Course
Description || Texts and Materials || Course
Requirements
Other Policies || Student Resources
Course
Description:
English 110
is Ohio State’s First-Year English Composition course with the primary
objective of developing students’ skills in the closely-related areas
of reading, writing, and critical thinking. This section is distinguished
by its use of literature as the principle subject matter (L) and by its being
offered in a computer-supported environment (C). In this section we will explore
writing at the intersection of literature and technology, not only using computer
technolgies to support our reading, discussion, and writing about literature,
but also using the literature we read to prompt a reflection on the technologies
of writing. We will consider how we use literary texts, and we will consider
how texts use us, how the acts of reading and writing transform our senses
of our own identities.
Required
Texts and Materials
- Textbooks
-- available now at the Long’s, SBX, and University Bookstore.
- Diana Hacker, A Writer’s Reference, 4th
ed.
- Halasek et al., The Writer’s Companion, 2nd
ed.
- Course packet
from Grade A Notes (22 E. 17th Ave.) — available now for
$27.89.
- An active e-mail
account. (All OSU students are entitled to free e-mail accounts
through University Technology
Services. If you have not activated yours, see me for instructions).
- Two PC-formatted,
high-density floppy disks (one working disk and one backup
disk) for saving work and/or e-mail.
Course
Requirements and Grading:
Your final
grade will be derived from the following components:
- Writing Portfolio
(70%): The largest single component of your grade will be based on a portfolio
of writing done during the course of the quarter and submitted on the
last day of class. This portfolio must contain: final, clean drafts of
three formal writing assignments (1000-1500 words each), copies
of previously submitted drafts of each assignment, and a cover letter
presenting your portfolio, describing your final essays, and discussing
your development as a writer over the quarter. Portfolios will be graded
holistically on the basis of the quality of the final essays and evidence
of development during the quarter.
Drafts of individual essays will be submitted for peer evaluation and
instructor feedback during the quarter according to the deadlines in the
daily schedule. You may revise your drafts
repeatedly up to the submission of the final portfolio. I will provide
written comments on drafts but will not assign a grade outside
the context of the complete portfolio.
Prompts and guidelines for the individual writing assignments
will be forthcoming. We will also spend time during the quarter discussing
the compostion of the portfolio and the standards by which it will be
evaluated.
- Web-based
Discussion (20%): Over the course of the quarter, you will be
required to participate in an online, web-based
discussion forum (a kind of electronic bulletin board) Here you will
respond to readings, submit and discuss drafts, and generally engage in
discussion with each other. Specific guidelines and instrcutions for accessing
the discussion site will be distributed in class.
- Class Participation
(10%): This course will rely heavily on in-class participation by its
members. Class time will be spent discussing the process of writing, analyzing
readings, and workshopping each other's papers, and all of these activities
require everyone's active involvement. The quantity and quality of this
involvement will determine the participation grade.
Other
Policies:
- Attendance:
Because writing skills develop slowly over time, students' regular attendance
is essential in this class. Consequently it is not advisable to be absent
at all during the semester. Excused absences (for
documented illness, family emergency, religious observeance, or travel
for intercollegiate athletic events) will not affect your grade, but you
are responsible for contacting me and making up all missed work at the
earliest possible time. You are allowed two unexcused absences.
Exceeding two unexcused absences will result in receiving a grade of E
for the participation portion of the class. It is university policy
that five unexcused absences will automatically result in failure for
the course.
- Conferences:
You must schedule an individual conference with me during the middle of
the quarter to discuss your writing and progress in the course. Failure
to schedule or attend this conference will count as an unexcused class
absence.
- Late Work:
Because of the volume and pace of writing in this course, it is essential
that all assignment deadlines be observed. Drafts should be ready at the
start of class on the day they are due. If your final portfolio is late,
it will be penalized a full letter grade per day late. Incompletes will
only be given in the most extraordinary of circumstances.
- Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is the unauthorized use of the words or ideas of another person
and is a serious academic offense. Plagiarism is discussed in detail on
page 86 of The Writer’s Companion. Read this information
carefully and contact me if you have any questions on this policy.
- Access to
Student Work: Final portfolios may be picked up as soon as I
turn in final grades. Unclaimed work will be saved for two quarters before
being discarded.
Student
Resources
-
Ombud
Office:
The Ombud is an intermediary who helps resolve conflicts between students
and instructors. You may contact the Ombud at any time with your concerns
or questions. The ombud for this year is Mike King. His office is located
at DE 363 (phone 292-5778).
-
Writing
Center: The Writing Center, located at 485 Mendenhall Laboratories,
is available for free, professional writing tutoring and consultation.
You may set up an appointment by calling 292-5607, or you may use the
Online Writing Lab service at their website (http://cstw.ohio-state.edu/writingcenter.html)
-
Disability
Services: If you are disabled (or have a disability) and need particular,
please feel free to discuss this issue with me during office hours. Students
with disabilities who need accommodationsshould be registed with the Office
of Disability Services, located at 150 Pomeroy Hall (292-3307).