Northern
Course Syllabus
1.
2. Course Title:
English Composition 1113
·
Division of
Language Arts: Dr.
Pamela Stinson, Chair
·
Course
Description: This course includes the
fundamentals of expository writing with emphasis on structure, development,
sentence style and grammatical correctness.
·
Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites.
3. Course Objectives:
This course
includes the fundamentals of expository writing with emphasis on structure,
development, sentence style and grammatical correctness. Development of personal style, an
introduction to research, and the basics of solid academic writing will be a
focus of this course.
Upon completion of this course the student
will be able to:
4. Instructor Information:
·
Faculty:
· Email Address: john.richard.stevens “at” okstate.edu
· Office Hours: I am always available before and after class, and by appointment.
5. Textbook(s)
and Materials:
VanderMey, Randall,
Verne Meyer, John Van Rys, and Pat Sebranek.
The College Writer: A Guide to Thinking Writing, and
Researching. 2nd ed.
Dictionary recommended.
6. Course Policies:
· Class attendance rules: Regular attendance is required to be successful in the class. I will use the administrative warn and drop system. After three (3) absences, I will issue a warning and after six (6) accumulative absences, I may withdraw you. Moreover, more than three (3) absences will affect your participation grade, perhaps to the point of zero in the participation component of this course. Arriving late or leaving early is unacceptable, and three (3) instances results in a charged absence. Arriving five (5) minutes or more late results in a charged absence; leaving early results in a charged absence.
·
Essays: The length of each essay will be
determined by the specific prompt for each given assignment. Essays must
demonstrate original thought, development, and organization. For each essay
assignment, you will be given a schedule of readings, exercises, and drafts
required. All essays must be typed, double spaced, and in MLA format. Grading
criteria for each essay will be reviewed in class.
·
Formatting of all course work: All course work must be in a 12 point Times New Roman
font. Other fonts, particularly those generating a deceptively higher page
count, are unacceptable, and such papers will receive a lower grade. Margins
are to be either 1 inch or 1¼ inches, the latter of which is the default
setting in MS Word. Always double space. Do not turn in any typewritten
single spaced work or I will reduce the grade by a minimum of one full letter
grade. Do not turn in any handwritten work, for it will be returned to you at
the earliest opportunity, and is considered to be late until a properly
formatted version is turned in. Adhere to the page count guidelines for all
assignments. If any of the above problems persist, I will grade the assignment
as a zero.
·
General guidelines for late work: when class ends on the due date, the work is late.
·
Late/Missing work and your participation
grade: It will affect your participation grade,
perhaps to the point of zero in the participation component of this course. Students
are responsible for consulting the instructor about work missed due to absence,
regardless of the reason.
·
Late major projects
(the essays): If a student fails to
hand in an essay on the due date, the paper will receive a ten-point deduction
per class period if handed in within the week.
After one week from the date due, the paper will not be accepted.
· Late policy on all other course work: All course work loses 5% per calendar day late, including weekends, breaks, holidays, etc.
7. Course Grading Policies:
·
Grading Scale:
A = 90 –100
B = 80 -- 89
C = 70 -- 79
D = 60 -- 69
F = 59 and Below
·
Extra Credit - Course Policy: There is no extra credit.
8. Writing Component:
9. Academic Dishonesty or Misconduct:
Academic dishonesty or misconduct
is not tolerated at
Disciplinary action for students
who are enrolled in both OSU and NOC classes will follow the OSU policy on
Academic Misconduct and Dishonesty (http://comp.okstate.edu).
10. Use of Cell Phones & Electronic Devices:
The use of cell
phones, palm pilots, walkie-talkies, pagers, cameras, or other communication
devices will not be permitted during in-session classes at
The use of laptop computers is permissible in
It will be at the discretion of NOC to determine
additional consequences, which can include removal from the course and/or
removal from the institution for the dishonest act or acts. (Refer to the NOC Student Handbook for
additional information.)
