Calumet College of St

Calumet College of St. Joseph

SYLLABUS FOR RHETORIC 103X

Term: Fall 2005 (051)

Course Number: Rhetoric and Composition 103X

Instructor: Nita Danko

Office Phone: 219-989-2657

E-mail: ccsjcomposition@yahoo.com

Office Hours: Wednesday, 4-7, Writing Lab

Instructor Background: I have a Master of Arts in English Literature (18^th and 19^th centuries). I have taught English 100 for six years. I teach from the developmental reading and writing levels to research writing. I am a tutor here at CCSJ as well as other colleges. I also work full time at Purdue University Calumet where I teach a variety of composition and reading courses, and work both as an administrator and a tutor in the Writing Center at Purdue University Calumet (8 years). I adore reading British women writers of the 18^th and 19^th centuries, and modern American women writers as well. I am also nerdy enough to love research and academic writing. Something you might never guess about me? I love busting packs of NASCAR racing cards!

Course Time: 7-10:00 PM, Monday, Writing Lab

Course Description: English 103 is the study and practice of correct, lively, and clear writing. In this course, we employ the writing workshop method of developing correct writing through oral presentations and reading. Individual grammatical problems are addressed. This course must be taken in the student's first semester at the College.

Prerequisites: NONE

Learning Outcomes/ Competencies:

Students in this course will:

· Demonstrate their communication skills

· Demonstrate a strong, clear voice in writing

· Demonstrate writing skills, especially writing substantive, coherent and organized essays

· Identify the differences between personal and academic writing

· Write in appropriate academic, rhetorical forms

· Employ technology as it relates to writing essays and papers

Learning Strategies: In-class writing, Group Work, Collaborative Learning, Teacher mentoring and instruction, etc.

Center for Academic Excellence:

Tutoring assistance is free to all students of Calumet College of St. Joseph. Call the Center for Academic Excellence (CAE), to make an appointment at 473-4287. 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.

Textbooks:

Writing Essentials

The Things They Carried (Tim O’Brien)

Other Materials: Students are required to have two computer disks: one to save your papers on and one backup disk to be turned in with each paper. This backup disk will contain copies of all your papers.

Assessment:

Final grades will be based on many things:

a. oral and written performance in class

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

c. fulfilling the requirements of each of the assigned forms

d. handing in any and all rewrites as required by instructor

e. quizzes (if given)

f. handing in a substantial amount of acceptable writing (including required revisions and rewrites)*

g. passing the end of course competency writing essay

*A rubric for acceptable writing is found at the end of the syllabus. The end of course competency writing essay is evaluated according to the same rubric.

Paper Requirements

In order to submit a word-processed assignment, the following must be true (except in the case where a specific format is required by the documentation style for the assignment):

ü There are 1” margins

ü The upper left-hand corner, single spaced, contains your name, the assignment, and the date

ü The body of the paper is uniformly double spaced

ü The paper is held together by a staple in the upper left hand corner

ü The paper is saved on two computer disks in either a .doc or .rtf file

ü The paper is turned in on time

NOTE: Your computer problems are not my computer problems. Therefore, lack of ink or paper, forgotten disk, improperly saved document, or a crashed computer do not excuse a late assignment.

Class Policy for Late Assignments: Because this class meets only once a week, all assignments must be handed in on time. If you cannot meet with the class, a hard copy of your paper must be in my mailbox by 9:30 p.m. on the due date. A paper turned in the week after it is due will be graded down one letter grade. After being late one week, a paper will not be accepted and will receive zero points.

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: college classroom is a learning environment. Therefore, cell phones, NEXTELs, and two-way radios are banned from my classroom. These devices are not conducive to learning. If there is an emergency situation, which requires you to use one, I must be made aware of it before class starts. Even then you will be required to keep it on vibrate. In the event your device goes off, you will be asked to leave the classroom for that day, and given an absence.

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:

ü Incoming and outgoing phone calls

ü Responding to cell phones/NEXTELs

ü Horseplay

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

ü Use of the Internet or email unless assigned to do so

ü Vulgarity of speech or behavior

Statement of Plagiarism:

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) Please be aware that your paper may be submitted for examination for plagiarism to Turnitin.com, a plagiarism-check Internet company with which the college has contracted.

Calendar of Assignments:

Please Note: Modifications to the calendar of assignments may be made to meet the needs of this specific class. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to contact me or a classmate to find out what is due for the next class period.

Unit I Personal Essay

Narrative and/or Letter

This essay introduces the concepts of audience, organization, and basic mechanics

Unit II The Basic Academic Essay Structure/s

This essay introduces the concepts of introductions, thesis, paragraph organization and development of the main body, and conclusion

Unit III The Compare/Contrast Essay

Unit IV The Cause-Effect Essay

Note: Students will be required to rewrite the above essays and/or to write alternative essays of the structures. Individual student conferences will also take place around the time of Units 3-4.

Unit V: Competency Essay (week 10)

This in-class essay is evaluated by two 103 professors according to the

established rubric/criteria. The essay is based on the reading of Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried. Students MUST pass this essay evaluation in order to pass English 103. Students can redo the essay if they do not pass the first time.

Unit VI Persuasive Essay

This essay prepares the students for English 104, teaching argumentation, research and MLA format.

Appropriate readings will be assigned. Students are expected to hand in all papers, required revisions, and do all the assigned readings.

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. The Registrar must receive written request for withdrawal 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.

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).

School Closing Information: