English 1010
Basic Writing
Fall 2010, Section #049
MWF 11.45 a.m.-12.40 p.m.
Rm. 1171 Old Main; Main Campus
Instructor: Dr. April Pitts
Office: 5057 Woodward, Rm. 10406
Office Phone Number: (313) 577-2162
Email Address: ac9515@wayne.edu
Office Hours: By Appointment.
English Department Attendance Policy: Students enrolled in any English course must attend
at least one of the first two class sessions of the term in order to maintain a place in the class.
If a student does not show up he/she may be required to drop the class. The student is
responsible for dropping the class.
Course Prerequisite: Placement through English Qualifying Examination or ACT score.
English Department Course Description: English 1010 prepares students for English 1020 by
building upon their diverse skills to help them become critical readers and writers at the college
level. The main goals of the course are (1) to teach students to integrate reading and writing in
basic academic genres; (2) to use a writing process that incorporates drafting, revising, and
editing; and (3) to write according to the conventions of college writing, including mechanics
and documentation. To achieve these goals, the course encourages students to read critically,
respond analytically and critically, and write in a variety of academic genres, including analysis
and argument for an academic audience.
Learning Objectives:
A passing grade in ENG 1010 indicates that students are able to:
* read college-level texts for information and for an understanding of multiple perspectives.
*integrate ideas and information from sources with their own ideas in order to fulfill the
requirements of specific assignments, using genres that include summary, response, analysis, and
argument.
*write with a clear and well-articulated thesis statement in a well-organized essay, providing
supporting evidence in a clear and logical development.
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* write using a flexible writing process that includes generating ideas, writing, revising, and
providing/responding to feedback in multiple drafts.
* edit and proofread for grammar, mechanics, and style, generating texts relatively free of
surface errors.
* avoid plagiarism by correctly citing and documenting sources in MLA style.
*write and research using basic technologies, including word processing and the Undergraduate
Library website.
Teaching Methods: free writing, homework assignments (e.g., reading, writing, etc.), in-class
exercises, individual and group discussions, group projects, lectures, peer reviews, and other
methods as needed.
Required Texts:
*Your own writing.
*Goshgarian, Gary. The Contemporary Reader. 10th ed. Boston: Longman, 2011. Print.
*Ruszkiewiez, John, Daniel Steward, Christy Friend, and Maxine Hairston. The Scott, Foresman
Writer. 5th ed. Boston: Longman, 2011. Print.
*Copies of additional readings, available online, as handouts, via email, via blackboard, etc.
Books for this section are available at the campus Barnes &Noble bookstore.
Required Electronic Access:
* WSU pipeline—available by typing in www.pipeline.wayne.edu.
* Blackboard—available by accessing the student tab on pipeline. Check this site often as course
announcements, syllabus, and assignments will be posted here.
* A valid wayne.edu e-mail account to send and receive course related messages. All courserelated correspondence must be conducted using your wayne.edu email address.
* MyCompLab—students will be given access codes for this. Check this online data base for
writing assignments, tests, and practice exercises. Complete these assignments at
www.mycomplab.com.
* Since many of our assignments must be word-processed or involve online sources, I
expect students in this class to have daily access to the internet. Use the free, on-campus
computers at the Adamany Undergraduate and other WSU libraries if you do not have
access to a personal computer.
Additional Materials:
*A notebook or folder with pockets to keep your assignments in and to bring with
you for conferences.
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*Electronic storage devices such as a floppy disk or a flash drive to save
course assignments on.
Course Requirements: Students will write a minimum of 20-28 double-spaced pages (5,0007,000 words) of writing. To meet all of the six previously mentioned learning objectives, each
student will be responsible for the following assignments:
Assignment
Learning Objectives
Satisfied
Assignment Worth
Assignment #1A: Summary
Rough Draft (250-500 words
or 1-2 pgs.).
Objectives 1-6
5%
Assignment #1B: Summary
Final Draft (250-500 words or
1-2 pages).
Objectives 1-6
10%
Assignment #2: Response
Paper A (250-500 words or 12 pgs.).
Objectives 1-6
10%
Assignment #3: Response
Paper B (250-500 words or 12 pgs.).
Objectives 1-6
10%
Assignment # 4A: Analytical
Paper Rough Draft (1000
words or 4 pgs.).
Objectives 1-6
10%
Assignment #4B: Analytical
Paper Final Draft (1000-1250
words or 4-5 pgs.).
