ENG 214 1
ENG 214-001 -- MWF 1:55 to 2:45 p.m., G109 Tompkins Hall
INSTRUCTOR: Melody Hunter-Pillion, M.A.
OFFICE: 201 Tompkins Hall
OFFICE HOURS: Mon. and Wed.11:40 a.m.-12:40 p.m., 3p.m.-4p.m. and by appointment
TELEPHONE:
EMAIL:
919-802-5365 mailto:mhunter@ncsu.edu
PREREQUISITES REQUIRED FOR CLASS: ENG 101
Student Learning Outcomes
English 214 will help you understand and practice the following:
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Good grammar and usage: This goes back to what you had in the eighth grade and probably forgot. This is prescriptive grammar, not descriptive. You'll learn the difference.
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Style: This starts to get more complicated. This is key to any good editing: of your own writing or that of others. An editor who knows style knows how to take weak, jargon-filled prose and make it strong and clean. An editor who knows style makes parallelism work. An editor who knows style knows how to think. And an editor knows how to understand audiences and publications -- and the difference between Chicago Style and AP Style.

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Language awareness: It's powerful. It helps create the world we live in, and helps form what we see and think and say. Language can be sometimes racist, sometimes sexist, and sometimes simply stupid and unthinking. It's critical for a good editor to be aware of what words are loaded. If you use one, know why and what effect it's going to have.
• Avoiding Libel and practicing good ethics: These are closely related concepts. One can cost your money and your reputation; the other can cost you your reputation.
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Copyediting and proofreading: When you can do it to your own work, you'll have arrived. But learning how to do it for others is a great start.
Books to buy: When Words Collide: a Media Writer’s Guide to Grammar and Style , by
Lauren Kessler and Duncan McDonald, Wadsworth, 2015 (9 th edition). Student Workbook for Kessler/McDonald’s When Words Collide (9 th edition). Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual (any recent version; any publisher). Dictionary (any up-to-date, nonpaperback version). Find a secondary grammar text as well; you’ll need it. I strongly recommend Working with Words , by Brian Brooks, James Pinson and Jean Gaddy
Wilson, St. Martin's Press, 2013 (8th edition). It’s the same general approach, but clear and concise. I've also noted the chapters in this text that correspond to the various assignments, when applicable.
Grading: I use plus and minus grading in this course. I also use a great range of grades.
An “A” for this course means you have done excellent work. You will not necessarily receive an “A” for working hard and coming to class. An “A” reflects more than effort. It reflects both effort and achievement. An “A” is a combination of bringing critical reflection to the class, participating in class, working well with others, putting thoughtful feedback up on Moodle for your classmates, and, of course, doing an excellent job on all your quizzes and exams. You will receive a "B" for good, but not excellent work. A "B" reflects attendance, participation, a good, but not stellar job and does NOT mean I don't like you, that I don't appreciate your hard work, or your efforts. A "B" means you have done a good job, but not an excellent job. This class is hard work.
Grading Breakdown:
Quizzes - 30 percent
Midterm - 25 percent
Final - 25 percent
Project- 10 percent
Participation - 10 percent
Class Attendance: See the university policy on attendance . Students who miss the first two class sessions, or the first class session for a course that meets once per week, will automatically be disenrolled in order to accommodate students who want to take the course. For this course, good attendance is mandatory to receive any grade, period. You may have two unexcused absences; after that, your grade will drop. I take attendance. It is up to you to find out what you missed in class, preferably from a classmate. If you are ill,

