WR 122 Syllabus - Winter 2008

WR 122 Syllabus - Winter 2008 - Instructor: Cora Agatucci
English Composition II - 3 Credits
CRN #10205 - Tues & Thurs 10:15 - 11:30 a.m., Modoc 220
URL of this web page: http://web.cocc.edu/cagatucci/classes/wr122/syllabus.htm

WEBTIP: To ensure that you are viewing the latest version of this & other course webpages that
you re-visit on your internet browser (e.g. MS Explorer or Netscape), please click "Refresh" or "Reload."

Required Textbook:

Crusius, Timothy W., and Carolyn E. Channell. Aims of Argument: A Brief
Guide. 5th ed. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2006.
[ISBN 0-07-296130-9] Available for purchase from COCC Bookstore

Other Course Requirements:

--Final Drafts of formal graded writing assignments must be typed/word processed: see WR 122 Course Grading, Plagiarism Policy and Manuscript Form below.
--Capability to provide translatable electronic copies of formal graded writing assignments, as well as multiple paper copies of selected writing assignments, as required.
--Some research and online reading assignments will also be required.
--Electronic Mail account and dependable access to internet browser and computer with robust word processing software [e.g. recent version of Microsoft Word] - all of which are available free to currently registered COCC students with a COCC Student E-Mail / Network Account:
http://computerlabs.cocc.edu/Student+Accounts/Student+Network+Account/default.aspx
If you don’t have dependable home or work access to a personal computer with these capabilities, you can use COCC’s Bend campus computers during open Computer Lab hours in Pioneer Hall 200, COCC Library Rm. 118, and/or Cascades Hall 101. Learn more about available resources: see Additional WR 122 Recommendations & Resources below.

Recommended Prerequisites for WR 122:
(or, Are you ready for WR 122?)

Students are best prepared to succeed in WR 122, who have successfully completed Writing 121 (grade of "C" or better) or equivalent preparation, which means Cora assumes that students entering WR 122 are already able to:

--(a) Write essays that use a thesis to establish control over content; supply relevant and adequate supporting details drawn from observation, personal experience and responsive reading; employ the organizational strategies of effective beginnings, transitions, and endings; and conform to standard edited English.
--(b) Demonstrate the ability to use a variety of expository essay patterns, such as definition, classification, analysis, problem-solution, and comparison-contrast.
--(c) Employ one or more sources responsibly (without plagiarizing) in a summary or another writing assignment.
--(d) Demonstrate, in an essay, a sustained style employing rhetorically effective tone, persona, diction, idiom, and syntax.
--(e) Use critical reading and writing to analyze and synthesize ideas in an academic writing sample, identifying rhetorical patterns, major assertions, and supporting details.
--(f) Complete appropriate written (and oral) critical peer reviews of other students' essay drafts, including suggestions for revision and editing.
--(g) Complete written reviews (formal or informal) of the student's own writing strengths and weaknesses, including effective self-prescriptions for improvement.
--(h) Demonstrate, monitor, and articulate the complete idiosyncratic process that the individual writer uses to complete an essay, including such steps as invention, thesis formation, organization, drafting, revising, editing, and proofreading.
--(i) Demonstrate an awareness of a variety of purposes and audiences.

Additional WR 122 Recommendations & Resources

A handbook, college dictionary, thesaurus
COCC Writing Lab when you need extra help with writing assignments for this or other classes. Writing Lab is located in the lower level of the COCC Library. Writing Lab hours will be announced during Week #2 of the term. Tutoring is on a drop-in, first come first serve basis.
Basic College-Level Academic Research Skills or concurrent enrollment in Library 127 will also be helpful with the research-based project.
Basic Computer Competencies. Competency in using word processing software will be invaluable in preparing required copies of preliminary drafts, as well as in revising these drafts and preparing final drafts of formal WR 122 writing assignments. Furthermore, student-instructor access and timely conferencing is greatly expanded when COCC students use electronic mail (via their personal and/or College network accounts) to contact Cora. Finally, students' ability to use an internet browser to access online WR 122 course, COCC Library, and WWW resources is also invaluable.

Student Accounts: http://computerlabs.cocc.edu/Student+Accounts/default.aspx
COCC Accounts: http://its.cocc.edu/Info/Accounts/default.aspx
Student Network Account:
http://computerlabs.cocc.edu/Student+Accounts/Student+Network+Account/default.aspx
Help: http://computerlabs.cocc.edu/Student+Accounts/Help/default.aspx
Drop-In Computer Lab Hours:
http://computerlabs.cocc.edu/Lab+Facilities/Hours/default.aspx
Off-Campus Services for COCC Patrons:
http://campuslibrary.cocc.edu/Library+Services/Connect/default.aspx
Redmond Campus: http://redmondcampus.cocc.edu/default.aspx
Virus Information: http://virus.cocc.edu/
Computing: Ask COCC for Help: http://computerlabs.cocc.edu/support.aspx
Maps: http://directory.cocc.edu/maps/default.aspx
If you have any questions or need more information, you can also contact Computer Lab Coordinator: Telephone:(541) 383-7719 (or ext. 7719), or stop by the Computer Lab Office: Pioneer 200 - Room 200E.

WR 122 Course Learning Outcomes:
(or, What will you learn in WR 122?)