Objectives 1-6
20%
Assignment #5A:
Argumentative Paper Rough
Draft (1000 words or 4 pgs.).
Objectives 1-6
10%
Assignment #5B:
Argumentative Final Draft
(1000-1250 words or 4-5
pgs.).
Objectives 1-6
20%
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Attendance and Participation
Objectives 1-6
(e.g., homework, in-class and
group work, peer review, etc.).
*See the Class Participation
Grading Rubric for more
specific details.
5%
Total
100%
Final Examination Schedule: Assignment #5 (the Argumentative essay), which will be
assigned in week 13, is the final exam. Section 049, which meets at 11.45 am, must complete
and hand it the final draft of their final essays to me in my office on Thursday, December 16,
2010 between 10.40 a.m. and 1.10 p.m. only. Late final essay exams will not be accepted.
Drops/Incompletes: The school’s withdrawal policy will be observed (see pages 40-1 in the
WSU Undergraduate Catalog for more details). The last day to withdraw from this class and
receive tuition cancellation is Wednesday, September 15, 2010. Since I do not intend to give
incompletes for this class, be prepared to either take a grade or drop. Students who do not
officially withdraw from the course before final exam study day on Tuesday, December 14,
2010 will receive a “U” for the course.
Paper Requirements: All assignments, including rough drafts, must be typed or wordprocessed, double-spaced, use a 12-point Times New Roman font, and saved in an MS Word
compatible format (e.g., Word 2000, XP, Vista, etc.). If you use outside sources, they must be
cited and documented according to MLA standards. We will go over this in class at a later date
(also, see pages 262-316 in The Scott, Foresman Writer for more details on MLA style). If the
assignment is longer than one page, it must be stapled or paper-clipped. Do not submit your
papers in binders or covers—or via email unless I specifically request it.
Revisions: Drafts are required for the summary, response, analysis, and argument assignments.
To have your work accepted, be sure to attach your original, marked rough draft to your final
draft. Assignments cannot be rewritten after the final grade has been assigned.
Attendance and Tardiness: Attendance is mandatory. To increase your chances of receiving
credit for this course, I expect students to observe the following attendance guidelines:
1. Come to each session on time and ready to participate.
2. Complete the assigned homework and readings before it begins
3. Be aware that three tardies is the equivalent of one absence.
4. Stay until the class ends.
If in an emergency you must miss a class, though, I expect you to:
1. Send me an email message before class begins.
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2. Find out what you missed from someone else in class.
3. Accept responsibility for completing and submitting your work as scheduled.
The chart below outlines how attendance figures into your final grade.
Action
Likely Outcome
0 Classes Missed
0 Points Penalized.
1 Class Missed
1 Point Penalty.
2 Classes Missed
2 Point Penalty.
3 Classes Missed
3 Point Penalty.
4 Classes Missed
4 Point Penalty.
Each Subsequent Absence
5 Point Penalty.
Being more than 15 minutes late
Being marked absent.
Having 5 or more absences
Possible Course Failure
Late/Make-up/Missing Work: Unless prior arrangements have been made with me, all
assignments must be turned in at the beginning of the hour on the date that they are due. Note:
Copies of each final essay draft (excluding the Summary and Argumentative essays) must
also be submitted electronically to Blackboard SafeAssign at least 24 hours before their due
dates. This will be discussed in greater detail at a later date. Late papers will be reduced by the
equivalent of one letter grade for each late day; papers will not be accepted after 4 late days.
To have your late work accepted, I must be notified via email message at least 24 hours before
class begins on the day that the assignment is originally due. Students are then responsible for
turning in assigned work the next class period and late penalties may apply. I reserve the right to
reject or penalize any work that has not been submitted according to these guidelines.
The chart below describes how late/missing work figures into your final grade:
Action
Likely Consequence
Late assignments (excluding the final draft of
the final essay exam)
Assignment grade reduced by the equivalent of
one letter grade for each day late. Late work
will not be accepted after four late days.
Missing or incomplete assignments (e.g., inclass, group work, homework, etc.)
No credit/A zero on the assignment.
Late final essay exams
No credit/A zero on the assignment.
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Plagiarism and Academic Ethics: Plagiarism is the presentation of someone else’s ideas,
work, or data as your own. The penalties for plagiarism range from receiving a “U” on the
assignment to course failure or even university expulsion. In this class, the penalty for plagiarism
is a “U” final grade. For tips on avoiding plagiarism please see pages 239-242 of the Scott,
Foresman Writer. We will also discuss this in class. Major assignments in ENG 1010 will be
submitted to SafeAssign on Blackboard. SafeAssign includes in its data base papers
previously written by WSU students as well as papers plagiarized from print or internet
sources. All papers submitted to SafeAssign become part of the WSU data base.
