Required Materials

Ramage, Bean & Johnson – Writing Arguments (Brief Edition, 5^th Edition)

Internet access

Take Note bibliography software

Recommended:

Hult & Huckin – A New Century Handbook (If you already have a different handbook that you would like to use, you can. Handbooks are generally very similar.)

Course Description

This course has been designed to develop writing skills you will be using throughout your college career: the ability to analyze and construct arguments, and the ability to conduct an extended research project using both print and online resources. The readings will provide guidance in carrying out writing projects and provide ideas and concepts students will be expected to discuss in completing their assignments.

Course Objective

Students gain further experience with basic concepts of the writing process such as focusing and unity, topic development, an understanding of audience and purpose, and the use and importance of revision and editing, that were mastered in ENG 101. In addition, they will be able to: (1) read critically and analytically writing composed for a variety of audiences and purposes; (2) recognize and analyze the audience, purpose, subject, and context of various types of writing, including their own; and (3) use effective research processes and report on their own research both orally and in writing.

The Computer

All written work, except for in-class writing, must be done on the computer. Papers that are turned in as computer files must be saved either a Word 2000 document or an *.rtf file.

q Always remember to back up your work on your disk and your hard drive.

q If your printer fails, take your file to one of the Walker computer labs and print it out.

Many of the course materials will be made available to you using WebCT software, including handouts related to the major assignments and class lectures. You will also be required to access the McConnell Library’s Highlander Guide to Research in order to carry out various assignments.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism or dishonesty of any kind will result in automatic course failure and a report filed with the student judicial board. Please observe the student conduct code printed in each classroom and in your student handbook. You should bear in mind that in this class the planning materials you generate are nearly as important to your grade as the final product.

q Final papers will not be accepted if turned in without the planning materials that led to them. Final papers are easy to plagiarize, but planning materials are not.

Forms of plagiarism that will be penalized:

· Using the ideas or words of a source without indicating that these words are being quoted or indicating the source of the words or ideas.

· Turning in a paper written by someone else, whether downloaded from the Internet, written by another Radford University student, or written by someone helping you with this course.

Information sources must be identified in the text and through the use of MLA documentation.

Radford Honor Code

I do hereby resolve to uphold the honor code of Radford University by refraining from lying, from the stealing or unauthorized possession of property and from violating the Standards of Student Academic Integrity.

Accommodations for Disabilities

Students with Disabilties: If you are seeking classroom accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, you are required to register with the Disability Resource Office (DRO). The DRO is located in Tyler Hall 32, phone 831-6350. To receive academic accommodations for this class, please obtain the proper DRO forms and meet with me at the beginning of the semester.

Policies: Attendance, Late Work and Tardiness

You are expected to attend every class session. Because much of your time will be spent working with other people, your absences affect not only your work but also the ability of your classmates to carry out their work. If, however, you are forced to miss class by circumstances beyond your control, notify me (ahead of time if possible) so that alternate arrangements can be made between you, me and the other members of your group. However, I do not care to hear excuses nor do I wish to see doctor’s notices.

q If you are in class, then you will know what is going on.

q If you plan to miss class, let me know.

q If you miss class, then check WebCT for that day’s lecture.

Six absences is the equivalent of missing two weeks of class. Nine absences is the equivalent of missing three weeks of class. I will take roll on a daily basis.

q If you have six absences, you will be warned that your grade is being affected and that you should withdraw from the class.

q If you have nine absences, you will have missed so much in terms of daily work and instruction that you are likely to fail the class. Therefore, nine absences equal automatic failure.

All work must be turned in. Students who come to class without their homework will not be permitted to take part in group activities related to that work. Students who turn in late work will not be able to make up in-class activities related to that work (such as peer reviews).

Late Work

As I said in the last paragraph, all work must be turned in. If you miss the initial deadline for work, there will be an additional day for you to turn in the work. Those deadlines will be the only days that you can turn in such work. I will not accept make-up work on any other days due to the difficulty of keeping up with the paperwork.

