Course Syllabus
Syllabus and Course Policies
ENG 101-012 College Writing and Reading I
Fall 2021
Instructor: Somshukla Bandyopadhyay Email: bandyopadhyays@uncw.edu
Class Schedule: MWF 10-10:15 a.m. Location: BR 219
Office Hours: Zoom office hours (by appointment only)
Individual Presentation Sign-up link (Nov22,29,Dec1):
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xoKHEge82iScNi_KV6mY2Rt6rgApkjCLylKFFIHuz7A/edit?usp=sharing
About the Course
The course works toward integrating writing skills through critical thinking, rhetorical analysis, and research practices. It provides an introduction and foundation to communication practices by focusing on writing for defined audiences in specific contexts. The course is aimed at developing not just academic skills in reading and writing but also engaging with texts that are produced outside the academic boundaries.
This purpose is not only to improve your student writing but to assist you in building your own identity as a writer. The course is built on the premise that writing is rhetorical and therefore it is learnable and transferable.
For the most part, this class emphasizes the workshop situation. In other words, you will use your classmates as an audience in order to revise and polish your written work effectively. You have to consider every draft you write to be a work-in-progress, with no draft being considered completely “finished.”
A big part of the class will be devoted to training you in the following three components of process writing:
- Invention – including prewriting.
- Drafting, both your peers and I will be involved in this stage.
- Revision, which requires a continuous editing and polishing of your written work.
To accomplish these goals, you will be required to study genre, audience, purpose, the analysis and production of argument, research strategies, writing processes including drafting, re-envisioning, revising, peer response and review, as well as documentation styles, editing and preparation of written texts for publication or evaluation. As this is a lot of material to cover, the success of the course depends on your individual and collective willingness to engage in the reading participate in the workshops and allow yourself the time and the discipline to do the course writing well. Our activities for this semester will include the following:
- Annotating, analyzing, and responding to your own texts, your peers’ texts and the reading from the textbook
- Practicing invention, drafting, revising, and editing
- Regular attendance and active participation in the workshop situation
- Writing expressive, informative, persuasive, and argumentative papers that comply with the genre-specific rhetorical requirements of effective writing
- Considering the needs of a large and diverse audience when organizing and arranging your ideas
- Learning to search for, evaluate, and document primary and secondary sources
- Summarizing and paraphrasing source material and integrating this material with your own ideas, experiences, and insights
About half of the pages written in this course must include research. The majority of the research should come from scholarly journals, encyclopedias, interviews, and reference books. Information from the Internet sites should be investigated to make sure it is legitimate.
Required Text
Graff, G. and Birkesnstein, C. They say/I say-w/access >custom<. W. W. Norton & Co.. 5th ed, 2021. ISBN: 9780393446869
Course Goals
- To identify the structural components, including thesis, supporting evidence, and various rhetorical strategies, for all essays read and written. To articulate how audience expectation shapes purpose in your own writing and in the essays you read. [CMP1]
- To demonstrate how multiple assigned readings are “in conversation” with one another. [CMP2]
- To analyze these viewpoints in order to assess how and where your own views and experiences relate to those you have encountered in your reading. [CMP3]
- To demonstrate a familiarity with the stages of the composing process and engage in rubric-guided peer review. [CMP4]
You will be asked to provide copies of drafts and revisions for small-group workshops and, possibly, for a whole class discussion. Do not write things you do not want others to read.
Assignments Weight
The assignments are designed to explore the concepts of writing through various contexts involving different
audiences and purpose. There are four major components
- Participation (in-class presentations; peer-editing; discussion) 10 percent
- Journals & scenario writings (in-class) 10 percent
- Writing assignment#1 (Descriptive/Personal) 15 percent
- Writing assignment #2 (Visual Rhetorical Analysis) 20 percent
- Writing assignment #3 (Research/Argumentative) 20 percent
- Free Writing 5 percent
- Final assignment: Position paper & presentation 20 percent
Please note that the participation is crucial in determining your final grades as it includes 10 points. There are four mini presentations, five peer editing sessions, and a general class discussion with one point weight on each.
Course Grade
Your work will be evaluated on a 100-point system. This course uses the plus/minus (shaded) grading system on final grade reports. The breakdown is as follows:
• 93-100 = A • 90-92 = A-
• 87-89 = B+ • 84-86 = B • 80-83 = B-
• 77-79 = C+ • 74-76 = C • 70-73 = C-
• 67-69 = D+ • 64-66 = D • 60-63 = D-
• 0-59 = F
It is your responsibility to keep up with your points throughout the semester. It may be helpful to write your grades in the margin of this syllabus to stay organized.
