syllabus

Instructor: Jim Ridolfo, PhD
Office location: 240 McMicken Hall
Office hours: Wednesday: 1:00-3:00 PM and by appointment
E-mail: ridolfo@gmail.com
Phone: 513-556-2966

Course overview

English 101 is designed to help students become better writers, readers, and critical thinkers. It allows students to understand the concept of voice, the significance of audience and purpose, and the potential power of their own writing processes. In 101, students learn that writing is an on-going process and that their written projects are works-in progress. Therefore, rather than turn in one version of a written project for a definitive grade, students work on their writing throughout the quarter and include their strongest work–”final” drafts of each project–in a final portfolio at the end of the term.

English Composition comprises a set of university-wide required General Education courses that are designed to help you develop knowledge and skills as you work to achieve the four Baccalaureate Competencies. The Baccalaureate Competencies comprise a major component of the General Education Program: Critical Thinking, Effective Communication, Knowledge Integration, and Social Responsibility.

English Composition focuses on Critical Thinking and Effective Communication. Critical thinking includes the ability to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information and ideas from multiple perspectives. Effective Communication embraces aural, visual, and language arts, including the ability to read, write, speak, and listen; it is the effective use of various resources and technology for personal and professional communication. We will work in this class on understanding and conveying ideas in diverse contexts, using appropriate communication and information technology resources and skills. Among important language capabilities are proper usage, appropriate style, and the ability to formulate a coherent, well-supported argument using language appropriate to academic and public discourse. For more on the Baccalaureate Competencies, see the General Education Website, from which this information was drawn (http://www.uc.edu/gened/).

Required Course Materials

1) Regular computer and Internet access: the ability to play audio and video, as well as download and install Windows and/or OS X programs.

2) Your UC network login and e-mail address.

Required Texts

Oberlin, Molly, Laura Micciche, Mary Leech, and Allison Carr. Student Guide to English Composition 101 and 102, 2009-2010. Plymouth, MI: Hayden-McNeil, 2010.

Ramage, John D., John C. Bean, and June Johnson. The Allen Bacon Guide to Writing. New York: Pearson-Longman, 2009.

Both of these texts are available at the UC Bookstore. Please do not purchase the 2008-2009 edition of the Student Guide!

Learning Goals

After successful completion of English Composition I, students should be able to:

- Anticipate the needs of different audiences;
- Recognize the differences among kinds of writing situations and genres;
- Respond appropriately to different types of rhetorical situations;
- Demonstrate a basic understanding of academic writing;
- Recognize the difference between writer-based and reader-based prose.

Course Policies

Attendance

Since writing is an activity, you will learn by doing and by becoming more self-aware about what you are doing. For this reason, much of your time in class will be spent in activities, not lectures. Therefore, you are permitted two unexcused absences. If you are absent three times you will automatically lose two points off your final grade, as well as an additional two points for each additional unexcused absence. Seven or more unexcused absences will automatically result in a failing grade. Any more than one week’s worth of absence may necessitate withdrawal from the course.

Informal Writing

Informal writing is an effective way to help you think about your ideas and develop an essay from those ideas. These activities are designed to help you practice writing strategies related to, and intended to help you with, writing in general as well as the essay assignments in your composition course. In these informal writing assignments, teachers are concerned primarily with your effort to think seriously and at some length about the assigned topics. Your teacher will explain how the informal writing will be evaluated.

Peer Review

Each time a first draft is due, you will bring copies of your draft to class. Students will exchange drafts, and each student will respond to the drafts of others in the group. If you do not bring a completed first draft the day it is due, you will not receive either the peer feedback necessary to improve your essay or a grade for the feedback you would have provided other students

Writing Portfolio

For this course, you will do a great deal of writing. Your essays will undergo substantive revisions. As a result of that work, you will produce 12-15 pages of polished quality writing to include in your final portfolio at the end of the quarter. Your portfolio should include at least two out-of-class essays. All essays need to be typed (in a 12-point font) and double-spaced. Your final portfolio must also include a reflection.

Revision

You will have the opportunity to significantly revise your essays throughout the quarter. Your instructors will give you written feedback and guidance on how to productively revise your essays. Keep in mind that even though you will have the opportunity to revise, each draft that you write is important and will be a factor in your final grade. I will provide guidelines for how each draft will be evaluated. The goal is for you to internalize some of the revision process so you can produce stronger, more polished drafts on your own.

Grading

The process of UC’s writing evaluation is outline in the Guidelines section of your Student Guide. Read it carefully and ask your teacher about anything that isn’t clear. The portfolio counts for the majority of your course grade. Therefore,you cannot pass 101 unless your portfolio passes. A portfolio must contain all assigned essays. A non-passing portfolio will receive a grade of zero. When filled in, the grade breakdown illustrates that your class work and daily assignments impact your final grade in a significant way and should be given appropriate consideration:

Final Portfolio: 55%
Drafts 6% each (4×6): 24%
Peer review feedback: 10%
In-class writing and research assignments: 5%
Homework: 6%
————
Total: 100%

Tardiness

Excessive and/or disruptive tardiness will be treated as absences at the discretion of the instructor. Do not test this policy.

Late Work

You are permitted to turn in one assignment late. Any additional late work will be penalized at the discretion of the instructor.

Conferences and Office Hours

I’d like to meet with every student at least twice. This is an expectation and not a grading requirement. It’s your responsibility to meet regularly with me and discuss your research. I am available during my regular office hours and by appointment.

Academic Integrity Policy (Plagiarism)

The University Rules, including the Student Code of Conduct, and other documented policies of the department, college, and university related to academic integrity will be enforced. Any violation of these regulations, including acts of plagiarism or cheating, will be dealt with on an individual basis according to the severity of the misconduct.

Special Needs Policy

If you have any special needs related to your participation in this course,
including identified visual impairment, hearing impairment, physical impairment, communication disorder, and/or specific learning disability that may influence your performance in this course, you should meet with the instructor to arrange for reasonable provisions to ensure an equitable opportunity to meet all the requirements of this course. At the discretion of the instructor, some accommodations may require prior approval by Disability Services.