Freshman Composition101-4 MWF 11:00–11:50
Fall 2022 Log into Canvas

This is a "real time" syllabus that will be regularly updated and reflect our progress throughout the semester. You can easily check it from a mobile device or from any computer.

The syllabus consists of the Reading Schedule and Course Policies. Students are responsible for understanding and following the schedule and the course policies, which are in effect from the first day of class. Please read them carefully (more than once and throughout the semester). Please see me if you have any questions about them.

Think of the syllabus as a flexible guide. It will structure our semester, but we will adjust it to fit our needs as the semester progresses. Not all assignments and quizzes are listed at the beginning of the semester; some will be added throughout the semester. It may also be necessary to finish some readings the following class period; I will update the syllabus after each class. Again, be sure to check the syllabus regularly.

You do not need to print the syllabus, but if you decide to, be sure to check the online syllabus regularly for new information, added assignments, or reading schedule changes. The print icon above is for print copies.

Our main vehicle this semester for course content will be the Course Website, but it is linked to Canvas, which we will use for some things, such as discussion posts or for accessing video. We will not use the Canvas Gradebook; instead, the Grade Sheet on our Course Notes page (on the course website) will help you track assignments and grades.

We will use three texts for the course to help you learn about the writing process. These texts are not an unnecessary expense but rather helpful resources we will use in class and you will use outside of class to help you become a more effective writer. Students will use the grammar handbook, Rules for Writers, for this course and other courses until graduatation. The following acronyms are used on the Reading Schedule.

TSGW=The St. Martin's Guide to Writing
SL=Sports in Literature
RW=Rules for Writers

Readings and assignments should be finished for the day assigned. For example, chapter 1 from TSGW should be read (completed) by September 09, when we will discuss it. Check each class period to see what books you need to bring.

