due dates.

Essays                                                                                           60%

Personal Narrative Essay                                            10%

Summary/Response Essay                                          15%

Compare/Contrast Essay                                             15%

Argumentative Synthesis Essay                                  20%

The majority of your grade will be determined by the quality of work you produce when composing four major essays. We will engage in the three steps of writing: pre-writing, drafting, and revising. Rough drafts are to be posted to D2L for in-class, peer editing. The final draft of each essay will be submitted to D2L on the assigned due date, along with a hard copy. Essays will be graded on how well the students follow and apply the criteria outlined on the assignment sheets, which will be available to students on the day each essay is assigned.

Participation                                                                                  20%

Students will be required to engage in free-writing (to be posted as a blog) during specified times, conduct peer reviews of essay drafts via D2L, and participate in class discussions based on the assigned reading. Failure to participate in any of these activities will result in the loss of some or all of a day’s participation points. During lectures, discussions, and presentations, you will be required to TURN OFF your computer monitors and pay attention. If you are caught using your computer, phone, or other electronic devices when you have been directed to turn them off, you will not receive participation points for that day.

Attendance

                                                                                                                                                                 

While attendance doesn’t make up a portion of your final grade, failure to show up to class will negatively impact it. You cannot receive participation points if you are not in class. There are no distinctions between excused and unexcused absences. If you are not able to attend class, please refer to D2L or the syllabus blog for homework and missed assignments.

Grading Scale:

                                    B+ = 89-87      C+ = 79-77      D+ = 69-67

A  = 100-93           B   = 86-83      C   = 76-73      D   = 66-63      F = 59-0

A- = 92-90            B-  = 82-80      C-  = 72-70      D-  = 62-60

NOTE: the lowest PASSING grade a student can earn in English 101 is a C. If a student earns a grade lower than a C, he/she will have to repeat the course. This is a policy that has been set by the university.

Academic Dishonesty: MSU has a zero tolerance policy in this regard. Students caught plagiarizing, cheating, or colluding could receive a failing grade, requiring them to retake the course.

·         Plagiarism – Blatantly submitting someone else’s work as your own and/or failing to properly credit an original source.

·         Cheating – Use of unauthorized material or assistance to help fulfill academic assignments (unauthorized copies of test materials, calculators, crib sheets, help from another student, etc.)

·         Collusion – Assistance to another student or among students in committing the act of cheating or plagiarism.

Center for Academic Success:  In addition to working with the instructor, students are encouraged to take advantage of the free services offered by MSU’s Center for Academic Success located in the Memorial Library (ML 116). The Center is open to students Monday through Friday, by appointment and walk-ins. MavCard required: http://www.mnsu.edu/supersite/academics/success or 507-389-1791.

Note for Students with Disabilities: From the Office of Disability Services: “MSU provides students with disabilities reasonable accommodation to participate in educational; programs, activities, or services. Students with disabilities requiring accommodation to participate in class activities or meet course requirements should first register with the Office of Disability Services, located in 0123 Memorial Library, telephone 389-2825, TDD 711.”

Note on Safety: MSU values the safety of all individuals on campus. You are encouraged to review the campus Emergency Response Guide online (http://www.mnsu.edu/security/emergencies). This information will help you create a personal safety plan and consider your options in the event of an emergency.