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.
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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 spend some class time in one-on-one conferences about your writing.  We will spend some class time working as groups reading and critiquing each other's essays. The members of the class are responsible for deciding what topics we will be discussing and writing about through their selection of readings from 80 Readings and through the introduction of ideas and issues in their own essays.
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Required Texts and Other Expenses:
Lunsford and Connors.  EasyWriter:  A Pocket Guide.
Lunsford and Ruszkiewicz. Everything’s an Argument.
Munger.  80 Readings.

Copies of essays for small and large groups when requested.
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Course Requirements:
Portfolio.  At the end of the semester, each student must submit a portfolio of her or his writing that includes 15 pages of what she or he determines is the best stuff produced over the course of the semester.  In addition to these 15 pages, the portfolio must include commentary on the process of producing that writing.  30% of your grade for the semester.

Weekly drafts and/or revisions.   Every Friday each student must submit 2-3 pages of a draft.  This can be new or revised work.  Each draft should be preceded by comments about how it came to be and what plans are in store for it.  30% of your grade for the semester.

Reading Journal.  Every Monday students will turn in 150-200 words (about a half of a single-spaced page) responding to the reading for the day from 80 Readings.  We will use these responses to promote discussions.  10% of your grade for the semester.

Discussion Leadership.    On Mondays and Fridays two people in the course will be responsible for leading the discussion.  We will establish a schedule for these rotating positions early in the semester.  Students must come prepared with questions, ideas, issues, and suggestions about the readings that will provoke discussion among their peers.  30% of your grade for the semester.
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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.  Additional penalties will be assessed for late work and for lack of engaged, active participation even 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 Mesa State to provide you with the necessary assistance.
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Schedule: Week 1 2  3 4  5 6  7 8  9 10  11 12  13 1 4  15 16  17
 
 

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