11. Assessment of Student Learning:
Assessment is an ongoing process aimed at understanding and improving student learning. It involves making the course objectives measurable and explicit. It is our intent to systematically measure the process of student learning within each course being taught at Northern, by setting appropriate high standards for learning quality and interpreting evidence to determine how well student performance matches the course objectives and standards, then utilizing the resulting information to improve student performance. Assessment of each student’s learning within the class will be conducted at least every two weeks or six hours of class.
The following examples are measures that will provide evidence of student learning: written and oral assignments and projects, unit, chapter, mid-term, and comprehensive examinations, pre- and post-tests, quizzes, competency based projects, observation of student behavior, internally and externally juried reviews, portfolios, internships, case studies, research papers, journals, essays, large and small group projects, one on one communications between faculty and students, standardized or national licensure tests, capstone projects, student satisfaction surveys, national standardized tests, employer surveys on the quality of program graduates, and others.
12. Identification of Student Learning Styles:
The Northern faculty believes
that all students should have the opportunity to learn in an environment
conducive to their dominant learning style.
It is our goal to provide diverse pedagogy within each course to address
the identified learning styles for the visual, auditory, and kinesthetic
learners.
13.
Statement of Student Support:
If you have a disability, please let me know so I can work cooperatively with you and the counseling office to provide reasonable and fair opportunities for you to be a productive and successful learner.
14.
Additional Information:
What
You Should Do to Get Started:
Read
this syllabus in its entirety, and if you have any questions ask me as soon as
possible. Also, I have provided you with a number of lectures on my website, http://www.englishdiscourse.org/teaching.comp.html,
and you should read the following ones immediately: “Opening Remarks,” and
“Read This Before Turning in Any Work.”
Required
Software:
·
MS Word, which is FREE
OF CHARGE to all OSU and NOC students. All assignments must be composed and
turned in as a MS Word doc file. To obtain MS Word for free, you can visit http://it.okstate.edu/mca, login and
download the software. You will need your PRISM id and PRISM default password.
If you do not have this information, or if you experience any problems at all,
call the helpdesk at 744-HELP (744-4357) and they will gladly assist you. As an
alternative, the OSU campus has many computer labs, all of which offer
computers that have MS Word. The Edmon Low Library also checks out laptops to
OSU students, and they too have MS Word.
·
How to turn in course work: For each of
the major projects (essays), a paper copy is due during class on the due date.
Additionally, an electronic copy is due, prior to the beginning of class,
on the due date, and it must be turned in to TurnItIn.com as a MS Word doc
file. Use the TurnItIn.com “file upload” method from the submit screen. You
will be instructed during class about how to create a TurnItIn.com account, and
how to turn in your work. Your essays will be considered late until both the
paper copy and the electronic copy is turned in. All other rules for late work,
as delineated in section six of this syllabus, also apply. Moreover, your
electronic turn-in must be an exact duplicate of the
paper copy: in other words, no further corrections or revisions will be
accepted. Also, if the electronic and paper copies do not match up it will have
a negative impact on the assignment’s grade.
·
Participation grading: Your Participation
grade is determined by the following factors: how much you participate in
discussions; the careful thinking demonstrated by your remarks. There are
also other variables involved that will negatively affect your grade, which include
the following: late work; missing work; unsatisfactory in-class work; lack of
preparation, which means failure to be prepared for peer revision workshops
and/or other activities; unprofessional conduct; your failure to meet any other
requirements of this syllabus. Moreover, I expect you to participate in every
class by significantly adding to class discussions, which means group
discussions, as well as the discussions led by me. I expect your reading,
writing, analyses, and discussion to reflect careful thought and
preparation. Considering these policies, if you are absent three (3)
or less times but you create a situation that negatively affects your grade,
you will receive a grade that is lower than 100%, perhaps to the point of zero
in this component of the course.
There is
also the aspect of "effective participation." As the semester
progresses, students must demonstrate that they are effectively demonstrating
previously taught skills. If, for example, we are some weeks into the course
and a student is still failing to successfully negotiate skills that should
have already been mastered, then participation with regard to learning said
skills can only be judged as inadequate. Also, if I have reason to believe that
an assignment was written at the last minute, as opposed to its being drafted
and revised over time, then it is a case where that student has effectively
been absent from participating in the writing process. In such cases the
participation grade will be reduced, perhaps to the point of zero is this
component of the course.
