Instructor: Dorothy Raffel
Engl 302 section N03
SPRING 2007
Office: Robinson A112C
Phone 993-1204
draffel@gmu.edu
Office hours: TH 2:00 - 3:00
This is a hybrid course. That means some class meetings are in a computer lab and some meetings are online. The first two weeks we will meet in a computer lab classroom, Innovation Hall 317. After the first couple weeks of the semester, usually we will meet in Innovation Hall 317 one day a week and online asynchronously one day a week.
In this class you will complete several science writing assignments, a set of research report writing exercises, three graded papers, and a ten-page research paper. Also, you will be graded on participation. You will write in class and out of class, individually and in groups. You will work on definition, narration, example, analysis, and argument and persuasion. You will practice rewriting and editing. You will work on definition, narration, example, analysis, and argument and persuasion. You will have several library and Internet research assignments as part of your writing projects.
All writing will be submitted on the date and at the time I state. I will not accept assignments posted after the due date and time for grading or credit. I will not grade any work I haven't seen in draft form.
You will attend a computer lab in class at the beginning of the semester and will use a word processing program, MS Word, for writing and revising the assignments.
It is a GMU requirement that you must send any messages about classwork or school matters to me from your GMU email account or I can't respond to your message. Also, don't include attachments with email or in Townhall. Because of software incompatibilities or virus problems, your classmates and I won't open attachments or download your files. If I can't read your writing posted directly in Townhall or in email, I won't be able to grade that work or give you credit for submitting it on time.
Note: students must be in class, working in the classroom, to receive credit for any in-class assignment, any in-class web assignment, and any in-class townhall assignment.
Read course description, course readings list, paraphrasing and plagiarizing, important dates, GMU office of disability services, GMU general education mission statement and responsible computing use. If you are a student with a disability and you need academic accommodations, please email me and contact the Office of Disability Services at 703.993.2474. All academic accommodations must be arranged through that office.
| Texts: | The Craft of Scientific Writing, Alley |
| The Research Paper, Roth | |
| EndNote 7.0 DON'T BUY EndNote! I'LL EXPLAIN IN CLASS. |
| Grading: | Graded essays, including meeting deadlines and participation. For each graded paper, missing research findings presentation, draft and commenting, or revision and commenting on assigned class due dates subtracts one letter grade each (up to three letter grades total) from paper grade. | 45% |
| Research project, including meeting deadlines and participation. Missing notes, organizing ideas/thesis statement days, or abstract workshop on assigned class due dates subtracts one-third letter grade each (one-third letter grade for each of the two organizing ideas/thesis statement days)--up to one and one-third letter grades total from the research paper grade. Missing draft on assigned class due date subtracts one letter grade from the research paper grade. | 35% | |
| Other writing and participation | 20% | |
| You need a C or higher to pass the course. | ||
| Note that doing everything right but doing it without pizzazz will not earn an A. |
| Mon. | 1/22 | Introduction | |
| Wed. | 1/24 | Computer lab | |
| Mon. | 1/29 | Computer lab | |
| Wed. | 1/31 | Research paper: Choosing a general topic | |
| Mon. | 2/5 | Research paper: Narrowing the topic ONLINE | |
| general topic due | |||
| Wed. | 2/7 | Research paper: Collecting and recording information | |
| Mon. | 2/12 | Sense of audience ONLINE | |
| narrowed topic due | |||
| Wed. | 2/14 | Essay: Narration | |
| Mon. | 2/19 | Narration continued | |
| Wed. | 2/21 | Narration continued | |
| Mon. | 2/26 | Narration due ONLINE | |
| Research report conventions | |||
| Wed. | 2/28 | Research paper: Organizing ideas, thesis statement | |
| Research paper notes due | |||
| Mon. | 3/5 | Research report conventions ONLINE | |
| Wed. | 3/7 | Essay: Example | |
| Mon. | 3/12 | spring break | |
| Wed. | 3/14 | Spring break | |
| Mon. | 3/19 | Example continued | |
| Wed. | 3/21 | Example continued | |
| Mon. | 3/26 | Example concluded ONLINE | |
| Wed. | 3/28 | Example due | |
| Science description game | |||
| Mon. | 4/2 | Science description game due | |
| Wed. | 4/4 | Research paper: drafts due | |
| Mon. | 4/9 | Research paper: drafts assignment | |
| Wed. | 4/11 | Research paper: drafts assignment | |
| Fri. | 4/13 | Ethics ONLINE | |
| Mon. | 4/16 | Research report conventions ONLINE | |
| Wed. | 4/18 | Essay: Analysis | |
| Research paper: Abstract | |||
| Research paper: Documentation and final preparation | |||
| Mon. | 4/23 | Analysis continued ONLINE | |
| Wed. | 4/25 | Analysis concluded | |
| Mon. | 4/30 | Analysis due | |
| Wed. | 5/2 | Research papers due beginning of class |
Return to Dorothy Raffel's Spring schedule.