September
Monday	Wednesday	Friday
05 Labor Day	07 Course Introduction: Why Write about Sports? Pre-semester quiz	09 Review Course Website For Essay 1: Game Story -Before you start writing your game story, you must see your game and complete interviews by 9/27 **Preview Course Notes - Covering/Watching a Sporting Event (Taking Notes, Interviews)
12 TSGW - Ch 1 **Bring reading notes to class in your notebook Essay 1: Game story: Continue planning: Choose a game you will go see and set up interviews with players and coaches--See Course Notes  **Preview Course Notes - Covering/Watching a Sporting Event (Taking Notes, Interviews)	14 Guest Speaker: former sports writer Larry Morgan--Taking notes for a game story/interviews **Bring 2-3 sample interview questions (in your notebook) you might use	16 TSGW - Finish Ch 1/Ch 13 **Bring reading notes to class in your notebook **Look at sample game notes.  Available for review during office hours **Sample game stories (handouts)
19 TSGW - Short Assignment: Sports Poetry Analysis - Interpret a poem about sports; choose one poem from below Sports poetry--SL  (Read these poems--"In the Pocket" (p 24); "The Sprinters" (p 121); "The Pitcher" (19-20) Planning:  See cluster diagram, TSGW, pp 426-27.  Try this for the poem you wish to write about **You must see your game for Essay 1 by 9/27 **I will look at your sample interview questions (see 9/14)	21 Finish Ch 13 (topic sents and transitions) Final Thoughts, Chpts 1 & 13 --------------------------------------- Sports Poetry Analysis Assignment Discuss poems - SL Bring your cluster diagram (TSGW) to class for the poem you will write about. (You should have chosen one poem to analyze) Drafting strategies:  Thesis statement, paragraphing (topic sentences), quotations, formatting Have draft for Monday's class (quotations - see Course Notes).	23 Reading/Writing Period on Your Own - No Class Meeting
26 SL - Sports Poetry Analysis Assignment Discuss "In the Pocket"/Other poems as needed - SL Bring the following to class: **Cluster diagram (TSGW, Chpts 1, 11) **Draft (Bring a hard copy or have a copy on your laptop/tablet.  Even if you bring your laptop, you might bring a hard copy too)   **Focus on thesis statement & supporting points: examples/quotations--analysis RW - Ch 14 Coordination & Subordination (Preview this chapter/Concept: What is Coordination? Subordination?)	28 Final Thoughts - Sports Poetry Analysis Essay **Bring draft/SL RW - Ch 14 Coordination & Subordination (Preview this chapter/Concept: What is Coordination? Subordination?) -------------------------- Essay 1 - Introduction: Writing a Game Story (**PowerPoint Slides - Course Notes) Preview Course Notes: Essay 1 - All links Planning: TSGW - Ch 2: 27-29; Ch 14: 475-82; 485-94. We will refer to these chapters during the next weeks)	30 Essay 1: Game Story--Planning Finish Introduction.  Have notes for TSGW chapters. Scratch outline (TSGW, 428-29) and audience sheet (Course Notes) Discuss sample game stories (handouts). Have these highlighted and annotated for class discussion. See Organizing a Game Story (Course Notes) Sports Poetry Analysis Assignment Due at the beginning of class
October
Monday	Wednesday	Friday
03 Essay 1: Game Story--Planning **Description exercise--in class **RW - Ch 14 Coord/Subord  Review Audience Sheet (Course Notes) and Scratch Outline (TSGW, Ch 11).  TSGW, Chpts 2, 14 Continue discussion of sample game stories (see 9/30). Course Notes: Organizing a Game Story Outside Class **Begin outlining (TSGW, 428-29) your game story and drafting your audience sheet (Course Notes).  Draft (game) summary	05 Essay 1: Game Story--Planning Lecture: History of Sports Journalism	07 Essay 1: Game Story--Planning Quiz on the History of Sports Journalism (10pts) As time allows, review revised description exercise paragraph (10/3) TSGW, Chpts 2, 14 Continue discussion of sample game stories (see 9/30, 10/3). Course Notes: Organizing a Game Story Outside Class **Continue outlining (TSGW, 428-29) your game story and drafting your audience sheet (Course Notes).
