ENG 180: College Composition I

Department of English & Journalism • Western Illinois University
Spring 2008 • Section 46 • Simpkins 321 & 315 • T Th, 12:30–1:45pm
Bradley Dilger, Associate Professor of English

Contact information

Email: cb-dilger@wiu.edu
Mailbox: Simpkins 122, M–F 8:00am–4:30pm
Office: Simpkins 217, 309.298.2212 (hours tentatively T W Th 2:00–3:30pm)
Home: 309.836.1454 (before 9:00pm; please leave a message)
Course web: http://faculty.wiu.edu/CB-Dilger/s08/180/

Objectives

Through careful reading, collaborative work, class discussion, and copious writing, you will learn:

• Evaluating the rhetorical situation which frames a writing task or assignment;

• Improving your reading skills, and using reading to improve your writing;

• Understanding common writing genres, and learning how to select an appropriate genre;

• Organizing written ideas, and evaluating a document’s organization;

• Learning strategies and elements frequently used in writing;

• Understanding publication styles such as MLA or APA, and learning how to use style manuals;

• Reviewing writing, both yours and others, including best practices for writing good reviews;

• Improving your research skills, using research to improve your writing, and learning how to document your research to show influences and sources;

• Understanding your process for writing, and managing your writing time and effort;

• Effective use of word processors and other tools commonly used by professional writers.

Expectations

• Read this syllabus carefully and abide by all of its policies, in letter and spirit.

• Purchase and carefully read our course texts: Bullock & Goggin, The Norton Field Guide to Writing with Readings (ISBN 0-393-92662-1), and Hacker, The Pocket Style Manual, 5/e (ISBN 0-312-45275-6). Note: the fourth edition of Hacker’s PSMis acceptable.

• Plan for at least three hours of work outside of class every week.

• Come to class ready to dis cuss all the assigned readings and the current assignment. Take notes in class, and review your notes to ensure your progress.

• Speak up. Ask questions. Seek my assistance with the readings and your projects. I am easy to contact and willing to help you almost any time.

• Manage your time effectively. Begin assignments well in advance of due dates.

Assignments

Detailed assignments which divide assignments into milestones are available on the course web site.

1. Personal essay (P1). An essay which draws heavily on personal experience. 250 points.

2. Research essay (R2). An essay which includes formal research. 400 points.

3. Final examination. Comprehensive; mixed format (short answer and essay). 100 points.

4. Class participation. Evaluated twice: weeks 1-6 (50 pts), weeks 7-15 (100 pts). 150 points.

5. Reading quizzes or notes. Required any week readings are assigned. 100 points.

Course policies

• Accommodations for special learning needs are gladly given. Contact me ASAP.

• Attendance and active participation are required. Under-prepared students may be asked to leave class. Reading and bringing course texts is part of preparation.

• Ethical and professional conduct is required: academic honesty, collegiality in class, and professionalism when dealing with the community as part of course activities.

• Feedback from you regarding the course is welcome at any time. Contact me, put a note in my mailbox, or speak to Dr. Alice Robertson, the Director of Writing.

• Grading uses a 1,000 point system based on powers of ten: A=100–90, B=89–80, etc. Keep all graded assignments. Keep track of your grades.

• Milestones and drafts are graded with check-plus (100%), check (85%), check-minus (70%), or U (0%). If you receive a U grade, you must resubmit your work for regrading, and you will earn no higher than a check-minus. See the course web site for a detailed explanation of grading policies.

• Late work is not accepted unless you have prior permission from me.

• Your privacy is important to me. I don’t want to know your WIU or Social Security numbers.

• WIU’s Writing Program has published a goals statement for this course. See http://www.wiu.edu/english/writing/ for details.

WIU policies

In accordance with University policy and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), academic accommodations may be made for any student who notifies the instructor of the need for an accommodation. For the instructor to provide the proper accommodation(s) you must obtain documentation of the need for an accommodation through Disability Support Services and provide it to the instructor. It is imperative that you take the initiative to bring such needs to the instructor’s attention, as he/she is not legally permitted to inquire about such particular needs of students. Students who may require special assistance in emergency evacuations (i.e. fire, tornado, etc.) should contact the instructor as to the most appropriate procedures to follow in such an emergency. Contact Disability Support Services at 298-2512 for additional services.

It is the responsibility of the student to comply with the prerequisites/corequisites for a course that he/she plans to take. Instructors who place the appropriate information on the syllabus and emphasize it during the first three class periods may exclude a student from the class who does not meet the prerequisites/corequisites by sending a note to the student with a copy to the registrar within the first two weeks of the term.

Course schedule

This schedule is incomplete; I will provide a finalized schedule when our course texts arrive.

Class will not be held Feb 12 or Apr 3.

Bradley Dilger, Associate Professor of English, Western Illinois U
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