San José State University
Department of Justice Studies
JS 100W, Writing Workshop, Section 5, #29752, Spring 2012
Instructor:
Mary Juno
Office Location:
MacQuarrie Hall 527
Telephone:
408-924-2956
Please do not leave voicemail messages at this number.
mary.juno@sjsu.edu
http://www.sjsu.edu/people/mary.juno/courses/js100w/
Tues & Thurs 900-1030 by appointment
http://www.sjsu.edu/justicestudies/advising/fs_advising/index.htm
Tues 1500-1745
Email and website:
Office Hours:
Class Days/Time:
Classroom:
Prerequisites:
444 Sweeney Hall
Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in English 1B or equivalent,
passing score on the WST, completion of core GE requirements, upper
division standing (60 units completed).
Course Catalogue Description
Integrated writing and research course designed to develop advanced written communication
skills. Effective written and oral communication skills are vital to success in any career, but are
particularly important to the criminal justice profession. The best method for improving these
skills is through extensive practice, critical feedback, revision, and examination of models of
excellence in communication. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be
skilled at communicating information to criminal justice professionals and to general audiences
in a variety of formats.
Course Goals and Student Learning Objectives
Course Content Learning Outcomes
JS100W students will:
LO1 Develop a clear, concise, effective writing style, exhibiting mastery of college level
vocabulary and the mechanics of writing.
LO2 Become proficient in research strategies and methodologies necessary to communicate
complex ideas effectively and appropriately to both general and specific audiences.
LO3 Develop the ability to read, interpret, and critically analyze scholarly literature within the
field, and to respond critically both orally and in writing.
LO4 Develop the ability to gather diverse supporting evidence from a variety of sources and
appropriately cite these sources using APA-style formatting.
WRITING WORKSHOP, JS 100W, Spring 2012
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LO5 Develop the ability to effectively express a position, using organized, clear and concise
wording in a variety of formats.
Required Texts/Readings
Textbooks and Materials
Piltch, C, Terry, K. (2011). A short guide to writing about criminal justice. Upper Saddle River,
NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. ISBN-13: 978-0-13-802902-9
Zinsser, W. (2001). On writing well. New York: Collins. ISBN-13: 978-0060006648
Book for Book Review TBD
Three blue books for diagnostic exams
Other Required Materials (bring these to every class)
Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary
Binder for all JS 100W work and handouts
Other Readings
APA Tutorial: http://www.apastyle.org/learn/tutorials/basics-tutorial.aspx
Owl at Purdue: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/
Journal articles, tutorials and links to other readings will be posted on the class website. It is the
student’s responsibility to check the website (twice weekly is recommended) for new postings.
Library Liaison
Nyle Monday nyle.monday@sjsu.edu (408) 808-2041
http://libguides.sjsu.edu/justicestudies
Silke Higgins silke.higgins@sjsu.edu (408) 808-2118
Classroom Protocol
1. Students are expected to attend all class meetings, arrive on time, stay for the duration of the
period, and complete all assignments in accordance with the class schedule. Class
participation is expected and is part of your grade. It is essential that you come prepared and
speak up during class.
2. Students are responsible for all missed notes, materials and announcements due to absence. Do
not email me asking what you missed; please contact a classmate instead.
3. Cell phone and laptop use are not permitted during class. Users will be asked to leave. If you
require a laptop for physical reasons, you must bring me documentation from the DRC.
WRITING WORKSHOP, JS 100W, Spring 2012
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Assignments
1. Research Paper (25%): A thoroughly researched, evidence-supported, and well-argued
paper in APA format containing all required components. Details and guidelines will be
provided. The final research paper will not be accepted unless the student has a C average
on all previous assignments, and has turned in all components of the research paper.
(LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5)
Components of Research Paper (all REQUIRED):
a. Topic: Due 2/7. Students must generate three ideas for forensic science research
paper topics.
b. APA Reference List: Due 2/14. Students must turn in a reference list in APA
format containing a minimum of six scholarly/peer reviewed sources.
c. Thesis Statement: Due 2/21. Students must develop a clear, declarative position
on the chosen topic.
d. Outline: Due 3/20
e. Rough Draft 1: Due 4/3. 11-12 pages, not including title page or reference list.
f. RD Peer Review 1: In class 4/3
f. Rough Draft 2: Due 4/24. 10-11 pages, not including title page or reference list.
g. RD Peer Review 2: In class 4/24
h. Final Paper: Due 5/8. 9-10 pages, not including title page or reference list.
2. Short Writing Assignments (35%): These may include abstracts, article reviews,
blogging, articles for newsletter, or written responses to readings in text or other media.
