English Department Syllabus
Supplemental Course Information
| Course Information |
Contact Me for Help |
Argument and Composition
Fall Semester 2009
302 - Oconee Classroom
MWF 9-9:50 AM
MWF 11-11:50 AM
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Dr. Matthew Horton
313b - Oconee Classroom
MW 10-11, 12-3
TR 10-12
mhorton@gsc.edu
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| Course Requirements |
- Essays. Three out-of-class essays and one in-class essay. The out-of-class essays should be at least three pages long,
typed, double-spaced, use 12 pt. Times New Roman, and have 1” margins.
Essays that fall short of the length requirement will be considered
underdeveloped and lose content points. Two of these essays (10% each) will be on topics that you choose from a list. The third (5%) will be a Research Project Proposal that you write up before you begin work on the research project. The in-class essay must be
500-700 words, written in pen, and double-spaced (this length is the
equivalent of roughly 2 to 2.5 pages typed). This in-class essay will
be a practice Regents' Exam Essay, which is designed to prepare you for
the real thing. Although it is only practice, it will
still count 5% of your overall course grade.
- Research Project. For your research project, you will use Blogger to compose and present an annotated survey of sources that reflect multiple points of view on a controversial issue of your choice (this blog will be done in addition to the required reading blog described below). You will have to find numerous outside sources on your topic, compose a Works Cited page using MLA rules, and do about 8 pages worth of writing. You must also propose your topic for my approval before you begin working (see Research Project Proposal). This project will count twice as much as an out-of-class essay (20%).
- Reading Blog. Using recent editorials from major newspapers or feature stories from magazines on various issues that interest you, you will manage a journal-type blog on the internet. First you will launch and design your blog using Blogger. Then for each blog assignment, you will add one new posting to your blog about a new article you select. After reading each article, you will post a one-page summary and response. Each posting should include the title, author, date, source, url, etc. of the article in MLA format and a link to the online article. The ideal reading blog will follow a developing current event that you can use as the topic of your research project. The idea is to keep your research going all semester so that you have plenty to work with when the time comes to write your research paper. To help you out even more, you are free to write your first two essays on the same topic that you plan to use for your research project, so the sooner you identify a current event, the better. The first blog assignment will be a posting in which you explain and justify your interest in one or two different current events; you'll have to read some newspapers first to get up to date on what is happening. Any current event with controversial implications is fair game, but it must be CURRENT.
- FIT sheets. You will turn in a FIT sheet on the days indicated on the calendar, a total of six. Each of the FIT sheets will be a detailed response to a reading assignment from Thank You for Arguing. Because these six FIT sheets count 10% of your grade, it is essential that you turn in each one on time.
- Daily work. You must be present in class and arrive on time to participate in various planned activities. You will receive points for bringing
work done outside of class, being ready to participate, and staying on task. To be safe, have (1) assignments
that are due, (2) work in progress for longer assignments, (3) all
textbooks and materials, and (4) access to course handouts. Points earned for daily participation will accumulate all semester into 5% of your overall grade.
- Final Exam. The final exam is a Portfolio Project that you will compose and compile over the course of the semester. Again, Blogger will be the online tool you use to present your work. This project will be due on the day of our scheduled final exam.
- Bonus Points. I do offer extra credit. See “Note taking” under “Course Policies.” You will substantially benefit from these extra points only if you take notes ALL semester. Bonus points earned will be added into your daily work points.
- Grades. Essays are 30%; Research project is 20%; Reading blog is 10%; FIT sheets are 10%; Daily work is 5%; Final portfolio is 25%.
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| Course Policies |
- Asking for help. If you have a question or need some help with an assignment, please tell me right away—we can talk after class or meet in my office. Please also use extra time before class begins to ask me questions and look over this website. ACTIVE students make good impressions, so take initiative.
- Note taking. If I am talking to the class or leading a discussion, please take organized notes. You can write down what I am saying, what your classmates are saying, and questions you want me to answer later on. If you write more than one page of detailed notes in a class period and give them to me at the end of the period, I will give you a bonus point to add into your Daily Work grade. I will need to look at your notes each day to decide if I should award your bonus point. These notes must have your name and date at the top the page. Please do not take notes if you are supposed to be doing another activity.
