Required Texts:

Jones, Robert, Patrick Bizzaro, and Cynthia Selfe.Writing in the Disciplines. Ft. Worth: Harcourt Brace, 1997.

Spatt, Brenda. Writing from Sources. 4th ed. New York: St. Martins, 1996.

An MLA or APA style manual.

 

 
 
 

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Other Materials:

Required:

several articles to be purchased at Uni-Print throughout the semester

a light-weight 3-hole punch folder that can be handed in throughout the semester

a computer disk compatible with your own computer and/or with campus computers

an e-mail account

any standard English dictionary (to use at home)

Suggested:

copy cards for use in the library

a stapler

Course Requirements and Grading (links to assignments will be updated throughout the semester)

Role(s) of Technology Paper (2 weeks)                        10%

Draft Preparation and Cooperative Peer Review         5%

 

Writing in Your Discipline Paper (2 weeks)                  10%

Draft Preparation and Cooperative Peer Review         5%

Extended Research Paper (7 weeks)                            20%

ERP Progress Reports                                                   10%

Draft Preparation and Cooperative Peer Review         5%

Reading Responses                                                        20%

Oral Report                                                                       10%

Collaboration Cooperation and Group Work                  5%

The course aims to encourage you to work collaboratively with your classmates, teachers, and other college resources such as the libraries and the Writing Center.  Along with good reading, writing, and research skills, understanding the processes of collaboration will help you succeed here at ASU and in your professional lives.

This class will also introduce you to several aspects of computer research and pedagogy.  We will frequently be doing class exercises and collaborative work on computer. You do not have to have expertise on the computer to succeed in this class, but you will have to work frequently on computer-aided assignments. If you do not have a computer at home,  you'll want  to visit the ASU computing sites on campus. There are several locations.  Although the Computing Commons is the biggest site, it is also the most busiest.  So, it's a good idea to explore and visit the smaller sites as well.

If you're interested in free software or connecting your home computer to ASU's system, please contact the Computing Assistance folks on the second floor of the Computing Commons, or simply dial 965-6500.  They have answers to the most difficult computer questions. These are also the people to call if you would like to get Internet access at a small fee (usually $10-$15).

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 and, thus, an important concern for you in this course.

This course has several goals:

to significantly improve your writing;

to develop a sense of confidence when you write;

to develop a certain mastery of computers and internet terminology, and the relative concepts;

to explore issues related to computers and writing;

to experiment with different modes and types of writing; and

to develop techniques for conducting research on the Internet and with other electronic databases.

2.  Late work and make ups—Because I want you to improve your writing and researching skills and because the research process has many important steps, you will need to keep up with your assignments. The process is rigorous and we will have many assignments due almost weekly.  Assignments, are due at the beginning of class on the assigned date.  After that, they are late.  Progress Reports receive no grade if turned in late, but they MUST be turned in before you go on to the next step.  Final drafts of reports will receive one grade lower for each day they are late.  In class work, such as rough draft preparation, group work, quizzes, and daily assignments cannot be made up. You must be in class to get credit for these.

3.  Writing Center attendance—The ASU Writing Center and its branches are wonderful resources to help you with your writing throughout your years here.  I want you to become familiar with them now, and I hope you will use them throughout your years here at ASU.  To encourage you to use them, I require each of you to attend at least one tutoring session at the Writing Center or one of its branch centers sometime before mid-term.  You must take a draft of a paper with you. Tutors will notify me that you have attended. Writing Center attendance will be figured in your final grade.

4.  Teacher conferences—You must visit with me in my office at least twice during the term to discuss your papers and your class performance.  I will schedule the first conference.  The second conference will be scheduled by YOU.  Please take this opportunity to let me get to know you a little better.  I also encourage you to visit your other professors during their office hours.  Getting to know them will help you weather the course of your college years. Your conferences with me will be figured in your final grade.

5.  Extra credit—You may raise your grade 1/3 of a grade (e.g. from a C+ to a B- or from a B- to a B) by doing extra credit.  This can consist of 100% attendance and on-time assignments, extra attendance at the Writing Center, extra style exercises, early oral reports, early Field Research and Book Orders, or other assignments I may dream up later.

6.  Paper format—All papers and drafts must be word processed.  Type on one side only and double space. STAPLE the pages together or put them in your folders before you come to class.   No paper clips or dog-ears will be accepted.  Your name, course number and time, and due date, and type of assignment should appear as follows in the upper corner (right or left is ok) of page 1:

  Your Name
  ENGL 215
  April 24, 1999
  Extended Research Paper

Proofread carefully and print any last minute corrections neatly with pen above or near mistakes.  Everyone makes mistakes, but careless proofreading will affect your grade.

grapples with ideas and complexities, rather than presenting untheorized information, experi-ences, details;

weaves together multiple texts, playing them off of one another and working with them rather than pasting them into a paper;

is claim-driven—makes a point/claims; has a purposeful trajectory. though not necessarily presenting a single assertion or argumentative stand;

may or may not contain personal experience\the choice is the writer’s.

tone and style appropriate for the indicated audience,

a main persuasive thesis, adequately, but not overpowerfully, supported with evidence from sources and field research,

personal, critical thinking about the subject and analysis of the evidence,

appropriate and effective use of the required format (classical oration),

effective transitions, emphasizing both the thesis and the organizational flow of the paper,

appropriate, correct, and persuasive use of source material,

effective, interest catching opening and closing passages (introductions/background),

proper and appropriate documentation of sources, using either MLA or APA conventions,

clear, convincing, and informative prose,

proper and professional use of the conventions of written English.

Recently, Americans seem to be learning to accept and give help.  Influences as varied as the success of Japanese commerce and the connectedness of feminist studies are persuading American business and education to try a more cooperative approach to problem solving.  In this class, I not only encourage you to make friends and to work together, I expect it.  I will as often as possible create experiences where you will help each other succeed in becoming better writers and researchers.  One of the ways you can do this is by being each other's readers.  We will continually read and review each  others plans, drafts, and finished products. You will best help yourself and your classmates succeed by bringing the best work you can do to each peer review session.  In addition, most of our research for this class will be carried on collaboratively.  We will help each other find material on our topic.  I will design assignments where you work together to build your research file.  Be assured however, that I will evaluate your work on your own efforts and accomplishments.

At the same time as I encourage you to work together to help each other become better writers, I insist that you DO NOT plagiarize.  It is important that you learn what plagiarism is.  Plagiarism is:

Using part or all of someone else's composition

Handing in a composition revised by another person (Advice for revision, editing and proofing are allowed and often encouraged.)

Using material quoted from another writer without appropriate punctuation and acknowledgment

Using original ideas expressed by another, either in writing or in speech, without acknowledgment

Falsifying sources (ex: fabricating a bibliography)

“to steal or pass off the ideas or words of another as one's own; to use without crediting a source; to commit literary theft; to present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source” (Webster's Ninth)

But plagiarism is not: being active readers of each other's work, asking questions that cause a writer to think more deeply, more broadly, more profoundly about their work. Plagiarism is not: using the honest feedback of a peer or a tutor to improve your own ideas and style.  Plagiarism is not: sharing ideas and resources in order to help each other succeed.

Since ENGL 215 is one of the only classes you may have in college that is small enough to allow you to meet other people, I encourage you to do so.  Exchange e-mail addresses and phone numbers.  Work outside of class together.  Encourage each other.