5 classes, a whole semester's worth of work due in 4 weeks...

Required Text: Lester, J.D. & Lester, Jr., J.D. Writing Research Papers: A Complete Guide.

10th ed. New York: Longman, 2002.

Objectives: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

· Write, demonstrating the process of writing, including prewriting, drafting, organizing, revising, and editing.

· Use writing as a means of thinking and learning, through the process of various drafts of each writing. Students will also demonstrate knowledge gained through reading and instruction.

· Evaluate the process of writing and writing strategies to solve particular writing problems and challenges.

· Demonstrate an awareness of the choices made in writing concerning audience, purpose, and content.

· Proofread effectively, which includes recognizing and correcting common grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors.

· Critically analyze writing and articles in professional academic journals specifically for levels of formality, purpose, audience, reference to authority, and professional ethics

· Write at an academic/professional level, specifically in terms of summaries, and research papers in their various academic disciplines.

Requirements: Persuasion Paper..………………………………………………………..200

DRAFT Research Paper………………………………………………….100

Final Research Paper…………………………………....…………….…400

In-class assignments………………………………….……………….…300

Grading Scale: 950-1000 = A 730-763 = C

900-949 = A- 696-729 = C-

866-899 = B+ 662-695 = D+

832-865 = B 628-661 = D

798-831 = B- 595-627 = D-

764-797 = C+ 594-(below) = F

Course Procedures:

Course Structure:

This course is broken down into three sections: Ethnography, Persuasion, Persuasion/Research. Please be sure that you follow every provided link on the Moodle page. Following the links in order will assure that you read the required material, and complete the required assignments as they need to be done. You will also see all provided lectures, paper requirements, and uploading links for all assignments and papers.

Instructor/Student Communication:

Email is the primary mode of communication in this course. If you have any questions, please email them to me directly at [email protected] and I will respond within 48 hours. I will also strive to grade and respond to all assignments, that were turned in on time, within one week on the Moodle system. I am also in my office MWF from 9:00-10:00 and 1:00-2:00, if you would like to call me at (218) 281-8273.

Student/Student Communication in Forum Postings and General Rules of Netiquette:

Each time you are asked to post to a forum, please look at the provided directions for the forum; oftentimes there will be specific questions that serve as response prompts and directly reflect your grade for that specific forum. Also please be respectful of your fellow students in your interactions with them on the provided forums; avoid offensive language or topics that you would not feel appropriate to use in the classroom.

Uploading Assignments to Moodle and Grading:

All assignments and papers should be uploaded directly into the Moodle system with the provided links. Moodle will be the means I use to grade all assignments, forum postings, and papers, as well as provide feedback on all submitted work.

Due Dates and Late Work:

All deadlines for assignments and papers are listed on this syllabus below, so please pay

attention to the dates posted. All late work will be penalized 10 points each day that it is late,

including Saturday and Sunday. No late work will be accepted at all if it is over one week late.

If you anticipate that you will have turn in an assignment late for an excusable reason, like an

Illness, documentation will need to be provided, like a scanned and email doctor’s note, in order

For you to not lose points for the late work. You should always me well in advance of any due

date to inform me of any issues that may arise.

http://www.policy.umn.edu/Policies/Education/Education/MAKEUPWORK.html

Final Drafts: All final essays must be typed. Essays will be graded on

their general clarity of purpose, language, organization, detail, and coherence. Appropriate

spelling, punctuation, and grammar is expected on all work turned in. Excessive errors will result

in a lower grade. Papers that exhibit freshness of ideas and composition will be looked at with

special consideration.

Student Services: For Student Services - http://www1.crk.umn.edu/currentstudents/

For the Academic Assistance Center - http://www3.crk.umn.edu/services/academicassist/

Computer or Moodle Issues:

If you experience any computer or technical issue, please contact the computer helpdesk at (21*0 281-8000. If you experience any issues that pertain directly to Moodle, please contact Steve Hannah at (218) 281-8382 or [email protected]

Special Needs: If a student has any disability, either permanent or temporary, which might affect her/his ability to perform in class, he/she is encouraged to inform the instructor at the beginning of the semester.   Methods and materials will be adapted or arrangements for tutoring will be made as required to provide students with equitable class participation. Please note the availability of mental health services if needed.

UMC’s Office of Disability Services, Owen Hall, 218-281-8587.

http://ds.umn.edu/Students/index.html

Mental Health Services (UM Administrative Policy)

http://www.mentalhealth.umn.edu .

.

Additional University of Minnesota Policies:

Appropriate Student Use of Class Notes and Course Materials (UM Administrative Policy)

http://www.policy.umn.edu/Policies/Education/Education/CLASSNOTESSTUDENTS.html

http://www.policy.umn.edu/Policies/Education/Education/CLASSROOMPED.html

Equity, Diversity, Equal Opportunity, and Affirmative Action (Board of Regents Policy)

http://www1.umn.edu/regents/policies/administrative/Equity_Diversity_EO_AA.html .

