English 103 - Spring 2003

Spring 2003

ENGLISH 103

Rebecca Whitus Longster

Syllabus and Policy Statement

This page may be accessed on the world wide web at http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~rebeccal/comp/103s03

"If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time, or the tools, to write." --Stephen King

Rebecca Whitus Longster, Instructor
Office: Heavilon Hall 303c
Spring 2003
Phone: main office 49-43740 - (home) 765-884-8225 (office)49-62803
Class meetings: MWF11:30 in HEAV 220 & 12:30 in HEAV 124
E-mail: RebeccaL@purdue.edu
Office Hours: MWF 1:30-3:20
Required texts:
        R. S. Gwynn. Fiction: A Pocket Anthology, 3rd ed
        Strunk, William Jr. and E. B. White. The Elements of Style, Fourth Ed
        English 103, Accelerated Freshman Composition coursepack--Copymat

Class Policies

1. Come to class	2. Keep up with reading assignments.
3. Turn work in on time.	4. Keep a copy of all work handed in.
5. Take an active and civil part in class discussion.	6. Do not plagiarize.
7. If you don't understand something--ASK.	.

grading Course Description

English 103 is an accelerated composition course which combines and expands upon the objectives of the standard 101, 102 composition sequence. 103 is intended to help you develop and exercise your critical thinking, reading, research, and writing skills, and most of our time in this class will be spent on reading and discussing the writing of others , and creating and producing our own. This particular section of 103c is literature based for one simple reason: when you can write knowledgeably about literature, you will be able to write about anything.
You will be asked to read the texts of this English 103 class with a critical eye, engage in thoughtful and productive discussion of the texts and attendant issues, and ultimately to write to those issues and/or ideas in the texts or on the topic that you find particularly interesting, engaging, or otherwise important.
I've chosen these texts and designed this syllabus specifically to expose you to various and perhaps new perspectives on how and what kind of writing "works," and why. It is my hope that, through reading critically and thinking deeply about what you've read and through discussing the readings with myself and your classmates, such exposure will encourage you to read more widely, investigate your ideas more thoroughly, and find your own particular voice in your critical writing for this class and others--to become, yourself, a better reader, thinker, and writer as you respond to such works.
You must be prepared to spend a great deal of time and energy on this class. I shall endeavor to spread the reading load out as evenly as possible and major papers will be due at fairly regular intervals, but much of what we do will evolve out of our responses to and discussions of the work. I believe, however, that you will be pleasantly surprised to find that the readings are thought-provoking, often compelling, and at times even fun. I believe, also, that what you learn and experience in this class will stand you in good stead not only as you write for this class but also in the writing you do beyond this class. Most importantly, you can play a major role in choosing the direction we take in discussions, in exercises, and in the experience as a whole. I hope you're looking forward to it as much as I am.
Welcome to the class.

grading Attendance

Regular attendance is required as class discussion will form a significant part of fulfilling the course objectives. Additionally, at least 10% of your final grade will be based upon attendance and participation--and if you don't attend, you can't participate. More than 5 absences on a MWF schedule (3 on a TTH schedule) will be considered excessive and will adversely affect your final grade. If you know in advance that you have to miss class, please let me know, and in the event of an emergency, get in touch with me as soon as you can. If you do miss a class, you are still responsible for the material covered that day and for getting any assignments due during that class to me as soon as possible.

grading Assignment Preparation and Timeliness

You are expected to produce high quality professional papers. Neatness, visual appeal, and mechanical and grammatical correctness do matter though they do not by themselves guarantee that a paper is well written. All papers should be typed or word processed using a letter quality printer and have appropriate margins, spacing, pagination, etc.

Each of your final draft essays will have in the upper left-hand corner of the first page, single spaced:
--your name,
--English 103
--and the date.
(do not use a cover page)
You will then double space, center, and type in the title of the paper. Double space again and begin the text.
All papers (and drafts) are to be: --double spaced,
--in 12 point font
Each page will contain:
--1 inch margins all around.
--page number
--your name (a running header or footer is good for the last two).

Late Work
Missed class assignments cannot be "made up." Papers (both major papers and the brief writing assignments) and other assignments are due at the beginning of the designated class period unless otherwise announced. Please turn in all your work on time as it is sometimes difficult, if not impossible, to keep all the assignments together (and thus easier to grade and return) if they're not all turned in at the same time. Also, late papers receive a grade reduction, and I find it extremely distasteful to have to reduce a grade simply because the assignment was late. On rare occasions I do grant a short extension, without penalty, if circumstances warrant it. If you need one, ASK.

grading Conferences

While I do not cancel class for individual conferences, I do encourage you to meet with me individually to discuss your progress, grades, etc. You may do so during the in-class work time I will set aside for you or by making an appointment with me outside class. If you have questions or need to contact me for any reason, your best bet is to send me e-mail as I check it daily and respond immediately if possible (When you send email, please remember to include your class # in the subject line so I can find your message more easily.). Next best is to call me at home. If I'm not there, leave a detailed message and I'll return your call. As a last resort, you can leave a message with the English Dept. at the number above.

Again, welcome to my class!
Rebecca top policies description attendance assignment prep conferences grading

Grading

Semester grades will be composed of the following:
Paper one = 10%
Paper two = 20%
Annotated Bibliography = 10%
Paper three (research paper) = 30%
Exercises, quizzes, journal entries, brief writing assignments, etc. = 30%

90-100% = A 80-89% = B 70-79 = C 60-69 = D below 60 = F
Note: at this time, I plan no major exams, midterm or final. That may change, based upon my perception of your needs in the class. Should major exams become necessary, I will of course adjust the grade percentages and see that you are informed well in advance. Quizzes will be unannounced. The number of quizzes you have to take will be based upon my perception of your level of involvement with the material (i.e.. are you reading the material, making comments or asking questions that indicate critical thought, actively contributing to and participating in class discussions, etc.)

grading

developed by Rebecca Whitus Longster, Spring 2001
page last updated: 12.27.02
corrections and suggestions to: RebeccaL@purdue.edu

link to 103 Schedule (http://icdweb.cc.purdue.edu/~rebeccal/comp/103s03/schedule.html)