Composition II: Section 01

Course Information

Meeting Time and Place: MW 1:40 - 2:55 pm

Contract Information: Brian Ray, bcray@ualr.edu, SUB 121

Office Hours: 12:30 - 1:30 pm MWF

Writing is fundamentally about going out and learning something new, either through reading or primary research, forming an opinion on it, and communicating that knowledge to an audience of peers. In this course, you'll be practicing and developing skills toward that end. This class is offered through the Department of Rhetoric and Writing. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Dr. Joyce Carter, department chair. Prerequisite: RHET 1311 with a C or greater or equivalent. Practice in writing, with an emphasis on academic forms. Students will focus on analysis, argumentation, research, and documentation writing. Final course grades are A, B, C, or NC. Three credit hours.

Required Textbooks

U Should B Writing: https://www.ushouldbwritingtextbook.org/

Writing Spaces, Volumes 1 & 2. Anderson: Parlor Press, 2012. http://writingspaces.org/essays

PDF Version also available on site.

Other Materials:

• Computer/word processor/internet/Blackboard access
• Personal blog (we’ll discuss this during the first week of class)
• USB flashdrive or cloud storage (recommended)
• Pens and/or pencils for writing
• Folder/binder for printed materials (optional)

Course Objectives

The Department of Rhetoric and Writing has adapted the following objectives for composition courses from the outcome statements of the Council for Writing Program Administrators. Course objectives are also aligned with the UALR General Education Core Curriculum and Core Competencies. The program conducts assessments of student portfolios every semester to ensure we are following the following guidelines. By the end of the course, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate basic rhetorical ability by completing texts for at least 3 different rhetorical situations, with each one written appropriately for that context. (E.g., personal essay, literacy narrative, exploratory source-based paper.)
• Demonstrate awareness of basic proofreading and editing skills by completing finished drafts that follow appropriate conventions of grammar punctuation, usage, and spelling.
• Revise and reflect on all major projects [at least 3] effectively, based on instructor feedback, peer review, and self-assessment. (E.g., evidence of improvement on global & local issues plus a substantial reflection essay.)
• Produce at least one final draft that effectively integrates electronic and print sources into the writer's own text and documents them effectively. (E.g., exploratory paper that uses primary and secondary sources located through library databases to pose and answer a question.)
• Effectively use different software programs and applications to compose and revise documents in different modes and mediums. (E.g., an e-portfolio site or blog with working links that is eye-friendly, readable, and navigable.)
• Demonstrate awareness of multiple genres by producing at least one effective text in a professional, public, and non-essay genre. (E.g., portfolio contains a press release, an opinion-editorial essay, and a design for a billboard ad or PSA.)

Course Policies

Communication

Communication will be conducted through your UALR email account along with other correspondence from the university. Check your email account often. I will respond to emails as soon as possible.

Participation and Attendance

Participation is necessary if you are to succeed as a writer. Additionally, attendance and punctuality are critically important to your success in this class. You may miss four (4) class days without penalty. Any absences beyond the initial four (4) days will result in loss of one half-letter per additional absence. Excused absences include: official university functions in which you participate (i.e., student athlete); emergency events that result in hospitalization of you or an immediate family member; death of an immediate family member; other significant medical conditions beyond your control. Documentation is required for me to excuse these absences. Any other situations will require consultation with Academic Affairs.

Deadlines and Late Policy

Deadlines must be met. If you have a good reason for missing a deadline, you will need to let me know by email or in person as soon as possible in advance of the deadline. Otherwise, I accept late work at my discretion on an individual basis. Computer problems are not reasonable excuses for missing deadlines. Save your work on a cloud system and use computer labs on campus when needed.

Revision Policy

Revision is a critical part of the writing process. You are required to submit revised versions of your Rhetorical Analysis and Research Paper by the final exam date, as part of your portfolio.

