English 101-05, FH 401
MWF 9:30-10:20, 3 Hours Credit
Fall, 2005
Dr. Jean Lorrah
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Office: Faculty Hall H 7B-15
Telephone: (762) 4720
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Course Description: Instruction and practice in writing expository prose. Students use word processors to write and revise essays.
Purpose: To equip students to communicate in writing in upcoming courses and in the world after college.
Course Objectives: Critical thinking, awareness of audience and purpose, effective organization and development, appropriate style, skillful argumentation, revision, analysis, usage, and mechanics.
Content Outline
Block One: Basic Organization--the Three-Point Essay. Essay based on personal experience or interest, using the most versatile format.
Block Two: Analysis. Writing about something you have read or seen presented in some way to an audience. May include film, video or audio, live performance, etc. Object of analysis must include words (no instrumental concerts or statues or buildings, but songs, commercials, websites, etc. are fine).
Block Three: Comparison. This is the method of organization you will be asked to use most often in your college career. Essay based on readings from textbook.
Block Four: Persuasion. Often called “argument,” but we wish to eliminate any angry, pedantic stance. You are out to persuade, not bully, your audience into accepting your point of view as valid (not the same thing as proving that you are right and they are wrong).
Instructional Activities:
Lecture, discussion, recitation, problem solving, drafting, revising, peer evaluation, reading, analysis, application.
Field, Clinical, and/or Laboratory Experiences:
Constant use of computers. Themes MUST be written on computers, not by hand. May be done in the labs provided or on students' own computers, but the student is responsible for making sure that work brought to class is compatible with programs used in class. No excuses will be accepted when work done at home will not call to screen in class. Microsoft Word is INcompatible with virtually everything. Do NOT--repeat NOT--use Microsoft WORKS!! Labs are provided free, for student use. Click here for a schedule of on-campus computer labs.
Resources: The Internet, the Murray State Library, books, magazines, television. Interactive lessons and links to sources are found on my website. You are required to use them.
Grading Procedures:
There will be four papers, all done as process writing, but only the first will receive a grade for both the draft and the final product. That's five graded formal papers during the semester. The final examination is also a paper, making six. Each formal paper is potentially worth 100 points, for 600 points. Papers drop 10 points for each day (not class meeting, day) they are late. A new day begins at the end of the class meeting when the paper was due, and continues for 24 hours.
Instead of the traditional journal, I will ask you to join and participate in a mailing list on the Internet. (Murray State will provide you with a free e-mail account.) You will turn in five printouts throughout the semester, documenting your participation. At twenty points each, that's another 100 points, bringing the subtotal to 700.
Finally, you will receive points for small assignments and reading quizzes throughout the semester, another 200 points, for a grand total of 900 points available.
Final grades will be awarded as follows:
| 756 + | A | 405 + | D | |||||
| 648 + | B | Below 405 | E | |||||
| 513 + | C |
Attendance Policy: Regular class attendance is vital to academic success. There are no excused or unexcused absences in this course. After you have missed three class meetings, your total number of points will drop by 15 for each day you miss, until you have been absent ten times (that's over three weeks' worth of classes). When you have been absent ten times you have failed the course, no matter how many points you have or what your reason for missing. Come to every class meeting the first half of the semester, just in case you should have an emergency in the second half. Classes canceled by the instructor or the university do not count as absences.
University Policy on Academic Integrity is on p. 10 of the Undergraduate Bulletin. You are bound by it.
Texts and References:
Albom, Mitch, Tuesdays with Morrie
Maasik, Sonia, and Jack Solomon, Signs of Life, 4th Edition
Raimes, Ann, Keys for Writers
Prerequisites: All students who do not have credit for English 101 must enroll in this course upon entering Murray State University or upon completing English 100, unless they qualify for English 104.
Schedule of Formal Writing Assignments:
Theme I (in class), Wednesday, Sept. 7
Revision of Theme I, Wednesday, Sept. 21
Theme II, Wednesday, Oct. 5
Theme III, Wednesday, Nov. 2
Theme IV, Monday, Nov. 21
Final Exam Theme, 8:00-10:00am Tuesday, Dec. 13
Grades on themes drop ten points per day (day, not class meeting) that they are late.
Students are required by state law to retain copies of their graded themes for one semester after they have received grades for the course.
Office Hours:
You may contact me in person or by telephone in FH 7B15 or at (762) 4720 during the following hours:
MW 10:30-1:30
F 10:30-12:00
TTh 8:30-9:20, 12:30-1:30
I check my answering machine when I arrive each morning, hearing messages left after I left the day before. You may contact me by e-mail at jean.lorrah@murraystate.edu; I guarantee to read e-mail once each day, and may not receive your message until the next morning. However, most days I also check it in the evening.
Sources of Use in Writing:
Roget's Thesaurus
Elements of Style
Guide to Grammar and Writing
Sources of Mailing Lists:
YahooGroups
Topica
