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W r i t i n g 1 2 2 – 0 3  E n g l i s h C o m p o s i t i o n

Spring 2009  178300  MWF 10:15-11:20 A.M.  B241B  4 Cr.

Ryan Davis, Clackamas Community College English Department

Office: Rook 233  Office Hours: M 1-3 / T 10-12 / W 1-3

Phone: 503.657.6958 x 5137  Email: ryand@clackamas.edu

Class Webpage: http://www.portlandwt.com/schoolhome.htm

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION  Writing 122 is the second of a three-term sequence of English Composition courses.  The prerequisite for entry is a "C" or better in Writing 121 or its equivalent.  In this course, you will learn how to conscientiously read, view, and write argumentative and persuasive essays.  Reading and viewing others' essays and arguments critically, then analyzing and discussing them, will help polish your own style and presentation of content in your writing.  In this course, you will write two 2-page papers and three 3-page papers.

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES  Upon completing WR 122, a student should be able to

  • understand and use principles of argumentation and persuasion

  • recognize and explain rhetorical devices

  • explain and apply logical methods

  • identify and explain logical fallacies and assumptions in others’ and in his or her own writing

  • examine and apply principles of documentation

  • read professionally-written essays critically, and analyze and discuss them, paying attention to style as well as content.

  • write a logical essay using the principles of logic and argumentation from 122 and the principles of composition from 121

 

REQUIRED TEXT AND TOOLS

  • Wood, Nancy V.  Essentials of Argument.  2nd. ed.  Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2006.  ISBN: 0136003338

  • You will need four tools to pass this class, all of which can be used in the Streeter Hall Academic Computer Lab (http://cs.clackamas.edu/cs/streeter/):

    • a working computer to write your papers

    • the Internet to view the course webpage and readings and conduct research (please check the course webpage regularly)

    • a printer to print your papers

    • an active email account with an appropriate user ID to communicate with me and receive announcements and supplemental information (please check your email regularly)

CLASS POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Attendance

  • Any student with seven or more absences will automatically fail the course.

  • If absent, please obtain missed information from another student or the course website.  I cannot summarize an entire class, so do not ask me what you missed.

  • If you are absent when a paper is due, you are still responsible for turning the work in on time.  Workshops cannot be made up.

  • If you stop attending class and do not officially drop or withdraw, you will receive an "F" for the course. It is your responsibility to take care of your GPA and college record.

 

Work Submitted

  • All papers must be turned in to pass the class.  If you do not turn in even one paper, you will fail the class.

  • All assignments written outside of class must be word processed, following all MLA guidelines.

  • Please save your assignments in Rich Text Format in Microsoft Word, so they can be recognized by most computers.

  • Please keep all assignments on your hard drive, a portable storage device, a CD-ROM, and in your email account.  Printer issues and lost work are not excuses.

  • Please only turn in assignments on their due dates, after we have completely covered their content and guidelines in class.

  • Forbidden Topics: Abortion, Sports, Cars, Marijuana, and Mission Trips.

 

Assignment Timeliness, Length, and Delivery

  • Late papers automatically earn a “D” (after class is dismissed on the due date, your work is late).  There are no excuses for late work.

  • Assignments shorter than the full announced page length automatically earn a “C” (if I ask for 3 pages and you turn in 2.95 pages, you will receive a "C").

  • Late and short work automatically earns an "F."

  • If you do not have a paper draft to workshop, you must still attend class to critique your group's papers.

  • No emailed paper will be accepted unless I previously approve it.

 

Revision

  • Papers 1-4 earning an initial grade of "D" or "F" may each be revised once.

  • The revision must be turned in within one week of the initial paper's return, and must be accompanied by the initial paper containing my marks.  No exceptions.

  • No late or short papers may be revised.

  • The revision must be substantial—do not simply "fix" the marked areas.  You must rewrite the paper, starting from the foundation and moving up.

 

Effective Learning

  • Creating and maintaining a safe and civil environment depends on all of us, so please respect your classmates in class.  If you do not, you will be told to leave class.

  • Please be on time so that you do not disrupt class.

  • You may eat and drink in class, but please, nothing noisy or smelly.

  • All cell phones must be turned off.  If you are texting during class, I will ask you to leave.

  • No visitors in class.

  • While I encourage discussion in class, if you disagree with any aspect of the course, consult with me before or after class or during my office hours.  I have structured the course this way based on years of experience.  I will not use class time for disagreements.

 

Assignments and Grading

  • Assignments

    • Email address: By Friday of the first week, send me an email with your full name, class, and section in the subject line so I can create a BCC mailing list with your contact information.

    • Diagnostic Writing Sample: In the first week of class, you will write a brief essay I will use to gauge your initial writing skills.

    • Workshops:  You will bring in two (2) copies of complete rough drafts of your papers and read and critique each others' papers in groups of three.

      • Paper 1 Workshop (2-page Letter to the Editor)

      • Paper 2 Workshop (2-page Bumper Sticker Analysis)

      • Paper 3 Workshop (3-page Position Statement #1)

      • Paper 4 Workshop (3-page Position Statement #2)

      • Paper 5 Workshop (3-page Petition Statement)

    • Papers: You will bring in polished final drafts of your papers to turn in for grades.  These final drafts will incorporate suggestions offered by your groups and your own ideas for improvements.

      • Paper 1 (2-page Letter to the Editor)

      • Paper 2 (2-page Bumper Sticker Analysis)

      • Paper 3 (3-page Position Statement #1)

      • Paper 4 (3-page Position Statement #2)

      • Paper 5 (3-page Petition Statement)

  • All work and final grades will be scored on the following scale:  A 100-90 / B 89.99-80 / C 79.99-70 / D 69.99-60 / F 59.99 or below.  I do not round grades up.

