Dwiggins, Mary

English

The Keep

Eastern Illinois University
The Keep
Spring 2011 2011
Spring 1-15-2011
ENG 1001G-008: Composition and Language
Mary Dwiggins
Eastern Illinois University
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ENG1001: Composition and Language 
Spring 2011 
Considering Our Place in the World 
Instructor: Mary Dwiggins 
Phone: 581-6319 Office: Coleman 3762 
Email: madwiggins@eiu.edu 
Home Page: http://uxl.eiu.edu/~madwiggins 
Texts: 
The Contemporary Reader by Gary Goshgarian 
A Pocket Style Manual by Diana Hacker 
Writing: A guide for college and beyond by Lester Faigley 
One Flash drive and one pocket folder 
Course Objectives: 
Office hours: 
MWF 12:00-
12:50 and by 
appointment 
In this ENG 1001, we will explore issues that encourage students to consider their place in 
the world and their impact upon it. By reading, writing, discussing, and reflecting on 
these issues, students will be challenged to examine what they believe and how they 
arrived at those beliefs. It is my hope that we can learn some pretty neat stuff about 
ourselves and about the world around us. 
Our primary focus, though, will be on critical reading of these texts and effective 
academic writing. Because writing texts cannot be separated from reading and thinking 
about texts, those challenges will draw not only on your writing skills, but also on your 
critical thinking and reading abilities. The best way to develop and hone these skills is to 
read, write, and think together as an academic writing community. Therefore, in this 
course, you will engage in reading, writing, and thinking critically about various kinds of 
texts. Peer evaluations and group work will be used extensively. 
General Bulletin Course Descriptions: English 10010. Composition and Language is a 
writing centered course in the reading and writing of expressive, expository, and 
persuasive texts. Attention is given to effective expression, clear structure, adequate 
development, and documentation of sources. Prerequisite: English 1000 or proficiency in 
basic skills as determined by the English Department. Students who have ACT scores of 
14 or below, or who have no test scores on file with the University, must pass English 
1000 before enrolling in English 1001. 
Learning Goals: 
Upon completing English 1001, students should be able to: 
• Write informative and persuasive essays clearly and concisely in standard written 
English that are direct, economical, free of ambiguity, structurally appropriate for 
the ideas expressed and suitable to the purpose of the text 
• Evaluate and critique their own and their peer's writing and assist fellow students 
in their writing and revision. 
• Understand and evaluate culturally diverse course materials reflecting historically, 
socially, and culturally relevant issues. 
• Conduct research to participate in academic inquiry. 
Requirements: 
Written papers: We will write three essays this semester. Two are worth 100 points. 
One is a research project which will generate 250 points. In this research project, you 
will generate a proposal, a bibliography, a double entry journal and other small 
assignments heading towards the research paper. A portion of each paper also includes 
peer review and the process of writing the paper, thus drafts and plan sheets need to be 
turned in with each paper. Papers will be graded on focus, organization, development, 
style and awareness of audience, mechanics, and process. All papers are to be typed 
double-spaced and your name, class and section number placed in the upper left-hand 
comer. Please be aware that I generally do not accept late papers. Also, all papers must 
be completed to pass this class. 
Peer review: We will have two peer review sessions that last two days each. Please note 
that peer review days are set up on specific class periods. Do not be absent from these if 
you expect points. 
Response papers: You will write 4 reading responses to selected topics. This is worth 
25 points each for a total of 100 points. More about this later. 
Group Data Project: In this project you will be asked to conduct surveys from a 
selected number of people, formulate and refine questions, analyze data and then draw 
conclusions from this data. The data will be represented in one of your papers. You will 
work in groups. A handout will be distributed detailing the requirements. This is worth 
50 points. 
Group discussion You will lead the class in a group discussion centered on the reading 
of the day. A handout will be distributed detailing the requirements. This is worth 25 
points 
Late Paper Poli<.(y: Here are some general principles. An assignment is late if it is not 
ready at the start of class: printed and with all of the necessary drafts included. If you do 
not attend class and then deliver a paper at the end of the session (or later in the day) that 
assignment is already late. If you have completed an assignment on time but cannot 
attend class because of an emergency, e-mail the paper to me as an MS Word attachment 
before class or deliver the assignment to my mailbox in the English Department office 
before the class begins. Please do not leave your work with the Department Secretary or 
slide it under my office door. If multiple drafts are due, bring those to the next class, or 
you will not receive credit for your work. 
Please note that some situations are not emergencies. The mechanics of printing papers 
is a part of the writing process; allow time for possible printer, disk, or network muddles. 
A voiding last-minute print-jobs significantly minimizes these troubles. Get to know your 
programs, your personal computer, and the limitations of the computer labs on campus. 
Pop quiz: I don't like to give quizzes. In the event, however, I notice that students are 
unprepared for class and not reading assignments, I will institute them. This could be 
worth as much as 50 points and I will adjust the grading scale accordingly. 
Class Attendance: Attendance is required. Interaction among members of the class is 
vital to the learning experience; if you aren't here, it can't happen. With the exception of 
rare and extreme circumstances, I do not distinguish among kinds of absences for 
attendance purposes. Contact or see me immediately if rare and extreme circumstances 
arise which will affect your class attendance. 
You are expected to be present every day your class meets, but to accommodate 
accidents, illnesses, and emergencies; I allow 4 absences without penalty. Absences 
beyond this limit are considered excessive and result in grade reductions. Reductions will 
be taken on a percentage basis from the total number of points possible in the course. 
Students are expected to arrive in class on time in order to be counted present. 
For MWF classes, the following policy will apply: you may miss 4 times without an 
automatic grade reduction; 5 absences = a final grade reduction of 5%; 6 absences = a 
