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WR 121: English Composition: Introduction to Academic Writing (OER)
SAMPLE SYLLABUS
Lane Community College
Division of Language, Literature & Communication
Tues., Thurs.: 12:00-01:50 (4 credit hours)
Winter 2013
Instructor: Polina Kroik, PhD
E-mail: kroikp@lanecc.edu
Office Hours: Tues. 2:00-3:00 and by appointment.
Office: CEN 436
Prerequisite: Appropriate scores on Lane's Writing Placement Test or a passing grade (C- or better) in WR
115.
Required Texts and Materials:
· Access to the Internet: This is a textbook-free course! All of the readings and many of the assignments
will be available online on the Moodle page. If you don’t have reliable internet access at home, plan to
spend the time needed to complete online work at a computer lab. You will also be asked to print many of
the readings in order to annotate them.
To access the Moodle page, go to http://classes.lanecc.edu. Log in with your L# and select our class
from the list.
• A spiral notebook or a binder for in-class writing and homework. Keep all your work and bring relevant materials to class.
Course Description: This fundamental course for all writing students introduces students to the conventions
of academic writing. It emphasizes defining and developing a significant topic and using principles of clear
thinking to support an assertive or argumentative thesis. Students will gain an understanding of their subject
matter, audience, purpose, and point of view, and demonstrate that understanding through the organization
and development of their essays. Students will learn how to analyze and evaluate other writers' work to
sharpen their critical abilities as readers and writers.
The course also introduces students to skills in source analysis, documentation, and beginning research
methods.
Course Objectives:
A. Engage in and value a respectful and free exchange of ideas.
B. Demonstrate critical thinking and reading skills of situations or challenging college-level texts:
• Read actively and rhetorically: engage with complex ideas in order to evaluate and interpret texts;
• Evaluate, use, and synthesize sources in support of the thesis, which may include primary and secondary
sources and those found in media-captured, electronic, live, and printed forms;
• Engage in the research process as part of an inquiry process.
C. Make appropriate and effective rhetorical choices during all stages of the writing process:
• Adopt a point of view, which takes into account voice, tone, and ethos, appropriate for a defined purpose and
audience;
• Choose strategies of development appropriate for the purpose and audience, which may include, narration,
cause/effect, description, comparison/contrast, classification, process, and definition.
D. Develop and Organize Essays:
• Develop essays through a flexible process of pre-drafting, planning, drafting, revising, and editing;
• Write at least one essay that demonstrates an understanding of the basic principles of argumentation;
• Develop support using methods that may include: adequate explanatory details, sensory and narrative detail,
dialogue, examples, illustrations, reasons, analogies, and forms of evidence such as summary and synthesis
of outside sources.
E. Begin to use the library and Internet resources to conduct research:
• Use a database and the Internet to locate information and evidence;
• Demonstrate an ability to summarize, paraphrase, and quote sources in a manner that distinguishes the
writer's voice from that of his/her sources.
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F. Effectively and correctly use accepted conventions and formatting:
• Demonstrate the ability to use Edited Standard Written English (ESWE) to address an academic audience;
• Type and format final drafts with appropriate headings, titles, spacing, margins, demonstrating an understanding of either MLA or APA citation style;
• Use the handbook or other resources for style, grammar, and citation.
Course Policies
Attendance and Participation
· Attendance is mandatory. Class attendance and participation counts for 15% of the final grade. You
should come to class prepared to discuss the assigned reading and make a substantial contribution to class
discussion, group assignments, and peer-review.
· You may miss up to three classes without an explanation. Missing more than three classes without documentation of an emergency will affect the final grade. In addition, you will not be able to earn participation
points on the days you are absent.
· Come to class on time. Late arrivals are disruptive to the course and will count as absences.
Class Conduct
· The use of cell phones, MP3 players, or other electronic devices is not allowed during class.
· You may use laptops only with permission from the instructor, and only for class assignments.
· Be respectful of everyone in the class.
· Students who engage in disruptive behavior or any form of conduct that interferes with instruction and learning will be asked to leave.
