1 English 132 -02 Writing Experience II Spring 2009 Instructor: Debra M. Potter MA, LLPC Email: [email protected] Office hours: Since I do not have an office on campus I make myself available after each class if anyone needs to speak with me individually. Contact information: The best way to contact me is via the e-mail listed above-I check my e-mail daily. You may call the Language and Literature Department and leave a message with the secretary if necessary at 517-796-8582. If you do not normally communicate using e-mail I encourage you to do so this semester. Textbooks: Writing: A Guide for College and Beyond-Brief Edition by Lester Faigley The Brief Penguin Handbook, 3rd edition by Lester Faigley Welcome to English 132 I am excited about working with each of you this semester and I will do my best to bring energy and diversity into the classroom each day. Course Description: This course is a continuation of the writing instruction and practice begun in English 131, with an emphasis on critical thinking, information gathering, and those forms of writing useful to academic and professional life. Research writing is emphasized. An end of semester portfolio of informative and research writings, and an additional 16 hours of writing activities and workshops (GPAWs) is required. Prerequisite: English 131 Course Design: This class is a workshop operating as a cooperative venture, which means I will help guide you; however you and your work will drive the course. You will be expected to work individually, in groups, and learn how to give constructive feedback to your peers. The emphasis in this class will always be on your writing. My plan is to create a learning environment where you feel comfortable and safe to express yourself and your ideas. Performance Objectives: English 132 course goals and objectives incorporate specific Associate Degree Outcomes (ADOs) established by the Jackson Community College Board of Trustees, administration , and faculty. These goals are in concert with four-year colleges and universities and reflect input from the professional communities we serve. ADOs guarantee students achieve goals necessary for graduation credit, transferability, and professional skills needed in many certification programs. The ADOs addressed in this course are: Writing Clearly, Concisely, and Intelligibly (Developing Level), ADO #1; Working in Small Groups (Developing Level), ADO #9.2 Incomplete Grade: The incomplete grade is in place for students who may experience extenuating circumstances which prevent them from completing the course by the end of a semester. Incomplete grades will only be given to students who have demonstrated a passing grade up to the point that they request the incomplete. The incomplete must then be completed by the following full-length semester. If you find yourself in this position and want to request an incomplete let me know and we will schedule a time to go over the necessary documents to put in place. Academic Honesty Policy: Jackson Community College (JCC) has an academic policy in place that prohibits dishonesty in the presentation of your work. Plagiarism in all forms is not tolerated and may result in disciplinary action from JCC; you may not copy the works of others and represent it as your own. This can take the form of either directly copying or paraphrasing work that belongs to another individual. Attendance: Attending class each week is crucial, particularly when we only meet one time per week and we have such a short semester. I will be taking attendance every week, even if it appears that I am not taking attendance I am-once I learn all of your names I check off each person for attendance each class period. You will receive credit for class participation and attendance-you will not receive credit for a class if you leave early. I will excuse one class due to illness or other emergencies. If you arrive late to class please enter class in a quiet and respectful manner so as not to disturb instruction or discussion. If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed. Cell Phones: Please do not at any time use a cell phone during class, this includes text messaging. If you need to take a call or make a call, please leave the classroom before doing so. It is very rude and disrespectful to me and to your fellow classmates to use cell phones during class. Also put your cell phones on silent or vibrate during class. Participation: 200 Points Participation points will be given for participating in peer review, current events articles, in class discussion, attendance, and in class writing other than your essays. Peer Review will be conducted each time you turn in an essay draft. Peer review is a time for each student to receive feedback on their writing as well as offer feedback to their fellow students. This is a time to provide positive, constructive feedback to one another without passing judgment on the opinions or infringing upon the rights of others. If at any time I see a student behaving disrespectfully to another student I will intervene. Current events articles; this is a time to share an article of your choice to the class regarding a current event that is happening in our world. These articles should be in good taste and involve a current issue such as alternative energy, stem cell research, etc. Please do not bring in articles that are clearly gossip columns for famous people. In class discussion will be a time to discuss anything pertaining to the class as well as my instructional lectures.3 In class writing will be assigned each week during class and should be included in your writer’s notebook. Portfolio: 400 points Every writing student at JCC must submit a portfolio, consisting of a variety of revised papers completed this semester that best demonstrate competency in skills and strategies appropriate to English 132. Successful portfolios contain papers that have undergone serious revision. The portfolio is the culmination of your semester’s work and should show evidence of careful revision and editing. Your portfolio MUST be 12 full pages in length; 10-11 full pages will receive a ½ point reduction in grade for example if you were to receive a 3.0 your grade would be reduced to a 2.5. If you turn in fewer than 10 pages you will be marked down one full grade. Writers Notebook/Writing Extensions: 100 points Writer’s