ENG 214 3 email before class, not after. Illness or personal problems must be discussed in advance , within reason.
Cheating: Not allowed. Read the appropriate section in the Code of Student Conduct . I find it fascinating reading, and you should, too. All work that you put your name on must be your own, and no one else’s. Using even a few sentences of someone else’s words and claiming them as your own, without attribution, will give you an F for the course. I will also turn you over to Student Conduct. I am considered somewhat merciless on this issue.
Disability Policy: Reasonable accommodations will be made for students with verifiable disabilities. In order to take advantage of available accommodations, students must register with Disability Services for Students at 1900 Student Health Center, Campus Box
7509, 515-7653. For more information on NC State's policy on working with students with disabilities, please see the Academic Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
Regulation.
But also be aware that you should come and see me early in the semester; I'm happy to help you.
Other Policies: Students are responsible for reviewing the PRRs which pertain to their course rights and responsibilities. These include: Equal Opportunity and Non-
Discrimination Policy Statement , Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity , Code of
Student Conduct , and Grades and Grade Point Average . Spring 2016 Academic Calendar.
Hit the link above to keep track of the university's drop/add dates, final exam schedule, etc.
What to Expect
Links: Please note that where there are links, you’ll find additional help or information. Use them.
Quizzes :
Quizzes will be given ALMOST every Friday, during the last 20 minutes of class. Please note weeks where quizzes occur on other days. You will NOT be able to make up quizzes, period. If you miss class, you miss the quiz. I will drop your lowest grade, so that if you miss a quiz due to illness, it won't count against you. You will find sample quizzes in the
“SAMPLES – QUIZZES AND MIDTERM” Moodle folder. All the quizzes are open book and open notes, but not open computer and/or phone.
Midterm :
Scheduled for Friday, March 4, 2016. A sample midterm waits for you in the “SAMPLES –
QUIZZES AND MIDTERM” folder on Moodle. Realize that you need to know your copyediting/proofreader's marks for this exam -- because you'll be using a No. 2 pencil. You'd be surprised, even in the age of electronic markup, how handy looking at a printed page can be. You can find those marks in the “MARKS & RESOURCES” folder on Moodle. This is an open book exam, but not an open computer exam.

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Final Project: This project will be due in the second to last week of the semester. It consists of researching a writing or editing career and producing a presentation on that career for the entire class. Students usually work in groups. We'll talk about it more in class. You can choose any career that involves mostly writing and editing: technical writing and editing, web design, book editing and publishing, newspaper or magazine careers (a few still remain), television careers, social media, e-books, etc. See more details in the relevant Moodle folder.
Final Exam:
The final for English 214, Section 001 is scheduled for Monday, May 2, from 1 to 4 p.m. A sample final will be available on Moodle, later in the semester. Again, remember to bring pencils, any notes or textbooks, and a thorough knowledge of copyediting marks with you (see under midterm, above). This final IS open computer. If you don't have a laptop, I can make accommodations for you. I'll bring a couple of extra ones to class.
Spring 2016 University Calendar
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Week 1 Wednesday, Jan 6 and Friday, Jan 8
INTRODUCTION AND SYLLABUS OVERVIEW
Wednesday: Introduction to Class
Before Wednesday, Jan. 6: Go up on Moodle and introduce yourself to the class. I've put up a forum there for that purpose. Use your official university ID; for most of you, that's your unity ID, but a few of you have registered your gmail or hotmail accounts. So log in and say hello to the class. Pictures are always nice -- they'll help me and the rest of the class recognize you. Avatars are fine, but don't quite do the same job as a photo.
Wednesday : Have read Chapters 1 and 2, When Words Collide . Syllabus overview in class.
Friday: Supplemental Reading: Introduction and Chapter I in Working with Words : Why
Does Grammar Matter, and Grammar Basics. Grammar exercise handout, group work.
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Week 2 Mon, Jan. 11/Wed, Jan. 13/Fri, Jan. 15
PARTS OF SPEECH

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BY Monday, Jan. 11, BEFORE CLASS: Do Exercise 1, Diagnostic Review, that I will have handed out to you. Grade yourself using the answer key, pages 15-21, which follows the review. This is obviously not a graded test, as you have access to the answers. It is, however, diagnostic. It will help us discover how fast or slowly to move through a variety of material. So score yourself using the key, and e-mail me your score before class meets
Monday: mailto:mhunter@ncsu.edu
.
Your first quiz (sample quiz 1 on Moodle) is Friday, Jan. 15.
MONDAY: Have read Chapters 4 and 5, When Words Collide .
WEDNESDAY: Come in having done assigned exercises.
FRIDAY: Quiz and guest speaker
Helpful Links for Week 2
Look at The Grammar Handbook (additional information about parts of speech), OWL at
Purdue (which has some handy material to test yourself) on nouns, verbs, prepositions, and pronouns; also, take his on-line tests on those topics), and for a more in-depth look,
University of Calgary's Parts of Speech .
Week 3: Mon, Jan. 18/Wed, Jan. 20/Fri, Jan. 22
THE SENTENCE AND SENTENCE ELEMENTS
Your second quiz (sample quiz 2 on Moodle) is Friday, Jan. 22.
MONDAY: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day/No Classes
WEDNESDAY : Have read Chapters 3 and 4, in When Words Collide on the sentence and verbs.
FRIDAY: Quiz and come in having done assigned exercises.
For Supplemental Reading, look at Working with Words , Part I, Chapter 2: Phrases, Clauses and Sentences, and Chapter 4: Verbs.
Helpful Links for Week 3
Read the top of section of University of Calgary's Sentence Elements on subjects, predicates (verbs), and objects.
Go to the bottom of the page of the The Grammar Handbook , where you'll find sentences

