Fall 2018 Course Syllabus
ENG-101: Composition
MWF 10:00-10:50 a.m.
Professor:Matthew Lambert Email: lambertm@wabash.edu
Office Location: Center Hall 311 Office Hours: MWF 11am-12pm
Office Phone: 765-361-6049 TTh. 1-2pm
COURSE DECRIPTION
While many students believe that they are not good at writing, this course is grounded in the assumption that anyone can write. Writing is a complex and time-consuming act—even for the most experienced writers. Some students may be more seasoned and experienced writers, but anyone can learn the strategies and mechanics needed for effective writing. Using rhetorical strategies, lessons in style and mechanics, and the writing of others, you will learn to become effective writers, a skill that will be invaluable in your academic and professional careers. Most, if not all, disciplines incorporate some form of writing, including STEM fields—just ask anyone who has applied for a grant or fellowship. Over the semester, we will practice different forms of writing, including reports, personal narratives, and rhetorical analyses. We will also practice mechanics, summary, paraphrasing, quoting, researching, and other major skills associated with college-level writing
Required Books (available on Amazon or other online book dealers):
The Little Seagull Handbook with Exercises (Bullock, Brody, and Weinberg: 3rdEd.)
Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman’s Quest to Make a Difference(Warren St. John, 2009)
Course Goals:
- Practice the rhetorical strategies (not formulas) associated with effective writing.
- Give and receivefeedback on written work.
- Incorporate and properly cite the words and ideas of others in your writing.
- Craft prose that is appropriate in both mechanics and style.
- Become amore confident writer—maybe even start to enjoy writing, if you don’t already.
Class Participation
It’s imperative that you complete all assigned homework/reading and come prepared to participate in class. You are expected to contribute to general class discussions, to contribute to small group discussions, to seek feedback from other class members on work in progress, and to provide thoughtful feedback to other class members on their work. You will be graded on class participation.
Attendance and Lateness
Since this is a small discussion class, attendance is mandatory. You are allotted three absencesin this class without penalty—once you miss your fourth class, your grade will begin to drop by half a letter grade for each additional absence. You need to plan your semester carefully so that you do not use all of your personal/sick days at once. In the case of university-sanctioned activities (e.g., athletics or a course-specific trip that takes you out of town), you must provide a Dean’s Excuse. If you miss a class meeting, you are responsible to contact your peers for materials and information youmissed. You should also complete and turn in all homework by the due date.
Please arrive on time. Lateness not only disrupts the class but also shows a good deal of disrespect for your peers and instructor. If you are more than 15 minutes late to class, you can be marked absent—talk to me after class if you think that you were over 15 minutes late for unavoidable reasons.
Academic Integrity
At Wabash College, we believe in the excellence of our students and in the integrity of our academic programs. As stated in the Gentleman’s Rule,
“The student is expected to conduct himself at all times, both on and off campus, as a gentleman and a responsible citizen.”
Being “a gentleman and a responsible citizen” includes not taking credit for the work of others. This means properly attributing/citing the ideas of others in your written assignments, not turning in somebody else’s work as your own, and not submitting an essay already submitted for a previous course. Failure to follow these guidelines can result a failing grade for the entire course and referral to the Dean’s office for further disciplinary action.
Meeting Deadlines
All written assignments must be submitted on the due date. For every day that a rough draft, in-class assignment, or homework assignment is late, I will deduct one point. For every day that a final draft is late, I will deduct half a letter grade.
Writing Assignment Extensions
Everyone has one extension pass good for up to two days. The extension is only good for final drafts of essays and must be requested by email48 hours before the essay is due.
Cell Phones, Laptops, and Other Related Technologies
By the time class starts, cell phones and laptops should be turned off and put away. Cell phones, laptops, tablets, etc. are distracting to you, me, and other members of the class. There will be certain days during the semester you will be able to bring a laptop to class, which I will inform you of as they approach.
Religious Observance
If you have a conflict between a religious holiday and a graded assignment, please contact me in advance so that we can make appropriate arrangements.
