English 111: Rhetoric and Composition

New Mexico State University

Section Number: M23 and M42

Instructor: Ms. Lauren Goldstein

Semester: Fall 2015

Office Hours/Location: Basement of

Milton Hall (accessible only from the
doors on the North side of the building)
T/Wed: 9-10 and by appointment

Class Times/Location:
MWF, 10:30-11:20, ODonnell Hall 133

Email: poet@nmsu.edu (this is the fastest

way to reach me)

And T/TH 10:20-11:30 ODonnell Hall 151

Course Description
English 111 is a class that will help you create a better understanding of how rhetoric
works in texts you write and in texts you read. The aim of the course is to help you
develop the writing and reading skills you will need later in your academic and
professional life. Rhetoric, however, is not only applicable to academics or your future
career. The concepts in this course are also portable; in other words, they can be applied
to multiple contexts, as well as the university. In this class, youll learn how to read
arguments in many different forms: some will be academic, but others will be everyday
arguments you are already familiar with and encounter with friends, with coworkers,
with roommates, or with other students. The arguments you read and write in this class
will also come in various media: you may be asked to examine the claims in song lyrics,
a short story, an advertisement, or a professional document written for the field in
which you are thinking of majoring. All English 111 students complete a Documented
Argument essay.
Prerequisite
ACT standard score in English of 16 or higher or successful completion of a
developmental writing course or the equivalent. It is your responsibility to make sure
you are correctly placed in English 111G.
Gender and Identity Inclusion Statement
Class rosters and University data systems are provided to the by New Mexico State
University with students' legal name and gender identification. I will gladly honor your
request to address you by a preferred name and/or gender pronouns. Please advise me

of this preference early in the semester so that I may make appropriate changes to my
records.

Learning Objectives
The following learning objectives are standard for all English 111 courses. Your Paideia
15 text discusses each learning objective in detail. Students will be able to:

Practice writing processes, from inventions, drafting, and revising to editing and
polishing.
Read actively and think critically.
Use writing to persuade, inform, and engage an audience through considered
and supported thesis development.
Explore new methods of academic inquiry, rhetorical analysis, and
argumentation.
Develop academic research abilities.

The following are objectives for Common Core classes determined by the State of NM
Higher Education Department. After completion of English 111, students will be able to:

Analyze and evaluate oral and written communication in terms of situation,

audience, purpose, aesthetics, and adverse points of view.

Express a primary purpose in a compelling statement and order supporting

points logically and convincingly.

Use effective rhetorical strategies to persuade, inform, and engage.

Employ writing and/or speaking processes such as planning, collaborating,

organizing, composing, revising, and editing to create presentations using
correct diction, syntax, grammar, and mechanics.

Integrate research correctly and ethically from credible sources to support the
primary purpose of communication.

Engage in reasoned civic discourse while recognizing the distinctions among

opinions, facts, and inferences.

Required Texts (available in the Campus Bookstore)

England, J., et. al. (2012) Paideia 15: Research, Writing, and Argument in English 111
at New Mexico State University. Plymouth, MI: Hayden McNeil.
Graff, G. & Birkenstein, C. (2014). They Say, I Say (3 edition). New York: W.W.
Norton Co.
New Mexico State University. (2015) Readings for Writers. Bedford/St. Martins.

Required Materials

rd

Jump drive or other electronic storage device for backing up and storing
assignments. Make sure to save and print your files periodically (!).
Access to a copier in order to print copies of your work for instructor & peer
review groups
Reliable, frequent access to the internet

Course Credits
English 111 is a 4-credit course. You will meet in class for 3 hours each week. The 4
hour will be spent using the English 111 online course management system called
Canvas. The work you complete using Canvas is in addition to your usual homework
assignments.
th

English 111 Course Policies

The following policies are standard for all English 111 courses. Your instructor may
provide you with additional policies specific to your individual class.
Attendance: Regular attendance is essential for success in a writing course such as this.
This is a hands-on, workshop-oriented class, and much of the learning of the course
takes place in class or on the basis of class lectures, discussions, and exercises.
Therefore, attendance in this class is mandatory.
The Writing Program has established the following policy governing attendance:

We do not make a distinction between "excused" or "unexcused" absences.