·
Peer revision workshops: Peer Revision Workshops are crucial to the draft and revise
writing process taught in this course, and you are expected to participate in
all of them. I will reduce the final grade of an essay by 5% if a peer review
workshop is missed for any reason, including absence from class. There is no
way to make up these lost points. Moreover, each time you miss a peer revision
workshop your participation grade will be reduced. Also, if your paper falls even
slightly short of the minimum page count, even if only by a line or two of
text, you will not receive credit for participation in that workshop.
Course Components and their Percentages of the Final Course Grade:
|
10% |
Narrative Essay -- Page count requirements: 2 full pages minimum to three full pages maximum, plus an additional page, which is the works cited page. Due date: 8/31/07 |
|
10% |
Problem/Solution Essay -- Page count requirements: 2 full pages minimum to three full pages maximum, plus an additional page, which is the works cited page. Due date: 9/14/07 |
|
10% |
Comparison/Contrast Essay -- Page count requirements: 2 full pages minimum to 3 full pages maximum, plus an additional page, which is the works cited page. Due date: 9/28/07 |
|
10% |
Cause-Effect Essay --
Page count requirements: 3 full pages minimum to 4 full pages maximum, plus a
works cited page. Due date: 10/19/07 |
|
10% |
Definition Essay --
Page count requirements: 3 full pages minimum to 4 full pages maximum, plus a
works cited page. Due date: 11/9/07 |
|
15% |
Argumentative
Essay -- Page count requirements: 4 full pages minimum to 5 full
pages maximum, plus a works cited page. Due date: 11/30/07 |
|
15% |
Thought Papers (There are a total of 5 Thought Papers worth 3% each.) |
|
10% |
Participation -- make certain to review this syllabus carefully, so that you are aware of how late work, missing work, and other factors affect your participation grade. |
|
5% |
Reading Skills Workshops and
Portfolio -- consult the Assignments Calendar for workshops dates;
|
|
5% |
Final Examination -- an essay exam; participation is mandatory. |
Thought Papers: These are
extremely short assignments that are based on readings from our course book, A
College Writer. Before turning in one of these assignments, you must read
the prompt for Thought Papers, which is accessible on my website.
Reading skills workshops and portfolio: Reading Skills Workshops will dramatically increase your skills in the
following areas: 1) Read faster 2)
Better understand what you read 3)
Remember better what you read 4)
Optimize note-taking skills for study
You must keep an ongoing record of your semester-long progress by recording
your in-class and out-of-class practice on the Timings Handout for Speed
Reading, as well as compiling a varied selection of reading notes, both of
which you will turn in toward the end of the semester in the form of a
portfolio. I will teach you how to record your progress. Failure to maintain neat
and accurate records and reading notes will compromise your grade in this
component of the course, and your participation in these workshops also has an
effect on the participation grade course component. Importantly, our first
Reading Skills Workshop is on 8/31/07, and you should begin compiling your
portfolio at that time. Before doing so, print the "Reading Skills
Portfolio Prompt and Guidelines," from my website.
The Class Listserv: Everyone must e-mail me on the first day of class, so follow the directions under “homework” for the first day of class. I will then subscribe you to the class listserv, so that we can better communicate. Your participation in this is mandatory, and it is a factor in determining your participation grade. It is your responsibility to maintain your e-mail account in working order.
15. Course Outline:
The following is a tentative schedule of the material to be covered is this course:
Week 1 – 2: Narrative Essay; fundamentals of grammar
Week 3 – 4 Problem/Solution Essay
Week 5 – 6 Comparison/Contrast Essay
Week 7 – 9 Cause-Effect Essay
Week 10 – 12 Definition Essay
Week 13 – 15 Argumentative Essay
Week 16 – Pre-Finals Week
Week 17 – Finals Week
Discussion
Questions/Observations: There are no
direct points earned from turning in discussion questions, which will be
assigned during class. Still, these are assignments, so failure to participate
by turning them in on time will result in a reduction of your participation
grade. As with all course work, the guidelines for late work and missing work
apply.
