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WRITING 150: Strategies in Writing
Sister Lucia Treanor, FSE Winter 2018
Office: 334 Lake Ontario Hall Section 20: T/R 10-11:50
Office Hours: T/H 8-10 (316C) DEV 203E DEV (T) 204A DEV (H)
Office Telephone: (616) 331-8543 Home Telephone: (616) 897-5220
email: (before 6 pm)
Writing Center Consultant: ______
This course teaches the General Education skills goals of information literacy and written communication, as those goals are described in GVSU’s General Education handbook.
WRT 150
Students practice different kinds of academic writing and learn strategies for rhetorical research-based writing. They practice writing processes to build well-supported arguments and incorporate sources. Students must receive a grade of C (not C-) or better to fulfill the Foundations--Writing requirement. WRT150 is a prerequisite for any SWS course.
After successful completion of the course, students will be able to…
§ apply a full range of writing processes, including invention, planning, organizing,
revising, and editing.
§ employ general academic writing conventions for language, development,
organization, and format.
§ demonstrate knowledge of at least one academic citation and documentation
system (such as MLA or APA style).
§ compose written texts that educated readers will value.
§ practice strategies to identify, access, evaluate, and synthesize multiple forms of
information.
REQUIRED TEXTS:
Essays and class information posted on Bb and https://gaillardia.departmentofwriting.org
Information handouts about course selection, the Portfolio System, grading, etc.
REQUIRED WRITING:
A Narrative: After reading and discussing several narrative and poetry models, you will write an essay about an event that revealed a surprising side of your personality, perhaps one that you hope will not recur—a virtual you, emphasizing the impact and importance of what you describe. (4-5 double-spaced pages)
The Short Report: After studying newspaper, student and professional models, you will write a short essay that reports to concerned, interested readers on a topic about which you have researched, gathered, and organized information. (4-5 double-spaced pages)
An Evaluation Essay: After reading and discussing several models, and working on-line as a group to determine criteria, you will write an essay that evaluates a work of art as determined by your “ship.” (4-5 double-spaced pages)
An Argument Essay: After reading classic and current models, you will write an argument on a topic of your choice that appeals to the understanding of a university audience by the logical unfolding of the issues with which it deals, and by appeals to the emotion and imagination. You will cite multiple idea and information sources, both print and electronic. (5-6 double-spaced pages)
SUMMARY OF POLICIES:
· Fire: Immediately proceed to the nearest exit during a fire alarm. Do not use elevators. More information on emergency website: www.gvsu.edu/emergency.
· Appropriate use of email and computing: Using university technology resources for commercial use is strictly prohibited.
· Preparation: You need to come to class prepared to contribute to class discussions and group work. Please read the assignments thoroughly, consult the agenda on gaillardia.org, and prepare your papers with care. Remember to bring necessary materials to class, including laptops, books, lists, note cards, etc.
· Attendance: Regular attendance is required to succeed in WRT 150. According to the GVSU catalog, “In case of excessive absences, the instructor may refuse to grant credit for the course.” The faculty of the Writing Department have determined that missing class or coming unprepared more than four times constitutes “excessive absences” in WRT 150. I will try to send you an email warning (to your student account), but it is your responsibility. If you miss class after the fourth absence, you will become ineligible to submit a final portfolio, which means you will fail. You must attend the two online classes.
· Late papers: I will provide detailed written feedback on drafts that are turned in on time and you have a week to revise. If you need to turn a paper in late, and would like written feedback, contact me ahead of time by email, and I will arrange an alternate due date. We will begin new assignments on a “due date,” so please do not skip class because you do not have a draft completed. Papers are due on the due date scheduled for each paper. All four finished drafts and revisions must be in by April 5th. Your final portfolio is due April 17th. If you fail to turn in your portfolio by that date, you fail the course. I no longer accept the excuse “I must not have hit save.”
