1 ENG 102: Composition II, Spring 2019 Syllabus Instructor Information Name: Xiaoqiu Qiu Office: RLL257 Cubicle18 Email: xiaoqiu.qiu@unlv.edu Phone: (702)895-3867 Section Information: ENG 102-1045 Office Hours: Monday 9-10:30AM Tuesday 10-11:30AM (Email me ahead if you have specific concerns) Teaching Philosophy: Writing is a valuable skill in the 21st century for personal, professional, social, and civic purposes. In English 103, you will work on improving your critical thinking, reading, and writing skills to become more effective researchers. Our class is designed as a writing workshop, which means that each day in class you will be actively engaged in activities related to reading and writing. You will read texts from professional writers to analyze content and structure. You will write frequently during class and outside of class. You will work with other students in the class to read and provide feedback on your peers’ work. You will draft, revise, and edit your work. This process of thinking, reading, writing, and rewriting will help you become a better researcher. Required Texts and Materials UNLV English 102: Rhetoric, Research, and Writing (Custom Edition for UNLV) Course tools and resources available through WebCampus Course Description English 102 builds upon the critical thinking, reading, and writing capabilities that students developed in English 101. Students learn the processes necessary for collecting and incorporating research material in writing. They learn how to evaluate, cite, and document primary and secondary research sources, how to investigate, report, and document existing knowledge, and how to develop arguments and support them with sound evidence. 2 Course Objectives Course objectives help us to keep track of our goals and progress. By the end of the course, you should be able to do the following: ● Understand and participate in academic research as an inquiry-based, iterative process that contributes to an ongoing conversation ● Practice information literacy skills by developing a research question, locating and evaluating sources, and synthesizing information from multiple sources ● Engage with academic sources in their own writing by citing, attributing, summarizing, paraphrasing, quoting, analyzing, synthesizing, interpreting, and evaluating ideas and information from texts ● Develop an argumentative strategy by making a claim, supporting that claim with evidence from sources, and acknowledging and responding to counter-arguments ● Compose texts in academic genres for planning, documenting, and communicating scholarly findings ● Identify academic genre conventions for content, structure, style, citation, document design, and mechanics and apply these conventions in texts ● Practice writing as an inquiry-based, iterative process by using a range of invention, drafting, peer feedback, revision, editing, and proofreading strategies ● Reflect on their development as research-based writers by articulating and evaluating their research and writing processes and rhetorical decisions Course Requirements In order to earn a passing grade, students must demonstrate mastery of the course objectives by completing the following: Regular attendance and participation in class, specifically at least 80% of class meetings. Missing more than 20% of class meetings will result in a failing grade for the semester. (6 or more absences for a twice-a-week class). See “Registration Policies” in the UNLV Catalog for university-wide policies related to “Class Attendance” and “Missed Work,” especially as they apply to religious holidays and official extra-curricular events. Other exceptions must be approved by your instructor. Coming to class late or leaving early may be counted as partial absences. Writing projects based on the Composition Program learning outcomes and the UNLV Undergraduate Learning Outcome (UULOs) for Communication. To pass the course, you must complete all writing projects. In-class activities, which includes reading assignments; class discussions; writing workshops; collaborative exercises and peer response sessions; and informal writing, such as journal entries, drafts, responses, and quizzes. You are required to actively participate in all in-class activities. Midterm and final reflections which will allow you to review your progress though the course. 3 Grades Your final grade for the course will be figured according to the following method: Writing Project 1: The Research Plan Writing Project 2: The Critical Annotated Bibliography Writing Project 3: The Research-Based Argument Draft and Final Research Journals Daily Performance and Participation Final (Reflective Letter) Total 15% 20% 25% 20% 15% 5% 100% Overview of Major Assignments Research Journals Throughout the semester, you will write frequently about your research process. These journals help you to document the choices you make in your research process and to practice some of the skills needed to complete the major writing projects. Research journal topics will vary from week to week, and explicit instructions will be provided for each journal entry. Writing Project 1: The Research Plan The first major writing assignment is a research plan. The purpose of this assignment is to explore a topic of your choice and express your thoughts and ideas about the topic as