  • The grade breakdown for the course is as follows:

    • 1%      Email address

    • 4%      Diagnostic Writing Sample

    • 5%      Paper 1 Workshop (2-page Letter to the Editor)

    • 10%    Paper 1 (2-page Letter to the Editor)

    • 5%      Paper 2 Workshop (2-page Bumper Sticker Analysis)

    • 10%    Paper 2 (2-page Bumper Sticker Analysis)

    • 5%      Paper 3 Workshop (3-page Position Statement #1)

    • 15%    Paper 3 (3-page Position Statement #1)

    • 5%      Paper 4 Workshop (3-page Position Statement #2)

    • 15%    Paper 4 (3-page Position Statement #2)

    • 5%      Paper 5 Workshop (3-page Petition Statement)

    • 20%    Paper 5 (3-page Petition Statement)

COURSE SCHEDULE (subject to change with sufficient notice)

WEEK 1

3/30    Course Introduction

4/1      Diagnostic writing sample

4/3      Ch. 1

4/4      Last day to add classes without instructor signature (end of first week)

 

WEEK 2
4/6      Ch. 1 / Appendix 1 (MLA)

4/8      Ch. 2 / MLA

4/10    Ch. 2 & 3 / Last day to drop full-term classes and receive full refund

 

WEEK 3
4/13    Ch. 3

4/15    Paper 1 Workshop (2-page Letter to the Editor)

4/17    Paper 1 due (2-page Letter to the Editor) / Ch. 3 / MLA

 

WEEK 4

4/20    Ch. 4

4/22    Ch. 4 & 5
4/24    Ch. 5

 

WEEK 5
4/27    Ch. 11
4/29    Paper 2 Workshop (2-page Bumper Sticker Analysis)

5/1      Paper 2 due (2-page Bumper Sticker Analysis)

 

WEEK 6

5/4      Ch. 5

5/6      Ch. 6 & 10

5/8      Ch. 6 & 10 / MLA / $75 late fee will be assessed on any outstanding account balance

5/9      Last day to drop classes without responsibility for grade (end of sixth week)

 

WEEK 7

5/11    Paper 3 Workshop  (3-page Position Statement #1)

5/13    Paper 3 due  (3-page Position Statement #1) /

5/15    Ch. 7

 

WEEK 8

5/18    Ch. 7

5/20    Ch. 8

5/22    Ch. 8

5/23    Last day to make changes to schedule (end of eighth week)

 

WEEK 9

5/25    Memorial Day—No Class!

5/27    Paper 4 Workshop (3-page Position Statement #2)

5/29    Paper 4 due (3-page Position Statement #2) / Ch. 9

 

WEEK 10

6/1      Ch. 9

6/3      Ch. 9

6/5      Paper 5 Workshop (3-page Petition Statement)

 

WEEK 11

Paper 5 (3-page Petition Statement) and SASE due Monday, 8 June 2009, at 10 A.M.

 

POSSIBLE TOPICS

You may choose a general direction or topic by combining one idea from Column A with one idea from Column B:

 

A

Television

Film

Advertising

Music

Technology

A NW Issue

 

B

Gender

Race/Ethnicity

Censorship

Law or Politics

Environment

Social Responsibility

 

Click here to see a long list of past paper topics.

 

PLAGIARISM  According to the CCC Instructional Standards and Procedures, “A student who submits the work of another as her/his own or deliberately fails to properly credit words or ideas borrowed from another source is guilty of plagiarism.”  You must adhere to the following guidelines, borrowed from Clark College, regarding plagiarism:

 

What you need not acknowledge:

1.   Common knowledge. If most readers like yourself would likely know something, you need not cite it.

2.   Facts available from a wide variety of sources. If a number of textbooks, encyclopedias, or almanacs include the information, you need not cite it.

3.   Your own ideas and discoveries.

 

What you must acknowledge:

1.   Any direct quotation. You must place the exact words quoted in quotation marks.

2.   Paraphrases and summaries that provide background information, present facts not commonly known, and explain various positions on your topic.

3.   Arguable assertions. If an author presents an assertion that may or may not be true, you must cite the source.

4.   Statistics, charts, tables, and graphs from any source. You must credit all graphic material, even if you yourself create the graph.

 

Purchasing research papers and submitting them is plagiarism. Asking another party to write a paper for you is cheating, and, in this case, will be considered plagiarism. Resubmitting or rewriting a paper from another course for a new grade without alerting me is plagiarism. If you are guilty of plagiarism, you will automatically fail the course.

 

Remember—if you have any questions regarding plagiarism—ask me.

 

SUPPORT SERVICES

  • Writing Center: McLoughlin 112, writing@clackamas.edu, 503.657.6958 ext. 5310

  • Advising and Counseling Department: Bill Brod Community Center, 503.657.6958 x2213

  • Dana Library: M-Th 7:30 A.M.-9 P.M. / F 7:30 A.M.-5 P.M., 503.657.6958 x 2288

    • Your last name and either your CCC ID or library barcode number will act as your password for the following databases:

      • EBSCOHOST (Academic Search Premier, Business Source Premier, CINAHL, MEDLINE and many more indexes)

      • NewsBank (The Oregonian and The New York Times [2000-present])

      • ProQuest (The New York Times [Historical 1851-2002])

      • First Search (Article First and Worldcat databases)

      • CQ Researcher

      • Access Science

      • NetLibrary

      • Gale Virtual Reference Library

Updated: 21 May 2009