Calumet College of St. Joseph

SYLLABUS FOR Rhetoric and Composition II

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Term:  Fall 05 (051)

Course Number: English 104Y

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 (18th and 19th centuries).  I have taught English 104 for six years. I teach from the developmental reading and writing levels to research writing.  I am also a tutor here at CCSJ as well as other colleges.  I 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 18th and 19th 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 pm, Wednesday, Writing Lab

 

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 CCSJ.

 

Prerequisites:  English 103

 

Learning Outcomes/ Competencies:

Students in this course will:

ü     Develop their communication skills

ü     Write sustained, well-developed prose

ü      Demonstrate strong research skills, utilizing Internet and print resources effectively for academic

       writing

ü      Write a coherent and well-documented essay

ü       Write academically with regard to content and format

 

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 Curious Researcher Ballenger

                     The Warrior Woman Kingston

               

Other Supplies: 2 computer disks with your all work saved on both (one to be turned in with every assignment); 1 ½” three ring binder (to gather materials and sources), one paper folder (blue) with pockets and tabs (3 in the middle), loose-leaf college ruled paper, a composition book, or a spiral; index guides.

 

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

 

Assessment:

Master Portfolio Process 40% of your grade

Research Essay  25%

Master Portfolio Presentation 35%

Class participation, class demeanor, and attendance are required.      

 

All of the assignments are required in order to obtain a passing grade.

 

Class Policy for Assignments: No late work is accepted.

 

Class Policy on Attendance: In accordance with English program policy, any student who has missed more than NINE (9) hours of class will receive an F. These nine hours include both excused and unexcused absences. Please be aware these hours include birthdays, sport events, illness, work, etc. If a problem arises with your absences, please come and talk with me immediately.

 

Class Policy on Electronic Devices: The college classroom is a learning environment.  Therefore, cell phones and NEXTELs 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.

 

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: Calumet College of St. Joseph subscribes to Turnitin.com and all papers can and may be submitted for checks on plagiarism from the Internet/Electronic sources/Databases.

 

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:

 

                Internet: http://www.ccsj.edu

                                 http://www.EmergencyClosings.com

 

Facility: Calumet College of St. Joseph

 Phone: 219.473.4770

 

                Radio:  WAKE – 1500 AM

WGN - 720 AM

WIJE – 105.5 FM

WLS – 890 AM

WZVN – 107.1 FM

WBBM NEWS RADIO 78

 

            TV Channels: 2, 5, 7, 9, 32

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Directions for Final Research Essay

English 104 (051)

Fall 2005

 

 

Outcomes:

v    Engage in the writing process, and begin to use writing both as a means to learn through critical thinking and a means to clearly communicate critical thinking.

v    Engage in inquiry to discover new ideas and to potentially challenge existing ones.

v    Critically read texts to increase knowledge about self, others and the world.

v    Correctly use either MLA or APA format.

v    Apply assessment criteria to own and peers’ work.

v    Meet timelines.

v    Take responsibility for learning.

v    Use technology to gather, process, and communicate information.

 

Directions: Write a 10-12 page research essay.

 

Topic: This is a class on inquiry, and as such, this assignment will ask you to engage in inquiry for the duration of this quarter. You will begin this project in our text by asking questions and you will later seek out “answers.” According to the dictionary, inquiry is “a close examination of a matter in a search for information or truth.” You will engage in a “close examination” of a topic of your choice to gather and critically analyze information to ultimately use your own critical thinking to arrive at truth or meaning.

 

You will spend the entire semester researching, writing, revising, editing, and thinking about your topic. Be sure that you are interested in the topic you choose and be sure that you have questions that you want to explore.

 

Please note: This essay is not a report. You will not simply share all the information that you collect. You will need to research your questions to gain information and knowledge, and then you will need to generate an argumentative thesis that makes a claim from your point of view on the topic. Your body paragraphs will need to share your critical thinking about your thesis, and you will use your research as evidence to share, explain and support your critical thinking.