Writing Center
The Wabash Writing Center is dedicated to coaching Wabash Men to become the best writers that they can be. When a Wabash Man comes into the Wabash Writing Center, he will meet one-on-one with a trained writing consultant, or the director. Writing Center sessions are scheduled to last 45 minutes, which is enough time to review 6-7 pages of writing. Writing consultants can work with writers at any stage of their writing process. A writer can come to the Wabash Writing Center with a couple of notes on a napkin, and our consultants can help him turn it into the best paper the writer can produce. Writers have to do their own work, but our consultants will make suggestions and offer advice to make a paper better. Consultants are also well versed in grammar concerns, MLA, and APA, and they are happy to answer questions or make minor corrections. However, we leave the line editing and final revisions to the writer. Located on the second floor of the Lilly Library, the Wabash Writing Center is open to all students, faculty and staff. To make an appointment, go to http://www.wabash.edu/writingcenter (Links to an external site.), select the button labeled “Click HERE to make an appointment,” and register in the scheduling system. If you have any questions, please email the director, Dr. Koppelmann, at koppelmz@wabash.edu.
The Office of Student Enrichment
The Office of Student Enrichment (OSE) provides Wabash Men with one-on-one counseling regarding time management skills, study skills, reading skills, and Academic Honesty. The OSE also offers one-on-one support for English Language Learners. Contact Dr. Koppelmann at koppelmz@wabash.edu to arrange for a meeting if would like assistance regarding time management, study skills, reading skills, understanding Academic Honesty, or if would like support for learning American English.
Disability Statement
Students with disabilities (apparent or invisible) are invited to confidentially discuss their situation with the disability coordinator, Heather Thrush, Director of Student Engagement and Success. If a student wishes to receive an academic accommodation, it is required that his documentation of the disability be on filewith Heather Thrush, who can, in confidence, provide information and guidance. Early notification helps us all work together in the most effective ways. Heather Thrush can be reached at her office (Center Hall 112A), by phone (x6347), or by email (thrushh@wabash.edu).
Communicating Through Email
Emailing about coursework is a type of formal communication. Be sure to include a salutation (e.g. “Hello Prof./Dr. Lambert,”) and a signature (your first name is fine). Use appropriate language and proofread your emails—mechanical errors can cause readers—in this case, me—to misunderstand your message or question your ethos/credibility.
Major Assignments
Essays
Essay 1 10%
Essay 2 20%
Essay 3 20%
Daily Work
Quizzes, drafts, etc. 10%
Annotated Bibliography 10%
Portfolio 10%
Class participation 10%
Final presentation 5%
Grammar Exam 5%
Total: 100%
Point Ranges for Letter Grades
A (93 – 100%), A- (90 – 92%), B+ (87 – 89%), B (83 – 86%), B- (80 – 82%), C+ (77 – 79%), C (73 – 76%), C- (70 – 72%), D (60 – 69%), F (0 – 59%)
Rubric for minor assignments.
| Canvas Postings (3 point assignments) | ||
| 3: excellent | 2: acceptable | 1: poor |
| The assignment criteria have been met thoughtfully and with insight. Assignment is well planned and articulated with convincing detail.There are no mechanical errors. | The assignment criteria have been met, and there is evidence of effort and thought in this assignment, however there may be a minor problem with completion of task. | The assignment criteria may have been met, but these assignments do not move beyond broad generalizations.The work is hard to read or presented sloppily. |
Tentative Schedule:
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IN CLASS |
READING DUE |
WRITING DUE |
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Week 1 Friday, Aug. 24
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Introductions
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Week 2 Monday, Aug. 27
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Syllabus quiz
Go over syllabus
Discuss writing
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Course syllabus
Elbow, pp. 6-19 (Canvas) |
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Wednesday, Aug. 29
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-No class. -“Getting to know you” conferences in my office.