well as the possibility of counterarguments. By completing this assignment, you will be able to: Identify a significant question, topic, or issue appropriate for a rhetorical response Develop an initial research question to inquire into the proposed issue Propose and justify a research plan to address the research question and locate relevant sources Summarize and paraphrase background information sources Apply standard genre conventions for a proposal including structure, design, formatting, language usage, citations, and mechanics Writing Project 2: The Critical Annotated Bibliography The second assignment is to write a critical annotated bibliography consisting of a two-page research proposal and annotations of five academic-level sources. By completing this assignment, you will be able to: Design, implement, and articulate a research process to investigate a significant issue Locate and evaluate sources for credibility and relevance to the issue Apply genre conventions for an annotated bibliography including structure, formatting, language usage, and mechanics Compose a text using the writing process by drafting, reviewing, collaborating, revising, and editing Writing Project 3: The Research-Based Argument Draft and Final This third assignment is an 8-10 page argumentative research paper. Students must submit at least five completed pages as a working draft; students who do not submit a rough draft will 4 earn a 20-point deduction on the final argumentative research paper. By completing this assignment, you will be able to: Develop an argumentative thesis that articulates a position on a significant issue Use evidence from research to provide relevant background information, examples, and counter-arguments Employ strategies of argumentation including making a claim, supporting claims with evidence, and identifying and engaging with alternative perspectives Attribute and cite sources using signaling phrases, in-text citations, and a works cited page Apply genre conventions for a research-based argumentative essay including structure, design, formatting, language usage, and mechanics Compose a text using the writing process by drafting, reviewing, collaborating, revising, and editing Please remember that grades are not rewards for class attendance and participation. They are symbols used to represent the level of proficiency you have achieved in mastering the course objectives as evidenced in your work. You should not expect an A for merely completing the work assigned. More information about UNLV grade policies can be found under “Student Classifications.” Letter Grades 4.0 Scale A AB+ B BC+ C CD+ D DF 4 3.7 3.3 3 2.7 2.3 2 1.7 1.3 1 0.7 0 Level of Percentage Proficiency Scale % Indicated 94-100 Superior 90-93 87-89 Above 84-86 average 80-83 77-79 74-76 Average 70-73 67-69 Below 64-66 average 60-63 0-59 Failing 5 Instructor Policies Technology: We recognize that laptops are a fact of life; however, using them inappropriately in class can be disruptive for others. It should go without saying that doing other online activities during class—emailing, texting, web browsing—is not appropriate. So please use them only when absolutely needed. Also, please be sure your cellphone is muted during the class except during breaks. Breakfast: While it is an early class, and you are allowed to bring breakfast to class, please make sure that you finish your breakfast as soon as possible, preferably in the first 5 minutes of the class (beverages are exempted). You do not want to go into a discussion with your mouth full. Late submission policy: While theoretically, in order to pass this course, one should submit all the assignments before the due dates, we do recognize that there are certain unpredictable factors that might result in one’s inability to do so. Therefore, for all the major assignments, any submission within 72 hours after the deadline will be considered a late submission. As a punishment, the assignment will be downgraded by one letter (e.g., A- to B-). Any submission beyond 72 hours will not be considered as a submission and you will automatically fail this assignment by that point. Campus Policies and Resources Last Date to Drop: March 29th is the final date to drop or withdraw from the course without a grade being recorded. No withdrawals will be permitted after this date. Academic Misconduct—Academic integrity is a legitimate concern for every member of the campus community; all share in upholding the fundamental values of honesty, trust, respect, fairness, responsibility, and professionalism. By choosing to join the UNLV community, students accept the expectations of the Student Academic Misconduct Policy and are encouraged when faced with choices to always take the ethical path. An example of academic misconduct is plagiarism. Plagiarism is using the words or ideas of another, from the Internet or any source, without proper citation of the sources. See the Student Academic Misconduct Policy (approved December 9, 2005) located at: https://www.unlv.edu/studentconduct/student-conduct. Copyright—The University requires all members of the University Community to familiarize themselves with and to follow copyright and fair use requirements. You are individually and solely responsible for violations of copyright and fair use laws. The university will