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Writing 121/Fall 2007
CRN 40205/ MW 10:15-11:30 in Modoc 103
CRN 40212/ MW 12:45-2pm in Deschutes 7
Required Texts:
 | Leonard J. Rosen, The Academic Writer’s Handbook (Pearson/Longman, 2006) |
| Samuel Cohen/50 Essays: A Portable Anthology (Bedford/St. Martins, 2007) |
| Donohue’s WR 121 Coursepack (available at the bookstore or in Blackboard—instructions for accessing Blackboard online are available at the end of this syllabus) |
| Please purchase several pocket folders, including one that you will use for the major assignments. |
Course Outcomes:
Writing 121 is the introductory course in college writing. The course requires commitment, discipline and time. The more energy you invest, the more you’ll get out of the course. Attendance is expected. It is also expected that you have already mastered the basic rules of grammar and punctuation, as well as paragraph development. Without these prerequisite skills, you will have difficulty achieving the goals of WR 121. The goals, or outcomes, of this course are:
Outcome 1 Write essays that use a thesis to establish control over content; supply relevant and adequate supporting details drawn from observation, personal experience and/or responsive reading; employ the organizational strategies of effective beginnings, transitions, and endings; and conform to standard edited English.
Outcome 2 Employ one or more sources responsibly (without plagiarizing) in a summary or another writing assignment.
Outcome 3 Demonstrate, in an essay, a sustained style employing rhetorically effective tone, persona, diction, idiom, and syntax.
Outcome 4 Use critical reading and writing to analyze and synthesize ideas in an academic writing sample, identifying rhetorical patterns, major assertions, and supporting details.
Outcome 5 Complete appropriate written critical peer reviews of student essay drafts, including suggestions for revision and editing.
Outcome 6 Complete at least one (formal or informal) written review of the student's own writing strengths and weaknesses, including effective self-prescriptions for improvement.
Outcome 7 Demonstrate, monitor, and articulate the complete idiosyncratic process that the individual writer uses to complete an essay, including such steps as invention, thesis formation, organization, drafting, revising, editing, and proofreading
Outcome 8 Demonstrate an awareness of a variety of purposes and audiences.
Activities and Grading:
Course Requirements:
· In class work & homework (including prewriting, workshops, self reflections, etc)------20%
· Reading Journal -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------15%
· Essay #1 (draft and revision): --------------------------------------------------------------------------15%
· Formal Summary -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5%
· Essay #2: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------10%
· Final Portfolio and Self Reflection Essay #3---------------------------------------------------------30%
· Timed Formal Summary----------------------------------------------------------------------------------5%
All essay assignments are described in detail in your course packet. For each assignment, you will do several prewriting assignments (as well as smaller in class and homework assignments) that will lead up to the complete essay itself. You must complete all of the graded prewriting assignments before submitting the two major essays for the course and you should SAVE all pre-writing you do for the final portfolio.
Late homework assignments may be accepted depending on the assignment, though they will receive a letter grade penalty.
Students in WR 121 will not sit for final examinations, but will review and reflect on their scored portfolios during the regularly scheduled final exam time. Students in Writing 121 will complete and submit final portfolios for grading by a committee of writing instructors. Committees will consist of at least two (including your instructor) instructors, and may include a third instructor if there are discrepancies in the first two evaluations.
Portfolios must include all of the following: 2 thesis-based essays that adhere to the guidelines printed elsewhere in my course materials; all supporting materials that contributed to the development of both essays; a meta-cognitive reflective essay.
All portfolios are due no later than Wednesday, November 21, 2007.
You must successfully complete all the major assignments listed above in order to pass the course.
