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ENG 131—Writing Experience

Winter 2018

Caveat: Please Note: The contents of this syllabus are subject to revision during the course of the semester.

Academic Honesty Policy: JC has an academic honesty policy that will be adhered to in this class. In essence, the policy requires that all work must be done by the student whose name it bears.

Please read the Academic Honesty Policy on pages 7-8of this syllabuscarefully. Plagiarized work receives a grade of 0.0.

Dr. Geri Jacobs

3 Credit Hours

Building and Office Bert Walker 243 Office Phone # 517-796-8587

Office Hours 9-2 Mondays and Wednesdays; and by appointment

Catalog Description and Pre- and Co-requisites

This is an intensive writing course. Narrative and descriptive modes are stressed. Basic research strategies are introduced. An end of the semester portfolio is required. Prerequisites: ENG 085 and ENG 090*

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Students Acquire from this Course (Educational Objectives)

  1. Employ parts of the recursive writing process--including pre-writing/discovery, planning, focusing, organizing, drafting, revising, proofreading, and evaluating sources—to achieve purpose in audience-centered communication.
  2. Able to articulate and demonstrate use of rhetorical situation—purpose, audience, context-- in consciously crafted, audience-focused writing
  3. Use genres to navigate complex rhetorical challenges and compose texts that achieve purpose and meet audience needs
  4. Demonstrate ability to employ narrative, descriptive, and informative strategies in consciously crafted, audience-focused writing
  5. Ability to identify assumptions, point of view, and implications born of reasoning
  6. Ability to identify, explain, and employ concepts clearly
  7. Demonstrate functional organizational structure appropriate to genre and modality.
  8. Employ strategies for developing and supporting claims appropriate to rhetorical situation.
  9. Employ Write to Learn methods through reflective writing and research for further understanding and additional knowledge
  10. Demonstrate developing research skills including establishing research questions, defining the kind of information needed, where to find information, and evaluation of information
  11. Ability to integrate, cite, and document sourced material
  12. Practices correct grammar and usage
  13. Ability to work collaboratively and as a member of a team
  14. Ability to identify and assess the contributions of self and others working on a team

Please note that this is a General Education course. Below is Jackson College’s General Education Philosophy:

General education facilitates the development of an informed and educated person who recognizes and respects the diversity of communities, thinks critically, and is proficient at fundamental skills. General education engages students in active learning by providing opportunities to observe, analyze, and evaluate, and to apply these skills critically to problems. General education fosters the development of responsible, ethical human beings dedicated to improving their own lives and the lives of others through work, family life, social and political action, cultural awareness, and service to others.

Our course incorporates a specific General Education Outcome (GEO) established by the JC Board of Trustees, administration, and faculty: GEO 1: Write clearly, concisely, and intelligibly

GEO’s goals are in concert with four-year colleges and universities and reflect input from the professional communities we serve. GEOs guarantee students achieve goals necessary for graduation credit, transferability, and professional skills needed in many certification programs.

Primarily, you will compose texts that are focused, organized, and well-developed. Your writing will also demonstrate awareness of purpose and audience as well as acceptable procedures for incorporating research material. Additionally, to satisfy the expectations stated in GEO 1, you must carefully revise your compositions so that they reflect accepted conventions of essay-writing.

You will be placed in groups and be expected to show the ways in which you have helped class members in the revision process.

Units/topics of Instruction

  • Writing Process and Strategies
  • Discovering, Focusing, Shaping, Revising, Editing
  • Style, Voice, Thesis, Organization, and Development
  • Use of Genre to Express Ideas
  • Narrative
  • Descriptive
  • Informative
  • Optional: Analytical, Persuasive
  • Rhetorical Situation
  • Audience, Purpose, Context
  • Research
  • Defining Research Question
  • Developing a Research Plan
  • Finding and Assessing Sources
  • Integrating Research
  • MLA Style, including documentation and citation
  • Structures and Grammar
  • Portfolio Building

Instructional Techniques and Procedures

  • Writing as Process
  • Active Learning Strategies
  • Collaborative Group Activities and Writing
  • Technology to Deliver Information in multi-modal formats
  • Technology in Composition Activities
  • Individual Writing
  • Peer Review

Course Design

This is a workshop-focused composition course. You are expected to practice the recursive process that includes prewriting, drafting, and revising. You are also expected to think about your process as a writer and consider ways in which that process can be revised or enhanced.

You will be expected to complete formal and informal writing assignments, participate in small and large group discussions, and provide and receive feedback during workshop sessions. You will be expected to read and write about material that is moderate to difficult in complexity.

Writing as Process:

Where do we begin as writers? When we choose a topic, generate ideas, find the point we need to make, and decide on a plan of organization, we are in the early stage, often called the prewriting stage. Many writers do a lot of this early work in their heads; others go through a series of writing exercises as a way of preparing themselves.

