Course Syllabus

English 1010-33: College Composition and Rhetoric (COM1) for Fall 2020
M/W/F, 12:10-1:00pm, Classroom Building 302
Instructor: Dr. Seth Swanner
Email: sswanner@uwyo.edu
Office: 240 Hoyt Hall
Office Hours: (Only through Zoom) Mondays 1:15-2:45, Tuesdays 11:00-12:30

3 credit hours, No pre-requisites

Welcome to English 1010 and to our semester together. This course fulfills your COM1 requirement for the university—on pages 4-5 of our textbook are the seven learning outcomes we’ll work to achieve. In addition to helping you become a more competent and confident writer, I hope this course inspires you to be more enthusiastic about what it means to be a student on this campus and a citizen in our local, national, and international communities. I likewise hope that you find the assignments in the class useful to your personal growth, and that you find our work together productive and perhaps even fun.

Required Text and Materials

  • Hutson, Shelby and Nancy Small, eds. Writing @ 7200 Feet: A Beginner’s Guide to Composition and Rhetoric. 2nd ed., Hayden McNeil, 2018.
  • Daily access to your University of Wyoming email and WyoCourse accounts 
  • Daily access to a working computer
    • Access to a printer is strongly recommended
    • If we are required to move online, then your computer must include a camera and microphone that can be used to communicate via video conferencing and you'll need access to an internet connection that can be used to communicate via video conferencing
  • Materials that allow you to abide by all of the University of Wyoming's COVID-related policies and rules to promote the health and well-being of fellow students and your own personal self-care

If you can’t find something, ask your instructor. “I couldn’t find it” is not an excuse for missing an assignment.

Brock.jpg

Meet our Writing Fellow!

Brock will be working with our class over the course of the semester and will have tutoring hours at the STEP Satellite Center in the basement of Washakie. 

Brock can be reached at bmunoz3@uwyo.edu

 

 

What is a Writing Fellow?

Writing Fellows differ from your Peer Mentor in your First Year Seminar class. Brock’s goal is to help you become a stronger writer. You’re encouraged to visit Brock at any time in the writing process (brainstorming, development, rough draft, revisions, etc.). 

 

Attendance Policy

This class is designed to be interactive and to coach you through the iterative process of developing your writing. It matters that you come to every meeting on time and as well prepared as you can be. Excessive tardiness, early departure, or lack of preparation will result in you being marked absent. We understand that life happens, so your first weeks’ worth of absences are not penalized. These are your “wiggle room” in case of minor illness, family/friend emergency, car trouble, etc. Beyond that, however, grade penalties kick in:

 

For a M/W/F Class

First 4 absences are “free”

5+ absences reduce 3 final grade pts each

 

We understand that life happens. If you know you will be absent, speak to your instructor about it, and either turn in work in advance or meet the instructor's requirement for an alternative assignment.  If you are participating in a university-led event (for example, as part of a sports team), make sure your coach has sent an official note excusing your absence. If you experience a crisis that prevents you from completing your work, speak to your instructor or ask an appropriate campus official to document your situation.

COVID-19 Policies [Updated 8.04.20]

During this pandemic, you must abide by all UW policies and public health rules put forward by the City of Laramie, the University of Wyoming and the State of Wyoming  to promote the health and well-being of fellow students and your own personal self-care.  The current policy is provided for review at:  https://www.uwyo.edu/alerts/campus-return/index.html.

As with other disruptive behaviors, we have the right to dismiss you from the classroom (Zoom and physical), or other class activities if you fail to abide by these COVID-19 policies.   These behaviors will be referred to the Dean of Students Office using the UWYO Cares Reporting Form for Student Code of Conduct processes (https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?UnivofWyoming&layout_id=5).

Expectations for Communication and Commitments

As with all UW coursework, this course will be educational and useful to you.  I will respond to questions, concerns, and feedback in a timely manner.

