WRT 120: Effective
Writing I
Sections 05 (MWF 12; Main 212)
Dr. Robert Fletcher
Main 541
Office
Hours: M 2-3, 7-9, WF 11-12
Phone:
x2745
Email: rfletcher@wcupa.edu
Homepage:
http://courses.wcupa.edu/fletcher
Course Description: This general education writing
course is designed to foster your growth as writer, reader, and thinker.
The catalog description says that the course will emphasize “explanation
of the writing process, practice in writing, and feedback.”
Consequently, though I may occasionally take some time to talk about key
concepts and methods of composition, the main instructional methods in the
course will be discussion and workshop, with me coordinating activities and
guiding you, collectively and individually, in your own work. In class
you can expect to read and discuss your own writing, the writing of other
students, and the published writing of professionals. You should expect
to be challenged to write in new ways, to reflect on your writing experiences,
and to learn the rhetorical conventions of a variety of social and academic contexts.
We will focus on writing as a process that involves planning, drafting,
revising, editing, and reflecting. Some of these activities will be done
on your own, some in class workshops, and some in conference with me or a
Course Objectives: As with other general education courses, this course
is designed to meet a specific set of general education goals. In this course,
students should
- learn to communicate
effectively in writing
- learn to think critically
and analytically
- learn to respond
thoughtfully to diversity
- prepare to lead productive and
contributing lives.
- Trimbur, John. The Call to
Write. 3rd edition.
Longman, 2005.
- Harris, Muriel. Prentice
Hall Reference Guide. 6th
edition. 2006.
Plus, through a computer at home or in a lab, you must be
able to access the Blackboard course site (http://blackboard.wcupa.edu), which we
will use extensively throughout the term.
The software we will be using for peer review and paper submission
requires the Shockwave 8 player. There
will be a prompt at the site for downloading the free player.
Course Requirements and Evaluation: All students are expected to come
to class prepared for discussion or workshop and to complete all assignments on
time. Formal writing assignments will receive letter grades, which will
be assigned grade points at semester’s end. Quizzes will be given a
numerical score, and other activities will be graded on a check, check+,
check- basis. Here is more specific information about the activities:
Formal writing assignments. There are four formal writing
assignments in the course, totaling approximately 4500 words or eighteen pages:
a literacy narrative (memoir), a commentary, a review, and a website.
Part of your grade for these assignments will be determined by your completion
of drafts on time (up to one full grade may be deducted if you fail to submit
drafts on time). Your writing for this course will be evaluated against
explicit standards for formal writing. (75% of grade)
Informal writing assignments and
exercises.
Other than the
argument exercise (assigned Sept. 26), these will be occasional and at my
discretion. They may include reading quizzes. (10% of grade)
Participation.
Portfolio. You are required to submit a
portfolio of all your finished work for this course at the semester's end. In
addition to your papers and the link to your website, it should include a
completed portfolio checklist, which you can download and print out from the
Department website (http://www.wcupa.edu/_academics/sch_cas.eng/portlist.htm).
Your portfolio must also contain a completed self-assessment survey, which will
be distributed to you later in the semester. (5%)
Extra Credit. You may receive extra
credit by conferencing with a tutor at the
Late
Assignments:
Papers or other assignments submitted late will have 1/3 of a grade deducted
for each day (not class period) that passes after the due date. I will not
accept any assignment more than 1 week late.
Academic Dishonesty or Fraud: "Plagiarism is using
another's words or ideas without appropriate acknowledgement" (MLA Style
Manual 4). In formal essays, "acknowledgement" means using
conventions of citation such as the quotation marks and parenthetical note in
the previous sentence. Even if you paraphrase someone's words, you must provide
a note showing your debt. When in doubt about how to use sources in your
writing, come to me with your questions. NOTE:
I take academic dishonesty seriously—and I’m very good at detecting
it!—and I will pursue disciplinary actions according to university policy
if I suspect it.
Attendance: You are permitted three absences during the semester,
excluding those for major medical problems, which will be handled on an
individual basis. You may use these absences for any reason (death in the
family, sick days, job interview, car breakdown, field trip, whatever).
