University at Buffalo

Spring 2004

English 102:  Writing 2

Sections E1  MWF 12-12:50 Clemens 206

F2  MWF 1-1:50 Clemens 108

G2  MWF 2-2:50  Clemens 108

H1  MWF  3-3:50  Clemens 108

 

Credit hours:  3           Prerequisite:  Appropriate test score

Instructor:  Ms. Jane Adam      Office:  644 Clemens

Office hours:  M 4-4:50 pm, W 11-11:50 am      email: adam@buffalo.edu          

 

 Required texts:  (available at University Bookstore)

McQuade & Atwan, The Writer’s Presence: A Pool of Readings 4th  ed.

Harris, Prentice Hall Guide to Grammar and Usage 5th ed.

Also Required:

--Pocket folder

--Access to computer or word processor--all essays must be typed double spaced in 12 pt font

  (see p. 341 in Prentice Hall Guide for format example)

 

Course Objectives:  English 102 gives you the opportunity to  further develop your logic, argument

and research skills.  You will learn what you need to write 5-10 page papers at the university level: you will work with complex and substantial ideas, do sufficient research to discover a variety of sources, incorporate and document information from these sources in your own writing,  and gain control of basic skills including organization, grammar, mechanics and usage. You will grow in your ability to analyze, evaluate and appreciate others’ writing, including literary texts.  You will have a chance to develop your own distinctive writing voice in a variety of writing assignments.

                The class will work toward these objectives through reading and discussion, informal in-class writing, and invention, drafting, and revising of formal essays and a research paper--with input at every stage from instructor and peers.  To demonstrate your progress as a writer and to motivate yourself to think critically about your education, you will keep all your written work throughout the semester, and you will revise some of your essays for your final portfolio.

 

Coursework

                Short Essays (five total, length 1-2 pages, topic choices TBA)—on very specific topics, these will help you develop skills and content to use in longer writings.

                Longer Essays (two total, length approx. 5-6 pages, topic choices TBA)—these will draw on assigned reading, class discussion, personal reflection, and researched information.  For each one, you will write a draft and at least one revision, as well as a cover letter.

                Informal Writings and Grammar Exercises--to be done in or out of class, individually , or in small groups as announced;  completeness will count toward final grade. You will also analyze and reflect on some of these in your  final portfolios.

                Group Activities will include discussions and presentations from assigned reading, plus draft workshops for formal essays.  Participation will count toward final grade.

                Assigned Reading—Essays in The Writer’s Presence  will provide the subject matter  for most class discussion and both formal and informal writing assignments.  We will use The Prentice Hall Guide to review basics in class as needed; you will also use it independently to work on your individual grammar problems and to find guidelines for MLA documentation.  Unannounced quizzes will be given as necessary.

                Research Paper (10 pages)—Topic choices will be related to our reading and class discussion—specifics to be announced.  You will use MLA documentation and follow a research process, with thesis statement, working bibliography, annotated bibliography, oral presentation (5 minutes), draft, and first revision due earlier in the semester; final revision due at the end.

 

 

 

Coursework cont.

Final Portfolio--includes further revisions of  your research paper and some of your longer essays along with a letter of reflection on your development as a writer. You must keep all of your notes, drafts and revisions throughout the semester to include in this portfolio.

Extra Credit—(up to 5 points total) brief and very specific research assignments that will enhance class discussion. 

Conferences:  Each student will meet with the instructor at least twice: at midterm and before final portfolio is due.

 

Grades

                You will receive a letter (or number equivalent) grade on your short and long essays, research paper, and oral presentation.  You will have a chance to revise your longer essays and research paper for improved grades.    You must give an oral presentation and turn in all of the short and longer essays, the research paper with all its components, and a final portfolio--along with a minimum number of informal writings and in-class activities--in order to pass the course.  Your coursework will then be weighted as follows to determine your final grade:

 

                15%  --  Short Essays

                20%  --  Longer Essays

                35%  --  Research Paper and components

                10%  --  Final Portfolio

10%  --  Group Activities, in-class (informal) writing activities, cover letters, quizzes 

10%  --  Engagement (attitude, effort, class participation, cooperation)                

 

Final Portfolios are due Monday, April 26, 2004.  No late portfolios will be accepted.

