Professor Kelly L. Richardson

Bancroft 232

Office Phone: 323-4644

E-mail: richardsonk@winthrop.edu; Website: http://faculty.winthrop.edu/richardsonk 

COURSE CATALOG DESCRIPTION: Introduces students to college-level, thesis-driven, research-based writing. Focus on planning, organizing, and developing persuasive essays through the critical reading of mature prose texts. Emphasis on mastery of MLA documentation format and proper integration of source material. Notes: Offered in fall and spring. A grade of C- or better is required.

TEXTS:  Axelrod, Rise, Charles Cooper, and Alison Warriner.  Reading Critically: Writing Well.  9^th Edition. NY: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2011. Print.

Harris, Muriel, and Jennifer Kunka.  Prentice Hall Reference Guide to Grammar and Usage.  8^th Edition.  Third Custom Edition for Winthrop University. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2011.  Print.

MATERIALS: In addition to the texts, you will need a dictionary, a looseleaf notebook, and four two-pocket folders to turn in your papers. 

COURSE GOALS:  Departmental goals for Writing 101 include the following:         

1.    To use writing, the critical reading of mature prose texts, and research as means of general cognitive development, as activities which foster intellectual growth in an academic environment.

2.    To encourage students to see writing as a learning tool that is important in all contexts and is not confined to the writing classroom. 

3.    To teach students to plan, organize, and develop persuasive essays by using introspection, general observation, deliberation, course reading, and research beyond classroom texts. 

4.    To make students aware of their individual voices and how those voices can be adapted to fit different audiences and rhetorical situations. 

5.    To encourage students to view writing as a process by using several prewriting, organizing, drafting, revising, and editing strategies. 

6.    To stress the importance of clear communication by teaching students to revise effectively through the complete rethinking, restructuring, and rewriting of essays. 

7.    To encourage independent thinking. 

8.     To teach students to evaluate, document, and incorporate source material accurately and appropriately, according to “The Correct Use of Borrowed Information.” 

Student Learning Outcomes for Writing 101 include the following:

1.       Students will analyze and evaluate nonfiction prose texts both for their ideas and their rhetorical choices through the use of critical reading strategies.

2.       Students will plan, organize, and develop persuasive, logical, and well-supported essays by using strategies such as introspection, general observation, and deliberation of source material.

3.       Students will recognize and use prewriting, organizing, drafting, and revising strategies.

4.       Students will apply feedback from the instructor, peers, and self-analysis to improve their

writing.

5.    Students will evaluate, document, and incorporate source material accurately and appropriately according to “The Correct Use of Borrowed Information” and MLA documentation style.

Touchstone Program This course meets Touchstone Goal One: “To communicate clearly and effectively in standard English” and Goal Three: “To use critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and a variety of research methods.”  It also provides students with opportunities to meet potentially Goal Four: “To recognize and appreciate human diversity (both past and present) as well as the diversity of ideas, institutions, philosophies, moral codes, and ethical principles” as well as Goal Seven: “To examine values, attitudes, beliefs, and habits which define the nature and quality of life.”  Writing 101 appears in the Touchstone Program as part of the “Writing and Critical Thinking” skill area.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

Assignment                                                                                                        % of Grade

Essay 1                                                                                                                                  10%

Essay 2                                                                                                                                  15%

Essay 3                                                                                                                                  15%

Essay 4                                                                                                                                  20%

Final Exam                                                                                                                           15%

Writer’s Notebook                                                                                                          15%
Daily Grade                                                                                                                         10%                                                                                                                       

****ALL ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE COMPLETED IN ORDER TO RECEIVE CREDIT FOR THE CLASS. 

Here is a general description of the procedures we will follow regarding these course requirements:

Essays

You will develop 5 essays: 3 out-of-class and 2 in-class (this includes the final).  You will be expected to have all but the in-class essays typed.  All papers must be double spaced and follow standard MLA guidelines as outlined in your handbook for documentation and style as well as follow “The Correct Use of Borrowed Information.” Use Times New Roman 12 point font.  I will ask you to turn in your prewriting and rough drafts with your final copy, so keep everything.  I usually ask that you turn the information in using a two-pocket folder: on one side, place the prewriting, notes, drafts, and on the other, place the final copy by itself.   Essays will be evaluated by the standards listed in the “Rubric for Freshman Composition."

