Writing for Success DWTG D291- 001 Fall 2011

Instructor: Dr. Marina Ozernov Email: mlo041000@utdallas.edu Office Hours: by appointment Class Times and Location: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 am-9:50 am in CN 1.206 Required Textbook: The Little, Brown Handbook (with MyCompLab student access code) by H. Ramsey Fowler and Jane E. Aaron, 11th edition. Longman, 2009. Course Description: A writing-intensive course that offers students the opportunity to develop proficiency in the inventing, drafting, revising, and editing skills necessary for writing multiparagraph papers. Topics will include sentence structure, grammar, paragraph development, usage, and mechanics. This developmental course cannot be used for degree credit. Credit Hours: 2 Lab Required Course Objectives: Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: State and maintain a focus in writing Provide adequate support for written statements Produce writing samples that include functioning paragraphs and effective introductions and conclusions Recognize purpose and audience Show effective organization in writing Compose effective sentences Document references according to the MLA style Show development of the relevant skills necessary to perform satisfactorily on the THEA exam NOTE: Please be advised that this syllabus is subject to change. Attendance and Participation Policy In the case of an excused absence, you must make up any missed work within one calendar week. This arrangement is subject to your providing official documentation that explains the nature of the emergency, such as a letter from a doctor in the event of illness or a funeral program/announcement in the event of a family death. Without the proper documentation, any absence above the two allowed unexcused absences will jeopardize your enrollment in the course and at UT Dallas.

2 If you are consistently late to class, your tardiness will negatively affect your attendance record and therefore jeopardize your enrollment at the university. Your success in the class depends upon your active participation. In order to comply with the universitys TSI policy, you must complete the assigned work on time and adequately prepare for class discussions. If you pass the THEA test and no longer choose to attend the class, you should consult with the instructor immediately to determine your options. For those students who are NOT subject to the universitys TSI policy: You are responsible for all work missed due to an absence from class. Your final grade, however, may be lowered after three unexcused absences. If you choose not to attend class once you are enrolled, you must withdraw from the course to avoid receiving a final grade of F. The deadlines for withdrawal are published in each semester's course catalog. NOTE: Receiving a passing grade in a developmental course will not fulfill your TSI requirement(s). Depending on your skill level, you may need more than one semester of developmental coursework to pass the relevant portion of the THEA test. Course Requirements and Grade Evaluation Your final grade for the course will be based on the following: Writing Conventions Exam = 15% Essay 1/Rough Draft = 10% Essay 2/Rough Draft = 15% Lab Assignments = 10% Class Participation = 10% Grades This course is graded on a Credit/No Credit (pass/fail) basis. Assignments To prepare for class, complete the relevant readings and exercises before the assigned date for class discussion. Essays: Your papers should be typed, double spaced, have one inch margins, and use 12 point Times New Roman font (For more information, refer to the MLA format explained in Chapter 47 in The Little, Brown Handbook.). Late assignments will be docked one letter grade, but, if the work is Essay 1/Final Draft = 15% Essay 2/Final Draft = 25%

3 turned in more than one week after the due date, it will not be accepted. In addition, assignments submitted via email will not be accepted unless by prior arrangement with the instructor. For Essay 1, you will write a 450-600 word paper on an assigned topic. In writing this essay, you should not rely on outside research. For Essay 2, you will write a 750-1000 word research paper on an assigned topic. In regard to Essay 2, you should incorporate at least 3 different research sources drawn only from web sources found in the UTDallas librarys databases. In addition to turning in a hard copy of each draft, you should submit the paper electronically to www.turnitin.com. I will consider an essay late unless I have received both a hard copy and an electronic copy by the beginning of class on the due date. Lab work: These assignments provide instruction designed to address your individual concerns. You are required to make an appointment for a consultation in the Writing Center to work on the outlines, first drafts and the final drafts of the assigned essays (6 drafts in total). You must make your appointment at least the day before the assignment is due because you will need at least that much time to work on developing the ideas or making the revisions that you and the consultant discuss. Depending on your skill level, you may need to do additional lab assignments, which will consist of further one-on-one tutoring sessions. Exams The Writing Conventions Exam at the middle of the semester will be based on the assigned material in Parts 3, 4 and 5 of The Little, Brown Handbook. The Exit Exam at the end of the semester will determine whether you are TSI compliant. Passing the test means passing the course and lifting your TSI hold. You cannot make up a missed exam except in the case of an excused absence. See the attendance policy on the previous page for a description of the kind of documentation you will need to provide. Some Helpful Online Resources: For information about writing assignments, grammar, and mechanics, go to
owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/index2.html; www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts; www.drgrammar.org