Following university policy, the only exception is when students miss class for
documented, university-sanctioned activities (e.g., ASNMSU president
representing NMSU at a legislative session; student athletes competing in NMSU
scheduled athletic events; students participating in educational field trips and
conferences). In such cases, students must provide official documentation in
advance and make arrangements for work missed or due. In all other cases,
missing class counts as an absence.
Attendance will be taken for each class period, beginning with the first class
meeting. Attendance plays a role in your final grade; specifically, attendance and
participation account for 10% of your final grade (it can move your final grade
up or down a full letter grade).
If you are absentor anticipate being absentfrom class at any time, notify your
instructor as soon as possible to discuss what you will need to do. If you cannot
contact your instructor immediately on your own, find someone who can do so
for you.
In cases of absences, you are responsible for getting notes and any other
materials from other students in the class and continuing to follow the syllabus
schedule.
If you are absent beyond three weeks of class (nine class periods in a three-day-a- week
course or six classes in a two-day-a-week course), you cannot pass this course. You will
have missed too much information and practice related to the learning objectives of the
course.

Attendance will be graded using the following scale:

Class Meets 3 Days a

Week

Class Meets 2 Days a

Week

Class Meets 1 Day a

Week

3 or fewer absences = A
for 10% of final grade

2 or fewer absences = A
for 10% of final grade

1 or fewer absences = A
for 10% of final grade

4 absences = A- for 10% of 3 absences = B- for 10% of 2 absences = C- for 10% of

final grade
final grade
final grade
5 absences = B- for 10% of 4 absences = C- for 10% of 3 absences = F for 10% of
final grade
final grade
final grade
6 absences = C- for 10% of 5 absences = D- for 10% of 4 absences = F for final
final grade
final grade
class grade
7 absences = D- for 10% of 6 absences = F for 10% of
final grade
final grade
8 absences = F for 10% of
final grade

7 absences = F for final

class grade

9 absences = F for 10% of

final grade
10 absences = F for final
class grade
Withdrawing from Class: Please note that if you choose to withdraw from the course
with a "W" (not a letter grade), you are responsible for initiating the appropriate
paperwork by the date the university specifies. The instructor is not responsible for
ensuring that students who simply stop attending class are withdrawn, and the Writing
Program is not responsible for initiating withdrawals for students with attendance
problems. If you stop attending the class and do not withdraw, you will fail the course.
Refer to the NMSU Academic Calendar online for more information about deadlines to
withdraw from a course.
Course Work
Plagiarism: The NMSU library defines plagiarism as "using another person's work
without acknowledgement, making it appear to be one's own." Plagiarism and other
acts of academic dishonesty will result in serious consequences, such as failing the
assignment, failing this class, and/or being removed from NMSU. In addition, it is
academically dishonest to submit your own previously written work for a current
assignment or to submit an assignment in more than one class without the prior
permission of the instructors. The NMSU library plagiarism pages provide some basic
information and a tutorial at:
http://lib.nmsu.edu/instruction/plagiarism/index.shtml. All course texts have
information about how to properly document your sources. Please review them

carefully and consult your instructor, a Writing Center tutor, or a librarian with
questions.
Grading:
However, the attendance grade, Documented Argument grade, and total supporting
assignments grade will be the same percentage of your final course grade, regardless of
what section of English 111 you're enrolled in.
Note: You must earn a C or higher in English 111 to pass the course. This means that
if you earn a "D" or "F" in English 111 and have already registered for a higher-level
writing course, you will be asked to drop the English 203, 211, 218, 311, or 318 and
register for English 111 once again.

Component

Percentage
of Final
Grade

Attendance

10%

Final Rhetorical Analysis (RA)

10%

Final Documented Argument (DA)

30%

Smaller Assignments Selected by Instructor: Rough Drafts, Peer

Reviews, In-class Activities, Discussions In Class and Online, Reading
Responses, Journal Entries, Proposals, Annotated Bibliographies,
Copies of Materials Cited in Your Project, Other Exercises and
Supporting Assignments.

