course syllabus

1. Course Syllabus p. 1
Basic Writing 092- Spring ‘11
Science Building- Room 1225
Instructor: Jamie Hemken Office: Student Success Center
Email: jhemken@siue.edu Hours: Monday/ Wednesday 9-10am
Course Description
This course is designed to help you read, think, and write critically and effectively. Along
the way we will expose the invalidity of some writing myths: the myth that some are
simply born writers and others aren’t; the myth that you will receive eleventh-hour
inspiration the night before an essay is due; and the myth that criteria for good writing are
“all subjective anyway.” While composition instructors differ on a few relatively minor
concerns, the essentials for good writing are nearly universally agreed upon, such as an
engaging thesis, well-developed paragraphs, and sophisticated prose. We will work
towards developing these essentials through textbook and out-of-class exercises, writing
assignments, lectures, discussion, and peer critiques.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, you should be able to:
1. Write multiple drafts
2. Read and write critically
3. Research and gather information on topics to use in a paper
4. Develop persuasive and argumentative essays
5. Elimination structural and grammatical errors
Grades
• Journal Notebook – 10 points (5 pt. per assignment check)
• Assignments Notebook – 20 points (10 pt. per assignment check)
• Essays – 80 points (20 pts. per essay)
• Midterm – 10 points
• Final – 10 points
Grading Scale:A = 108 – 120 points
B = 107 – 96 points
C = 95 – 84 points
D = 83 – 72 points
F = 71 – 0 points
Students will receive a grade and a recommendation for course placement (Eng. 101 or
AD 092). Students who show satisfactory writing progress and evidence an ability to
write consistently a clearly developed, multi-paragraph essay that meets the course’s
goals and objectives will receive a grade of A,B, or C and a recommendation for ENG

2. Course Syllabus p. 2
101. Students who have not made satisfactory writing progress and/or met course goals
and objectives will be advised to retake 092.
Student writing is evaluated according to the following four categories:
• Purpose—topic, focus or thesis, audience
• Development--support of purpose/thesis
• Order--essay, paragraph, and sentence organization; logic and clarity
• Language—conciseness, usage, sentence construction
Class Material
Required Texts:
Steps to Writing Well, Thomson & Wadsworth 2008
Readings for Writers, Metherall & Winkler, Wadsworth 2010
The DK Handbook, Wysocki & Lynch, Pearson/Longman 2009
Additional required materials:
1. 2 One-Subject Notebooks; 1 for Journals and 1 for assignments. Each student
MUST HAVE these two notebooks, no exceptions! No multi-subject
notebooks and no large binders. Failure to submit work in the proper notebook
will result in a zero.
2. A folder or binder for handouts
3. College Dictionary and Thesaurus
4. A flash drive or storage device
5. An active email and e-id login
6. Small stapler for submitting work
Course Outline
Date Class-Time Assignment Notebook Work Journal Work Formal Written work
Week 1 Intro to course; Read chapter 1 (3-29) on prewriting No Journal Diagnostic Paragraph #1
1/10 – Diagnostic in SWW and do any 2 of the 10 Work (Choose from the list of paragraph
1/13 Testing; questions in both Practice A and B topics listed at the end of the
The Thesis on page 18. syllabus)
Read chap.2 in SWW; “Practicing Due on Thursday
What You’ve Learned,” p.39; part A
only. “Assignment,” p. 40.
On pages 42-43 of SWW, do any 2
of the 10 items on mapping a thesis
statement.
Week 2 No class Read chapter 3 in SWW; “Practice” #1: record a Paragraph #2: Using what you
1/17- 1/20 Monday p. 55, 62, 66, and 74, do any 2 of journal entry have learned thus far about
Paragraph peer the items in each lettered section. about your prewriting, topic sentences/thesis
Friday evaluation; perceived statements, and paragraph
1/21 – Paragraph lecture SWW read pp. 521-27,“ Practicing “starting point” development, write 3 (three) well-
Last day to and outline What You’ve Learned,” p. 523. as a writer. developed paragraphs, choosing
drop or development; Rewrite complete sentences What attributes your topics from those paragraph
withdraw Sample Essay do you bring to topics listed at the end of the
without “Diet” and the table as a syllabus. Due online Monday

