"However, in Zen practice, we don't ignore confusion when it appears; we actually welcome it. When confusion arises in our practice, it means that we have discovered something new. The feeling of confusion is an indication that we are trying to understand something. So welcoming confusion is actually an expression of wisdom." |
Fall 2005
Line #96120
ENGLISH 102 HONORS SYLLABUS
Hi! By choosing this section, you have entered Shelley's World! In this crazy world, I, Shelley Buchanan, am your guide.
CONTACT INFORMATION: You can reach me on my cell phone, which I will give out during our first meeting, so be sure to write it down! Feel free to contact me whenever necessary within reason, of course. Be sure to leave me a message, otherwise, I won't return the call because I don't know who I am calling. I will let you know in advance any time when I will be unavailable during the semester.
You can also reach me via email: Michelle.Buchanan@asu.edu, but when you send me an email, be sure to include your name in the Subject line. If there is no identifying information in the Subject line and I don't recognize your email address, then chances are, I will delete it. Our ASU accounts have too many virus-laden emails floating around and I'd prefer to avoid that problem! So, remember to include your name in the Subject line or you won't receive a response from me! If you have sent an email that identifies you and you don't hear from me within 24 hours or so, then please call. I have noticed that occasionally some outside email accounts, such as AOL, don't always delivered to the ASU E-mail server, and I am good about responding to your questions, so I don't want you to think that you asked a stupid question or that I am ignoring you...call me!
Also, you can visit me in my office (LL068) on MWF from 9:30am until 10:30am, on Tuesdays you can reach me online between 11:00am and noon, and of course, by appointment. Unfortunately, my office telephone does not accept incoming calls, so either stop by or call my cell phone! Enough said, on to the extremely important stuff!
Links to the Syllabus
(Be sure to read these links! They can help you be more successful in this class! Trust me.)
Course Description: Critical reading and writing; emphasis on strategies of academic discourse. Research paper required. Foreign students, see ENG 108. Prerequisite with a grade of “C” or higher: ENG 101.
Course Goals and Overview: In this course, students will learn skills that will aid in writing better essays, whether the essays are academic in nature or are for other areas of life. In addition, participants will be asked to rethink their approaches to writing and reading and introduced to what may be new practices as well as new ways of seeing the world. To attain the necessary goals, English 102 emphasizes the processes of text production so participants will be involved in various activities such as brainstorming, drafting, citing source materials, researching, and revising. The course is designed so that a great deal of preparation occurs before the "final" project is submitted for a letter grade. Please read the responsibilities and policies of this document carefully. Your compliance with the standards and policies of this course will be agreed upon and sealed by your email at the end of this contract. Thank you and good luck.
Individual Responsibilities: All students are required to purchase (and read!) the book: Writing in a Visual Age by Odell and Katz (First Edition).
You, also, should check out the web link for the Writing Programs Guide: www.asu.edu/clas/english/writingprograms/teacherresources/wpguide/wpguide.htm
Students will be required to create and submit a four (4) individual essays, participate in class discussions, submit both in and out-of-class assignments and create a Final Project, which will contain and demonstrate all of your research and the essays that you will be writing this semester. In order to earn points, participants will be responsible for completing all of the in and out-of-class assignments, essays, and the website project on the scheduled due dates (see Schedule-Honors).
Evaluation Essay: In this essay, you will be examining a few web sites that pertain to your overall project. You will be presenting the criteria for readers and making judgments regarding the web sites themselves. You will have a variety of ways to present your evaluation. Keep in mind that your audience is relying on your expertise and knowledge regarding the web sites, so you will need to spend a considerable amount of time examining, familiarizing, and preparing your notes and, ultimately, your writing. This essay should be at least 3 pages in length and provide readers with specific details and examples to support your evaluation. No source material is required for this essay.
Profile Essay: In this essay, you will write a profile of a person, place, or activity that you think is significant and connects to your selected topic. The profile should invite strong reactions, which may be positive or negative. For this essay, you will need to conduct research, which may include observational, library-based, or interviewing. Also because this essay is part of your Final Project, you might consider alternative ways to present your information--using visuals, etc.
Position Essay: This essay asks you, the writer, to take a stand on an issue that pertains to your overall topic. You will want to consider how you can persuade or influence your readers to consider or agree with your stance. You also will need to consider counter-arguments and opposing viewpoints in relation to your claims and evidence. This essay requires the use of source material and a Works Cited page and should be at least 4 pages in length.
Proposal Essay: In this essay you will focus on a problem that pertains to your overall topic and will provide your readers with a solution to the problem that you have presented. You will need to address that advantages/disadvantages of implementing your solution. You will also need to provide evidence to support your claims while you demonstrate a thorough understanding of all of the pertinent facts. Remember...this essay should be a logical, well-reasoned response to the problem as you see it. Again, research and source material is necessary, and the essay should be at least 4 pages in order to explain your solution in enough detail for your readers to implement it.
Final Project: This project is a place for you to take your essays and all of your research and create your own visual and verbal rhetoric as it relates to your overall topic. You will need to create a home page for your site, which will direct and guide readers through your research and essays. Now you will be considering how you want to re-create your essays in a more visually stimulating document. We will spend part of the semester learning about and working with Dreamweaver software. Bear in mind, I recognize the fact that our time is limited and that we are not professional web designers.
