SYLLABUS FOR ENGLISH 300 003
Advanced Composition
Fall 2004, T-Th 2-3:15 p.m., PA 205

Instructor: Todd M. Bunnell
Phone: 241-6235
Office/Hours: 411 Reneau, MWF 9-10, 11-Noon
E-mail address/website: tbunnell@muw.edu <www2.muw.edu/~tbunnell>

TEXTS AND MATERIALS:
*Writing and Reading Across the Curriculum, Eighth Edition
*Little, Brown Handbook
*A college dictionary
*Pocket folder

COURSE CONTENT:
EN 300 stresses analytical and practical writing skills through the expanded study of and practice in stylistics, logic, rhetoric and mechanics of research. Emphasis is on argument and persuasion leading to documented writing in the student's major field.

GOALS:
To develop stronger grammatical and mechanical skills
To help students limit topics and to create limited, coherent essays
To help students organize and structure thoughts in writing
To help students develop analytical and critical thinking skills
To help students to look critically at both print and non-print media
To help students take critical approaches to writing
To promote diversification of opinions and presentation
To help students think critically in their own fields
To promote research skills and the use of documentation to support assertions

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Each student will be required to write four papers consisting of 500-600 words each and one documented research paper (five-source minimum, 800-words) from a topic within the student's major field. Students will also take an in-class final which will be a 500-600 word position paper on an assigned topic. In addition, students will be expected to complete various in-class activities, homework, and unannounced quizzes which CANNOT be made-up. Each essay must be typed and double-spaced and submitted in a pocket folder. Late papers will be docked one letter grade for EACH DAY I have not received them. NO EXCEPTIONS!

METHOD OF EVALUATION:

The final grade will be determined by the following:

*Four critical papers -- 50%
*Research paper -- 20%
*Final -- 25%
*In-class activities and quizzes -- 5%

NOTE: There are no D or F grades in EN 300. If the student's writing is below a "C" standard, a grade of "NC" (No Credit) will be given for the course. This will not affect the student's QPA.

ATTENDANCE:
Attendance is very important. Each student will be allowed to miss four (4) classes without penalty. On the fifth absence, the student's final grade will be lowered one letter grade. On the sixth absence, the student will automatically receive a grade of NC for the course. . You are responsible for being aware of your own absences. I will not notify you of the number of absences you have, but you are welcome to check with me. Note: There is no difference between an excused absence and an unexcused absence. Also, please come to class on time and prepared. Excessive tardies will add up to an absence.

PROCEDURES AND POLICIES:
1. Each theme must be typed and double-spaced.
2. No title page is needed. The front page should have, in the top left-hand corner:

Student's name
Bunnell
EN 300
Date

3. Any essay submitted must have a TITLE or it will be lowered one letter grade. Do not underline, bold, or put titles within quotation marks or in all caps. Also, try to be creative with your titles.
4. Always submit each essay in your collective class pocket folder. Any essay not submitted in a folder will be lowered one letter grade.
5. Before taking the exam, you must have, and present to me, your class pocket folder complete with ALL OF YOUR GRADED ESSAYS OR YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO TAKE THE FINAL!
6. Please turn off all cell phones before entering the classroom. If there is a special circumstance, notify me in advance.
7. You MUST submit photocopies of all sources used in your research paper. Failure to do so will result in the final draft being lowered one letter grade.
8. On peer response days, students are expected to come in with a complete rough draft and be prepared to analyze and discuss in both a written format and orally those rough drafts in small peer groups. The rough draft does not have to be typed.
9. Students will be expected to complete various in-class exercises as a class, in small groups, and individually. Those exercises will include discussion and analysis of both written and visual materials.

PLAGIARISM:
Plagiarism is using someone else's ideas or writing as your own without giving credit to that individual or source. A plagiarized composition will receive a zero, and under extreme cases, you may even receive a grade of NC for the course. Documentation (parenthetical documentation and a Works Cited/Reference sheet) must be used when quoting an outside source. When in doubt, ask me!

DISABILITIES:
It is the responsibility of students who have professionally diagnosed disabilities to notify the instructor so that necessary and appropriate modifications can be made to meet any special learning needs.

IMPORTANT DATES:
September 24 -- Last day to drop a course without receiving a grade of WP/WF
October 25 -- Last day a course may be dropped
November 12 -- Last day to withdraw from the university

WEEK 1 (August 24-26) -- Introduction to course. Writing exercises. Theme construction discussion. Thesis discussion.

WEEK 2 (August 31-September 2) -- Thesis discussion continued. Group thesis statement exercises. Summary. Group Summary exercises.

WEEK 3 (September 7-9) -- Fallacies discussion. Fallacy worksheet. Fallacy quiz.

WEEK 4 (September 14-16) -- Advertisement Analysis discussion.

WEEK 5 (September 21-23) -- Advertisement Analysis rough draft due. Peer Response Groups. ADVERTISEMENT ANALYSIS PAPER DUE. Research paper discussion. Computerized research techniques.

WEEK 6 (September 28-30) -- Critique discussion. Introduction of Toulmin Analysis. Analysis of written arguments.

WEEK 7 (October 5-7) -- Introduction to television/oral analysis. Critiquing the oral argument.

WEEK 8 (October 12-14) -- Continuation of critiquing of visual/oral arguments. Television Analysis rough draft due. Peer Response Groups.

WEEK 9 (October 19-21) -- TELEVISION ANALYSIS PAPER DUE. Critique response discussion. Response to a written argument. RESEARCH PAPER PROPOSAL DUE.

WEEK 10 (October 26-28) -- Critique response discussion. Critique Response rough draft due. Peer Response Groups.

WEEK 11 (November 2-4) -- CRITIQUE RESPONSE PAPER DUE. Research paper documentation discussion. Documentation exercise.

WEEK 12 (November 9-11) -- Begin Synthesis discussion. Synthesis group exercises. The Wal-Mart Controversy (132-162).

WEEK 13 (November 16-18) -- Chapter 8: Obedience to Authority (306-375). Group Facilitators. ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY DUE. RESEARCH PAPER CONFERENCES.

WEEK 15 (November 30-December 2) -- Obedience to Authority continued. Synthesis rough draft due. Peer response groups. SYNTHESIS PAPER DUE.

WEEK 16 (December 7-9) -- ORAL PRESENTATIONS. RESEARCH PAPER DUE. Review.