English 100-I (crn #43223)      TR 11:00-12:20
Intensive Reading and Composition    Art 25
Humboldt State University   Fall Term 2000

General Course Information

Instructor: Jolien Olsen   Voice Mail: 826-5934
E-Mail: jmo2@axe.humboldt.edu     Office Location: FH 173
Mailbox: English Department (FH 201)    Office Hours: MW 2-3 and by appointment
   
Writing Center: FH 205 (sign up in FH 201)      Web Address: http://www.humboldt.edu/~jmo2
Writing Lab: FH 234   Jolien's Lab Time: TR 12:30-1:50

 

Required Texts
 

  • LaGuardia and Guth.  American Voices: Culture and Community.  4th edition  (Also available on reserve in the HSU Library).
  • Current grammar handbook (1999 or newer).  (A Writerâs Guidebook, by Axelrod & Cooper, is available on reserve in the HSU Library).

    • Materials
     

  • Pens and highlighters
  • 5 tabbed, letter-sized, manila-colored file folders
  • An ample supply of clean-edged 8 1/2" x 11" paper
  • 1 personal stapler and staples to fasten your assignments
  • Letter-size report cover÷please no binders or slide-on spine covers
  • Funds for duplicating your essays and for various course materials

    •  
    Course Description

    One who can communicate clearly and effectively has power in todayâs fast-paced, technologically advanced world: power to articulate his/her ideas precisely, power to lead others, power to change minds, power to lead a successful and fulfilling personal and professional life.  In English 100I, you will hone your communication, critical thinking, and cooperative skills.  You will work closely with your peers; adjust your writing to a variety of situations, purposes, and audiences; and evaluate essays.  In short, you will gain skills that will serve you well in future courses and beyond; in addition, you will become confident in your writing abilities, know where to turn for advice on your writing, and be more self-reliant.

    Be aware that this class requires time, and lots of it!  In fact, in each lower-division, general-education college course, you are expected to work two hours outside of class for every one hour of class time÷that is, you will need to put in at least six hours per week outside of class to perform adequately (at "C" level) in this course.  By using your time wisely and by taking this class seriously, you will be successful this semester.

    Course Objectives

    Throughout the term, the general goals for the course will be to ·
     

  • cooperate and communicate with your peers;
  • communicate confidently and competently in the written language;
  • develop the critical skills of evaluation, self-reflection, and response;
  • gain the ability to read critically and recognize the qualities of effective writing;
  • acquire a variety of methods and processes for generating a final written product;
  • adapt written communication skills to various audiences, purposes, and writing situations.

    •  
    Course Requirements
    Attendance:

    Because success in this course depends upon response groups and class participation ·
     

  • attend classes and labs
  • participate actively and positively in class
  • come prepared with up-to-date work
  • underpreparedness earns an "F" for course
  • you are permitted only 1 absence
  • additional absences impact your grade

    •                     0-1 absence = A for attendance portion of grade
                        2 absences = B for attendance portion of grade
                        3 absences = C for attendance portion of grade
  • 4 class absences and/or chronic tardiness results in a course grade of "F" (Failure)
  • obtain class notes, etc. if you miss a class
  • be on time to each class session (disrupting class by arriving late is unprofessional and rude)
  • roll is taken on the hour; if you arrive late, you will have been marked absent.

    •  
    Deadlines:

    Because we are working on such a tight schedule, nothing may be turned in late.  Missing papers and assignments will dramatically÷and negatively÷impact your course grade.  If you plan to miss a class, make other arrangements to submit your work on time (i.e., send your work with a friend or hand it in before it is due).  Also, coming unprepared undermines your success; therefore, chronic underpreparedness will result in a course grade of "F" (Failure).

    Essays and Assignments:

    You will write four essays of extended length (3-6 pages) based on a variety of writing modes.  Out of four essays, you will polish three essays for a grade; these three will also constitute your Assessment Portfolio. Bring current drafts of all essays to every class session, as we often use them in our class workshops and discussions.  In addition to writing assignments, there will be significant reading demands, presentations, in-class writing, and library research.