Upon successful completion of WR 122 (with a grade of "C" or better), students will be able to:

Outcome 1. Demonstrate the ability to use a variety of analytical and argumentative essay patterns, such as evaluation of a published argument, comparative analysis of sources, persuasion, argumentation synthesis.

Outcome 2. Demonstrate the ability to use several quotations from either published sources or interviews, which are (1) integrated into the student's own writing (at both the paragraph and the sentence level), and (2) correctly documented according to some currently accepted practice.

Outcome 3: Demonstrate the ability to adopt a persona or tone that serves one's persuasive purposes in written argument, and to identify and anticipate audience considerations (e.g. readers' knowledge, assumptions, beliefs/values, attitudes, needs) in the selection of evidence and presentation of the writer's argument.

Outcome 4: Summarize published arguments and analyze components of written arguments, such as claim, support (including the distinction between observation and inference, fact and opinion), warrants, assumptions, logic, rebuttals, credibility, psychological appeals, connotation, tone, slanted language, irony.

Outcome 5: Use writing to provide a peer with alternative viewpoints and suggestions for revising and editing.

Outcome 6: Adopt a writing process to incorporate the special concerns of arguments such as analyzing opposing viewpoints, synthesizing personal opinions with written sources, thesis formation, organization, drafting, revising, editing and proofreading.

Outcome 7: Analyze and evaluate one's own argument, identifying strengths, weaknesses and potential biases, assumptions--and suggest some means of improving his or her argumentative practice.

Approved by Composition Committee, rev. 4-14-99

WR 122 Course Grading All assignments are designed to help students achieve above WR 122 Learning Outcomes.
10%	Preparation/Participation Credits [PC] - "PC" points awarded based on thoughtful work completion of skill-building assignments & participation in class activities (e.g. Exercises, preparation of Preliminary Draft copies, Writer's Workshops participation). A limited number of Late/"Make-Up" of "PC" assignments/activities may be permitted by arrangement with Cora, but may
10%	Formal Academic Summary - letter graded. Revision Option will be offered if Final Draft is submitted on time. Late papers will be penalized 1/2 letter grade.
20%	Critical Response Essay (rhetorical analysis & evaluation of a published argument) - letter graded. Revision Option will be offered only if Final Draft is submitted on time. Late papers will be penalized at least 1/2 letter grade.
40%	Research-Based Argument Essay, using at least 3 sources, with a thesis focused on one arguable issue and designated purpose to Convince, Persuade, or Mediate - letter graded. Scored preparatory assignments planned include (1) Topic Proposal & Annotated Bibliography, (2) Comparative Analyses of Sources & Audience Positions, (3) Detailed Outline of Argument Essay, and (4) Writer's Workshops copies preparation & participation. Final draft of this Research-based Argument Essay must be submitted in both correctly formatted paper (hard) copy in class, and in translatable electronic form via email, or it will NOT be accepted for grading. Electronic version will be submitted to Turnitin to test for plagiarism: see also Plagiarism Policy below. Revision Option will be offered only if submission requirements are met on time. Late paper and electronic submissions will be penalized at least 1/2 letter grade.
20%	"Take Home" Final (Persuasive) Essay: Recommended Practices for Analyzing & Writing Arguments - letter graded - plus WR 122 Learning Outcomes Survey. NO LATE FINAL ESSAYS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Plagiarism Policy

Plagiarism Policy: Plagiarism—intended or not—is a serious violation of academic honesty and legal intellectual property rights. Proper citations and documentation of any sources that you quote, paraphrase, and/or summarize in your writing are required whenever you borrow the words, facts, and/or ideas of others. NOTE WELL that even putting others’ ideas into your own words still means you are borrowing, and you need to give credit where credit is due.

To avoid plagiarism, source(s) must be cited and documented, both:

(a) at the point in your papers where the borrowing occurs (using parenthetical citations for most documentation styles), and

(b) in complete bibliographical entries for all sources cited, usually listed at the end of formal essays and research papers.

Quick and acceptable ways of citing your sources, using MLA style, in written assignments will be discussed further in class and/or in assignment direction handouts.

Plagiarism in any WR 122 formal writing assignment is grounds for an "F" on that assignment. Note that the research-based Argument Essay must be submitted in both paper (hard) copy and translatable electronic form, or it will NOT be accepted for grading. Electronic version will be submitted to Turnitin to test for plagiarism. See also WR 122 Course Grading above.

Manuscript Form

Manuscript Form: The Final Drafts of letter-graded writing assignments must:

be typed or word processed using a standard, readable font & point size;
be double spaced;
be printed on only one side of standard-sized (8 1/2" X 11") white paper;
have one-inch margins on all four sides of each printed page;
avoid plagiarism & cite sources (see above);
be carefully edited before submission for grading
be properly identified with standard MLA-style Heading and Running-Page Headers:

MLA-style Heading (see example below), placed on the first page in the upper left-hand corner (please do not prepare a separate title page) - Example:

Janet Mikulski (your name)
Writing 122, Prof. C. Agatucci (identify course & instructor)
Formal Academic Summary - Final Draft (identify assignment)
24 January 2008 (identify date assignment is due)

MLA-style Running Page Header (see example below) placed in the
upper right-hand corner on subsequent pages - Example:

Mikulski 2
(your last name and the page number)