SyllabusEnglish 1102
Dr. Michael Saunders
Spring 2007 Semester
Instructor Contact InformationDr. Michael Saunders
E-Mail:
srfntrf@gmail.comOffice Hours: Saturdays by appointment, 1:45 to 3PM
Telephone: 404-234-5866
Required Texts:Any grammar/usage/research handbook commonly used in sections of English 1101 at Kennesaw State University (e.g.,
St. Martins Handbook).
Peterson, Linda H., and Brereton, John C., eds.
The Norton Reader: An Anthology of Nonfiction. 11th Edition. New York: W. W. Norton and Company, 2004.
Course Description:English 1102 focuses on reading across the college curriculum and preparing the student for complex research projects. Conceived most centrally as a writing course, English 1102 engages the student to perform a good number of writing exercises. Students in this course should be prepared to write during every class section. They should also be prepared to budget time to do a significant amount of writing outside of class, as the course requires them to complete a significant research paper. As a natural consequence of working on in-class writing and out-of-class research projects, students should expect, furthermore, to do a good amount of reading. English 1102 is designed to be a course that challenges students to prepare for the rigors of upper-division academic research and, beyond that, of professional writing and research.
Course RequirementsIn-class responses to assigned readings: 10% of final grade
1st Essay, due 20 January, 10% of final grade
2nd Essay, due 17 February, 20% of final grade
3rd Essay, due 24 March, 20% of final grade
Final research paper, due 28 April 2007: 30% of final grade
Final Exam Essay, date TBA, 10% of final grade
In-class reading responses are to be at least two pages, topics to be assigned by the instructor.
Essays are to be 3 to 5 pages, long, formatted as specified here below. Topics to be assigned by the instructor.
The research paper is to be 5 to 8 pages long, formatted as specified here below. Topics to be assigned by the instructor.
Grading Scale
A=90 to 100
B=80 to 89
C=70 to 79
D=60 to 69
F=59 or below
Concerning Grades:
You should expect the work you do for this course to be evaluated with the same level of scrutiny you would find in any professional workplace. I intend to teach you with the highest reasonable standards of performance in mind, because this is what you need to succeed in your work life. My inten-tion is to be fair and also rigorous as I evaluate your work. Here is how I grade your work:
A: The work is superior in composition, thought development, grammar, word usage and spelling correctness, and style. An A is the result of originality of thought, depth of understanding, and outstanding style as well as excellence in grammar and development.
B: The work is a paper in which the material has been presented in an above-average manner with a minimum number of errors of any kind.
C: This is average work; it is the grade most papers receive. There is a clear and adequately developed thesis, and most serious grammatical errors are lacking; however, the C paper lacks the vigor of thought, development, and expression required for a higher grade.
D: Please take special note of this statement: A grade of ‘D’ denotes below-average, unsatisfactory work. A paper with errors in subject-verb agreement, comma splices or fused sentences, sentence fragments, illogical sentences, or numerous spelling errors will not be awarded a grade higher than this.
F: Unacceptable writing at the university level.
AttendanceAll students are expected to attend classes. Roll will be taken at the beginning of each class. If you do not answer appropriately when I call roll (a simple “Here” spoken audibly will do), I shall count you as absent. Because this class meets only once a week, a student who misses more than two class sessions will be de-moted by one letter grade for the course, with an additional letter grade drop for each additional absence. If a student comes into class after the roll is taken, the student will be counted as tardy. Two incidents of tardiness count as one absence. If you leave class early without my consent, you will be counted as absent for that session.
Failing to attend class does not exempt you from class readings. If you miss class, it’s up to you to find out what you missed and complete any tasks assigned while you were away. If you have a job or other outside obligation that will interfere with your taking this class and/or with attending sufficiently as specified in this syllabus, please understand that while I sympathize with such conflicts, I can’t and won’t grant any special treatment to accommodate such schedule conflicts.
