SYLLABUS

ENGLISH 302-B33

Advanced Composition

CRN 80626

 Instructor: Joyce Johnston

Distance Learning

Fall 2010

Office: Robinson A 455

OFFICE HOURS: Thursday 3:15-4:15 in Bull Run Hall 248 (PW Campus) or by appointment

(H and Fax) 703.368.1704 (W) 703.368.1160

E-MAIL: jjohnsto@gmu.edu



WEEK ASSIGNMENTS DUE THIS WEEK ACTIVITIES TO COMPLETE THIS WEEK
9/6-12
(Week 1)

 
Go to http://courses.gmu.edu to review  Syllabus and Course Description, course Blackboard folder. 
If not familiar with Blackboard (a/k/a WebCT CE6), consult the Student QuickStart Guide
   

If necessary, activate GMU E-mail account to receive class mailings; set forwarding if preferred. 
If using GMU mail, remember to check it reguarly throughout the semester.

   

The Writing Center 

    Begin Memo assignment: Evaluating Websites of Professional Associations

By midnight on Sunday, 9/12, read The Core Rules of Netiquette and take the Netiquette Quiz.  
While viewing the score screen, push Print Screen key. Open a Word document.  Go to Edit menu, then Paste the screen shot into your document.  Save document and submit to Blackboard
Assignments under Netiquette Quiz. (See
tutorial if needed).  Name your file "Netiquette Quiz yourlastname"
Go to class Blackboard folder, then click on Assignments in menu at left. Upload your assignment to Netiquette Quiz.  Click the box which offers you a notice of whether your file has uploaded successfully so you can be sure that you have been successful.
9/13-19
(Week 2)
Introduce yourself to your writing group by posting an introduction of 1-2 paragraphs.  Include the strengths you offer to the group as a writer and student, plus any writing issues that you would like the group's help in addressing. Go to class Blackboard folder, then click on Discussions in menu at left. Click on the thread for Introduction

Complete the draft of the two memos, using business writing style: The Pitfalls of Writing in the Workplace
    Gollow guidelines in GMU's Writing Guide for the School of Management
    GMU's guides to Writing in the Disciplines. Click Discipline Specific Writing
    Student Organizations at Mason and Professional Organizations: scroll down to Associations Unlimited
9/14   LAST DAY TO ADD CLASSES OR TO DROP WITHOUT TUITION PENALTY
9/20-26
(Week 3)
Post draft of Memos to writing group  no later than midnight on Tuesday, Sept. 21.  Use the message heading "Susie's memo draft" or similar and add the draft as an attachment to a message.  DO NOT paste the draft into the message box. Go to class Blackboard folder, then click on Discussions in menu at left. Click on the thread for Professional Association Memos
   Post responses to drafts by other members no later than midnight on Friday, Sept. 24.  Post message as a reply to the draft in question.  Use the message heading "Rashid's review of Susie's draft" or similar. Use scoring rubrics to guide revision.  Rubrics are available under the Rubrics link on our Blackboard home page
    Getting help:

The Writing Center and links to other writing centers


Memo Assignment due by midnight on Sunday, 9/26; see link
Name your work "Professional Association Memo Yourlastname"
Go to class Blackboard folder, then click on Assignments in menu at left. Upload your assignment to Professional Association Memos.  Click the box which offers you a notice of whether your file has uploaded successfully so you can be sure that you have been successful.
 9/27-
Oct. 3
(Week 4)
 

Formatting papers and documenting research: MLA format for the humanities. 

APA format for hard and social sciences; APA Style Resources;

10/4-10
(Week 5)
After practice, practice and if necessary, more practice, take
 quiz on punctuating quotations by midnight on Sunday, 10/17.  See guidelines
 from Week 2 for submitting a screen shot of your score to Blackboard. Name your file "Quotations Quiz yourlastname"
Go to class Blackboard folder, then click on Assignments in menu at left. Upload your assignment to Quotations Quiz.  Click the box which offers you a notice of whether your file has uploaded successfully so you can be sure that you have been successful.
Using and formatting quoted material in academic writing: MLA format for quotations vs. APA format for quotations
    Quoting vs. paraphrasing or summarizing
    Introduce Group Ethics Presentation on Ethics in the Professions; begin with group process assessment discussion with your writing group under the Group Ethics Presentation thread in Discussions.
10/1     LAST DAY TO DROP
10/4     BEGIN SELECTIVE WITHDRAWAL PERIOD
10/11-17
(Week 6)

Select article for analysis, using a major scholarly publication or trade journal as a source. Work on Article Analysis assignment
10/18-24
(Week 7)
Post draft of article analysis to writing group no later than midnight on Tuesday, October 19. Use the message heading "Susie's research paper draft" or similar and add the draft as an attachment to a message.  DO NOT paste the draft into the message box Go to class Blackboard folder, then click on Discussions in menu at left. Click on the thread for Article Analysis.
Post responses to drafts by other writing group members no later than midnight on Friday, October 22. Post message as a reply to the draft in question.  Use the message heading "Rashid's review of Susie's draft" or similar Critical analysis help within the assignment file