Somewhere along the way, we will begin to engage ourselves in a more formal stage of the process, often called the writing or drafting stage. Here, among other things, we will work to create examples of effective writing that

has a clear, personable, engaging, and believable voice;

uses diction and syntax that are appropriate to the writing situation;

is well developed with carefully chosen reasons, supporting details, examples, and source material;

has a focal point (thesis) that is maintained throughout;

moves smoothly;

targets a specific audience;

pays appropriate attention to the conventions (grammar, spelling, punctuation) given the audience and purpose;

documents secondary sources, using accepted guidelines.

The final revising (revision) stage allows us to look back at what we have written and to make changes that will allow us to communicate more effectively with our audience. During this stage, you will receive feedback from your instructor and peers.

Although this process appears to be linear, it is, in fact, recursive, since as we move forward through the process we are constantly looking back (and often revising) what we have written.

Textbooks and Supplies

Writing: Today—Third Edition by Richard Johnson-Sheehan ISBN: 13: 978-0—321—98465-4 A digital version of this book is available.The college bookstore also has copies of this book that can be purchased or rented.

Flash Drive

3-4 Soft cover folders, loose leaf paper, pen

Grading Procedure

Your grade for the course will be assessed in the following ways:

Class Work: Completion of drafts and revisions, daily writing, class assignments, homework, reflections (40%)

Portfolio (40%)

Participation: Attendance, in-class participation, group work, and peer review (20%)

Grading Scale

95-100%=4.0

89-94%=3.5

84-88%=3.0

78-83%=2.5

72-77%=2.0

66-71%=1.5

60-65%=1.0

55-59%=0.5

0-54%=0.0

Here is an example of how to calculate your grade:

For a writing assignment, you got 20 points out of a possible 25. Divide 20 by 25:

20/25=.8

Multiply .8 by 100:

.8(100) =80%

80%=2.5

Course Requirements

ENG 131 focuses on narrative and informative writing. Here are your major writing assignments:

The Memoir

The Report

The Profile

Pre- and Post- Reflective Essays

Each assignment will be discussed and explained as we progress throughout the semester.

Completion of drafts and revisions, daily writing, class assignments, homework, reflections

Your major assignments are: the Memoir, Report, and Profile.

There are no “rough” drafts in this class. Pre-portfolio drafts are graded and given feedback. You are then responsible for revising your draft before it is submitted in the portfolio.

You are required to write Reflective essays after each unit.

Daily writing and class assignments cannot be made-up. They must be completed in class.

Homework assignments must be handed in on the due date in the format required. To receive credit, homework assignments must be done outside class. Late homework assignments are not accepted.

Portfolio Submission

Your portfolio will contain revised, polished drafts of your major writings. Essays that I have not read during the semester cannot be placed in the portfolio. The Department of Language, Literature, and the Arts has outlined guidelines and requirements for the Writing Portfolio. You will receive a copy of this handout the first week of class.

The portfolio requires a minimum of ten full pages; in addition, each paper must be at least two full pages. Keep in mind that a substantial grade reduction is given to a portfoliothat does not meet the minimum page requirements. Please consult the Department’s guidelines.

Attendance, in-class participation, group work, and peer review

You will be asked to participate in group and individual activities while in class. On assigned days, you will also be required to read each other’s essays and provide feedback.

Please note that class participation points cannot be made-up. Failure to be present or to participate will result in a deduction of points. You must remain in class during class participation activities to avoid losing participation points

Please have available soft cover folders for the following assignments:

  1. Homework; in-class writing assignments; peer-critiqued drafts
  2. Class handouts
  3. Drafts submitted for grading;
  4. The Portfolio

Please note that all assignments must be typed and submitted to me in a soft cover folder.

Course Policies

I expect you to be present at all class sessions, arriving on time and remaining until class officially ends. This is especially important since class participation points cannot be made-up. If you arrive late for class, please enter the classroom, but do so without interrupting the students and the teacher. However, do not use this leniency as a reason for being habitually late. Please note: One of the best ways of enhancing your success as a student is to attend class!!

  • HQV Grading: Additionally, on assigned due dates—mandated by federal law— I will send an attendance report to Student Services. If you are not attending class, you will receive a Q grade (withdrawn from the class); if your attendance is spotty, you will receive an H grade. If I am able to verify your attendance and participation in class, you will receive a V grade (satisfactory attendance). Additionally, if there are concerns regarding your being successful in this class, I will submit a Retention Alert to your Navigator.
  • Withdraw: After the Add/Drop period, a student may withdraw from a course in accordance with the dates published in e-services.
  • Incomplete Policy: In accordance with JC policy, an Incomplete or “I” grade is only issued to “students who have demonstrated good standing in the class and hold a passing grade at the time of an extenuating circumstance that precludes completion of the class. Documentation validating the circumstance may be required.”
  • In-class Writing: You must be prepared to write, share, and revise your writing in class. You must be able to transport your electronic text to the classroom. Please consider purchasing a flash drive or e-mailing your compositions to your JC account.
  • During class, you will use the computers for composing and research. You may not use the computers for other activities including non-course related e-mailing and playing games. I will warn individuals who participate in such activities during class. After the initial warning, I will deduct class participation points.
  • All assignments must be typed. Please note that using a word processor facilitates the revision process.
  • Late Work Policy: Assigned work must be handed in on time and in the format required.
  • All assignments must be handed to me.
  • Please do not leave assignments in my mail box unless I have given you prior permission to do so.
  • Please do not e-mail assignments to me.

