Course Syllabus Composition 101
Instructor: Jeremy Riedl
Contact info:
Phone: (518) 354-2219
Office: None, send an e-mail
Required Texts:
Connely, Mark., ed. The Sundance Writer. 4th ed. Boston: Wadsworth: Cengage Learning, 2010.
Hacker, Diana., A Pocket Style Manual. 5th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2009
Other course readings will be posted on the portal or given as handouts.
I highly recommend buying a collegiate dictionary and/or thesaurus.
Course Description:
This course will focus on expository writing using a variety of rhetorical modes. The course readings which accompany instruction are designed to highlight the strengths and characteristics of each different type of essay you will be writing. We will focus on: narration, description, process, comparison, classification, definition, and argumentation. In addition, proper use of grammar, mechanics, sentence structure etc. will also be emphasized. The writing process will also be modeled throughout the semester as we work our way through each essay. As we are pioneering a new course format there will naturally be kinks that need to be worked out. As we move throughout the semester please keep me apprised of any hiccups that need to be addressed.
Course Objectives: Students will prove competency by:
1. Writing complete, varied and mechanically correct sentences and paragraphs.
2. Formulating complete, correct, thesis statements.
3. Writing, interesting, well-organized, thesis driven essays.
4. Conducting research and effectively integrating it into essays.
5. Documenting research in essays using MLA style.
6. Recognizing plagiarism in its different forms.
7. Collaborating on various projects effectively.
8. Demonstrating and understanding of voice, style, tone and revision strategies.
9. Actively and politely participating in class discussion.
Course Requirements: students will successfully complete the following:
1. Various drafts of four assigned essays at least 500 words in length
2. A researched and documented final essay of at least 5-10 pages
3. All assigned readings and homework assignments.
4. Complete a writing sample during week one of class.
5. Pass the final exit exam.
Course Assignments:
Papers: Need to be typed and double spaced in a 12 size font. Don’t use weird or fancy fonts or colors, Times New Roman font or something close is usually good. Most essays will be at least 500 words in length no more than five pages. Please, please adhere to the length requirements for the essays or you will lose points. Always hand in assignments on time. If you are having problems or need more time to complete an assignment, please let me know. I reserve the right to refuse late assignments but will most likely accept them if you contact me in advance.
Computers:
All of you will likely be completing your writing assignments on computers. In consideration of this I have a few things to remind you of. 1. Frequent power cuts lead to lost work. Save often and in the same location on your computer and a USB storage device. If you do not own a USB flash drive I highly recommend you purchase one. 2. All writing assignments should be written using a Microsoft Word compatible program. If you need to email me an assignment it will have to be in this format for me to open it. If you do not own a copy a copy of the Microsoft office software; go to openoffice.org and download their software for FREE. It is compatible with the Microsoft software and works pretty much the same way. If you need to e-mail an assignment to me please observe the due date and ensure I have it ahead of time.
Blog Site: We have a blog site at http://nccomp101.blogspot.com This site is where we will post responses to assignments during the week. You will receive an invitation to the site in your college email and we will spend our first class learning how to access this utility.
Box Net: Box Net is a free file sharing utility we will be using to collaborate on work throughout the week. You will be sent a link after our first class in order to begin working on Box Net. This will allow you to upload and edit files that I can then comment on and edit as well. I have used this software professionally in the past and it seems to be a winner. You will be required to load a copy of all your assignments on Box Net.
Class time: Because our class time is limited I want to use it to facilitate discussion and present new material to experiment with. Because this accounts for only 2/3 of our class time, the other 1/3 will consist of working on Box Net and posting journal entries on the Blog site. We will get a tutorial on the first day of class to these utilities.
Grades will be calculated as follows:
Short essays: 40%
Research Essay: 20%
Midterm: 10%
Class Participation: 20%
Homework etc. 10%
Attendance:
Students are expected to attend all classes and any absences will affect your class participation grade. For every absence beyond the third, a third letter grade will be deducted from your final average. More than six absences will result in course grade of “F”. After six absences you will want to drop the course. It is in your best interest to attend class every day as there is much that you miss and cannot make up later.
Class Conduct:
Students are expected to come to class with a copy of the reading and any homework in hand. If you do not have your materials for that day you can be marked absent for that day. A big part of class is participation and collaboration with others. We will be discussing many controversial issues in class which you may feel very strongly about. This is no way gives anyone permission to verbally berate or abuse another. Please be respectful of each other at all times and your respect will be returned. Disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated.
Academic Integrity:
Academic Integrity a term which refers to your conduct in relation to your school work and how seriously you take the responsibility of individual scholarship. A subset of Academic Integrity is Academic Honesty which represents your knowing and willful intent to cheat or not. Essentially the difference between the two boils down to intent. For example: If you copy a paper off the internet because you forgot to write it, this action would be considered as Academically Dishonest and would impugn your Academic Integrity. If you erroneously cited a source in a research paper the Integrity of the work is compromised but you have not been Dishonest about the mistake. Academic Dishonesty will not be tolerated in any academic venue and based on the severity can lead to a failing grade on the assignment or for the course or expulsion from college.
Please do not be dishonest regarding your work or the work of others. No one likes to be lied to so please ask questions if you do not know how to do something properly. There is no penalty for asking questions.
Office Hours and Support:
Right now I am only on campus for our class times on Mondays. If you have a problem that needs to be addressed please e-mail me at my g-mail account as I check that regularly from my other job and can access it through my phone.
