Line # 30921 3:15-4:30 TTH LL 148
Line # 48849 4:40-5:55 TTH LL 114
Instructor; Clarissa Simek Robinson
Office Hours: 2:00-3:00 TTH, 4:00-6:00 Wednesday, and by appointment.
Office: 343
Message Phone: (480) 965-3853
E-mail address: Clarissa.Robinson@asu.edu
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Required Textbooks:
o Guide to Composition. Located at: http://www.asu.edu/clas/english/composition/theguidetocomposition.html>
o Axelrod, Rise B., and Charles Cooper. The St. Martin's Guide
to Writing , 5th ed. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1997. (Unless
otherwise noted, all reading assignments refer to this textbook as SMG.)
o Sladky, Paul , ed. Free Falling and Other Student Essays, New
York: St. Martin's Press, 1997. (Readings in this book are marked FF)
Suggested Texts:
o a college-level dictionary
o MLA Handbook
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Course Description: Writing can be difficult and sometimes intimidating,
but it is also something that you already do. This course focuses heavily
on writing as a process, rather than as a final product. As writers
write, they need a set of strategies to help them move from thinking about
a paper to polishing a final draft--strategies that can only be learned
by writing consistently and often. The primary goal of this course
is to create a community of writers who will help each other to define
individual voice, while working together to draft, revise, and edit each
other’s literary work.
Since each student's needs are unique, this course will provide a great
deal of individual attention and feedback from me, as well as peer group
analysis and whole-class discussion. I also encourage you to seek
reactions to your ideas and drafts from people outside of this course.
In addition to family and friends, consider soliciting advice from tutors
in the Writing Center located on the 3rd floor, of the Language and Literature
building.
By the end of their first-year writing courses, students should be able to focus on a specific purpose, to anticipate the needs of different kinds of readers, to recognize the differences among kinds of writing situations, to use the conventions of format, organization, and language appropriate to specific writing situations, and to understand what makes writing types—such as a book review, project proposal or research paper—different. Students should also possess a strong understanding of writing and thinking skills, which will enable them to evaluate, analyze and synthesize appropriate primary and secondary sources. Also, each student should leave their first-year courses with a heightened knowledge of the writing process and a strengthened grasp of writing conventions such as spelling, grammar and punctuation.
The nature of this course allows for a variety of opinions and ideas, but with freedom of speech comes responsibility. All students must realize that hate speech (oral and written) as well as harassment of any kind, will NOT be tolerated. Remember, if you want your fellow students to respect your ideas and beliefs, you must give them the same courtesy. I intend to provide an atmosphere in the classroom where every student feels welcome to participate in the discussion and development of the writing process.
Also, it is important to keep in mind that writing is a collaborative
process, and each piece of writing will be workshopped by your peers.
Therefore, anything that you write about MUST be able to be shared and
discussed by the class as a whole. Please keep this in mind when
writing, and DON’T pick topics that are confidential, or otherwise too
personal to be made public.
o Note: In this course please do not write about
any criminal activity of which you have knowledge--as a witness,
a victim, or a perpetrator. If you do write about such activity,
I may be legally required to report it to the authorities
Drop/Add and Withdrawal Deadlines: The following are the published deadlines for dropping and withdrawing from courses:
August 27 Last day of final drop/add
September 17 Unrestricted withdrawal deadline
October 29 Restricted withdrawal deadline
o Note: After September 17th, the instructor of the course you wish to drop MUST indicate that you currently have a passing grade in order for you to withdraw.
While I am optimistic that you will not elect to drop English 101, it is imperative that you pay attention to these deadlines. The better informed you are about the options available to you as a student at ASU, the more likely you will be to succeed academically. If you feel that you would benefit from additional support, please make an appointment with me during office hours so that I can provide you with information about services available to you at ASU.
Attendance and Participation: You are a student, and therefore going to class is your job. You would not be able to skip work just because you don’t feel like going, and the same goes for your classes. Because writing classes are performance courses that depend upon student attendance for your success, you must attend on a regular basis to receive credit for this course. If you miss more than four class meetings—the equivalent of two weeks—you CANNOT pass this course. This means that there is no such thing as an excused absence: there are only absences. This policy on attendance is a Writing Program policy and is non-negotiable.
At the end of each class period, I will award you credit for participation: a zero (0) if you were absent, a one (1) if you were late or showed up but didn't contribute, a two (2) if you were there the whole class period and contributed minimally, and a three(3) if you were there the whole class period and contributed positively throughout class.
o Note: "Attendance" means being present, on time, and prepared for the entire class period.
To accommodate students who participate in university-sanctioned activities, the Composition Program offers sections of this course at various times of the day and week. We have asked advisors across campus to help students enroll in appropriate sections. If you think that this course may conflict with a university-sanctioned activity in which you are involved--athletics or the debate team or whatever--please see me after class today. While transferring to another section may be the only viable option, let's discuss the possibilities.
