WRTG 107 - Composition Sample Syllabus

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course emphasizes academic argumentative essays. There is an expectation that students at the freshman level in college already know how to write coherent, well-organized sentences and paragraphs, therefore, we will spend minimal class time on grammar and style. In WRTG 107 students develop critical thinking skills that form the basis for academic analysis and the synthesis of original ideas. To be successful in this course, students must engage in open and frank discussions (both oral and electronic). The ability to express ideas verbally and engage in discussions, even confrontations with others in class, is a necessary precursor to the ability to express those ideas in clear, coherent, and well-organized writing. A significant amount of your grade will come from your in-class contribution. As critical thinkers, you will be asked to re-examine your perspectives on complex social issues and academic questions. You will be expected to make interesting claims, and support those claims with evidence. This is not a creative writing course. The only creativity should be in the synthesis and construction of new ideas and perspectives. The most important goal of this course is to help you learn to ask and answer challenging questions. In doing so, you will discover your written voice and learn to use it effectively in order to contribute to the academic community and world you live in.

REQUIRED TEXTS

Composition Package:
Voices, University of Scranton Composition Program Text
The Brief Penguin Handbook
You are also required to bring a dedicated diskette with you to every class

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Attendance is mandatory. We will be working in class every day and it is not possible to catch up on activities. After the second absence, FOR ANY REASON, your final course grade will drop by one half a grade per absence.

Please note that this attendance policy does not distinguish between the student who misses class for a good reason and the student who chooses to simply miss class. Students should save their absences for times when they are ill.

CONFERENCES

During the semester I will schedule 3 one-to-one conferences with each of you. Because of the time involved in meeting with so many students, if you miss a scheduled conference, it will count as a missed class.

Please note that due to my schedule, you may not be able to reschedule a conference.

POLICIES ON ESSAY ASSIGNMENTS

The grade for each major Essay will include an assessment of ALL pre-work and drafts.
Final drafts submitted without ALL pre-work and drafts will not be accepted, and will receive a grade of “F.”
The grade on each paper is final, and therefore students may not resubmit papers for a higher grade. That is why we will write multiple drafts before final submission.
Late papers will drop a one half letter grade for each day they are late.
Final Drafts must be presented in a clean, professional format with an appropriate title and numbered pages. Failure to number pages will drop the grade by one half grade.
All essays must be double-spaced.
Work must be submitted in person. I will not accept work slid under my door without prior permission.

UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON POLICY ON PLAGIARISM

Plagiarism involves giving the impression that you wrote or thought something that you in fact borrowed from someone and includes the failure to give appropriate acknowledgement when:

repeating another’s wording or particularly apt phrase
paraphrasing another’s argument
presenting another’s line of thinking
Plagiarism also includes submitting any papers or works found on the World Wide Web.

Students must identify and acknowledge the words and ideas of others in both internal citations and Bibliographies or Works Cited pages.

PLAGIARIZING VIOLATES
THE UNIVERSITY’S ACADEMIC CODE OF HONESTY

Plagiarizing on the part of a student in academic work or dishonest examination behavior will ordinarily result in a grade of “F” by the instructor. The instructor should notify the student of the academic dishonesty and his or her action in response to it, such as a lowered grade for the assignment or course within five days after action is taken. In addition, all instances of academic dishonesty must be reported to the chairperson of the department involved and to the student’s dean within three days of the notification of the students. Upon receiving such notification, the chairperson will distribute a copy of the Academic Code of Honesty to the student within seven days.
(Academic Code of Honesty 5)

GRADE SCALE

The following criteria will be used to formulate your final course grade:

First Essay	15%
Second Essay	20%
Final Essay	35%
In Class Work	15%
Conferences	15%
	100%

REGARDLESS OF THE FINAL COMPUTATION OF YOUR GRADE, IF, AT THE END OF THIS COURSE, THE INSTRUCTOR DOES NOT FEEL YOU CAN COMPLETE SUCCESSFUL UPPER LEVEL WRITING ASSIGNMENTS, YOU WILL BE GIVEN A FINAL GRADE OF C-, AND EXPECTED TO REPEAT THIS COURSE.

SAMPLE ASSIGNMENT
WRTG 107

FIRST WRITING ASSIGNMENT

Find two articles that address the same news story, but from different viewpoints.
Bring the two articles to class for approval Tuesday, Feb. 8

Brainstorming

Make a claim as to why the two authors differ on their representations of the issue.
Determine both authors’ biases.
Discuss your own biases on the topic.

Audience