Syllabus

Syllabus

REMEMBER: DURING THE SEMESTER, SAVE EVERYTHING!!! TEXTS Discovering Arguments: An Introduction to Critical Thinking and Writing with Readings, 3rd Edition. By William Palmer.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Keep in mind that this course is called rhetoric not composition or writing. You may come into this class thinking of it as a course where you will learn how to write papers for your other college courses—and this it true. But rhetoric is more—so much more. What is rhetoric? It is the art of using words and images to accomplish a purpose. How does this differ from a "normal" writing course? For one, we won't be spending much time on things like grammar and punctuation, except when it comes to style. For another, we do more than just write. But most importantly, we will begin to look at ourselves as artists rather than just writers, word artists—those schooled in the art of language. Think of this: language can start wars, ruin relationships, save lives, change minds, cause riots, keep peace, promote change, cause hatred...the list goes on. This semester you will begin to understand the power of language and how to make it work for you.

My theory of rhetoric is based on the idea that I can’t teach you how to write well; all I can do is help you learn. What this means is that writing isn’t something you learn by listening to lectures and taking notes, nor is it something you learn by observing and imitating, by studying, by cramming—none of these will help you. You learn to write well, rather, by writing—it takes practice. I am here to guide that practice and keep you writing. The main objective is that you leave this course knowing your writing process, and, as a result, how to communicate your thoughts and ideas well. It’s important to think of this course, though, not as one where you’ll learn how to write, since you already know how, but rather one that will improve your writing skills, helping you become a better writer. So no matter what stage you are in as a writer, this course is intended to further your abilities: sharpen basic skills, refine your word choice for various audiences, and learn how to notice details and ideas, how to raise questions for analysis and evaluation, and how to use language to express what is important to you. And again, remember that I am here to help. The only way for me to know you are having trouble is if you let me know.

COURSE GOALS • To be able to understand various perspectives and show that understanding through your writing. • To learn the basics of persuasive writing—logos, pathos, and ethos—and how to balance these appropriately according to purpose and audience • To learn to support your ideas with in-depth, clear and persuasive evidence from a variety of sources, including your own experiences and the experiences of others • To learn to constructively evaluate your own writing and the writing of others • To learn solid research methodologies from locating, choosing and evaluating sources to creating an annotated bibliography • To use research carefully, wisely, and persuasively as well as citing in-text correctly and creating a perfect MLA works cited page • To learn to read critically, think critically, and write critically to create interesting and communicative writing that shows insight and passion • To show an understanding of readings and topics and engage thoughtfully with these topics through careful and well-organized ideas • To write with a clear purpose and, through various persuasive techniques, accomplish that purpose

REQUIRED MATERIALS A notebook, any size, just for this course (meaning don’t have notes in it from other classes). Make sure to have looseleaf paper or a spiral notebook in which the pages are perforated. I will not accept papers turned in with fringe on the edges. Some sort of folder or binder to keep your work for the semester, including all your drafts, homework assignments, and in-class writings. At the end of the semester you will be creating a portfolio and writing an evaluation of your writing over the semester; keeping all your work is the only way to make this possible.

JOURNALS You will be doing some journaling during each unit, which will be graded on critical thought and support only. I will put journal prompts on the wiki when they are due the following class period. Your personal wiki page will be the space where you journal, and I will check them on the day they are due to be sure you have it done by class time. If you are unable to be in class, you can still do your journal and post it on the wiki and get credit for having it done.

IN-CLASS ESSAYS (10%) There will be two of these during the semester. One is your mid-term and one is your final, and it is very important to come to class on these days. If, for good reason, you are unable to attend on the day of an in-class writing, let me know ahead of time and we can schedule a time for you to come in to my office and write it. (Coming to class is, obviously, the better option.) Without prior notice, however, you may NOT make up in-class writings.

PAPER PORTFOLIOS The semester will be divided into two main units, each taking up half the semester. The first unit focuses on argumentation without research, and the second focuses on argumentation with research. While there are several assignments due during the unit, none of them will actually be graded until the end of the unit. This gives you plenty of time to write and rewrite, get extra help if you need it, or go to the Writing Center for some support. A rubric for the portfolio will be provided, including a list of all the elements that need to be included in the portfolio. The first portfolio will be worth a total of 40% of your grade, and the second worth 45%. This includes journals, minor papers, presentations, and major papers. In-class essays and your department portfolio are not included.

DEPARTMENT PORTFOLIO (5%) At the end of the course you will hand in a portfolio. You will select at least three of your best papers—carefully edited and polished—to include in it, along with the graded copy with my comments on it. One of these papers must be your research paper. You also have the option of rewriting—and possibly improving your grade on—one of your papers. In order to do so, however, you must conference with me after you get your final draft back so that we can work on revision of your paper. For your portfolio, you will write a cover letter addressed to me, reflecting on and evaluating your growth as a writer this term (more details later).

GRAMMAR EXAMS (5%)You will be taking three grammar exams during the semester: the first two are trials for the third and have no point value. The third is graded and worth 50 points (5%).