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Friday, Aug. 31
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Academic Writing
Fragments, Comma Splices, and Fused Sentences
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Seagull, pp. 2-5, 268-78, 317-321 |
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Week 3 Monday, Sept. 3
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Essay 1: Reports |
Essay 1 prompt
Seagull, pp. 54-57, 278-81
The Bachelor sample essays (on Canvas, pp. 14-16, “Bashing the Britons” and “Grilling the Grizzlies”)
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Wednesday, Sept. 5
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Paragraphs
Pronouns
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Seagull, pp. 17-19, 281-285, 339-345.
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Friday, Sept. 7
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Paragraphs (cont.)
Pronouns (cont.) |
Seagull, pp. 25-29, 285-91, 368-69.
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Paragraph.
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Week 4 Monday, Sept. 10 |
Grammar: Verbs
Peer Review
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Seagull, pp. 11-15, 291-295
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Essay 1draft. |
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Wednesday, Sept. 12
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No class. Group conferences held in my office. |
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Friday, Sept. 14
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Grammar: Verbs
Peer Review and In-Class Writing Workshop
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Seagull, pp. 295-298, 329-330 (active and passive voice), and 334-339.
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Bring the most up-to-date version of Essay 1 draft
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Week 5 Monday, Sept. 17
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Misconceptions
Start talking about Essay 2
Listen to Misconceptions Podcast
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Essay 2 prompt Seagull, pp. 304-309.
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Essay 1final |
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Wednesday, Sept. 19 |
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Friday, Sept. 21 |
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Rd. Seagull, pp. 43-48 and 309-313.
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Essay 2 intro
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Week 6 Monday, Sept. 24 |
Peer Review
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Rd. Seagull, pp. 58-61 and 351-354.
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Essay 2 body paragraph
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Wednesday, Sept. 26 |
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Essay 2 draft
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Friday, Sept. 28 |
TBD
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Week 7 Monday, Oct. 1
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Outcasts, Introduction and Ch. 1
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Wednesday, Oct. 3 |
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Outcasts, Chs. 2 and 3.
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Essay 2 final |
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Friday, Oct. 5
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Outcasts, Chs. 8-9 |
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Week 8 Monday, Oct. 8 |
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Grammar test. |
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Wednesday, Oct. 10 |
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Outcasts, Chs. 10 and 11
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Friday, Oct. 12 |
FALL BREAK NO CLASS |
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Week 9 Monday, Oct. 15
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Essay 3: Rhetorical Analysis |
Seagull, pp. 49-53
Outcasts, Chs. 12-14
Essay 3 prompt
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Wednesday, Oct. 17 |
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Outcasts, Chs. 15-18 |
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Friday, Oct. 19 |
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Outcasts, Chs. 19 |
250-word response to a chapter in Outcasts
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Week 10 Monday, Oct. 22 |
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Seagull, pp. 107-118. |
Essay 3 Intro |
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Wednesday, Oct. 24 |
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Outcasts, Chs. 20-21.
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Essay 3 Body Paragraph |
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Friday, Oct. 26 |
Peer review workshop. |
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Essay 3 fulldraft |
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Week 11 Monday, Oct. 29
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No class. Group conferences held in my office. |
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Wednesday, Oct. 31
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Outcasts, Chs. 22-24 |
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Friday, Nov. 2
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Outcasts, Chs. 25 and 26 |
Essay 3final. |
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Week 12 Monday, Nov. 5 |
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Outcasts, Chs. 27-29 |
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Wednesday, Nov. 7 |
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Outcasts, Chs. 30 and Epilogue. |
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Friday, Nov. 9 Bell Game |
TBD |
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Week 13 Monday, Nov. 12 |
TBD
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Wednesday, Nov. 14 |
TBD |
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Friday, Nov. 16 |
TBD |
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THANKSGIVING BREAK, NOVEMBER 17-25
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Week 14 Monday, Nov. 26 |
TBD |
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Wednesday, Nov. 28 |
TBD |
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Friday, Nov. 30 |
TBD |
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Annotated Bibliography |
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Week 15 Monday, Dec. 3 |
Presentations |
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Wednesday, Dec. 5 |
Presentations |
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| Friday, Dec. 7 |
Presentations
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FINALS WEEK |
Portfolio due by the end of scheduled exam time.
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matthewmlambert.com 