RWS 305W (Tuesday/Thursday)
Fall 2009
Office Phone: (619) 594-6486
Cathy Hoffman, Instructor
Adams Humanities 3120
Office hour: MWF 12-1 and by appointment
Syllabus for Writing in Various Settings
REQUIRED TEXTS
Hoffman & Hoffman, The Main Event
Lester, James. Writing Research Papers , 13 th
edition
SUGGESTED TEXTS
A good college dictionary (Webster's or Random House are good)
A good grammar handbook (such as Hodge's Harbrace College Handbook )
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
For this course you will write three essays, a critique essay, and you will write a researchbased policy report in correct MLA documentation style (2000 words). You will also be required to do the reading assigned for the course. Your participation in the class is essential to your successful completion of this course. You must pass the policy report in order to pass the class!!!
Attendance is essential! You may have three absences--no questions asked--without effect on your grade. This is not a distance learning class. Anything you missed because of your absence, for whatever reason, is your responsibility to make up, not the instructor’s responsibility to get you back up to speed. Attendance and participation is
10% of the total class grade. I need to see that you have come to class prepared, that you have read the material, and that this is demonstrated not only in your written work, but in your ability to speak, listen and participate in class in an intelligent fashion. In other words, simply handing the papers in is not good enough.
Also, tardiness creates disruption and is unacceptable. Therefore, habitual tardiness may also lower your grades.
I don’t like people walking into my class late or leaving early.
Oh yes, and no eating and no gum chewing!

The use of laptops in the classroom is not allowed as it creates a distraction.
You will type all work in MLA format (see the last page of this syllabus for an example).
Papers need to be handed in when asked for, or by definition they are late and will not be accepted. No email submissions. Do not have other students hand in work, or drop off work in my mail box or on my desk. It will be thrown out. I will not accept papers if they are not handed to me directly in person by owner.
(This is a rigid rule, and a legal issue.) If you submit an essay that does not adhere to the MLA

format, I will not accept it. Your research papers will be done according to MLA documentation style as seen in Writing Research Papers .
Because this class is highly structured around students handing work in when it is required, I will not accept any late papers unless they are accompanied by a doctor's note.
“Late” is defined as coming in fifteen minutes after the start of the period. This does not mean that if a paper is late I will give it a lower grade; it means that I will not accept it. There will be no exceptions to this rule.
Any work not done in class due to absence cannot be made up. This is a process-oriented class so attendance is mandatory.
If you or I am absent, you are still responsible for keeping to the schedule. If I am absent, the assignment due the day I am out will be due the following class period.
GRADING
Attendance, Participation & Behavior
Expository essay (film)
Essay with definition (democracy)
Critique essay presentation (journal)
Literary essay (fairy tales)
10%
15%
15%
15%
20%
Research-based policy report 25%
100%
FAILURE TO RECEIVE A "C" OR BETTER ON THE POLICY REPORT WILL
RESULT IN A "D" OR "F" GRADE FOR THE SEMESTER.
FAILURE TO TURN IN THE POLICY REPORT AT THE DESIGNATED TIME AND
PLACE WILL RESULT IN AN “F” FOR THE SEMESTER.
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER
If for some reason you decide to withdraw, please do so officially. If you drop the class, follow the guidelines in your class schedule for dropping. If you disappear during the semester without dropping, expect to receive an F for the course. FAILURE TO HAND
IN FINAL RESEARCH PAPER WILL ALSO RESULT IN AN "F" FOR THE
COURSE.
PLAGIARISM
Plagiarism is the presentation of another person’s words and/or ideas (with or without that person's consent) as though they were your own. It, in effect, is theft, and the implications of such theft are far-reaching, legally as well as ethically. Whether it is the result of deliberate dishonesty, carelessness or ignorance, plagiarism cannot be tolerated at a college or university. A PLAGIARIZED PAPER RATES AN "F" IN THIS
COURSE.
If your final paper contains plagiarized materials, the grade for the course is
"F" regardless of previous offenses, or lack of them. It is much to your benefit, therefore,

to take special care in learning the proper use of introductions, quotation marks, paraphrasing, and bibliography. If I believe that you have submitted someone else's work, whether a friend's work or a published work, it is your responsibility to provide me with irrefutable evidence that the work is your own. SAVE ALL YOUR
HANDWRITTEN AND/OR COMPUTER ROUGH DRAFTS.

