English 250: Writing, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Communication
Instructor: Meghann Hart
Email: mhart@iastate.edu
Office Hours: Tuesday & Thursday––11:00am-1:00pm (by appointment)
Course website: english250spring16.wordpress.com
Required Textbooks
 Bullock, Richard, et al. The Little Seagull Handbook: With Exercises, 2nd edition. New York: W. W.
Norton & Company Inc., 2014.
 ISUComm Foundation Courses Student Guide for English 150 and 250, Iowa State University,
Department of English, 2015-2016.
 Lunsford, Andrea, and John Ruszkiewicz. Everything’s an Argument, 7th edition. Boston: Bedford/
St. Martin’s, 2016.
 Rollins, Brooke, and Lee Bauknight. Food. Fountainhead Press, 2010.
Objectives
The goals of English 250 are for you to develop skills in written, oral, visual, and electronic
communication, as listed below. As a result, you should become, not only a more perceptive
consumer of information, but also a communicator better able to make effective decisions in your
academic life and work. A central concept in this course is stated in your Everything’s an Argument
text: “ . . . all language and symbols are in some way argumentative, pointing in a direction and
asking for yet another response, whether it be understanding, identification, or persuasion” (vii). In
this course, you will summarize, analyze, and evaluate various types of communication and then use
those skills in four kinds of assignments: summaries, rhetorical analyses (both textual and visual),
exploratory/persuasive texts, and documented research.
This section of English 250 is focused on food. In the introduction to Food, the central text for this
course, you will read, “Far more than providing sustenance, food defines us. It connects us with
people and places. It sets us in relation to others. It calls up important questions of sustainability and
production, of ethics and responsibility. For all these reasons, food gives us rich opportunities for
writing and research …” (4). This course gives you the opportunity to consider your personal
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relationship to food and how your food politics are both shaped by and influence food on a global
scale.
Written
-
Oral
-
Visual
-
Electronic
-
analyze professional writing to assess its purpose, audience, and rhetorical
strategies
construct arguments that integrate logical, ethical, and emotional appeals
write source papers analyzing a rhetorical situation and identifying and
accurately documenting appropriate source material
avoid distracting or confusing sentence-level errors
reflect systematically upon all of your communication processes, strengths,
goals, and growth
give an oral presentation, either individually or as part of a team, using effective
invention, organization, language, and delivery strategies
be an effective team member in small groups as a contributor, listener, and
presenter
rhetorically analyze visual communication, such as an advertisement or website,
or product packaging
create a visual argument (i.e., advertisement, poster, slide presentation)
analyze professional writing to assess its purpose, audience, and rhetorical
strategies
construct arguments that integrate logical, ethical, and emotional appeals
write source papers analyzing a rhetorical situation and identifying and
accurately documenting appropriate source material
avoid distracting or confusing sentence-level errors
reflect systematically upon all of your communication processes, strengths,
goals, and growth
give an oral presentation, either individually or as part of a team, using effective
invention, organization, language, and delivery strategies
be an effective team member in small groups as a contributor, listener, and
presenter
rhetorically analyze visual communication
create a visual argument
electronic communication, such as emails or websites
create an electronic composition
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Assignments & Grade Distribution
Assignment #1 Narrative Recipe Essay (due Tuesday, January 19th)
Ungraded
Assignment #2 Summary (due Thursday, January 28th)
10%
Assignment #3 Visual Rhetorical Analysis (due Tuesday, March 1st)
15%
Assignment #4 Textual Rhetorical Analysis (due Tuesday, March 29th)
15%
Assignment #5 Collaborative Electronic Essay, Presentation & Annotated Bibliography
(due Tuesday, April 19th)
20%
Assignment #6 Portfolio with Revisions & Reflections (due Thursday, April 28th)
15%
Leading Class Discussion
10%
Class Participation
15%
In addition to major assignments, there will be shorter assignments, which you will hand into me
regularly. For each assigned reading, you will be required to bring at least one discussion question,
which you will turn in at the end of class. The quality of these questions will help me assess your
level of engagement with course texts and discussions. In addition, you will frequently complete
shorter writing prompts, as well as brainstorming and skill-building activities, both inside and
outside of class. These shorter assignments serve different purposes: to plan or revise a major
assignment, to practice strategies important to a major assignment, to examine issues relevant to a
major assignment, or to explore visual or oral communication. Therefore, failure to complete the
smaller assignments on time may result in a failing grade for a major assignment. These assignments
will be turned in each class period and will not be evaluated if turned in late.
