FIRST YEAR WRITING

Spring 2011

WRTG 1150 (HLMS 263, MW 3:00-4:15)

“I write to find out what I’m thinking about.”

-Edward Albee

Instructor: Kerry Reilly

E-Mail: (E-mail is usually the best way to reach me.)

Phone: (303) 492-3515

Office: Program for Writing and Rhetoric Building at 1338 Grandview Avenue

Office Hours: MW 1:00-2:30 and by appointment

TEXTS:

-A writer’s notebook (hard-covered and unlined. You may find writers’ notebooks at Boulder Bookstore, CU Bookstore, Trident, McGuckins, Borders, Barnes and Noble, art supply stores, etc.)

-Handouts I distribute in class

-Essays I send to your email address. Please print these and bring them to class the days we are scheduled to discuss them.

-Knowing Words, edited by Erik Ellis and Lonni Pearce

(Required for all students who take First Year Writing, this text is the Program for Writing and Rhetoric’s introduction to academic writing and the writing process. Available at the CU Bookstore.)

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

First Year Writing is designed to help you improve your writing, reading and critical thinking skills. In this class, you will read many different types of essays and academic articles. You will study the ways writers use conventions such as voice, genre and form to appeal to different audiences. Like professional writers, you will develop strategies for brainstorming ideas and for writing, revising and editing drafts. You will practice critiquing your own work, the work of your classmates and the work of published writers. You will also get a lot of practice using the CU library system. The goal of this class is to prepare you for writing assignments and writing-related tasks you will encounter in college and beyond.

COLORADO COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION CRITERIA:

This introductory writing course is part of the statewide “Guaranteed Transfer” pathway of courses as defined by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE) and fulfills your lower-division writing requirement within the College of Arts and Sciences at CU Boulder. As such, it addresses the following shared curricular goals:

  • Rhetorical knowledge: Our readings, discussions and writing assignments will focus on enhancing your awareness of the choices available to a writer (or speaker) based upon the rhetorical situation, her/his intended audience(s) and her/his purpose.
  • Writing processes: A fundamental aim of all introductory writing courses is to engage you in the processes of exploring your writing through multiple revisions, in consultation with other writers (e.g. students, teacher, Writing Center staff). We will also focus on: techniques for how to generate, develop, critique and refine ideas; how to effectively analyze, critique and edit your own and others’ writing; awareness of and facility with multiple avenues and technologies for conducting effective research, including online search engines, catalogue databases and subscription research databases; etc.
  • Writing conventions: Through multiple drafts of scaffolded writing assignments, you will gain increased facility using appropriate conventions of written, academic language and form, including syntax, grammar, document formatting, and research and citation procedures appropriate to various disciplines.
  • Effective communication strategies: Assignments in this class are intended to prepare you for effective participation in a variety of rhetorical communities, both in and beyond your university courses. In addition to standard forms of academic writing (e.g. analysis, persuasive argument, synthesis), we will also practice writing for a variety of other very practical occasions, from application essays and proposals, to letters to the editor, to professional or academic presentations. This will also engage you with a variety of relevant technologies, from electronic databases and search engines to PowerPoint and other presentational apparatus for engaging visual media effectively.

ESSAYS:

Over the course of the semester, you will write and revise several different types of essays:

-Creative Nonfiction

-Critical Inquiry

-Argumentative Essay

Each piece should be at least five double-spaced pages and each will require different types of research.

HOMAGE:

You will write several one-page, single-spaced tributes to the writers we study. In each, you will choose a topic that is similar to the one the writer has chosen and you will imitate the rhetorical techniques the writer uses. For example, you will notice which modes of persuasion a given writer relies upon (ethos, pathos, logos) and then you will try to use the same modes, or balance of modes in your one-pager. I would like you to imitate the writer’s voice, sentence length, word-choice and research techniques.