The following Grading Scale will be
used in this course:
A+ 98-100 Outstanding
performance [Note: this grade is not recognized by the college]
A 94-97 Exceptional
A- 90-93 Superior
B+ 87-89 Excellent
B 83-86 Very good
B- 80-82 Good
C+ 77-79 Better than satisfactory
C 70-76 Satisfactory
D 65-69 Passing [Note that you must earn a C or above for Writing
classes at COCC]
F 0-64 Not passing
Policies:
Plagiarism Statement:
Proper citations and documentation of any sources that you quote, paraphrase, and/or summarize in your writing are required whenever you borrow the words, facts, and/or ideas of others. In general, putting others’ ideas into your own words still means you are borrowing, and to avoid plagiarism, the source must be cited and documented, both (a)at the point in your essay where there borrowing occurs (parenthetical citations for most academic documentation systems), and (b) in a list of all sources cited given at the end of your essay. Plagiarism—intended or not—is considered a serious academic violation of intellectual property rights, and may earn your written assignment an automatic “F.”
Students Rights and Responsibilities:
Please read the Students Rights and Responsibilities handbook available at: http://studentlife.cocc.edu/Resources/Policies/default.aspx
ADA Statement:
Any student with a documented disability (physical, learning, psychological, vision, hearing) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must inform the College and Stacey as soon as possible. If you require any assistance related to a disability, contact the Disability Services Office located in Boyle Education Center: call (541) 383-7583 or email DisabilityServices@cocc.edu .
COCC Non-Discrimination Policy:
Central Oregon Community College is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution.
Please see me at the beginning of the quarter if you have any questions about the course requirements. Also, if you have any questions during the course of the quarter, please see me during office hours or by appointment.
Weekly Course Schedule
Subject to Change: Please check your COCC email regularly for any changes
WEEK 1:
Mon, Sept. 17:
Topics:
Ø Overview of the course and syllabus
Ø Discuss the Reading Journal and the Final Portfolio
Ø Using your COCC e-mail (instructions at the end of the syllabus)
Ø Practice critical reading/responding exercise
Ø Purpose, Audience and Context
Ø Discuss Wednesday’s homework
Assignments Due: note that assignments are due on the day they are listed under:
Ø Nothing is due today. See below to find out what is due this Wednesday, our 2nd class.
Ø After class today: Purchase the texts and either purchase or download the course packet from Blackboard (instructions for accessing Blackboard are at the end of this syllabus.)
Wed, Sept. 19:
Topics:
Ø Discuss “The Joy of Reading and Writing” and hand in your first Reading Journal entry
Ø Practice comparing/contrasting sources to form conclusions: please bring your course packets to EVERY class.
Ø Discuss next week’s homework (First Week Reflection, etc.)
Assignments Due TODAY before class, TODAY, Wed, Sept. 19th:
Ø Read the Course Packet pp.2-6. NOTE: Please bring your course packet to EVERY class since most of the course handouts are in the course packet.
Ø Read 50Essays pp.1-8 and the article on pp.11-15 (see instructions below for what to do with this article)
o Copies of both of our books are on reserve at the Circulation Desk of the library. IF you cannot purchase it immediately, you may read it in the library with a student ID card. You may not TAKE the books out of the library.
Ø Read “The Joy of Reading and Writing: Superman and Me” in 50Essays pp.11-15. Take notes as you read (note the author’s thesis and main reasons as well as your response to the article. See the course packet p.5 for how to do a Reading Journal entry. This will be your first Reading Journal entry. Your reading journal should be typed. The final reading journal is due on November 28th with a self reflection piece included (we’ll discuss that more later in the term).
WEEK 2:
Mon, Sept.24:
Topics:
Ø Discuss bibliographic citations and citing sources, author tags and verb variety
Ø Start comparative Analysis chart of the articles for Essay #1
Assignments Due TODAY, Sept. 24th:
Ø Read ALL of the following essays in our textbook 50 Essays. Do reading journal entries on each. Remember that the reading journal is typed. NOTE: there’s more reading due on Wednesday. If the weekends are your homework times, please read ahead. The more essays you read from Wednesday’s list the more you’ll have to draw upon for Essay #1.
o “Learning to Read and Write” by Frederick Douglass, pp.144-149
o “Learning to Read” by Malcolm X, pp.281-290
o “I Just Wanna Be Average” by Mike Rose, pp.350-363
Ø First Week Reflection due via e-mail to sdonohue@cocc.edu. See p. 2 in the course packet for this assignment. Please e-mail me from your COCC e-mail account only to prove to me you were able to get into it. Once you’ve done so, you can forward your COCC email to another account.