Grading
Formal Essays (60%)
Essay 1: 10%
Essay 2: 25%
Essay 3: 25%
Attendance and Participation: 15%
Homework Assignments (including online assignments): 15%
Quizzes and in-class writing: 10%
Late Work
· All assignments should be handed in on time. Late essays will be docked half a letter grade for each day
after the date on which they are due.
· Homework assignments, including online assignments, are due at the beginning of class and late work can
only receive partial credit and might not be accepted.
Online Assignments
· We will be using Moodle and the internet on a regular basis. Online assignments, such as forum posts,
count as regular homework assignments.
· If you don’t have regular access to the internet and might have trouble completing online assignments, you
should speak to the instructor as soon as possible.
Plagiarism
All work submitted in this course must be your own and must be written exclusively for this course. The use
of sources (ideas, quotations, paraphrases) must be properly attributed and cited. If you are found guilty of
plagiarism on an assignment, you will receive a zero for that assignment and may be referred to a judicial
advisor.
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Assignments
Formal Essays
You will be required to prepare a draft as well as a final version of your essay. While the draft does not receive a letter grade, the preparation of a substantial working draft and participation in peer-review count for
10% of the final grade of each essay. Preparatory work, peer-review, and revision also count toward your
homework assignments and informal writing grades. Formal essays and final drafts must be prepared on a
word processor and printed. Refer to Writing Matters for information on formatting your essay and citing
sources.
The successful essay will:
· draw on ideas from readings, discussion, or written assignments.
· develop a clear argument through concrete examples from the readings.
· be structured in a clear and logical manner.
· cite all sources in the MLA style, and use MLA formatting for the paper.
· show effort to use correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
Essay 1 (3-4 pages + Works Cited): (10%)
In this essay you will have a chance to draw on course readings as well as personal experience to develop an
argument about the meaning and importance of reading and writing.
Essay 2: (4-5 pages + Works Cited) (25%)
A formal academic essay, based on the course readings and discussion. A handout with instructions will be
provided.
Essay 3 (5-6 pages + Works Cited) (25%)
A formal academic essay, based on the course readings and discussion. A handout with instructions will be
provided.
Revision Policy
· Before the essay is graded, you will receive a great deal of feedback from your peers and will have a
chance to discuss your essay during class.
· In addition to your peer’s comments, you are encouraged to ask for feedback from the instructor by setting up an office hours appointment.
· The Writing Center in Academic Learning Skills Tutoring Center in Center Bldg. Room 210 can help you
with issues of grammar and formatting (http://www.lanecc.edu/llc/english/writingcenter/index.html).
· You are permitted to revise one of the graded essays by the end of the last day of class. The revision must
be substantial to be considered, and you must turn in the original graded essay.
Homework Assignments and in Class Writing
Good writing requires practice, and you will have frequent homework assignments and in class writing exercises. Most of these assignments do not have to be typewritten and will receive a “check”/+/- grade. You will
lose the most points by not handing in these assignments or spending too little time on them. Some assignments will receive a percentage grade and you will be notified when that will be the case.
Presentations
At least one individual presentation will be required. The presentation will be graded on content and the understanding of audience and purpose.
Teaching Method
Much of this course will be taught in the style of a workshop, where students share their work and help review
their peers’ writing. Students will be asked to work with others frequently and should come to class prepared
to contribute to group activities. Other modes of teaching will include short lectures, class discussion, and inclass writing.
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Office Hours and Email
I will be available during the scheduled office hours (see top of the first page) and by appointment. I respond
to e-mail messages about twice a week when the questions cannot be answered during office hours or in
class. I do not respond to e-mail the night before an assignment is due. Please follow the “Nettiquete” guidelines, posted on the Moodle page, when sending e-mail, and use the standard format of a respectful e-mail.
Assessment
In order to strengthen the writing programs at Lane Community College, Writing faculty collect a range of
sample student writing to be used strictly for program assessment and/or professional research related to the
teaching of writing. Such documents may also be shared with writing instructors at other educational institutions for the purpose of professionalization and teacher training. Your name, L#, course CRN, and other personally identifying information are removed from all documents submitted for these purposes in order to ensure, within reasonable limits, that they remain anonymous.