In cases of extreme illness or emergency that will require prolonged absence,
you are responsible for contacting Dean of
Student Affairs, whose office will contact your professors and make
appropriate recommendations. If you miss too much of the semester--even
with a legitimate medical excuse--I may have to ask you to withdraw.
After the three cuts, your participation grade in the course will be lowered a
grade for each cut.
Students with Disabilities: We at West Chester University
wish to make accommodations for persons with disabilities. Please make
your needs known by contacting me and/or the Office of Services for Students
with Disabilities at ext. 3217.
Sufficient notice is needed in order to make the accommodations
possible. The University desires to comply with the
Commitment to Diversity: West Chester University’s Mission
Statement says, in part, “We appreciate the diversity the members of
our community bring to the campus and give fair and equitable treatment to all;
acts of insensitivity or discrimination against individuals based on their
race, gender, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, abilities, or religious
beliefs will not be tolerated.” In accordance with
Support Services: The
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Schedule of Topics, Unless otherwise noted, readings are to be completed BEFORE CLASS. |
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August |
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29 |
Introduction to course |
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31 |
The role of writing; paper #1
presented |
Trimbur pp. 2-36 |
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September |
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2 |
Brainstorming and planning
workshop |
Harris 2a (Planning, pp. 4-10) |
Come to class with three
possible topics for paper. |
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7 |
Approaches to paper #1: Literacy
Narrative |
Trimbur ch. 5 |
Come to class having selected
your topic for paper# 1. |
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9 |
Drafting workshop |
Trimbur ch.
16; Harris 2b-2c (10-12) |
Bring your notes,
draft-in-progress, and other writing materials to class. |
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12 |
Revising workshop |
Trimbur ch.
16, continued |
Complete rough draft of paper #1
due at start of class |
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14 |
Revising workshop |
Harris 2d-2e (pp. 12-18) |
Bring three copies of draft to
class. |
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16, 19, 21 |
Out-of-class conferences |
Harris 61d (497-504) |
Mandatory attendance at
conference |
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23 |
Reflecting on the first paper |
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26 |
Analyzing the Rhetorical
Situation |
Trimbur ch. 2 |
Argument exercise assigned |
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28 |
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Trimbur ch. 3 |
Bring copy of your chosen
argument to class. |
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30 |
Paper #2 assigned: Commentary |
Trimbur ch. 9 |
Exercise on analyzing arguments
due |
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October |
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3 |
Drafting workshop |
Trimbur
pp. 557-70 |
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5 |
Drafting workshop |
Trimbur
pp. 570-85 |
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7 |
No class today |
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10 |
Fall Break |
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12 |
Revising workshop |
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Complete rough draft of paper #2
due; meet in |
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14, 17, 19 |
Out-of-class Conferences |
Mandatory attendance at
conference |
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21 |
Reflecting on the second paper |
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24 |
Paper #3 assigned: Review |
Trimbur ch.
11 |
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26 |
Drafting workshop |
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28 |
Drafting workshop |
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31 |
Revising and editing workshop |
Trimbur pp. 681-86 |
Complete rough draft of paper #3
due |
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November |
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2 |
Revising and editing workshop |
Trimbur pp. 696-707 |
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4 |
Revising and editing workshop |
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7, 9 |
Out-of-class conferences |
Attendance voluntary |
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11 |
Reflecting on the third paper |
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14 |
Final Project: Writing for the
WWW |
Trimbur ch.
20; Harris 61a-c (485-97) |
Choose your subject/paper for
your website. |
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16 |
WYSIWYG editors |
TBA |
Meet in |
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18 |
Basics of HTML |
A Beginner’s Guide to HTML (PDF document at Bb) |
Meet in |
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21 |
Web Style |
Browse the Yale Web Style Guide, second edition |
Meet in |
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23-25 |
Thanksgiving Break |
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28 |
Website workshop |
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30 |
Website workshop |
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December |
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2 |
Website workshop |
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5-12 |
Revision and presentation of
class websites and other activities; Common final exam (if required)
TBA |
Trimbur ch.23 (and perhaps ch. 22) |
Final version of website due with portfolio |