Calumet College of St. Joseph

SYLLABUS FOR RHETORIC 103A

Term: Spring 2001-2002 (011) (Jan. 7 – April 20)

Course Number: Rhetoric and Composition 103A

Instructor: Dr. Richard Damashek

Office: 522

Office Phone: 219-473-4273

E-mail: rdamashek@ccsj.edu

Home Phone:

Office Hours: by appointment

Instructor Background: After an extended career as a professor of literature, I developed an intense interest in teaching writing. At the same time, I discovered my strongest interest was in teaching students whose writing skills were not developed sufficiently to allow them to succeed in college. I have devoted my teaching career to helping them become successful, not only as writers but as college students. Part of my responsibility at the college is to direct the tutoring services through the Center for Academic Excellence.

Course Time: MR: 10:20-12:00 AM

Course Description: English 103 is a competency-based writing course. The goal of the course is to help students produce lively and clear writing with a minimum of errors and to prepare them to succeed in the more advanced writing assignments of Rhetoric 104. Students’ writing competency will be measured near the end of the course with an in-class written essay that will be evaluated by a member of the English Department. If the student’s final essay does not meet the English Department standards, the student may need to take the course again to improve his/her writing abilities. The course employs the writing workshop method of developing quality writing through extensive writing practice, oral presentations and reading. Individual grammatical problems are addressed.

Prerequisites: NONE

Learning Outcomes/ Competencies:

Students in this course will:

· Demonstrate their communication skills

· Demonstrate a strong, clear voice in writing

· Demonstrate writing skills in coherent, well organized imaginative and thoughtful essays

· Identify the differences between personal and academic writing

· Employ technology as it relates to writing essays and papers

Textbooks:

The Mercury Reader (2001 edition), A Writer’s Reference (4^th edition), Diana Hacker, and Richard Wright’s Black Boy.

Learning Strategies: In-class writing, group work, collaborative learning, and teacher mentoring and instruction.

Assessment:

Final grades will be based on:

a. progress and improvement in writing as reflected in the student’s portfolio

· fulfilling the requirements of each of the assigned writing forms

· timeliness of submission of first drafts and revisions (late papers will lose five points, the equivalent of one full grade)

· handing in a minimum of 4 pages per paper of acceptable writing (including required revisions and rewrites and passing the end of course competency writing essay)* (85%)

b. assigned quizzes based on reading assignments (15%)

· The criteria for acceptable writing are found at the end of the syllabus. The end of course competency writing essay is evaluated according to the same criteria.

Class Policy for Assignments:

All assignments must be handed in on time. No more than one late paper will be accepted the last class period.

All papers will be/have:

a. typed

b. double-spaced

c. stapled

d. 12 point fonts in New Times Roman ONLY

e. one inch margins

f. a cover page with student’s name, paper form and date due and date turned in

g. an imaginative title on page one of the paper

h. a minimum of four pages

Papers done in any other format will not be accepted.

Class Policy on Attendance:

In accordance with English program policy, any student missing more than NINE (9) hours of class will receive an F. These nine hours include both excused and unexcused absences, such as birthdays, sport events, illness, work, etc.

Grading Scale:

Letter grades will be assigned according to the student’s fulfilling the requirements listed above (See assessment and Class policy for Assignments, and Class policy on Attendance.)

Class Policy on Electronic Devices:

When you enter the classroom, turn off cell phones and beepers. It is disruptive to have them going off during class. If there is an important reason why you must have your phone or beeper turned on (e.g. illness at home, work situation), please inform me before class begins.

Classroom Decorum:

Classroom decorum will be maintained at all times. Students have the right to study and learn in an environment conducive to those ends. You instructor also has the right to engage in the teaching and learning process without hindrance because of the disruptive behavior of one
or more students.

Any student or group of students who infringe on the rights of other students
or on the rights of this instructor to teach his class will be asked to leave
the classroom and will not be allowed back during that period. The student's
removal from the classroom will result in one absence for the day and will be
counted toward the total of nine allowable absences.

Students removed a second time for disruptive behavior may be required to
withdraw from the course.

Specific Disturbances Covered by this Policy:

Incoming and outgoing phone calls

Responding to beepers

Horseplay

Leaving the class without permission

Talking to other students while another student or the instructor is talking

Use of the Internet or email unless assigned to do so

Vulgarity of speech or behavior

Course Outline:

Forms and Assignments:

Unit I Letter I

Unit II Narrative

Unit III Process

Unit IV Letter on your Behalf

Unit V Comparison and Contrast

Unit VI Cause-Effect

Unit VII Persuasive

Unit VIII Summary

Unit IX Competency Paper (Final Exam)

Readings from The Mercury Reader, Black Boy, A Writer’s Reference and other handouts will be assigned. Students are expected to hand in all papers, required revisions, and do all the assigned readings.

Free Tutoring Services:

Tutoring assistance is free to all students of Calumet College of St. Joseph. Students who wish to excel in this class are urged to sign up to receive tutoring assistance for all their writing assignments. Call the Center for Academic Excellence (CAE), 473-4287, to make an appointment at. The Center has experienced and well-trained tutors in most subject areas to help students who are struggling in a course or who are doing well and would like to do better. Regular weekly tutoring sessions are likely to improve your grade.

Statement of Plagiarism:

Calumet College subscribes to an online plagiarism detection program for analyses student papers against the entire contents of the internet. In one semester, the program has already identified two students who used internet sources for their papers without proper documentation and submitted the writing as their own. Disciplinary action has been initiated against these students. If an instructor or other Calumet College of St. Joseph personnel find that a student has plagiarized or been involved in another form of academic dishonesty, the instructor or other personnel may elect to bring the matter up for judicial review. The maximum penalty for any form of academic dishonesty is dismissal from the College. The procedures for judicial review are listed under the section of CCSJ handbook that addresses student grievances. (Academic Planner 2001/2002 p.27)

Citation Guidelines:

Calumet College of St. Joseph adheres to citation guidelines as prescribed by the particular discipline (i.e., MLA, APA, and Chicago Manual of Style or Turabian.). All of these guidelines are available in the Calumet College of St. Joseph library or bookstore. These texts outline how to cite references from a variety of sources, including electronic media.

Withdrawal from Classes Policy:

After the last day for class changes has passed (see College calendar), students may withdraw from a course in which they are registered with permission from the faculty member conducting the course. A written request detailing the reason(s) for the withdrawal must be filed with the Registrar. Written request for withdrawal must be received by the Registrar by the last day of classes prior to the final examination dates specified in the catalogue. Written requests may be mailed to the Registrar or faxed to the College fax number 219-473-4259. Students are to make note of the refund schedule when withdrawing from courses. The request is forwarded to the faculty member, who makes the final determination to accept or deny the request. If the request is honored, the student will receive notification of official withdrawal; if denied, the notification will indicate why the withdrawal is disallowed. Note: Degree Completion Division (DCD) students should consult the DCD Student Handbook for information on DCD withdrawals.

An official withdrawal is recorded as a "W" grade on the student's transcript. Dropping a course without written permission automatically incurs an "F" grade for the course (see Refund Schedule).

Checklist for evaluating essays

[1]Name:

Paper Format:

Pages:

Minimum number of points for essay competency: 21 points

Unsatisfactory Satisfactory Excellent