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Writing for the Environment 398 V
Fall 2015
Ann Bracken
EngL 398V
Class Sections
Sec. 0601: MW,
2-3:15 pm TWS 0207
English
Sec. 0701: MW,
3:30-4:45pm
TWS 1105
“The old Lakota was wise. He knew that man's heart, away from nature, becomes hard;
he knew that lack of respect for growing, living things soon led to lack of respect for
humans too.” - Luther Standing Bear
Required Text
Pocket Style Manual. Diana Hacker.
ISBN: 9780312664800
Recommended texts:
A good print dictionary and
thesaurus (American Heritage or
Oxford editions)
Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for
Every Writer. Roy Peter Clark. 2006
(may be purchased through Amazon
or other retailers; not ordered
through bookstore)
Web Resources: You will find
useful (and in some cases essential)
information and links at:
Contact Information
https://www.elms.umd.edu
Email: abracken@umd.edu
www.engl-pw.umd.edu
(the
John Dewey
Professional Writing Program’s
homepage)
Office: Tawes 1234
www.lib.umd.edu (the University’s
library homepage)
Instructor: Ann Bracken
Office hours by
appointment: Monday and
Wednesday, 11:30-1:00pm
owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/ (the
Online Writing Lab at Purdue
University)
“Humankind has not woven the web of life. We
are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to
the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound
together. All things connect.”
~Chief Seattle, 1855
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Lorem Ipsum
Course Objectives
In this advanced composition course,
you will practice the writing skills you
will need to use in the workforce.
Employers consistently say that strong
writing skills are of paramount
importance when they evaluate
potential candidates. It is no wonder,
for you will need to produce
professional quality documents, such as
Course objectives for 398V
resumes, reports, memoranda, and emails, the quality of which reflects on
you and your employer. As such, I will
expect all of your communication with
“The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is
no cure for curiosity.” ~Ellen Parr
me to reflect professional formats and
conventions, including email.
This is a studio course, which
means that much of the work that
NO CELL PHONE (including
we will do will occur during class.
texting, browsing, or emailing) or
Expect to attend class every day, to
laptop use in the classroom.
write and rewrite your papers, and
As a professional courtesy and to help
create a collegial and respectful
environment, cell phones and other
electronic equipment MUST remain
turned off during class time. If you have
a special situation (such as illness in the
family or babysitters that may need to
contact you in case of an emergency),
let me know. There is not a great deal
of lecture/note taking in the class, so
you will not have need of a laptop in
class. If needed, I will let you know
ahead of time.
You can drink beverages during class,
but only water in a closed container in
2 the computer lab. Please do not eat
during class.
to read and comment on the writing
of your classmates. You can expect
to:
Analyze a variety of professional
rhetorical situations and produce
appropriate texts, adapting the text
to the knowledge base of the
audience.
Produce persuasive texts that reflect
the degree of available evidence and
take into account counter
arguments.
Understand and practice the skills
needed to produce competent,
professional writing including
planning, drafting, revising and
editing.
Identify and implement appropriate
research methods for each writing
task.
Practice the ethical use of sources
and the conventions of citation
appropriate in your field.
Improve competence in Standard
Written English (including
grammar, sentence and paragraph
structure, coherence and document
design) and use this knowledge to
revise texts.
Honor Pledge
You will be asked to write and
sign the Honor Pledge, a statement
of integrity, on each of the four
formal papers you turn in for this
class. For Professional Writing, the
Honor Pledge is as follows:
“I pledge on my honor that I have
not given or received any
unauthorized (or unacknowledged)
assistance on this assignment.”
Moreover, I have not taken or
‘borrowed’ the ideas or words of
another without properly citing that
source.”
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Paper Submission
Requirements (read carefully
and consult frequently)
You will notice that the assignment
schedule includes two dates for the
major written assignments. These
dates reflect draft and final versions.
Observe the following requirements
for final versions, unless other
requirements are specified on the
assignment sheet.
a. Assignments must be computer
generated, font size 12, single or
double spaced, as appropriate for
the genre of writing.
b. Your name and assignment name
must appear on a title page, page
number on every page.
c. All assignments must be titled
appropriately (the assignment
number or name is not an
appropriate title!).
d. Keep a back-up copy of all
submitted papers with hard copies
of the grading rubrics.