Article Analysis due by midnight on Sunday,  10/24; see link.  Name your file "Article Analysis yourlastname." Remember to submit an electronic copy of the article analyzed in addition to your paper Go to class Blackboard folder, then click on Assignments in menu at left. Upload your assignment to Article Analysis.  Click the box which offers you a notice of whether your file has uploaded successfully so you can be sure that you have been successful.
Begin Research Project  Beginning with a research question,
develop a thesis for your paper, and submit the Mandatory Research Proposal for the project  if ready.
10/25-31
(Week 8)
Research Proposal due by midnight on Sunday, 10/ 31; see link.
 IMPORTANT: proposal should NOT be submitted to Blackboard, but emailed to instructor for feedback.
ALSO IMPORTANT: Submission of a proposal alone does NOT constitute completion of this assignment.
Proposal has NOT been accepted until instructor posts grade and notifies you
 by email
THIRD: the Research Paper will not be accepted without PRIOR acceptance of the Research Proposal
Analytical research papers; Clarify the difference from  argumentative papers
    Appropriate vocabulary, sentence structure and authorial stance for researched writing
    Identify the appropriate GMU research guide for your major or other outside research guides
10/29 END SELECTIVE WITHDRAWAL PERIOD
11/1-7
(Week 9)
Only after practice, take online test on plagiarism, due by midnight on Sunday, 11/7.
See guidelines from Week 2 for submitting a screen shot of your score to Blackboard.
 Name your file "Plagiarism Quiz yourlastname"
Be careful to submit a screen shot of the plagiarism certificate, NOT the test score screen. Your research project will NOT be accepted without completion of this test of academic integrity.
Go to class Blackboard folder, then click on Assignments in menu at left. Upload your assignment to Plagiarism Quiz.  Click the box which offers you a notice of whether your file has uploaded successfully so you can be sure that you have been successful.

Gain an overview of Intellectual Property

Ethics and intellectual property law;

The Copyright Website

11/8-14
(Week 10)
Work on research paper drafts
  Identify and consult research guides in your major to assist with the research paper
    Begin Group Oral Presentation on Ethics in the Professions
11/15-21
(Week 11)
Post draft of research paper to writing group no later than midnight on Tuesday, November 16. Use the message heading "Susie's research paper draft" or similar and add the draft as an attachment to a message.  DO NOT paste the draft into the message box Go to class Blackboard folder, then click on Discussions in menu at left. Click on the thread for Research Paper
Post responses to drafts by other writing group members no later than midnight on Friday, November 19. Post message as a reply to the draft in question.  Use the message heading "Rashid's review of Susie's draft" or similar. Use scoring rubrics to guide revision.  Rubrics are available under the Rubrics link on our Blackboard home pag

RESEARCH PAPER DUE by midnight on Sunday, 11/21; see link.  
Name your file "Research Paper yourlastname." Any student not completing
this requirement will FAIL THE  COURSE
Go to class Blackboard folder, then click on Assignments in menu at left. Upload your assignment to Research Paper.  Click the box which offers you a notice of whether your file has uploaded successfully so you can be sure that you have been successful.
11/22-28
(Week 12)  
Complete Parallel Structure Quiz by midnight on Sunday, 11/28.  Choose Grammar
 Exercises. Click Cancel at login screen.  Click Sentence Style. Complete BOTH
E-ex S1-1 and E-ex S1-2 on Parallelism.  Take screen shots of BOTH score screens
and combine into ONE document for submission to Blackboard. Name your file "Parallel Structure Quiz yourlastname."
Go to class Blackboard folder, then click on Assignments in menu at left. Upload your assignment to Parallel Structure Quiz.  Click the box which offers you a notice of whether your file has uploaded successfully so you can be sure that you have been successful.
Review parallel structure, especially as used in resumes and PowerPoint presentations.  Reference Purdue OWL Engagement 1.2: Parallel Structure.
 
Work on group ethics presentation; perform midpoint check.  Post all discussions to the Group Ethics Presentation thread under Discussions or else provide a transcript to the instructor via email so that you  can receive credit for Writing Group Participation.
11/22-28
(Week 13)
  UNIVERSITY CLOSED FOR THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY.  NO CLASSES ARE HELD 11/24-28.
11/29-12/5
(Week 14)
Group Ethics Presentations due no later than midnight on Sunday 12/5; see link.  This date is non-negotiable. Name your file "Group Ethics Presentation."  Appoint one group member to submit assignment on behalf of the group. Go to class Blackboard folder, then click on Assignments in menu at left. Upload your assignment to Group Ethics Presentation.  Click the box which offers you a notice of whether your file has uploaded successfully so you can be sure that you have been successful.
12/6-12
(Week 15)
Absolutely last day to submit optional rewritten paper of your choice
by
10:00 PM on Sunday, 12/12. 
Paper must be submitted to instructor BY EMAIL, must
contain
original rubric and must mark (highlight or bold) all changes or additions to original text.  Failure to include ALL elements will results in paper not being rescored.
Complete GMU and instructor course evaluations ONLINE
Grades for Class Participation posted by Wednesday, 12/8, followed by opportunity for any review of grades with instructor.  Class Participation grades are final after 12/12.
12/13-19
(Week 16)

Optional rewritten paper graded and returned to students no later than Thursday, 12/16.  
    Students have opportunity to review grades and correct and recording or computation errors with instructor if needed. OPPORTUNITY ENDS AT 5:00 PM ON SUNDAY, 12/19.
12/21  ALL COURSE GRADES ARE FINAL AND SUBMITTED TO REGISTRAR ON THIS DATE.  
No grade changes will be made thereafter unless there has been a recording error.


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