10 Essay 1:Game Story--Planning **I'll check drafts (in progress) of your scratch outline + aud sheet Discuss Essays - SL: [See Course Notes - Write out responses (notes) to questions] In-class group assignment--card Answer all questions on Course notes page.  (You do not have to answer questions at the end of each piece in SL.) Have these read for today: 1. "Ace Teenage Sportscribe" 2. "Johnson is Everywhere" 3. "Great Day for Baseball in the 90s" Make connections to TSGW, Chpt 14 Outside of class **Continue drafting scratch outline (TSGW, 422-23) + audience sheet (Course Notes).  Begin drafting headline and lead	12 Essay 1: Game Story--Planning Discuss Essays - SL: [See Course Notes - Write out responses (notes) to questions] In-class group assignment--card due (5pts) Answer all questions on Course notes page.  (You do not have to answer questions at the end of each piece in SL.) Have these read for today: 1. "Ace Teenage Sportscribe" 2. "Johnson is Everywhere" 3. "Great Day for Baseball in the 90s" Make connections to TSGW, Chpt 14 Outside of class Continue drafting scratch outline (TSGW, 422-23) + audience sheet (Course Notes).  Continue drafting headline and lead	14 Essay 1: Game Story: Drafting (Bring charged taptop) Final Thoughts: SL readings from Mon/Wed Bring completed scratch outline Bring completed draft of audience sheet  (See Course Notes page) Begin draft of game story in progress--headline, lead.  If time, start game summary TSGW: Review chapters 2, 14 Bring game & interview notes, sample (annotated) game stories/SL **Continue drafting over the weekend
17 Essay 1: Game Story: Drafting (Bring charged laptop) Bring game story draft in progress: You should have at least 1 1/2 pages completed (be into your game summary) **Work on finishing game summary, stats, quotations, conclusion Bring scratch outline & audience sheet Also bring game/interview notes, notebook with in-class notes (review PPt slides), all books, sample (annotated) game stories TSGW: chapters 2, 14/SL: readings - sports journalism RW, Ch 16: Wordiness	19 Essay 1: Game Story: Peer Review--Must Attend TSGW: 61 - read intro (top of pg): purpose of peer review.  I will give you a peer review sheet in class with questions tailored to a game story.  Also, see Course Policies on Peer Review Bring to class: 1. Typed, print (hard) copy of Audience Sheet  2. Typed, print (hard) copy of completed game story. Minimum 3 full pages/Max. 4 1/4 full pages. Drafts must have quotations **An electronic version of your draft or audience sheet for peer review is not acceptable Please bring TSGW & SL, sample game stories, scratch outline, notebook	21 Essay 1: Game Story: Return Peer Review Materials Formatting - Columns (See PPt notes) Revision checklist (handout) Revision (TSGW, Chpts 2, 14) **Conclusion/Stats--if/as time allows Editing **RW, Ch 16: Wordiness; Ch 32: Commas (a-b)
24 Essay 1: Game Story: Revision, Editing, Proofreading 1. Bring "clean drafts" (not peer review drafts) to class of your essay + audience sheet so that you can write on these: on laptop or print copies.  (You can also bring your peer review drafts if you wish.) Bring draft formatted in columns & with heading: on laptop or print copy 2. Bring completed revision checklist + scratch outline Revision **Lead **Game Summary (TSGW, Chpts 2,14) Editing **RW, Ch 16: Wordiness; Ch 33: Commas (a, b); Ch 14	26 Essay 1: Game Story: Revision, Editing, Proofreading 1. Bring drafts (see 10/24) (not peer review drafts) to class of your essay + audience sheet so that you can write on these: on laptop or print copies.  (You can also bring your peer review drafts if you wish.) Bring draft formatted in columns & with heading: on laptop or print copies 2. Bring completed revision checklist + scratch outline Revision (Bring TSGW) **Quotations **Audience Sheet **Stats Editing **RW, Chpts 14, 16, 32 Proofreading -------------------------------------------------- Introduction - Assign 1: Personal Sports Narratives TSGW, Ch 2 (pp 26, 28-29, 54-60).  Note key pages/strategies Readings from SL: Preview these personal sports narratives.  You will choose ONE of these for Assign 1.  We begin looking at these in class 1. "Finding Myself" - 10; 2. "Four-Minute Mile" - 38 3. "In the Swim" - 56 **Finalize your choice of the ONE narrative you will write about--by Friday's class	28 Assign 1: Discuss SL readings: Three narratives. See study questions on Course Notes page for Assign 1 Finish notes: Rhetorical Situation **You should have selected your narrative to write about TSGW, Ch 11 (pp 426-27 cluster diagram).  Bring cluster diagram of the narrative you are writing about to class in your notebook **Discussion of "In the Swim."  Then begin "Finding Myself" (Consider the first three pars.)  Use your notes from the study questions TSGW, Ch 2 (pp 26, 28-29, 54-60) Due: Essay 1 Peer review materials: aud sheet draft  + gs draft + notebook paper--responses: paper clip)   **Begin previewing/reading stories for Essay 2--see 11/7
