Course Requirements


This course's activities center around five major components:
For individual due dates, see the Syllabus. These major components, plus the others listed below, will be weighted as follows in determining students' final grades:

    Essays40%
    Journal20%
    Project15%
    Exams10%
    Quizzes and Homework10%
    Class Participation and Notes5%
    Grade Weights

ESSAYS

Students will complete four, timed (60 minute), in-class essays on assigned topics, and two extensive rewrites and revisions of those essays. In-class essays should be written in black ink on one side of college-ruled paper, skipping every other line. The student's name, SS#, class, instructor's name, and date should appear in the upper-left-hand corner of the first page; all pages must have the student's last name followed by the page number in the upper-right-hand corner 1/2-inch from the top.
Rewrites are an integral part of the writing process, so students will revise and rewrite their two in-class essays. All rewrites must be typed, double-spaced, and contain the student's name, SS#, class, instructor's name, and date in the upper-left-hand corner of the first page; all pages must have the student's last name followed by the page number in the upper-right-hand corner 1/2-inch from the top. Additionally, the essay's title should be centered and appear directly before the introduction. If you use a wordprocessor, use a twelve-point font (no smaller or larger) and refrain from superfluous underlining, bolding, etc. Whenever you turn in a rewrite, always include a copy of the previously graded essay.
Since this is a writing class, essays will be weighted most heavily in the grading process. Two aspects of essays are critical in the grading process: mechanics and content. Always proofread any writing before submission.

JOURNAL ENTRIES

Students are required to keep a weekly written response on assigned topics; there are a total of fourteen (14) journal entries for the semester, seven (7) of which will be due before midterm. Each journal entry must have a minimum of 350 words and must be kept in the student's spiral notebook. See Journal Prompts. Each topic should be cut and pasted into the student's notebook at the beginning of his/her journal entry. In-class directions will follow. The journal must be complete before the student will pass the class.

GRAMMAR PRESENTATIONS

Each student will be required to present a short, ten-minute lecture on an assigned aspect of grammar. The student will also prepare a handout on his/her topic for the class members to save and reference in their portfolios. Students must be as thorough as possible on their topics, but may perform the presentation in a manner of their choosing. A sign-up sheet on topics will be passed around during the second week of class.
Even though a handout is required for each presentation, students are cautioned not simply to read their handouts as their presentations; any presentation that is read directly from the handout will receive a grade no higher than a "C." Student handouts will include an exercise on the topic with a 10-question minimum. These exercises will then be graded by the presenter, and given to the instructor with a grading key; questions should range from simple to difficult.

MID-TERM and FINAL EXAMS

Exams will be cumulative based primarily on class discussions, grammar presentations, grammar and writing exercises, and reading. A more detailed explanation will follow in the exam reviews which will occur a week before the scheduled test.

QUIZZES and HOMEWORK

Quizzes and additional assignments will be given periodically without forewarning; they will be based upon lectures, assigned readings, and handouts. Take everything we do in class seriously--it may be on a quiz. The lowest quiz grade will be dropped.

NOTES

Students must keep thorough notes, both from classroom lecture and individual reading. Even if students are absent, they are held responsible for obtaining missed notes. Notes should not only reflect good listening skills, but individual interest in every topic discussed in class. Students are encouraged to individually research topics discussed in class. Although notes will not receive a grade, they should be diligently kept in all classes. One should always endeavor to improve note-taking skills.

CLASS PARTICIPATION

Regular class attendance and active participation in classroom discussion are required. Additional assistance can be obtained from the instructor during office hours, by appointment, or by email.

ENC 1101



 24 June 1998; 2.0