Diversity Statement
At Lane Community College, students, faculty, and staff are protected from, and prohibited from engaging in,
harassment and discrimination. This includes, but is not limited to harassment based on race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, marital status, familial relationship, sexual orientation, gender identity/ expression, pregnancy, age, disability, religion, or veteran status. If you believe you have been harassed or discriminated
against, or witness harassment or discrimination against another, you will find support and assistance in the
following places:
· The Counseling Department: Provides information, consultation and support regarding informal and formal channels for addressing harassment, discrimination and related complaints.
· Chairs of academic divisions
· Kate Barry
· Student Code of Conduct
If you need support or assistance because of a disability, you may be eligible for academic accommodations through Disability Services. For more information, contact Disability Services at (541) 4635150 (voice) or 463-3079 (TTY), or stop by Building 1, Room 218.
Calendar
Subject to change. Additional readings and assignments will be announced in class and posted on
Moodle.
Date
Due Today
In-Class Activities
Topic of Inquiry: Writing and Literacy
Week 1
Tuesday
Thursday
Introductions; Review of
the Syllabus
Reading: 1) Sherman Alexie, "The Joy of
Reading and Writing: Superman and Me"
2) E-mail Netiquette
Assignment: Two forum posts on Moodle:
Response to Alexie; An E-mail greeting.
Discussion/Group work;
introduction to the rhetorical situation
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Date
Due Today
In-Class Activities
Week 2
Tuesday
Reading: 1) Frederick Douglass, “Learning
to Read and Write” (PDF)
(Excerpted from Project Guttenberg)
2) Rhetorical Situations (Purdue OWL)
Assignment: Forum post on Moodle.
Discussion/Group work;
Essay 1 handout and
overview
Thursday
Reading: 1) Annie Dillard, “Living Like
Weasels” (PDF from LCC database) 2) Invention: Starting the Writing Process (Purdue OWL)
Assignment: Forum post on Moodle.
Discussion; Brainstorming and prewriting.
Tuesday
Reading: Gita DasBender, "Critical Thinking in College Writing: From the Personal
to the Academic" (PDF; from
writingspaces.org)
Assignment: 1) Forum post 2) 2 paragraphs describing your ideas for the essay.
Discussion; Developing
ideas in paragraphs
Thursday
Reading: MLA citation guide: print and
bring to class.
Assignment: Draft of Essay 1 (2 Copies)
Peer review
MLA intro/ review
Week 3
Week 4
Tuesday
Essay 1 Final Draft Due
Topic of Inquiry: Media and Technology
Thursday
Reading: Amy Goldwasser, What’s the
matter with kids today?
Assignment: Forum post.
Discussion/ Group work
Tuesday
Reading: Sherry Turkle, “Can You Hear Me
Now?” (Forbes Magazine via LCC database)
Assignment: Forum post.
Discussion/ Group work
Essay 2 handout and
overview
Thursday
Reading: Evaluating Sources (Purdue
OWL)
Finding and evaluating information (LCC
library website)
Class meets at a computer lab.
Assignment: Forum post: ideas for your
essay and research questions.
Database research and
source evaluation workshop.
Week 5
6
Date
Due Today
In-Class Activities
Week 6
Tuesday
Reading: “Quoting, Paraphrasing, and
Summarizing” (Purdue OWL)
Assignment: Bring two of your sources
PLUS two completed source evaluations.
Integrating source into
paragraphs
Thursday
Reading: Identifying sentence problems: 1
&2
Draft of Essay 2 due (2 Copies)
Peer review
Grammar review
Tuesday
Assignment: Additional 1-2 peer-reviews.
Bring your most recent drafts and peerreviews
Group Conferences
Thursday
Final Draft of Essay 2 Due
Reflection; intro to next
unit
Week 7
Topic of Inquiry: Work, Economic Equality, and Opportunity
Week 8
Tuesday
Rose, The Mind at Work (Handout)
Discussion/ Group work
Thursday
The Economist, “Inequality and the American Dream”
Discussion/ Group work
Essay 2 handout and
overview
Week 9
Tuesday
Olsson, “Up Against Walmart”
Thursday
Draft of Essay 3 Due (2 Copies)
Peer review
Tuesday
Assignment: Additional 1-2 peer-reviews.
Bring your most recent drafts and peerreviews
Group Conferences
Thursday
Final Essay Due
Presentations for extra
credit
Week 10