Failure to meet technical
requirements will likely result in a
grade deduction penalty. Substantial
failure may result in a grade of F
with no possibility of revision.
e. Staple all work of two pages or
greater. I will also accept paperclipped work, but not loose
papers.
f. Supply all the materials required
for the assignment on the due date.
g. Use a standard method of source
documentation. Sources listed
must match sources cited or
points will be deducted from
final grade.
h. Unless otherwise indicated, you
must hand in a paper copy of the
assignment.
i. Spell check the document.
j. You will submit an electronic
portfolio of all of your major papers
at the end of the semester, along
with comment sheets.
POLICY ON MAJOR PAPERS
Major papers are due within the first 10 minutes of class on the dates
specified. Major papers turned in late on the assigned due date will be
penalized 1⁄2 letter grade.
LATE PAPERS: If you must hand a paper in late, you must also contact me
the day the paper is due so that I know when to expect your paper and we can
make arrangements for delivery (whether you’ll give it to me in class or deliver
it to my office, etc.). NB: I do not accept papers via email.
1. Late papers will receive a one- letter grade deduction for each class
day they are late.
2. A paper more than two class days late will receive a grade of zero,
without possibility of revision.
3. Papers more than one week late will NOT be accepted and will receive a
ZERO.
4. If you know you will be absent on the day an assignment is due, and the
absence is officially excused by the university, it is your responsibility to
get the paper to me before the deadline.
5. Under the conditions in #4 above, I will accept an emailed copy of the
assignment as long as it is emailed to me at the beginning of the class you are
missing. Otherwise, the paper will be considered late and will receive a grade
deduction.
Policy on Homework
Homework is due the next class after it
is assigned and may not be made up
unless you have an excused absence. If
you have an excused absence, the
homework is due in an email timestamped for the beginning of class and
a hard-copy the next class-meeting day,
along with a university approved
absence explanantion. All homework
assignments are to be typed and
double-spaced and then stapled or
paper-clipped. I do not accept pages
torn out of notebooks, loose papers, or
late homework.
Grading Your grade for this course
will be based on four formal writing
assignments, less formal writing
assignments assigned for homework or
in class, including a paper proposal,
participation in class, and participation
in draft workshops, which will coincide
with the four formal assignments.
Because this course is designed to help
you write for the professional world, I
have provided both an academic and a
“business-friendly” definition of letter
grades. Written assignments and
performances will be evaluated and
grades assigned descriptions outlined
below.
Office Hours
Please avail yourself of my help
during office hours. To facilitate
appropriate and detailed feedback, I
require that you email your
document 24 hrs. ahead of our
appointment. In this way, I can
provide more reflective comments.
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Definition of Grades & Class Participation
Engl 391, Spring 2014
ACADEMIC DEFINITION OF GRADES/BUSINESS-FRIENDLY DEFINITION OF GRADES
A= Superior, excellent scholarship. Work is ready to be published both internally and externally. Needs only a few very
minor edits (a word deleted or a comma inserted, etc.) A supervisor would be excited by this piece, thrilled even, and accept
it eagerly. Related to this, the piece fully accommodates the specific audience, and there are no questions concerning
readership. The research is thorough and of high quality; quotes are integrated smoothly; attention to detail is evident.
B= Above average, good mastery of subject and scholarship. Work is high quality, and a supervisor would ask you to revise
it again and resubmit it. Supervisor feels strongly or hopes that one more edit might put the piece into his “yes” pile. An
editor probably would be able to publish the piece and would gladly work with you again.
C= Average, but not quite there in quality and scholarship. Work needs revision. Supervisor feels this piece would work
only after several edits. Usually editing is needed in several areas – for example, punctuation, audience accommodation,
inadequate research, poor citation, and content issues. Supervisor would not accept the piece for distribution in its current
incarnation and may suggest you take a course to brush up on your skills.
D= Borderline, does not meet the requirements of the assignment. Same as above, only the piece has a major flaw, or
several major flaws. For example, the audience is all wrong for this particular piece, the research is skimpy, and there are
numerous wording and grammar errors. Supervisor would not accept this as a finished product and may put you on notice
and demand you take an English refresher course.
