CRTW 201H

CRTW 201: Critical Reading, Thinking, Writing (Spring 2018; 3 hours)

Section 030, MW, 12:30-1:45

Section 012, MW, 3:30-4:45, Kinard 215

Professor's Information

Dr. Matthew Fike, Bancroft 258, 803-323-4575
Office Hours: MW, 2:00-3:00; TR, 9:00-10:00; and by appointment
E-mail: fikem@winthrop.edu
Web site: http://faculty.winthrop.edu/fikem

You are subject to the policies in this syllabus even if you have not read it.

Course Description

This course encourages you to develop the critical-thinking traits of mind by fostering the tools (elements and standards) that you need to excel in your other courses and to be a responsible, clear-thinking citizen. Through studying our critical thinking handbook, applying its principles to a book-length text, thinking in class about a variety of additional readings, participating in various exercises, and writing papers on a variety of subjects, you will become better able to think about how you think. Much of our time in class will be spent working on interesting, high-quality texts: Edward O. Wilson's The Future of Life and selections from a fine anthology called Ways of Reading: An Anthology for Writers (see links in the calendar). First and foremost, this section of CRTW is a course in critical reading. Class format will be almost exclusively discussion, with an emphasis on small-group work and presentations. Your oral contributions will account for approximately 80% of what we do in class. If you embrace the process of informal discussion and formal reading/writing assignments, you may find that CRTW 201 transforms your entire way of thinking about your academic work and your personal life. At the very least, the course provides a "toolbox" that you can use in your other university courses.

This course participates in the Global Learning Initiative. The global learning components of this course are the readings by Tompkins, Wilson, and Anzaldúa.

ONCA Statement: "The Office of Nationally Competitive Awards is here to help you find and apply for scholarships, fellowships, and awards for everything from study abroad to graduate school tuition. Please check out the ONCA website at www.winthrop.edu/onca and fill out a Student Information Form, then email Dr. Bickford at onca@winthrop.edu to make an appointment. The right nationally competitive award is out there for YOU!"

Course Goals

To become aware of your filters, barriers, and impediments (FBIs).
To learn that the complex process of critical thinking is a part of all we do and that the process relies on such skills as observing, listening, reading, and writing.
To use reading, writing, speaking, and critical thinking to foster intellectual growth in an academic environment.
To recognize critical thinking and problem solving strategies in different academic disciplines and for different audiences.
To evaluate arguments, evidence, and the contexts in which they appear.
To prepare for writing by carefully analyzing evidence.
To plan, organize, and develop essays based on introspection, general observation, deliberation, research, and the critical reading of mature prose texts drawn from various disciplines.
To learn to revise effectively by completely rethinking, restructuring, and rewriting essays.
To recognize individual writing voices and learn how those voices can be adapted to fit different audiences and rhetorical situations.
To improve oral communication skills through class discussions and small group activities.

See a complete listing of course goals for the Department of English at http://www.winthrop.edu/english/undergraduate/index.htm.

University-Level Competencies (ULCs)

Winthrop’s University-Level Competencies (ULCs) identify learning outcomes that apply across all undergraduate programs and that all Winthrop graduates attain. These capacities are essential preparation for working productively and living meaningfully in the contemporary and emerging world. The ULCs were approved by Faculty Conference in October 2010.

Competency 1: Winthrop graduates think critically and solve problems.

Winthrop University graduates reason logically, evaluate and use evidence, and solve problems. They seek out and assess relevant information from multiple viewpoints to form well-reasoned conclusions. Winthrop graduates consider the full context and consequences of their decisions and continually reexamine their own critical thinking process, including the strengths and weaknesses of their arguments.

Competency 2: Winthrop graduates are personally and socially responsible.

Winthrop University graduates value integrity, perceive moral dimensions, and achieve excellence. They take seriously the perspectives of others, practice ethical reasoning, and reflect on experiences. Winthrop graduates have a sense of responsibility to the broader community and contribute to the greater good.

Competency 3: Winthrop graduates understand the interconnected nature of the world and the time in which they live.

Winthrop University graduates comprehend the historical, social, and global contexts of their disciplines and their lives. They also recognize how their chosen area of study is inextricably linked to other fields. Winthrop graduates collaborate with members of diverse academic, professional, and cultural communities as informed and engaged citizens.

Competency 4: Winthrop graduates communicate effectively.