    Summary of Assignments:
     

  • Assessment Portfolio

    •                         1 Cover Letter and 3 Essays÷(100 pts. for each item)
  • Working Portfolios

    •                         Cover Letter÷draftings, etc.÷(5-10 pts. for each item)
                            Essay 1÷draftings, in-class prompts, responses, self-reflection letter÷(5-10 pts. for each item)
                            Essay 2÷draftings, in-class prompts, responses, self-reflection letter÷(5-10 pts. for each item)
                            Essay 3÷draftings, in-class prompts, responses, self-reflection letter÷(5-10 pts. for each item)
                            Essay 4÷draftings, in-class prompts, responses, source materials, reflection letter÷(5-10 pts. each item)
  • Reviews, Presentation, Misc.

    •                         Reading Responses÷(10 pts. each)
                            Reading Presentation÷incorporates peer, group, self-, and instructor grades÷(100 pts.)
                            Final Presentation÷(Credit/No Credit)
                            Other Assignments TBA÷(10 pts. each)
  • Attendance, Participation (class and group involvement), Preparation÷(100 pts. each)

    •  
    Portfolio:

    Review letter from David Stacey, Director of Composition.  All English 100I, 100, and 200 students are eligible to submit a mid-semester portfolio.  Students must have a course grade of "C" to submit a final portfolio at the end of the term.  Students earning a course grade of "C-" to "D-" will either need to repeat the course or to enroll in English 200.  Those earning an "F" are not eligible to submit a final portfolio and must repeat their current English class.

    Conferences:

    We will hold at least two one-on-one conferences during the semester.  In these conferences, we will discuss your writing assignments, portfolio goals, and other aspects of the course.

    Grading Policy

    Students must meet all course requirements as well as participate in the final session during finals week in order to pass the course.  I will calculate your grade by weighing the course requirements as follows:


    •   Assessment Portfolio 
    		 45%  (3 Essays and 1 cover Letter graded by instructor)
    •   4 Working Portfolios + Cover Letter draftings 
    		 30%
    • Reviews, Presentation, misc. 
    		 15%
    • Class participation, preparation, attendance
    		 10%  (see "Attendance" section in this syllabus for details)


    Note:     Do not lose your lab attendance sheet·
                  No lab sheet, no lab credit.  No lab credit, no lecture credit!

    Out of Class Assistance

    Please actively seek assistance; several sources exist to help you succeed in this course:
     

  • I am available and willing to give you any help that I can (see page 1 for contact info.);
  • Your writing consultants and lab instructor provide you with invaluable support;
  • The HSU Writing Center (FH 205) is a valuable resource (sign up in FH 201);
  • Your colleagues can also help (obtain the telephone numbers and/or e-mail addresses of at least two class colleagues and form a study/response group).

    • Please also let me know of any documented disabilities (approved through the Student Disability Resource Center, House 71) and what accommodations would contribute to your success in this class.

    Academic Dishonesty

    Plagiarism and cheating are serious offenses.  The university catalogue provides a detailed definition of both academic dishonesty and plagiarism and lists "usual penalty for a student found to have cheated" as "disciplinary probation, suspension, or permanent expulsion from the university" (350).  Please know that I will not tolerate any form of academic dishonesty; I am interested in your ideas and views, not those of nameless others, so those who plagiarize will, at the very least, fail the course.  Consult the HSU Catalogue for a complete discussion of academic dishonesty.

    Final Exam

    Thursday, December 21, 10:20-12:10 p.m.  (No exceptions÷see "Grading Policy" section in this syllabus)
    For our final meeting time, you will bring a letter of advice (addressed to incoming English 100I students) and share a final project with the entire class.
     

    Final Note: This syllabus may be subject to change during the course of the semester.