F= Failure to demonstrate understanding of the subject and unsatisfactory performance. Supervisor would not accept this
and would not work with you again.
Minus (e.g. A-)
Plus (e.g. A+)
A
90 to 93.9
94 to 96.9
97 and above
B
80 to 83.9
84 to 86.9
87 to 89.9
C
70 to 73.9
74 to 76.9
77 to 79.9
D
60 to 63.9
64 to 66.9
67 to 69.9
Class Participation
Each week, you will receive a grade for participation. This grade will reflect your presence in class, your involvement in class
discussion, the level of thoroughness and thoughtfulness in your answers, and the degree of respect and maturity you show
in communicating with others. Students who are present and on time, involved in discussion, thoughtful and thorough in
their answers, and respectful and mature in their interactions will receive high grades in class participation. Students who are
frequently absent or late, text or talk during class, do not participate in discussions, are not prepared to answer questions,
and/or do not comport themselves respectfully and maturely will receive low marks for participation. Computer/laptop,
and or cell phone use--including texting, perusing web, and checking email--will result in a participation grade of
zero for that class period.
“Our economy is based on spending billions to persuade people that
happiness is buying things, and then insisting that the only way to have a
viable economy is to make things for people to buy so they’ll have jobs and get
enough money to buy things.”
Philip Slater quotes
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Course Policies and Procedures:
Clear, open and consistent communication is an essential part of any undergraduate level course. This includes
communication between the instructor and students, as well as among students. Additionally, having clear understandings and
expectations for one another is crucial. Therefore, I have developed the following rights and responsibilities for us to honor:
As a student, you have the right to expect that:
·
All members of our class community will be treated cordially and respectfully.
Your submitted work will be evaluated and returned promptly.
·
Your work will be graded based on criteria that you receive in advance. These criteria will be as objective and transparent as
possible, but please acknowledge that grading is ultimately a subjective exercise.
·
Your peers will exchange papers with you within the agreed-upon timeframe, and will bring your papers to class on workshop
days.
·
Your peers will read and respond to your written work thoughtfully and thoroughly.
·
I will be responsive to questions and concerns, and will respond to emails promptly (usually within 24 weekday hours).
As the course instructor, I have the right to expect that you will:
Devote the necessary time to fulfill the course requirements. In general, undergraduate writing courses may require as much
as 3 hours of outside coursework per every hour spent in the classroom, especially when a major assignment is due.
Take responsibility for your learning by staying actively engaged, attending all classes, and consistently checking UMD email
and Canvas.
If you have an emergency or professional obligations that will impact your attendance, please contact me immediately.
Maintain professional decorum in all interactions including emails.
Accept that learning is a process that sometimes feels uncomfortable. The feedback you receive is part of the instructor’s
professional obligation and is designed to promote growth. I will be glad to discuss pressing concerns about grades (at an
agreed upon time, NOT via email), but be advised that grades are not negotiated. (Adapted from Linda Krakour).
FORMAT
The format for assignments will vary, it will always be assignment-specific, and you will be expected to follow the format
required by each assignment. Submissions that do not follow these formatting guidelines will be penalized.
Before each assignment is due, we will hold peer review-draft workshops in class. You must email me a completed draft,
with all required elements, by 9 am on the day of peer review. You must bring a polished and completed draft that
meets all of the requirements of that particular paper assignment. You will exchange papers with a classmate and you
will comment on the writing of your classmate. I will distribute peer review sheets to guide your constructive criticism. These
sheets will be turned in with the final draft of your paper and will be graded.
As part of your Narrative Presentation, assignment, you will make a short PowerPoint presentation to the class during the last
week of the semester. You may also be required to make a brochure or hand-deliverable for your intended audience.
Assignments and Grade Breakdown
 Topic Memo/Audience Analysis, 20%: an approximately four to six page, research-based paper that explores two
possible topics as well as a likely audience for your final proposal. You will explore the one of your chosen topics
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throughout the semester in the Rogerian Argument and the Narrative/Executive Summary
 Cover Letter and Resume, 20%, you will conduct an audience analysis for an actual job for which you are currently
qualified to perform and compose a resume and cover letter suitable for the prospective employer.