Winthrop University graduates communicate in a manner appropriate to the subject, occasion, and audience. They create texts – including but not limited to written, oral, and visual presentations – that convey content effectively. Mindful of their voice and the impact of their communication, Winthrop graduates successfully express and exchange ideas.

http://www.winthrop.edu/academic-affairs/secondary.aspx?id=15731

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge: By the end of the semester, students will be able to

Identify and define filters, barriers, and impediments to critical thinking
Identify and define the elements of reasoning
Identify and define the standards of reasoning
Identify and define the character traits of a critical thinker.

Skills: By the end of the semester, students will be able to

Apply the elements of reasoning to analyze their own thinking and the thinking of others
Apply the standards of reasoning to analyze their own thinking and the thinking of others
Use critical reading strategies to analyze a variety of texts
Plan, draft, and revise critical writing in a variety of rhetorical contexts and disciplines
Effectively discuss their thinking and the thinking of others in a variety of oral forms (e.g., discussions, group presentations, etc.)

Attitudes: By the end of the semester, students will be able to

Recognize and appreciate the differences between critical and noncritical thinking in themselves and in others
Integrate critical thinking character traits into their academic and personal lives

Required Texts and Supplies

Note: All of these texts are on reserve at the library. I want you to use the 4th edition of Nosich's book, not the 3rd. You may not use e-books.

Several texts are linked to the course calendar. You may print them any way you wish, but you must print them. Hardcopy is required in class. You may not view these texts on your gizmo in class. Note that printing will not cost as much as a whole book and that you can set the printer to reproduce multiple pages of text on the front and back of each piece of paper.
Hacker and Sommers, Rules for Writers.
Nosich, Learning To Think Things Through, 4th ed.
Wilson, The Future of Life.
A good dictionary, a stapler, several large bluebooks (8.5 x 11"), a spiral notebook or other paper source, a back-up disk or flash drive, a WU e-mail account, and an account on turnitin.com. YOU ARE REQUIRED TO SAVE YOUR PAPERS IN MORE THAN ONE PLACE. "MY COMPUTER CRASHED" AND VARIATIONS THEREOF ARE NOT LEGITIMATE EXCUSES FOR LATE WORK.

Course Requirements (a.k.a. Student Learning Activities)

Departmental guidelines specify that instructors will assign at least 6,000 words of graded writing, one research paper (minimum 1,800 words), and five total papers incorporating borrowed material (two of which should be in-class essay assignments). These requirements are for a non-honors section of CRTW. This honors section requires more graded assignments, and papers 1-4 must be slightly longer. Here are the honors requirements:

10% - Paper 1 (FBIs): 5-7 pages + works cited
10% - Paper 2 (Cultural artifact): 5-7 pages + works cited
15% - Paper 3 (Research): 8-10 pages of text + works cited
0% - Focused topic for the research paper
5% - Annotated bibliography for the research paper
10% - Paper 4 (Global cultural event): 5-7 pages + works cited
10% - Group presentation (The Future of Life)
10% - In-class essay (major): bluebook
10% - Final exam (type of thinker): bluebook
10% - Participation in whole-class discussion
10% - Class presence (attendance)

Notes on Requirements

Failure to turn in any of the four major papers (Papers 1-4) will result in an automatic F for the course. If you do not have an appropriate written excuse, your paper must be turned in not later than one week from the due date whether we have class on that day or not. If you do have a legitimate on-paper excuse, the paper will be due not later than one week from the date of your return to class. On-paper excuses should be submitted with your late work.
Papers will be graded according to the "CRTW Rubric."
The rule is "A, B, C, repeat." D gets you credit, but you will still have to repeat the course. You will not receive more than a D+ for the course if you fail to earn at least 70%. Those of you who are SUing the course must also earn at least 70%.
Your grades will appear on Blackboard, and the system is set to keep a running total. It is your responsibility to keep track of your grade. Pay particularly close attention to your absences and tardies; however, your class presence grade will not appear on BB until the end of the semester. Make sure that you understand the course policies on absences and tardies (below).
There are no quizzes scheduled, but I reserve the right to introduce them if it becomes clear that you are not doing the required reading.

