English 110, section 069, Critical Reading and Writing

Objectives

English 110 fosters the critical thinking, reading, and writing skills essential to success in college and beyond.  In this class, we will explore a range of ideas and problems connected to the environment as we develop ethical and critical positions related to those ideas. You will develop your own ideas as you seek to understand, analyze, and thoughtfully respond to the ideas of others—both published writers and your classmates.  You will be expected (in reading, speaking, and writing) to ask and address questions and important issues.

Text and Materials

1. A Student’s Guide to First-Year Writing at the University of Delaware/Arak Anthology
2.  Diana Hacker, The Bedford Handbook, 6^th  Ed., 2002
3. Marcia F. Muth, Karla Saari Kitalong, Getting the Picture – A Brief Guide to Understanding and Creating Visual Texts
4. Other readings to be assigned (on reserve in Morris Library http://delcat.udel.edu  or handouts) including

1. Aldo Leopold’s “The Land Ethic” (1949)
2. Garrett Hardin’s “The Tragedy of the Commons” (1968) http://www.garretthardinsociety.org/articles/art_tragedy_of_the_commons.html
3. Franklin Burroughs’ “Compression Wood” (2001)
4. Scott Russell Sanders, “After the Flood” (1993)
5. Peter Singer’s “All Animals Are Equal” (1974)
6. Editorials from Environmental Science and Technology  and the Journal of Environmental Engineering (2004) – on electronic reserve
7. Packets A & B – selected readings
4. Package of (5x8) index cards – these are the large ones (lined or unlined, any color).  Always bring a few blank cards to class.

Grading- Philosophy

Learning and performance are not always synonymous.  While the measure of learning and performance is ideally left to the individual, you do attend university and part of that experience requires your work to be evaluated.  In this class, your grade is based primarily upon the marks you earn on the formal projects/papers and Reading Response Blogs.  Because much of what you learn in this course requires active, regular class participation (involving discussion or in class writing), part of your grade will come from class and PBL group participation. 

Grading-Papers

There will be four formal papers as well as a set of less formal response papers.

15     pts           Reading Responses (blogs worth 3 pts. each)

10     pts           Project 1 *

25     pts           Project 2 argumentation and research*

10     pts           Project 3*

30     pts           Project 4 –- The Life (PBL group project)

­­­05     pts           Oral Presentation

05     pts               Note cards/Class Participation 

 *denotes paper may be revised – see below for details

Grading-Revisions

You will be required to revise (substantively and substantially) all first drafts. Additionally, Papers 1-3 may be revised and turned in up to a week after they are returned to you graded.  However, revising means more than “fixing” the grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors I might note on your papers.  Fixing those items is a good thing but does not constitute real revision. Real revision can include modification of the thesis, reorganization, development of stronger support, creating a livelier introduction, adding visual elements, and so on.   Thus, revised papers turned in with only minimal changes will not earn a higher grade.

How to submit revised graded papers:  When submitting a revised graded paper,

• you must also submit your revision on top of the graded paper with my comments.  On the graded paper, you will have 1) highlighted the errors/areas of change and 2) made marginal notes indicating what changes you made;
• additionally, you must write a cogent note card to me indicating the kinds of changes and thinking that occurred.

Final Grades

Policies

1.      I expect that you will attend every class.  English 110-069 is a writing workshop.  If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to get the missed handouts and assignments (it is not my responsibility to seek you out to remind you of what you’ve missed).  There is no opportunity to make-up missed in-class quizzes or writing activities, except in cases where you have a university-approved absence.

a.       Eight or more absences--representing four weeks of the semester--will result in your failing the class. Six unexcused absences will lower your final grade an entire letter. Four unexcused absences will lower your final grade one level.

b.      During the semester, a number of paper conferences are scheduled.  These conferences are an important and required part of the course.  You must not miss your scheduled paper conferences.  Papers submitted without a conference will not be accepted.

2.      If you are having problems outside the classroom that affect your grades, please let me know as soon as possible so that I can take appropriate steps in terms of changing deadlines, etc.  If you do not let me know until well after the fact, I will not be able to help you. 

If serious illnesses, family emergencies, or other crises occur during the term, one of the key things you must do is to contact the dean of your college. This office can assist you in officially notifying others, especially in regards to making up missed class work. Such validation will be necessary for you to make up missed class work and assignments.

3.      I expect that you will buy the texts and bring whichever is appropriate to class.  Further, you will read the assigned material and be prepared to discuss it in class.  I often call on students rather than waiting for volunteers.  If you are unprepared to discuss the material intelligently, you will receive a zero for participation that day.  However, one zero will be dropped per semester. 

4.      I expect that each assignment (unless otherwise noted) will be word-processed and handed in on time unless there is a university-approved absence.  Unexcused late papers will be accepted, but penalized one grade each class they are late.  However, you get one late paper pass per semester (entitles you to turn in one final draft of  a paper a class late – see page 4).

a.       Format all formal papers according to MLA standards (see BH).

                                                  i.      Double-space, using a standard 12 pt. typeface, black ink, and page numbers. 

                                                ii.      Include a title page (minus 5 % on the paper if you neglect – use the model shown on page 716 in the Bedford Handbook.) 

                                              iii.      Identify and date each draft.  When you turn in any final draft, place it on top of all earlier drafts, which must be included.

b.      Turn in drafts of papers we’ve looked at along with any final draft. Unaccompanied final drafts will be not be considered. If you hand in the earlier drafts later, the paper will be considered late.  This may sound harsh, but remember, E110 emphasizes the process approach to writing.  If your classmates or I have made suggestions on earlier drafts, I cannot evaluate your final draft without seeing whether you have addressed those suggestions or whether you have, indeed, made substantial revisions.

c.       Include copies of any journal article or web sources you have used with each paper. If the source is lengthy and you’ve used only one small part, a photocopy of the latter will suffice.

5.      I will be available during office hours or by appointment to answer any questions you have. You can also expect me to attend class prepared to begin on time and to prepare a variety of clearly articulated written or oral assignments for you.  I promise to return graded papers within a week.  I will take your ideas and comments seriously and will respect you for the individual that you are.  I will try to foster a class atmosphere where we all can feel respected and able to contribute.

Academic Integrity

The University Writing Center

The Writing Center (016 Memorial Hall, 831-1168) provides free one-on-one instruction to students at any stage of the writing process who wish to become better writers or editors of their own work. Call or stop by the Writing Center to make an appointment. While appointments are not required, they are useful.  Most sessions last 30-50 minutes. The Writing Center will not proofread or edit your papers, but will help you to do these things yourself. It is a very user-friendly place.

Late Pass

FIPSE  Research Study