Overall Assessment Criteria and Points/Letter Grade Range
|
100-90: |
The document is exemplary. It exceeds the assignment objectives. |
|
80-89: |
The document is proficient. It meets the assignment objectives, but shows areas where minor revisions are necessary. |
|
70-79: |
The document is marginal. It meets some of the assignment objectives, but not all. It shows areas where minor revisions are necessary. |
|
60-69: |
The document is unsatisfactory. It meets few of the assignment objectives and shows areas where major revisions are necessary. |
|
0-59: |
The document is unacceptable. It meets few or none of the assignment objectives or does something completely different from what the assignment called for. It shows areas where major revisions are necessary. |
General Class Policies Completion of All Major Assignments: Though you probably will not polish all of your written work, you must complete drafts and revisions of all major assignments to pass the course.
Mask Mandate: As of August 2nd, the university has required the use of face coverings indoors. You will not be permitted to join an in-person class without a face covering. Failure to comply will result in referral to the Dean of Students. Any student who has a medical concern with wearing a face covering should contact the Disability Resource Center at (910) 962-7555. If you are not already vaccinated, please consult with your healthcare provider and consider getting vaccinated. Vaccines are available through the UNCW Student Health Center. Effective August 23, any student who comes on campus and has not provided proof of vaccination will be required to participate in weekly surveillance testing.
Please do not come to class when you are not feeling well or are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms. Note that there is a degree of flexibility with students, particularly those who may fall into high-risk groups, serve as caretakers, or who contract the virus and require alternative course delivery. In order to be excused, you must provide appropriate information at the earliest possible time. If you have been exposed to COVID-19 or are concerned about exposure, please contact the Student Health Center at (910) 962-3280 for specific information about testing, contact tracing and quarantine/isolation requirements, which differ for vaccinated and non-vaccinated individuals, according to CDC guidance. Remember, keeping everyone healthy is essential to keeping campus open! Thank you for your help and compliance.
Class-room Decorum: Texting and emailing during class are clearly not permitted. Cell phones and other devices should be turned off and stored unless you are invited to use them. If you choose to violate this rule, you may be asked to leave and possibly forfeit the device. You may use your laptop in class, but be sure it is for class-oriented work only. If you choose to violate this rule, you may be asked to leave and take a 0 for the day.
Satisfactory Completion of All Course Components: Failure to satisfactorily complete any one of the course components (for example: final work, participation, presentation) may result in an “F” for the course. All course components are equally important; please treat them accordingly. Students are responsible for maintaining duplicate copies of all work submitted in this course and retaining all returned, graded work until the semester is over. Should the need arise for a re-submission of work or a review.
Attendance: You are expected to attend all class meetings. Do not schedule doctor’s or dentist's appointments, vacations, lawyer appointments, or meetings with your adviser or financial aid, or anything else (including shifts from your job) during our course time. You are allowed three (5) absences to use at your discretion. More than three absences during the term will interfere with your progress as a writer and will negatively affect your participation grade. You will lose five (5) points from your final point total for the semester for every day you miss beyond three (3) days. Should you miss more than six (9) days, you will fail the course. If you miss any class, it is your responsibility to make up for any work that was missed and be prepared for the next class you attend. Also note: Workshops days are crucial to your development. So please be there for all of them.
Communication: Communication and writing is an integral part of this course. You will follow some basic correspondence etiquette when communicating among ourselves. When communicating with me or your peers, you will maintain the standard expectations of public discourse that include using polite, non-aggressive, and standard English language and vocabularies. I will not reply to any emails without a proper salutation and a close. For email with attachments, you are required to clearly identify your subject, your last name, and follow a file naming convention.
If you send an email attachment to your classmates, or me also please use the following format:
[Document_Last Name.docx]
For example, when sending me your memo, your file could read
Memo_Bandyopadhyay.docx.
The best way to contact me is email. Emailing me after 6 p.m. (or on weekends) may not get a response until the next business day.
Religious Observance Policy: In accordance with North Carolina G.S. 116-11(3a), you are entitled to two excused absences for religious observances per academic year. In order to preserve your right to make up any tests or other work missed for religious observance required by your faith, you must inform the registrar in writing of your intended absence before the end of the first week of class.