Ø Skim (no need to read it all) the Academic Handbook pp.173-190 on MLA documentation system
Wed, Sept. 26:
Topics:
Ø More on citing sources
Ø Practice the following critical reading skills: comparison
Ø Discuss Essay 1:
o Criteria
o Developing a thesis
o Drafting advice
Assignments Due TODAY, Sept. 26th:
o Read the Course Packet pp.7-12
o Read at least TWO of the following essays from our textbook 50 essays. Take notes as you read for your reading journal (typed). NOTE: the more you read, the more you have to draw upon for Essay 1.
§ Maya Angelou’s “Graduation” pp.16-28
§ Gloria Anzaldua’s “How to Tame a Wild Tongue” pp.43-55
§ Joan Didion’s “On Keeping a Notebook” pp.131-138
§ Richard Rodriguez’s “Aria: Memoir of a Bilingual Childhood” pp.326-349
§ Amy Tan’s “Mother Tongue” pp.417-423
WEEK 3:
Mon, Oct. 1:
Topics:
· Discussion of thesis statements and outlines
· Moving to a more complex thesis and developed essay
· Practice Paraphrasing
Assignments Due TODAY:
· Bring in a draft thesis and outline for Essay 1 (see course packet pp. 22-23 for outline templates)
· Read the Academic Handbook (Note: this book is available on reserve in the library if you were unable to purchase it) pp.1-24
· Read Course packet pp. 13-15, 22-23
Wed, Oct. 3:
Topics:
Ø Discuss Lamott
Ø Practice paraphrasing in class
Ø Work-shopping Essay 1: focus on thesis and development and citing sources
Ø Discussion about using Turnitin.com
Ø Discuss the Self Reflection of Essay 1 due next week
Assignments Due TODAY:
Ø Typed draft of Essay 1 due—bring in hard copy to class for work-shopping
Ø Read the course-packet pp. 16-21, 24-36
Ø Read Anne Lamott’s essay from Bird by Bird available in E-Reserve or Blackboard. Print, read and take notes in your Reading Journal.
Ø Read the Academic Handbook pp. 28-40
WEEK 4:
Mon, Oct 8:
COLUMBUS DAY: CLASSES DO NOT MEET
TODAY. Please work on Essay 1 and other homework
due Wednesday.
Wed, Oct. 10:
Topics:
Ø Discuss formal academic summary—practice in class
Ø Discuss the Final Portfolio (rubric distributed today)
Assignments Due TODAY:
Ø Bring 50Essays to class today.
Ø FINAL Essay 1 due with all prewriting and the self reflection (see the course packet p.45) in a pocket folder
Ø Try submitting your final version of essay 1 to Turnitin.com (instructions at the end of this syllabus). If you have trouble, please don’t panic: e-mail me your final paper and visit my office this week so I can show you how to submit and collect essays using this grading tool).
Ø Read course packet pp. 46-52 on formal academic summary
WEEK 5:
Mon, Oct. 15:
Topics:
· I’ll return Essay 1 today: Discuss revision due next week and conference time availability.
· Peer review draft formal academic summaries
· Introduce Essay 2: Examining a topic in depth for analysis.
· Discuss prewriting due on Wed for Essay 2.
Assignments Due TODAY:
· Draft formal academic summary due today for peer review (also, do a reading journal entry for the article you’ve chosen to summarize).
· Read the course packet pp.57-60—decide which topic choice you are leaning toward.
Wed, Oct. 17: WE MEET IN A COMPUTER LAB TODAY!
10:15 CLASS WILL MEET IN CASCADES HALL ROOM 101
12:45 CLASS WILL MEET IN LIBRARY ROOM 117
Topics:
· Discuss approaches to Essay 2
· In class researching practice:
o Using Academic Search Premier
o Using website to find movie reviews
Assignments Due TODAY
· Read course packet pp. 53-56, 61 on library research skills/log
· Initial prewriting for Essay 2 due
· Final formal academic summary due with draft/peer review attached.