Policy for Granting an Incomplete:

University policy states that a student must have “successfully completed a substantial portion of the course’s work with a passing grade” in order for an incomplete to be given to the student “due to extraordinary circumstances” (UMC Catalog, p. 28).

Plagiarism: It is the responsibility of students to know that "The University of Minnesota has a primary concern with matters which impinge upon academic achievement and integrity"; therefore, scholastic dishonesty is a disciplinary offense actionable by the University: ". . . submission of false records of academic achievement; cheating on assignments, or examinations; plagiarizing; altering, forging, or misusing test materials without faculty permission; acting alone or in cooperation  with another to falsify records or obtain dishonestly grades, honors, awards, or professional endorsement."

* If you have any questions, complaints, comments, concerns, anxieties, struggles, etc. please feel free to contact me in my office or by phone. I am here to help.

Assignments

1 - Persuasion Introduction

Read Writing Research Chapters 1 and 2 “Writing From

Research” and “Finding a Topic”

Read Posted Library Discussion

Read Writing Research Chapter 3 “Gathering Data in

the Library” and Chapter 15i “Sample Paper in APA Style”

Read Posted Interview and Survey Discussion

Read Writing Research Chapters 6 and 7 “Organizing Ideas

and Setting Goals” and “Finding and Reading…Resources”

1. Persuasion in Advertisements Assignment

2. Logical Fallacies in Politics or Media Assignment

Read Posted Persuasion Discussion

3. Persuasion Paper Due and All (2) Persuasion Assignments Due by the middle of June

2. Persuasion/Research

Read Writing Research Chapter 8 “Practicing Academic Integrity”

Read Posted Research Discussion

Read Writing Research Chapter 4 “Searching the…Web”

Read Paraphrase, Summary, Quote Discussion

1. Paraphrase Journal Article Assignment

2. Thesis of final paper Due

3. Abstract of final paper Due

Read Writing Research Chapter 15 “Writing in APA Style”

4. APA Assignment

Read Writing Research Chapter 9 “Writing Notes”

Read Posted Notes Discussion

5. 6 Notes Due for research on final paper

Read Writing Research Chapter 10 “Drafting the Paper…”

Read Writing Research Chapter 11 and 12 “Blending

Reference Material…” and “Writing the Introduction, Body, and

Conclusion”

6. Oppositional arguments of final paper

Read Posted Example of a Formal Outline

7. Formal Outline for final paper Due

8. Preliminary References of final paper Due (22-26)

9. DRAFT of final paper Due (JULY 10, 2012)

Read Posted Background Checks Discussion

10. Background Checks of sources on final paper Assignment

Read Writing Research Chapter 13 “Revising…”

All Research Assignments Due throughout the month of July, as completed 11. *Final Research paper due by – July 24, 2012

Please Note: This syllabus is subject to change if circumstances warrant. So bring it to class each day to record necessary alterations.

Evaluation/Grades:

Grades will be determined by class participation and the timely completion and submission of assigned papers along with all of their various drafts. Since writing is a cumulative process, class attendance is expected.

An “A” paper is so well written that the reader feels an assurance that the writer knows what she/he is writing about. The paper’s information is clearly explained, organized, analyzed, evaluated and compared. The various drafts of the writing process reveal a development of thought, logic, and organization. Its sentences are varied and read aloud smoothly without hesitation or awkward pauses and are without clutter and repetition. The writer is in control of the grammar, punctuation, spelling, and mechanics in the writing.

A “B” paper has the same essential characteristics of an A paper except that some of the paper’s information may not be clearly explained, organized, analyzed, evaluated and compared. The various drafts of the writing process reveal a development of thought, logic, and organization, but the reader may not know how the writer achieved her/his conclusion. Sentences tend to be of the same length and do not always read aloud smoothly without hesitation or awkward pauses and may contain clutter and repetition. The writer sometimes lacks control of the grammar punctuation, spelling, and mechanics in the writing.

A “C” paper is adequate. While the information is adequate, it is not clearly explained, organized, analyzed, evaluated and compared. The writing reflects a writer in a hurry to finish a paper rather than a writer attempting to develop thought, logic and organization. Its sentences tend to lack variety and are often awkward. The writing does not read aloud smoothly without hesitation or awkward pauses and contains clutter and repetition. The writer tends to exercise poor control of grammar, punctuation, spelling, and the mechanics in the writing.

A “D” paper is a hasty, careless affair which is not clearly explained, organized, analyzed, evaluated and compared. The information is scattered and lacks the above qualities. The writing reveals a hasty attempt to satisfy the requirements of the assignment. The writer has difficulty drafting sentences of any complexity, and the writing reads aloud very roughly with many hesitations and awkward pauses and contains clutter and repetition. The writer generally has very little control of the material, grammar, spelling, or mechanics in the writing.

An “F” paper simply has not been done, is incomplete, or reveals the flaws of a D paper to a greater extent.