The Weekly Assignments Calendar:
WEEK ONE:
M 8-20
TODAY'S CLASS: Course introduction; a brief overview of your first
project, which is the Narrative Essay.
Homework:
W 8-22 TODAY'S CLASS:
Bring to class today The College Writer. Discussion of homework
readings; discussion of your first project, which is the Narrative Essay, so
make certain to have with you the Narrative Essay Prompt.
Homework: Begin
working on your Narrative Essay because you will need one full page minimum for
the peer revision workshop on Monday of next week. On Friday, 8/24, we will,
among other activities, look at some common sentence level errors, what it is
that defines them and how to avoid them. We will begin with sentence fragments,
so Click here, print
the "Sentence Fragments" handout, and bring a copy to class on
Friday. Also, Click here, print
the handout "Sentence Fragment Exercises--# 1," and bring it to class
on Friday. There is no need for you to do these exercises at home, for we will
complete them during class on Friday. (These handouts are courtesy of the Owl
Online Writing Lab at Purdue.)
F 8-24 TODAY'S
CLASS: Bring to class today: The
College Writer. Make certain you bring to class today both the handouts
listed under homework on Wednesday 8/22/07; 35 minute in-class writing on your
Narrative Essay, so bring all the materials you need to work during class.
WEEK TWO:
M 8-27: TODAY'S CLASS: Peer revision workshop for Narrative
Essay, one full page minimum, so bring four copies. Click here, and print
the OSU Policy on Academic Dishonesty or Misconduct, and bring it to class
today for a class discussion of the policy. Also print the handout "Peer
Revision Worksheet," and bring it to class today.
W 8-29: TODAY'S CLASS: Click here, print
the handout "Independent and Dependent Clauses," and bring it to
class today. Click here, print
the handout "Run-Ons, Comma Splices, Fused Sentences" and bring it to
class today. (With the exception of the "Peer Revision Worksheet"
today's handouts are courtesy of the Owl Online Writing Lab at Purdue.)
F 8-31: TODAY'S CLASS: Narrative Essay due. Today is our first Reading Skills Workshop. We will discuss your upcoming Thought Paper, and your next major project, which is your Problem/Solution Essay. Print the following materials and bring them to class today:
·
Click here, print the handout "Run-Ons, Comma Splices, Fused
Sentences."
·
Timings
Handout for Speed Reading
·
Problem/Solution
Essay Prompt
·
Reading Skills
Portfolio Prompt and Guidelines
Homework: Thought Paper # 1 over the Brian
Ley essay, "Preparing for Agroterror," pp.
303-05 in The College Writer, is due on Wednesday. Essentially, be
prepared for a class discussion. Click here, print the handout on "Comma Splices"
(courtesy of The UVic Writer's Guide), and bring a copy to class on
Wednesday. Click here, and print
the handout "Plural and Possessive," courtesy of
WEEK THREE:
M 9-3 HOLIDAY—NO CLASS
W 9-5 TODAY'S CLASS: Thought
Paper # 1 due; discussion of Ley essay; discussion of comma splices and plurals
vs. possessives; make certain to bring to class today all the handouts listed
under last Friday's homework, as well as The College Writer, for we will
review chapter 20.
F 9-7 TODAY'S
CLASS: Reading Skills Workshop # 2, so
bring to class your "Timings Handout for Speed
M 9-10 TODAY'S CLASS: Peer Revision Workshop
for the Problem/Solution Essay, one full page minimum, bring four copies.
In-class writing on Problem/Solution Essay, so bring all the materials you will
need to work during class.
W 9-12 TODAY'S CLASS: Reading Skills
Workshop # 3, so bring to class your "Timings Handout for Speed
F 9-14 TODAY'S CLASS: Problem/Solution Essay due. Discussion of your Comparison/Contrast Essay, so print the Comparison/Contrast Essay
Prompt, and bring a copy to class today.