Plagiarism Policy: “Plagiarism, the submission of another’s writing, whether directly copied or paraphrased,will result in a failing grade for the assignment andcan be grounds for removal from the class. Cases of plagiarism are dealt with by the instructoron an individual basis; the instructor will make decisions regarding the student'sability to correct the problem. All cases of plagiarism are reported to the Office of the Academic Dean.”

  • Failure: Plagiarized work will be assigned 0.0.
  • Below you will find Jackson College’s Academic Honesty Policy as it is stated in Jackson College’s Student Handbook:
ACADEMIC HONESTY

Academic Honesty is expected of all students. It is the ethical behavior that includes producing their own work and not representing others’ work as their own, either by plagiarism, by cheating or by helping others to do so.

Faculty members who suspect a student of academic dishonesty may penalize the student by taking appropriate action up to and including assigning a failing grade for the paper, project, re-port, exam, and the course itself. Instructors must document all instances of academic dishonesty beyond those of a very minor nature, in writing to the Academic Dean.

The Office of the Academic Deans will record and track students who have been reported as having cheated. If the same student cheats in other courses, the Dean will enact sanctions appropriate to level of infraction. The sanction will be selected in consultation with the involved faculty. The Dean can administer consequences up to and including suspension.

PLAGIARISM

Plagiarism is the failure to give credit for the use of material from outside sources. Plagiarism includes but is not limited to:

  • Using data, quotations, or paraphrases from other sources without adequate documentation
  • Submitting other’s work as your own
CHEATING

Cheating refers to obtaining answers/material from an outside source without authorization. Cheating includes, but is not limited to:

  • Plagiarizing in all forms
  • Using notes/books without authorization
  • Copying from someone else’s work
  • Submitting others’ work as your own or submitting your work for others
  • Altering graded work
  • Falsifying data
  • Exhibiting other behaviors generally considered unethical

Collaboration: While JC encourages students to collaborate in study groups, work teams, and with lab partners, each student should take responsibility for accurately representing his/her own contribution.

Obstruction or disruption of teaching, lecturing, research, administration, disciplinary procedures, or other authorized activities on College premises is not allowed.

  • You will be required to use the Internet (as well as other conventional methods) for research purposes.
  • You are expected to follow accepted ways of documenting research material in your writing. In this class, you will follow the MLA (Modern Language Association) guidelines.
  • Please allow time outside of class for one-on-one conferences with me.
  • Please keep a current record of your grade; if you have concerns or questions, please let me know.

Writing Help:

When opting for help with your writing, bring the following:

A copy of the assignment;

Your draft or work thus far;

Specific areas with which you need help.

  • Instructor Support: Please schedule a conference with me to discuss your essays.
  • Writing Fellows: Writing Fellows can help you on all stages of the writing process, including prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and citing sources—no matter what JC class you are enrolled in. You may drop in during their working hours, generally 9-4 Monday through Thursday, or set up an appointment in advance. Students may also submit a draft for review online via the Writing Fellow link in the Student Union on JetNet. Bring or submit a copy of the assignment requirements, work completed on the assignment so far, and writing- related questions.
  • Writing Faculty and Tutors are located in the Center for Student Success (CSS), Bert Walker, first floor. For more information about the CSS go to
  • Message from the Center for Student Success:

“Tutors and additional free services for academic success can be accessed by calling (517) 796-8415 or by stopping by the Center for Student Success, Bert Walker Hall. Faculty and tutors in the CSS will help you with writing, study skills, test anxiety, math, and reading.

Students requiring special assistance (including those affected by the Americans with Disabilities Act) should contact the Center for Student Success. This is the first step in acquiring the appropriate accommodations to facilitate your learning.”

If you require accommodations for this course, please schedule an office visit with me. Together, we will plan teaching and learning strategies intended to support your learning and success.

Course Policy

Please refer to me as Dr. or Mrs. Jacobs.

Please try and maintain a positive, encouraging attitude in class.

I ask that all members of the class be considerate and respectful.

Do not speak while I am addressing the entire group.

Please communicate with me and your classmates in a polite, professional manner.

Please refrain from using profanity in your essays and in your conversations during class.

Please turn off or silence all cell phones during the entire class session. Do not conduct telephone conversations or text during class.

Please take note: Being involved with your cell phone while in class (unless instructed to do so) is not a wise choice. You will miss important information and instruction, and you will lose class points for lack of participation.

Do not speak while a class member is addressing the entire group.

Do not participate in any behavior that is distracting or unprofessional.

Distracting and disrespectful behavior creates an unhealthy learning environment and will not be tolerated.

I am aware that some of you have young children. Unfortunately, I must ask that children not be brought to class since often they are a distraction to the parent as well as the other members of the learning community.