LA SALLE UNIVERSITY
ENGLISH 108
WRITING II
DR. LEHR
SPRING 2006
DESCRIPTION and OBJECTIVES
English 108 is the second of a two-part sequence designed to introduce students to college writing.
The objectives, according to the “Revised Guidelines for the Freshmen Writing Program,” are as
follows:
 summarize, analyze, and critique readings;

write organized, coherent, and full developed essays;

become further acquainted with organizational strategies for presenting essays;

improve proficiency in the areas of sentence and paragraph level development, grammatical
correctness, and stylistic variety;

understand the research process and develop skills in using sources and documentation

learn techniques for evaluating Internet materials.
TEXTS AND MATERIALS
Required:
Ruszkiewicz, John, et. al. Bookmarks: A Guide to Research and Writing. 3rd
edition. NY: Longman Publishers, 2006 (Bmarks)
Duplicated materials ($2.00 fee)
Recommended:
Hacker, Diana. A Pocket Style Manual. 4th edition. NY: Bedford Books, 2004.
CLASSES AND CONFERENCES
Classes meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:00 to 3:15 in Olney 109. Occasionally, conferences will
be substituted for a class. If you are unable to attend a class or conference, please try to notify me in
advance. Keep in mind a missed conference is equivalent to a missed class. Thus, you will be marked absent if
you do not see me to make up a missed conference.
During the class time we will discuss the assigned readings, evaluate papers, and work in small groups.
Since this course is a workshop, participation is essential. Therefore, come prepared to each class with
your textbook and all of your assignment completed. (Without a required textbook, you are unprepared
and, thus, will be marked absent.)In class, courteous participation is essential. Therefore, turn off all
cell phones, leave food and beverages outside, and refrain from talking to another student while the
instructor or your classmates are speaking.
ATTENDANCE
Attendance is required for all classes and conferences. To participate fully, you must attend. Because
this class meets two times a week, to earn either an “A” or a “B” in participation, you can have no
more than two absences. More than four absences--whether from class or conference--will result in
an "F" for your participation grade. If for some reason, you must miss a class, please get the
assignment for the next class from another student, and notify me in advance if possible.
OFFICE, TELEPHONE, FAX, E-MAIL, AND MAILBOX
While conferences that replace classes are required, if you wish to meet with me additionally, you can
always come to my office (Olney 156) anytime and sign the sheet on the door for an appointment.
Office Hours: Monday: 8:30-11:30; Tuesday & Thursday: 8:30-9:15, 12:15-1:00; and
other times by appointment
Telephone:
951-5002; Fax: 951-1488 (Box 187); E-mail: lehr@lasalle.edu
Mailbox:
English Department (Olney 141)
ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADES
Short Papers–40%
Causal Analysis
Lit Review with Annotated Bibliography
Research Proposal
Synthesis (Comparison/Contrast)
10%
10%
10%
10%
These papers will range from 2-5 pages. There will be drafts required for each of them, which must be
attached to each final draft. All drafts must be kept in a portfolio and brought to conferences.
Late papers: With few exceptions, late papers will receive a lower grade.
Revisions:
Papers with split grades can be revised for the higher of the two grades, but
must be resubmitted within two weeks of the time the paper is returned.
Format:
On all papers, include your name, course, section, date, and the title of your
essay. All papers written outside of class must be printed from a