Disabled Students: If you are a student who requires special accommodation, please contact Disability Resources for Students at 965-1234. Please feel free to discuss the special accommodations with me.
Course Work: Deadlines are an important part of writing, and as such of this class. You must come to each class prepared to write, to share your drafts with others, and to revise what you have already written. This means you must work steadily both in class and on your own. Time management is an important element in writing, so plan ahead and don’t leave things until the last minute. Please come and talk to me regarding any problems you are having with an assignment prior to its due date so that we can avoid late papers.
o Note: ALL essays MUST be handed-in to pass the class.
Homework/Essay Format: All outside-of-class writing assignments—whether
essays or homework—must be computer printed, double spaced, stapled and
in a font no larger than 12pt and no smaller than 10pt. Handwritten assignments
will NOT be accepted. PLEASE PROOFREAD AND SPELL-CHECK ALL WORK.
Remember, each essay will undergo a great deal of revision between the
first and final drafts, and having the text on a computer from the beginning
will make this process much easier for you.
o Note: Please place your name, my name, course title, and date
in the top, left-hand corner of the first page, and center the title two
lines underneath. Put your last name and page number in the upper,
right-hand corner of each successive page. Refer to the MLA Handbook
for any other formatting questions you may have.
Late Papers: Essays not turned-in for evaluation on their due dates will be marked "late" and downgraded one letter grade per class period missed. Essays that are more than one week late will NOT receive a passing grade, but MUST still be handed-in in order to pass the course.
The Composition Office will NEVER accept your papers. All written work MUST be turned-in during class, NOT during office hours (or by sliding under my office door or placing on my desk). ONLY work handed to me in-class will be accepted.
o Note: Late homework or in-class work will NOT be accepted.
Incomplete Policy: Incompletes are discouraged, and are at the complete discretion of the instructor.
Writing Journals: I will provide you with writing prompts at the beginning of class. These may be collected, but will NOT be assigned a grade. They are simply a tool by which I may better learn about your writing process. You should feel free to use your journals to express ideas and concerns about both your growth as a person and a writer. If you choose to include entries that cannot be shared, please fold those pages over and paperclip or staple the top edge. I will not read these entries, but this will allow me to give you credit for doing the writing without intruding upon your privacy. Your writing journal will help you at the end of the course to go back and discover the journey that you have made as a writer. It will also provide valuable information to you when constructing your portfolio.
Portfolio: Keep all of your writing for this course, including in-class and out-of-class working notes, drafts, revisions, final drafts, reader-response answers, and writing journal entries. At the end of the semester, you will review your portfolio, and will analyze and evaluate your progress as a writer.
Disposition of Papers: Students should keep their own papers. Among other things, any student who appeals a course grade will need to submit copies of all graded course papers with the appeal.
Plagiarism: To plagiarize is to present as your own any work that is not exclusively your own. Plagiarism of all or a portion of any assignment will NOT be tolerated. Besides being a fraudulent act, it does a disservice to both you and your classmates. You are here to learn, so don’t cheat yourself by being lazy and dishonest.
Plagiarism occurs when the proper sources are not documented, and due credit for the work of others’ is not given. Proper forms of documentation can be found in the MLA Handbook, and you can always come to see me regarding any questions that you have in this area.
o Note: See the "Guide to Composition" for more information on plagiarism.
Revising Papers: Revision is a major part of the writing process, and as such of this course. However, the final draft of each essay will be assigned an individual final grade. After the final draft of each essay is graded, revisions of work will NOT be accepted; though you will have the opportunity to revise one paper for essay assignment #4 (we will discuss this in detail later in the semester)..
o Note: Revision does NOT guarantee a better grade.
Conferences: Each student is REQUIRED to meet with me once during
the semester to discuss progress, problems, and any questions they may
have regarding written work. Classes will be canceled during this
week in order to accommodate all students. A sign-up sheet will be
available prior to the week of conferences, and all students must attend
their meeting time. Of course, you’re always welcome to meet with
me at any time during the semester as well.
o Note: Missing your conference is the equivalent of being
absent for an entire week of classes.
Midterm Evaluations: The Department of English requires that I submit
student mid-term evaluations approximately eight weeks into the semester.
If you are earning a "D" or "E" in the course, you should expect to receive
one.
Grading:
4 Essays 40%
Portfolio & Portfolio Analysis 20%
Homework 10%
Attendance & Participation 15%
Peer Review & In-class Work 15%
Grading Scale: Grades on individual assignments are computed according to the following scale.
Essay #1 = 100 pts.
Essay #2 = 100 pts.
Essay #3 = 100 pts.
Essay #4 = 100 pts.