50%

(Please note: All of the above are in support of your final Documented
Argument.)
Grading Scale:
A
B
C
D
F

90-100%
80-89%
70-79%
60-69%
Below 60
The Rhetorical Analysis: English 111 Common Assignment
The rhetorical analysis will teach you how to identify rhetorical strategies and
persuasive appeals so that you can utilize them in your own writing. In this assignment

you will analyze an artifact (e.g. an image or a text) and write an essay that examines
and explains its argument within the context a rhetorical situation.
The Documented Argument: English 111 Common Assignment
The documented argument requires that you create a persuasive, well-organized
argument supported by credible, academic sources. In this research-based assignment,
you will identify, explore, and then argue a supported position about a controversial
issue, one that reasonable people may disagree on.
Engagement: Because this is an interactive course, I expect you to be fully engaged in
all activities, discussions, and group work. We will be engaging in intense discussions
on stimulating issues, and I want you to speak up and out, whether to make a comment
or ask a question. I do not want to be the only one talking. Remember: you learn not
only from me but from one another as well. Please come to each class prepared and
ready to participate. While we often think of participation as talking, it can also include
collaborating with others and engaging in the material and discussions.
Etiquette and Netiquette:
General Expectations and Conduct

Effort and Attitude are #1:If you put in the effort, work hard, and maintain a positive
attitude, youre going to improve your work and youre going to do well in this
course. SO, please do ALL of the assigned readings and come to class on time and
ready to make a positive contribution. Demonstrate a good attitude in class and keep in
mind that becoming a better problem-solver/composer/writer/designer/artist is a
process that involves critique, editing, revision, etc.

Respect for Others: Simply put: Treat each other like youd like to be treated: no
discriminatory or demeaning speech or behavior will be tolerated. This applies to
online and face-to-face interactions.

Stay in Touch With Me: Open communication is crucial for doing well in this
course. Feel free to email me at any time. When I email you, please respond
promptly. Come to my office hours, and if those times dont work, let me know and
well work out another time to meet. Please let me know, at any time, if you have
questions about any aspect of the class.

Effort and Attitude are #1 for Me, Too: I will always be prepared for class, to work
hard for each of you, and to give you constructive feedback on all of your work for this
course. I am committed to maintaining a healthy and productive classroom
environment.

Approachability and Open Door Policy: I will do my best to be as approachable as I

can be for whatever questions, comments, concerns you have about anything and
everything related to this course. Its very important to me that each of you are
comfortable speaking your mind. Also, I will respect each of your and your time by
being on time for my office house and appointments, and respond to emails within 24

hours.
Since this is a rhetoric and writing class, I ask that you are mindful of your own rhetoric
in all forms of communication. When contacting each other or me through Canvas or
email, please use an appropriate greeting and closing. Also, please be polite when
asking a question, making a request, or addressing a concern. That is, I ask that you use
appropriate rhetorical strategies when communicating. For example:
An acceptable email:
Hi Ms. Goldstein,
I have a question regarding my grade. I submitted my proposal on Tuesday, but I
received a 0 for the assignment. Can you please double-check this grade?
Thank you for your time.
Stephen King (ENG 111, MWF section)
An unacceptable email:
why did i receive a 0 on my assignment?
In-Class Activities: We will complete many in-class activities, including group work,
peer review, reading quizzes, and practice assignments. Even though most of these
activities are graded as complete/incomplete, to receive credit, I expect to see honest
effort put forth.
Learning Logs: Learning often happens when we dont realize. To help you reflect on
your learning, I ask that you submit a learning log every two weeks. These learning logs
allow you to reflect on your writing, learning, and goals for improvement. We will
discuss learning logs in more detail.
Canvas: Our online learning management system, Canvas, is where you will complete
your fourth hour each week. Activities will vary week to week, but expect to complete
activities that supplement what we do in the classroom. In order to complete this
weekly requirement, youll need regular access to a computer and the internet. If you
dont have regular access, please notify me as soon as possible so we can make
arrangements.
Late work: All work is due at the beginning of class on the date listed on the syllabus. I
will not accept late work. If you will miss class, you can submit your work electronically
through email or Canvas on or before the due date and time. Think of the dates listed
on the course outline as deadlines you can submit any of the work before the dates
listed, but the assignments are closed out after the listed date. Points for participation
and all in-class work are forfeited with absences and cannot be made up. Check your
syllabus regularly to know what we are doing in class.