final grade reduction of 10%; 7 absences = failure of the course. 
Academic Honesty Policy 
All students are expected to uphold professional standards for academic honesty and 
integrity in their research, writing and related performances. Academic honesty is the 
standard we expect from all students. Any teacher who discovers an act of plagiarism 
The appropriation or imitation of the language, ideas, and/or thoughts of another author, 
and representation of them as one's original work ... has the right and the responsibility 
to impose upon the guilty student an appropriate penalty, up to and including immediate 
assignments of a grade of F for the assigned essay and a grade of F for the course, and to 
report the incident to the Judicial Affairs Office. Respect for the work of others should 
encompass all formats, including print, electronic, and oral sources. 
Read the Student Handbook for further explanation. If you have difficulty with any 
assignment in this course, please see me rather than consider academic dishonesty. The 
following apply specifically to academic misconduct in this course: 
• Plagiarism: The appropriation, theft, purchase, or obtaining by any means 
another's work, and the unacknowledged submission or incorporation of that 
work as one's own. Appropriation includes the quoting or paraphrasing of 
another's work without giving credit. 
• Collusion: Prohibited collaboration with another in preparing work. 
• Fabrication/Falsification: Unauthorized alteration or invention of any information 
or citation in an academic exercise. Falsification involves altering information for 
use in any academic exercise. Fabrication involves inventing or counterfeiting 
information for use in any academic exercise. 
• Multiple Submissions: The submission by the same individual of substantial 
portions of the same work (including oral reports) for credit more than once in the 
same or another course without authorization. 
• Complicity in academic misconduct: Helping another to commit an act of 
academic misconduct. 
• Turnitin.com may be useful to students in addressing any plagiarism concerns 
they may have. Eastern Illinois University students may learn more about how to 
properly cite sources and maintain the highest degree of academic integrity with 
the Turnitin online program. All Eastern Illinois University faculty may, at their 
discretion, use Tumitin. 
Grading scale: As you can see, you can receive a total of 650 points. Grade will be 
assigned as followed: 
562-625= A range 
500-561 =B rage 
437-499=C range 
436 or below =NC 
, 
Grades for individual assignments will be determined according to the Guidelines for 
evaluating Writing assignments in EIU's English Department (attached). Be sure to read 
these guidelines fully as they will help you to understand what is expected of your work. 
Keep in mind that adequate, average work will receive a C, and excellent work will 
receive an A. The possible final grades for English lOOIG are A, B, C, NC and INC. In 
other words, you cannot pass this course with D-level work. If your grade for the course 
is less than a C, you will receive an NC for the course and you must then retake the entire 
course to receive credit. Please remember that your grade for an essay will be determined 
not just by your final draft, but also by your revision work. 
In addition, you must tum in all assignments to receive credit for the course. If you fail 
to turn in one of your assignments, you will receive an NC for the course. 
There is no final exam in English 1001. 
Electronic Writing Portfolio (EWP): All EIU students are required to submit an essay 
their freshman year to their Electronic Writing Portfolios from a writing intensive 
course. To submit an essay for the EWP, go to the EWP website at 
http://www.eiu.edu/~assess/ewpmain. php. 
Expectations for Classroom Behavior 
Faculty members have the responsibility and the authority to maintain a productive 
educational environment in the classroom. It is the responsibility of the student to 
practice conduct conducive to learning by being prepared, prompt, attentive, and 
courteous in the classroom and by accepting policies set forth by the professor to 
maintain an academic decorum. 
Acceptable classroom behavior is behavior that encourages critical inquiry and thought 
and promotes a shared community ofleamers. Focused attention on the tasks at hand and 
respect for fellow peers are expected. During classroom discussions and presentations, 
you need to listen carefully to others and be prepared to add relevant insight and 
responses. 
Behavior that repeatedly interferes with my ability to teach class or the ability of other 
students to benefit from the instructional program include: constant idle chit-chat, 
idleness, irrelevant use of computers, routine late arrival or early departure, inappropriate 
interruptions (such as back-pack shuffling or cell phone use), use of threatening language 
and personal insults toward the professor or other students. This behavior is 
inappropriate and will be subject to appropriate disciplinary measures. 
Also, cell phones are to be turned on vibrate. 
Writing Center 
You can receive valuable help with your writing by visiting the English Department's 
Writing Center. The Writing Center is a free, one-on-one service staffed by trained 
graduate assistants who tutor students on all types of writing related activities for 
improving writing, reading, and critical thinking processes in a friendly, relaxed, and 
supportive environment. The Writing Center helps with all aspects of writing, from 
brainstorming for ideas to overcoming writer's block, to the final editing and 
proofreading strategies, as well as advice for drafting, expanding and organizing your 
writing. The Center also offers help with proper documentation style and plagiarism 
concerns. Remember to bring with you your assignment sheet and/or your draft for each 
of your writing projects. The Center is located Coleman Hall room 3110. Although walk-
ins are accepted, scheduled appointments have priority and are recommended. For an 
appointment or to ask a question from the grammar hotline call 581-5929. 
Special needs: 
Disability Accommodation Policy 
Please address any special needs or special accommodations with me at the beginning of 
the semester or as soon as you become aware of your needs. Ifyouare seeking classroom 
accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, you should submit your 
documentation to the Office of Disability Services (581-6583) as soon as possible. 
Disclaimer: If necessary, the syllabus can change, so if you feel we are going too fast or 
too slow, tell me and we can change things. 


ENG 1001G-008: Composition and Language

https://thekeep.eiu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1007&amp;context=english_syllabi_spring2011

ENG 1001G-008: Composition and Language

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