Rhetorical Knowledge
RWS 305W will help students to analyze writing in different contexts by introducing them to the concept of rhetorical situations: the complex interplay among writer, audience, subject, and context. Students will learn how to

Respond effectively in writing to issues and arguments raised in a variety of disciplinary, popular, and professional texts and/or contexts

Identify individual discourse communities and find and analyze their characteristic texts, evaluate their credibility and principles, and apply relevant aspects of their information to other contexts and arguments

Analyze the details of a wide variety of writing situations (textual elements such as tone, evidence, organizational patterns, diction, even visuals) according to the author’s purpose as well as the audience’s needs and tastes

Understand the concept of rhetorical situations: the relationship among writeraudience-subject-context
Critical Thinking and Reading
RWS 305W will provide students with strategies to understand the function of reading and writing in cultural, academic, and professional communities. Students will learn how to
 Use “language about language” that enables a writer to reflect on the use of rhetorical strategies as well as strengths, difficulties, and progress as a working writer

Apply critical reading strategies to a variety of publicly and individually produced texts

Work with demanding readings and learn to interpret, incorporate, and evaluate these readings

Use writing as a way to learn—to think about, question, and communicate ideas

Understand the relationships among language, knowledge and power
Writing Processes
RWS 305W will enhance students’ abilities to develop writing processes that reflect invention, inquiry, revision, and editing. Students will learn how to

Develop successful, flexible strategies for generating, revising, and editing texts

Understand the collaborative and social aspects of the writing process
 Critique their own and others’ texts

Knowledge of Conventions
RWS 305W will provide students with strategies to analyze the writing conventions of different discourse communities and to begin to write effectively within these communities. Students will learn to

Understand the ways various discourse communities use different strategies for conveying information, researching information, and evaluating and analyzing

 information
Analyze audience expectations about conventions and address them in critical ways
Effectively integrate a variety of sources into their writings

Practice appropriate means of documenting their sources

Sustain reasonable correctness in grammar and mechanics to perform well in a variety of writing contexts and professional settings
Attitudes, Values, and Preparation for Life Beyond the University
RWS 305W reflects the values of a liberal arts education, namely,

Working cooperatively with others to achieve mutually defined goals, face-to-face in the classroom and in other settings

Respecting the diverse voices and perspectives that characterize life in a multicultural classroom and society

Applying critical reading strategies to a variety of publicly and individually produced texts

Valuing free expression and the ability to participate confidently in public discussion on issues of importance to the workplace and the community

Showing initiative in problem solving situations

Integration of Learning Goals into the Course Assignments
Expository essay (film)

Teaches the five paragraph essay form (rhetorical knowledge)

Teaches to use both primary and secondary sources in the essay (writing processes; critical thinking and reading)

Develop successful, flexible strategies for generating, revising, and editing texts

Requires the ability to integrate different forms of research (knowledge of conventions)

Requires use of proper MLA documentation (knowledge of conventions)
 Requires questioning of society’s values as reflected in film and writing
(attitudes, values and preparation for life beyond the university)
Essay with definition (democracy)

Summarize works of others (critical thinking and reading)

Mind-map academic articles (critical thinking and reading)

Integrate academic definitions into their own writing (rhetorical knowledge; writing process)

Requires use of proper MLA documentation (knowledge of conventions)
Critique essay presentation (journal)

Analyze an academic journal article (critical thinking and reading)

Understand the concept of rhetorical situations (rhetorical knowledge)
 Use “language about language” to critique the work of others (critical thinking and reading)

Critique the texts of others (writing processes)

Requires use of proper MLA documentation (knowledge of conventions)
Literary essay (fairy tales)

Identify the individual discourse communities, find and analyze their individual characteristic texts (rhetorical knowledge)

Group work which requires valuing free expression and the ability to participate confidently in public discussion (attitudes, values, and preparation for life beyond the university)

Understand the collaborative and social aspects of the writing process
(writing processes)

Requires use of proper MLA documentation (knowledge of conventions)

Research-based policy report

Respond effectively in writing in issues and arguments raised in a variety of disciplinary, popular, and professional texts (rhetorical knowledge)

Apply critical reading strategies to a variety of publicly and individually produced texts. (attitudes, values, and preparation for life beyond the university)

Effectively integrate a variety of sources into their writing (knowledge of conventions)