Statement on Privacy and Writing

Please consider all writing for this class to be “public.” Part of becoming an effective writer is learning to appreciate the ideas and feedback of others; in this course, our purpose is to come together as a writing community. Remember that all students will be expected to share writing with others. Avoid writing about topics that you wish to keep private or that you feel so strongly about that you are unwilling to listen to the perspectives of others. Additionally, the feedback that is provided is intended to help improve your writing; be open to the suggestions about your writing.

Behavior

Your conduct affects your participation grade, as outlined in the participation rubric. Civility will be expected. Showing up prepared, on time, silencing your cell phone, and actively participating in class are essential to your success as a student in this class and at the university. I will treat you with respect, and I expect that you will do the same for all participants. Respect includes paying attention and not interrupting when someone has the floor—and it includes avoiding rudeness and slurs directed at individuals or groups. Failure to adhere to this and the policies of the UALR handbook will result in dismissal from the class, and could result in more serious action.

Public Nature of the Classroom

Cut and Paste: "Please consider all writing for this class to be "public.” Part of becoming an effective writer is learning to appreciate the ideas and feedback of others; in this course, our purpose is to come together as a writing community. Remember that all students will be expected to share writing with others. Avoid writing about topics that you wish to keep private or that you feel so strongly about that you are unwilling to listen to the perspectives of others. Additionally, the feedback that is provided is intended to help improve your writing; be open to the suggestions about your writing."

Use of Copyrighted Material

The content in this course, and any third party content contributors (e.g., publishers, etc.) is copyrighted. This course content is available to you during the semester in which you are enrolled in the course. You may not modify, copy, reproduce, republish, upload, post, transmit, or distribute, in any manner, the material in this course, including text, graphics, audio, video, code and/or software without the expressed written permission from the copyright holder.

Blackboard & Google Docs

Most materials for this class, including reading assignments, major and minor writing projects, handouts, and additional documents will be provided through the course Blackboard shell and/or Google Docs. If you need hard copies of any materials for any reason, please notify me as soon as possible.

Basic Electronic Literacy

• Success in college requires familiarity with basic software and document sharing. See your instructor if you’re unsure of how to do the following:
• Use email with attachments
• Save files in commonly used word processing program formats
• Use common productivity software programs such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Upload and download files
• Update browser and computer settings
• Interact with Blackboard Course Tools

Academic Integrity Statement

University regulations regarding academic dishonesty, as set forth in the UALR student handbook and other university documents and publications, will be strictly enforced in this class. Any student who submits work that he/she did not produce for the given assignment will be assigned a grade of zero points (F) for the assignment in question, and may possibly fail the class. The university defines academic dishonesty under the classifications of cheating, plagiarism, collusion, and duplicity. Cheating and blatant plagiarism in this class can result in disciplinary sanction. For more information, visit http://ualr.edu/deanofstudents/academic-integrity/.

UALR Statement on Disability Support Services

Please provide accommodations to students who identify with a request from the Disability Resource Center (DRC); the DRC correspondence will specify any accommodations a particular student needs. Your syllabus should include the following statement:

Students with Disabilities Statement

Your success in this class is important to me, and it is the policy and practice of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock to create inclusive learning environments consistent with federal and state law. If you have a documented disability (or need to have a disability documented), and need an accommodation, please contact me privately as soon as possible, so that we can discuss with the Disability Resource Center (DRC) how to meet your specific needs and the requirements of the course. The DRC offers resources and coordinates reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations are established through an interactive process among you, your instructor(s) and the DRC. Thus, if you have a disability, please contact me and/or the DRC, at 501-569-3143 (V/TTY) or 501-683-7629 (VP). For more information, please visit the DRC website at www.ualr.edu/disability .

Web Accessibility Statement

It is the policy and practice of UALR to make all web information accessible to students with disabilities. If you, as a student with a disability, have difficulty accessing any part of the electronic course materials for this class, please notify me immediately.

UALR Weather Policy

The UALR website, UALR email, the University’s main telephone number (501.569.3000), and the campus emergency alert system are the official means of communicating all information concerning weather-related closing. Local television and radio stations will also be notified.

Weather and road conditions vary from place to place. Employees and students are expected to exercise good judgment regarding the safety of travel when road conditions are affected by the weather.