 Rogerian Argument Essay, 20%: an approximately five page, double spaced essay exploring two sides of an issue and
attempting to find common ground from which to propose a solution. This kind of argument focuses on what two
sides can agree on to help them move forward. This assignment will focus on effective use of research, introductions,
transitions, and conclusions.
 Narrative Presentation/Executive Summary, 25%: Your narrative will feature a character who is dealing with your
identified issue. In addition, you will explore some of the problems associated with the issue and present the
audience-based solution. You may use notes, but you may not read the narrative. You will illustrate key points of the
narrative with an approximately 7- slide PowerPoint presentation that uses principles of Presentation Zen. In
addition, you will provide a research-based executive summary for the intended audience.
 Participation, in-class projects and writing, homework, peer reviews, reading responses: 15%
The Professional Writing Program requires each student to compose approximately 25 pages of original writing (6,250 words);
the assignments for this course are in compliance with this page requirement.
Diversity: The University of Maryland values the diversity of its student body. Along with the University, I am committed to
providing a classroom atmosphere that encourages the equitable participation of all students regardless of age, disability,
ethnicity, gender, national origin, race, religion, or sexual orientation. Potential devaluation of students in the classroom that
can occur by reference to demeaning stereotypes of any group and/or overlooking the contributions of a particular group to
the topic under discussion is inappropriate.
Attendance and Participation
The writing you will do in English 391 will be based on skills you will develop and hone in class; for that reason, your
attendance and participation will have a direct effect on your work and, ultimately, your grades.
To be prepared to participate, you must complete all course readings before coming to class. You are expected to participate in
class discussions, to be able to respond to questions posed to you, to have drafts when they are due, and to complete in-class
writing. There may be unannounced reading quizzes based on the assigned chapters.
Regarding attention and participation, recent research from three studies concluded the following: “These classroom-based
studies show that students often find the presence of these devices to be distracting—whether because having the devices in
class makes it more likely that students will engage in activities such as texting or online social networking, or because students
find themselves distracted by their peers’ use of devices to type, text, play games, or “surf” the
internet”(http://teachingcenter.wustl.edu/Journal/Reviews/Pages/Research-In-Class-Devices.aspx#.UynZsYWhGf8)
Below are the policies on unexcused and excused absences, as well as tardiness. Please note that missing more than two
weeks’ worth of class for any reason may result in a zero for the participation portion of your grade and may
jeopardize your overall course grade. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to find out what you’ve missed. Missing more
than two weeks of class will make catching up difficult, if not impossible.
Late Arrivals: In the professional world tardiness is not tolerated. However, this campus is large, and another instructor may
keep you late. So if you do arrive late on occasion, do not disrupt class, and let me know by the end of the schedule
adjustment period if you anticipate ongoing conflicts. Persistent tardiness will be reflected in your participation grade and
points will be deducted. More than two late arrivals equals one unexcused absence. Showing up on peer
review/workshop days with incomplete documents constitutes an absence as does showing up for a conference
without the required written material. Not showing up for a conference counts as two absences, as we take two class
days off as compensatory time. There is nowhere to print on peer review/workshop days, so please be on time and
print out your documents ahead of time. Remember that it is your responsibility to catch up on your own time, not
the class’s.
Absences for religious observance require emailed notification 48 hours prior to holyday.
Due Dates
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Both workshop and due dates must be respected. Extensions are awarded for documented medical reasons only. For a
workshop in a non-computer classroom, there is no ability to print, so if you are having trouble with your printer, print out the
paper in the library.
Commenting on Drafts: During peer review, you may make an appointment in class and I will offer comments on each of
your assignment drafts, but because of the quick turnaround time between draft due dates and final due dates, my comments
are not extensive, nor will they indicate every aspect of improvement or strength of a particular paper. The comments are
guides only. For more in-depth assistance, please visit me during office hours.
Discussion: Preparation for discussion is expected. This means that you must not only read assigned material but must also
think about it, formulate questions, consider alternatives, and be prepared to make suggestions.
