Syllabus/Summary of Course

I'd like to ask you for your commitment this semester to the expected amount of time for work. The Inver Hills (and national) standard is three hours of work (two of homework and one of class time) per week for every one college credit, to receive an average grade. This class is a three-credit class, so please plan on spending at least nine hours per week on class and homework: three on class and six on homework. This represents an average--some weeks may be less, some more. It also represents the work needed by the average college student to receive an average grade (which, nationally, is probably a "B" or "B-" in the first two years of college). If you want an "A" or you tend to be a below-average student, you may need to work more than the amount of time described here.

For our section of this course, I have developed a somewhat unusual approach. There will be no graded papers. Instead, you will have a number of drafts of papers and revisions of those drafts, and you will receive X's for the drafts once they are complete. You also will make your own choices of subject matter for these drafts. If you don't get the drafts right the first time, you will have as many chances as you need to fix them. The only limit you will have on these drafts and the X's you get for them is a time limit: you must be done with them by the end of the semester. There also will be readings of chapters to do, and rough-draft study questions about them.

One of the main focuses of this class is the nonfiction books we will study. Each week you will have one or a few chapters from these books to read; then you will write a very brief, rough-draft paper (often just 150+ words) about what you read; and finally, we will talk about them on the weekly bulletin boards and, to some extent, in class.

In all, I have planned a large amount of practice for you--i.e., practice of writing and research--as that is the primary way in which people become good research writers. Many of the papers are like lab practice in a biology course: they will show me you've done the readings and help you practice writing and research and think about them more. Other papers are continuing revisions so that you can feel and see your papers growing from a first, rough idea to a very well-finished product. I am doing these kinds of assignments instead of having several objective tests or several graded papers because I believe that in the long run, you'll learn more from writing frequently on a weekly basis.

How many assignments are there? There are many. Most, however, are short and relatively easy, and some, while longer, still usually are rough-draft papers. The key to whether or not you succeed in this class is consistent hard work: if you keep working hard to get the rough-draft papers done each week, you will succeed in this class.

Please remember that you may write these as "lab" papers--in very rough-draft form--without worrying about grammatical usage, spelling, or punctuation (except for the Draft-4 papers).

STUDY QUESTIONS: First, you'll read a required chapter in the main textbook. This chapter will describe how to write a certain type of paper. Then you will type or handwrite rough-draft answers to the "General Study Questions" available through the chapter. You'll have a choice of questions to answer for 150+ words about the chapter.

JOURNALS: There will be just a few journals: about yourself, about the course Web site, and about how you liked the course (at the end). Journals must be 300+ words, rough draft.

DRAFT 1, 2, 3, AND 4 PAPERS: The final type of weekly papers is the drafts of papers to write each week. You will have a number of drafts to write, and you will choose the subjects. There will be no graded papers. You'll simply receive X's for each correct draft. And if a draft isn't right, you'll have time to fix it--and even fix it again, if necessary. The only limit you will have for fixing these drafts is the length of the class itself: you must have all the drafts (or as many as you can) done by the end of the semester. You will have a total of four Draft 1's, and from these you'll develop two Draft 2's. From these, you'll develop two Draft 3's, then two Draft 4's. You will have thorough directions at each step of the way.

NOTE: For more instructions on how to write these papers, see "HOMEWORK." Be sure to check the "SCHEDULE" regularly to see what is due. If you run into a true emergency, do call me or come see me before homework is late.

The overall grading is based on a simple point system for papers, attendance, and participation/improvement. You will get X's for each. There are 100+ points possible:

Writing: up to about 65 points
Attendance: up to about 35 points
Participation: + or - your total points above

You need to build up at least 70 points to earn a "C" in the course. You also must do a number of drafts of papers. There are four Draft 1 papers (four different kinds). You'll then pick two of these and turn them into two different Draft 2's. Once your Draft 2's are completed (and if you also have 70 points total), you will receive a "C" for the course. To get a higher grade, you must do more drafts and earn more points. Here are the requirements for passing or earning higher grades:

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE LETTER GRADE YOU WANT

(1) Earn 70+ points for a C (or 60+ points for a D) out of 100+ points total.

90-100 points earns an A

80 - 89 points earns a B

70 - 79 points earns a C

60 - 69 points earns a D

0 - 59 points earns an F

See "Table of Grades" below for more details. Earning extra credit also is possible.
Warning: The more you procrastinate, the less chance you will have to earn a sufficient number of points to pass.
Note: If you do not get the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum or a two-year degree from Inver, then a "D" may not transfer elsewhere.

AND (2) Write the following "Drafts" for the following grades:

D = 2 Draft 1’s + 2 Draft 2's*

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C = 3 Draft 1’s + 2 Draft 2's + 1 Draft 3

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B = 4 Draft 1’s + 2 Draft 2’s + 2 Draft 3’s   or
B = 4 Draft 1’s + 2 Draft 2’s + 1 Draft 3      + 1 Draft 4

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A = 4 Draft 1’s + 2 Draft 2's + 2 Draft 3's    + 1 Draft 4

Warning: Even if you have enough points for a higher grade, you cannot get it unless you also have the minimum number of Drafts.
*Note 1: A "D" in Eng 1114 sometimes doesn’t transfer unless earned as part of the Minn. Transfer Curriculum.
Note 2: This course transfers to the University of Minn.-Twin Cities as a “Writing Intensive” course requirement.

AND (3) Attend regularly and turn in assignments.

Weekly attendance and completion of homework is a must to do well in this class. Warning: If you miss two weeks in a row, you will receive an automatic "F" in the class (which you may then ask to have changed to a "W" or "Withdraw").

I hope you enjoy the class! If there's anything I can do to help you enjoy it more--alternatives, help with understanding something, etc.--come see me, email me anytime, or call me from 9 am-9 pm. My phone number, email address, and other info are at the beginning of this syllabus.

The views and opinions expressed in this page are strictly those of the page author.The contents of this page have not been reviewed or approved by the University of Minnesota.

The views and opinions expressed in this page are strictly those of the page author.
The contents of this page have not been reviewed or approved by the University of Minnesota.