Grading Standards

Papers: There are no "process assignments" in this class: Papers 1-4 will receive rubric-based grades. Re. revision: You do not get to revise any of your graded papers for a higher grade. Revision is an essential part of the writing process, but it must take place BEFORE you turn in an assignment. You must obviously work on revision outside of class, perhaps with the editing partner of your choice. I will be very glad to discuss your work in progress with you if you make an appintment to see me at my office. Bring two hardcopies. Do not e-mail me your paper.
Class participation: Participation in discussion is a crucial part of this class, and you are expected to speak up at every class meeting. If you do not volunteer comments, I will encourage you to share your thoughts. Obviously participation is hard to quantify, but the following scale will lend some structure: frequent contributions will be worth 9-10 points (A); regular contributions, 8 (B); occasional contributions, 7 (C); few contributions, 6 (D); rare contributions, 5 (F); so rare that I can count them on one hand (1-4); almost none to no contributions at all, 0. The substance of your remarks may also be a factor when I assign class participation grades. You will have to be content with my somewhat subjective impression of your contributions to discussion. You do need to speak up in order to succeed in this class. If you are not enthusiastic about CRTW, speak up anyway. Often behavior precedes and conditions belief.
Class presence/attendance: You may be absent 4 times (regardless of the reason) without any penalty. After that, each absence (regardless of the reason) will take 3 points off your class presence grade. As stated elsewhere in this syllabus, eight absences will result in an F for the course. I start counting absences on the third day of class. Three tardies equal one absence. After 4 absences, each tardy equals -1 point, and each absence equals -3 points.
Grading scale: You work in this course will be graded on a 100-point scale as follows: A, 95-100; A-, 90-94; B+, 87-89; B, 83-86; B-, 80-82; C+, 77-79; C, 73-76; C-, 70-72; D+, 67-69; D, 63-66; D-, 60-62; F, 0-59.

Plagiarism

The University Policy on Plagiarism is explained at http://www.winthrop.edu/studentconduct/; see the section on “Academic Misconduct.” See also http://www.winthrop.edu/uploadedFiles/studentconduct/StudentHandbook.pdf.
Winthrop maintains strict standards regarding "The Correct Use of Borrowed Information" (http://www.winthrop.edu/cas/english/default.aspx?id=21084). While there is a big difference between minor unconscious plagiarism and the deliberate theft of others' language and ideas on a major scale (e.g., copying an article or using some else's paper), plagiarism in CRTW 201, as in all other courses at the university, will not be tolerated and will result in penalties ranging from grade reduction to an F for the course. Here are some additional points to remember:
- The use of primary and secondary sources must conform to the MLA documentation style. Crediting sources properly is an important part of being a member of an academic community. Academic honesty has numerous advantages.
- The submission of the same paper by one student in myltiple sections or by different students in multiple sections is forbidden.
- Plagiarizing yourself is forbidden. Do not recycle your previous course papers, even those from another section of CRTW.
- While you may provide feedback to others, it is imperative that everyone's actual writing be the product of his/her own efforts.
- Papers 1-4 must be submitted to turnitin.com. Failure to send even a single paper to turnitin.com will result in an F for the course.
Here is the Department of English's statement: "Plagiarism is the use of someone else’s thoughts, words, ideas, or lines of argument in your own work without appropriate documentation (a parenthetical citation at the end and a listing in 'Works Cited')–whether you use that material in a quot[ation], paraphrase, or summary. It is a theft of intellectual property and will not be tolerated, whether intentional or not. It is also a violation of the Student Conduct Code
(http://www.winthrop.edu/uploadedFiles/studentconduct/StudentHandbook.pdf, page 37ff.). The English Department has prepared 'The Correct Use of Borrowed Information' to explain plagiarism (see http://www.winthrop.edu/cas/english/default.aspx?id=21084). You may be required to print out this statement, sign the last page, and bring it to class when required by your instructor. Ignorance or failure to consult this material is no excuse."

Documentation

All work in this class that uses outside sources must be documented correctly in the MLA documentation style, 8th edition. Information on the internet is NOT free for the taking. Be careful when you paraphrase and summarize. Do not forget to cite your sources. Do not forget to use signal phrases, quotation marks, and citations. These are the three parts of the MLA's system of documentation. If your paper includes a chunk of material taken directly from a source, you must either put quotation marks around it or set it off from the rest of your paper with a double indentation. Naturally a citation must follow.
If you do not understand how to avoid plagiarism, it is your responsibility to seek guidance from the professor or from a tutor at the Writing Center.

