Thought and Writing
This course is a Freshman level course designed to provide students with necessary tools, skills and techniques to be successful in all aspects of their academic writing. I like to divide the course into four major projects which build upon each other as students become more attuned and comfortable with their own writing processes. Students focus on genre aquisition and awareness as build towards a culminating portfolio of work while utilizing the technology necessary for communication.
Course Syllabus
English 1050: Thought & Writing
Section 41139
Monday and Wednesday 10:00-11:50
Fall 2011
Instructor: Christy Doherty-McDowell
Classroom: 4208 Dunbar
Office: 714 Sprau Tower
Office Hours: W 12pm-1pm, Thursday TBA and by appointment
Email:[email protected]
Course Materials:
1. Mercury Reader: Reading and Writing in the Age of Cultural Diversity. (Required).
2. Notebook/Journal (Required).
Course Description (from the Western Michigan University Undergraduate Catalog): A writing course in which the students will work closely with the instructor to develop their sense of language as a means of shaping and ordering their experience and ideas, and to develop imagination, thought, organization, and clarity in their written work. Does not count as credit towards English major or minor. Fulfills the University Intellectual Skills college level writing requirement.
Course Objectives:
· Recognize the process of writing
· Identify genres and become familiar with reading and writing in a variety of genres.
· Recognize and utilize conventions of various genres and writing situations
· Analyze writings and readings for context and rhetorical devices
· Gather information from a wide variety of credible sources
· Become familiar with the vast amount of support available at the University Libraries
· Cite sources correctly both in-text and at the end of text (works cited, bibliography, etc.)
· Participate in writing workshop
Course Outline
Below is a breakdown of the grade distribution.
1. Personal Narrative 15%
You will compose a personal narrative that details an important memory, event, person, place, text, etc.
2. Persuasive Argument 15%
You will focus one topic of interest that is both relevant and arguable. You will take one side of the issue and present your case using research to support your statement.
3. Unfamiliar Genre Project 15%
You will choose a new genre, research it, analyze it, and produce an example of it. The bulk of the grade is in your research process NOT in the final product.
4. Multigenre Research Project 20%
Using the genres that we uncover in the Unfamiliar Genre Project, you will compile one cohesive project that explores one topic of interest through a multitude of genres. This is the course’s culminating project.
5. Journal/Blog 15%
You are required to keep a writer’s notebook that you work both in and out of class. You are also responsible for participating in our weekly online discussions.
6. Pre-Conference Writes 10%
Prior to meeting with me for individual writing conferences, you are responsible for completing a pre-writing activity which you must bring to the conference.
7. Participation 10%
Taking an active role in class discussion and writing workshop is vital to your success in this course. Completion of writing exercises, required readings, field trips to the library, and the sharing of work all fall into this category.
Course Completion: All major projects must be turned in and completed satisfactorily to receive a grade for this course.
Grading Policies & Procedures:
Grading will be based on the following percentages: A=93-100%, B/A=88-92.9%, B=83-87.9%, C/B=78-82.9%, C=73-77.9%, DC=68-72.9%, D=63-67.9%, E=62.9% or lower
A Note: WMU is committed to ensuring that all students succeed. As part of this initiative, I will be reporting individual student attendance problems to the WMU's registrar's office. If you have missed more than two classes OR if I see a pattern of poor attendance that may jeopardize your success in this class, I will report this to the registrar.
If the registrar’s office determines that a student is missing multiple classes or appears to be in jeopardy of failing a class or multiple classes, they may contact your residence hall director, resident assistant, or other student support person at the university.
Student Academic Conduct: You are responsible for making yourself aware of and understanding the academic policies and procedures in the Undergraduate Catalog (found online, http://catalog.wmich.edu) that pertain to Student rights and responsibilities. These policies include cheating, fabrication, falsification and forgery, multiple submission, plagiarism, complicity and computer misuse. If there is reason to believe you have been involved in academic dishonesty, you will be referred to the Office of Judicial Affairs. You will be given the opportunity to review the charge(s). If you believe you are not responsible, you will have the opportunity for a hearing. You should consult with me if you are uncertain about an issue of academic honesty prior to the submission of an assignment or test.
Religious Observances Policy: The University is a diverse, multicultural enterprise and, as a community, we jointly embrace both individual responsibility and dignified respect for our differences. It is our general policy to permit students to fulfill obligations set aside by their faith.
It is our intent that students who must be absent from scheduled classes to fulfill religious obligations or observe practices associated with their faith not be disadvantaged. However, it is the student’s responsibility to make arrangements with his/her instructors in advance. It is in the student’s best interests to approach each instructor expeditiously and with sufficient notice that the rights and responsibilities of the instructor are not disrupted. (WMU Policy approved on June 8, 2007).
**Please let me know at least a week in advance if you are not going to be in class due to a religious observance.
Accommodation for Disabilities: Any student with a documented disability (e.g.. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the WMU Disability Services for Students at 269-387-2116. A disability determination must be made by this office before any accommodations are provided by the instructor. For more information, please visit http://www.wmich.edu/disabilityservices/index.html
Schedules: Academic assignment schedules will be given at the beginning of each unit and throughout the semester. I reserve the right to adapt the course schedule as necessary.