Lateness/Tardiness: You will be marked late if you enter five minutes after the session has begun; three late markings will result in one absence. Likewise you will not be permitted to leave early without a valid reason. Late drafts and revisions will affect your grade.
Please note that if you do not have the required written work for a workshop, you will not be able to participate fully. It is wise to start your work early and to back up the disk that contains your drafts and revisions. Late assignments will not be considered for grading.
Plagiarism: As part of any serious learning practice it is natural to borrow and consult works by others. In the broadest definition of works we may include written texts, images and graphics, video and sound files among other forms of learning artifacts. Plagiarism may occur when someone has inserted another writer's language without quotation marks and acknowledgment, or has engaged in a close, unacknowledged paraphrase of someone else's writing, or presented another writer’s research or analysis without acknowledgement. There are serious consequences for plagiarism. To avoid any untoward incidents, please closely refer to UNCW’s Honor Code and make an appointment to discuss the matter with me. It is a serious offense which can result in an “F” for the class. Please see me if you have any questions about plagiarism.
Student Accommodation and Accessibility: UNCW and your instructor are committed to the principle of universal learning. This means that our classroom, our virtual spaces, our practices, and our interactions be as inclusive as possible. Mutual respect, civility, and the ability to listen and observe others carefully are crucial to universal learning.
Any student with a disability who needs accommodation, for example, in seating placement or in arrangements for examinations, should inform the instructor at the beginning of the course. Students with disabilities are encouraged to contact Disability Services, at 910-962-7555 or TDD 910-962-3853 or RJ Kilgore via email at [kilgorer@uncw.edu].
Students with disabilities should notify me as soon as possible and should contact the (Links to an external site.)to secure the necessary documentations and accommodations. There is no requirement to make accommodations before completing the standard university procedure
If you have difficulty reading, hearing or seeing content, or any other difficulties that might negatively impact your potential to succeed in this course, you may be eligible to receive help from our Disability Services (Links to an external site.
UNCW Statement on Diversity: As an institution of higher learning, the University of North Carolina Wilmington represents a rich diversity of human beings among its faculty, staff, and students and is committed to maintaining a campus environment that values that diversity. Accordingly, the university supports policies, curricula, and co-curricular activities that encourage understanding of and appreciation for all members of its community and will not tolerate any harassment or disrespect for persons because of race, gender, age, color, national origin, ethnicity, creed, religion, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, marital status, or relationship to other university constituents.
Resources for Students
Writing Services at the University Learning Center DePaolo Hall 1003 910.962.7857 http://www.uncw.edu/ulc/writing/index.html (Links to an external site.)
1. The Writing Center (DE 1003) provides one-on-one, face-to-face writing consultations led by faculty-recommended peer writing tutors who are trained to help students develop specific revision plans. Visit our website to schedule an appointment: http://www.uncw.edu/ulc/writing/center.html
2. Students can also receive an electronic response to their developing papers through our Online Writing & Learning (OWL) program. Please note that this service takes longer than scheduling a one-on-one appointment. Visit our website for a variety of writing resources: handouts, guides, useful links, and the Online Consultation link: http://www.uncw.edu/ulc/writing/owl.html (Links to an external site.)
3. Students can drop-in at our Writing Lab (DE 1003) for help with quick questions about their developing papers. The Writing Lab is staffed with a writing tutor, and has a few computers and other writing resources for students. Check out the Writing Lab schedule here: http://www.uncw.edu/ulc/writing/lab.html
Library
The Randall Library (Links to an external site.) offers a variety of services, technology and study spaces to meet the educational needs of students.
Check the Randall Library hours (Links to an external site.) or contact (Links to an external site.) the library by phone, chat, or text.
All assignments should be typed in double space format in Times New Roman (serif font) in 12 point. Hand written assignments will not be accepted.
Click for Course Schedule Fall 2021
COURSE MATERIALS AND POWER POINT SLIDES
Introduction to writing and composition PPT (8/20)
TED Talk: How YouTube Changed The Essay?
Descriptive Essay PPT(8/27)
TSIS_Reading 1(9/3)
Rhetorical Analysis PPT (9/13)
Why Teens Take RiskTSIS reading (9/22)
Visual Rhetorical Analysis Guide (9/24)
Argumentation PPT (10/6)
TOULMIN PPT (10/13)
Writing for Clarity PPT (11/8)
Argument Sample PDF (11/10)
Presenting your Position PPT 11/17
MLA Guidelines PPT 11/19
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
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