· Midterm evaluation: The University requires midterm grade reports “for all freshmen and for any undergraduate student in other than good standing.” The grades are mailed to your local address, but not recorded on your official transcript. In WRT 150, midterm grades are a general assessment of the overall quality of your work in the class up to that point and have no bearing on your final grade as determined by the Portfolio Committee.
· Plagiarism: If you are unsure as to whether you are plagiarizing, acknowledge the source of your ideas. This issue is discussed on pages 14-15 of The Green Book handout. Students may be asked to submit their papers to SafeAssign.
· Digital Etiquette Policy: You will be using your laptops when we are in the “low-tech” classroom. However, it is not permissible to follow a game, check your friend’s status, IM, play Pokémon Go or respond to e-mail. Such activities distract not only you, but also those around you.
· Cell phones: Please remember to turn your phone to “vibrate” before coming into class. If you receive an emergency call, please take it in the hall.
· Learning or Physical Disabilities: If you have special needs because of a learning or physical disability, please contact the Disability Support Resources at 331-2490 (gvsu.edu/dsr).
· The Writing Center: The center offers a variety of services to our class. A walk-in service is available in 120 Lake Ontario Hall Mon.-Thurs. 9-6, Fri. 9-3, and Sun. 2-6. Call 331-2922. The Writing Center web site is http://www.gvsu.edu/wc.
· Library: Our contact person is Erica Millspaugh: https://libguides.gvsu.edu/WRT150/Treanor
· Art Evaluation: Our class will be touring the campus for the evaluation essay assignment.
E-MAIL POLICIES:
All official Grand Valley State University email goes to your student (Gmail) account, including any email sent from Blackboard. I will send email through Blackboard, so it is very important that you check your GVSU Gmail account on a regular basis. Many times, I will send reminders, tips and general FYI information as an e‐mail message.Email sent from Blackboard includes the course number. When sending me an email message that does not originate in Blackboard, please indicate the course number in the subject line and sign your name within the body of the message, so that I know with whom I am corresponding. If it is an urgent message, please also include the words “help” in the subject line. Based on the sheer volume of email I receive every day, this will help me to give priority to urgent messages from my students.
During the workweek (Monday–Friday) I will check my email twice between the hours of 9‐5. You will receive a response within 24‐hours (and usually much quicker.) I often check my email at least once on Saturday and never on Sunday. Therefore, please do not expect that I will return email messages on the weekend.
Please consider the Three Before Me rule before emailing me concerning technical questions or other class logistics (due dates, assignment clarification, and the like), try learning your answer through three other means first:
1. For technical support, contact the Help Desk by phone (616.331.2101) or email: . You can also review the support documents in our Blackboard course site or by clicking the “Help” button.
2. Refer to course resources such as the syllabus, calendar, assignment details that are posted under Assignments, discussions, including the FAQ forum. Everyone is welcome to post questions and to answer questions that are posted there!
3. Email a student on your ship and/or post your question on the Question forum (Discussion Bd).
PORTFOLIO GRADING SYSTEM:
A “portfolio” is a collection of work. To meet the WRT 150 requirement at GVSU, your portfolio must contain three finished pieces of writing that represent your capabilities as a writer. One or more of these pieces must cite multiple sources. At least one other WRT 150 teacher and I will read and grade your portfolio. This will be your grade for the course, but I may adjust the grade with a plus or a minus to reflect additional aspects of your performance in class—participation, effectiveness in peer review, completion of reading assignments, attendance, and leadership.