WORKSHOPS:

Because it is important for each of you to give and have plenty of feedback on your writing, we will have writing workshops in and out of class. (Twice a semester, you and three classmates will meet in my office.) This is why I would like you to bring four copies of your essay to class. You will exchange essays with your classmates and give one to me. You will read the essay of each group member, write comments throughout, add a paragraph of comments at the end, then sign your name. I will give you several handouts that will help you get used to the workshop format and help you to become more skilled at commenting on the essays of your peers.

Make sure to bring a copy of your own essay to the small-group workshops that meet in my office.

LIBRARY TUTORIALS:

Over the course of the semester, you will be assigned four library tutorials. These tutorials are designed to help you become familiar with the library’s databases. They will also help you to discriminate between various types of sources and become a more savvy researcher and library-user in general. You may access these tutorials online at Click on RIOT (Research Instructional Online Tutorial). You may also go directly to RIOT:

WRITING CENTER:

The Writing Center is a place where students and faculty may go for help during all stages of the writing process. The services are part of your tuition. Make sure to make an appointment before you go. For more information, email . And see the Writing Center home page:

ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION:

It is important for everyone to participate in class discussions and workshops. If you are shy or quiet, I urge you to push yourself. Attendance is also mandatory. If you are absent more than twice, your grade will drop a letter with each additional absence. You will also be penalized for chronic lateness. If you are late twice, that will count as one absence. If you are more than fifteen minutes late, you will be marked absent for the day. Note that you are responsible for all assignments even if you miss a class. Make sure to have at least one classroom contact.

REFLECTIVE LETTER:

At the end of the semester, you will revise and hand in approximately fifteen pages of what you consider to be your best revised work from the semester. You will also write a letter in which you reflect on your writing, your writing process, the rhetorical strategies you employed for each piece and your process of revision. (Separate Handout to follow.)

GRADES:

Because this is a process course, I will not grade individual assignments. I believe an obsession with grades often inhibits the desire to take risks and push yourselves in new ways. I also understand that grades are important to you. I will provide each of you with a mid-semester grade and in-depth evaluation. If you are ever concerned about how you are doing, please make an appointment or stop by during my office hours.

-Participation and Quality of Your Presence in Class and Small-Groups: 20%

- Revised Creative Nonfiction Essay: 20%

-Revised Critical Inquiry: 20%

-Revised Argumentative Essay: 20%

-Homage: 10%

-Reflective Letter: 10%

UNIVERSITY POLICIES

THE HONOR CODE:

All students at the University of Colorado, Boulder, are responsible for knowing and adhering to the academic integrity policy of this institution. Violations include: cheating, plagiarism, aid of academic dishonesty, fabrication, lying, bribery and threatening behavior. All incidents of academic misconduct shall be reported to the Honor Council. Students who are found to be in violation of the academic integrity policy will be subject to sanctions from the faculty member and non-academic sanctions (including but not limited to university probation, suspension, or expulsion).

See

I would like to add:

Plagiarism is the act, whether deliberate or unintentional, of passing off another author's work as your own. Plagiarizing all or part of a paper will result in an automatic failure for that paper and possibly failure for the course. Also, I will not accept papers you have written or are writing for other classes.

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CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR:

Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. General CU guidelines regarding expectations of classroom behavior are available online at . Students who fail to adhere to behavioral standards may be subject to discipline.

RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS:

If you know you will miss class or not be able to make an assignment due date because of observation of a religious holiday, please contact me within the first two weeks of the semester so we can make accommodations. For more info:

DISABILITIES

If you qualify for accommodation because of a disability, please submit to me a letter from Disability Services in a timely manner so that your needs can be addressed. Disability Services determines accommodations based on documented disabilities. Disabilities Services: 303-492-8671, Willard 332,

DISCRIMINATION AND HARRASSMENT:
The University of Colorado Policy on Sexual Harassment applies to all students, staff, and faculty. Any student, staff or faculty member who believes s/he has been sexually harassed should contact the Office of Sexual Harassment at 303-492-2127 or the Office of Judicial Affairs at 303-492-5550. Information about the OSH and the campus resources available to assist individuals who believe they have been sexually harassed may be found at