Portfolio & Portfolio Analysis = 200 pts.
Homework = 100 pts.
Attendance & Participation = 150 pts.
Peer Review & In-Class Work = 150 pts.
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Total = 1,000 pts.
o Note: There is a marked difference between failing a paper and not turning one in.
Extra Credit: Extra Credit can be earned by visiting the Writing Center (3rd floor, B-wing of LL). Please see me if you would like to work out an opportunity for extra credit points.
Final Grades: Although I will be assigning plus (+) and minus (-) grades to your in-class work, there are no plus or minus final grades given at ASU. Therefore, the following scale will be used to determine your final grade:
A = 1000-900 (4.0-3.5)
B = 899-800 (3.49-2.5)
C = 799-700 (2.49-1.5)
D = 699-600 (1.49-0.5)
E = 599-0 (.49-0)
Time Commitment: You should plan to spend two to three hours outside of class for every hour in class. Composition classes require more time from students than many other classes do.
The Writing Center: The Writing Center is located on the 3rd floor of LL. It is an exceptionally useful tool, and I cannot stress enough the value of this resource for you as writers. Remember, you can ALWAYS see me to discuss questions regarding your work, but I also encourage you to schedule sessions with the Writing Center tutors. I may at times require that you pay them a visit if I feel there are specific issues with your writing that could benefit from their expertise. I am also open to discussing the possibility of extra credit if you choose to visit the Writing Center in a consistent manner.
Printer’s Devil Writing Contest: This contest has been reestablished
for Fall semester, 1999 and Spring semester, 2000. The contest is
open to all students currently enrolled in a first year composition class
(WAC 101,English 101, 102, 102H, 105, 107, and 108). I encourage
you to enter your essays, and would be happy to provide further information
upon request.
o Note: The policies and procedures included in this syllabus are a
supplement to the "Guide to Composition."
Schedule of Homework Assignments: There may be schedule changes.
All changes will be announced and discussed in class.
Week 1: Course Introduction
T 8/24: Introduction to course, syllabus, names
HW: Read SMG, chapter 1.
Read Guide to Composition (See Web address above).
Read through syllabus and bring questions to class
Th 8/26: Syllabus, names, reading
HW: Read introduction to remembered event genre, SMG pp.
18-21.
Read "Purpose and Audience," "Basic Features of
Essays about
Remembered Events," and "The Writing Assignment"
SMG
pp. 39-42.
Note: Last day to Drop/Add is August 27.
Week 2 Remembered Event
T 8/31: Intro. to remembered event.
HW: Read Dillard’s "Handed My Own Life," SMG pp. 22-23.
ASSIGNMENT #1: Type response to Dillard essay
by answering question 1, SMG p. 24.
Th 9/2: Discuss Dillard essay
HW: Read Chapter 11, "A Catalog of Invention Strategies,"
SMG pp.
429-440.
Read FF, pp.11- 25.
Assignment #2:
Choose one FF essay and write about how it does or does not meet "Basic
Features" of a remembered event. (approx. 1 page
typed)
Week 3 Remembered Event (continued)
T 9/7: Class discussion of FF essays
HW: Read introduction to genre of remembering people, SMG
pp. 64-66.
Read Angelou’s "Uncle Willie," SMG p. 67-68.
Read Haslam's "Grandma" pp. 71-75.
Assignment #3: Answer questions
1 & 2, SMG p. 69.
Th 9/9: Introduction to remembered people genre, group work.
HW: Read "Purpose and Audience," "Basic Features," and
"Writing
Assignment" pp. 85-88.
Read "Remembering People" essays pp. 36-54 in FF.
Select one of the essays from Chapter 3 (pp. 36-54)
in FF.
Assignment #4:
Write about how it does or does not meet "Basic Features" on pp.
86-87 of SMG.
Week 4 Remembered People (continued)
T 9/14: Class discussion
HW: Read "A Writer at Work," SMG pp. 100-104.
Read Gray's "Father," SMG pp. 82-83.
Read Wu's "A Different Kind of Mother" SMG pp. 78-80.
Th 9/16: Class discussion
HW: Read Chapter 14 "Narrating" pp. 481-490.
Read Chapter 15 "Describing" pp.491-502.
Write a 4-5 page draft of either a remembered event
or remembered person essay
Note: Unrestricted Withdrawal Deadline is September 17.
Week 5 Remembering Event/People (continued)
T 9/21: DRAFT OF PAPER 1 DUE.
(Bring 3 copies, and ALL invention work/writing prompts to class
for draft workshop).
HW: Peer Review #1. Read your partner’s draft and respond
to it using the appropriate
criteria for either remembered events or remembered
people. (approx. 2
pages typed)
Th 9/23: Draft workshops
HW: Revise final draft of essay #1.
