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Course Syllabus
Please be informed that the following syllabus is a plan for the semester. As with any plan, the syllabus may be changed. Should such changes occur, you will be informed immediately in writing by email at your IUP email account.
Also be informed that work assigned or graded by any person other than the instructor who prepared this syllabus will not be counted toward the final grade for the course. Only changes by me will be considered part of the course policies or requirements.
I would also like you to know that my office door is always open for you to see me about your work in the course. If you have any concerns, please see me. If your problem is urgent, please send me an email with the following text in the subject line:
"English 202 Help, Help, Help"
Michael M. Williamson Office: 351 Sutton Hall Mail Drop: 110-B Leonard Hall Hours: See this link Phone: (724) 357-2575 Email: mmwimson@iup.edu Web: http://www.english.iup.edu/mmwimson
Course Description ENGL 202 Research Writing 3c-0l-3sh
Prerequisites: ENGL 101, sophomore standing Teaches students to read, analyze, and evaluate nonfiction sources and to present the results of their analysis in clear, organized, carefully documented research papers. The focus of reading and research in each section will be determined by the instructor.
Objectives There are three main objectives in the course: Learning to read and analyze writing Learning to undertake academic research Learning to write about academic research To these objectives, I also add the following" Learning to use electronic communication for publishing your work. Learning to use electronic communication to read & respond to others’ work. Learning to use electronic communication for research. Learning to be critical of Internet research sources. Teaching and Learning Writing Learning is mostly a matter of directing yourself toward the goals that you set for yourself. Learning is also based on the effort you put into it. No effort, no learning; lots of effort, lots of learning.
I know from my own experience as a writer that I learn from listening to others talk with me about my writing. There are no set rules for writing. There are just new problems to solve as you write. I hope that you will take my invitation to set your own goals for this course and to make a sincere effort to accomplish the goals. English 202 is required of all students at the university. For many, 202 is something to get through. However, I hope that you will find the reading and the writing to be of interest to you and to help you accomplish your goals.
However, if you are not finding the work to be helpful to you, you will need to speak up and let me know. Otherwise, I will not be able to help you find a direction in the course. I have a great deal of respect for people who speak out about their goals and opinions. I try very hard to listen to others and to accommodate their views. So, if you are finding 202 boring, you only have yourself to blame. Talk to me in class, out of class, in my office, wherever you feel comfortable raising issues about what is going on in class.
The United States Constitution guarantees each of us the right to our own opinions and the right to express them, so long as they are not hurtful to others. Writing about the research you will be doing involves examining what others have said and then making a judgment about what you have read. I hope that you will be able to find a voice for yourself in the research that you will be doing; I look forward to hearing and reading about your research and your views.
Course Policies The following policies are repeated in the syllabus for your information. Each of the policies is based upon academic policies approved by the University Senate and the Council of Trustees. Each of the policy headings is a hyperlink to the entire policy statement on the web. Any material in quotations is directly from the policy itself. All other statements are the application of the policy in this course.
Relevant requirements for a course syllabus at IUP can be read at the following URL: University Policy on Semester Course Syllabi
Only work assigned by and submitted to the instructor of record will count toward the final grade in this course.
Required Email AddressPlease note that al email communications from me will occur through the IUP email system. You must activate your IUP email account to receive notices about changes in the syllabus or schedule.
Should I have to be absent from class for any reason, I will attempt to notify you in advance by email as early as practical.
Academic Integrity Policy and Procedures "IUP is an academic community within the society at large. All members within this community are expected to accept the responsibility for academic integrity and honesty. Academic dishonesty seriously erodes the quality of educational pursuits and is unacceptable at IUP." I consider any form of academic dishonesty to be a waste of your time and mine. Such dishonesty is usually as much work as doing the assignments. Furthermore, I do not assign busy work, so each assignment is an opportunity to learn. If you miss that opportunity, you miss learning something.
