Engl 105: Thought & Writing

Credit Hours: 4.0; Spring 2004, 1/05/04 - 4/14/04
M & W 6:00 - 7:50 pm; Brown Hall, Room 3038

Required Text: Steps to Writing Well by Jean Wyrick, 5th edition
Required: Fee (consignment) card
Recommended: A Pocket Style Manual by Hacker

Course description:
Thought and Writing builds on the abilities you have already developed in critical thinking and writing. We will focus on careful analysis of ideas, stories and texts, examining how analysis leads to interpretation. The papers you write will articulate your analysis and interpretation within a framework of prose we will develop through drafts, review and revision.

Course Goals & Objectives:

• Enhance writing and critical application of thought through the writing processes of generation, drafting, revision, editing and proofreading.
• Develop and improve writing skills by incorporating suggested revisions from peers and instructor.
• Develop writing skills through elaboration of ideas and grounding of thesis in fact.

     Class participation/in-class work (10%)          40 pts
     Mid-term portfolio (12%)                         50 pts
     Essay assignments - 5 x 50 pts/each (63%)       250 pts
     Final portfolio (15%)                            60 pts
     Total                                           400 pts


     Grading Scale:
          A    = 93 - 100%              C    = 73 - 77%
          BA   = 88 - 92%               DC   = 68 - 72%
          B    = 83 - 87%               D    = 61 - 67%
          CB   = 78 - 82%               E    = 60% and below

• You are bound by all student policies of Western Michigan University and should familiarize yourself with these through reading the undergraduate catalog and The Student Code handbook.
• You should be prepared for each class session, participate in discussions and peer reviews, and hand assignments in when due.
• You are expected to assist in maintaining a classroom environment that is conducive to learning. Free discussion, inquiry, and expression are encouraged. Behavior that interferes with my ability to conduct the class or the ability of students to benefit from that instruction is not acceptable. This includes entering class late or leaving early; use of beepers, cellular telephones, or other electronic devices; or talking while others are speaking.
• As a point of academic integrity, you are required to submit original material of your own creation. Plagiarism of any material is a serious offense and could result in failure of the course or dismissal from the university. Plagiarism refers to the use of someone else's ideas or words without correct documentation. It is the student's responsibility to ask the instructor to clarify any questions on correct use of documentation for the work submitted in the course.

Course Requirements:

• Class assignments must typed, double-spaced. Length 4-6 pages per essay assignment. There will be five (5) essays on different subjects and differing analysis (approach).
• Please watch grammar, spelling and form. We will be working together through different drafts to polish your work into prose meeting expectations of an academic audience.
• Participation: encompasses in class discussion, in class writing assignments and peer reviews. I strongly encourage you to participate, however, you must participate in peer reviews.
• Mid-term portfolio to help review your first essay assignments and guide you toward a polished final portfolio.
• A final portfolio consisting of at least twenty (20) pages of polished writing, due on the last day of class, April 14. The portfolio will contain:
• 2-page analysis of the contents
• 4-5 polished essays, or enough to provide 20 pages
• evaluation drafts of those essays

Miscellaneous items & policies:

• Assignment sheets will be handed out at the beginning of each paper cycle. Except for the portfolio analysis, papers will be worked through multiple drafts. You will be expected to revise and edit these drafts as you receive feedback, either from your peers or myself.
• Working through drafts, learning to critique and revise, is a critical component of this course. I reserve the right to decline a paper for evaluation or inclusion in the portfolio if I have not seen earlier drafts, or those drafts do not reflect revision.
• Recommended reading: Western's policy on academic honesty, which may be found in the Undergraduate Catalog. I can not accept papers written for another class, nor previous high school writings. This is university policy, and students who violate it risk failing the course, in addition to possible further sanctions from the Dean of Student Judicial Affairs.
• Late work can not be an option. We move rapidly through several stages of drafts, and one paper to another. If you miss a class period, e-mail your assignment as an attachment (text or MS Word format), or send it with a classmate. If you get behind, get in touch with me immediately so we can develop a plan to help you. There may be unavoidable situations for which I will accept late papers, but these will be handled on a case by case basis.
• Missing papers will lower a student's overall grade by a full letter ("A" becomes a "B").
• Please be punctual to avoid disruptions. The English Department policy on abscences states ten or more will result in failure. Missing more than three classes will greatly reduce you chances of reworking enough drafts to have a polished final portfolio. Missing three classes during an essay cycle, from topic assignment to final draft, may forfeit your chance to submit that paper. Exceptions may be granted after careful review of the extenuating circumstances.
• Last day to withdraw from class without academic penalty is March 15.