Syllabus English 327 @ TR 11:00 am BAL 216
Instructor: Julia Romberger Email:
Office: 203 BAL Phone: 683.4012
Office Hours: M 2:30 – 4:30, T 3: 00 – 4:00 & by Appt.
Course Page: http://www.odu.edu/~jromberg/327FA05/11.html
Course Description
Advanced Composition: What is Literacy?
English 327w is a lecture/discussion/workshop course for those who already write competently, but who seek ways to make their writing livelier and more sophisticated, and who are willing to do the hard work necessary to improve even good writing. The course emphasizes the linguistic, social, and rhetorical aspects of writing from both theoretical and practical perspectives.
In this course you will learn to...
• understand the rhetorical nature of writing
• write using different modes of persuasive discourse
• examine the meaning and practice of literacy
• design and conduct research to examine a specific issue
• compose visually effective documents
• manage documents and files
• examine the rhetorical situation to determine appropriate genres
• identify potential complications in writing contexts, including ethical concerns
• consider different audiences, including primary audiences and secondary audiences
• understand and create logical structures in text
Prerequisites
To best fulfill these goals, the prerequisites for English327w include...
• completion of first-year composition requirement, both English 110 & English 111.
• passing the Writing Sample Test.
REQUIRED MATERIALS
· Moss, Beverly J., ed. Literacy Across Communities Cresskill, NJ: Hampton P., 1994
· A folder with pockets with your name on it for turning in major assignments
· Internet access to calendar and Blackboard access to readings listed on calendar
COURSE POLICIES
Technology Responsibilities
Because the exchange of information and materials in this class will be in part electronic, familiarity with certain technologies is crucial for participation and success in the course. If you need any assistance now or at any point during the semester, please do not hesitate to ask. You should be able to attend to the responsibilities in the list below.
· Become proficient sending and receiving email attachments via your ODU mail account
· Check the course calendar before the beginning of each class. It will be updated on a weekly basis.
· Become more proficient with unfamiliar computer technologies and applications.
· Maintain back-up copies of all assignments via your home directory, disks, and/or email attachments to yourself.
All email to me about class matters must contain 327 and your section meeting time (11) in the subject line. Failure to include this may delay response to your email. I generally check email at least once every evening (except Fri and Sat.).
Class participation and attendance
Attendance is required at all scheduled meetings. More than five (5) absences can result in a failing grade for the course. Please note that no distinction is made in this course between excused or unexcused absences, excepting official university-sanctioned absences. Being excessively or regularly late for class will also result in each lateness counting as an absence. Disruptive behavior in class (use of cell phones, excessive talking, etc.)
For the days that we are in a computer lab, please check email before or after class and refrain from using chat programs or surfing the web when it is not a part of class activities. If you fail to hear pertinent instruction during class because of the above, you will be responsible for getting necessary information from classmates.
Late work
The majority of missed class assignments cannot be "made up." For each weekday an assignment is past the due date, a letter grade will be deducted. If a serious and unavoidable problem arises, however, you should contact me at least 24 hours prior to the deadline to determine whether or not an extension for the work will be granted.
Incomplete Grades
An incomplete grade will only be considered if the student has completed 80% of the required course work.
REQUIRED ASSIGNMENTS
You will complete 6 major required projects for this course as well as a number of shorter assignments, homework assignments, workshops, peer reviews, and other in-class activities. You must complete all the required assignments in order to pass the course.
The 6 larger required projects are as follows:
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Syllabus English 327 @ TR 11:00 am BAL 216
Paper 1 Literacy on Campus
Paper 2 Workplace Literacy
Paper 3 Technology Literacy
Paper 4 Annotated Bibliography
Paper 5 PowerPoint Presentation
Paper 6 Final Research Project
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Syllabus English 327 @ TR 11:00 am BAL 216
For each assignment you must submit multiple components of your work (including preliminary assignments, research notes, drafts, etc.). You must turn both drafts and revised documents to complete your portfolio, as production is part of the grading criteria.
Grading Criteria
Grading Scale: A+ (100 – 97) A (96-93) A—(92-90) B+ (89–87) B (86-83) B—(82-80) C+(79-77) C(76-73) C—(72-70) D+(69-67) D(66-63) D—(62-60) F (59 and lower)
Note: Please use the projects page on the class web site for more comprehensive criteria
Paper 1 – Literacy on Campus 10%
In this short research paper you will explore some aspect of acquiring knowledge necessary to becoming a student at a university and conduct an observation. You may use MLA or APA documentation. This project can be used as a basis for your final project.
Paper 2 – Workplace Literacy 10%
In this short research paper you will look at what it takes to be functional within a workplace in part by examining a document. This can be any workplace setting including a K-12 school. As before you can use MLA or APA documentation style. Additionally, this can be a basis for your final project.
Paper 3 – Technology Literacy 10%
This hypertext paper will look at one aspect of what it takes to be a literate technology user. You can address any technology – cell phone, computer, etc. As before you can use MLA or APA documentation style. Additionally, this can be a basis for your final project.
