COMMUNICATING AGRICULTURAL ISSUES
AGRI 340 – FALL 2014
School of Agriculture - Western Illinois University
INSTRUCTOR Professor William C Bailey
Office Phone: 309/298-1522
Office Fax: 309/298-2280
Office: 322 Knoblauch
Office Hours: 1 PM – 3 PM Monday,
Noon – 1 PM Tuesday, 1-2 PM
Wednesday
E-mail: WC-Bailey@WIU.EDU
CLASS TIMES AND LOCATIONS
Section 2: 12-12:50 Monday and Wednesday, KH 306
Section 3: 1 – 2:40, Thursday, KH 308
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
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 specific agricultural issue.
4. Explain and write decision making and informational memos.
5. Enhance writing skills and abilities.
EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS
Participation: Students are expected to regularly attend class and to actively participate in discussions.
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.
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 2012 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
AGRI340 Fall 2014
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 1 October 10 November 24 - 28
December 18 -
Labor Day – No class.
Fall Break
Thanksgiving break – No classes.
Final Written Assignment Due – 1PM
GRADING POLICY - The course grade will be based on the following factors, with weightings as
indicated:
Decision Memo
10%
Information Memo
10%
Essay
40%
Oral Presentation
30%
Presentation Evaluation
10%
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 the Institute. Inadequately documented papers
(including bibliography and footnotes or in-text citations) 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.
AGRI340 Fall 2014
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
is submitted that is 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.
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.
PRESENTATION EVALUATION - You will evaluate and provide constructive feedback on class
presentations. A format will be provided.
COURSE OUTLINE
Week 1 August 25 – Introduction, Course Expectations and Issue Identification
Week 2 September 1– Elements of Writing – Style and Grammar
Week 3 September 8– Writing Assignment Discussion
Week 4 September 15– Guidelines for Decision Memos and Assignment 1
Week 5 September 22– Effective Informational Memos and Assignment 2
Week 6 September 29– Effective Essays
Week 7 October 6– How to Analyze an Argument
Week 8 October 13– Arguments and Debates, 1st Essay draft submitted
Week 9 October 20– Effective Oral Presentations
Week 10 October 27– Effective Executive Briefings, 1st Essay draft returned
Week 11 November 3– Oral Presentations
Week 12 November 10– Oral Presentations, 2nd Essay draft submitted
Week 13 November 17– Oral Presentations
Week 14 December 1– Oral Presentations, if needed
Week 15 December 8 – 2nd Essay draft returned, presentation journals due
Final December 18– Finished Essay submitted
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.
9/8/14 wb
AGRI340 Fall 2014