Turnitin.com Policy

You must submit all four major assignments to www.turnitin.com.
Our course I.D. number and password appear at the top of the course calendar. There is one account for both sections that I am offering this semester.
If the system finds errors, you will be able to "overwrite" your submission prior to the due date. But give me a hardcopy of the paper in class on the due date even if you have not yet sent the paper to turnitin.com.
Papers will not be read or graded unless they appear in my turnitin.com inbox. Do not make excuses about how you submitted your paper and how it is not your fault that I did not receive it. It is your responsibility to make sure that your papers arrive at their electronic destination. But submitting a copy to turnitin.com is not the end of your responsibility. You must also give me a properly formatted hardcopy. I do not do online grading.
Note: I will not provide infinite reminders that you must submit your work to turnitin.com. A paper not submitted to turnitin.com is the same as a paper not submitted at all. If you do not submit Papers 1-4 to the system, you will receive an automatic F for the course.

Attendance Policy

25% rule: Winthrop's policy is that students who miss 25% or more of the class sessions cannot receive credit for the course (automatic F). There is no such thing as an “excused” absence. ALL absences--including those that you get for tardiness--count toward your absence total. You have four "free" absences. After those four "free" absences, every tardy counts -1 point against your attendance grade, and every absence counts -3 against your attendance grade. Missing 25% or more of the class meetings will result in serious consequences. There are 28 class days during the semester; therefore, a seventh absence means that you will receive a zero for (attendance); an eighth absence means that you will automatically receive an F for the course. If you arrive more than ten minutes late or leave more than ten minutes early, you will receive a full absence. See also "Tardiness" below. I will not count absences or tardies during the first week of class; however, anyone who misses either day during the second week, even if s/he is not yet registered, will receive an absence (yes, in this class you can get an absence even if you are not yet registered: that is how important attendance is). In other words, if you add the course late, your absences are retroactive to the third day of class. Students who add the course after the startof the semester are responsible for bringing course materials on day three (or whenever they first attend).
Extended absences: There is no such thing as an excused absence at Winthrop University. An absence is an absence, whatever the reason; and you may not have eight absences and pass the course. Do not hand me a medical excuse (or whatever type of excuse) for a day when nothing was due. However, insofar as the university's absence policy permits, I will gladly work with you to help you make up work missed during an extended absence (e.g., because of documented hospitalization); but please try to get word of this to me while you are away. You may want to call the Dean of Students' Office and enlist the assistance of someone there: s/he will gladly notify your professors that you are ill or hospitalized. Note that there is no way for you to make up your group presentation. If you absent on your group's presentation day, you will not get credit for the presentation.
An important note for athletes: Your athletic-trip-related absences are still absences. You do not get three "free" absences on top of your trip-related absences. Like everyone else, you only get four "free" absences, so do not skip class just because you do not feel like coming. Furthermore, if you have work due on a trip day, you must submit it before you leave. By staying in this class, you agree to these terms. If you insist that being an athlete entitles you to extra absences, expect me to phone the athletic department and your academic advisor.
Absences related to accommodations: If you have official accommodations from Services for Students with Disabilities (see below), you do not get a "free" absence for a non-accommodations-related absence on top of your four absences. Do not push me on this. I bend over backwards to help students who have official accommodations, but I will not allow anyone to "game" the system. Accommodations are not retroactive either. See "Accommodations" below.