Revision: Writing is a recursive process that does not end when you turn in a paper. I
believe that to improve as a writer, you must write and rewritea lot. Keep in mind
that revision is not proofreading; you must make substantial changes to the text (e.g.
content and organization) in the revision.
Student Success Resources
The following resources will help you during your time in English 111. Visit the library
and Writing Center often for free help on all your writing assignments!
NMSU Library:

http://lib.nmsu.edu/index.shtml

English 111 Library

Guide:

http://nmsu.libguides.com/e111

NMSU Writing Center:

https://nmsu.mywconline.com/

Student Success
Center:

http://ssc.nmsu.edu/

Sexual and Gender

Diversity Resource
Center

http://sgdrc.nmsu.edu

NMSU Counseling
Center

http://counselingcenter.nmsu.edu
Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.!!
Location: Garcia Annex, Room 100!!
http://ict.nmsu.edu/

Information &
Communication
Technologies (ICT):
NMSU Academic
Calendar:

http://academiccalendar.nmsu.edu/

Purdue Owl Online

Writing Lab:

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/

New Mexico Lottery Scholarship

According to the New Mexico Lottery Web site, since 1996 more than 54,000 students
from across the state have attended New Mexico public colleges, universities, and
technical colleges with the help of Legislative Lottery Scholarships. The lottery
scholarship is available for New Mexico residents entering college just after completing
high school or the GED. To be eligible, each student must:

Be a New Mexico resident;

Graduate from a New Mexico public high school or an accredited private high
school recognized by the Public Education Department, or have obtained a New
Mexico GED;

Enroll full-time at an eligible New Mexico public college or university in the first
regular semester immediately following high school graduation or obtaining a
GED; and
Obtain and maintain at least a 2.5 GPA. (Keep in mind that English 111 is a
four-credit course and will likely impact your GPA more than any other course.)

If students meet the eligibility requirements, the lottery scholarship will:

Pay 100% of tuition; and

Pay tuition for eight consecutive semesters of eligibility beginning with the
second semester of college enrollment.

No application is required, although some colleges may require the completion of

FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
Visit http://fa.nmsu.edu/scholarships/freshmen/legislative-lottery-scholarshipnmrf/to learn more about the scholarship. If you are concerned about your eligibility
for the lottery scholarship, speak with an academic advisor. Remember that it is a
student's responsibility to ensure they remain eligible for the lottery scholarship;
instructors will not change grades to make students eligible. Speak with your
instructors and keep careful records of your gradesincluding attendance to make
sure you are earning grades that will establish or maintain your eligibility for the
lottery, or any other, scholarship.
NM Lottery Scholarship eligibility change begins Fall 2014
Beginning with the Fall 2014 semester, incoming students who meet other eligibility
requirements will need to successfully complete 15 credit hours with a GPA of 2.5 or
higher to earn the NM Lottery Scholarship. To maintain eligibility, students will need to
complete 15 graded credit hours each semester and maintain a GPA of 2.5 or greater.
Students can earn the scholarship for up to seven semesters. See
http://fa.nmsu.edu/scholarships/freshmen/legislative-lottery-scholarship-nmrf/ for
more information.
Students who have received the scholarship for at least three semesters (including
Spring 2014) are considered legacy students and must complete 12 credit hours each
semester and maintain a GPA of 2.5 or greater to continue to be eligible for the NM
Lottery Scholarship. Legacy students can hold this scholarship for up to eight semesters.
A significant discount is available to all students who take 15 or more student credit
hours per semester. When you take more credits per semester, you save money on your
college degree and graduate faster. See
http://hr.nmsu.edu/uar/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2014/04/2014-2015FAL_TF.pdf.pdf for more information.
Course Support Resources
Students with Disabilities: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the
Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) covers issues relating to
disability and accommodations. If a student has questions or needs an accommodation
in the classroom (all medical information is treated confidentially), contact:
Trudy Luken, Director

