English 102 Murray State University

The office phone number is 762-4548.


Mailbox: FH English Department Office Seventh Floor
Email:emily.biggs@murraystate.edu

Course Title: Composition and Research English 102

Catalog description: Practice in advanced composition skills, with emphasis on techniques of research.

Purpose of the Course: This course is designed to help students improve their research and argumentation skills while further developing their writing processes, their critical thinking skills, their contextual awareness, and the organizational effectiveness of their writing.

Course Objectives: The course goals include teaching students to:

Refine the skills developed in ENG 101;

• Understand academic and professional writing situation, audience and processes;
  
• Gather research material from a variety of sources, including the library and electronic sources;
  
• Analyze, summarize, paraphrase, quote and document sources;
  
• Critically evaluate and synthesize material from multiple sources;
  Skillfully produce source-based writing, including adequate support and logical development of arguments.

Prerequisite: ENGLISH 101

Required Materials:

1. Behrens, Laurence and Leonard J. Rosen. Writing and Reading Across the Curriculum. New York. Longman, 2000.
2. Raimes, Ann. Keys for Writers: A Brief Handbook. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1996.
3. One folder with pockets to be used for the submission of all essays
4. One blank 3x5" Formatted Disc. Do not store anything else on this disc.

Attendance: Each student is expected to be prompt and regular in class attendance. Regular attendance is not only mandatory, but also essential for success in this course.
I keep attendance records for all classes.
All absences from class, excused and unexcused, count as absences.
Missing more than 25% of the course will result in an automatic failure (F) of the course. Students should be aware that the last day to drop this course without penalty is March 30, 2001.

Sleeping in class and working off topic are considered absences. Also, if you are more than ten minutes late you will be counted as tardy. Three tardies equal one absence.
Failure to attend a conference is considered an absence from class.
In rare exceptional situations an absence may be excused thus allowing students to make up some missed assignments. Be aware that due to the nature of some daily class activities (journals, peer editing, etc) some assignmements simply can not be made up even when the absence is excused. It is the student's responsibility to get missed assignments and handouts from a classmate.

Classmate's name and # __________________

Assignment Requirements: Papers should be submitted according to MLA style (see KW Part 3). All essays should be submitted with all prewriting and drafts in a clean, paper, pocketed folder (portfolio). Please make sure your folder is clearly labeled with both my name and yours on the front cover. Do not remove previous essays from your folders when submitting subsequent assignments.

Content Outline: Students will write a source based argumentative paper of 8-10 pages in length. Students will also write three additional papers, 12 pages minimum total, for a course total of 20-25 pages. Students must complete one or more preliminary drafts for each formal paper. This course will also include conducting extensive research which may use primary sources, secondary sources, computer research such as the internet and databases, and personal experience, reading critical analysis of that reading, and discussion of the reading and other student's texts.

Grading Procedures:Students will be evaluated on completion of assignment, content, effectiveness, and style. Please see the attached handout for more details on the grading rubric. All essays must include a rough draft and some form of outline. This course follows a ten point scale: A (90-100), B (80-89), C (70-79), D (60-69), and F (below 60).
An absence from class does not effect essay deadlines. Essays are due by 5:00pm on the date assigned. Essays received after this time will receive an automatic ten point deduction regardless of the circumstances. Late Assignments may be submitted in my campus mailbox in the English Department.

I do not accept any assignment submitted forty eight hours after the essay deadline.

Your final grade will be determined as follows:

• Source Based Argumentative Essay (8-10pgs) 35%
• Class Participation/Attendance/
  In Class Writing Assignments/Final 10%
• Three Short Essays: (3-4pgs each) 55%

General Policies:

I will not accept any handwritten essays, essays on discs or emailed essays for final drafts.

All essays and prewriting including drafts must be in a writing folder.

All essays must be original, on the designated topic and demonstrate the specific writing strategy assigned.

Keep track of your own grades and averages. I do not give grades in advance.

Please allow two to three weeks for the return of your graded essays.

I do not give extra credit or credit for additional revisions.

Always spell check and proof read carefully before submitting an essay.

Keep a duplicate copy of every writing assignment for your records.

Essays should be your best academic writing.

As a courtesy to others please turn beepers and cell phones off unless you are a paramedic, firefighter etc.

I do not review essays in the twenty four hours before they are due. Students should prioritize this course to enable them to plan conferences around designated office hours. I designate a total of eleven hours a week to be available on campus for students. In addition, I am available by email or phone for quick questions or emergencies. A lack of preparation on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.

Please use the class web page for handouts and additional information. Remember technology is not infallible so be sure to allow yourself sufficient time to obtain web information.

Please make me aware of any documented special needs or circumstances that you feel may require special accommodations in this course.

All students are expected to be respectful listeners. Personal conversations during the lecture are not only rude, but also disruptive. Out of consideration for both classmates and the instructor please save personal conversations for before or after class.

This course can be a wonderful opportunity to explore writing and develop intellectually.