POINTS BREAKDOWN Unit One Portfolio (journals, presentations, polished papers, drafts) – 400 points (40%) Unit Two Portfolio (journals, presentations, annotated bib, research, polished papers, drafts, etc.) – 400 points Grammar Exam Final – 50 points (5%) Department Portfolio – 50 points (5%) In-class Exams (one midterm, one final) – 100 points (10%)

CONFERENCES We will spend very little time in class working with one another’s papers. However, we will spend time outside of class. We will conduct what I call “group conferences,” in which you and three others work together on your papers with me. You will be required to sign up for and participate in at least one group conference per unit (a total of two). Because nothing is due until the portfolio, it will be up to you to determine what writing you would like to work on with the group, but it should total no more than 7 or 8 pages maximum. Group conferences begin the third week of class. Sign up and read more about these conferences on the wiki. Individual conferences with me will not be required for the first unit; however, you may come meet with me any time to discuss your writing. Please meet with me and we will schedule a time, or you can simply come during office hours. An individual conference with me is required for the research paper. Please be sure to attend.

ASSIGNMENT FORMAT All papers will be word processed, 12 point font, Times New Roman, double spaced, with one inch margins. This is MLA format and should always be used (more about this later). For all papers, in the top left-hand corner, put your name, my last name, course number, the date, and the assignment number.

MOODLE AND WIKISPACE I used to use Moodle for as many things as I could think of. Now it is our wiki at wendtenglish101W09.wikispaces.com. I will go over wiki usage in class the first week, but be aware of the following: • Every portfolio polished paper should be submitted electronically on Moodle where indicated. Please only submit the final drafts. All other documents should be on your wiki. • All handouts, assignments, and readings will be posted on our wiki, so if you lose your handout or are absent, please don’t ask me for another; just download and print it from the wiki. This is YOUR responsibility. • If you miss class and want to know what, if any, homework is due, please check the wiki; don’t email me (unless, of course, I forget to post the homework!). • All grading and information that cannot be shared will be done through Moodle: wikis are NOT private. • Each of you has your own wikispace. It is yours to do with what you wish. But please keep it relevant to this course. Here you will be writing/posting homework assignments, papers, drafts, etc. As you post these things, however, be sure to come up with a sensible and easy to understand labeling scheme so that others especially me) can quickly identify your documents and other work. Think of it as a record of your course. It will make sense for you to organize it well so that you can find what you need when you need it. It will also, at the end of the course, serve you well as an electronic portfolio where you can access all your work for the semester to decide what you want to include for you hardcopy portfolio.

LATE WORK For many reasons, it is important for you to turn your work in on time. If you won’t be able to come to class the day a portfolio is due, let me know and we’ll make arrangements for you to turn it in on time in another way. If there are extenuating circumstances, these should be communicated to me well in advance; it isn’t an extenuating circumstance, for example, if you put off the paper until the night before and then don’t get it done. For every day a portfolio is late it will lose 5% of its total. And that means every day, not just every day we have class, Saturdays and Sundays included.

THE WRITING CENTER Although I will be conferencing with you off and on, additional help is available—and advisable—at the Writing Center. The Writing Center is located on the first floor of the library back by the computer lab. You may call the Writing Center (7097) or e-mail us (writingcenter@alma.edu) at any time to schedule an appointment. You will greatly benefit from this resource, so be sure to take advantage of it.

GRADING SCALE Points Percentage Letter Grade 4.0 Scale 930-1000 93-100% A 4.0 880-929 88-92% A/B 3.5 830-879 83-87% B 3.0 780-829 78-82% B/C 2.5 730-779 73-77% C 2.0 680-729 68-72% C/D 1.5 630-679 63-67% D 1.0 580-629 58-62% D/E 0.5

GRADING Alma College requires that you pass ENG 101 with a C or better in order to move on. A C/D for the semester will mean that you must re-take ENG 101 or be remanded to ENG 100. Be aware of this: it is very possible to get lower than a C in this course—and it happens most often for those who don’t come to class. Those who attend class regularly are much more likely to succeed. Remember, too, that I am always available to help you in any way.

PLAGIARISM It is a crime, literally, to say you wrote something when you didn’t. Plagiarism means using someone else’s words and calling them yours. And you would be surprised how easy it is to plagiarize without realizing it. If you get something off the Internet or from a book, or write what someone else said, you must cite the source. It is also plagiarism if you take someone’s words and shuffle them around or change them a little and call them yours. Paraphrasing without citing the source is still plagiarism. We will work on this to avoid it. And you’ll want to avoid it, because plagiarism can result in an F on a paper, failing the course, or expulsion from school. (For details on AC’s academic integrity policy, see page 30 of the Academic Catalog). Plagiarism is a serious issue. Don’t do it.

ATTENDANCE It is very difficult to succeed in this course without regular attendance. So I’ll give you 3 freebees—you don’t need to tell me anything at all. However, for every absence beyond three, I will lower your grade by one-half letter grade. (E.g. If your course grade is a “B” and you have four unexcused absences, your final grade will be a “B/C”; five unexcused will give you a “C”, etc.) Please contact me promptly if you are having problems and cannot attend class. If you know you will be absent on a particular day, please see me at least one week in advance to make arrangements. Also be aware that anyone who comes to class more than ten minutes late will be marked absent for the day.