ENG 214 6 and sentence elements.
See also Dr. Charles Darling of Capital Community College 's web site. Go to the section on basic sentence parts. There are a bunch of interactive tests that are difficult AND helpful.
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Week 4: Mon, Jan. 25/Wed, Jan. 27/Fri, Jan. 29
CLAUSES AND PHRASES AND TYPES OF SENTENCES
Your third quiz (sample quiz available on Moodle) is Friday, Jan. 29.
MONDAY: Distinguishing between verbs and verbals, clauses and phrases. Have read Chapter 3, in When Words Collide . Come in having done assigned exercises.
For Supplemental Reading, look at Working with Words , Part 1, Chapter 3. Subjects and
Objects
WEDNESDAY: Types of sentences. Have read Chapter 4. Come in having done the assigned exercise.
FRIDAY: Review and Quizz
Helpful Links for Week 4
Go to the The Grammar Handbook and read the section on phrases, clauses and sentences.
Go to University of Calgary's website on clauses and phrases .
Take a quick test at Dr. Charles Darling of Capital Community College 's web site. Go down to the section on clauses and phrases. There are a bunch of interactive tests that are difficult AND helpful.
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Week 5: Mon, Feb. 1/Wed, Feb. 3/Fri, Feb. 5
AGREEMENT
Your fourth quiz (sample quiz 4 available on Moodle) is Friday, Feb. 5.
MONDAY: Have read Chapter 6, in When Words Collide .

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Come in having done the assigned exercise.
Helpful Links for Week 5
Go to the The Grammar Handbook and read the section on pronoun/antecedent agreement.
Go to University of Calgary's website on subject-verb agreement .
Take a quick test at Dr. Charles Darling of Capital Community College 's web site. Go down to the section on pronoun usage. There are a bunch of interactive tests that are difficult AND helpful. The tests are a mixture of antecedent agreement and case, which we will cover next week, so don't get too confused.
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Week 6: Mon, Feb. 8/Wed., Feb. 10/Fri, Feb. 12
CASE AND RESTRICTIVE/ NONRESTRCTIVE
Your fifth quiz (sample quiz 5 available on Moodle) is Friday, Feb. 12.
MONDAY: Have read Chapter 7, in When Words Collide .
For Supplemental Reading, look at Working with Words , Part One, Chapter 3 on case. Come in having done the assigned exercises.
WEDNESDAY: Have read Chapter 8. Come in having done the assigned exercise.
FRIDAY: Quiz, plus more restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses and phrases.
Helpful Links for Week 6
Go to the The Grammar Handbook and read the section on noun and pronoun case. Take a quick test at Dr. Charles Darling of Capital Community College 's web site. Go down to the section on pronoun usage. There are a bunch of interactive tests that are difficult AND helpful. By this week, you should be able to do both antecedent issues and case. Read
Webster for a good section on the differences between active and passive voice, and
Bartelby and uses of the passive voice and on abuses of the passive voice .
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Week 7: Mon, Feb. 15/Wed, Feb. 17/Fri, Feb. 19
PUNCTUATION

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Your sixth quiz (sample quiz 6 available on Moodle) is Friday, Feb. 19.
MONDAY: Read Chapter 8, in When Words Collide .
For Supplemental Reading, look at Working with Words , Part Two, Chapter 9.
Come in having done the assigned exercise. Class presentations on punctuation marks.
WEDNESDAY: More practice.
FRIDAY: Quiz, plus Guest Speaker 2
Helpful Links for Week 7
Go to the Gary Olsen's site for University of South Florida, Punctuation Made Simple . Go to
Tidewater Community College's Practical Punctuation Guide, which is thorough and wonderful. Go to University of Calgary's grammar website and click on punctuation. Take a quick test at Dr. Charles Darling of Capital Community College 's web site. Go down to the section on punctuation. There are a bunch of interactive tests that are difficult AND helpful.
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Week 8: Mon, Feb. 22/Wed, Feb. 24/Fri, Feb. 26
WORD USAGE; STYLE ; SPELLING
Your seventh quiz is Friday, Feb. 26.
MONDAY: Read Chapter 9, and Appendix A, on spelling, in When Words Collide . Come in having done assigned exercises.
WEDNESDAY: Come in having done assigned exercises.
FRIDAY: Quiz, plus more practice
Helpful Links for Week 8
A somewhat daunting, yet worthwhile site if you work through the numerous Common
Errors in English .
Even more helpful, Dr. Charles Darling of Capital Community College 's web site. Go down to the section on Notorious Confusables. There are a bunch of interactive tests that are difficult AND helpful. Do these correctly, and you can be assured of passing that particular section of the quiz.

