ENC 1101 Writing & Rhetoric Fall 2018

Instructor(s): Terin Weinberg, Jeffrey Wilson, Kyle Urquijo, Richard Riley

Office: MMC - DM 453

Office Hours: 1:00 pm- 3:00 pm Monday & Wednesday or by appointment

Class Hours: 12:00-12:50 AM, Monday, Wednesday, Friday

Email: ​rriley@fiu.edu​, ​tweinber@fiu.edu​, ​jewilson@fiu.edu​, kurquijo@fiu.edu

Welcome to Writing & Rhetoric I (Description)

Welcome to ENC1101! This course is designed to aid you in developing effective

communication skills, and ultimately strengthen your critical thinking skills. You will need
to be able to communicate through writing for the rest of your time at the university as
well as in your working life, which is why 1101 is a foundational course for your growth
as a college student. You will use writing and rhetoric both in composition and analysis
of multimedia texts in many different situations in your undergraduate coursework, and
even more so if you plan to go on to grad school. That said, our goal is to get you
familiar with various academic and non-academic genres, and the process of writing
them; help you learn how to unearth your ideas and develop them with respect to your
reading audience; and along the way, together discover the formulas and methods you’ll
be crafting in order to produce concise and meaningful prose. This means that you’ll be
writing traditional academic essays, but also exploring various alternative forms of
digital and print literacies such as online articles, presentations, reports, case studies,
narratives, research projects, and more! Read the next section to find out more about
what you can expect to have gained by the time the semester is over.

What will I learn from this course? (Objectives and Learning Outcomes)

By the end of ENC 1101, students will

● Respond in writing to various rhetorical purposes and address the needs of

various audiences;
● Develop their ideas through a recursive process of writing, revision, and
editing;
 ● Display appropriate format, structure and stylistic choices to meet audience
needs and to satisfy their rhetorical purpose;
● Develop an effective thesis and support it with reasons and evidence;
● Interact with complex texts, explore alternative perspectives, and articulate
and support their own perspective in response;
● Incorporate sourced materials into their own work through effective use of
quotation, summary, paraphrase and citation using MLA or other
appropriate style manual;
● Exhibit appropriate syntax, punctuation, and spelling;
● Develop a rhetorical vocabulary for understanding and talking about
writing.

Course Texts​​:
Required:
● Taylor, Todd ​Becoming a College Writer: a Multimedia Text​. Bedford Bks
St. Martin’s, 2018.

*FIU edition required

Recommended:

● Lunsford, Andrea A., et al. ​The Everyday Writer​. Bedford/St. Martin's,

2016.

-​This is a very useful and accessible step-by-step guide to the writing process.
This will aid you in constructing your essays and homework assignments.

● MLA Handbook. 8th Edition. Modern Language Association of America,

2016.
- MLA is the format required for this course’s discipline. This handbook will give
you all the guidance you need to properly format and cite your work.

How will I be graded in this course?

- Major Paper Project One 15%

- Major Paper Project Two 15%

 - Major Paper Project Three 20%

- Drafts and Peer Reviews 20%

- Reflection and Journal Assignments 15%

- Participaction and Attendance 15%

Total Class Percentage 100%

University Grading Scale:

93-100 A 77-79 C+

90-92 A- 70-76 C

87-89 B+ 60-70 D

83-86 B 0-59 F

80-82 B-

A Note on Plagiarism:

Students should familiarize themselves with what plagiarism entails. During this course,
any case of cheating and/or plagiarism will be automatically reported and the student(s)
involved will be conferenced with and a punishment suiting the situation will be decided.

The university defines cheating as: ​The unauthorized use of books, notes, aids,
electronic sources; or assistance from another person with respect to examinations,
course assignments, field service reports, class recitations; or the unauthorized
possession of examination papers or course materials, whether originally authorized or
not. Any student helping another cheat may be found guilty of academic misconduct.
The university defines plagiarism as:​ ​The deliberate use and appropriation of another's
work without any indication of the source and the representation of such work as the
student's own. Any student who fails to give credit for ideas, expressions, or materials
taken from another source, including internet sources, is guilty of plagiarism. Any
student helping another to plagiarize may be found guilty of academic misconduct.

For more practice and information deciphering what plagiarism is, you can take FIU’s
plagiarism tutorial and quiz (copy the link below):

https://education.fiu.edu/academics/clinical-experiences/student-teaching/plagiarism-tut
orial-and-quiz/

What is the attendance policy?

Although documented emergencies are acceptable, it is important to your grade to

attend class. You will receive grades for attendance, to total 5% percent of your overall
grade. Classwork is 10% of your overall grade. Tardiness is also unacceptable as we
may need to organize groups at the start of class quickly. Repeated tardiness will result
in 2 point deduction from your final grade. Per the FIU Writing & Rhetoric Program
policies, missing more that 20% of classes (or 6 classes in our case) will result in a
failing grade for the course.

What is the participation policy?

We will be doing both class, as well as group work, so class participation is necessary.
Repeated lack of active participation will greatly affect your final participation grade.
With that in mind, please do your best to be in class both physically ​and​ mentally. We
can tell the difference! Some tips to help keep yourself engaged and accountable:
Making sure to sit as close to the front of the classroom as possible; refraining from
checking electronic devices excessively; removing earbuds/headphones/other
non-essential listening devices before the start of class; doing your best to remain
attentive during lectures; and asking questions during or after lectures and class
discussions. We know some of you may be shy about jumping into discussion, but think
of participation as a way to stay alert and help your retention of the material.

