DISCIPLINE BASED SYLLABI

Course Objectives:

English 110 is aimed primarily at developing the skills necessary for expository and argumentative academic writing at the college level. You will need to gear up for what is likely to be more writing than you've ever done before. In addition to introducing you to components of the writing process—brainstorming, planning, drafting, revising, and proofreading—this course will assist you in accomplishing the following objectives:

gain confidence as a thinker, reader, and writer
apply readings and films on the college experience to your own experiences
integrate reading, writing, and thinking processes
enhance your use of language to communicate thoughts effectively
form qualified, thoughtful opinions
develop an individual voice as a writer
develop the ability to read critically, evaluate sources, synthesize information, and cite source material appropriately

In addition, as a designated Freshman Year Experience course, this section of English 110 offers you the following opportunities:

introduce you to a liberal education and awaken intellectual curiosity
enhance skills needed for academic success
strengthen your connection to UW-Eau Claire
engage you in meaningful academic and non-academic out-of-class activities
enhance your accountability for your education

Also, this course aims at beginning to fulfill the following “Goals of the Baccalaureate Degree”

An understanding of a liberal education
An appreciation of the University as a learning community
An ability to inquire, think, and analyze
An ability to write, read, speak, and listen
An appreciation of the arts
An understanding of values
An understanding of human behavior and human institutions

Purchase Texts:
Higher Learning: Reading and Writing About College, by See and Taylor
Guide to McIntyre Library, Latest Edition

Rental Text: The Practical Writer, by Bailey and Powell

Other Resources:

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/
http://www.wisc.edu/writing/
http://www.ucc.vt.edu/stdysk/stdyhlp.html
http://webserver.maclab.comp.uvic.ca/writersguide/Pages/MasterToc.html#Essays
MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers http://www.mla.org
Paradigm http://www.powa.org/
The Writer's BBS http://www.writerbbs.com
Research and Writing Skills http://www.cavern.uark.edu/comminfo/www/study.html

Attendance:
Attendance is a requirement that will be enforced each class period. Students who are absent miss a valuable, significant amount of learning that cannot be duplicated. If you miss class you are expected to have completed the assignment and be prepared for class the day you return. This is your responsibility. Late work will not be accepted for grading, although I will evaluate late work.

Course Requirements:

The Course

In English 110 we will aim primarily at developing your writing skills, but this objective is more complex than it may seem at first. You will, of course, do plenty of writing. Frequently you will be writing in class, and it may eventually seem as though you are constantly handing in papers. You will need to gear up for what is likely to be more writing than you've ever done before.
But writing is only one component of language development that also includes reading, speaking, and listening. The most efficient way to improve any single component is to work on all four of them together. Rarely does writing occur in isolation from the others, so while we will keep writing as our central activity, you will frequently practice the others as well.
Before attending class you must have read the assignment for the day because during class we will spend much time discussing what we have read, listening to and responding to others' observations, and writing about all of it. The more you participate, the more you will learn, so attendance is crucial and participation is required.
This is a five credit course and most likely will require substantial effort on your part. You can expect to spend an average of 10-15 hours a week in out of class preparation.

The Writing Process

The writing process in general can be described in many ways, but in this class I focus on five phases: brainstorming, planning, drafting, revising, and proofreading. For each major assignment we will use all of these phases over and over again.
For each major assignment the whole process takes a few weeks or so. On the day I give each new assignment to the class, you will begin the process with any preparatory tasks I have assigned, eventually working toward a complete rough draft of the whole paper. In later classes you will exchange drafts and read each other's work, recommending improvements and suggesting revisions. The final draft will not be due for several more days, so substantial revision should occur after the in-class exchange.
On the paper due date, final revised versions of the papers are handed in (typed or word-processed, of course). Within one week I return the papers with my evaluation. Some students may be satisfied with their tentative grade at that point, some may decide to revise either now or later.
Most class days will consist of drafting or reviewing or revising. On any free days the class works on other tasks related to informal writing or other things such as critical reading, research, discussion, and creative and critical thinking.

Quizzes

I reserve the right to give a reading quiz [essay or objective, group or individual] on any daily reading assignment. Such quizzes will be given on the date that the reading assignment is due. Lecture or discussion quizzes may also be given the class following any lecture or discussion. These quizzes cannot be made-up.

Informal Writing

Informal assignments, some of which will be written in class, may include the following: Writing to Explore, to Reflect, to Imagine, to Inform, or to Express. They need not be typed. These assignments offer you practice in a wide variety of writing experiences and as such are very important in your progress as a developing writer.
In-Class:
Approximately 15-20 can be expected. These cannot be made up.
Out of Class:
Approximately 15-20 can be expected. These cannot be made up.

Formal Writing

Procedures
All papers must be turned in for you to pass the course.
Papers must be turned in by the Target Date or earlier in order to secure revision purposes.
Papers which are turned in by the Target Date may be revised as often as you wish before the final portfolio.
Papers will receive a grade individually and an overall grade when compiled in the Final Portfolio (see attached)
Requirements:
- You may turn in revisions only on Thursdays
- Only one revision may be turned in on any one day.
  First Drafts must be turned in with 2 Peer Review Sheets.
  
  Paper 1 : an informative paper which you direct to a particular (non-teacher) audience (minimum 4 pages). {see Bailey}
  * Target Date: 9/20/01 *
  
  Paper 2: a paper in which you display the dominant rhetorical strategy of classification or comparison and contrast (minimum 5 pages). {see Bailey}
  * Target Date: 10/18/01 *
  
  Paper 3: a paper in which you display the dominant rhetorical strategy of comparison and contrast or cause and/or effect (minimum 6 pages).. {see Bailey}
  *Target Date: 11/08/01*
  
  Paper 4: an argumentative research paper in which you synthesize information from a variety of sources (minimum 8 pp.) {see Bailey}
  * Target Date: 11/29/01 *

Final Portfolio:

Your major requirement for this class is the construction of a writing portfolio. See “The Final Portfolio.” (Attached)

Final Exam:

As required by the University and the Department of English, the final exam is the English Department Competency Test.

Materials
You will need :

3 or so Plain Paper two pocket Folders
2-3 Floppy Disks

Grades:

I will compute final grades in the following method:

Paper 1	05%
Paper 2	08%
Paper 3	10%
Paper 4	12%
Quizzes	05%
Informal Writing	10%
Final Portfolio	45%
Final Exam	05%

THE FINAL PORTFOLIO: ENGLISH 110
Requirements

Minimum words -- 7,500 (approximately 30 pages)
Minimum number of essays -- 3
Your portfolio must include the following:,
10 pages of what you feel are your best Informal Writings
at least 2 essays chosen from Papers 1-3
paper # 4
A completed Portfolio Assessment Form

NOTE: All individual pieces must have been seen by instructor at least once.

Your portfolio must demonstrate a command of the following skills

Basic Composition Concepts {See Student Instructor Comment Forms}
Basic Research Skills, such as:
- Recognizing the value, need, and appropriateness of using primary and secondary resources
- Finding and using Resources, such as:
  - Finding a variety of library resources
  - Finding and using other resources
  - Using Resources
    - ability to direct quote accurately and effectively
    - ability to use paraphrase accurately and effectively
    - ability to cite sources accurately and effectively
    - ability to use summary accurately and effectively
    - knowledge of grammar and usage

Your final portfolio is due on Thursday, December 13. I will make no exceptions.