Course:
English 090
Basic Writing Instructor: Julie Barak Office: 443
Lowell Heiny Hall Office
Hours: Phone:
248-1072 E-mail: [email protected] Home
Page: http://mesastate.edu/~jbarak
Course Goals: The purpose of this course is to introduce students to
the basic tools and principles of writing at the college level. We will focus on understanding and practicing
writing as a process moving from the generation of ideas, to pre-writing and
drafting, through revising and editing.
While working through this process, our specific goals are the
following: 1) to develop essays around a
single idea using specific examples and details to develop that idea, 2) to
examine the structure and organization of paragraphs within an essay, 3) to
explore effective ways to open and close an essay, 4) to practice summarizing,
5) to become familiar with MLA style guides and, 6) to produce papers free from
distracting mechanical errors.
Course Methods:
The course is designed as a
writing workshop. This means that almost every day we meet we will be either
writing or discussing writing. Class
members will share their writing with the whole class and lead us in
discussions of their own and others' work.
We will work together in small groups for various assignments. A major
focus of our work for the semester will be on revising, on re-seeing and
re-writing the four essays we produce early in the semester. These revisions
will become part of your final portfolio for the course. We will monitor our
process and progress as writers with a writing journal.
Required Texts and Other Expenses:
Lunsford
and Connors. EasyWriter: A Pocket Guide.
Mayberry, Katherine J. Everyday Arguments: A Guide to Writing and
Reading Effective Arguments
Course Requirements:
1. Writing Journal: Every day at the end
of class we’ll take a couple of minutes to reflect on what we’ve been discussing
during the period. Also, as you re-see
and re-write your essays over the course of the semester, you should make notes
in your journal about your process. This
is also the place where you should reflect on your thoughts about how you’re
growing and/or changing as a writer. Final journals should consist of the
following three sections: 1) daily in-class entries, 2) at least 10 entries on
essay revisions and 3) at least 5 entries reflecting on your development as a
writer. These journals will serve as the
source for the material from which you cull the learning letter that
accompanies your final portfolio. (See Final Portfolio
below.) 20% of your grade for the semester.
2. Four Essays: See schedule on the back
of this syllabus for due dates. More
specific assignments and instructions for the essays will be forthcoming. All
essays must be typed. 30% of your grade for the semester.
3. Final Portfolio: At the end of the semester,
each student must submit a portfolio of her or his writing that includes 8
pages of what she or he determines is the best stuff produced over the course
of the semester. In addition to these 8
pages, the portfolio must include an extended commentary (4 page minimum) on
the process of producing that writing.
All material included in the portfolio must be typed. 30%
of your grade for the semester.
4. Various Short In- and Out-of-Class Writing
Assignments. 20%
of your grade for the semester.
Policies and Procedures:
Attendance and
Participation: While showing up is a sign of interest and commitment
to the course, active, lively, and productive discussions require vocal
participants. So, show up and speak
up. Writing workshops don't work if
writers don't bring writing. So, show up
and bring your assignments with you. If
you don't show up, don't bring work with you, and don't participate in the
discussions, you cannot pass the class. You'll lose one letter grade for every
3 absences after the first 3. So, for
example, if your grade for the class is a B, but you’ve missed 6 classes, your
final grade will be a C. Additional penalties will be assessed for late work
and for consistent lack of engaged, active participation when you are
present.
Academic Misconduct: Please read the section on cheating and plagiarism
in the student handbook. The
consequences for cheating and plagiarism are severe, including failure for the
assignment, possible failure of the course, disciplinary referral to the dean,
and possible expulsion from the college.
If you have questions about these violations of academic honesty, please
come and see me.
Disabilities: If you have
any condition, such as a physical or mental disability, which will make it
difficult for you to carry out the work for the course, please talk to me and
we will work with the support services here at
Schedule:
|
Week |
Date |
Reading Assignment/Activity |
What’s Due |
|
1 |
Aug 23 |
Introductions |
|
|
|
Aug 25 |
Names/Sharing from Monday |
Assignment from Monday |
|
|
Aug 27 |
Questions |
|
|
2 |
Aug 30 |
Chapter 1 – An Introduction
to Argument |
|
|
|
Sept 1 |
Chapter 2 – Where Writing
Begins |
|
|
|
Sept 3 |
Chapter 3 – The Claim |
|
|
3 |
Sept 6 |
Labor Day – No class |
|
|
|
Sept 8 |
Chapter 6 – Writing
Assignment |
|
|
|
Sept 10 |
Share Topics |
|
|
4 |
Sept 13 |
Chapter 4 – An Argument’s
Support |
|
|
|
Sept 15 |
|
Essay Due -- #1 |
|
|
Sept 17 |
|
Essay Due -- #1 |
|
5 |
Sept 20 |
Chapter 5 – Reasonable
Arguments |
|
|
|
Sept 22 |
Chapter 7 – Writing
Assignment |
|
|
|
Sept 24 |
Share Topics |
|
|
6 |
Sept 27 |
Chapter 10 – Writing and
Image |
|
|
|
Sept 29 |
|
Essay Due -- #2 |
|
|
Oct 1 |
Out of Town for Conference
– No Class |
|
|
7 |
Oct 4 |
|
Essay Due -- #2 |
|
|
Oct 6 |
Chapter 11 – Intro |
|
|
|
Oct 8 |
Chapter 11 – Conclusion |
|
|
8 |
Oct 11 |
Chapter 8 – Writing
Assignment |
|
|
|
Oct 13 |
Share Topics |
|
|
|
Oct 15 |
Selected
Reading/Summary/Evaluation |
|
|
9 |
Oct 18 |
Fall Break – No class |
|
|
|
Oct 20 |
|
Essay Due -- #3 |
|
|
Oct 22 |
|
Essay Due -- #3 |
|
10 |
Oct 25 |
|
Essay Due -- #3 |
|
|
Oct 27 |
Chapter 9 – Writing
Assignment |
|
|
|
Oct 29 |
Share Topics |
|
|
11 |
Nov 1 |
Selected Reading/Summary/Recommendation |
|
|
|
Nov 3 |
|
Essay Due -- #4 |
|
|
Nov 5 |
|
Essay Due -- #4 |
|
12 |
Nov 8 |
|
Essay Due -- #4 |
|
|
Nov 10 |
Chapter 12 – Revision |
|
|
|
Nov 12 |
Chapter 12 – Revision |
|
|
13 |
Nov 15 |
Workshop |
|
|
|
Nov 17 |
Workshop |
|
|
|
Nov 19 |
Workshop |
|
|
14 |
Nov 22 |
Workshop |
|
|
|
Nov 24 |
Thanksgiving Break – No
class |
|
|
|
Nov 26 |
Thanksgiving Break – No
class |
|
|
15 |
Nov 29 |
Workshop |
|
|
|
Dec 1 |
Workshop |
|
|
|
Dec 3 |
Workshop |
|
|
16 |
Dec 6 |
Workshop |
|
|
|
Dec 8 |
Workshop |
|
|
|
Dec 10 |
Workshop |
|
|
17 |
Dec 13 |
Final Exam Time: |
Portfolio Due |
|
|
|
|
|