Required Materials
Wysocki, Anne Frances & Dennis A. Lynch. compose/design/advocate: a rhetoric for integrating written, visual and oral communication. ( New York : Pearson Custom Publishing 2006.)
We will use this book extensively, so bring it to class with you every day.
Be sure you are using the first edition.
You will also need a 3-ring binder, dividers, and a sticker label for the portfolio project.
Policies
Regarding Attendance and Presence
You are allowed to miss two classes per semester. This means that you can be physically absent from two classes and your social practices grade will not be affected. However, because offering input and draft feedback is only offered in class and is pertinent to the course, subsequent absences will substantially decrease your social practices grade. You must have a doctor’s note or a University excused absence in order to be excused from a class day – there will be no exceptions to this policy, even if you email me to tell me you are sick.
If you will be missing classes due to a University related athletic event (i.e. you are on a sports team and will be missing class), you must provide me a schedule of dates you will miss, signed by your coach.
Because it is disruptive to learning and disrespectful to others in the course who are on time, tardiness is not acceptable. If three tardys occur it will equal one absence.
Also, because it is disrespectful to me and others in class, plus it is just plain annoying, sleeping in class will not be tolerated and will affect your social practices grade. Please be sure to come to class fully rested and ready to participate.
You are required to attend a conference session. Your attendance at conferences counts towards three class days.
Regarding Respectfulness
Because this course relies heavily on your involvement, it is important for us to have an environment where everyone can be heard without being ridiculed or harassed. It is important to understand that we need to challenge ideas thoughtfully and openly while still being respectful to one another. Your respectfulness will affect your social practices grade.
Regarding Preparedness
We all learn from each other in this class. Class discussion revolves around the work you bring to each day of class. It is imperative that you come to class prepared with that day’s assignment, including reading the readings. If you don’t bring your best work to class then no one will benefit.
You are required to bring a printed copy of the assignment sheet to class (found on my website) to participate in class discussion. Please be mindful of the days we will be discussing new assignments and come prepared.
Regarding Assignments
The assignments you do in this class will ask you to step through multiple drafts and revisions. Drafts will not be graded; however, because multiple drafts will only benefit your assignment, points will be deducted from your final draft if you do not submit the required first draft assignment.
I will not accept late assignments unless you have a University excused absence or doctor’s note. If you know you are going to be absent from a class then you must let me know and arrange a time to turn in the assignment prior to your missed day. You are responsible for finding out what you missed in class. Please do not ask me what you missed in class. Get to know another student in the class so you can easily find out what you missed. In addition, I will not accept assignments that are emailed to me, unless I specify it for a specific assignment.
I expect to see your best work. This means that all work must be proofread, and readings must be read. There may be surprise quizzes on the readings or you may be asked to reflect on assignments throughout the semester.
Regarding the Syllabus
I reserve the right to change this syllabus to meet the needs of the class.
MTU's Policy on Academic IntegrityPlagiarism and cheating are serious academic offenses.
They are defined by this policy as "knowingly copying another's work or ideas and calling them one's own or not giving proper credit or citation," and this policy covers copying sections or entire papers from printed or electronic sources as well as handing in papers written by students for other classes or purchasing academic papers. Plagiarism and cheating not only are dishonest but cheat you out of learning, the prime reason you are here. If you ever have questions about this issue, please talk to your instructor or consult a coach in the Writing Center (487-2007).
MTU's Policy on Discrimination and Harassment
MTU complies with all federal and state laws and regulations regarding discrimination, including the Americas with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. If you have a disability and need accommodation for equal access to education and services at MTU, please call Dr. Gloria Melton, Dean of Students (487-2212). For other concerns about discrimination, you may contact your advisor, department chair, or the Affirmative Action Office (487-3310).
Portfolios
At the end of the semester you will compose a portfolio of your work, including all assignment sheets, drafts and revisions. I will develop a rubric that encompasses key portfolio objectives. Your portfolio will be used for the purpose of an overall assessment of the UN2001 Revisions course. You are required to include in the portfolio a variet of work (a specific list of what to include will be provided). You will be required to compose and include a reflective letter describing your understanding of the course goals, the major assignments, and to reflect on the values of the class to your general education and to your learning about multimodal communication.
You must, therefore, save everything you do in this class along the way: all drafts, peer reviews, speech notes, group work materials, handouts, etc. Save everything!! This means you will need to keep separate electronic files of all of your work by naming each draft a different file name. This will help you produce a portfolio that includes all of the necessary draft pieces from the semester.
More information will be provided in a separate handout, but not until later in the semester. Do not wait until then to get your portfolio started.
Grading
There are two kinds of assignments in this class: formal and informal. Both are very important for learning processes so you must complete all the assignments to pass the class. I provide written feedback on your work. Your final grade is determined as follows:
Assignment Sequences |
Points |
|
Grading Scale |
Interviewing Project
Assignment 1 – Identifying companies (5 pts)
Assignment 2 – Rhetorical analysis write up (50 pts)
Assignment 3 – Identifying questions (20 pts)
Assignment 4 – Interview and reflection (50 pts) |
125 |
|
Grade |
Points |
A |
1000 - 930 |
AB |
880 - 929 |
Timeline Map Project
Assignment 5 – Initial research (10 pts)
Assignment 6 – Formal design plan (25 pts)
Assignment 7 – Final draft of timeline map (125 pts)
Assignment 8 – Reflection on experience (25 pts) |
185 |
|
B |
830 - 879 |
BC |
780 - 829 |
Research Paper Project
Assignment 9 – Formal design plan (55 pts)
Assignment 10 – Research paper/text (225 pts)
|
280 |
|
C |
730 - 779 |
CD |
680 - 729 |
Podcast Project
Assignment 12 – Podcast script (20 pts)
Assignment 13 – Project presentation (90 pts)
|
110 |
|
D |
600 - 679 |
F |
590 and below |
Portfolio Project
Assignment 12 – Cover memo (50 pts)
Assignment 13 – Actual portfolio (100 pts) |
150 |
|
|
|
Social Practices |
150 |
|
|
|
TOTAL POINTS |
1000 |
|
|
|
By "social practices" I mean your contributions and active listening during class discussions, your peer review activities group activities, and some informal work, as well as your professionalism, and commitment to submitting timely and complete work.
Because you have to be present to participate in class discussions, attendance is also included in your social practices grade. See “Regarding Attendance and Presence” for more information.
No incomplete grades will be given for this course.
Assignments/Course Calendar
forthcoming