31 Assign 1: Continue discussion SL readings.  See study questions on Course Notes page for Assign 1 SL - Discussion: Finish "Finding Myself."  Then discuss "Four-Minute Mile"/Review of all three personal sports narratives.  Discuss personal sporting experiences  Bring (charged) laptop to class for drafting.  Have planning work, e.g., completed cluster diagram, reading/discussion notes, Course Notes study questions, TSGW: Ch 2 Use of quotations (RW: 38e, pp 294-95; TSGW, pp 553-555) Formatting - essay will be pasted into body of an email/using an appropriate subject line, etc. RW - Ch 23: Pronoun Clarity Due: Essay 1: 1. Game story (in columns) + 2. Revised Audience sheet + 3. Revision/Editing chklist + 4. scratch outline (handwritten or typed). Paper clip these items.	02November - Look Below	04November - Look Below
November
Monday	Wednesday	Friday
31October - Look Above	02 Assign 1 Bring to class: A draft (in progress) of your essay Bring laptop to class and/or hard copy of your draft.  Have planning work, e.g., completed cluster diagram, discussion notes, Course Notes study questions, TSGW: Ch 2 SL: Personal Sports Narratives **Continue discussing "Finding Myself" & "F-M Mile" **Thesis **Support **Organization **Use of quotations (RW: 38e, pp 294-95; TSGW, pp 553-555) **RW - Ch 23: Pronoun Clarity Formatting - email Due:  Game notes due + interview questions and responses.  Staple or paper clip--no loose pages, please.  Label clearly  **Begin previewing/reading stories for Essay 2--see 11/7	04 Assign 1: Peer Review--Must Attend **Bring a hard, print copy of your draft.  No electronic copies Revision, Editing, Formatting SL: Personal Sports Narratives **Final questions about narratives & personal sporting experiences Revision **Thesis **Support **Organization Editing **Use of quotations (RW: 38e, pp 294-95; TSGW, pp 553-555) **RW - Review of grammar concepts Formatting - email
07 Assign 1: Final Thoughts **Bring "clean" draft to work on, electronic and/or hard copy Revision (SL-Narratives; TSGW, Ch 2) **Introduction **Narrative Analysis/Personal Sporting Exp Editing **RW, Ch 32; Chpts 33 (a-e), 14 & 16 -------------------------------- Essay 2 - Introduction: Literary Analysis about Sports Fiction (PowerPoint Slides) Review Course Notes: Essay 2 - All links You must read all stories, but you will choose one to write about. Preview these "The 7-10 Split"--SL "Tennis"--SL "Doe Season" (handout) "Raymond's Run"--SL (You should be reading stories and taking notes--have an organized system of taking notes for each story) Preview Course Notes: Essay 1 - All links Planning: TSGW - Ch 10 RW 12-14 (formal outline); TSGW, 430-31	09 Essay 2: Planning **For the rest of the semester, bring SL + "Doe Season" and bring TSGW Reading and Writing about Literature (Lecture). We will combine this lecture with preliminary discussion of the stories. TSGW, 399-403: Character & Plot/Setting TSGW, Ch 10 RW 12-14 (formal outline); TSGW, Ch 11, 430-31	11 Essay 2: Planning Reading and Writing about Literature (Lecture). We will combine this lecture with preliminary discussion of the stories. TSGW, 399-403: Pt of View & Theme **Audience Sheet (Course Notes)/Also see "Notes on thesis statement," etc--Course Notes) RW 12-14 (formal outline); TSGW, Ch 11, 430-31 TSGW, Ch 10 (Sample Essays, pp 390 & 393) Assign 1 Due via email by 5pm.  Peer review docs (question sheet + draft) will be turned in at the beginning of class
14 Essay 2: Planning Story Choice Assignment due: hand in at beginning of class (must be typed).  Once you choose a story, you cannot change it Quiz - short stories (all 4 are in play).  In-class Focused Freewriting (TSGW p 434) - use short story you are writing about.  Bring a charged laptop or tablet OR write by hand RW 13-14 (formal sentence outline); TSGW, 430-31 (Work on it this week) **TSGW, Ch 10 (Writing Introductions, p 370-71/Thesis, pp , 384, 404-05) **Course Notes: Notes Link for Essay 2 **Ch 10, Sample essays Aud Sheet (Course Notes)--work on it this week	16 Essay 2: Planning SL + "Doe Season" 1. Bring audience sheet (Course Notes) draft in progress (Work on it this week) 2. Bring your formal sentence outline--in progress (Work on it this week) 3. Bring Focused Freewriting with annotations to class (11/14) Formal sentence outline: RW 12-14; TSGW, 430-31 Audience Sheet: Course Notes   **TSGW, Ch 10 (Writing Introductions, p 370-71/Thesis, pp , 384, 404-05/ Supporting a thesis, pp 385-86; 405-06) **Course Notes: Notes Link for Essay 2 **Ch 10, Sample essays	18 Essay 2: Planning Discussion of Short Stories Use reading notes + all stories (SL + handout) Be prepared to discuss stories/ask questions as a class We will discuss "The 7-10 Split" & "Raymond's Run" TSGW, Ch 10 **Bring draft of your thesis statement (pp 384, 404-05) Outside Class Continue working on formal sent outline + audience sheet.  Audience sheet must be typed