Peer Review Workshops: Workshops are designed to improve writing skills. This means that you are expected to
thoughtfully read classmates’ work and offer constructive criticism. Polite approval of another’s work is a waste of your time
and does not help your classmate. Polite suggestions do. You will submit your draft document via email attachment in a word
document by 9am on all days when peer review is scheduled. Please respect your peers and be sure to bring a to class
completed draft, with all required elements. Be on time since I assign partners at the beginning of class.
For all absences, excused and unexcused, please provide a handwritten note explaining your reason for the absence. In
addition, you may provide university documentation in the form of a health center or doctor’s note as warranted.
The Bottom Line
To pass this class: 
Complete all assignments. You may not skip an assignment and then take a lower grade. 
Attend class regularly (no more than 3 unexcused absences). 
Come to class on time. This is essential for a twice-a-week class. 
Provide constructive feedback for and assist your peers. 
Read all assignments and be prepared to respond orally or in writing.
Participate in class discussions.
Unexcused Absences. You may take up to one week’s worth of no-questions-asked absences (2 days) per semester for both
the expected (i.e., being the best man in your brother’s wedding) and the unexpected (i.e., a flat tire).
If you take a no-questions-asked absence, however, you are still responsible for whatever material was covered in class.
If a major scheduled grading event (assignment due, in-class workshop/peer review, presentation) is scheduled for that class
period, and you don’t show up and don’t have a university-sanctioned excuse (see below) then you will lose the points for that
activity.
Excused Absences. The University excuses absences for your own illness or the illness of an immediate family member, for
your participation in university activities at the request of University authorities, for religious observance, and for compelling
circumstance beyond your control. Documentation is required for all excused absences. If you have an anticipated excused
absence, you must let me know in writing by the end of the schedule adjustment period or at least two weeks in advance.
Absence for one class due to your own illness: The university requires that you provide me a self-signed note attesting to the date of
your illness, with an acknowledgment that the information provided is true. Providing false information to University officials
is prohibited and may result in disciplinary action. The Health Center has an online form
(http://www.health.umd.edu/sites/default/files/Class%20Excuse110.pdf).
Absence from more than one class because of the same illness: You must provide written documentation of the illness from the health
care provider who made the diagnosis. No diagnostic information shall be given. The provider must verify dates of treatment
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and indicate the time frame during which you were unable to meet academic responsibilities.
Non-consecutive medically necessitated absences from more than a single class: Such absences may be excused provided you submit written
documentation for each absence as described above, verifying the dates of treatment and time frame during which you were
unable to meet your academic responsibilities. However, as also noted above, if you miss too many classes—even if excused—
though you are technically eligible to make up the work, in practice students are rarely able to do so.
Making Up Work
Timeliness is important in making up work. If you have an excused absence, please make arrangements with me as soon as
possible to complete the assignment(s) you have missed during your absence.
Revision Policy
You are not permitted to rewrite your papers after they are due. In addition to proofreading aloud you are encouraged,
however, to write and rewrite your papers several times BEFORE they are due. You should plan on consulting with your
peers during peer review, with me during and outside of class, and with tutors in the Writing Center to facilitate this revision.
Academic Integrity and Honor Pledge
Plagiarism, whether it is submitting someone else’s work as your own, submitting your own work completed for another class
without my permission, or otherwise violating the
University’s Code of Academic Integrity will not be tolerated. You are expected to understand the University’s policies
regarding academic integrity. These can be found at the Student Honor Council website at
www.studenthonorcouncil.umd.edu. Please visit this website, click on the “students” link, and read the information carefully.
Diversity
The University of Maryland values the diversity of its student body. Along with the University, I am committed to providing a
classroom atmosphere that encourages the equitable participation of all students regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender,
national origin, race, religion, or sexual orientation. Potential devaluation of students in the classroom that can occur by
reference to demeaning stereotypes of any group and/or overlooking the contributions of a particular group to the topic
under discussion is inappropriate.
Disability Support Services
If you have a registered disability that will require accommodation, please see me immediately. If you have a disability and
have not yet registered it with Disability Support Services in the Shoemaker Building (301-314-7682 or 301-405-7683), you
should do so immediately.