Late Paper/Assignment Policies

Papers are due at the beginning of class on the due dates. I do not accept submission of papers by e-mail. I will consider a paper to be late unless it is submitted in proper hardcopy format in class on the due date. If I find it on the floor of my office when I return from class on a due date, I will still consider your paper to be late. A paper will lose ONE point for each 24-hour day late (the clock starts when our class does; I'm talking about calendar days, not class days). That means, for example, 1 point out of 10 for Paper 1. In the event of an emergency, please make every attempt to notify me BEFORE the due date by e-mail or voice message. DO NOT PIN PAPERS TO MY OFFICE DOOR. I have a mail slot that you can use if my door is closed. It is your responsibility to make sure that I receive your paper if you submit it at my office when I am not there.
Flexibility: If you have a catastrophe and cannot come to class on a paper due date, I will consider it to be on time as long as it has the right date/time stamp on turnitin.com.
Rigidity: Sometimes students lie about turning papers in at the Department of English's office. Sometimes they even claim that they had a friend submit their papers for them. If you do submit a paper outside of class, in person or by proxy, it is YOUR responsibility to make sure that I actually receive it. If a paper IS genuinely lost, turnitin.com will provide evidence that you actually completed the assignment (and a time stamp), and you may simply print off another hardcopy.
For a waiver of the late-paper penalty, official written documentation of your excuse is required with a late submission; otherwise, while I may still read the paper or assignment and allow you to continue the course, your work will receive no credit. Please understand that I need a mechanism to help me distinguish between justifiable reasons for allowing late submission and lame or even fictitious excuses. I do it this way so that everybody--including post-traditional students--gets treated equally. Papers may receive extensions for paper-documented medical/family problems (e.g., illnesses, funerals, hospitalization), but absences may not be made up. Court dates and jury duty are not excused absences. Your husband/boyfriend/child stepped on your computer is not a legitimate excuse. You did not back up your paper, and your computer crashed is not an excuse. A computer virus ate your paper is not an excuse. An obituary pulled from the internet is not a legitimate excuse. In some cases, I may require that you work with the Dean of Students, Dr. Bethany Marlowe, to add legitimacy to your excuse. ALL EXCUSED LATE WORK MUST BE TURNED IN WITHIN ONE WEEK OF YOUR RETURN TO CLASS AND MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN OFFICIAL WRITTEN EXCUSE. Otherwise, you have an automatic F for the course.

Accommodations

Students with Disabilities/Need of Accommodations for Access:

Winthrop University is committed to providing access to education. If you have a condition which may adversely impact your ability to access academics and/or campus life, and you require specific accommodations to complete this course, contact the Office of Accessibility (OA) at 803-323-3290, or, accessibility@winthrop.edu. See "Students with Disabilities" below.

The Office of Victims Assistance Syllabus Statement

The Office of Victims Assistance (OVA) provides services to survivors of sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and stalking as well as educational programming to prevent these crimes from occurring. The staff assists all survivors, regardless of when they were victimized in obtaining counseling, medical care, housing options, legal prosecution, and more. In addition, the OVA helps students access support services for academic problems resulting from victimization. The OVA is located in 204 Crawford and can be reached at (803) 323-2206. In the case of an after-hours emergency, please call Campus Police at (803) 323-3333, or the local rape crisis center, Safe Passage, at their 24-hour hotline, (803) 329-2800. For more information please visithttp://www.winthrop.edu/victimsassistance/.

Technology Requirement

I conduct most of my business with students on e-mail. If you do not have an e-mail account, go to 15 Tillman immediately to set it up. All class e-mail will be sent to your campus e-mail address, so make sure that you set it to forward e-mail to any off-campus account you use (e.g., Comporium, AOL, Yahoo!, Hotmail, Gmail, etc.)
I no longer use the class listserv. When I e-mail the whole class, I do so through Blackboard. If you are enrolled in the course, you will be on my e-mail list automatically.
You may not use laptops (or other electronic devices) in class unless specifically directed to do so. Note: I have a special aversion to surfing and texting in class. Turn off ALL electronic devices and set your watches so that they do not go off at regular intervals. Having your cell phone ring even once this semester will be a distraction; do not let your watch do the same twice per class period.
You may not use an electronic dictionary or an e-book during class sessions. The only exceptions will be persons who have official accommodations and students from Nantong University who may use their electronic dictionaries.
Exceptions to this policy are clearly noted in the course calendar. (There are days when I will allow you to use your gizmos.)

Other Policies and Expectations

Memorandum of understanding: This document provides a guide for your behavior in class on a daily basis. It contains some basic rules that everyone must follow. Be sure to familiarize yourself with it. http://faculty.winthrop.edu/fikem/Courses/CRTW%20201/CRTW%20201%20Memorandum%20of%20Understanding.htm
Duplicate Submission: You may not submit a paper for a grade in this course that already has been (or will be) submitted, in whole or in part, for a grade in another course, including a previous section of CRTW, unless you obtain explicit written permission in advance from me and the other instructor involved. This policy conforms to the Student Code of Conduct, §V, which states: "Academic misconduct includes but is not limited to . . . presenting the same or substantially the same papers or projects in two or more courses without the explicit permission of the professors involved"(http://www.winthrop.edu/uploadedFiles/studentconduct/StudentHandbook.pdf, page 37ff.). If I catch you submitting someone else’s paper in our class, allowing someone else to submit your paper in his or her class, or submitting your own work from a previous class, even a previous section of CRTW, in whole or in part, you will receive an F for the course, and I will refer the case to the Dean of Students and the Judicial Council. Failure to read this policy--or any policy in this syllabus--does not exempt you from it.