21 Essay 2: Planning Discussion of Short Stories Use reading notes + all stories (SL + handout) Be prepared to discuss stories/ask questions as a class We will finish "Raymond's Run" & discuss "Doe Season" TSGW, Ch 10 Outside Class Continue working on formal sent outline + audience sheet.  Audience sheet must be typed	23Reading/Writing Period on Your Own - No Class Meeting	25 Thanksgiving Break
28 Essay 2: Planning Discussion of Stories We will finish "Doe Season" &  discuss "Tennis" Use reading notes + all stories (SL + handout) Be prepared to discuss stories/ask questions TSGW, Ch 10 RW, pp 12-14 Outside Class Continue working on formal outline and audience sheet.  Audience sheet must be typed. You might begin drafting your essay--introduction (including thesis statement) as you complete your outline & aud sheet	30 Essay 2: Planning Bring your formal sent outline and audience sheet to class--drafts in progress.  I will check (not collect) these. Discussion of Stories We will finish"Tennis"/Review of all storiesc, final thoughts Use reading notes + all stories (SL + handout) Be prepared to discuss stories/ask questions TSGW, Ch 10 RW, pp 12-14 Outside Class Continue working on formal outline and audience sheet.  Audience sheet must be typed. You might begin drafting your essay--introduction (including thesis statement) as you complete your outline & aud sheet	02 December - Look Below
December
Monday	Wednesday	Friday
28 November - Look Above	30 November - Look Above	02 Essay 2: Drafting in class  Draft pages 1-2: Bring your (charged) laptop **Use audience sheet and formal sentence outline.  (Revise these as you draft, like you did for your game story) Resources for drafting TSGW, Ch 10 **Thesis: pp 384; 404-05 **Support: pp 385-87; 405-07 **Sample Essays: pp 390 & 393 Consult Reading notes, PowerPt notes, Focused freewriting, Stories Integrating Quotations: See Power Pt notes (RW); also TSGW, pp 549-55
05 Essay 2: Drafting in class Everyone should have at least 2 pages of the essay completed.  Draft pages 3 - 4: Bring your (charged) laptop **Use completed drafts: audience sheet and formal sentence outline.  (Revise these as you draft, like you did for your evaluation essay) Resources for drafting TSGW, Ch 10 **Thesis: pp 384; 404-05 **Support: pp 385-87; 405-07 **Sample Essays: pp 390 & 393 Consult Reading notes, PowerPt notes, Focused freewriting, Stories Integrating Quotations: See Power Pt notes (RW); also TSGW, pp 549-55	07 Essay 2: Peer Review--Must Attend In Person Review Peer Review Policy (see syllabus) Bring TSGW, pp 409-410 (preview peer review questions) Bring SL + "Doe Season" 1.) Copy of Audience Sheet (typed) 2.) Copy of completed draft, including quotations (typed): 3.5 full pages min - 4.5 pages max  3.) Optional: Copy of formal sentence outline (Print copy or handwritten) Electronic or handwritten copies of your audience sheet and draft are NOT acceptable for peer review	09 Essay 2: Return Peer Review Docs Revision Chklist (handout) Revision (TSGW, Ch 10/Stories: SL + handouts) **Conclusion Editing **RW, Ch 8 (Active Verbs) **All concepts we've studied: Coord/Subord, Commas, Sent Variety, Pronoun Clarity
12 Essay 2: Revision, Editing, Proofreading 1. Bring "clean drafts" (not peer review drafts) to class of your essay + audience sheet so that you can write on these: on laptop or print copies.  (You can also bring your peer review drafts if you wish.) 2. Bring completed revision/editing checklist + formal sentence outline Discuss stories if needed (SL + handouts) Revision (TSGW, Ch 10/Sample Stories) **Introduction (thesis) Editing **RW, Ch 8 (Active Verbs) **All concepts we've studied: Coord/Subord, Commas, Sent Variety, Pronoun Clarity Proofreading	14 Essay 2: Revision, Editing, Proofreading Bring all books Essay 2: Only Peer Review Materials Due: 1. Essay Draft + 2. Aud Sheet Draft + 3. Partner's responses (notebook paper).  Paper clip these (do not staple) Revision (TSGW) **Audience Sheet **Supporting Reasons **Integrating Quotations Discuss/look at stories if needed (SL + handouts) Editing **RW, Ch 8 (Active Verbs) **All concepts we've studied (RW): Coord/Subord, Commas, Sent Variety, Pronoun Clarity, Sentence Variety ---------------------------------------------- Course Wrap Up **Discuss articles (11/12 email) **Course Review/Final look at SL **Look at quiz from first day of class Essay 2 Due Wed, Dec 21, drop off during office hours: 1. Essay 2 + 2. Revised Audience Sheet + 3. Formal Sent Outline + 4. Rev/Editing Chklist--see blue box below	16 No Class