All work completed outside of class should be typed. Make sure you have a backup copy of all work
before you turn it in to be graded. It is very important to save everything you do in 250, both in
electronic and hard copy, so that you have a lot of material from which to draw when you begin to
put your final assignment—the portfolio—together. Major assignments will be penalized one
letter grade (e.g., from B to C) for each class period they are late. Any major essays turned in
more than two class periods late will receive a failing grade (F) automatically.
Academic Dishonesty
Detecting plagiarism in English 150 and 250 is often fairly easy for an instructor who is familiar with
your work, and once detected, it is mandatory that the Director of ISUComm Foundation
Communication be notified and consulted about consequences. Plagiarism is a serious legal and
ethical breach, and it is treated as such by the university. Read thoroughly all of the material in your
Student Guide: English 150–250, including the section regarding ethics and plagiarism in the academy.
Understanding what constitutes plagiarism and academic dishonesty will help prevent you from
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committing these acts inadvertently and will strengthen your writing. If you have any questions
about using work other than your own in your paper, see your instructor before you turn in
an assignment. The class will follow Iowa State University’s policy on academic dishonesty.
Anyone suspected of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Students Office.
Class Attendance and Participation
Classes are in a discussion/workshop format and depend on your active learning; therefore, regular
attendance and productive, courteous participation with classmates and the instructor are important.
Absences damage your grade in the class and create the probability that you’ll need to drop the
course. Much of what we do in English 250 cannot be rescheduled for you individually, made up, or
accepted late, regardless of your reason for missing class. To ensure that you stay on track with your
attendance and submission of work, the following policies, developed by the Director of ISUComm
Foundation Courses, will be enforced in sections of English 250:
 Missing more than three classes will lower your grade, and excessive absences (three
weeks of classes) will result in a failing grade for the course.
 Specifically, if your absences total four – five, your class grade is reduced two increments (a B+
becomes a B-; a C becomes a D+). This happens for the range of 4 – 5 absences, not for each
individual absence within the range. Even so, the impact on your grade is severe once you go
over your allotted three absences.
 After a total of six absences, you must drop the course or you will receive an F.
 The Director of ISUComm Foundation Courses does not differentiate between “excused” and
“unexcused” absences; you are allowed three absences total with no impact to your grade.
 Even with a valid reason to miss, you can accumulate so many absences in a semester
that your work and classroom experience are too compromised for you to remain in the
class. The Director of ISUComm Foundation Courses and your instructor will inform you and
your adviser if your absences—regardless of their reason—are too numerous for you to remain
in English 250 and you need to drop the class and take it in a semester when your schedule
permits regular attendance.
 If there is a medical condition, you must speak to the Disability Resources Office at the
beginning of the semester (see page 5 of this document) to officially request an accommodation;
however, we cannot approve an indefinite number of absences or late arrivals. We will work with
the DRO to arrive at an accommodation that allows you to be successful without altering the
rigor and basic requirements of the class.
 If you will have athletic absences, these must be presented to your instructor at the beginning of
the semester; the Director and Assistant Directors of ISUComm Foundation Courses will then
be consulted. If your athletic absences will exceed 20% of the class sessions, you’ll need to take
the class in a semester when your sport is not active and you can attend regularly. Bear in mind
that missing 2 classes on a TTh schedule or 3 on a MWF schedule means missing a week of
class. These add up fast and compromise your ability to be successful in a course that is focused
on processes of communication; for instance, in-class activities cannot be recreated for you.
 Missing during group work or on the day of your presentation means taking an F for
that activity, as it cannot be made up individually.
