SYLLABUS

ENGLISH 101

Fall 2008

Section 8: 1:00-2:15 TTh (Room S117)

Instructor: Greg Ahrenhoerster

Home Phone: (414) 961-3297

Office Phone: (262) 521-5479

E-mail: greg.ahrenhoerster@uwc.edu

Office: W131

Office hours: 9:00-11:00 MWF and by appointment

Course website: <http://waukesha.uwc.edu/eng/gahrenho/101syllabus.htm>

HANDOUTS:

Reading Notes form

PREREQUIUSITES: grade of C or better in English 098 or exemption through sufficiently high placement test score

REQUIRED TEXTS:  A Writer’s Resource. Second Edition. Elaine Maimon, Janice Peritz, and Kathleen Blake Yancy.

Mirror on America. Third Edition. Joan T. Mims and Elizabeth Nollen.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:  The main course objective is to prepare you for future college writing assignments (particularly those in ENG 102).  We will focus on the following objectives:

·         The ability to write coherent, well-developed sentences, paragraphs, and essays, with particular emphasis upon creating appropriate and effective topic sentences and thesis statements.

·         The ability to generate an essay from the original pre-writing through stages of revision to the finished product.

·         The ability to follow rules of appropriate diction and mechanical and grammatical conventions.

·         The ability to read critically, especially to analyze and evaluate essays in terms of their authors’ writing techniques.

REQUIREMENTS:  You will be required to write seven developed (5-10 paragraph long) essays this semester (five out of class and two in class); you will also keep reading notes; complete editing journal assignments; and actively participate in all classroom activities, including discussions and peer-review sessions.

The five out-of-class papers must be computer generated, double-spaced, with one-inch margins.  You are all welcome and encouraged to use the computers in the Study Center or Computer Center. 

The in-class writing assignments should be as neatly written as possible and on lined paper.

GRADING: (5) Out-of-class papers (500 pts)

            Midterm impromptu essay (50 pts)

Final Exam impromptu essay (100 pts)

            (5) Editing Journals (100 pts)

            Attendance and participation in class (100 pts)      

            Reading Notes (100 pts)

            Draft review days (50 pts)

As you can see, there are 1000 possible points available; I will assign final grades based on the following scale: 

        93-100% = A   80-82% = B-   67-69% = D+

        90-92% = A-   77-79% = C+   63-66% = D

        87-89% = B+   73-76% = C    60-62% = D-

        83-86% = B    70-72% = C-   below 60% = F

IMPORTANT NOTE: You must get a “C” or better in this course in order to move on to English 102.

REVISION:  You will be allowed to revise one of the papers after I have graded it and returned it to you. However, you must have an individual conference with me about the paper before revising it.  This will be explained more thoroughly later in the semester.

ATTENDANCE:  It is the policy of the UW-Waukesha English department that students who miss the equivalent of more than three weeks of any composition class cannot pass the class.  Thus, except in extraordinary circumstances, any student with more than six unexcused absences (excused absences are defined by federal law) will receive an automatic “F.” 

NOTE: When I take attendance, I keep track of who is late to class. For the purposes of the attendance policy, I will equate two “lates” to one absence.

Please note that missed classes will negatively affect your “Attendance and Participation” grade and papers will be deducted five (5) points if they are one class late and ten (10) points if they are two or more classes late. 

NOTE: You are each allowed to use one “Free Late Paper” coupon, included at the end of this syllabus. 

Please contact me as soon as possible if you anticipate missing classes or being unable to complete an assignment on time.

ACADEMIC HONESTY:  The Board of regents, administrators, faculty, academic staff, and students of the University of Wisconsin system believe that academic honesty and integrity are fundamental to the mission of higher education and of the University of Wisconsin System.  The University has a responsibility to promote academic honesty and integrity and to develop procedures to deal effectively with instances of academic dishonesty.  Students are responsible for the honest completion and representation of their work, for the appropriate citation of sources, and for respect for others’ academic endeavors.  Students who violate these standards must be confronted and must accept the consequences of their actions.

HELP:  Please see me if you have any questions about an assignment or need help.  I respond to e-mails fairly promptly. I am also in my office quite a bit (especially in the morning and early afternoon, except when I am teaching, of course). Feel free to come in and ask me a question.

I also strongly recommend making use of the writing tutors in the Study Center.  You will be required to have another person thoughtfully read over drafts of your essays before handing them in.  You can also work with a writing tutor via e-mail with the UW-Waukesha Online Writing Lab, located at http://waukesha.uwc.edu/academics/owl/

Students with physical disabilities that will in any way affect their work in this class should let me know so that I can work with them.  Also, such students should contact an advisor in Student Services to make arrangements for any necessary special services.

ASSESSMENT: The UW Colleges-wide assessment program was established to enhance the quality and effectiveness of the curriculum, programs, and services of the institution.  The institution-wide assessment activities focus on analytical, quantitative, communication, and aesthetic skills because they are of primary importance in the general education of our students.  This semester, students in composition will be assessed on communication skills, specifically the ability to demonstrate a large and varied vocabulary.

Each department also conducts assessment activities that address discipline-specific learning goals.  This year, the English Department is researching the effectiveness of the English placement exam.  As a part of this project, students may be asked to complete one or two impromptu writing assignments.

CALENDAR:  This schedule is subject to change and is provided primarily to give you an idea of the subjects we will be covering and let you know when major assignments are due so you can plan your life accordingly.  Many days there will be a scheduled reading from Mirror on America; I will expect you to have the essay read and reading notes completed before class on the day on which it appears.  Classroom discussions and writing assignments will frequently involve these essays so…

KEEP UP WITH YOUR READING AND YOUR READING NOTES.

CALENDAR

FREE!

ONE LATE PAPER AT NO PENALTY

This coupon entitles bearer to turn in his/her paper one class late without penalty.  Bearer must be enrolled in Prof. Ahrenhoerster’s English 101 course.  Each student can only use one coupon per semester.  Coupon is non-transferable and has no cash value.

Student’s Name_________________________________ Date______________