 

Policies

 

Attendance--You are allowed four absences without penalty. For each additional absence up to eight, your final grade may be lowered.  However, if you are absent nine or more times, you will fail the course automatically.  Attendance will be taken in every class, but be sure to keep track of your own attendance also.  You are still responsible for all material covered and assignments due; contact a classmate to find out what you have missed.

 

Late or Missed Assignments—If you turn in a graded assignment up to one week (3 class periods) late, your grade will be lowered 1/3 letter grade (for example B+ =B).  After the first week, you will lose one full letter grade for each class period the assignment is late (B=C).   If you do not bring a draft on peer review workshop days, you will be counted absent.  Emailed papers will not be accepted.

 

Classroom Behavior—Constant inappropriate behavior, including tardiness, talking out of turn, and doing work from other classes, will not be tolerated  (see Engagement, above).

               

Plagiarism is the unacknowledged use of someone else’s words, ideas, or information.  One plagiarized essay will earn you an F for that assignment.  A second plagiarized essay will earn you an F for the course.  If you are unsure whether you are using someone  else’s words or ideas appropriately in your writing, ask for advice early in the writing process!

 

Incompletes--Only those students who have fulfilled the attendance requirements for this course and completed all but one of the written assignments are eligible for an Incomplete grade.

 

 

 

 

English 102    Adam    Spring 2004

 

 

Schedule

PH=Prentice Hall Reference Guide      WP=The Writer’s Presence

 

1/12  introduction

1/14  introduction cont. .  Letter of introduction due (a 1-2 page typed double spaced letter introducing yourself as a person, student & writer.  Include quick description of your last English course and your strengths & weaknesses as a writer).

1/16  Read pp 1-15 in Prentice Hall Guide, 1-2 and 8-10 in WP. Discuss writing process.

            In-class writing sample based on reading.

 

1/19  Martin Luther King Day—no class

1/21  Read  in WP: Cunningham 335-340, Tan 260-265; in PH: 61-65. Discuss  

assignment for Short Essay #1.

1/23  Draft of Short #1 due for Peer Review Workshop.  

 

1/26  Short #1 due.  Read in WP: Sante 508-514.  Discuss Longer Essay #1.

1/28  Read in WP:  Gladwell 389-396, Cole 327-334.  Discussion cont. 

1/30  Assignment to be announced

 

2/2  Plagiarism exercise

2/4  Grammar Review—assignment TBA

2/6 Draft of Long #1 due for Peer Review

 

 

 

English 102    Adam    Spring 2004

 

 

Schedule Continued

PH=Prentice Hall Reference Guide      WP=The Writer’s Presence

 

2/9    Long Essay #1 (stage one) due

2/11  In PH read 23-34.  In WP Easterbrook 632-636, Fish 643-646

2/13  Short essay #2 to be written in class (On finding an article & choosing material for long #1)

 

2/16  In WP read Gibson 651-654, Sunstein 770-775, Monette 716-719

2/18  In WP read Swift 776-784 and Singer 759-765  Discuss Long #2 & Short #3 (grammar report)

2/20  Peer review for Longer Essay #1 (Stage 2)

 

2/23 Longer Essay #1 (Stage 2) due.  Discuss research topics.

2/25  Discussion cont.— In PH read 269-272, review 272-278

2/27  conferences.  Self-Evaluation letter and Short essay #3 due one day before your conference.

 

3/1  conferences

3/3  conferences

3/5  Discuss research topics

 

3/8   Reading TBA.  Draft of Longer Essay #2 due for peer review

3/10 Reading TBA.  Discussion continued. Library orientation (tentative).

3/12 Longer Essay #2 revision 1 due

 

3/15-3/19   Spring Break

 

3/22  Research topic proposal & tentative thesis due—informal presentations

3/24  Discussion cont.—reading TBA

3/26  Reading TBA.  Discuss oral presentation. 

 

3/29   Short essay #4 due (public speaking)

3/31   Oral presentations.  Research outline and working bibliography due.

4/2     Oral presentations

 

4/5    Oral presentations

4/7    Oral presentations.  Short essay #5 due (on interview or survey)

4/9    Research paper draft and Annotated bibliography due.  Peer review.

 

4/12  Revision workshop.  Research paper revision 1 due.

4/14  Revision workshop.

4/16  Revision workshop

 

4/19  Conferences/revision

4/21  Conferences/revision

4/23  Conferences/revision

 

4/26  Final portfolio due.