What parts of the course will be online?

This course meets in-person MWF, but will include an online element for submission of
homework, peer feedback, discussion, and major writing assignments. FIU uses
Canvas.fiu.edu as its universal online tool. Canvas has helpful features such as a task
calendar and a simplified “To-Do” list. We will be using Canvas’s Turn-It-In element to
submit major writing assignments. Be sure to frequently check Canvas for updated
course tools, discussions, inbox messages, and announcements.

What is the policy for late assignments?

Homework assignments that are not turned in on time will be considered late and only
extenuating circumstances will allow for late work to be turned in after the due date. For
major writing assignments, you will receive a 10 point deduction for every day that your
assignment is late. For example, if you turn in a major writing assignment a day late, the
highest grade you will be able to earn is a 90. We will work with you if you have
circumstances that may require an extension.

If you are having technical difficulties with uploading assignments to Canvas, please
feel free to email your instructor of the issue, and emailed assignments will be accepted
as a complete submission.

Homework assignments and major writing assignments being turned in on time is the
way you actively engage in this classroom community. Meeting deadlines is a large part
of the learning process, as these responsibilities will be experienced in both the
academic atmosphere and your future work endeavors.

Revision Policy:

Because this class is designed for students to optimize their learning experience, we will
allow a revision process on all major writing assignments. Once your grade is received
for your assignment, you have one week from the date it was graded to submit a
revision to your instructors. The new grade will replace your previous submission.

Feel free to reach out to your instructors throughout your revision process, we are here
to help.

What if I am meeting a personal challenge or have a disability that affects my

work?
If you are in need of accommodations for this course please contact the Disability
Resource Center (DRC). They will inform instructors of specific accommodations
available to our partnership during the first week of class. If you think you have a may
have a mental or physical disability that may hinder your success, or would like to know
your options, reach out to the Disability Resource Center (DRC). Both the DRC and
your instructors are here to help you with your success.

Vist the DRC office at MMC’s GC 190 or visit their website at

https://studentaffairs.fiu.edu/get-support/disability-resource-center/​.

Feel free to reach out to your instructors about concerns or questions regarding
disabilities. If you feel you are falling behind or having trouble completing your
assignments, please contact me. Your instructors are here to ensure you get the most
out of your learning experience. Your troubles will be more manageable if you address
them as early as you notice them. Don’t fear reaching out to your instructors, we are
here to help.

What does FIU regard as a “Worlds Ahead” Classroom experience? Notes on

Civility

Florida International University is a community dedicated to generating and imparting

knowledge through excellent teaching and research, the rigorous and respectful
exchange of ideas, and community service. All students should respect the right of
others to have an equitable opportunity to learn and honestly to demonstrate the quality
of their learning. Therefore, all students are expected to adhere to a standard of
academic conduct, which demonstrates respect for themselves, their fellow students,
and the educational mission of the University. All students are deemed by the University
to understand that if they are found responsible for academic misconduct, they will be
subject to the Academic Misconduct procedures and sanctions, as outlined in the
Student Handbook, which can be found here:

https://studentaffairs.fiu.edu/about/student-handbook/

On Classroom and Email Etiquette:

● Arrive to class on time and prepared with the requisite materials for that class
period
 ● Demonstrate your engagement by silencing and stowing all cellular and
communications devices, and sitting as close to the front of the class as possible
according to available seating. Laptops are allowed on an honor-code, where it is
up to your discretion whether you want to get your money’s worth out of the
lecture for the day
● Keeping a friendly and professional tone of voice and not speaking over your
instructor or classmates
● Staying in your seat in most scenarios barring a bathroom break or an
emergency. If you need to leave the classroom, do so as discreetly and
courteously as you can, with a view towards a minimal disruption of class.
● For emails: Keep in mind your audience (your instructor or TA) and write with an
appropriate tone, syntax, and word choice. Please avoid the use of slang, and
make sure to proofread before sending.

What are the Keys to Success in this class?

In addition to following the guidelines for attendance, participation, and etiquette, many
of the basics still apply: complete all assignments in a timely manner and with
appreciable effort and enthusiasm, adhere to the Best Practices regarding plagiarism,
and make yourself adaptable to the instructor will ask of you on an individual and
day-to-day basis. You do ​not​ need to have an immaculate or brilliant writing talent to
pass this class, nor even to achieve an “A” (although it will surely help if you do). Our
rubrics emphasize growth and development of skills imparted by the curriculum design,
so enthusiasm and diligence will get you far; besides, we are ​not​ out to fail you and will
do our best to collaborate with you (the students) to ensure maximum participation and
achievement.

And finally, some important dates for the Semester:

● Mon. Aug. 27: Last day to add or drop a course (without incurring
financial liability)
● Mon. Sept. 3: Labor Day (University closed)
● Mon. Oct. 29: Last day to drop a course with a DR grade
● Mon. Nov. 12: Veterans Day (University closed)
● Thur. & Fri. Nov. 22 & 23: Thanksgiving Holiday (University closed)
● Mon. Nov. 26: Last day of class
Final Exam Schedule:
Here is the Fall 2018 exam schedule and location:

ENC Writing and Rhetoric __/__/2018, _:_AM – MMC

1101-__ I (Class Lecture) Wednesday _:_AM Classroom ___