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WRITING AND RESEARCH
SYLLABUS
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Term: Fall Semester, 2005
Course Number: 11104B Rhetoric and Composition I
Instructor: Ginger G. Rodriguez
E-mail:
gingergr@aol.com
Home Phone: 219
659-3615; cell: 219 616-2078
Office Hours: By
appointment
Instructor Background: Master of Liberal Arts, University of
20 years’
experience as an editor and proofreader for college textbooks in the humanities
and social studies with McGraw-Hill Higher Education
Course Time: Wednesdays
Course Description: English
104 develops and refines skills gained in English 103 with an emphasis on the
development of research skills. The forms of English 103 are integrated into
longer, cohesive papers on topics in many fields to enable students to
communicate effectively and knowledgeably in their own fields of interest. This
course must be taken in the student’s second semester at the College.
Prerequisites: English 103
Learning Outcomes/ Competencies:
Students in this course will:
·
Demonstrate
their communications skills.
·
Write
sustained, well-developed prose essays that demonstrate clear, complete, and
concise writing and use appropriate grammar, punctuation, style, and
development.
·
Demonstrate
strong research skills, utilizing Internet and print resources effectively for
academic writing.
·
Write
a coherent and well-documented research paper.
·
Produce
good academic writing in regards to content and format.
Textbooks: Blair Handbook
Writing
Research Papers: A Complete Guide, Lester and Lester
Wanda Hickey’s Night
of Golden Memories and Other Disasters, Jean Shepherd
Learning Strategies:
Good writing
comes from practice, and this class will offer many opportunities to learn and practice
academic writing:
In-class writing and outside writing
assignments will develop research skills and skills in writing papers that
summarize, paraphrase and quote, analyze, and compare and contrast.
Group work and collaborative learning will promote
effective written and oral communication skills.
Teacher instruction will emphasize
basic writing skills, including grammar, punctuation, content, format, and
style.
Teacher mentoring: One-on-one
meetings will provide individual feedback and assistance.
Class
participation will
enhance learning. This course is designed as a workshop; participating in class
discussions and asking questions is anticipated.
A research project will be the
culmination of the class. The
course builds toward presenting a complete academic research project in a cumulative
process that involves a number of steps, all of which must be successfully
completed: from identifying possible topics, to writing a thesis statement,
outline, complete rough draft, and final paper.
Assessment:
Final grades will be based on all the
components of the course, including
Oral and written performance in class.
Progress
and improvement in writing as reflected in the student’s portfolio.
Fulfilling the requirements of each of the assigned writing forms.
Completing each step of the research paper.
Quizzes
(if given)
Handing in a substantial amount of acceptable writing (including required
revisions and rewrites)*
Handing in an acceptable research paper.*
*Rubrics for acceptable writing and acceptable
research papers are found at the end of the syllabus.
Class
Policy for Assignments:
All assignments must be handed in on time.
Late papers will adversely affect the student’s grade. I will not accept late
papers the last week of classes.
All papers will be
Typed
Double-spaced
Stapled
Printed
in 12-point Times Roman or Courier News
They will have
One-inch
margins
A
cover page that includes the title, student’s name, paper form, and date
A
title on page 1 that indicates the form of the paper
Papers not in this format will not be
accepted.
Class Policy on Attendance:
In accordance
with the English program policy, any student who misses more than NINE (9)
hours of class will receive an F. These nine hours include both excused and unexcused absences. Please be aware that these hours include work,
sports events, birthdays, illness, and so on. If a problem arises with your
absences, come and talk with me immediately.
Grading
Scale:
Letter grades will be assigned in relation
to the policies for assessment, assignments, and attendance outlined above.
Class
Policy on Electronic Devices:
Please turn off all cell phones, beepers,
and other devices to avoid disrupting class. If there is an important reason
why you must have your phone or beeper turned on (such as illness at home,
work, etc.), please inform me before class begins.
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.
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.
Please note:
Citation Guidelines:
Calumet College of St. Joseph adheres to
citation guidelines as prescribed by the particular discipline. For this class,
use the guidelines in the Blair Handbook.
Withdrawal
from Class Policy:
After the last day for class changes has
passed (see the 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 the 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 (219-473-2459). Students are to make note of
the refund schedule when withdrawing from courses. The request will be
forwarded to the faculty member, who makes the final determination to accept or
deny it. 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.