 When classes are cancelled for scheduled conferences, missing a scheduled individual or
group conference counts as an absence.
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 Your adviser will also be notified of attendance issues that threaten your ability to pass the class
and you may receive a midterm low-grade report because of your attendance.
 Do not schedule travel that requires you to leave campus early for spring break or for
summer break, as this could conflict with your class and/or your final exam. Your instructor
cannot make individual arrangements for you. If you miss your final for any reason other than
those outlined by the Registrar’s Office on the Final Exam page, your portfolio grade will be
reduced by a full letter.
- If you are more than 15 minutes late to class, you will be counted absent. If you are never
able to arrive at class on time because of a preceding class or commitment, you must
drop and find a section that fits in your schedule.
Grading and Evaluation
A
The qualities of a “B” assignment, plus imagination, originality, and engaging expression.
B
Thorough analysis of the communication problem; a satisfactory solution to the problem, judgment
and tact in the presentation of this solution; good organization and solid expression.
C
Satisfactory analysis of the problem, clear organization, and competent style; nothing remarkably good
or bad. A “C” means your work met the demands of the assignment in a minimally acceptable way
D
Presence of a significant defect in context, substance, organization, style, or delivery in a lackluster
paper; inadequate treatment of the assignment.
Inadequate coverage of essential points, uncertain or misguided purpose, poor organization;
ineffective and inconsistent expression; significant defects in standard usage.
F
In English 250, as in other university courses, the work required of you at the university will often
be different in type and level of difficulty from what you did in high school. Expectations are also
naturally higher since your work is now in a pool with that of others who are also pursuing a degree
at this large university. It is assumed that students admitted to the university can perform
satisfactorily most of the time; however, earning As and Bs at the university level requires strong,
consistent effort. Your assignment sheets in English 250 include evaluation criteria and your
instructor will provide rubrics and feedback on your work. Be realistic in your expectations about
grades; start assignments early and work steadily to avoid last-minute rushing.
Computer Lab Ethics
Please check the Student Guide: English 150–250 for information on the university's computer ethics
policy. You are expected to use the university computers responsibly and to communicate
courteously with others in your class—including the instructor—electronically. You are also
expected to follow your instructor’s instructions on class days in the lab, using the computers for
class-related activity only.
Electronic Policy
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Personal laptops, tablets, and/or cellphones are prohibited in class; you will be counted
absent for using them during class time. This course is largely discussion based and does not
require a lot of note taking; therefore, the use of personal electronics is unnecessary. Laptops,
tablets, and/or cellphones tend to distract both the student using the device and other students in
class from discussions and instructions. Please leave all devices in bags and on silent (not set to
vibrate).
Diversity Affirmation
Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion,
national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, sex, marital
status, disability, or status as a U.S. veteran.
Harassment & Discrimination
Iowa State University strives to maintain our campus as a place of work and study for faculty, staff,
and students that is free of all forms of prohibited discrimination and harassment based upon race,
ethnicity, sex (including sexual assault), pregnancy, color, religion, national origin, physical or mental
disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or status as a
U.S. veteran. Any student who has concerns about such behavior should contact his/her
instructor, Student Assistance at 515-294-1020 or email dso-sas@iastate.edu, or the Office of Equal
Opportunity and Compliance at 515-294-7612.
Disability Accommodation
Iowa State University is committed to assuring that all educational activities are free from
discrimination and harassment based on disability status. All students requesting accommodations
are required to meet with staff in Student Disability Resources (SDR) to establish eligibility. A
Student Academic Accommodation Request (SAAR) form will be provided to eligible students. The
provision of reasonable accommodations in this course will be arranged after timely delivery of the
SAAR form to the instructor. Students are encouraged to deliver completed SAAR forms as early in
the semester as possible. SDR, a unit in the Dean of Students Office, is located in room 1076,
Student Services Building or online at www.dso.iastate.edu/dr/. Contact SDR by e-mail
at disabilityresources@iastate.edu or by phone at 515-294-7220 for additional information.
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