Eating, drinking, sleeping (or anything that looks like it), texting, surfing, and phoning: Please do not do any of these things in class. If you want to take a swig from a bottle of water, I do not have a problem with that as long as you do not make a major bottoms-up production of it. Drinking anything other than clear water with no ice or additives is not allowed. Note: Water is CLEAR and does not contain any ice, which is noisy. You may not drink vitamin water. Tea is not water. Clear water does not have any kind of leaves in it. Nor will I allow you to eat in class under any circumstances. Sore throat? Notify me before class that you may need to have a cough drop. If I catch you with your head down on your desk, you will receive an absence. If you cannot stay awake, please go home. If you need to stand up and walk around to stay alert, feel free to do so. Texting completely derails my concentration. Do not do it even if you are a post-traditional student with a job and/or family. Use the bathroom before class so that you do not have to get up and walk out and back in again.

E-mail: I generally read my e-mails around 8:00 a.m., Monday-Friday. I will respond to your messages at that time. I may read other messages during the day, but I may not have time to respond until the next morning. If you need immediate attention, I suggest that you contact me by phone at (808) 323-4575 or call the departmental office at 323-2171. Please note that you may not submit papers by e-mail. Do not send me e-mail attachments unless I ask you to do so.

Minimum Grade: You must earn at least 70% (C-) in order to avoid retaking CRTW 201. Note: 70% is not equal to 69.5%. Given all the padding built into the grading process, you have to have 70% to receive a C- or an S. Especially if you plan to graduate at the end of this semester, you should be certain to invest consistently diligent effort in this course, not just in the final weeks.

Tardiness: Two minutes early is three minutes late. Please remember that coming in late disrupts everyone and may even stop the class for a few moments. Try to arrive at least a few minutes early and be ready to begin right at the start of the hour. Get out your book, notebook, and pen or pencil BEFORE the day's activities begin. Arriving more than 10 minutes late (or leaving more than 10 minutes early) will be considered a full absence. I will count every three late arrivals as a full absence. After your four "free" absences, every tardy counts -1 point against your final course grade. Tardy-generated absences will count against the university's 25% attendance policy and the class presence portion of your final grade. Finally, if you come in late, you should see me after class so that I remember to change your absence mark to a tardy mark. If you do not see me after class, your tardiness may count as a full absence.
Work: Sometimes a student misses class because of work, and sometimes work even takes a student out of state for a week at a time. In keeping with our absence policy, no work-related absences will be excused or waived. If you have a conflict with your work, fix it, drop the class, or accept the consequences. If you skip class because of work, I will not allow you to do make-up work. This policy applies even to students who are members of the U.S. military. Do not take four cuts and then expect free absences for your reserve training, service with the National Guard in time of emergency, etc.

Writing Center and Academic Success Center: The Writing Center provides support for all students in all Winthrop classes free of charge. It is located in 242 Bancroft (ext. 2138). Check its webpage for current hours (https://www.winthrop.edu/wcenter/). You can receive up to 5 extra credit points for visiting the Writing Center (1 point for a one-hour tutorial, .5 point for thirty minutes with a tutor).

Winthrop's Academic Success Center is also a free resource for all undergraduate students seeking to perform their best academically. The ASC offers a variety of personalized and structured resources that help students become effective and efficient learners. The services available to students are as follows: peer tutoring, academic skill development (test taking strategies, time management counseling, and study techniques), group and individual study spaces, and academic coaching. The ASC is located in University College on the first floor of Dinkins Hall, Suite 106. You can contact the ASC at (803) 323-3929 or success@winthrop.edu. For more information on ASC services, please visit www.winthrop.edu/success.
Missed conferences: If you schedule an appointment with me and do not show up and have not e-mailed or called to let me know that you are not coming, I will deduct 1 point from your final course grade.