If you find any of the course assignments so disagreeable that you feel inclined to cheat in any way, please talk to me about the problem with the assignment. I would rather alter the assignment to help you learn better than to have you violate the Integrity Policy. My door is always open for any discussion of the class and problems that you see with my conduct in the class. We both lose if you do not talk to me. You might have had the opportunity to direct your own learning more effectively, and I might have learned more about my teaching and how to improve it.
Undergraduate Course Attendance Policy and Class Participation "The university expects all students to attend class."
In accordance with this policy, I allow three absences from class without any penalty. Each subsequent absence will affect your participation grade in the class. You have to be present to participate.
If you are having personal problems or are ill, please email me about your situation, if nothing else. Under these circumstances, if you are absent for a period of time, please worry about nothing other than healing. You cannot learn if you are not healthy. You need to have time to grieve loss. You need time to sort out problems. We will sort out how to handle your absence when you return.
For any excused absences, illness and other problems, or to participate in a university activity, please provide me with written documentation. Please consult the following policies:
Please note that you will be considered absent if you come to class unprepared for the meeting. In many class meetings, we will be discussing drafts of students’ writing or assigned readings. I will mark any student as absent from class if he or she fails to bring or read assigned work.
I do not expect any disruption of class. Learning can be noisy and may even involve some anger as people defend their ideas. I have never experienced class disruptions that caused me to ask a student to leave the class. However, I cite the policy for your information.
My own view of learning is that you have the right to question anything, but do not have the right to call others or their ideas names.
I never intend to embarrass anyone. However, if I feel that you are insulting or stereotyping another person, I will inform you directly. If you have any questions about my judgment, please feel free to talk with me. I may ask you to speak with me outside of class to avoid disrupting the learning of other members of the class.
"Students and faculty alike should strive to create a class environment that reflects mutual respect and the importance of learning. If a student’s behavior threatens to disrupt that environment, the faculty member has a responsibility to seek resolution of the problem.
A faculty member is empowered to request that a student leave during particular class period if, in the measured opinion of that faculty member, the student: 1. Significantly disrupts the learning process, or 2. Is a threat to others."
The final examination is held at a time scheduled by the university. If you are not able to make the final examination because of a time conflict with another examination, please email me in advance. If you miss the final examination without any prior notice, you will not be permitted to take a make up.
Please do not schedule leaving campus before the final examination. I once received a note from a student’s mother who informed me that her daughter should be excused from the final because she was scheduled to fly to Mexico the day before for a family vacation. Can you imagine how I responded?
IUP Student Grade Appeal Policy If you are unhappy with my evaluation of any of your work, please make an appointment to see me in my office. Like anyone, I am capable of making a mistake or misjudging work. I am happy to discuss my judgments of your work with you.
If we cannot agree on my final evaluation of your work, you should consult the Grade Appeal Policy at the link above and follow the procedure that is outlined.
Late &Makeup Work Late papers and assignments will not be accepted for grading. Since all in class work and assignments will depend upon class participation, no make up work is permitted. Students missing the final examination without prior notice in writing will not be permitted to take a make up examination. Written notice must be received at least one hour prior to missing the examination.
Course Requirements As we begin each of the requirements below, they will become hot links to a description of the assignment
Participation & Attendance 25% Reading responses Class discussion (in class & online) Paper #1 & presentation 5% Reading responses Reflective Paper/Final Examination 10% Revisions of papers & presentations Presentation & organization of the portfolio
Grade Calculation Your grade will be calculated in the following manner:
Add up the number of points for each category, as indicated by the point allotment in the assignment description and on the rating scale.
Final grades will be based upon the following scale: 90-100 points = A 89- 80 points = B 79- 70 points = C 69- 60 points = D 59 or below = F
Course Texts
Course Meeting and Assignment Schedule
The course schedule is subject to change depending upon the progress of the class. You will be informed of any changes by email at your IUP email account. |
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Copyright Information
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All information on this page and the entire web site. Copyright © 1996-2008 Michael M. Williamson. All rights reserved.
Correspondence regarding this web site should be sent to Michael M. Williamson. at the following link
Web site last modified August 22, 2008