Email Correspondence
I will respond to your emails within 24 hours. I do not check my UM email account on the weekends so if you send me an
email at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, I have until 5:30 p.m. on Monday to respond to you. Because this is a class that focuses on using
professional writing in a variety of contexts, you will be expected to follow professional conventions in your email
correspondence with me. Please use a salutation, a brief, well-constructed message, and a closing in all of your email. In
addition, please be mindful of using correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation. The email you send to friends and family is
different from the email required in a professional setting; this is your opportunity to hone your skills.
Canvas
Course documents (syllabus, paper assignments, etc.) will be posted on the course blog at the university’s Canvas website
(www.elms.umd.edu) If you misplace any of the documents distributed during a class session, you will be able to get
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replacements via Canvas. It is your responsibility to keep up with handouts and assignments if you are absent.
The Writing Center
The Writing Center is located at 1205 Tawes Hall (301-405-3785). It is a great resource to help improve your writing in order
to better present your ideas. As is true with any resource, it will be most useful to you if you have done some thoughtful
preparation before your tutoring appointment. Make sure to bring your assignment sheet in addition to your draft to the
tutoring appointment. Note that Writing Center tutors do not give out grade judgments or predictions, nor do they proofread.
Do not, for example, ask them whether your paper “will get an A.” They will give you advice and feedback, but you must
evaluate all of this advice and feedback for yourself before turning in your paper. Final responsibility for the paper rests with
you, not with them.
Course Evaluations
Your participation in the evaluation of courses through CourseEvalUM is a responsibility you hold as a student member of
our academic community. Your feedback is confidential and important to the improvement of teaching and learning at the
University as well as to the tenure and promotion process. CourseEvalUM will be open for you to complete your evaluations
at the end of the semester. Please go directly to the website www.courseevalum.umd.edu to complete your evaluations. By
completing all of your evaluations each semester, you will have the privilege of accessing online, at Testudo, the evaluation
reports for the thousands of courses for which 70% or more students submitted their evaluations. In addition, the
Professional Writing Program uses its own evaluation for each of its courses. I will distribute this evaluation to you during the
last two weeks of class.
Paper and Electronic Portfolios
After I hand back your formal writing assignments with my comments and your grade, it is your responsibility to keep these
papers, along with my written comment sheets, in a safe place in case you wish to discuss the paper with me. Additionally,
please keep all final drafts of papers in an electronic portfolio (folder) because you will be required to turn these papers into
me with the final draft of your fourth paper. You will also need to turn in the paper copies of the comment sheets I wrote for
each paper. This portfolio helps me to see your progress over the course of the semester as I determine your final course
grade.
Copyright notice: Class lectures and other materials are copyrighted and they may not be reproduced for anything other than
personal use without written permission from the instructor.
Final Note
If you have any questions about this course, its policies or procedures, the writing assignments, etc., do not hesitate to come
and speak with me. I look forward to our work together this semester.
Calendar of Assignments (due dates and assignment details posted in Canvas)
This calendar is subject to change. Any changes will be announced in class, and students are responsible for keeping up with such changes. Consult
Canvas site for full details in modules, assignments, and calendar. Assignments are to be completed by the date indicated on the calendar in Canvas
and on the assignment sheets. .
Week 1: Course Introduction and Principles, Letter of Introduction and Syllabus reflection due, Rhetorical Triangle, Canvas
organization
Week 2: Style Tools, Topic Selection, Memos
Week 3: Rhetorical Analysis and Analyzing Arguments, Discuss Plagiarism
Week 4: Review Attributive Tags, Rhetorical Analysis and TRACE Grid w/ Moyers
Week 5: Topic Memo Due, Begin Cover Letter/Resume Assignment
Week 6: Cover Letter and Resume Workshops
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Week 7: Peer review of cover letter/resume, final draft of cover letter/resume, begin Rogerian Argument Assignment
Week 8: Rogerian Argument, Practice with Attributive Tags
Week 9: Class discussion of projects, audiences, research; building a bridge with language
Week 10: Peer review of Rogerian Argument, Final Rogerian Argument, intro to proposal
Week11: Presentation Zen, narrative and images
Week 12: Peer review for final assignment, conferences with instructor on Wednesday
Week 13: No class: conferences with instructor Monday and Wednesday
Week14: Wrap-up proposal, Proposal and Narrative due; final presentations in class Week 15: Final presentations in class
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