computer. All work in class and handwritten short assignments must be
Academic
Integrity:
done in either blue or black ink.
All work submitted must be your own. If you need help, please seek it from
your instructor or the Sheekey Writing Center. In preparing papers,
acknowledge all secondary sources consulted whether you actually quote or
paraphrase them or you just reviewed them. (Include a bibliography or
Works Cited page.) If you fail to abide by these rules, you will be guilty of
plagiarism, which will result in a Failure for the assignment and—if
consciously done— a Failure in the course. Additionally, students may be
referred to the University for further disciplinary action (see the Student
Handbook).
Research Paper–20% (a “final” draft and a revision: 7-8 pages with MLA formatting and
documentation)
Short Research Assignments–20%
(bibliography cards, notes, library literacy quiz, thesis with outline, documentation quiz/draft)
Oral Report–5% (a 5-10 minute presentation on your research topic, using at least one visual aid)
Participation–15%
SCHEDULE
Following is a tentative schedule of the topics, readings, and assignments along with their due dates.
Specific detailed directions for each assignment will be given in class. Some of these dates may change
throughout the semester, and some assignments may be added to or deleted from this schedule.
I.
II.
III.
IV.
Week
Tues. Jan. 17
Topics/Assignments
Introduction to Course; DIAGNOSTIC
(in-class)
Thurs. Jan. 19
Bmarks: Chap.1 “Starting Your Research
Project”; Subjects for research
Tues. Jan. 24
Analysis—Handout;
Bmarks: Chap. 2 “Finding a Topic”
Thurs. Jan. 26
CONFERENCES
Tues. Jan. 31
Library Orientation (meet in the Connelly Library
Classroom); Bmarks: Chapter 5 “Using Library
Resources”
Thurs. Feb. 2
DRAFT OF ANALYSIS (peer review)
CONFERENCES
Tues. Feb. 7
Choosing a Topic and Finding Background
Information (meet in Wister Classroom Lab); Bmarks:
Chapter 3 “Establishing a Purpose”
Thurs. Feb. 9
ANALYSIS; Selecting and Searching
Resources--(meet in Wister Classroom Lab) Bmarks:
Chapter 6 “Locating Online Researches” and
Chap. 8 “Keeping Track of Information”
V.
VI.
VII.
Tues. Feb. 14
Evaluating and Citing Sources (meet in
the Wister Classroom Lab); Bmarks: Chap. 10
“Evaluating Sources,” Chap. 11 “Reading and
Annotating Sources,” and Chap. 12
“Reviewing and Positioning Sources”
Thurs. Feb. 16
Bibliography Cards; DRAFT OF
LITERATURE REVIEW WITH
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Tues. Feb. 21
Library Literacy Quiz (Wister Classroom Lab)
Thurs. Feb. 23
LITERATURE REVIEW WITH
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY; Bmarks:
Chap. 4 “Planning Your Research Strategy”
Tues. Feb. 28
Note-taking; Bmarks: Chap. 13 “Summarizing
and Paraphrasing Sources” & Chap. 14
“Quoting Sources”
Thurs. Mar. 2
DRAFT OF RESEARCH PROPOSAL;
comparison-contrast—handout
[ MAR. 7 & 9 MID-SEMESTER HOLIDAY]
VIII. Tues. Mar. 14
RESEARCH PROPOSAL;
Bmarks: Chap. 15 “Reflecting on
What You Have” and Chap. 16 “Refining Your
Claim”
Thurs. Mar. 16
DRAFT OF COMPARISON-CONTRAST
SYNTHESIS (Peer Review); CONFERENCES
Tues. Mar. 21
Bmarks: Chap. 17 Organizing Your Project”;
Notes
Thurs. Mar. 23
COMPARISON-C0NTRAST SYNTHESIS;
CONFERENCES
Tues. Mar. 28
Thesis and Outline; Bmarks: Chap. 18
IX.
X.
“Drafting Your Project”
XI.
XII.
Thurs. Mar. 30
CONFERENCES
Tues. Apr. 4
Bmarks: Chap. 19 “Revising Your Project and
Reviewing Documentation” and Chap. 24
“MLA Documentation”
Thurs. Apr. 6
DRAFT OF RESEARCH PAPER
Tues. Apr. 11
CONFERENCES
Thurs. Apr.13
CONFERENCES
XIII. Tues. Apr. 18
XIV
Rev. 01-10-06
RESEARCH PAPER; Chap. 21 “Preparing
Oral and Visual Presentations”;
Documentation Quiz
Thurs. Apr. 20
ORAL REPORTS
Tues. Apr. 25
ORAL REPORTS
Thurs. Apr. 27
ORAL REPORTS
[May 1-5
RESEARCH PAPER REVISED]