Homework: Thought
Paper #2 over the Leonard Pitts, Jr. article,
"Apostles of Hatred Find It Easy to Spread Their Message," pp. 269-70
in The College Writer, is due on Monday. Essentially, be prepared for a
class discussion of the article.
WEEK FIVE:
M 9-17
TODAY'S CLASS: Thought Paper # 2 due. Discussion of Pitts article;
In-class writing on Comparison/Contrast Essay, so bring all the materials you
will need, including The College Writer, for we will review chapter 13.
W 9-19 TODAY'S CLASS: Reading Skills Workshop #
4, so bring to class your "Timings Handout for Speed
F 9-21 TODAY'S
CLASS: Peer revision workshop for
Comparison/Contrast Essay, for which you will need one full page minimum. Bring
4 copies. In class writing on Comparison/Contrast Essay, so bring all the
materials you will need.
M 9-24 TODAY'S CLASS: In-class
writing on your Comparison/Contrast Essay, so bring all the materials you need
to work during class.
W 9-26 TODAY'S
CLASS: Reading Skills Workshop #
5, so bring to class your "Timings Handout for Speed
F 9-28 TODAY'S CLASS: Comparison/Contrast Essay due. Discussion of your Cause-Effect Essay, so print the Cause-Effect
Essay Prompt , and bring a copy to class today. In-class writing on your
Cause-Effect Essay, so bring all the materials you will need, including The
College Writer, for we will review chapter 12.
Homework: Thought
Paper #3 over the Rebecca Pasok essay,
"To Drill or Not to Drill," pp. 285-87 in The College Writer,
is due on Monday. Essentially, be prepared for a class discussion of the
article.
WEEK SEVEN:
M 10-1 TODAY'S CLASS:
Thought Paper #3 due. Discussion of Pasok article; In-class writing on
Cause-Effect Essay, so bring all the materials you will need.
W 10-3 TODAY'S
CLASS: Reading Skills
Workshop # 6, so bring to class your "Timings Handout for Speed
Homework: Prepare
for Friday's peer revision workshop on your Cause-Effect Essay, for which you
will need one full page minimum.
F 10-5 TODAY'S CLASS: Peer
revision workshop on Cause-Effect Essay, one full page minimum. Bring 4 copies.
In-class writing on Cause-Effect Essay, so bring all the materials you will
need.
M 10-8 TODAY'S CLASS: NO
CLASS. FALL BREAK.
W 10-10 TODAY'S CLASS: In-class
writing on Cause-Effect Essay, so bring all the materials you will need.
F 10-12 TODAY'S CLASS: Reading Skills
Workshop # 7, so bring to class your "Timings Handout for Speed
Reading," a pencil and pen, and notepaper.
Homework: Prepare
for Monday's peer revision workshop on your Cause-Effect Essay, for which you
will need a complete draft, which means three full pages minimum, plus the
works cited page.
WEEK NINE:
M 10-15 TODAY'S CLASS:
Peer revision workshop on Cause-Effect Essay,
complete draft needed, which means three full pages minimum, plus the works
cited page. Bring 4 copies. In-class writing on Cause-Effect Essay, so bring
all the materials you will need.
W 10-17 TODAY'S CLASS:
In-class writing on Cause-Effect Essay, so bring all the materials you will
need.
F 10-19 TODAY'S CLASS: Cause-Effect Essay due. Print the Definition Essay Prompt,
and bring a copy to class today. In-class writing on Definition Essay, so bring
all the materials you will need, including The College Writer, for we
will review chapter 16.
Homework: Thought Paper #4 over the Anna Quindlen article, "Uncle Sam and Aunt Samantha," pp. 306-08 in The College Writer, is due on Monday. Essentially, be prepared for a class discussion of the article.
WEEK TEN:
M 10-22 Thought Paper # 4 due. Discussion of Quindlen article.
In-class writing on your Definition essay, so bring to class all the materials
you will need.
W 10-24
Reading Skills Workshop # 8, so bring to class your "Timings
Handout for Speed Reading," a pencil and pen, and notepaper.