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And another list of tricky words at Carnegie Mellon's site . Here's yet another list of commonly misspelled words .
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Week 9: Mon, Feb. 29/Wed, March 2/Fri, March 4
Midterm Friday, March 4 (see sample midterm in Moodle folder)
TUESDAY: Come in having done assigned exercises.
WEDNESDAY: Review for midterm.
FRIDAY: Midterm (open book and notes; not open computer or phone) .
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Week 10: NO CLASS for SPRING BREAK (March 7-11)
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Week 11 Mon, March 14/Wed, March 16/Fri, March 18
Introduction to AP Style
Your eighth quiz this week is a take home quiz due in class Monday, March 21.
MONDAY : Going over midterm, final projects: explanation and group creation
WEDNESDAY: Introduction to copyediting
FRIDAY: Guest Speaker 3, plus practice copyediting (group exercise)
This week is your introduction both to the AP Stylebook, and to the larger issues of content editing/boiling down prose/smoothing prose.
Your two texts don't have readings for these final weeks, I'm afraid. But a couple of exercises should help you. Spend some serious time with the assigned exercises.
Do assigned exercises.
Helpful Links:

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Go to Bemidji State University Writing Resource Center's Guide to Proofing and Editing.
Go to University of Madison-Wisconsin's guide to proofreading .
Helpful Links for Style
Go to an article on Developing a Strong Writing Style .
Go to the Grammar Handbook on Writing Techniques (click on Tips and Techniques) .
Go to Dr. Charles Darling of Capital Community College 's web site. Go down to the section on Stylistic Considerations.
Tips on Grammar, Punctuation, and Style -- from Harvard, no less.
Go to the American Heritage Book of English Usage on style.
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Week 12: Mon, March 21/Wed, March 23/Fri, March 25
MORE COPY EDITING
Your ninth quiz (find sample quiz 9 in Moodle folder) is Wednesday, March 23 .
MONDAY: Group project work, plus copyediting
WEDNESDAY: copyediting quiz
FRIDAY: Spring Holiday – No class
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Week 13: Mon, March 28/Wed, March 30/Fri, April 1
SENSE AND SENSITIVITY
We'll be doing a writing assignment on sense and sensitivity, which will be worth one quiz grade. I'll give you that assignment on Monday, March 28; it will be due Sunday,
April 5, by 11p.m., emailed to me.
BY MONDAY: Reading to be assigned.

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MONDAY: Work on sense and sensitivity assignment
WEDNESDAY: Discuss and continue assignment
FRIDAY: Bias language discussion
Also read: Why Sexist Language Matters
 For Supplemental Reading, look at Working with
Words , Part Two, Chapter 13.
Helpful Resource
Avoiding Biased Language
Please read the “Avoiding Sexist and Racist Language article under the “MARKS AND
RESOURCES” FOLDER on Moodle.
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Week 14 Mon, April 4/Wed, April 6/Fri, April 8
Your tenth quiz (Libel quiz available on Moodle) is Friday, April 8.
MONDAY: Libel
WEDNESDAY: Libel
THURSDAY: More libel and a quiz.
Read the Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual on libel. In addition, you'll need to spend some serious times on the links below, especially the Media Libel Web Site for libel and Indiana University's site for ethics.
Helpful Links: Helpful Links
If you use only one site for libel, Student Press Law Center
Student Press Law Center libel overview
Student Press Law Center's A Dozen Tips to Avoid Being Burned by a Hot Story
Student Press Law Center's guide to cyberlaw
For ethics, browse Indiana University's School of Journalism's site on media ethics ,

ENG 214 12 looking at their interesting and informative case studies.
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Week 15: Mon, April 11/Wed, April 13/Fri, April 15
PROJECT PRESENTATIONS
Week 15: Mon, April 18/Wed, April 20/Fri, April 22
PROJECT PRESENTATIONS CONTINUE AND SEMESTER REVIEW
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Week 16: Monday April 25 – Last day of classes
SEMESTER REVIEW
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FINAL EXAM
The Final for English 214, Section 001 is scheduled for Monday, May 2, from 1 to 4 p.m.
A sample of the final exam will be provided on Moodle. It is an entirely open book/open computer exam. The only thing you MAY NOT DO is collaborate with your fellow students next to you, or friends and relatives in cyberspace. That's called cheating, not using all available resources.