Student Accessibility Services (SAS) - Corbett Center, Rm. 208

Phone: (575) 646-6840 E-mail: sas@nmsu.edu Website: http://sas.nmsu.edu/
NMSU policy prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, ancestry, color, disability,
gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, retaliation, serious
medical condition, sex, sexual orientation, spousal affiliation and protected veterans
status.
Furthermore, Title IX prohibits sex discrimination to include sexual misconduct: sexual
violence (sexual assault, rape), sexual harassment and retaliation.
For more information on discrimination issues, Title IX, Campus SaVE Act, NMSU
Policy Chapter 3.25, NMSU's complaint process, or to file a complaint contact:
Gerard Nevarez, Title IX Coordinator
Agustin Diaz, Title IX Deputy Coordinator
Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) - O'Loughlin House, 1130 University Avenue
Phone: (575) 646-3635 E-mail: equity@nmsu.edu Website:
http://www.nmsu.edu/~eeo/
Division of Student Success: The New Mexico State University Division of Student
Success offers important resources to all students. There are two Student Success
Centers on campus, and each offers different services. The Student Success Center
Hardman (located in room 210 of Hardman Hall) offers UNIV courses, which help
students obtain important study skills, and Freshman Year Experience (FYE) courses,
which provide a useful introduction to the university. The Student Success CenterZuhl
(located on the second floor of the Zuhl Library) offers tutoring services for most
disciplines in addition to cross-campus advising. Visit http://ssc.nmsu.edu/ for more
information.
Writing Center: The Writing Center offers free one-on-one tutoring for all NMSU
students. We work with undergraduate and graduate writers at any level of experience
and can help with anything from understanding assignment directions to revising final
drafts. Our Center is staffed by graduate assistants who teach undergraduate writing
courses through the English Department.
The NMSU Writing Center values the work of student writers. We strive to help
students become more knowledgeable, practiced, and confident writers through
collaborative, dialogue-centered consultations. We also value the opportunity to learn
from our experiences working with students in order to become better writers, tutors,
and teachers.
We are located in the English Department in Clara Belle Williams Hall, Room 102. We
are open Monday to Thursday 9am to 6pm, Friday 9am to 12pm. We also offer drop-in
hours at Zuhl Library Sunday to Wednesday 7pm to 9pm. The Writing Center opens
the second full week of classes during the regular semester and closes the last full week
of classes before final exams week.
Appointments begin on the hour and half hour and last approximately 3060 minutes.
We recommend that you schedule an appointment a day or two in advance, and we ask
that you please be on time for your appointment. We'll hold your slot for approximately
10 minutes, but after that, we may have to give your appointment to another writer. We

also welcome walk-in appointments, but may not be able to accommodate walk-ins at
busy times.
Please bring as much information as possible with you: your assignment sheet, any
notes or drafts you've written, peer reviews of your work, and/or instructor's
comments. We also ask that you come to your appointment with specific needs or
questions to discuss.
Visit the following Web site to make an appointment and for more information about
the Writing Center resources:
http://www.nmsu.edu/~english/resources/writingcenter/
Nondiscrimination: According to the NMSU Office Institutional Equity website:
"New Mexico State University (NMSU) is dedicated to non-discrimination and
equal opportunity in education and employment in compliance with state and
federal laws which prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national
origin, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, spousal affiliation,
physical or mental disability, serious medical condition, or veteran status.
NMSU's dedication to non-discrimination extends to recruitment, admissions,
education, scholarships and other tuition assistance, social and recreational
programs, hiring, promotion, training and other employee actions such as work
assignments, compensation, benefits, transfers, layoffs, and terminations.
Additionally, NMSU's mandated affirmative action plan is evidence of our
dedication to excellence in everything we attempt to accomplish."
In the context of your English 111 class, this means that you should show respect not
only to your instructor, but also to your peers as equals. We are all entitled to our own
opinions and beliefs; however, any comments, jokes, or remarks that denigrate the
worth of an individual's physical or mental ability, body size, religion, race, creed,
ethnic background, sexual preference, or gender are inappropriate and will not be
tolerated. You can visit http://www.nmsu.edu/~eeo/ for more information.