Course Description
This class will help you to do two things--read and write more critically. We’re going to be looking at many writers and their writing in this class. Instead of focusing on their ideas per se, we will be looking on how they wrote their ideas. We’ll also be writing a lot and helping each other to improve each other’s writing. We won’t be just be turning in essays (although that will be a big part of the class). We’ll also be working on the whole process of writing, from start to "finish."
 

Course Requirements

Essays
Descriptive  Essay (15%)
Public Commentary (10%)
  Letter to the Editor (5%)
Research Essay (20%)

Reading Responses (25%)
Response One
Response Two
Response Three
Response Four

Annotated Bibliography (5%)

Writing Portfolio (5%)

Class participation--journals, attendance, peer responding (15%)

Essay Assignments
There will be three essay main assignments in this course. The last assignment will require some outside research. For all of the essay assignments, you will be asked to turn in a draft and a revision. Draft and final essays are due on the assigned date and are subject to late penalty. Each essay draft must be handed in with extra copies: one for me and one for each member of your workshop group. Each member of your workshop group will have the opportunity to constructively comment on your draft and vice-versa. With their written comments and mine, you will have a period of time to revise you essay before turning in a revision for a final essay grade. I will comment on your drafts but only grade your revisions.

Conferences
There are three individual conference days during the semester (one for each essay assignment). During these days you do not need to come to class but you will have to sign up to meet with me (or one of the tutors)  to discuss your essay. Conferences are required and are part of your "participation" grade. (Conferences with me are held in my office:  WH 234.)

The Writing Lab
Two hours per week of the class are devoted to "writing lab time."  During lab time you will be working on a variety of work related to your writing in this class, these will include work like brainstorming and researching and specific assignments that I will give you.  Since the tutors and I will be there, you can call on any of us to give you one-on-one help with your writing.

Journals
About every five weeks I will collect your journal books and grade them "+" or "-." This grade is also part of you "participation" grade.

Attendance Policy
Regular attendance of classes is absolutely essential for this course. You will frequently be discussing your work and the work of your peers in class. If you are not in class you will not be able to take part in discussions and the entire group will feel your absence. Also, with a fair amount of warning I might deviate from the syllabus; thus if you are not in class you might miss an assignment. It is your responsibility to make sure that you receive the required assignments. If you know you are going to miss a day, get the day's assignment ahead of time, either from me or from one of your classmates.

Plagiarism Statement
Avoid plagiarism (stealing the exact words or ideas of another) like the plague. In this class acts of plagiarism incur a zero and could result in course failure.

Writing Tutors
The writing tutors will be available to work with you in lab and outside of class.  They are trained to be insightful readers and to help you become a better writer.  They can provide help and advice no matter what stage of the writing process you may be in.  If you are still unsure of a topic, they can ask you questions that will help you brainstorm or choose between possibilities.  If you are stuck in the middle of a draft, they can help you see where you've been and some possible ways to go.  After you've completed a draft, they can be your audience, asking questions and telling you where they need more information or support to understand your ideas.  They can also suggest possible revision strategies.  And when it comes time to edit your final draft, they can provide advice on how to be a better proofreader or point out some of your more common errors and how to fix them.

Tutors are not, however, editors or graders.  Do not expect them to correct or rewrite parts of your paper for you.  Also, do not expect that working with a tutor will insure an A paper. While working with a tutor will certainly  help improve your grade, tutors are not the instructor.  They are working to help you develop skills that will help you with future writing projects and to gradually improve your success with writing.  They will never tell you what grade they think your paper will receive, and you should not ask them to.

Because lab time is limited, you might like to sign up for a one-on-one conference with a tutor outside of class.  Tutors are required to keep "office hours" and will be happy to work with you during that time. And please, show your tutor some respect by contacting him/her if something comes up and you can't make a scheduled appointment.

Writing Portfolios
As part of your work for this course, you are required to compile and turn in a portfolio of written work. Your portfolio may be selected at random for evaluation by another English instructor who will judge the writing in the portfolio and give you feedback.  All students enrolled in English 100 or 100P will be participating in this portfolio assessment program.

To receive 100Plus course credit, you must compile and turn in this portfolio of written work for evaluation and feedback by another English instructor.

I will provide more information about the portfolio requirement as the semester goes along, and I will help you to put together a satisfactory collection of your work. You should, however, keep in mind a few things throughout the semester:

•  The grades of students passing the portfolio will be determined solely by the instructor, based on the requirements and criteria set forth in his/her course syllabus.
• Portfolio submission and reading will be scheduled so that evaluated portfolios are available to students before the end of the final examination period.
• The report covers required for binding portfolios are available for purchase in the ECSU bookstore.

Useful Links
Rules for Proper Citation in English Papers
Online Grammar Exercises
The Writing Page at Eastern
The Library's Guide to MLA Citations
Diana Hacker's Guide to MLA Works Cited Formatting

Illustration: "Eloquence Surpassing Strength" from Andrea Alciato's Book of Emblems (1621)