WEEK 6:
Mon, Oct 22:
Topics:
· In class discussion of Essay 2: developing a multiple source essay; thesis and outline development
· I’ll return the formal academic summaries. Optional revision due by or before Oct. 29th.
Assignments due TODAY:
· Read two articles you are thinking of using for Essay 2 and fill out a reading journal entry for each and/or bring in a survey. Basically, bring in evidence that you are working on Essay 2 as well as questions you have for me.
· Rewrite of Essay 1 is due today with graded copy and all supporting material attached.
Wed, Oct. 24:
Topics:
· Peer review thesis/outlines and discuss drafting and organization of essay 2.
· Audience analysis of Essay 2
· Review Bibliographic citations
Assignments due TODAY:
· Tentative thesis and outline for Essay 2 due today
· Read course packet p.62
WEEK 7:
Mon, Oct. 29:
Topics:
· Workshop Essay 2 drafts today: peer review
· Discuss Self Reflection of Essay 2 due Wed.
Assignments due TODAY:
· Draft of Essay 2 due today—bring in a hard copy for work-shopping/peer review
· Optional rewrite of formal academic summary due with graded copy attached.
Wed, Oct 31:
Topics:
· Sign up for conferences for Nov. 5th and 6th
· Discuss The Final Portfolio
Assignments Due TODAY:
· Essay 2 due today with self evaluation, peer evaluation attached. Please submit the final essay only to Turnitin.com and bring in a hard copy with prewriting and self reflection included.
WEEK 8:
Mon, Nov. 5:
Topic: Conference Day today and Nov. 6th in Deschutes 6 to go over your essay 2. Please arrive on time at the time you signed up for. If you are going to be late or need to reschedule, please email and/or call me.
Wed, Nov. 7:
Topics:
Ø Discussion of Final Portfolio and Essay 3: Self Reflection essay
Ø In class:
o Self reflection of reading journal so far
o start drafting self reflection essay
Assignments Due TODAY:
· Read the course packet pp.64-67
· Bring in the three self reflections you have done so far:
o First week Self Reflection
o Essay 1 Self Reflection
o Essay 2 Self Reflection
o Bring in your reading journal (it’s not due yet, but bring it in)
WEEK 9:
Mon, Nov. 12: Veteran’s Day: The College is closed. Work on Self Reflection Essay and Revision of Essay 2 (and 1 if needed).
Wed, Nov. 14:
Topics:
· Writing Workshop: Reflection essays/revisions
Assignments due TODAY:
· Draft Reflection essay due
WEEK 10:
Mon, Nov 19:
Topics:
· Peer review final portfolios: Work on Table of Contents and Make sure all documents you refer to in your self reflection essay are included.
· Discuss the timed summary assignment and the reading journal reflection letter for next week
Assignments due TODAY:
· Draft Portfolios due for peer review
· Read course packet pp.68-70
Wed, Nov. 21:
Assignments due TODAY:
Ø FINAL PORTFOLIOS DUE TODAY
NOTE: Thanksgiving is Nov. 22: the college is closed Thursday and Friday.
WEEK 11:
Mon, Nov. 26:
Topics:
· In class work on the timed summary/response assignment pre-writing.
· In class discussion of the Reading Journal self reflection paragraph due with the journal on Wed.
Assignment due TODAY:
· See the course packet pp. 68-70 on the Formal Summary Assignment #2. You will need to print, read and annotate one of the articles noted by today’s class. Please bring the annotated article to class.
Wed, Nov.28:
Topics:
· In class timed summary/response
Assignments due TODAY:
· Bring in all of your prewriting for the timed summary/response
o Reading Journals are due today
Finals Week |
Note: Your final exam time depends on your class section.
Ø The final for the 10:15 class is on Monday, Dec. 3rd, 8am. Ø The final for the 12:45 class is Thursday, Dec. 6th at 10:15am.
|
Bring the following to the final exam:Ø I will be returning the portfolios and summaries as well as your reading journals Ø You will do an in –class self evaluation of the portfolio process. Please bring pen and paper.
|
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