For information about specific words, consult the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English at www.ldoceonline.com or the Merriman-Webster Dictionary at www.m-w.com or go to
www.wordsmyth.com or www.visuwords.com

4 Student Conduct and Discipline: The University of Texas System and The University of Texas at Dallas have rules and regulations for the orderly and efficient conduct of their business. It is the responsibility of each student and each student organization to be knowledgeable about the rules and regulations which govern student conduct and activities. General information on student conduct and discipline is contained in the UTD publication, A to Z Guide, which is provided to all registered students each academic year. The University of Texas at Dallas administers student discipline within the procedures of recognized and established due process. Procedures are defined and described in the Rules and Regulations, Board of Regents, The University of Texas System, Part 1, Chapter VI, Section 3, and in Title V, Rules on Student Services and Activities of the university's Handbook of Operating Procedures. Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in the Office of the Dean of Students, where staff members are available to assist students in interpreting the rules and regulations (SU 1.602, 972/883-6391). Email Use: The University of Texas at Dallas recognizes the value and efficiency of communication between faculty/staff and students through electronic mail. At the same time, email raises some issues concerning security and the identity of each individual in an email exchange. The university encourages all official student email correspondence be sent only to a student's U.T. Dallas email address and that faculty and staff consider email from students official only if it originates from a UTD student account. This allows the university to maintain a high degree of confidence in the identity of each individual corresponding and the security of the transmitted information. UTD furnishes each student with a free email account that is to be used in all communication with University personnel. The Department of Information Resources at U.T. Dallas provides a method for students to have their U.T. Dallas mail forwarded to other accounts. Academic Integrity: The University expects all students to maintain a high level of responsibility with respect to academic honesty. Because the value of an academic degree depends upon the absolute integrity of the work done by the student for that degree, it is imperative that a student demonstrate a high standard of individual honor in his or her scholastic work. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts or omissions related to applications for enrollment or the award of a degree, and/or the submission as one's own work or material that is not one's own. As a general rule, scholastic dishonesty involves one of the following acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion and/or falsifying academic records. Students suspected of academic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary proceedings. Plagiarism, especially from the web, from portions of papers for other classes, and from any other source is unacceptable and will be dealt with under the university's policy on plagiarism (see general catalog for details). This course has access to the resources of turnitin.com, which searches the web for possible plagiarism and is over 90% effective. SECTION 49.36 SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY (d) Cheating includes, but is not limited to (1) copying from another student's test paper, laboratory report, other report, or computer files, data listings, and/or programs or engaging in conduct that facilitates such conduct by another student. (2) using during a test, materials not authorized by the person giving the test;

5 failing to comply with instructions given by the person administering the test which would include, but not be limited to, time restrictions, use of blue book, seating arrangements; (4) collaborating with or seeking aid from or giving aid to another student during a test; (5) knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting in whole or in part the contents of an unadministered test, test key, homework solutions, or computer program; (6) substituting for another student, or permitting another person to substitute for oneself, to take a test; (7) soliciting another person to obtain an unadministered test or information about an unadministered test; (8) discussing the contents of an examination with another student who will take the examination; (9) possession during a test of materials that are not authorized by the person giving the test, such as class notes or specifically designed "crib notes." The presence of textbooks constitutes a violation only if they have been specifically prohibited by the person administering the test. (10) submission of substantial portions of the same academic work for credit (including oral reports) more than once without written authorization from the instructor. (e) Plagiarism means the appropriation, buying, receiving as a gift, or obtaining by any means another's work and the submission or incorporation of that work in one's own written work offered for credit without appropriate attribution. (f) Collusion means the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing academic assignments offered for credit. (g) Falsifying academic records means the altering of grades or other falsification (statements, acts or omissions) of academic records including but not limited to the application for admission, grade reports, test papers, registration materials, and reporting forms used by the registrar's office or other university offices. (h) Falsifying data or experiments includes, but is not limited to, the submission of false findings and/or the citation of false references in research or other assignments submitted for credit and/or for the awarding of a degree. Disability Services: The University of Texas at Dallas is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation; reference Public Law 92-112 - The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. With the passage of new federal legislation entitled Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), pursuant to section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, there is renewed focus on providing this population with the same opportunities enjoyed by all citizens. As a faculty member, I am required by law to provide "reasonable accommodations" to students with disabilities, so as not to discriminate on the basis of that disability. Student responsibility primarily rests with informing faculty of their need for accommodation and in providing authorized documentation through designated administrative channels. Information regarding specific diagnostic criteria and policies for obtaining academic accommodations can be found at: www.utdallas.edu/student/slife/hcsvc.html. Please visit the office of Disability Services in Student Union (1.610) or call at 972.883.2098 to obtain proper paperwork for this class. (3)

