Housatonic Community College
ENG* 043 Writing: Paragraph to Essay
Professor Scott Empric
Spring 2006
Office: B202
Telephone: 332-5147
E-mail: [email protected]
WebCT Vista:http://vista.ctdlc.org
Web Page: www.geocities.com/scottempric
Office Hours:Tuesday & Thursday 5:00pm - 6:30pm; By Appointment
Required Texts:
A Troubleshooting Guide for Writers by Barbara Fine Clouse
Required Materials:
3.5" floppy disk with your name on it or a flashdrive
A two-pocket folder for your writing portfolio
Course Description:
A comprehensive study of the paragraph as a unit of composition, emphasizing organization of ideas, specific methods of development, and elements of style. The subject matter will include the grammar and syntax of sentence patterns, punctuation, and the mechanics of formal college writing. Frequent writing assignments both in an out of class will be conducted in a workshop manner. Students who have received credits for English 101, Composition, may not take this course for credit.
Objectives of ENG 043:
By taking ENG 043, you will improve your writing ability in addition to increasing your ability to analyze and organize facts and ideas. By carefully preparing writing and homework assignments, you can develop skills with language such as writing and speaking clearly in standard English, developing and explaining a main idea and developing an argument to persuade an audience, which will carry over to all of your college courses. More specific goals are:
Attendance Policy:
In a class that explores the process of becoming a better college student, attendance and participation are crucial to your success. Because this course requires you to be actively involved through attendance, class discussion, and group work;however, you are responsible for whether or not you attend class, so there is no formal attendance policy. You are responsible for what you miss, and are expected to have all assignments completed by the next class meeting. If assignments are not complete a zero will be given. Work done in-class, including tests/quizzes, cannot be made up.
Those who attend all classes will have their final grade raised by one half letter grade.
Formal Writing Assignments:
You will complete several writing assignments over the course of our semester together. Specific details about each assignment will be provided in due time. It is important to keep all the steps involved with your completing an assignment including, prewriting, drafting, revision, and final draft. Papers without these steps will not be accepted. I will not accept late papers - papers not turned in when I ask for them are deemed late, and will not be accepted unless arrangements have been made prior to the due date. Please note that I will not accept any final drafts that are not typed, nor will I accept final drafts that do not include rough drafts/prewriting materials.
NOTE: Showing up with an un-typed rough draft and/or a draft not at least one full typed page will earn a deduction of points.
Writing Responses:
They include homework, responses you will write in class, written evaluations of classmates' drafts, and any other writing exercise we may do throughout the semester. These responses or reflections can often serve as the basis for your major writing assignments.
Writing Portfolio:
All writing that you do should be kept in a folder specifically for this class. The portfolio will develop into a showcase for your development as a writer. At the end of the semester, you will select writing that you have done for the course that you feel best represents your developing skills as a writer. The writing you select, in addition to a letter to me describing your selections and development, will be placed in the folder purchased for the Writing Portfolio. The work you produce will, and may eventually be placed in your Writing Portfolio, will have been turned in and responded to me at least once. At the end of the semester, your portfolio will be graded holistically -each paper will not receive another grade. Specific details and guidelines will be provided after your first assignment.
Grading Policies:
Written responses you turn in (not all will be turned in) will be graded on a scale of 1-10 (10 being excellent). Quizzes will be graded on a percentage scale. All formal (revised and typed) papers, will be graded out of 100 points. All other assignments will be checked for thoughtfulness and completion.
Work for each week is listed on the schedule and should be completed for that week unless otherwise specified by the instructor. Additional short writing assignments and grammar reading and exercises might be assigned, so if a student misses a class, he or she needs to consult with another student to check what is due for the following class.
As per the syllabus papers are due on their due date even if a student is absent from class on that particular day. You can have someone drop the assignment off or email to me if you are unable to make it to class. Papers are worth 40% of your final grade. However, in case of an emergency (and that emergency needs to be communicated to this Professor) and the paper is turned in late (this is also up to this Professor's discretion as to whether or not it will be accepted late), it will be accepted only up to one class late and a letter grade will be deducted. Lesson learned here: Hand in the paper when it is due and you won't be penalized!
Evaluation:
| Participation | 10% |
| Homework/Responses(Including all WebCT discussion/responses)/Quizzes | 20% |
| Writing Assignments (Formal & In-class) | 40% |
| Writing Portfolio | 30% |
All assignments done in-class, or as a response should be typed or neatly written.
Academic honesty is expected from all students. Cheating, plagiarism, and other academically dishonest matters will result in an F grade for the entire course.
A Few Guidelines:
Without agreed-upon standards of behavior, no community can function effectively. In order for all of us to get the most we can out of this class, the following terms are non-negotiable:
An Important Note:
This syllabus serves as a contract between us, detailing what to expect from the course and what's expected of you. Save it and consult guidelines as needed. Be sure to take the time to read it carefully and share your questions and concerns.