Homework: Prepare
for Friday's peer revision workshop on your Definition Essay, for which you
will need one full page minimum.
F 10-26 Peer revision workshop for Definition Essay, one full page
minimum, bring 4 copies. In-class writing on your Definition essay, so bring to
class all the materials you will need.
M 10-29 TODAY'S
CLASS: In-class writing on your
Definition essay, so bring to class all the materials you will need.
W 10-31 TODAY'S CLASS: Reading Skills Workshop # 9,
so bring to class your "Timings Handout for Speed Reading," a pencil
and pen, and notepaper.
Homework: Prepare
for Friday's peer revision workshop on your Definition Essay, for which you
will need two full pages minimum. In-class writing on your Definition essay, so
bring to class all the materials you will need.
F 11-2 TODAY'S CLASS: Peer revision workshop for
Definition Essay, two full pages minimum, bring 4 copies. In-class writing on
your Definition essay, so bring to class all the materials you will need.
Homework: Prepare
for Monday's peer revision workshop on your Definition Essay, for which you
will need a complete draft, which means three full pages minimum, plus a works
cited page.
M 11-5 TODAY'S CLASS: Peer revision
workshop for your Definition Essay, complete draft needed, which means three
full pages minimum, plus a works cited page. Bring 4 copies. In-class writing
on your Definition essay, so bring to class all the materials you will need.
W 11-7 TODAY'S CLASS: Reading Skills
Workshop # 8, so bring to class your "Timings Handout for Speed
F 11-9 TODAY'S CLASS: Definition Essay due. Print the Argumentative Essay Prompt,
and bring a copy to class today. In-class writing on Argumentative Essay, so
bring all the materials you will need, including The College Writer, for
we will review various sections of the book. Also, bring to class a copy of the
Kelly and Erickson article (refer to the Argumentative Essay Prompt).
Homework: Thought
Paper #5 over the Sarah Hanley essay,
"Adrenaline Junkies," pp. 177-78 in The College Writer, is due
on Monday. Essentially, be prepared for a class discussion of the article.
M 11-12 TODAY'S CLASS: Thought Paper # 5
due. Discussion of Hanley essay. In-class writing on your Argumentative essay,
so bring to class all the materials you will need.
W 11-14 TODAY'S CLASS: Reading Skills Portfolio Due. In-class writing on your Argumentative essay, so bring to
class all the materials you will need.
Homework: Prepare
for Wednesday's peer revision workshop on your Argumentative Essay, for which
you will need one full page minimum.
F 11-16 TODAY'S CLASS: NO CLASS.
WEEK FOURTEEN:
M 11-19 TODAY'S CLASS: Peer revision
workshop for your Argumentative Essay, two full pages minimum, bring four
copies. In-class writing on your Argumentative Essay, so bring all the
materials you will need.
W 11-21 TODAY'S CLASS: Campus will probably
close at noon today, so there is no class meeting.
F 11-23 TODAY'S CLASS: THANKSGIVING BREAK. NO
CLASS.
M 11-26 TODAY'S CLASS: In class writing on
your Argumentative Essay, so bring all the materials you will need.
Homework: Prepare
for Wednesday's peer revision workshop on your Argumentative Essay, for which
you will need a complete draft, which means four full pages minimum, plus a
works cited page.
W 11-28 TODAY'S CLASS: Peer revision workshop on your
Argumentative Essay, for which you will need a complete draft, which means four
full pages minimum, plus a works cited page.
F 11-30 TODAY'S CLASS: Argumentative Essay due. THIS IS THE FINAL DAY TO HAND IN ALL COURSE WORK!
We review for final examination and I will distribute a study sheet.
WEEK
SIXTEEN: (Pre-Finals Week)
M 12-3 TODAY'S CLASS: We watch the first half
of a film.
W 12-5 TODAY'S CLASS: We finish watching the
film.
F 12-7 TODAY'S CLASS: Class discussion of this
week's film
Final
examination is on Monday, December 10, from 2:00 to 3:50 pm, in our regular
classroom.