Writing 4

[ Class Information ] [ Materials/General Information ]
[ Course Description ] [ Class Objectives ] [ Grades ]

Spring 2002

Class Information

Class:	11:30 am to 12:35 pm MWF
Location:	Fourth Avenue Building 60-08
Instructor:	Gregry M. Davis
Office:	341 East Hall
Office hours:	Wednesday: 10:15-11:15 a.m.
Phone:	503 725-9196
E-mail:	davisg@pdx.edu	You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink!

Materials/General Information

REQUIRED: Packet (ask for Applied Linguistics 110/099, Writing 4, Davis) available from Clean Copy (1704 SW Broadway Ave.)

REQUIRED: An ODIN e-mail account (available after you get your PSU ID number at http://www.account.pdx.edu/setup/).

You will be expected to use WebCT (www.webct.pdx.edu) for sharing information. You will be required to post and reply to discussion messages, attach Word files, check the calendar for updates/assignments, and follow links to outside websites. There will be optional orientation sessions on how to use WebCT at the following times and locations:

Wednesday 3 April 11:00 am - 12:00 pm 322 Cramer Hall (PC side)	Thursday 4 April 5:00-6:00 pm 322 Cramer Hall (PC side)
Tuesday 9 April 10:00 - 11:00 am 322 Cramer Hall (PC side)	Wednesday 10 April 1:00 - 2:00 pm 322 Cramer Hall (PC side)

All phones/pagers/etc. should be turned off or set to vibrate during class time. If not, I will take the device away.

Course Description

In this course we will work on reading articles and writing about them in an American academic style.

We will study the following skills:

	writing summaries and responses to original sources provided by the teacher;
	writing an argumentative paper using a number of sources (including quoting, paraphrasing, summarizing appropriate excerpts from articles to support the student's own ideas);
	researching a topic (selecting and narrowing the topic, incorporating information provided by the teacher, using library/Internet references, interviewing and conducting surveys, notetaking, organizing/outlining information, incorporating and citing sources, creating a reference page);
	avoiding plagiarism through explanation and examples;
	paraphrasing and summarizing;
	using a computer for finding information and creating papers;
	conferencing with the teacher at various stages of the writing process.

Class Objectives

By the end of the term, you should be able to:

write 2-3 summaries or summaries and responses to original sources provided by the teacher;

write a 3-4 page guided argumentative paper synthesizing ideas from a number of sources into a format of the student's own organization;

	select and narrow a topic appropriate for an argumentative research paper;
	use MLA or APA documentation style correctly;
	take notes, summarize, and paraphrase concepts, cite sources, and develop a reference page;

type all drafts of writing;

contribute ideas for revision and improvement during student-teacher conferences;;

use Level 4 grammatical structures correctly in written assignments.

Grades

Grades will be based on participation/performance in the following areas:

In-class and out-of-class essays

	4 short papers (2 pages each)
	1 longer paper (4 pages)
	Several in-class papers

Assignments/Participation

	PARTICIPATION: This means coming to class on time, asking questions if you don't understand something, listening, participating in discussions both in class and online, and giving feedback to peers.
	HOMEWORK: You will have various homework assignments which are due at the beginning of the next class or by the assigned time.
	LATE OR MISSED ASSIGNMENTS: I do not accept late homework. If you miss a quiz or an in-class writing, you cannot make it up. If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to ask a classmate about the work you missed; you will still be responsible for the information you missed if it appears on an exam or a later assignment.

Attendance

	If you are more than 10 minutes late, you will be marked absent. However, please come to class even if you are late.
	There are no excused absences.
	Missing 3 classes will result in your final grade being lowered 10 percentage points.
	Missing 6 classes may result in your failing the course.
	If you miss class, you are responsible for all the information covered in class. Please get the telephone number or e-mail address of a classmate who is dependable. You will have to rely on him/her to give you information if you are absent.

Note: No student can pass this course without getting a passing grade on both organization and grammar appropriate to this level on an in-class essay. Such an essay will require students to use information paraphrased from one source provided by the teacher at the time of the essay.

This class is graded A - F.

Percent	Letter Grade
97-100%	A +	PASSING
93-96%	A
90-92%	A -
87-89%	B +
83-86%	B
80-82%	B -
77-79%	C +
73-76%	C
70-72%	C -
67-69%	D+	NOT PASSING
63-66%	D
60-62%	D -
0-59%	F

Send mail to davisg@pdx.edu with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright � 2003 Gregry M. Davis
Last modified: April 02, 2002