Course SyllabusEnglish Composition TwoEnglish 102-64Spring Semester 2008
Instructor: Regina Robbins Flynn
Meeting Times: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 8:00 – 8:50 MH-248
Texts: The Bedford Guide for College Writers
Course Description: The course has been designed to help you learn, think, write, reason and research. I give students the opportunity to study and apply strategies for writing clear, skilled, persuasive prose. Effective writing demonstrates organization, effective language, sound sentence structure, critical reasoning, supportive evidence as well as correct grammar and the mechanics of punctuation and spelling. In both your written and in class discussions, you will be asked to look at a work from more than one perspective.
Course Objective: My primary objective is for you to become a better writer. The authors we will be reading in our anthology are open, energetic individuals who are interested in ideas, places and people. Let us all try to emulate their enterprise and vitality. By enlarging our horizons we will not only become more interesting human begins, we will become better learners, listeners, readers and writers.
Course Goals: Specifically we will: Specifically we will:
ü read and attempt through discussion and writing to understand an author’s purpose – literal and suggested, ü analyze different types of essays, looking at the authors as writers and begin to interpret meanings and biases, ü understand and develop the steps in the writing process (i.e., choosing a subject, brainstorming, idea development, free writing, drafting, editing, peer review, ü learn to appreciate language and the enormous power it possesses, ü think in terms of metaphors, symbols and images, ü use our imagination ü become detailed and specific with whatever you are writing, utilizing bright fresh prose ü write and develop a research paper, a series of essays and weekly communiqués ü attempt to be an active reader – involved in what the author of a particular piece is trying to say
Course Structure: I break up each week with discussion and writing workouts. The workouts are a series of exercises that will help you build your writing skills and enable you to critique one another’s work, thereby becoming a better editor of your own prose. When reviewing someone else’s work, be respectful and truthful. The most important thing to say about any writing is what was effective; almost as important is to let the writer know where the writing lost friendly, intelligent readers. The primary question that we will ask is, "what works well?" The secondary question will be, "how can it work better?"
My expectations of you:
ü Come to class. ü Read and complete the assignments. Nothing is worse than sitting in on a class where everyone else knows what is going on but you. ü Make good use of class time. Classes will be devoted to lessons, writing and conferencing. Students will be writing in class every time we meet. ü Come to class with the necessary tools for class. These will include your writing folder, drafts of works in progress, and any other materials necessary for a productive class. ü Hand in your assignments when they are due. All writing assignments are to by typed on 8 ½” by 11” paper, double-spaced. You need to use a computer and save all work to disk. Any missing work is your responsibility. ü Try. ü Be honest. ü Be on time. ü If you have a problem, tell me. ü You must have your own copy of the textbook. No sharing of texts is allowed. ü You must have an email address and access to a computer.
Writing Assignments
Essays: You will write a reflective essay, a letter to the editor, an interview and a review. The essays will be a result of the readings we do in class. They are to be 750 words in length and free of error. If you want to go over them with me during my office hours please feel free to do so. The due dates for these writing assignments will be distributed with this syllabus. Other assignments that are specific to certain chapters will be given in class.
Communiqués: Each Wednesday you will hand in a communiqué. It will be typed, double-spaced and can be about anything. Recount to me what you did over the weekend, how college is going for you, tell me about a movie you are wild about or hated, a reaction to a book you read, how a news story affected you, a restaurant you might recommend, the dumb thing your bother said on the phone. Two of the communiqués will deal with college productions you attend. Communiqués are not necessarily scholarly pieces. Imagine you are writing me a letter and adopt a casual tone.
Give yourself credit – remember no one else can write what you can write. No one else has had your visions, or can interpret events the way you can. A communiqué does not have to be filled with brilliant prose. It is simply a way to get you to write and not worry about a grade. Imagine yourself having a conversation with a friend.