Final Project Presentation: For this last assignment you will present your Final Project to the class. You will discuss your visual and verbal rhetoric, how and why you made your decisions, how it will affect your potential users, areas of strength and weakness, and what changes would you make with more time. The presentation should last no more than 5 - 10 minutes and will be given the last week of class.
CLASS REQUIREMENTS: This is relatively simple and straightforward. ATTEND ALL CLASS MEETINGS WITH YOUR HOMEWORK COMPLETED!!! Seriously!
ATTENDANCE POLICY: Students have been approved for six (6) personal days in a MWF class. The personal days include illness, various appointments (doctor/dentist, etc.), work, or any other miscellaneous reasons. Please note that the University does not differentiate between “Excused” and “Unexcused” absences and nor do I.
Students who participate in university-sanctioned activities and who will be unable to meet the attendance requirements for a particular section should move to another section where their activity schedules will not interfere with their classroom obligations.
Students will not pass this course if they miss more than the approved number of personal days. When you exceed the approved number of days, then you will receive an “E” for the class and will be asked not to return. I strongly urge you NOT to waste the approved days (you never know when you may need them)! The policy on attendance is a Writing Programs and University policy and is non-negotiable. If you are having problems with deadlines and/or the class requirements, then see ME immediately, so we can resolve the problem. DO NOT hesitate to see ME regarding any problems with this course because that's part of my job—to help you succeed, but you have to meet me halfway!
One last, albeit highly important, note: Latecomers will be marked absent when they arrive more than 15 minutes late to class. I realize that things happen (and they do); however, habitual tardiness--generally--would not be tolerated in a job situation. Therefore, I reserve that right as well!
INSTRUCTOR ABSENCE/CLASS CANCELLATION: If I'm not in the classroom within fifteen minutes of the start time of class, then yes, you are excused because I must be detained for some unknown reason! I'm very punctual, as you will learn! Also, if I know in advance that I have to cancel a class, then I will make an announcement in class or I will send emails or call someone's cell phone. I will try to have someone post a sign as well, but I can't make any promises on that one! We'll do the best that we can. Please realize that I don't like to miss class and have only cancelled two classes since I started teaching, so the bottom line is that all of us will be in class regularly!
ASSIGNMENT DEADLINE ISSUES: Failure to submit assignments on the scheduled due dates will earn no credit—a zero for that assignment. If participants find themselves in a “late paper” situation, then contacting ME on that day is imperative, so that the problem may be resolved quickly. If you neglect to contact me immediately, then you will not receive any credit for the assigment, which means that you will earn a zero. Please note that late websites will dramatically affect your final class grade because I will deduct 10 points per day (not class periods).
Any and all deadlines (as noted on the Schedule) are subject to change due to the dynamic nature of the writing class and/or MY insanity and will be announced in class; therefore, all of you are responsible for keeping up with the changes.
PLAGIARISM: Academic integrity is expected of every individual in the University. Plagiarism will not be tolerated—see http://www.asu.edu/vpsa/studentlife/ where the University's Academic Integrity Policy, and other important policies spelling out Student Conduct, is located.
Student Code of Conduct web link: http://www.asu.edu/aad/manuals/sta/sta104-01.html
Academic Honesty & Plagiarism web link: http://www.asu.edu/writingprograms/teacherresources/wpguide/questions.htm#11
Remember that ALL students are responsible for knowing University and Writing Programs Policies.
PUBLIC NATURE OF CLASS WRITING AND DISCUSSION: One of our purposes in this course is to come together as a community of writers. Part of becoming a good writer is learning to appreciate the ideas and criticisms of others. Students will often be expected to share writing with others and should consider every piece of writing done for this class as "public property." Students should avoid writing about issues that they may not be prepared to subject to public scrutiny or that they feel so strongly about that they may be unwilling to listen to perspectives other than their own. This does not mean that students are not entitled to an opinion, but instead, they should try to adopt positions responsibly, contemplating the possible effects their position may have on others.
MISCELLANEOUS STUFF: As you will learn, I strive to create a relaxed, casual learning environment; however, there are some lapses in general courtesy that tend to jump up and down on my very last nerve:
Equally so, you have the right to discuss with me, in a private setting such as in my office, or before or after class, any class-related grievances that you might have.
In-class writing activities - 100 points
Out-of-class writing activities - 100 points
Final Project - 300 points
Final Project Presentations - 50 points
Total points - 550 points
Grading |
A = 90 to 100 |
B = 80 to 89 |
C = 70 to 79 |
D = 60 to 69 |
F = 50 to 59 |
Oh, by the way, NO FINAL EXAM!!!!! |
(FYI: I will not be using the plus/minus system.)
So, there you have it. If you feel that you can participate in this course actively, then please email me your responses to the questions below!
Now, remember when you send that email, then you agree not to exceed the attendance policy (and fail), and you agree to do all of the required work in order to pass the course. Okay, I trust (she writes with a smile) that you read the requirements listed above.
So, what are you waiting for?
Send it already!!
I have read and understand “ALL” of the above, and through my email, I agree to the terms and conditions of this ENG 102 course contract. In your email, please include the following: YOUR NAME LINE NUMBER OR TIME OF THE CLASS CONTACT PHONE NUMBER AND APPROPRIATE TIMES TO CALL ANY AND ALL EMAIL ADDRESSES THAT WILL REACH YOU BESIDES YOUR ASU ACCOUNT (Also note which email account you check regularly) Thanks, Shelley B |
Honors schedule? 
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