Requires use of proper MLA documentation (knowledge of conventions)

Sept. 22
Sept. 24
Sept. 10
Sept. 15
Sept. 17
RWS 305W
COURSE CALENDAR
Catherine Hoffman
Assignments are always due the next class meeting unless otherwise specified.
Conferences are always held in Adams Humanities 3120.
DAY CLASS ACTIVITY HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT
Sept. 1
Sept. 3
Roll call
Discuss the Main Event reading
Discuss the Main Event Writing
Assignment
MLA sheet
Assignment Sheet
Read Ch. 1, pp. 15-23
Read Introduction to Reading pp. 1-14
Work on writing assignment
Read Ch. 1, pp. 23-32
View films on your own
Sept. 8 Lecture on film (two handouts) Work on writing assignment
View films on your own
Discuss Writing Lesson
Discuss Writing Sample
Finish writing assignment
Read Ch. 2, pp. 76-84
Writing Assignment due Work on Writing assignment
Discuss the Main Event reading Read Ch. 2, pp. 84-92
Assign Main Event Writing
Assignment; 2 punch lists (What is Democracy?:
What does a good education mean?)
Preparation Strategies
Writing Lesson & Sample
Two lists: Democracy/Good
Education
Read all Additional Readings, pp. 92-148
Work on Writing Assignment
Discuss readings
(Finish Rose; Hoffman, p. 110;
Nodding, p. 122; Shafer, p. 133)
Discuss readings
Henry, p. 141)
Assign conference dates
(de Tocqueville, p. 93; Bloom p. 101;
Work on writing assignment
Finish writing assignment

Oct. 27
Oct. 29
Nov. 3
Nov. 5
Nov. 10
Nov. 12
Oct. 15
Oct. 20
Oct. 22
Sept. 29
Oct. 1
Oct. 6
Oct. 8
Oct. 13
Writing Assignment due
Conferences in my office
(first 1/4 of the class)
Conferences in my office
(second 1/4 of the class)
Conferences in my office
(third 1/4 of the class)
Conferences in my office
(fourth 1/4 of the class)
Discuss Main event Writing
Assignment & Lesson
Journal handout
Read Ch. 6, pp. 309-323
Finish writing assignment
Oral presentations of Critiques due
Oral presentations
Oral presentations
Oral presentations Read WRP , Ch. 7, Section D
(Avoiding Plagiarism)
Discuss WRP , Ch. 7(d) Read Ch. 10, pp. 530-546
Discuss Main Event Writing Work on writing assignment
Assignment Read all Additional Readings
Handout Grimm’s “Cinderella”; pp. 372-424
Russian Tale; Sample Paper
Preparation Strategies
Discuss Writing Lesson
Discuss Writing Sample pp. 372-424
Discuss Main Event reading
(Cinderella lecture)
Discuss WRP, Ch. 11
Assign conference dates
Writing assignment due
Conference in my office—
First 1/4 of class
Furlough Day – No class
Read WRP , Ch. 11, pp. 169-92
(Blending Material)
Finish writing assignment
Read WRP , Ch. 14, pp. 239-81
(Formatting Works Cited Page)

Dec. 1
Dec. 3
Nov. 17
Nov. 19
Nov. 24
Nov. 26
Conference in my office –
Second 1/4 of class
Conference in my office –
Third 1/4 of class
Conference in my office—
Fourth 1/4 of class
Thanksgiving – No class
Discuss Main Event reading
Discuss Main Event Writing
Assignment
MLA Checklist
Preparation Strategies
Discuss Writing Lesson
Discuss Writing Sample
Student evaluations
Read Ch. 11, pp. 592-604
Work on writing assignment
Read Ch. 11, pp. 604-617
Work on writing assignment
Dec. 8
Dec. 10
Furlough Day – No class
Research-based policy report due in teacher’s office
If your class meets at 8:00 am, your final paper will be returned to you in my office, along with your grade in the course, during the final exam period on Tuesday, Dec. 15, at
8:30 am, unless you are notified otherwise.
If your class meets at 9:30 am, your final paper will be returned to you in my office, along with your grade in the course, during the final exam period on Thursday, Dec. 17, at 10:30 am, unless you are notified otherwise.
If your class meets at 11:00 am, your final paper will be returned to you in my office, along with your grade in the course, during the final exam period on Tuesday, Dec. 15, at
10:30 am, unless you are notified otherwise.