COMMUNICATING AGRICULTURAL ISSUES
AGRI 340 – FALL 2013
School of Agriculture - Western Illinois University
INSTRUCTOR
Professor William C Bailey
Office Phone: 309/298-1522
Office Fax: 309/298-2280
E-mail: WC-Bailey@WIU.EDU
Office: 318 Knoblauch
Office Hours: Monday, 10-12; Wednesday, 10-11;
Thursday, 12-1
CLASS TIMES AND LOCATIONS
Section 1: 10 – 11:40, Thursday. KH 306
Section 2: 12 – 12:50 Monday and Wednesday, KH 308
Section 3: 1 – 2:40, Thursday, KH 306
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND PREREQUISITES
Development of written and oral communication skills to address current issues in agriculture. Writing
Instruction in the Discipline (WID) course. Prerequisites: AGRI 220 and ENG 280
TEXT
 None
COURSE OBJECTIVES
1. Explain and analyze current issues in today’s agriculture.
2. Prepare a persuasive essay on a current issue in agriculture.
3. Orally present information on a current agricultural issue.
4. Understand and write decision making and informational memos.
5. Enhance writing skills.
EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS
Participation: Students are expected to regularly attend class and to participate in discussions and class
writing activities.
Academic Integrity: The rules and regulations outlined in the University's policy on academic integrity
are applied to this course.
Student Rights and Responsibilities: Detailed information regarding student rights and responsibilities
can be found at http://www.wiu.edu/provost/student/. It is your responsibility to be familiar with the
posted information.
Special Accommodations: If you need special accommodations, please feel free to stop by and discuss
your needs or contact Disability Support Services at 298-2512.
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AGRI 340 Fall 2013
Attention Education Majors: The changes within the state certification requirements, which go into
effect immediately for all of those students who graduate in the spring 2014 and after, you are required
to receive a grade of a "C" or better in this course in order to meet these new requirements. With the
new university +/- grading system, receiving a "C-" or below will require you to retake this course or
find a substitute course to meet School of Agriculture graduation requirements.
USE OF CELLULAR PHONES AND PAGERS
As a courtesy to other students and to the instructor, all cell phones and pagers should be turned off
prior to class. Continued disregard of this policy may result in ejection from the course. If, due to
medical or public safety concerns, a student needs an exception to this policy he/she should inform the
instructor prior to class.
IMPORTANT DATES
September 2
Labor Day – No class.
November 25 - 29
Thanksgiving Break – No classes.
December 12
Final Essay paper due – 8:00-9:50 a.m.
GRADING POLICY - The course grade will be based on the following factors, with weightings as
indicated:
Decision Memo
10%
Information Memo
10%
Essay
30%
Oral Presentation
30%
Presentation journal
20%
Total
100%
Grading Scale – A 100-92%; A- 91-90%; B+ 89-88%; B 87-82%; B- 81-80%; C+ 79-78%; C 77-72%;
C- 71-70%; D+ 69-68%; D 67-62%; D- 61-60%; F < 60%
WRITING IN THE DISCIPLINE (WID) - This course has been designated to meet the Writing
Instruction in the Disciplines (WID) graduation requirement. WID courses provide instruction in the
processes and formats for the writing content and style needed to be an effective professional in a
student’s chosen field.
WRITTEN WORK - All written assignments must be submitted in hard copy on the day it is due (this
includes PowerPoint® presentations). Written work must be typed, spell-checked, and neatly formatted.
Please include your name, the course number, assignment number, and date at the top of the page or on
a cover sheet. While an occasional typo or editing error may slip through, the presence of several
mistakes indicates a lack of attention and will lower your grade. Specific formatting conventions are
negotiable, based on standards in your field and appropriateness for your intended audience. All work
must be professional looking and designed for easy reading.
DOCUMENTING SOURCES - Do not cut and paste material from Web pages or other documents
without making evident the source of the information. This is called plagiarism, which is a serious
offense and subject to formal action by WIU. Inadequately documented will not receive a passing
grade. When in doubt, document the source.
EXAMS - There will be neither exams during the semester nor a final exam.
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AGRI 340 Fall 2013
FINAL PAPER - You will write a paper on the topic on which you give your oral presentation. The
paper must be at least 8 pages, double spaced, with margins of 1inch on top, bottom and sides, using
12 pt. Times New Roman font. The eight pages do not include the cover, or the bibliography. If a
paper were submitted that was less than eight pages in length it will not be reviewed.
The paper must include information about both sides of the controversial issue. Wikipedia CANNOT
be used as a reference in this paper. At least seven different references should be used in this paper.
PRESENTATION - You will give a presentation on an agricultural issue agreed to with the instructor.
The purpose of this presentation is to help you organize the material, improve verbal communication
skills, and to receive feedback to help you better prepare your paper. This speech should be 6 – 8
minutes long. Be prepared to answer questions. A schedule will be distributed. Be prepared for the
day you are scheduled, even if it appears unlikely that you will not present on that day. Points will be
deducted if you are not prepared. The focus of this presentation will be the preparation of a balanced
position on your topic.
ISSUES JOURNAL - You must take notes on class presentations. For each presentation, write at least
1⁄2 page (content), detailing what you learned, strong and weak points of the presentation, what you
agreed and disagreed with, and why (important). Combine all of the notes into a final issues journal to
hand in when instructed.
COURSE OUTLINE
Week 1 – Introduction, Course Expectations and Issue Identification
Week 2 – Elements of Writing – Style and Grammar
Week 3 – Writing Assignment Discussion
Week 4 – Guidelines for Decision Memos and Assignment 1
Week 5 – Effective Informational Memos and Assignment 2
Week 6 – Effective Essays
Week 7 – How to Analyze an Argument
Week 8 – Arguments and Debates, 1st Essay draft submitted
Week 9 – Effective Oral Presentations
Week 10 – Effective Executive Briefings, 1st Essay draft returned
Week 11 – Oral Presentations
Week 12 – Oral Presentations, 2nd Essay draft submitted
Week 13 – Oral Presentations
Week 14 – Oral Presentations, if needed
Week 15 – 2nd Essay draft returned, presentation journals due
Final – Finished Essay submitted
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AGRI 340 Fall 2013
NOTICES
Please be advised that this syllabus is tentative. All classes are different and we may or may not be
able to address all of the content areas or stick with the anticipated number of exams. Any deviations
from the syllabus will be announced as soon as possible.
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AGRI 340 Fall 2013