- Handouts. Materials available on this website are easily printable (see the Print link at the bottom of any page). If you DO NOT have regular access to the internet, please take time to print everything you will need and store the hard copies in your three-ring binder.
- Attendance. Regular attendance is expected at GSC. Why is it expected? Because GSC teachers assume that you want high grades. No part of your grade is figured based solely on whether you are in class or absent, but you must be in class in order to turn in assignments on deadline days and participate in planned activities in the classroom. And to receive full credit for participating in "Daily Work," you must come to class on time and not leave early.
- Deadlines. Assignments are due on the days and times indicated on the calendar. You should turn in work early if you know you will be absent, but the only late work that can earn above a ZERO are the major essays (I take 10 points off a day for those). I make exceptions for excused absences on a case by case basis, but if you do not have your work ready to turn in and evidence of "excusability" on the day you return, you will incur the penalty. Regardless of deadlines, all assigned work must be turned in for you
to finish the course to keep the extra credit you earn throughout the semester. If you forget to do a FIT sheet on time, for example, you still have to do it even though you will get an automatic zero.
- Submission of work. Final drafts for the two out-of-class essays and the research project must be submitted through e-Learning as a file attachment. Please use Microsoft Word to type your papers. If you have another program at home, you will have to use the computers in the labs here on campus. Or you can use Virtual Lab from home. Please no email submissions for any assignments (no matter the reason, no exceptions). ALL out-of-class work must be typed (see individual assignment instructions for specific formatting requirements). Please bring a printed copy of your work at the beginning of class to turn in on time (do not come to class before printing your work). To turn in work outside of class, you must hand it to me in person.
- Email. The official form of communication at Gainesville State College is email. This GSC policy protects all of us in the exchange of information. If you need to contact me about anything, whether personal or class related, please use your GSC email account. I am not permitted to read or reply to messages from other addresses.
- Computers. Please turn on your monitors as soon as you arrive, log on, and browse the website for this course. Review the calendar, look over some handouts, reread assignment instructions, organize your Delicious bookmarks, work on your research project, etc. Teachers are grateful for your educational use of our technology. Please take care of all personal communication (e.g., email, instant messaging, Facebook, etc.) and leisure usage (e.g., ESPN, Facebook, games, etc.) outside the classroom. Try to evade this prohibition, and you will be sent to the public lab for a fifteen-minute break, during which you can "take care of" your personal business.
- Printers. After you arrive, even if class has not started, please do not try to finish up assignments due that day or print your work to turn in. All work that needs to be printed MUST be printed before you step into the classroom. Again, stay in the public labs until you are finished and "ready" for class.
- Disruptive behavior. I emphasize the importance of sensitivity and respect in and out of class between you and me and between you and your classmates. Refrain from gestures, attitudes, tones, and words that are base, insulting, or provocative. Most importantly, please do not openly disagree with my policies, decisions, or advice in front of other students; I am happy to field complaints privately during my office hours. I will dismiss you from class if your behavior interferes with my learning environment. You may have water (in a closed container) in the classroom, but please no food or other drinks. One more rule: if you come to class, don’t leave early unless you have checked with me before class begin.
- Academic honesty. All work submitted to fulfill requirements of this class must meet Gainesville State College standards of academic honesty. Violations of these standards include receiving or giving assistance on any graded assignment without my permission (aka, cheating), fabricating evidence for use in an essay (aka, lying), and using another person's words or thoughts in your paper without giving that person credit (aka, plagiarism). Penalty for committing these acts could range from a warning, to a zero on the assignment, to an "F" in the course.
- Withdrawal. Remember that you cannot withdraw from a class simply by not coming anymore; rather, you must withdraw yourself through Banner Web before the midpoint. Merely ceasing to attend class at any point in the semester will result in a grade of WF or F.
- Disclaimer. This syllabus is subject to change to meet the needs of the course.
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