Peer Evaluations To continue improving your writing and to encourage revision, we will have peer evaluations for all but the in-class essays.  You will need to turn in these critiqued rough drafts with the final paper.  These rough drafts are NOT optional, and while they are certainly subject to change, the more complete your rough draft is, the more feedback your classmates can give you. If you are not prepared for these peer evaluations, are absent, or do not turn in the critiqued drafts with your final paper, you will have 5 points deducted from the final paper grade.  (Note: If you miss this peer review because of extenuating circumstances such as traveling to represent the university, a visit to the Writing Center may count as an appropriate substitute; however, this must be approved by me in advance.)

A note about Revision: If revision opportunities are given, revision grades will be averaged with the original grades to determine your final average.  Consult the calendar for revision due dates.  Revisions will not be accepted after the due date.

Writer’s Notebook: This LOOSELEAF notebook will contain various in-class and reading activities.  For example, I may ask you to complete a research exercise or to write a response to one of the readings.  The assignments will vary and will usually be announced in class. 

Daily Grade: This grade includes class participation, leading discussion, and quizzes.   

GRADING STANDARDS: Grades are based on the following:

A             =             93-100                                                   D-           =             60-62

A-           =             90-92                                                     F              =             59 and below
B+           =             87-89

B             =             83-86

B-            =             80-82
C+           =             77-79

C             =             73-76

C-            =             70-72

D+          =             67-69

D             =             63-66

MINIMUM GRADE REQUIREMENT:  Students must earn at least a C- in Writing 101.  Students must repeat Writing 101 if they earn less than a C-.  At least a C- in Writing 101 is a prerequisite for enrolling in HMXP102.

HONOR POLICY: 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 quote, 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/studentaffairs/Judicial/judcode.htm).  The English Department has prepared The Correct Use of Borrowed Information to explain plagiarism. You will 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.

Also pay special attention to the section Academic Discipline in the Code of Student Conduct, which includes this definition:

Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to, providing or receiving assistance in a manner not authorized by the professor in the creation of the work to be submitted for academic evaluation including papers, projects, and examinations; presenting, as one’s own, the ideas or words of another for academic evaluation without proper acknowledgment; doing unauthorized academic work for which another person will receive credit or be evaluation; and presenting the same or substantially the same papers or projects in two or more courses without the explicit permission of the professors involved.  In addition, academic misconduct involves attempting to influence one’s academic evaluation by means other than academic achievement or merit. (35-36)

In this course, depending on the nature and severity of the offense, the plagiarism policy ranges from a 0 on a particular assignment to failing the assignment to failing the course, as well as being subject to the school’s disciplinary system. I assume all work that you submit is original and written for this class.

DUPLICATE SUBMISSION OF PAPERS: You may not submit a paper for a grade in this class that already has been (or will be) submitted for a grade in another course, unless you obtain the explicit written permission of me and the other instructor involved in advance. This is to conform 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." (Student Code of Conduct §V)

TURNITIN: We will be using the TurnItIn program.  I’ll distribute the course id and password in class.  Papers will not be graded until they have been submitted.

STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT: 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.