Finals Week: Dec 16, 19 - Dec 2022
Office Hrs during Finals Week: See website home page

Essay 2 Due Wed, Dec 21, drop off during office hours: 1. Essay 2 + 2. Revised Audience Sheet + 3. Formal Sent Outline + 4. Rev/Editing Chklist

Course Grades available on AccessPoint: Dec 29 or 30

Covid/Face Covering Policy
There is no mandatory face covering policy at UWSP.  Wearing is optional.  Students who wish or neet to wear a mask should do so.  Any student who is sick, particularly coughing, should not attend class until well and pehaps wear a mask in class until fully well. The General Education Program--Written Communication

Introductory writing classes provide an essential foundation of communication skills on which students can build throughout the rest of their university careers and beyond. They develop students' skills in analyzing audience, structuring written documents, and understanding and applying the conventions of effective writing. Subsequent writing courses build upon these skills by helping students learn to locate sources, critically analyze information, and synthesize their ideas with those of others to write well-supported academic arguments. They also provide an essential starting point for the more specialized writing students will be expected to do in the future within their fields of study.

The General Education Program Learning Outcomes for Written Communication (Foundation Level) are as follows:

• Compose an articulate, thoughtful, grammatically correct, and logically organized piece of writing with properly documented and supported ideas, evidence, and information suitable to the topic, purpose, genre, and audience.
• Apply your understanding of elements that shape successful writing to critique and improve your own and others’ writing through effective and useful feedback.

Course Description and Learning Outcomes

This section of Freshman English is a writing-intensive course that will focus on sports, mainly in the United States. Like all writing courses, this course is designed to give you experience writing for various purposes, for various audiences, and in different contexts. More than just a knowledge of "good grammar," effective writing requires a range of activities, from invention and planning to drafting and revising, activities that you will practice throughout the semester. All of our assignments, however, will examine ideas about the meaning of sport in our society and how sport shapes our culture and our sense of identity. No one can doubt the central role of sport in our society today, and even throughout the world, so it makes sense to explore why this is the case through reading, thinking, discussing, and writing. Why are we so interested in, obsessed with, and attracted to sport? The appeal of sport has to be more than its entertainment value. Of course, the most notable sports cliche--life is like a game (or is it a game?)--underscores the significance of sports for us.

Through sports journalism, popular culture, and literary analysis, we will try to gain insights into these questions. You will find your own experience with sport--either as spectators, participants, or both--is a key source of your knowledge and understanding about it. In addition to thinking carefully about sport as a subject for writing, you will

• Understand how writing is a way of sharing information, expressing viewpoints, bringing about social change, and connecting people, all essential for an inclusive democracy
• Analyze the relationship between the writer and his and her audience as well as the contexts that shape the writing about sport as well as other types of writing
• Integrate reading, planning, drafting, peer review, editing, revision, and proofreading into the writing process with a focus on grammatical correctness to acheive effective written communication
• Express an understanding of the ways in which sport is a microcosm of society.

Texts

Text Rental

The St. Martin's Guide to Writing. Axelrod and Cooper. 13th ed., Bedford/St. Martin's P, 2022

Sports in Literature. Bruce Emra. 2nd. ed., National Textbook Co., 2000

Purchase at Bookstore

Rules for Writers. Hacker and Sommers. 10th. ed., Bedford/St. Martin's P, 2022.
**You will use this handbook throughout your university education.

Requirements

During the semester, you will complete weekly and longer-term writing assignments dealing with the topic of sports. Class discussions will be the most informative and helpful if the reading assignments have been carefully thought over and all students participate and share ideas. To prepare for class discussions, it will be helpful to take notes. Note key passages or language that points to central concerns or ideas in the reading assignments. Write out key ideas and concepts along with your thoughts and questions that you have. Throughout the semester you will be required to complete planning assignments and rough drafts. Please be prepared to bring these to class to share with classmates so that we can discuss them and make suggestions for improving them.

There will be weekly writing assignments, peer review assignments, and essays. The course grade will be determined mathematically using the percentages below. Please remember that your course grade will be based on the work that you submit, not simply on the effort you make and not on my subjective opinion.