Format for Papers

Word-processed double-spaced papers are required.
Only black print will be acceptable.
Print only on one side of the page and do not use the "draft" function on your printer: give me a good-looking, easy-to-read copy. Do not boldface your whole paper.
The left margin should be 1 inch, and the right margin should be 1.25 inch. Use a ragged right margin. Do not justify the right margin (it should not be a straight line like the left margin). For example, this document has a ragged right margin.
If you use MS Word, the required font is called Courier New 12-point. Many students print their papers in Courier but do not get the size right. Also, you Apple users and those with computers from other countries may find that your version of Courier New 12-point does not meet my specifications. I will make you redo the paper if the print is too large or too small. (Joe Bleau's handout is in the right font and size. Compare yours to it before submission.)
Put your name and course number at the top of page 1 (left side, double spaced), number your pages, give your paper a title, underline your thesis statement or statement of purpose like this, and boldface your topic sentences like this. Note: The introduction and conclusion do not contain topic sentences.
Staple your pages together about 1/2 inch from the upper left corner; make sure that the staple is at a 45-degree angle 1/2 inch from the corner; do not use paper clips or bend the pages over at the top. Absolutely do not bend and tear the corners of your pages! Line up all the pages so that the edges are sharp. (You are probably thinking that I am too picky. Just wait until you get to your first job and get called out for slovenly paperwork. You will wish that you had paid more attention in CRTW class.)
Use the MLA format (8th ed.) in your college handbook (this means that you must have signal phrases, parenthetical citations, and a list of works cited at the end of every paper). MLA format just changed, so it will be important to refer to my "Guide to MLA Format."
I may ask you to redo a paper if it is not in the proper format.
You are required to bring large bluebooks for in-class examinations and papers or exercises and to write only with a blue or black ballpoint pen. You may NOT use your own paper when you write the examination! Write only on one side of each page in your bluebook.

Note: These format requirements are NOT an excuse for poor work. If you find that they are interfering with your writing process, defer them until the your paper has been written.

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Departmental Policies and Procedures

The following is an excerpt from a document prepared by the Department of English. Some of the material below repeats points made earlier in the syllabus.

Departmental statement: "Unless your professor specifies otherwise on her or his syllabus, the following policies and procedures apply for all courses offered by the Department of English (CRTW, ENGL, ENGE, and WRIT)."

Goals: Goals for all courses in the Department of English, including those that meet requirements for NCATE certification, are described at http://www.winthrop.edu/cas/english/default.aspx?id=20751.

Syllabus Change Policy: The version of your instructor's policy posted on her/his website, WebCT site, or www.turnitin.com site is the official policy statement for your class. This page may change during the semester, so make sure you check it frequently to keep up with changes.

Resources: The Department of English's home page is http://www.winthrop.edu/cas/english/.

Office Hours: My office hours appear at the top of this syllabus. I will make every effort to be available during these hours or to notify you if I cannot be available. (It is best if you make an appointment in advance.)

Contacting Your Instructor: All instructors in the Department have voice mail in their offices and Winthrop e-mail addresses. Make sure you write down your instructor’s phone number and e-mail address where you will not lose it. You can leave messages for your instructor in the department Office, Bancroft 250.

Instructor Accessibility: You can expect me to be available as a resource from which to draw and to obtain feedback. I am very responsive to email questions as long as I know who the email is from and have all information necessary to provide a complete answer. Please be sure to “sign” your emails as oftentimes email names are confusing at best (e.g., brownb1@winthrop.edu could be Bob Brown or Beth Brown). Please make sure to speak slowly and comprehensibly if leaving a voicemail so that I can decipher the name, message, and return phone number as well.

You should not expect me to be available 24/7. While I do check my email and voicemail regularly (I do not check e-mail on weekends, however), I do not necessarily check them more than once a day or late in the evenings. Therefore, if you procrastinate on an assignment, you may not have the information you need to complete the assignment appropriately. Please plan your time accordingly to maximize the probability that you will receive a response in time for it to be useful. I DO NOT MEET WITH STUDENTS ON FRIDAYS: IF YOU NEED TO SEE ME, PLAN MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR MONDAY-THURSDAY.

Student Conduct Code: As noted in the Student Conduct Code: “Responsibility for good conduct rests with students as adult individuals.” The policy on student academic misconduct is outlined in the “Student Conduct Code Academic Misconduct Policy” in the online Student Handbook (http://www.winthrop.edu/uploadedFiles/studentconduct/StudentHandbook.pdf).