Make-up Deadlines

February 1

March 1

April 1

April 26

If you experience an on-going medical situation involving hospitalization or medical tests in the beginning or middle of the semester, you must notify me as soon as possible and come to my office during office hours to arrange to make up the out-of-class assignments. If you experience a medical situation involving hospitalization or medical tests late in the semester, you may request an incomplete in order to carry out the final project. If, however, you have not completed the majority of the course assignments, and it appears to me that you will not be able to complete the final project in time as well, then you will be advised to withdraw or else to take the F and retake the course. Bear in mind that you will not be able to make up the in-class writing even if you do have a medical situation.

I do not repeat myself for people who are late to class. I give many announcements concerning the day’s activities at the beginning of class. If you are late, you should get the information from a classmate. If you are not present in class at the time I take roll, then you should come up to me at the end of class to make sure you are marked present. Otherwise, your tardiness will be counted as an absence and will count towards the absence penalty.

English 102 Projects

News Journal 10 points each entry, 200 points total

Each week for the first seven weeks of the semester you will choose local news articles from the front page of your hometown newspaper (or its website) to summarize. Each summary will include MLA documentation for that article. Unacceptable articles include national news, sports games, lifestyle and entertainment news. If your hometown does not have a newspaper, you may use the newspapers that cover Radford (the Roanoke Times, Southwest Times, and Radford News Journal). These points add up, so if you neglect them, you may find that your grade is severely affected. You will need to produce 20 entries in all.

Paper 1: Life in your hometown 150 points

In this paper, you will describe your hometown, paying particular attention to the major issues facing its citizens (such as: environment, employment, education, et cetera).

· Starting guide 10 points

· Exploration guide 10 points

· Audience guide 10 points

· Outline 10 points

· First draft 10 points

· Second draft 100 points

Paper 2: Analyzing effective and ineffective arguments 150 points

In this paper you will read the editorial page (including the letters to the editor) of your chosen newspaper over a two-week period and collect a series of arguments on the same topic. You will then analyze these arguments according to the theories of argumentation that we discuss in class.

· Starting guide 10 points

· Exploration guide 10 points

· Audience guide 10 points

· Outline 10 points

· First draft 10 points

· Second draft 100 points

Paper 3: Researching a local issue 400 points

In the major research project of the semester, you will choose one of the local issues you’ve discovered while reading your hometown newspaper, research the problem, and make a recommendation to the community based on your findings. This project will include a number of research activities and homework as you conduct your research and develop your argument. Keep all the various parts of this project as they must be turned in together in a portfolio at the end of the semester.

· Starting Guide 10 points

· Exploration Guide 10 points

· Audience Guide 10 points

· Annotations 10 points each, 120 points total

· Working bibliography 20 points

· Outline 10 points

· Letter to the Editor 50 points

· First draft –research paper 60 points

· Final draft–research paper 100 points

Class participation and groupwork 10 points each, total to be determined

Many days that we meet in the classroom will have some sort of in-class writing exercise, either individually or in groups. These activities will be taken up at the end of class. These activities cannot be made up due to absence, no matter what the reason for the absence is, as they take place in the context of that day’s lesson plan.

Highlander Guide quizzes and assignments To be determined

The Highlander Guide is a tool developed by the McConnell Library staff as a part of a university effort to increase the information literacy skills of RU graduates. Eventually all RU students will be required to pass a test on the Highlander Guide material before graduation. This section of your grade will test your ability to find and use information, but it will also test the usefulness of the Highlander Guide materials.

You will be able to check your point totals through WebCT. There will be at least 1000 points possible.

Grading Scale:

A 900-1000

B 800-899

C 700-799

D 600-699

F <600

Bear in mind that the easiest way to fail this class is to not turn in the assignments.

The second easiest way to fail is to do only the minimum on the work that you do turn in.

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