(LO1, LO3, LO5)
3. Book Review (15%): Students will write a 3-5 page book review. Book TBD. (LO1,
LO3, LO4, LO5)
4. In-class Diagnostic Exams (15%): There will be three in-class diagnostic writing exams.
(LO1, LO5)
5. APA and Vocabulary Quizzes (5%): There will be three vocabulary quizzes and one
APA quiz. (LO1, LO4)
6. Participation (5%): Achieved through attendance, class discussion, and completion of all
graded and ungraded assignments. Additionally, all students must attend at least one
Writing Center (126 Clark Hall) workshop or tutoring session during the semester and
supply proof of attendance. (LO1, LO5)
Justice Studies Department Writing Standards
1. Students must earn a C or better to pass this class. Grades are determined based upon
adherence to the specific criteria for each assignment.
2. Students must conform to APA standards for scholarly writing. Minimum standards
include:
a. Consistent use of complete sentences;
b. Correct use of grammatical constructions, punctuation, sequencing (paragraphing),
referencing, hyphenation, spelling, headings, capitalizations, pagination,
abbreviations, and margins;
c. Appropriate content, clarity, conciseness and style;
d. Neat appearance.
3. Twenty percent of the grade of each written assignment will be based on writing
mechanics.
4. Each written assignment must contain no more than five novel grammatical errors and/or
no more than five novel APA errors.
WRITING WORKSHOP, JS 100W, Spring 2012
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5. When a paper is submitted that does not meet departmental standards, it will be returned
(ungraded) to the student for revision. The student will have two calendar days to revise
and resubmit the paper.
6. Any paper that is returned to the student for revision will have an automatic 10%
deduction in the total grade for the assignment.
7. Upon resubmission, if a paper still does not meet departmental standards, the student will
receive a zero on the writing mechanics portion (and/or APA format portion) of the
assignment, and the paper will be graded only for content.
Grading Policies
1. Points on writing assignments will be earned in the areas of format, content, mechanics
and style. A rubric will be provided.
2. All writing assignments completed outside of class must be typed, double-spaced, singlesided, on white paper, with 12” margins, 12pt font, and include attached turnitin.com
originality report.
3. No late work or make up assignments will be accepted or allowed except under
extraordinary, documented circumstances, unless instructor specifies otherwise. Please
adhere to all stipulated due dates which have been established in order to facilitate
grading.
4. Students are responsible for reading and following the directions on every assignment.
Papers that do not adhere to the directions of an assignment will not be accepted for
credit, or may be handed back for revision.
5. The final research paper will not be accepted unless the student has a C average on all
previous assignments, and has turned in all components of the research paper.
Grading Scale
Letter:
A+
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF
Percentage:
97-100
94-96
90-93
87-89
84-86
80-83
77-79
74-76
70-73
67-69
64-66
60-63
<60
Turnitin.com
This is an online plagiarism checking service. You must register with turnitin.com during the
first week of class and familiarize yourself with its features. Papers will not be accepted unless
they have been submitted to turnitin, and will be considered late until they are submitted. No
WRITING WORKSHOP, JS 100W, Spring 2012
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exceptions. To register: http://www.turnitin.com/ New User (or not, if you already have an
account)  enter your information  join the class. Class ID: 4732899 PW: GrammarCop
University Policies
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is essential to the mission of San José State University. Students are
expected to perform their own work (except when collaboration is expressly permitted by the
course instructor) without the use of any outside resources. Students are not permitted to use old
tests, quizzes when preparing for exams, nor may they consult with students who have already
taken the exam. When practiced, academic integrity ensures that all students are fairly graded.
Violations to the Academic Integrity Policy undermine the educational process and demonstrate
a lack of respect for oneself, one’s fellow students and the course instructor. Violations also can
ruin the university’s reputation and devalue of the degrees it offers. We all share the obligation to
maintain an environment that practices academic integrity.
The University’s Academic Integrity Policy is available at
http://www.sa.sjsu.edu/download/judicial_affairs/Academic_Integrity_Policy_S07-2.pdf. Your
own commitment to learning, as evidenced by your enrollment at San Jose State University,
requires you to be honest in all your academic course work. Faculty members are required to
report all infractions to the office of Student Conduct and Ethical Development. The website for
Student Conduct and Ethical Development is http://www.sa.sjsu.edu/judicial_affairs/index.html.
Instances of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Cheating on exams or plagiarism
(presenting the work of another as your own, or the use of another person’s ideas without giving
proper credit) will result in a failing grade in the course and will be subject to sanctions by the
University. For this class, all assignments are to be completed by the individual student unless
otherwise specified. If you would like to include in your assignment any material you have
submitted, or plan to submit for another class, please note that SJSU’s Academic Policy F06-1
requires approval of instructors.