School
Closing Information:
Internet: http://www.ccsj.edu
Radio: WAKE 1500 AM
WGN 720 AM
WIJE 105.5 AM
WLS 890 AM
WZVN 107.1 FM
WBBM News Radio 78
TV Channels: 2, 5, 7, 9, 32
Course Outline:
·
Introductions/review
of course guidelines
·
Review:
research and writing expectations
·
Research
paper discussion: Developing a research topic
·
Writing discussion: The summary paper
·
Assignments for next week:
o
Read:
Lester & Lester, Chapters 1 and 2,
pp. 1 – 30
o
Write:
An
annotated list of several possible topics for your research paper
o
Read:
“The Grandstand Passion Play of Delbert and
the Bumpus Hounds” in Shepherd
o
Write:
A
summary paper on the three authors we will read in this class: Jean Shepherd,
John Updike, and Toni Cade Bambera.
Use proper citation style (see Chapter 11 of Lester & Lester).
·
Writing
mechanics review: Sentence style, word choice, mechanics
·
Research
paper discussion: Finding sources via the Internet, library research, and local
sources
·
Individual
thesis meetings: Deciding on a paper topic
·
Writing
discussion: Paraphrasing and quoting; plagiarism
·
Assignments
for next week:
o
Read: Lester & Lester, Chapters 3, 4, 5, pp. 32 – 87
o
Write: A clear statement of your research paper topic
o
Read: “The Star-Crossed Romance of Josephine Cosnowski”
in Shepherd
o
Write: A summary paper using paraphrasing and quotes on Shepherd’s
view of family life in the mid-20th century. (Note: the information
you found for your first summary paper might come in handy for this paper as
well!) Use proper citation style.
·
Writing
mechanics review: Trouble spots
·
Research paper discussion:
·
Writing discussion: The synthesis paper: writing an
academic paper
·
Assignments for next week:
o
Read:
Lester
& Lester, Chapters 6 – 7, pp. 88 – 127
o
Write:
Annotated
preliminary list of sources
o
Read: Lester & Lester, Chapters 8 – 9 , pp. 128 – 157
o
Write:
Research paper proposal, including a preliminary bibliography. (See
Chapter 2 of Lester & Lester.)
o
Read: “County Fair!” and “Scut Farkas and the Murderous Mariah” in Shepherd
·
Writing
mechanics review: Trouble spots
·
Research
paper discussion: Organizing ideas; note taking
·
Writing
discussion: The synthesis paper: Argument and persuasion papers
·
Assignments
for next week:
o
Read: Lester & Lester,
Chapter 10 pp. 158 – 176
o
Research: The literature
about your topic
o
Read: “Daphne Bigelow and the Spine-chilling Saga of the
Snail-encrusted Tinfoil Noose,” in Shepherd and “The Lesson,” by Toni Cade Bambera (to be distributed)
o
Write:
A
paper of argument or persuasion that presents your point of view about race and
class in mid-20th century
·
Research
paper discussion: Deciding on a type of paper (analysis, argument and
persuasion, comparison); focusing your argument; drafting the paper from your
notes; incorporating reference material into your paper
·
Writing
discussion: The synthesis paper: Historical analysis
·
Assignments
for next week:
o
Read:
Lester
& Lester, Chapter 12, pp. 202 – 219
o
Research:
The
literature about your topic
o
Write: A review of the
literature about your research topic.
o
Read:
“Wanda
Hickey’s Night of Golden Memories” in Shepherd.
·
Individual
progress discussions
·
Research
paper discussion: Writing the parts of the research paper
·
Writing
discussion: The synthesis paper: Comparative studies
·
Assignments
for next week:
o
Write: An outline of your
research paper (refer back to Lester & Lester, Chapter 8)
·
Research
paper and writing discussion: Applying academic paper styles to your research
project
·
Writing
practice: Editing the work of others
·
Assignments
for next week:
o
Read:
“A
& P,” by John Updike (to be distributed).
o
Write:
A
paper comparing and contrasting the characters in Shepherd’s, Bambera’s and Updike’s short stories and what they reveal
about youth in the mid-20th century. (Note: again remember the
information you found for your first summary paper!) Refer to section 8b in
Lester & Lester. Your paper should have a thesis and use summary,
paraphrasing, and quotes. Use proper citation style.
·
Research
paper discussion: Format and reference citations
·
Intensive
writing practice: Effective introductions
·
Assignments
for next week:
o
Read: Lester & Lester: Chapter 13, pp. 220 – 249
o
Write: A rough draft of the introduction to your research paper
·
Research
paper discussion: Review
·
Intensive
writing practice: Effective research paper bodies
·
Assignments
for next week:
o
Write: A rough draft of the body of your research paper.
·
Research
paper discussion: Review
·
Intensive
writing practice: Effective conclusions
·
Assignments
for next week:
o
Write: A rough draft of the conclusion of your research paper.
·
Peer
review session
·
Assignments
for next week:
o
Write: A complete rough draft of your research paper, including the
bibliography.
·
Research
paper questions and concerns
·
Individual
discussions of your research papers
·
Assignments
for next week: