UNION COUNTY COLLEGE ENG 101-300/301 Summer 2 2008 English Composition I Dr. Susannah Chewning Office: H-125 (Cranford Campus) Office Hours by appointment Voice Mail: (908) 709-7182 e-mail: chewning@ucc.edu

Click here for special online instructions!   Click here for the syllabus

Course Description: This course is the first half of a two-semester sequence, completed by either ENG 102 or ENG 122 or required by a program of study, which focuses on the development of the student’s skill in writing expository prose. Prerequisite: ENG 099, if needed.

Course Objectives: by the end of the semester each student will

• explore methods of rhetoric, exposition, and argumentation.

• learn and master the standards of grammar and style.

• look at the role of reading in writing.

• through a study of the works of writers from many backgrounds, get a sense of our own understanding of the writing process and our place within it.

• the role of writing and of language in and outside of the classroom.

• identify and discuss the ethical dimensions in writing, research, and other forms of communication<

• produce a well-defined thesis on a topic pertinent to the course and develop it into an effective and well-organized essay.

• conduct effective research on her chosen topic, using both Library and Internet resources.

• identify and correct errors in mechanics and develop a clear and readable style.

Choose one of Diana

these two books by Hacker

Required Texts:

Neuleib, Janice, et. al, General Editors. The Mercury Reader. Boston, MA: Pearson Custom Publishing, 2007.

Either of the two handbooks by Diana Hacker: A Pocket Style Manual. 4^th edition. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martins, 2003 or A Writer's Reference, 6th ed. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2007.  Additional support is available at http://www.dianahacker.com/resdoc.

The American Heritage College Dictionary. 4^th edition. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2002 (any College dictionary).

Special online Instructions:

Any student enrolled in this class must be aware of the basic requirements for completing her work.  The equipment requirements are explained at http://www.ucc.edu/DistanceEducation/OSSK/default.htm -- it is very important that you take a minute and make sure that you have the required equipment.  A lot of students have trouble posting assignments to WebCT, but it is a requirement for this course.  After the first assignment, which is due on Thursday, September 6th, I will not accept any papers sent to me via UCC or WebCT email except for revisions.  You must familiarize yourself with the requirements for uploading your papers as Word documents to the WebCT Assignments page as soon as possible in order to get credit for all papers that you complete.  Instructions can be found at on the FAQ page at http://www.ucc.edu/DistanceEducation/StudentOrientation/FAQs.htm?WBCMODE= PresentationUnpublished#assign.

Course Requirements:  Please see my policy handout for basic class policies.

Attendance. Since this is an on-line course, there is no attendance policy.  However, your participation in the course is very important.  I will check your status frequently to see that you are logging on to the class website; I will give individual and group assignments that must be posted to the website frequently.  You must do your assignments on time -- over the course of the whole semester, not all at once.  Late assignments will not be accepted -- no exceptions.

Office Hours. My office hours are Tuesday 12pm-3pm.  You can reach me by phone in my office at those times.  You are also welcome to come to campus and meet with me in person by appointment.

Reading Assignments. Please make sure you read all the assignments from The Mercury Reader on time. You are responsible for turning in responses to at least two of the assigned readings each week, which will include a personal response and an on-line discussion question.

Responses to the readings. These responses should total at least one hundred words. They must be e-mailed by the date they are due -- late responses will not be accepted.  Please note that there are some essays assigned for which no response is due.  You can still turn one in for extra-credit. 

Note on research: By the conclusion of the semester, all students who pass this course will have demonstrated, in at least one substantial graded essay, that they understand the fundamentals of research. This will include doing basic research, being able to evaluate sources and citing at least three of these sources in the proper MLA style in the graded essay. Some of these sources must be electronic, including but not necessarily limited to the Internet. Students must pass this essay with a grade of C or higher, and students will not be allowed to pass it unless they can adequately demonstrate their ability in this area to quote and integrate multiple sources.

Papers. Topics will be discussed in greater detail on WebCT. All revisions are due before August 11th. Keep all your papers in a portfolio so we can discuss them together. All papers must conform to the MLA style of documentation and format. Late papers will not be accepted. Any paper turned in after its due date and time must be submitted on the revision link for that paper. Late papers cannot be revised.

Breakdown of Grades: Participation 25%; Responses and research 25%; Formal Papers 50%.

Grading Scale: 100-92 A; 91-87 B+; 86-82 B; 81-77 C+; 76-72 C; 71-67 D+; 66-62 D; below 62 F.  Please see grade explanation attached.  Please note that Union County College does not permit the assignment of minus final grades (such as A-, B-, or C-), so I will try not to give such grades on your work.

Grading and Revisions: When I return a paper to you, it will either have a grade or I will have written “revise for a grade.” If the grade is a B- or lower, or if it says “revise for a grade,” it may be revised ONCE. When I read and evaluate a paper for the first time I will carefully edit it and make suggestions for improvement in grammar, organization and content. Any subsequent versions of the paper will include a grade if it is not in further need of revision; if it requires further revision I will again write revise for a grade, but I will not have edited to the same degree that I did the first draft. Before you revise a paper, please discuss it with me so you can make a more complete revision. I cannot accept a second revision that we have not discussed first. Please be aware that you cannot revise a paper for which you have received a grade of F if it has been plagiarized. You are also not allowed to revise late papers; when you turn it in late you are using up your chance to revise. The final deadline for all revisions is August 11th.

Grammar: Much of your study of grammar rules will be independent. I strongly recommend A Pocket Style Manual or A Writer's Reference (both by Diana Hacker) and the use of their on-line resources at http://www.dianahacker.com/resdoc. As I evaluate your papers, you should read the sections of this text that apply to the corrections I have suggested.  We may have occasional grammar quizzes. A good way to study for them is to keep track of your grammatical weaknesses (as I point them out to you in your writing) and study from the corrections you have made on your papers. We will mainly discuss grammar individually as I respond to your writing. 

Plagiarism and Academic Integrity: The first instance of plagiarism or cheating of any kind will result in the failure of the assignment. A second instance of academic dishonesty will result in failure of the class and possible censure (including suspension or dismissal from the College) from the Office of the Dean of Student Services. Plagiarized papers cannot be revised. Please see the attached handout for more specific expectations

How to reach me: on voice mail at (908) 709-7182; by e-mail at chewning@ucc.edu; on WebCT at http://webct.ucc.edu; by regular mail at UCC.

Schedule of Assignments & Important Dates: All assignments are in The Mercury Reader unless otherwise indicated.  Please note:  For the first fifteen days of the semester I will not be in Cranford (I will be out of town at a conference).  I will have my laptop and will be in frequent contact with you, but I will not be available by phone until July 23^rd.  Please be aware of this; if you have a question or problem with the course, please remember to contact me only via email for those first two weeks.  Thanks!

ENG 101-300 English I                                                                                                                                        Paper Topics

The following paper topics are somewhat flexible, but the due dates are not. Remember that papers must be turned in on time--late papers will not be accepted. Papers must also conform to the MLA Style--no exceptions. Please note that these are final due dates, not dates when you should begin the assignments. When you have two assignments due on one day or on successive days, please realize I am not only giving you one day to complete them you have all semester to do all the work.  Please make good use of your time.  Please also note that late papers cannot be revised, so it is crucial that you turn your papers in on time.