 

Sources:

Your sources should be academic

 

Research Essay Criteria: I will use the following criteria to determine your grade.

  • The reasoning behind all conclusions, meanings and truths are fully explained and disclosed.
  • Your critical thinking is the central focus of your essay.
  • Body paragraphs provide a variety of relevant facts and well-reasoned arguments that fully and effectively support the thesis.
  • Research information is fully explained and incorporated with the writer’s critical thinking.
  • The ideas presented in the essay are clearly and logically organized in relation to one another and to the essay’s focus (thesis/argumentative claim about the topic).
  • Documentation style is correct and effectively used in the essay.
  • Sentences are clear, correct and concise.

 

 

 

Tentative Schedule of Assignments

 

“Tentative” means that this schedule could change. This also means that you are responsible, despite any absences, for the work in this schedule. Therefore, it is imperative that in case of an absence that you contact me or a classmate to make sure what is due for the next class.

 

Week One

Introduction to course

Introduction to Documentation Style

Intro to Interlibrary Loan

Week Two

Read for Week Two

Curious Researcher (CR)

Preface (xxv –xxxi)

Introduction (1 – 24)

The Warrior Woman (TWW) 1-20

Write for Week Two (in your Research Journal)

Exercise 1 (CR 1)

Exercise Two (CR 16)

Week Three

Read for Week Three

CR

Chapter 1 (25 – 36)

TWW  21 – 40

Write for Week Three (in your Research Journal)

Exercise 1.1

In Class

Exercise 1.2

Week Four

Read for Week Four

CR

Chapter 1 (36 – 62)

TWW 41 – 60

Write for Week Four (in your Research Journal)

Exercise 1.3

In Class

Exercise 1.4

Exercise 1.5

Discussion of Reading for Research

Week Five

Read for Week Five

CR (63 – 106)

TWW 61 – 80

In Class

Exercise 2.1 (in your Research Journal)

Library Orientation – take notes in your Research Journal

Exercise 2.2 (in your Research Journal)

Discussion of “Living Sources: Interviews and Surveys” – take notes in your Research Journal

 

Week Six

Read for Week Six

TWW 81 – 100

Week Six continued...

Conference with instructor Time TBA

Working Bibliography due

Week Seven

Read for Week Seven

CR (125-127, 145-172)

TWW 101 – 120

Write for Week Seven

Questions while reading the section on note taking

In Class

Discussion of Plagiarism – take notes in Research Journal

Review of Documentation Style – take notes in Research Journal

Set times for conferences to be held during Week Nine

Week Eight We will not formerly meet this class. However, you will be required to email me in lieu of meeting

Read for Week Eight

The Blair Handbook (Blair) Chapter 9

TWW 121 – 140

Write for Week Eight

Develop questions based on the reading (these should be about your concerns or confusion about the reading) in Research Journal

E-mail me your questions by 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday of Week Eight. I will respond within 48 hours, so remember to check your e-mail. You must ask questions, so I expect to receive an email from everyone.

Week Nine

Read for 3/9

TWW 141 – 160

In Class for Week Nine

First five (5) pages of Research Essay (with in text citations, APA style) due in class. Conference with Nita. Time TBA

Week Ten

Read for Week Ten

TWW 161 – 180

Write for Week Ten

Research Essay due in class. This means the entire paper: 10-12 pages with intext citations (without Title and Reference pages), title page (APA style) and reference page (APA style). Correct APA documentation style required. Computer disk with paper on it for submission to Turnitin.com.

Week Eleven

Read for Eleven

Blair (273 – 294)

Week Eleven continued...

TWW 181 – 209

In Class for Week Eleven

Revision Workshop – Don’t forget computer disk with paper on it

Week Twelve

Read for Week Twelve

Blair (317 - 330)

In Class for Week Twelve

Editing Workshop – Don’t forget computer disk with paper on it

Week Thirteen

In Class for Week Thirteen

Portfolio Presentation discussion. Bring everything. Don’t forget the blue folder.

Your Research Portfolios and Research Journals are due in class Week Thirteen