Spring 2008Course SyllabusEnglish 131.01 Writing ExperienceTuesday/Thursday 9:30-11:26 AMClassroom: WA 22005/13-07/31/08Instructor: Sandra SchultzOffice: BW 231Office Hours: TBATelephone: (517)796-8582 (Eng. Dept.)E-Mail: [email protected] Texts: Writing: A Guide for College and Beyond - Brief Edition by Lester Faigley The Brief Penguin Handbook, 2nd edition by Lester Faigley Practicing Peer Review and Researching Online (“What Every Student Should Know Series”)Course Materials: 1. Pencils/pens. 2. Notebook to take notes in class. 3. 4 pocket folders. 4. Access to a computer with word-processing capabilities and a printer. 5. Flash drive to back up and transport your digital files.If we did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves.Thomas EdisonCourse Description:This course is appropriately named, “The Writing Experience,” as students will experience all aspects of the writing process from pre-writing, to drafting and revising, to completing polished essays. Students will understand what it means to write for a particular audience or purpose. The class will also be a “writing workshop.” What I mean by “workshop” is that it is a cooperative venture that I will help guide, but you and your work will drive the course. This willrequire your full mental and physical participation every day. We will engage in learning activities, share discussion, analyze readings, and practice various writing modes. You will be expected to work in groups and pairs, and learn how to give constructive feedback to your peers. 1It is a standard expectation that college students study two hours outside of class for every hour they are in class. Most importantly, I want you to better understand the reasons why you make the choices you do when you write. This will require active reflection where you consider what you wrote, how you wrote, why you made the changes you did, and how these changes influence your purpose oryour audience. Understanding the whys will help you organize your thoughts and think more critically. Course Goals and Objectives:The Board of Trustees has determined that all JCC graduates should develop or enhance certain essential skills while enrolled in the college. Several of these Associate Degree Outcomes are addressed in this class.“Eng. 131 course goals and objectives incorporate specific Associate Degree Outcomes (ADO’s) established by the JCC Board of Trustees, administration, and faculty. These goals are in concertwith four-year colleges and universities and reflect input from the professional communities we serve. ADO’s guarantee students achieve goals necessary for graduation credit, transferability, and professional skills needed in many certification programs. The ADO’s addressed in this course are: Writing Clearly, Concisely, and Intelligibly (Developing Level), ADO # 1 Working in Small Groups (Developing Level), ADO #9Course Assignments:Four Essays:You will complete three essays in the course, 3-5 pages in length. The fourth essay will be an in-class writing of 2-3 pages at the end of the semester. They must be typed, double spaced with a 12 point font, preferably Times New Roman, and one-inch margins. The four essays include:-- Personal Narrative- Objective/Descriptive- Causal Analysis/Research- Argumentative/PersuasivePortfolio:As we progress through our writing this semester, we will compile a portfolio to demonstrate ourgrowth as writers. Only those essays that have been taken through the entire writing process in this class are acceptable submissions for your portfolio; these papers must be read by me and at least two other students in class and represent revisions and editing to the best of your ability. Your portfolio will contain three of your four polished essays, 10 pages minimum. Your portfolio serves as a final exam for English 131 and should demonstrate both the strength of yourwriting skills and an awareness of the audience you wish to reach. 2Misc. Writings:Throughout the course of the semester, students will be assigned various smaller writing assignments. These writings will supplement reading, initiate discussion, as well as provide writing practice. Participation:It is expected that students will participate in class discussions and peer group discussions. Everyone will receive more out of the class if I am not the only one discussing the subject. Classparticipation makes our time together more interesting and valuable to everyone. When students do not participate or have obviously not prepared for class, disrupt the class, sleep, or do other things besides this class’s work, it will be reflected in the grade.Oral Presentation:Near the end of the semester, each student will present and read their favorite essay they have written for the class.Guided Practice and Workshop (GPAW) Activities:JCC requires that all composition students complete a total of sixteen hours of formal writing extensions outside of the classroom. To help you accomplish this task, members of JCC’s composition faculty have devised a variety of activities. You can access the workshops by going through JCC’s homepage: www.jccmi.edu. Path – Academics; Departments; Language, Literature Art; writing workshops. CD copies of the online workshops are also available at each JCC campus. On Main Campus, the LRC houses CDs of the workshops. The GPAW activities required for this class are assigned on the course calendar and included in unit work; they are keyed to subject matter and will be undertaken and submitted during the specified weeks. Course Grading:- 30% Essays- 30% Portfolio- 15% Misc. Papers- 5% Grammar - 10% Participation- 10% GPAWs 100% in totalYour class grade reflects your participation, performance, and growth in the class as evidenced by the strengthening and extension of writing and communication skills, preparation and timeliness regarding assignments and activities, and a marked level of responsibility and concernfor positive personal and collective learning experiences. I grade on a 4.0 scale with 4.0 being excellent. You must achieve a 2.0 in this class to pass. Less than a 2.0 will not transfer for creditor serve as a prerequisite for another course. Percentage Conversions are as follows:3- 92 – 100 4.0 (A)- 85 – 91 3.5
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