3. Course Syllabus p. 3
receiving a summary practice writer? What
grade might be a
barrier to your
writing?
Week 3 No class on Read Chapter 9: Exposition & Explain why you Essay #1: Choose a topic to write
1/24 -1/27 Monday Examples, pp. 183-93. chose your a process essay from one of the
In class essay For Thursday: Chapter 9: Exposition topic for the topics listed for process found in
analysis; Lecture & Process Analysis, pp. process essay. SWW on pages 196-197.
on the Example 197-206. While the essay Write a sentence outline for your
Essay and itself focuses essay
process analysis; mostly on
Sample essay explaining what
workshops must be done
to complete the
process, give
more details in
your journal
about why your
process topic
has
significance.
Week 4 Outlines; Chapter 4: Beginnings and Endings, Continue working on essays in
1/31- 2/3 Introductions and pp. 79-90. class. Polished Drafts are due on
conclusions; Monday
transitions; Transitions, pp. 70-78.
revisions
Week 5 Monday and Chapter 10: Argumentation, pp. Consult the essay topics on pp.
2/7- 2/10 Tuesday: 277-86. 291-92. Using either Pattern A, B,
Individual Professional Essays: Ron Kline, “A or C on p. 281, or the Rogerian
conferences in Scientist: I Am the Enemy,” pp. method on p. 285, write a
my office; 627-29. sentence outline for an
regular class argumentative paper on one of the
meeting is topics. (If you do not know
cancelled in what a sentence outline is, consult
lieu of DK Handbook) Be prepared to
conferences explain/defend your choice of
organization. Note: Your real
Wed. and Thurs: essay does not have to be on this
Writing Argument topic, though it can be with my
approval.
Week 6 Logical Fallacies Grammar review: Errors with nouns Essay # 2, Argument Essay:
2/14- 2/17 and emotional and pronouns, pp. 527-32. How well do you think your high
appeals “Practicing What You’ve Learned,” p. school or home school experience
531-2, part A only. No need to prepared you for college?
rewrite complete sentences.
Write a Sentence outline for your
Logical Fallacies, pp. 286-89; topic.
Practice B p.290
Sample Student Essay: “Students,
Take Note!”pp. 293-95.
Week 7 In-Class Drafting/ In-Text Citations; Works Cited Final Draft of Argument Essay Due
2/21- 2/24 Individual (SWW p. 386- 403; Practice p.391 Monday 2/28
Conferences in #2,3,4,5)
the classroom Grammar Review: Errors with
Pronouns; Practice p 531- Do all A
and B exercises

4. Course Syllabus p. 4
Week 8 Compare and Chapter 9: Exposition; “Comparison Essay #3: Review the following
2/28- 3/3 Contrast and Contrast,” pp. 215-30, including essay topics on pp. 219-20: 3, 4,
Catton essay. 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19,
20. Choose one of these topics,
Thursday: narrow the subject matter,
In-Class Timed Essay using your compose a thesis, and write a
outline sentence outline for a
comparison/contrast paper
according to one of the two
methods of organization discussed
on p. 216. Be prepared to
explain/defend your choice of
organization. Complete by
Thursday of this week
Week 9 Spring Break
3/7- 3/10
Week 10 Midterm Grammar Diagnostic Midterm
3/14- 3/17 Journal and
Assignment
Notebook Check
Week 11 The Definition Grammar review, Errors with What are your Essay #4: Review the essay
3/21- 3/24 Essay adverbs and adjectives; thoughts on topics listed on page 236-237.
Friday 3/25 punctuation: pp. 533-40. Grammar your progress Choose one of these topics, narrow
Last day to
withdraw from glossary.“Practicing What You’ve thus far. What the subject matter, compose a
a class without Learned,” p. 534; p.536, Rewrite have you thesis, and write a sentence
permission of complete sentences; p.537; p.539 learned about outline for a definition paper using
adviser and
instructor. and 540. yourself as a the strategies listed on page
writer? 238-39.
Read SWW p 236-247 on the
definition essay
Week 12 In-class writing Continue working on grammar Definition Essay Due Monday 2/28
3/28 – time/ individual activities
3/31 conferences.
Week 13 Writing about film Read Chap 18 SWW, p 487-499
4/4 – 4/7
Archetypes in Film- Lecture
Symbolism Research and cited note-
taking
Week 14 The Truman Symbolism Quiz Use your
4/11- 4/14 Show film viewing Film Viewing and discussion journal to
answer the film
viewing
questions
Week 15 Truman Show Essay #5: In class essay on The
4/18 -4/21 Timed Writing Truman Show
Easter
Weekend Journal and
assignment
notebook check
Week 16 Final Exam Work on Writing Lab Modules for Record a final,
4/25- 4/28 Review problem areas reflective
Finals journal entry on
your efforts and
achievements in
the class. What
have you
learned about

