Chelsea Lawson
Department of English
Office: Columbine 1012
Office Hours: Tuesday/ Thursday 7:30-8:00/ 10:45-11:15am and by appointment
Clawson2@uccs.edu
English 1310: Rhetoric and Writing I
Language Matters: Language, Identity and Rhetorics of America
English 1310 is the first course of a two-semester sequence, required of all UCCS students. The course
introduces students to academic reading and writing processes. Students develop critical reading, writing
and thinking skills through class discussion, the rhetorical analysis of academic texts, and the writing of
analytical essays. Emphasis is given to reading and writing processes as multiple and rhetorically diverse.
Course content focuses on language matters, the discipline-specific content of the field of Rhetoric and
Writing Studies. Students study language theory and practice. Rhetoric and Writing I is taught in a
computer-mediated environment.
Course Perspectives:
 A significant strength of this course lies in the diversity of the classroom community it
constructs.
 Reading and writing as literate acts arise out of, shape and are shaped by contexts that are
individual, social, political and historical.
 Reading and writing are practices through which humans act and make meaning.
 Writing, as a primary medium for constructing knowledge, enhances learning.
 The writing classroom is a site of respectful and ethical interaction.
Course Description and Outcomes: See, RWI reader, pages i-vii
Course Materials:
Required Texts:
Language Matters. UCCS Writing Program. Southlake, TX: Fountainhead Press, 2010.
Rhetorical Analysis: A Brief Guide for Writers. Longaker and Walker. Boston, MA: Longman,
2011
Supplies:
Flash drive for backing up your work. You do not need a flash drive solely dedicated to this
class, but you will need to back up your work. Losing a digital file is not an excuse for late or
missed work when there are numerous ways to back them up.
Major Assignments
Assignments
Paper 1 Recalibrating America
Paper 2 Presidential Rhetoric
Paper 3 Revision unit
Paper 4 Film Analysis: TBA
Academic Journals
RA Quizes
Drafts (drafting, revision, peer review)
Attendance and participation
Points
Pages
50
100
100
100
50
40
90
160
5-7
5-7
5-7
2
9
Grade weighting %
5
15
20
20
10
10
10
10
Totals:
690
100
Getting the grade you want and need
Please remember that you are responsible for obtaining the grade that you want and/or need in
this class. If you are on academic probation or are in any other situation that is dependent upon
you achieving a certain grade in this class (scholarships, financial aid, etc), it is your job to work
toward that grade. None of your due dates are a surprise and all of your grades are updated on
Blackboard through the course of the semester. I recommend that if you are in an academically
sensitive situation that you frequently check your grades to ensure you are meeting your own
minimum requirements. Coming to me and telling me that you can’t fail because you are on
academic probation (or any other situation) will not yield a higher grade.
Paper Requirements:
You will write three analytical papers and have one revision unit for this course. All formal
papers require extensive drafting, revision and polishing before you submit them for a grade. All
papers will be formatted according to MLA guidelines, which we will learn as part of the course.
All essays are a MINIMUM 5 pages and maximum of 7 and meeting this length requirement will
be included in your essay grade. Essays are due both in digital form on Blackboard and in hard
copy at the beginning of the class on the due date listed.
In-class drafting/revision, peer review, rough drafts:
This course is largely a writer’s workshop. For each of your essays you will be graded on
multiple factors. You will be required to submit a rough draft for each essay that is no fewer than
3 pages in length. This draft will be due on the day of peer review. Additionally, you will need to
participate in the 3 peer review sessions.
Attendance / Late Papers:
Attendance is required and expected. Your commitment to the course directly impacts your
learning. We will work collaboratively on each of the papers. The more you attend, the more
support you receive in generating topics, drafting and revising your papers. If you need to be
absent contact me before class or during office hours. If you miss class, you are still responsible
for keeping up with your work. Exchange phone numbers with a classmate or two, so you have
additional contacts. You earn one hundred percentage points for attending class. These are
yours from the start. For each absence, you lose 5 points, whether the absence is legitimate or
not. You can lose ten points and still keep an A on your attendance. Use your absence/s wisely.