The Undergraduate Library’s research program includes a module on avoiding plagiarism:
http://www.lib.wayne.edu/services/instruction/searchpath/mod6/04-plagiarism.html.
Final Grading Scale: In English 1010, students receive either a satisfactory (S) or unsatisfactory
(U) final grade. I may give you a letter grade on assignments along side the “S” or “U”, though,
to show you where you stand on the more common A-F grading scale (see table below).
Satisfactory=receives credit for the course. Unsatisfactory= does not receive credit for the
course.
Satisfactory (S)
Unsatisfactory (U)
4.0= A
1.9 or lower= C- or lower
3.7= A3.3= B+
3.0= B
2.7=B2.3=C+
2.0= C
Personal Conduct: In this class we will be writing frequently as well as engaging in class
discussions. You are expected to contribute, be attentive and respectful to your classmates and
their opinions (even if you do not agree with them), and to treat them and me with respect. If
you fail to do any of these things you will be asked to leave the class after one warning. Sleeping
in class, eating/drinking, text-messaging, and/or engaging in other disruptive behavior may also
result in my asking you to leave.
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Cell Phones and other Communication Devices: All pagers, cell phones, and radios must be
turned OFF during class.
Students with Disabilities: If you have a physical or mental impairment that may interfere with
your ability to successfully complete the requirements for this course, please contact Educational
Accessibility Services (EAS) in Room 1600 of the David Adamany Undergraduate Library to
confidentially discuss appropriate accommodations. They can be reached at (313) 577-1851/
(313) 577-3365 (TTY) or http://studentdisability.wayne.edu. If you have medical information
that you wish to share with me, please discuss this with me before our second class meeting.
The Writing Center: The Writing Center (2nd floor, UGL) provides individual tutoring
consultations free of charge for students at Wayne State University. Undergraduate students in
General Education courses, including composition courses, receive priority tutoring sessions on
the range of activities in the writing process—considering the audience, analyzing the
assignment or genre, brainstorming, researching, writing drafts, revising, editing, and preparing
documentation. The Writing Center is not an editing or proofreading service; rather, students are
guided as they engage collaboratively in the process of academic writing, from developing an
idea to editing for grammar and mechanics. To make an appointment, consult the Writing Center
website: http://www.clas.wayne.edu/writing/
To submit material for online tutoring, consult the Writing Center HOOT website (Hypertext
One-on-One Tutoring): http://www.clas.wayne.edu/unit-inner.asp?WebPageID=1330.
Additional WSU Student Resources:

Adamany Undergraduate Library http://www.lib.wayne.edu/info/maps/ugl.php

Academic Success Center http://www.success.wayne.edu/

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) http://www.caps.wayne.edu
Note: This syllabus and accompanying schedule of readings is subject to change as needed.
Schedule of Readings
(Note: RSFH=the Ruskiewiez, Steward, Friend, and Hairston text)
Week One
W 9/1/10
Introduction.
F 9/3/10
“What I Think About the Fashion World” (Goshgarian 4348). Chapter 17 (RSFH 149-156).
Week Two
M 9/6/10
No Class
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W 9/8/10
“Approaching Visuals Critically” (Goshgarian 34-40).
Mini-workshop #1: Generating Ideas and Shaping a Topic.
F 9/10/10
Chapter 24 (RSFH 233-242). “The Natural Beauty Myth”
(Goshgarian 54-57). Assign Essay #1.
Week Three
M 9/13/10
Mini-workshop #2: Making, Analyzing, and
Evaluating Claims. “Weight of the World” (Goshgarian 6163).
W 9/15/10
Chapter 8 (RSFH 47-56). “My Hips” (Goshgarian 57-63).
F 9/17/10
Mini-Workshop #3: Writing and Revising Drafts. “How
Men Really Feel About their Bodies” (Goshgarian 63-66).
Week Four
M 9/20/10
Chapter 12 (RSFH 87-102). “Culture Shock: Mr. Olympia”
Ad (Goshgarian 67).
W 9/22/10
Chapter 21 (RSFH 205-215). “Never Too Buff”
(Goshgarian 68-72). Distribute and discuss peer
review handout.
