REQUIRED TEXTS:

• Your syllabus (bring your syllabus to class every day!)
• Miller, Robert K and Suzanne S. Webb. Motives for Writing: Second Edition. London: Mayfield Publishing Co, 1995.
• Sebranek, Patrick et al. Writers INC: A Student Handbook for Writing & Learning. D.C. Heath and Company, 1996.
• Strickland, Margaret and Susan Murphy, eds. Writing Traditions. Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt, 1988.
• Periodically, additional required materials may be given to you in handout form, you are required to keep up with these handouts.

Recommended Texts:

• Any standard college level dictionary.

OTHER REQUIRED MATERIALS:

• One standard-size manila folder for records, to be turned in to me. Clearly write your name (last name, first name order) on the folder's "name" tab.
• Photocopies of essay drafts and sources used in essays, as specified throughout the semester.
• Completed Student Contract
• Become familiar with the TAMU Student Rules.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

ENG 104 provides practice in rhetorical analysis and writing, with emphasis on writing from sources for various audiences and purposes-- personal, civic, professional and academic. The course develops writing skills by fostering critical thinking and reading and through instruction in the stages of the writing process-- beginning with invention and through revision. ENG 104 requires the use of the library and emphasizes the learning of appropriate documentation and style. In addition, this section of ENG 104 requires extensive use of computers-- chat, homework, email and Internet navigation are all REQUIRED. Since you signed up for a computer lab section, it is assumed you are ready to do ALL of these things. Extensive writing of journals, reports, essays and correspondence will occur. If you have never used the computer lab and the Daedalus system don't worry; you will be given instruction in use of these materials, but cannot pass the class without trying.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

In ENG 104, you will learn:

• to apply the principles of rhetorical purpose and audience to writing done for a variety of professional, personal, civic and academic functions.
• to understand and be attentive to the conventions, or "rules," of written discourse that govern format, usage, and style.
• to construct an appropriate and convincing written argument for a specific audience.
• to produce writing that coherently and honestly synthesizes and assimilates the views of others along with your own views (while following guidelines for proper credit of others' thoughts).
• to support a thesis with well integrated evidence.
• to paraphrase and summarize accurately the ideas of others and use those ideas to support a thesis.
• to use appropriate library research materials.
• to revise writing in response to the critiques of others; to learn to provide useful editorial critiques of others' writing.
• to understand the importance of scholastic honesty and the ethics of communication.
• to write correctly, coherently, and convincingly while under time constraints.
• to become familiar with word processing programs, the Internet, and computers in general.
• to use "netiquette" when writing electronic discourse.:

POLICIES:

• Reading Assignments: You are responsible for having the assignments READ COMPLETELYthe day that your syllabus lists them. We will discuss the reading in class, the day it is listed. If you have not read your assignment you will not be considered prepared for class, and may be asked to leave.
• Homework/In Class Work: Homework may include exercises, both written and otherwise, short writing assignments (from essays to other types of writing), journal entries, and possibly other work that will develop writing skills. Students should expect to write during or after every class. Students are expected to participate in collaborative activities, class discussions, and listen to the occasional lecture. Students are also expected to participate in computer chat with the class. Realize that the work I give you is not to keep you busy— it really will help you learn to become a better writer. Trust me on this one, please.
• Writing: You will complete an annotated bibliography and six papers, each requiring revision: specifically, you will write five 500-800 word expository essays and one 2000 word research paper. Some of your writing will be done in class on the computers.
• Revision: You will have the opportunity to revise one already graded, major paper, for a new grade. Details will be announced in class.
• Attendance: According to TAMU Student Rules, students are expected to attend class and complete all assignments. You are responsible for providing evidence to substantiate "authorized" absences. If you know in advance that you will have to miss a class, you are responsible for informing me. I will take attendance and enter the number of absences on the final roster. Don't think that because I am not calling out names and asking for a "here" that I do not know when you're absent. I have my ways.
  More than three unauthorized absences may result in a deduction of 10 points from your final course grade. See Writing Traditions for a discussion of authorized absences.
• Deadlines: Late papers and assignments cause conflict in everyone's schedule. Unless you discuss problems that may cause you to turn in late assignments with me, preferably ahead of deadline, your grade may be dropped by up to 10 points for every day you are late. Obviously, you want to turn in your assignments when they are due. YOU CANNOT PASS THIS CLASS WITHOUT COMPLETING ALL OF YOUR ASSIGNMENTS IN A TIMELY MANNER. Do not come to me having been here for two days in the beginning of the semester and then disappeared, the day before the final, and expect me to help you out. It won't happen in this lifetime.
• Presenting others' work as your own— Plagiarism policy. As specified in TAMU Student Rules, any apparent scholastic dishonesty (e.g., plagiarism) will be promptly reported to the proper authorities and will result in a grade of F for the course and a letter of reprimand in your file. (See Writing Traditions). Any assignment that does not appear to be deliberate plagiarism but fails to include proper and clear attribution of sources or direct quotation will receive a grade of Zero.
  The handouts in this course are copyrighted. Before you make "copies" of anything that is handed out in this classroom you must speak to me first.
• Incomplete policy: You should not assume that you may "take an incomplete" in this course. TAMU Student Rules provides guidelines for assigning a grade of "I." Requests for incompletes should be addressed to Dr. Joanna Gibson, Coordinator of Writing Programs. Your college advising office will be contacted to verify your reasons for requesting a grade of "I". Requests will be considered only if a student has completed 50% or more of the course work. I repeat, if you "disappear" from my class at midterm, and then show up the day before finals requesting an "I" YOU WILL NOT get one. You will, instead, receive the grade you have earned: an "F." This is non-negotiable.
• Classroom Behavior: Disruptive classroom behavior, defined as anything that would interfere with "an instructor's ability to conduct the class" or "the ability of other students to profit from the instructional program" is explicitly prohibited. You will be given a warning, and if behavior continues, you will be asked to leave. Please do not push me on this one— I will not tolerate class disruption.
• Paper Formats: All essays should be typed (letter quality printing required), double spaced, on bond paper, according to MLA guidelines for paper formatting.
  (For further explanation of these policies, see your Writing Traditions handbook).
• Office Hours: My office hours are your scheduled time to speak to me about questions you have concerning class policies, things you didn't understand in class discussion of the readings, your "works-in-progress," personal problems that you need to bring up, etcetera. I'm there for every office hour, and I will also have virtual office hours as soon as I set up a schedule— you will be able to log onto a chat room and discuss your questions. The chat room will be running at all times, I recommend you use it to study with your classmates even when I am not in "office hours."

Reading: HANDOUT: selection from Machiavelli's "The Prince." More on Machiavelli

In class: video presentation.

Writing: Discuss how effective the movie clip was at demonstrating the qualities of a prince.

Reading: Handout, HTML.

Writing: In class: design a webpage with your group.

Reading: MW, pp 217-224 "What Happened to the Anasazi?" by Dold.

Writing: In essay form, answer question 1, p. 224, in 2-3 pages. Find an article in the library that supports your conclusions-- you might look under "Anasazi," "Native American History," "Cannibalism" (among others). Bring a photocopy of your article, and integrate quotations into the answer.