Week 6 Remembering People/Event (continued)
T 9/28: FINAL DRAFT OF PAPER 1 DUE. Student presentations.
HW: Read introduction to genre of writing profiles pp.
108-110.
Read "Purpose and Audience," "Basic Features" and
"Writing
Assignment" pp. 130-133.
Read Manegold's "School Serves No Purpose" 120-123.
Assignment
#5: Answer question 1 on p. 124.
Th 9/30: Introduction to writing profiles, group discussion.
HW: Read Chapter 20 "Field Research," SMG pp. 544-594.
Read "Writer at Work" pp. 147-151.
Read Cable's "The Last Stop" pp. 125-128.
Read "Soup" pp. 111-112.
Assignment #6:
Read Noonan's "Inside the Brain" pp. 114-118.
Answer questions 1 & 2 pp. 118-119.
Week 7 Writing Profiles
T 10/5: Class discussion
HW: Read "Writing Profiles" pp. 55-56 in FF.
Read Chapter 4, pp. 57-73, in FF.
Assignment #7:
Choose one FF essay and write about how it does or does not fulfill the
"Basic Features" on pp. 131-132 of SMG.
Th 10/7: Class discussion
HW: Write 4-5 page draft of "Profile" essay.
Week 8 Writing Profiles (continued)
T 10/12: DRAFT OF PAPER 2 DUE. (Bring 2 copies for group workshops)
HW: Read partner’s draft
Peer Review #2. Write a response to partner’s draft
using "Basic Features" on pp.
131-132. (Approx. 2 pages typed)
Th 10/14: Group work
HW: Finish final draft of "Profile" essay. FINAL DRAFT
OF PAPER 2 DUE AT CONFERENCE. (With ALL invention work)..
Note: Midterm evaluations due October 15.
Week 9 Writing Profiles (continued)
T 10/19: MIDTERM CONFERENCES
(Meet in my office at your assigned time)
Th 10/21 MIDTERM CONFERENCES (continued)
(Meet in my office at your assigned time)
Week 10 Concept Papers
T 10/26: Introduction to Concept genre
HW: Read introduction to genre of explaining concepts
pp. 156-158.
Read "Purpose and Audience," "Basic Features," and
"Writing
Assignment" pp. 178-182.
Read Toufexis' "Love: The Right Chemistry" pp. 159-161.
Assignment #8: Answer questions 1 & 2 on p. 162.
Th 10/28: Class discussion
HW: Read Chapter 16 "Defining" pp. 503-512
Read Chapter 18 "Comparing and Contrasting" pp.
520-525.
Note: Restricted Course Withdrawal Deadline, October 29.
Week 11 Concepts (continued)
T 11/2: Group discussion.
HW: Read "Writer at Work" pp. 202-204
Read Murayama's "Schizophrenia" pp. 181-185.
Assignment # 9: Answer
questions 1 & 2 on p. 184.
Read Castro's "Contingent Workers" pp. 164-167.
Th 11/4: Group work
HW: Read Chapter 5 "Explaining Concepts" in FF pp. 74-75.
Read Chapter 5 (pp. 76-92) in FF.
Assignment #10: Choose
one FF essay and write about how it does or does not fulfill the "Basic
Features" on pp. 180-181.
Week 12 Concept Papers (continued)
T 11/9: Meet outside Hayden library’s front entrance
HW: Write 4-5 page draft of "Concept" paper.(Bring 2 copies
to class)
Th 11/11: Veteran’s Day. Classes Excused.
Week 13 Concept Papers (continued)
T 11/16: DRAFT OF PAPER 3 DUE. (Bring 2 copies for workshop)
HW: Read partner’s paper
Peer Review #3. Write about how partner’s paper
does or does not meet "Basic
Features" on pp.180-181. (Approx. 2 pages
typed)
Th 11/18: Essay #3 Peer workshopping
Week 14 Concept Paper (continued)
T 11/23: FINAL DRAFT OF ESSAY 3 DUE (With ALL invention work). Student
Presentations. HW: Read Chapter 24 "Assembling
a Portfolio" pp. 648-65 Write revision
plan for essay to be revised for essay #4 (Approx. 2 pages single-
spaced)
Write Cover letter (Approx. 2 pages single-spaced)
Th 11/25: Thanksgiving. Classes Excused
Week 15 Revision (continued)
T 11/30: Peer workshopping. Peer Review #4 done in-class.
HW: Write 4-5 page final draft of essay #4
Th 12/2: FINAL DRAFT OF ESSAY 4 DUE.
Cover Letter and Revision Plans due.
Student Cover Letter presentations.
Week 16 Portfolios
T 12/7: Cover Letter presentations (continued)
Th 12/9: Reading Day. Classes Excused.
Note: Portfolios MUST be picked up during exam week office hours, or
your grade will be affected.