ATTENDANCE POLICY: In this class, I will follow the standard Winthrop policy, which states: “Students are expected to attend classes and should understand that they are responsible for the academic consequences of absence.  The student is responsible for all requirements of the course regardless of absences. Instructors are obligated to provide makeup opportunities only for students who are absent with adequate cause such as incapacitating illness, death of an immediate family member, or authorized representation of the university.  The instructor will be responsible for judging the adequacy of cause for absence.  The student is responsible for providing documentation certifying the legitimacy of the absence to his or her instructor in advance of such absences.  In health-related or family emergency cases where advance notice is not possible, documentation should be provided to the instructor no later than the date the student returns to class.  . . . If a student’s absences in a course total 25 percent or more of the class meetings for the course, the student will receive a grade of N if the student withdraws from the course before the withdrawal deadline; after that date, unless warranted by documented extenuating circumstances as described in the previous section, a grade of F or U shall be assigned.” 28 class meetings are scheduled, so 6 is the maximum.  Despite these generous numbers, it is important to remember that attendance is crucial to one’s success in a writing class.  Given the amount of in-class work and the policies regarding late work, frequent absences will certainly lower your overall grade.Consequently, I expect that you will attend and be on time for every class meeting.

• 3 tardies will result in an absence.
• Sleeping in class will result in an absence.
• Using electronic devices inappropriately in class will result in an absence

LATE PAPER/ASSIGNMENT POLICY: This policy varies with the type of assignment:

• Informal assignments such as in-class activities cannot be made up. 
• Notebook entries will not be accepted late.  You may miss one without penalty.
• For formal essays, the work is due in-class according to the dates on the schedule.  Any work not handed in during the class will be penalized a half-letter grade for being late, and then one letter grade for each day late thereafter.  (This includes weekends).  For example, if a paper is due in class on Tuesday at 12:30, and you’re not there but show up at my office at 6:30, your paper will receive a half-letter grade deduction.  However, if I do not receive the paper until Tuesday, it will receive a letter and a half grade deduction: half a grade for not having it in class on T, and an additional letter grade for it being a day late.  After five days (including weekends), the paper will not be accepted.
• If work is required to be submitted to Turn It In, the paper will not be graded until it has been submitted. Work should also be submitted to Turn It In by the deadlines announced in class. Failure to do so will affect one’s daily grade.
• I consider the paper being turned in when I receive the paper copy directly in my hands.  Slipping work under my door should then be avoided as there is no way to verify the time. 
• When I refer to work, I am referring to the hard copies; I generally will not accept assignments via email unless I have given prior approval.   

Note: If some kind of unforeseeable medical or legal situation arises, notify me as soon as possible.  Depending upon the severity of the situation and the nature of the documentation provided, this late policy may be adjusted.

EXAM INFORMATION: The Final Examination policy states: “Personal conflict such as travel plans and work schedules do not warrant a change in examination times” (29).  Our exam is scheduled for 11:30 am on Friday, April 27, 2012.

SYLLABUS CHANGE POLICY: The policy statement posted on my class web page is the most up-to-date one and will be the one we use to resolve any questions or issues.

INSTRUCTIOR 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 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. What you cannot expect of me is to be available 24/7. While I do check my email and voicemail regularly, I do not necessarily respond more than once a day or late in the evenings or the weekends. Please plan your time accordingly to maximize the probability that you will receive a response in time for it to be useful.

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: Winthrop University is dedicated to providing access to education.  If you have a disability and require specific accommodations to complete this course, contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS) at 803-323-3290.  Once you have your official notice of accommodations from the Office of Disability Services, please inform me as early as possible in the semester.

APPRPORIATE USE OF HAND-HELD AND WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY I will follow the College of Arts and Sciences policy regarding cell phones, laptops, and other electronic devices.
Additional Notes about the Use of Electronic Devices:

• Texting or emailing in class will result in an absence. 

• Unless required by a documented accommodation, lap tops will not be needed in class.
• During exams, I will require students to place their belongings—including their phones—in the front of the room. 

SAFE ZONES STATEMENT: The professor considers this classroom to be a place where you will be treated with respect as a human being – regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, political beliefs, age, or ability. Additionally, diversity of thought is appreciated and encouraged, provided you can agree to disagree. It is the professor’s expectation that ALL students consider the classroom a safe environment.

WRITING CENTER: The Writing Center provides support for all students in all Winthrop classes free of charge. It is located in 242 Bancroft (x-2138). Check its web page www.winthrop.edu/wcenter) for current hours.