5. Course Syllabus p. 5
yourself as a
writer? What
changes do you
see in your
writing since
back when you
started
Week 17 Final Exam Final Individual Conference
5/2 – 5/5
Conference
PARAGRAPH ASSIGNMENT TOPICS
1. Which best describes you in your thinking or your approach to life: Country mouse or City
mouse? Why? In which ways?
2. What are some simple things people can do right now to make this world (or their city,
neighborhood, home) a better place? Why? What will or does each thing accomplish or
solve?
3. What are the major problems of going to school and working simultaneously? In a
paragraph, discuss two or three of the problems you have found in trying to do both.
4. More and more people are shopping by mail order catalogue, whether it is for clothes,
jewelry, household items, or electronics. In a paragraph, tell what the advantages or
disadvantages are of shopping by mail order.
5. Describe a special place that you go when you are seeking inner peace.
6. Everyone is on a health kick these days. Go against the norm, and write a paragraph
promoting your favorite junk food.
7. Describe a family member or relative you deeply admire or dislike.
8. Discuss why one actress's or actor's performance is impressive in one specific movie.
9. Explain in detail your pet peeve.
10. Describe yourself as a writer.
Attendance Policies
Attending class is essential in a writing course because the classroom experience provides
information and instruction that cannot be made up. The semester’s assignments are
given well in advance, therefore, if an absence occurs, the student is responsible for
emailing the assignment to me on that day. Failure to contact me prior to an absence will
result in a zero for any work missed on that particular day.
It is important to understand that at the university level, there is no distinction between an
excused or unexcused absence. You are allowed four absences each semester in order to

6. Course Syllabus p. 6
accommodate any emergency, personal, or medical issue. All absences, either because of
a funeral or because you overslept, will be treated the same.
Tardy Policy
Any student who is late by five or more minutes will be counted absent for the day. We
only have fifty minutes of class time; any time missed is valuable and late entry can and
usually does cause a disruption to the class.
Late Work Policy
I do not accept late work. Failure to submit an essay or a notebook on the assigned day
will result in a zero.
Plagiarism Policy
SIUE will not tolerate inappropriate behavior, cheating, or plagiarism. Failure to follow
these rules may result in a zero on a paper or test, a failing grade for a course, or even
expulsion from the university. Students may refer to the SIUE handbook, "Student
Conduct and Student Grievances: Rights and Responsibilities" if they have questions
about the policy.
Academic Support
Part of Instructional Services' mission is providing student support; AD 092 provides
students with additional help outside of class:
• Instructors provide scheduled and walk-in office hours and include individual
conferences with students as part of the course curriculum
• Tutors are available by appointment in the Writing Center (Student Success
Center)
• The Writing Center provides self-tutorial computer modules on grammar and
rhetoric
Students needing special academic accommodations must have a documented disability
and an ID CARD from Disability Support Services and must discuss with the instructors
those accommodations that are needed by the end of the first week.
Cell Phone Etiquette:
This class is a “No Cell Phone Zone.” Please turn off all cell phones. If you must have
your phone on, please set it to buzz/vibrate. Neither cell phones nor digital media players
should be used in any way during class. See me about the use of laptops.