Absences that go beyond two weeks of class time (4 total) will result in a
failing grade for the course. The point scale also applies to leaving class early or arriving
excessively late (over an hour). An absence does not automatically qualify you to turn in late
work. Late work may be accepted if you contact me to negotiate an alternative date before the
due date arrives. Late papers are subject to a ten point deduction (per day late) regardless of the
circumstance.
Writing Center:
Please remember that there are valuable resources available to you outside of class, should you
need them. I encourage you to call (x3316), visit (COB 316) or visit the writing center’s website
at: http://www.uccs.edu/~wrtgcntr/
Accommodations:
If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodations for this class, it is
your responsibility to contact and register with the Disability Services Office, and provide them with
documentation of your disability, so they can determine what accommodations are appropriate for
your situation. To avoid any delay in the receipt of accommodations, you should contact the
Disability Services Office as soon as possible. Please note that accommodations are not retroactive,
and that disability accommodations cannot provided until an accommodation letter has been given to
me. Please contact Disability Services for more information about receiving accommodations at
Main Hall room 105, 719-255-3354 or dservice@uccs.edu.
Conferences:
Two writing conferences are required as part of this course. Writing conferences offer you the
opportunity to work with me on a one-to-one basis to improve your work on specific papers.
Attendance is required. Please schedule conferences beyond the two if you want additional help.
Computer Classroom Policy:
Cell phone use and irrelevant computer use are prohibited. Please recognize that all our sessions
are held in this PC lab. University policy states that no food or drink may be brought into these
labs. Please ensure that you have printed any drafts prior to the start of class.
~Tentative Timeline~
Week 1
June 10
Introduction
Discuss: syllabus, academic journals
Visit writing center as class (~Tentative~)
Rhetorical Analysis (RA): Ch. 1 (p 1-6)
language matters (LM): Catt P. 131, Stanton P. 489
June 12
Discuss: Catt, Stanton, RA Ch.1,
Workshop: Introductions, Formatting documents, MLA
RA: p. 11-21, 45-54 and P. 232-250 (Ethos)
LM: Anthony P. 13, Douglass P. 192, Standing Bear p. 479
June 17
Assign Paper #1
Week 2
RA quiz #1 (From 11-21, 45-54) and quiz #2 (Ethos)
Discuss: RA 11-21, 45-54, Anthony, Douglass, Standing Bear
Workshop: Thesis and Body paragraph
RA : 208-224, 230-231 (Pathos), 185-206 (logos)
June 19
RA Quiz #3 (Pathos) and RA Quiz #4 (Logos)
Unit 1 Journal Due
Discuss: RA
Workshop: Summary Vs. analysis
Drafting Workshop
June 24
June 26
Paper conferences- in class
Complete peer review activities: rough draft due (at least 3 pages)
Complete reverse outline of peer essay
LM: Jefferson, P.247, Roosevelt, P. 433
Essay #1 due at beginning of class
Assign essay #2
Discuss: Jefferson, Roosevelt
Workshop: Topic Sentences
LM: Kennedy P. 262, Clinton P. 148, Obama P. 376, Bush P. 111
Week 4
July 1
Discuss: Kennedy, Clinton, Obama, Bush (Complete activities)
Workshop: Conclusions, Transitions, Revision vs. Editing
July 3
Unit 2 Journal Due
Drafting Workshop
July 8
Complete Peer review activities: Rough draft due
Complete reverse outline for essay 2 on peer paper
July 10
Essay # 2 due at beginning of class
Assign Revision Unit
Drafting Workshop- work on your revision plan
July 15
Revision Plan Due
Week 5
Week 6
Paper conferences and workshop your revision essays
July 17
Steps 1-3 of Revision Unit Due at beginning of class
Complete step 4 of revision unit in class
Assign Essay # 4
Watch film
July 22
Finish film (if needed)
Discuss film readings
July 24
Workshop Essay #4
FCQ Course Evaluations
July 29
Complete Peer review: Rough draft due
Revision workshop-complete backward outline on peer essay
Week 7
Week 8
July 31
Essay #4 due by 10am at my office.