Research Paper: This paper will adopt the focus and tone of a well-researched magazine article. I want you to decide on a topic that interests you – not something you think might interest me. Writing is fueled by the heart, and if you are curious and intrigued by something, whether it is mountain biking, becoming a CIA operative or cyberspace, this will be transmitted to your work. Remember the library isn’t necessarily your first avenue for research. Instead, think abut conducting interviews, surveys and including first person observations in your papers. Much more on this project will be distributed later in the course. All research topics must have my final approval – without it the paper will not be accepted.
Attendance: Given the nature of this course it is essential that you come to class. Unlike some lecture courses, what goes on this classroom isn’t a repeat of what you read in the textbook. Also, because we do a good deal of group work, multiple absences will leave you out in the cold. Any more than three absences will affect your final grade, as will repeat late arrivals. You are responsible for all missed classes and work.
Here are the names of people you can call in case you are out of school:
Name Phone Email
Name Phone Email
You may also always call me at 978.745.6788 or email me at the following: regina.flynn@salemstate.edu .
Office Hours: My office is in Meier Hall, Room 243 and I will be happy to meet with you at any time. My office hours are: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 to 10:30. You need to meet with me at lease twice during the course of the semester.
Portfolio: All work is to be kept in a folder devoted exclusively to this class. This will include: all essay drafts, final essays, communiqués, and writing workouts. This work will be reviewed periodically during the course of the semester during conferences with me and presented in final form at the end of the course.
Dishonesty and Plagiarism: You can be expelled from the college for using work that is not your own.
Cell Phones: Please turn them off, unless there is a family emergency and therefore you should notify me.
College Performances: I require that you attend at least two college performances. It can be a play a music recital, a play or a reading by a visiting writer. College is a fantastic time to encounter new and different experiences. We’re fortunate here at Salem State to be able to advantage our students with a wide range of events and presentations. In a Wednesday communiqué, please let me know of something you attended and your reaction.
Grading Procedures: What you know at the end of the semester is more important than what you know at the beginning of this course. Therefore essays will be given a “temporary” grade, such as “TB-“or “TC+” – it is up to the student to decide what essays they will revise. At the end of the semester we will publish a book that will be a collection of the various essays you have written for class. Each student will select his or her favorite or best essay for inclusion in the book. I will have met with you on these essays and we’ll go over them line by line as many times as you wish, until you are happy with the final outcome. It is important and gratifying to see your work in a finished state.
Course Philosophy: It is my job and my heart’s desire to see you walk down the aisle at graduation. (I always attend. It is a thrilling morning.) I will do everything in my power to get you there, not only in this particular composition course, but also at any other time during your career at Salem State College. Nothing means more to me than seeing my students go out into the world secure, articulate and well educated. Let us all work together toward this end.
Assignments: In the event of inclement weather we will combine the lesson missed with the current assignment.
January 14 Overview January 16 Communique January 18 Writing work January 21 Chapter 4 Recalling an Experience January 25 Recall draft due January 28 Chapter 5 Observing a Scene January 30 Draft & Communique February 1 Writing Workout February 3 Writing Workout & Recall Essay Due February 6 Chapter 6 Interview a Subject February 8 Communiqué February 10 Writing Workout & Observations February 13 Chapter 9 Taking a Stand February 15 Communiqué February 17 Writing Workout & Interview Paper Due February 20 Presidents Day Holiday February 22 Conferences February 24 Conferences February 27 Research Paper March 1 Research Paper March 3 Research Paper – Outline March 6 Research Paper – Introduction March 8 Research Paper – Surveys March 10 Research Paper – Surveys March 10 – 14: Spring Break March 20 Interview Completed March 22 Drafts March 24 Writing Workout March 27 Research March 29 Research March 31 Research April 3 Final Paper Due April 5 Communiqué + In-class Peer Review April 7 Writing Workout April 10 Chapter 11 Evaluating April 12 Communiqué April 14 Writing Workout: Review Paper Due April 17 Patriots’ Day Holiday April 19 Conferences April 21 Conferences April 24 Portfolio Review Chapter 14 – pages 244 to 249 April 26 Communique April 28 Writing Workout & Portfolios Due May 1 Images & Design Chapter 20 May 3 Communique May 5 Final Day of Classes
|