Project 4 – Annotated Bibliography 15%
You will be asked to keep an ongoing annotated bibliography alongside your research paper that includes entries for a minimum of 4 sources for each paper. You will turn in an electronic version of these entries as well as a paper copy. The electronic version will be added to the resources page for the class.
Project 5 – PowerPoint Presentation 10%
This will be a progress report on your final research project. You will give a 5 – 8 minute presentation on your topic.
Project 6 – Final Research Project 15%
This project will build off of one of your previous papers or take an entirely new track – but it must have something to do with literacy issues. This will be a longer project and include a full bibliography including any sources you used from previous papers.
Reflective Writes 10%
After each project, you will be asked to write a short reflection on your process as you moved toward completion and how you dealt with your rhetorical situation.
Smaller Projects
Class Discussion Leader 05%
Once during the semester you will be asked to lead class discussion on an assigned reading. You will share this assignment with at least one fellow classmate, so you will want to collaborate to make certain that your discussion questions don’t overlap.
Peer Reviews 05%
You will be asked to give constructive criticism and comments to your peers upon the projects that they are working on. If done properly, these are very valuable resources and their quality will be graded. You will be responsible for keeping electronic copies of the reviews you complete.
Homework and Class Participation 10%
Your involvement in class discussion, in-class writings, and in collaboration is critical to the learning process. Completion of homework will also facilitate your ability to make contributions. Therefore, your continued participation will be an integral part of your grade.
Revision Policy NO LATE REVISIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED
All major projects (except the final project) in this course can be revised if you receive less than an A-. The revision grade, even if it is lower, will replace the original grade. In order to complete a revision, you must:
- First set up an appointment to meet with the instructor.
- Bring to the appointment a one-page revision plan containing a rationale for the changes.
- Turn in the graded polished draft, the revision plan, and the revised draft no more than 2 weeks after the date the original graded projects were returned.
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Course Calendar English 327 @ TR 11:00 am BAL 216
Details and updated versions available on the course page. Check weekly.
In-class Homework
30 Aug Class Introduction Fill out the biographic surveys (course calendar) and send them via email to
Read: http://www.nifl.gov/nifl/faqs.html
1 Sep Discuss Homework Conduct an internet search on the word, "literacy" (consult search engines and news sites). After reading five different sources, write a 250 word definition of "literacy." The text that you compose will be a synthesis of the discussions that you read.
6 Sep Discuss Homework Read: Moss pp. 1-7 & McLaughlin pp. 85-120 & bib ex.
8 Sep Discuss Homework Bring sources to work on for annotated bib
13 Sep Bib workshop Complete annotated bib and email to
15 Sep Annotated Bib 1&2 due Read: Mahiri pp. 121-146 & work on Paper 1
Discussion of Observations
20 Sep Discuss Homework Finish rough draft Paper 1
22 Sep Peer Review Revise Paper 1
27 Sep Paper 1 due Read: Weinstein-Shr pp. 49-84
29 Sep Discuss Homework Farr pp. 9-48 & Find a Workplace Document for analysis
4 Oct Genre Analysis workshop Read: Moss pp. 121-146
6 Oct Discuss Homework Work on Bib 3 and Paper 2
11 Oct October Break
13 Oct Annotated Bib 3 due Finish Rough Draft paper 2
18 Oct Peer Review Revise Paper 2
20 Oct Paper 2 due Read: Lyman (BB pdf) & Ong (BB pdf)
24 Oct Discuss Homework Read: Baron @ http://www2.english.uiuc.edu/baron/
pencils%20to%20pixels.htm & New London Group (BB
pdf)
27 Oct Discuss Homework Technology Literacy examples/ Work on Bib 4
1 Nov Annotated Bib 4 due Read: Robin Williams Non-designers Design Book
(first 6 links) http://www.peachpit.com/
articles/article.asp?p=13231&redir=1 &
3 Nov Workshop day for Paper 3** Work on paper 3
8 Nov Workshop day for Paper 3** Finish paper 3
10 Nov Paper 3 due electronically Read: http://www.presentersonline.com/tutorials
You must turn this in /powerpoint/ (Assigned sections
on CD or floppy disk
15 Nov PowerPoint workshop** Work on Bib 5
17 Nov Annotated Bib 5 due Work on PPT presentation/Final Project
22 Nov Thanksgiving Break
24 Nov Thanksgiving Break
29 Nov PowerPoint workshop** Work on PPT presentation/Final Project
1 Dec PowerPoint Presentations Work on PPT presentation/Final Project
6 Dec PowerPoint Presentations Work on PPT presentation/Final Project
8 Dec PowerPoint Presentation Work on Final Project
Class Feedback
Exam 15 Dec 12:30- 3:30 Final Projects are due on or before this time.
** Workshop days depend upon getting computer lab space.
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Syllabus English 327 @ TR 11:00 am BAL 216
Syllabus Agreement
If you do not understand one of the course policies as outlined on the syllabus, please ask any questions before signing this statement. Signing below means that you have read and understood the class policies.
I have read and understand the syllabus for English 327w.
Signature______Date______
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