Unauthorized use of the Internet, Cell Phones, SmartPhones, Blackberrys, PDAs and Other Personal Communications DevicesUse of cell phones or other communications devices in the classroom (including text messaging devices or computer functions other than e-mail or other computer applications directly associated with assigned class work) is expressly prohibited. This will include use of such personal web communications forums such as MySpace, FaceBook, MSN, and the like. My rule here boils down to this: you may not use class time to perform a communication that is not immediately relevant to class work as defined by me. Violation of this policy will be treated as a breach of class discipline, in accordance with discipline policies set forth in the Kennesaw State University student handbook. Mute or power off any personal communications devices while in class, and do not use them in the classroom. If you cannot abide by this rule, please drop the course.
Accommodations for Students with DisabilitiesIf you have a disability that may require assistance or accommodations, please speak with me as soon as possible, and contact Disabled Student Services at 770-423-6443.
Academic Integrity StatementEvery KSU student is responsible for upholding the provisions of the Student Code of Conduct, as published in the Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs. Section II of the Student Code of Conduct addresses the University’s policy on academic honesty, including provisions regarding plagiarism and cheating, unauthorized access to University materials, misrepresentation or falsification of University records or academic work, malicious removal, retention, or destruction of library materials, malicious/intentional misuse of computer facilities and/or services, and misuse of student identification cards. Incidents of alleged academic misconduct will be handled through the established procedures of the University Judiciary Program, which includes either an “informal” resolution by a faculty member, resulting in a grade adjustment, or a formal hearing procedure, which may subject a student to the Code of Conduct’s minimum on semester suspension requirement.
PlagiarismUsing another’s work as your own is wrong and will result in your failing the course. Be sure that you have carefully and accurately given credit through documentation when you have borrowed words or ideas. We will practice strategies for avoiding plagiarism in class. If you do, however, submit the work of another student or essays/information found on the Internet as your own, you will automatically fail the course.
What You Need with You in ClassEach time you come to class, bring your text book, something to write with, something to write on (for making notes), and a portable electronic storage medium such as a USB flash drive, re-writable CD, or floppy drive. Losing your work because you didn’t save it does not excuse you from turning in your work on time. You also need to bring with you a KSU ID card with funds loaded onto it so that you can print documents in our classroom.
Particulars Regarding AssignmentsReading ResponsesReading responses are in-class essays I shall assign in conjunction with class readings. They should be at least two typed pages in length. They are to be handed in at the end of the class session in which they are performed. They should be formatted using standard formatting, specified here below.
EssaysEssays are to be three to five pages in length. They are to be written as reactions to a reading from the class text. They can incorporate material from sources outside the class text, but they must be framed as reactions to readings found in the class text, the Norton Reader.
Research PapersResearch papers are to be formatted as specified here below. They are to be written on a topic that treats at least one reading from the class text and that employs at least five outside sources, no more than two of which may be chosen from internet resources. Research papers will employ standards of academic citation conforming to either MLA, APA or Chicago Manual of Style. They are to be between five and eight typed pages. In addition to handing in the final versions of the papers, students will be required to hand in, at dates to be as-signed by the instructor, a draft of the research paper.
Standard Formatting For Class WorkAll class work is to be prepared as typed text on 8.5” x 11” paper using Times New Roman 12-point font, with one-inch margins on all sides and double-spaced text. Paragraphs may be formatted to have a first-line indent, not to exceed 0.25 inches. The student’s name, the class title and the exercise title should appear in the header (not the body) of the first page, and the page number should not appear on the first page. On pages succeeding the first page, the student’s last name and the page number should appear in the upper right-hand corner of the heading. Any work not conforming to these specifications will be awarded a grade of zero (0).
Note that as the English Department computers in our classroom use Microsoft Word, if you work with another word processing program outside of class, it is your responsibility to prepare works-in-progress so they can be read on class computers. If you work with an open-source word processor, it is generally safest to save your work as an .rtf file to permit you to work on it in MS Word.
Important Class Dates• 20 January—First Essay
• 17 February—Second Essay
• 2 March: last day to drop without academic penalty
• March 3 through 9: Spring Break—no classes
• 24 March—Third Essay
• 28 April—Final Paper (Research Paper)
DisclaimerNote that all provisions of this syllabus are subject to revision by the instructor. It is each student’s individual responsibility to stay up-to-date on all requirements for completing this section of English 1102 satisfactorily.