Grading criteria: Portfolios are given an A, B, C, or D grade. We will discuss detailed characteristics of A, B, C, and D papers in class. Here is a summary:
ü challenging, intelligent, college-level ideas
ü a single focus which is clearly emphasized and which runs through the entire paper
ü full development of ideas with relevant details, examples, and discussions
ü a reasonable, logical progression of clearly marked sections and/or paragraphs
ü sentences that vary according to content, purpose, and emphasis and which are appropriate in form
ü precise, interesting, and appropriate word choice
ü appropriate format
ü consistent and appropriate citation of sources
ü conventional use of grammar, punctuation, and mechanics
You can find much more information on GVSU’s portfolio-grading system from pages 31-33 of the handout I will give you or at the Writing Department website:
www.gvsu.edu/wc.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Bb Requirements:
You are expected to check Bb every couple of days for any new announcements and postings on the Discussion Board. It is important that you keep in touch with me and with your fellow classmates. They cannot help you and you cannot help them if you are not around through e-mail, on the Discussion Board, or in your private Bb journal. If you need technical assistance with Bb, please go to this website: http://www.gvsu.edu/it/bbng. You can also contact the GVSU helpdesk at (616) 331-2101 or by sending an email to Blackboard Administration at
Participation is an essential part of this class. You are expected to access the course site four or more times per week, prepared to engage in the work associated with the course. This means going through the learning modules, reading the assigned readings, completing any assigned writing, participating in class discussion and activities.
For online asynchronous discussion, at minimum you need to respond to each initial thread in the week’s forum (there will be two this semester), always building on the thread before yours, and you will respond to the posts of at least two of your colleagues for each. Please follow the posted rubric for online discussion (in Bb, under “Assignments”) for guidelines as to substantive and timely posts. You will be using this rubric for self-assessment and I will be using it for formative and summative assessment.
We will have two required synchronous sessions using Bb Collaborate Ultra. This will be during the fifth and ninth weeks. The dates are February 8 and March 15. These synchronous meeting will be interactive sessions where we will peer review a student’s paper, fill out a critique sheet, and have a discussion. Plan for the regular class length of 95 minutes. Although the Portfolio Committee will determine your grade, I will decide on plus, same, minus. Credit is given for your contribution to the online Discussion Board and Journal based on timeliness of responses, number of responses, and whether the content of the responses is substantive. Your discussion should add to the topic. You are required to participate in several different Discussion Board forums and one Journal entry throughout the duration of the course.
If you post a question or comment, be sure to return to the Discussion Board later to see whether someone has responded to your question or comment. Following up in a timely manner will ensure that a discussion does not end without issues being resolved. If you join a discussion late, please read the previous postings.
You are expected to access the course site and contribute to the online discussion several different times throughout the week. Your discussion contributions should be on different days. Online discussion contributions that take place all within one day, especially at the end of the scheduled week, will receive reduced, if any, credit. (Note that responses that simply agree with another (“me too” type posts) although they may be valid, are not substantive and will not receive credit.)
Netiquette: Although many of us have experience with e‐mail, online discussion is different because we’re communicating “one to many” rather than “one to one.” Therefore, it’s important that we maintain a sense of freedom to express our thoughts while at the same time providing a safe atmosphere for that expression. Please keep this mind as you are communicating with others.
All participants should maintain a professional attitude and manner of discussion. While spirited debate is encouraged, unprofessional behavior is not tolerated. Oftentimes, words come across “more directly and harshly” in this written form of communication, since there are no facial gestures, expression or tone of voice to help convey your message fully. Your contribution should not be overly negative or personal in nature.
CLASS SCHEDULE
WRITING 150-Section 20
Week
/ Tuesday (203E DEV) / Thursday (204A DEV)1
classes 1 & 2 /
January 09
Read “A Lesson in Dignity,” the autobiographical narrative of John Trevor Knight. Discuss descriptions. Introductions. Syllabus and texts. Register for gaillardia. Writing sample.Assignment: Read pp. 9-13 in Green Book handout, Early’s “5.5 lbs of Pressure” and Wolff’s “Illusion” (gaillardia). / January 11
Fleet. Bb—Collaborate Ultra. Register Digital Portfolio Management System (DPMS). Discuss Early selection. Purpose and audience. Writing process. Fragments and run-ons. Comma splices. Discuss descriptions. Writing the narrative.
Assignment: Webb’s “Eye on the Prize” and Miedema’s “Regretting Rick” (gaillardia). Write the draft of your narrative.
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