neither protect nor defend you, nor assume any responsibility for employee or student violations of fair use laws. Violations of copyright laws could subject you to federal and state civil penalties and criminal liability, as well as disciplinary action under University policies. Additional information can be found at: http://www.unlv.edu/provost/copyright. Disability Resource Center (DRC)—The UNLV Disability Resource Center (SSC-A 143, http://drc.unlv.edu/, 702-895-0866) provides resources for students with disabilities. If you feel that you have a disability, please make an appointment with a Disabilities Specialist at the DRC to discuss what options may be available to you. If you are registered with the UNLV Disability Resource Center, bring your Academic Accommodation Plan from the DRC to the instructor 6 during office hours so that you may work together to develop strategies for implementing the accommodations to meet both your needs and the requirements of the course. Any information you provide is private and will be treated as such. To maintain the confidentiality of your request, please do not approach the instructor in front of others to discuss your accommodation needs. Final Examinations—The University requires that final exams given at the end of a course occur at the time and on the day specified in the final exam schedule. See the schedule at: http://www.unlv.edu/registrar/calendars. Incomplete Grades—The grade of I—Incomplete—can be granted when a student has satisfactorily completed three-fourths of course work for that semester/session but for reason(s) beyond the student’s control, and acceptable to the instructor, cannot complete the last part of the course, and the instructor believes that the student can finish the course without repeating it. The incomplete work must be made up before the end of the following regular semester for undergraduate courses. If course requirements are not completed within the time indicated, a grade of F will be recorded and the GPA will be adjusted accordingly. Students who are fulfilling an Incomplete do not register for the course but make individual arrangements with the instructor who assigned the I grade. Library Resources—Students may consult with a subject librarian on research needs: https://www.library.unlv.edu/contact/librarians_by_subject. UNLV Libraries provides resources to support students’ access to information. Discovery, access, and use of information are vital skills for academic work and for successful post-college life. Access library resources and ask questions at https://www.library.unlv.edu/. Rebelmail—By policy, faculty and staff should e-mail students’ Rebelmail accounts only. Rebelmail is UNLV’s official e-mail system for students. It is one of the primary ways students receive official university communication such as information about deadlines, major campus events, and announcements. All UNLV students receive a Rebelmail account after they have been admitted to the university. Students’ e-mail prefixes are listed on class rosters. The suffix is always @unlv.nevada.edu. Emailing within WebCampus is acceptable. Religious Holidays Policy—Any student missing class quizzes, examinations, or any other class or lab work because of observance of religious holidays shall be given an opportunity during that semester to make up missed work. The make-up will apply to the religious holiday absence only. It shall be the responsibility of the student to notify the instructor within the first 14 calendar days of the course for fall and spring courses (excepting modular courses), or within the first 7 calendar days of the course for summer and modular courses, of his or her intention to participate in religious holidays which do not fall on state holidays or periods of class recess. For additional information, please visit: http://catalog.unlv.edu/content.php?catoid=6&navoid=531. Transparency in Learning and Teaching—The University encourages application of the transparency method of constructing assignments for student success. Please see these two links for further information: https://www.unlv.edu/provost/teachingandlearning https://www.unlv.edu/provost/transparency Tutoring and Coaching—The Academic Success Center (ASC) provides tutoring, academic success coaching and other academic assistance for all UNLV undergraduate students. For 7 information regarding tutoring subjects, tutoring times, and other ASC programs and services, visit http://www.unlv.edu/asc or call 702-895-3177. The ASC building is located across from the Student Services Complex (SSC). Academic success coaching is located on the second floor of SSC A (ASC Coaching Spot). Drop-in tutoring is located on the second floor of the Lied Library and College of Engineering TBE second floor. UNLV Writing Center—One-on-one or small group assistance with writing is available free of charge to UNLV students at the Writing Center, located in CDC-3-301. Although walk-in consultations are sometimes available, students with appointments will receive priority assistance. Appointments may be made in person or by calling 702-895-3908. The student’s Rebel ID Card, a copy of the assignment (if possible), and two copies of any writing to be reviewed are requested for the consultation. See more information at http://writingcenter.unlv.edu/.