6 Religious Holy Days: The University of Texas at Dallas will excuse a student from class or other required activities for the travel to and observance of a religious holy day for a religion whose places of worship are exempt from property tax under Section 11.20, Tax Code, Texas Code Annotated. The student is encouraged to notify the instructor or activity sponsor as soon as possible regarding the absence, preferably in advance of the assignment. The student, so excused, will be allowed to take the exam or complete the assignment within a reasonable time after the absence: a period equal to the length of the absence, up to a maximum of one week. A student who notifies the instructor and completes any missed exam or assignment may not be penalized for the absence. A student who fails to complete the exam or assignment within the prescribed period may receive a failing grade for that exam or assignment.

CLASS SCHEDULE Week 1 8/24-8/26 Introduction to the course; Diagnostic Test Discussion: Writing Situation: Subject, Purpose, and Audience Chapter 1, Exercises 2, 3, 6, 9 Discussion: Developing and Shaping Ideas Chapter 2; Exercises 2, 3, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12 Discussion: Paragraphs 1 Chapter 4 pp. 72-92; Exercises 1-12 Labor Day Monday, September 5 Outline of Essay 1 is due Friday, September 9 Discussion: Paragraphs 2 Chapter 4 pp. 92-112: Exercises 13-20 Student Conferences Discussion: Drafting and Revising Chapter 3; Exercises 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Peer Review First Draft of Essay 1 is due Friday, September 23 Turn in the electronic copy to www.turnitin.com and bring the hard copy to class Discussion: Writing an Argument Chapter 10; Exercises 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 11 Student Conferences Discussion: Writing in Academic Situations Chapter 8, Exercise 1; Chapter 9, Exercises 1, 3, 4 Student Conferences Final Draft of Essay 1 is due Friday, October 7 Turn in the electronic copy to www.turnitin.com and bring the hard

Week 2 8/29-9/02 Week 3 9/05-9/09

Week 4 9/12-9/16

Week 5 9/19-9/23

Week 6 9/26-9/30

Week 7 10/03-10/07

7 copy to class with the first draft that has my comments and the notes from the Writing Center Week 8 10/10-10/14 Week 9 10/17-10/21 Discussion: Avoiding Plagiarism: MLA Documentation and Format Chapter 44, Exercise 1; Chapter 46, Exercise 1 Discussion: Writing a Research Paper Chapter 45, Exercises 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Library Session Monday, October 17 - Class meets in the library Research Week for Essay 2 Discussion: Sentence Fragments, Comma Splices, and Fused Sentences Ch. 17; Exercises 1-3; Ch. 18; Exercises 1-4 Discussion: Agreement and Parallelism Chapter 15; Exercises 1-4; Chapter 19; Exercises 1-3; Chapter 20, Exercises 1-5; Chapter 25, Exercises 1-4 Discussion: Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers Chapter 21; Exercises 1-8 Writing Conventions Exam Friday, November 11 Discussion: Writing a Research Paper (cont.) Notes, Thesis, and Outline for Essay 2 are due Monday, November 14 Student Conferences Peer Review: Revised Outline and First Draft of Essay 2 are due Monday, November 28 Final Draft of Essay 2 is due Monday, December 6 Turn in the electronic copy to www.turnitin.com and bring the hard copy with the first draft that has my comments and the notes from the Writing Center to class

Week 10 10/24-10/28 Week 11 10/31-11/04

Week 12 11/07-11/11

Week 13 11/14-11/18

Week 14 11/21-11/25 Week 15 11/28-12/02

Week 16 12/05