Dropping and Adding
Students are responsible for understanding the policies and procedures about add/drops,
academic renewal, etc. Information on add/drops is available at http://info.sjsu.edu/webdbgen/narr/soc-fall/rec-298.html. Information on late drops is available at
http://www.sjsu.edu/sac/advising/latedrops/policy/ . Students should be aware of the current
deadlines and penalties for adding and dropping classes.
Campus Policy in Compliance with the American Disabilities Act
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, or if you need to
make special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment
with me as soon as possible, or see me during office hours. Presidential Directive 97-03 requires
that students with disabilities requesting accommodations must register with the DRC (Disability
Resource Center) to establish a record of their disability.
WRITING WORKSHOP, JS 100W, Spring 2012
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Instructor
Mary Juno earned her MSc in Forensic Science from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow,
Scotland, and her BA in Forensic Anthropology from San Francisco State University. Juno
worked for many years as a CSI at the Oakland Police Department where she processed
hundreds of major crime scenes and taught in the Oakland Police Academy. She has conducted
research at the NYPD Latent Fingerprint Lab and currently teaches Criminal Justice
Communications, Police Role in the Community, and Forensic Investigations in the Criminal
Justice Department at Cabrillo College.
At SJSU, Juno co-advises the FSS, advises Forensic Science majors, supervises FS internships,
edits the Forensic Science Forum Newsletter, and teaches JS 100W, FS 11, 161, 162, 163 and
164. Juno is also a member of the JS Scholarship Committee and the FS Undergraduate
Curriculum Committee. Her office is located at 527 MacQuarrie Hall.
WRITING WORKSHOP, JS 100W, Spring 2012
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JS 100W Writing Workshop Spring 2012 Course Schedule
Schedule is subject to change.
Week
Date
In Class Topics
Readings and Assignments
1
1/31
Introductions and Overview
Research Topic Ideas
Diagnostic: Grammar Mechanics
Diagnostic Writing Exam I
2
2/7
Research Topic Due (Bring 3)
Library Session: Class meets in Room 217 of
MLK Library at 3:00
Short Writing Assignment on Reading
3
2/14
4
2/21
5
2/28
6
3/6
7
3/13
8
3/20
9
3/27
Reading Critically, Reading for Information
Bring ALL research articles to class
How to Write a Thesis Statement
APA Format
APA Reference List Due
Bring ALL research articles to class
Thesis Statement Due
In Class: Thesis Workshop
Citation Exercise Due
Principles of Academic and Formal Writing
Grammar Mechanics Review
How to Write an Abstract: SWA
SWA Due
How to Write an Article Review
Grammar Mechanics Exercises
Vocabulary Quiz
Article Review Due
How to Write an Outline (workshop)
Bring ALL research articles to class
SWA, Outline Due
Topic Sentences, Paragraphs and Headings
Diagnostic II
Spring Break
Register at turnitin.com
Schedule appointment with Writing
Center (2/14 or later)
Develop research topic
Read Section I of Text
Complete tutorial:
http://www.apastyle.org/learn/tutorials/ba
sics-tutorial.aspx
Read: Section III of Text
http://writingcenter.unc.edu/resources/ha
ndouts-demos/writing-the-paper/thesisstatements
Collect/print 6-10 articles on topic
Read Articles on Topic
Thesis Statement
APA Reference List
10
4/3
11
4/10
Rough Draft 1 Due (11-12 pages)
Submit to turnitin.com, bring 2 hard copies
to class
In-class Peer Review
Article Review 2 Due
Read Zinsser Part I
Citation Exercise
SWA: Abstract
Article Review
Complete Outline
SWA: Abstract
Rough Draft 1
Complete Rough Draft 1
Submit to turnitin.com, print 2 copies
Article Review 2
SWA: “Freakonomics”
Week
Date
In Class Topics
Readings and Assignments
APA Quiz
12
4/17
13
4/24
14
5/1
15
5/8
16
5/15
16
TH
5/17
SWA Due
In-class SWA
How to Write a Book Review
Vocabulary Quiz
Rough Draft 2 Due (10-11 pages)
Submit to turnitin.com, bring 2 hard copies
to class
In-class Peer Review
Book Review Due
Individual Conferences
Final Paper Due (9-10 pages)
Bring 1 hard copy to class
How to Write for Blogs: SWA
Last Day of Class
In-class SWA
Vocabulary Quiz
1445-1700
Diagnostic III
Final papers returned
Complete Rough Draft 2
Submit to turnitin.com, print 2 copies
Attach Integration Form
Read book
Complete Book Review
Submit final paper to turnitin.com, print
1 hard copy
Locate: 5 Blog urls, including JS
SWA: Newsletter
Last day to drop a course without receiving a W is February 6.
Last day to add a course is February 13.
Last day to withdraw from a course is April 24.