F 9/24/10
Essay #1 Rough Draft Due .Bring 2-3 copies of the
Summary Assignment rough draft (1-2 for peer review and
one for the Instructor). Focus: Content and organization.
Week Five
M 9/27/10
Chapter 22 (RSFH 216-224). “Which One of These
Sneakers Is Me?” (Goshgarian 101-106).
W 9/29/10
Chapter 25 (RSFH 243-248). “The Allure of Luxury”
(Goshgarian 107-111).
F 10/1/10
Mini-Workshop #4: Using MLA Citation and
Documentation.
Week Six
M 10/4/10
“With These Words I Can Sell You Anything” (Goshgarian
112-123).
W 10/6/10
Writing Skills Workshop: Correcting Run-ons and Comma
Splices.
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F 10/8/10
“Return of the Brainless Hussies” (Goshgarian 257-264).
Final draft of Essay #1 due (rough draft, peer review
comments, electronic and hard final copy). Assign
Essay #2: Response Paper A.
Week Seven
M 10/11/10
*Reserve article: “Someone to Watch Over Me” by
Theodora Stites.
W 10/13/10
Peer review for Essay #2: Response Paper A. Bring copies
of your rough draft.
F 10/15/10
“Crafting Your Image for Your 1,000 Friends on
Facebook” (Goshgarian 279-284). Essay #2: Response
Paper A due (rough draft, peer review, electronic, and
hard, final copies).
Week Eight
M 10/18/10
“The Case for Reality TV” (Goshgarian 284-288). Assign
Essay #3: Response Paper B.
W 10/20/10
“Reality TV: Should We Really Watch?” (Goshgarian 288292).
F 10/22/10
Peer Review on Essay #3: Response Paper B. Bring copies
of your rough draft.
Week Nine
M 10/25/10
*Reserve article: “Hate TV Violence? Turn It Off” by Tim
Goodman. Essay #3: Response Paper B due (rough
draft, peer review, electronic, and hard, final copies).
W 10/27/10
*Reserve article: “Violence on Television—What Do
Children Learn? What Can Parents Do?” by the American
Psychological Association.
F 10/29/10
“My Most Attractive Adversary” (Goshgarian 299301) Assign Essay #4.
Week Ten
M 11/1/10
*Reserve article: “Veiled Intentions” by Maysan Haydar.
W 11/3/10
“Has Male Bashing Gone Too Far?”(Goshgarian 303307).
F 11/5/10
“Hip-Hop Beyond Beats and Rhymes” (Goshgarian 326328).
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Week Eleven
M 11/8/10
Essay #4 Rough Draft Due. Bring 1-2 copies of rough
draft for peer review and one for your Instructor.
W 11/10/10
“Culture Shock Ad: 50 Cent” (Goshgarian 329).
F 11/12/10
“People Like Us” (Goshgarian 366-371).
Week Twelve
M 11/15/10
“Are You a Terrorist, or Do You Play One on TV?”
(Goshgarian 373-377).
W 11/17/10
“A’s For Everyone” (Goshgarian 417-423).
F 11/19/10
“The Disadvantages of an Elite Education” (Goshgarian
427-437)
Week Thirteen
M 11/22/10
Film: Animal House (1978). View this on your own. Essay
#4 Due (rough draft, peer review comments, electronic,
and hard, final copy). Assign Essay #5 (the Final Essay
Exam).
W 11/24/10
No Class. Thanksgiving Recess.
F 11/26/10
No Class. Thanksgiving Recess.
Week Fourteen
M 11/29/10
Film: School Daze (1988). View this on your own.
W 12/1/10
“On Not Saying ‘I Do’” (Goshgarian 490-493).
F 12/3/10
Essay #5 (the Final Exam) Rough Draft Due. Bring 1-2
copies of your rough draft for peer review and one for
your Instructor. Focus: Content and Organization.
Week Fifteen
M 12/6/10
“Five Non-Religious Arguments for Marriage”
(Goshgarian 493-496)
W 12/8/10
*Reserve article: “Looking for Work” by Gary Soto.
F 12/10/10
*Reserve article: “Why I Want a Wife” by Judy Syfers
Brady.
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Week Sixteen
M 12/13/10
Last day of classes. Continue peer review on final essay.
Focus: Style and grammar.
Final exam for Section #49: Thursday, December 16, 2010 from 10.40 a.m. to 1.10 p.m.
*Please bring the final draft of your final essay during your section’s scheduled final exam
period. Be sure to attach your rough draft as well as your peer review comments to your
essay.
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