Important Dates:
· September 12, 2011: Drop/Add Ends
· September 28, 2011: Personal Narrative Due
· October 10, 2011: Annotated Bibliography Due
· October 17, 2011: Persuasive Argument Due
· October 24: Midterm
· November 7, 2011: Last day to withdraw from courses
· November 9, 2011: Unfamiliar Genre Project Due
· November 23, 2011: Thanksgiving Break—NO CLASS
· December 5, 2011: Multigenre Research Project Due
· December 12, 2011: Final Exam 10:15-12:15
Section 41139
Monday and Wednesday 10:00-11:50
Fall 2011
Instructor: Christy Doherty-McDowell
Classroom: 4208 Dunbar
Office: 714 Sprau Tower
Office Hours: W 12pm-1pm, Thursday TBA and by appointment
Email:[email protected]
Course Materials:
1. Mercury Reader: Reading and Writing in the Age of Cultural Diversity. (Required).
2. Notebook/Journal (Required).
Course Description (from the Western Michigan University Undergraduate Catalog): A writing course in which the students will work closely with the instructor to develop their sense of language as a means of shaping and ordering their experience and ideas, and to develop imagination, thought, organization, and clarity in their written work. Does not count as credit towards English major or minor. Fulfills the University Intellectual Skills college level writing requirement.
Course Objectives:
· Recognize the process of writing
· Identify genres and become familiar with reading and writing in a variety of genres.
· Recognize and utilize conventions of various genres and writing situations
· Analyze writings and readings for context and rhetorical devices
· Gather information from a wide variety of credible sources
· Become familiar with the vast amount of support available at the University Libraries
· Cite sources correctly both in-text and at the end of text (works cited, bibliography, etc.)
· Participate in writing workshop
Course Outline
Below is a breakdown of the grade distribution.
1. Personal Narrative 15%
You will compose a personal narrative that details an important memory, event, person, place, text, etc.
2. Persuasive Argument 15%
You will focus one topic of interest that is both relevant and arguable. You will take one side of the issue and present your case using research to support your statement.
3. Unfamiliar Genre Project 15%
You will choose a new genre, research it, analyze it, and produce an example of it. The bulk of the grade is in your research process NOT in the final product.
4. Multigenre Research Project 20%
Using the genres that we uncover in the Unfamiliar Genre Project, you will compile one cohesive project that explores one topic of interest through a multitude of genres. This is the course’s culminating project.
5. Journal/Blog 15%
You are required to keep a writer’s notebook that you work both in and out of class. You are also responsible for participating in our weekly online discussions.
6. Pre-Conference Writes 10%
Prior to meeting with me for individual writing conferences, you are responsible for completing a pre-writing activity which you must bring to the conference.
7. Participation 10%
Taking an active role in class discussion and writing workshop is vital to your success in this course. Completion of writing exercises, required readings, field trips to the library, and the sharing of work all fall into this category.
Course Completion: All major projects must be turned in and completed satisfactorily to receive a grade for this course.
Grading Policies & Procedures:
Grading will be based on the following percentages: A=93-100%, B/A=88-92.9%, B=83-87.9%, C/B=78-82.9%, C=73-77.9%, DC=68-72.9%, D=63-67.9%, E=62.9% or lower
A Note: WMU is committed to ensuring that all students succeed. As part of this initiative, I will be reporting individual student attendance problems to the WMU's registrar's office. If you have missed more than two classes OR if I see a pattern of poor attendance that may jeopardize your success in this class, I will report this to the registrar.
If the registrar’s office determines that a student is missing multiple classes or appears to be in jeopardy of failing a class or multiple classes, they may contact your residence hall director, resident assistant, or other student support person at the university.
Student Academic Conduct: You are responsible for making yourself aware of and understanding the academic policies and procedures in the Undergraduate Catalog (found online, http://catalog.wmich.edu) that pertain to Student rights and responsibilities. These policies include cheating, fabrication, falsification and forgery, multiple submission, plagiarism, complicity and computer misuse. If there is reason to believe you have been involved in academic dishonesty, you will be referred to the Office of Judicial Affairs. You will be given the opportunity to review the charge(s). If you believe you are not responsible, you will have the opportunity for a hearing. You should consult with me if you are uncertain about an issue of academic honesty prior to the submission of an assignment or test.
Religious Observances Policy: The University is a diverse, multicultural enterprise and, as a community, we jointly embrace both individual responsibility and dignified respect for our differences. It is our general policy to permit students to fulfill obligations set aside by their faith.
It is our intent that students who must be absent from scheduled classes to fulfill religious obligations or observe practices associated with their faith not be disadvantaged. However, it is the student’s responsibility to make arrangements with his/her instructors in advance. It is in the student’s best interests to approach each instructor expeditiously and with sufficient notice that the rights and responsibilities of the instructor are not disrupted. (WMU Policy approved on June 8, 2007).
**Please let me know at least a week in advance if you are not going to be in class due to a religious observance.
Accommodation for Disabilities: Any student with a documented disability (e.g.. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the WMU Disability Services for Students at 269-387-2116. A disability determination must be made by this office before any accommodations are provided by the instructor. For more information, please visit http://www.wmich.edu/disabilityservices/index.html
Schedules: Academic assignment schedules will be given at the beginning of each unit and throughout the semester. I reserve the right to adapt the course schedule as necessary.
Important Dates:
· September 12, 2011: Drop/Add Ends
· September 28, 2011: Personal Narrative Due
· October 10, 2011: Annotated Bibliography Due
· October 17, 2011: Persuasive Argument Due
· October 24: Midterm
· November 7, 2011: Last day to withdraw from courses
· November 9, 2011: Unfamiliar Genre Project Due
· November 23, 2011: Thanksgiving Break—NO CLASS
· December 5, 2011: Multigenre Research Project Due
· December 12, 2011: Final Exam 10:15-12:15