Course Grade	%
Weekly Writing/Quizzes**	20%
Peer Review	10%
Essay 1 - Game Story	25%
Essay 2 - Literary Analysis	30%
Assign 1 - Personal Sports Narratives	15%
** Will be determined by point values: (Approx Grades): 5pt Assignments: A=5-4.5; B=4; C=3.5; D=3; F=2.5-0//10pt Assignments: A=10-9; B=8.5-8; C=7.5-7; D=6.5-6; F=5-0 See the course Grade Sheet for information about how to calculate grades

All work must be completed on time. It is your responsibility to keep copies of all of your planning work, assignments, and quizzes. Some assignments may be submitted via email, and email communication will be required throughout the semester.

Late Assignment Policy: Assignments/essays due on a given day must be submitted at the beginning of the class period. An assignment/essay that is finished but not printed out and ready to hand in is late.

Late assignments will be accepted one day after the original due date, but will lose one letter grade or the point equivalent. After that, they will not be accepted. (Assignments due on Friday that are late must be turned in by 5pm.) Assignments due electronically must be received by the day and time specified. Late email assignments will be accepted 24hrs from the original due date. For any special circumstances, please contact me ahead of time. No incompletes will given in the course.

Essays submitted late will lose 1/3 of a letter grade each day they are late, including weekends (e.g., original grade B. Two days late, C+). For any special circumstances, please contact me ahead of time. It may not be possible to make up some quizzes or assignments.

Peer review: Peer review days are very important because you will receive specific, targeted feedback about your essays and, in turn, provide feedback for a writing partner. This process will help you become a more effective writer. Peer review days are mandatory. If you miss them, you will lose all peer review points. If you do not have all of the required documents, properly prepared, you will lose points for peer review and your essay grade may be lowered too.

For any special circumstances, please contact me ahead of time. It may not be possible to make up a missed peer review class.

Attendance

Regular attendance is your responsibility and is essential for success in the course. As stated in the online UWSP Course Catalog (UWSP Course Catalog pgs 25-26), you cannot "cut" classes.

There are no excused or unexcused absences in this course.  The only relevant factor is your number of absences.  However, you have personal days to use and manage as needed: For three-days-a-week classes: 5.  For two-days-a-week classes: 3.  Use personal days for family situations or sickness.  Be careful not to squander them.

If you miss a total of two weeks of class (six class meetings for classes meeting three times a week; four class meetings for classes meeting twice a week), you may fail the course.  If you are on a sports team, absences for games still count as personal days.  However, we will adjust your absence limit if absences because of games exceed the absence limit.  The attendance policy begins with the second class meeting. 

*It may be possible to make up missed assignments/quizzes with my approval; therefore, it is your responsibility to contact me to determine work that needs to be completed and to follow up with all logistical requirements.  However, it may not be possible to make up some assignments or quizzes.

If you are absent and have not exceeded your absence limit, you do not need to email me to explain your absence. If you would like to find out about missed information or assignments, it is best to stop by during office hours or make an appointment to see me. You can also email me, but I may not be able to respond before our next class meeting. However, you should email about an absence ahead of the due date if an assignment is due.

For an extended absence, do the following:  Follow the syllabus and keep up with readings/assignments; Stay in contact with me for information/resources/help; Look into getting notes from classmates (I can help with this); See me during office hours when you return to class.

Classroom Etiquette

During class meetings, we will discuss and debate issues about writing and literature. It is fine to express your views passionately and debate others in class, but do so in a civil, constructive manner.

Please do not use phones and mobile devices during class, even if you believe you are doing so quietly. Not only is this rude, but also it distracts other students as well as your ablity to focus on and follow class instruction and discussion. It is English Department policy that students cannot and should not record class lectures and discussion without permission from the intstructor. Also, please get drinks of water or use the washroom before or after class, not during class, so that our classroom does not become a bus station. Please see me if you need special accomodations.

Plagiarism (from the Latin "to Kidnap")/Cheating

You will be expected to do your own work throughout the course. Intentionally or unintentionally passing off the ideas, words, or sentences of others (e.g., published authors, website authors, other students) as your own is plagiarism, which will result in failing the plagiarized assignment and possibly the course. Please review the University policy regarding plagiarism.

Anyone caught cheating during quizzes or exams (e.g., looking at someone else's paper or using a cell phone) will fail the quiz or exam and be reported to the Dean of Students Office.

Updated December 2024