Course Syllabus

 

Required Texts and Materials

Texts Available at UIC Bookstore Additional Materials Be aware that some of the texts we will be studying this semester may be offensive to some, including discussions of sex, sexual identity, reproductive freedom, and other public policy and health care issues.  If you do not wish to be exposed to this kind of material, you may drop this course and choose from the many other 161 courses offered this semester.  If you decide to stay in this class, we must all engage with the assigned material in an intellectually responsible fashion and contribute to class discussion in an atmosphere of mutual respect.
 

Course Requirements

This course is an introductory-level, writing intensive course that requires extensive reading and writing.  Therefore, you will be reading and writing every day.  I recommend that you exchange phone numbers or email addresses with two or three of your classmates so that you can get notes, handouts, and notice of altered assignments when you miss class.  Whenever you miss class, it is your responsibility to get all of the information given in that session.

Because this is a writing course, your entire grade is determined by your writing.  Your grade for this course will be based on the following format:
 

Formal Essays/Portfolios (80% total)
The bulk of your grade comes, not surprisingly, from formal essays; each will be explained in greater detail as the course progresses.  Remember that each of these essays must be typed, doubled-spaced, normal font, size 10 or 12, with one-inch margins on all sides.

These essays will receive final grades when you turn them in as part of a portfolio.  To complete each portfolio, you will bring together a final draft of each essay with earlier drafts and initial writings.  Grading in this way enables you to continue revising each essay, making each assignment the best that it can be before receiving a final grade.  It is a good idea to keep copies of everything you write this semester so that if you lose anything, you will still be able to complete each portfolio.  This also means making backup copies of anything saved on your computer.  To receive a grade in this course, you must complete and turn in both portfolios.

Daily Writing Activities (20%)
In order to encourage thoughtful engagement with the ideas and issues of the course, you will be asked each day to complete some writing activity such as responding individually to a journal question or completing some small group activity.  These activities will relate to that particular day's readings or concerns and will be graded using a check-plus, check, check-minus system.  You are not allowed to turn these in late, so if you miss class or are tardy, you may miss the daily writing activity.  You are allowed to miss three of these before your final grade is affected.  The purpose of these exercises is to help you think about the class material as you read it and to help you prepare for class discussions.  They will also provide ideas for your more formal assignments.
 

Course Policies

Attendance
I do not require class attendance as an explicit part of your grade.  However, it is imperative that you attend class in order to understand what is expected of all writing assignments and to complete the daily journal questions.  In the end, missing class will detract from your grade.
 
Late Assignments
All assignments are due at the beginning of class on the date specified in this syllabus.  Late assignments will not be accepted (this includes papers that are late because of computer or printing problems).  Also, all printing or photocopying must be complete before class begins.  If you foresee a problem with any assignment, please see me before the day it is due.

Plagiarism
Intentionally using another person's words or ideas as your own is a serious offense that can lead to failing the class.  Just don't do it.  Section 45d of The Longman Handbook describes what you can do to avoid plagiarism.
 

Resources

The Writing Center
Located in 107 SEO, the Writing Center provides free consultations on any aspects of your writing assignments from brainstorming to proofreading.  Sessions are about an hour long and you can visit throughout the semester.  Know that he Writing Center does not exist just for "bad" or "remedial" writers.  It's for anyone who wants to talk with another person about their written work.  I strongly recommend that each of you visit at least once and see how they can help you with your work.  Call ahead (312-413-2206) for an appointment.

Me, Your Instructor
I am committed that you grow as a writer this semester, and you always have the option of coming to speak to me about drafts of your papers, assignments, or anything else on your mind.
 

Possible Research Ideas

Throughout the semester, almost daily, I will point out possible research ideas, questions, and topics that arise out of our readings.  But I'd also like to let you know from the start what some of the things are that you could write about.  In the past, students have written on such topics as:
 
 
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Created by Nels P. Highberg (nhighb1@uic.edu)