Your responsibilities:

  • Give and receive feedback from me and your classmates respectfully and constructively in all interactions.  This includes in Zoom chats, on WyoCourses boards, and within physical classroom spaces.
  • Actively engage in civil discourse in a respectful manner. Use professional language in all course related forums.
  • Communicate professionally.  Whenever you send class-related email or messages, please include a clear, specific subject line and use the body of the email or message to explain the purpose for the email and any attached materials. Conduct yourself professionally.
  • Meet assignment deadlines. We expect that you're interacting with course material multiple times during the week. 
  • Ask for help when you need it. For academic assistance for this course please contact me for available resources.   For Dean of Students assistance please see: https://www.uwyo.edu/dos/student-resources/covid-19-student-resources.html
  • Please let us know if you notice another student who needs help in our (anonymous) WyoCares referral option (https://www.uwyo.edu/dos/students-concern/index.html).

Important Information About Course Format

Your participation in this course is crucial to your success, but because of the pandemic, that participation may look differently depending on the situation (this is known as “HyFlex”). To help us sort those differences out, I’ve included the following guidelines about course format.

  • In-class instruction: This is the default mode of the course. We will mask up, come to a physical classroom, and have a grand ol’ time together. Unless you contact me ahead of time with an approved reason, failure to come to class will count as an absence. If, however, you have a pandemic-related reason why you shouldn’t or aren’t willing to come to class on a given day, there is another option…
  • Zoom-based Instruction: With this option, students can use the teleconferencing platform Zoom to call in to our physical classroom. There, you should be able to participate just as thoroughly as if you were physically in the classroom (technology issues notwithstanding). And, so, you’ll be counted as present! You must, however, let me know via email before class begins that you’d like this option on that particular day, and your reason must be related to the pandemic. If, for example, you report a symptom and a health officer recommends that you not come physically to class, let me know, stay home, and we’ll Zoom you in. You may choose this option for any pandemic-related reason, up to and including, “I’m feeling anxious today about potentially getting sick.” I often feel anxious, too, and we’re all in this together!
  • Asynchronous Instruction: This third option will only be for very extreme situations when you cannot possibly come to class physically or digitally through Zoom because of a pandemic-related reason. Let me know if that applies to you, and we can come to an agreement about what instruction will look like for you.

Information Technology (IT)

If you have any IT related challenges, please contact the UWIT Service Center:   https://uwyo.teamdynamix.com/TDClient/1940/Portal/Requests/ServiceDet?ID=8890

Required Assignment Deadlines 

Word counts do not include supporting items such as cover letters or references. Unless otherwise noted, the time deadline is 11:59 pm on the date indicated. All deadlines are in the Mountain Time Zone.

Assignment   Minimum Length Deadline
Expos Essay/Mid-Term Portfolio 1000+ words  Friday, September 25
Researched Argument  1750+ words     Friday, October 30
Opposite Editorial  1000+ words   Friday, November 20
Presentation & Peer Responses See instructions Presentation due Monday, November 23
Peer Responses due by Monday, November 30
Final Portfolio 2750+ words Friday, December 4

Extra Credit and Late Work

This course does not usually offer extra credit, but the Instructor will let you know about specific extra credit opportunities.

Because homework is designed to keep you up-to-date with class, the late penalties for homework can be steep. If you think you're not going to be able to finish your homework when it is due, contact your Instructor to ask for an extension. For major assignments, your instructor may grant a small extension as long as you contact them 72 hours prior to the deadline, communicate about the situation leading to needing the small extension, and get the instructor’s approval as well as a new deadline.

 

Required Major Assignments

These assignments are the processes by which we’ll work on achieving the seven COM1 learning outcomes for this course (see pp. 4-5 in your required textbook, Writing @7200 Feet). Also growing out of the course outcomes, the “Grade Guidelines” on pp. 21-28 of the textbook describe how assignments will be evaluated.

Expos Essay/Mid-Term Portfolio (COM1 Outcomes 1-7): The Expos Essay asks you to summarize a scholarly  article, identifying main arguments and key information for a public audience. We call these pieces “Expos” (pronounced /ek' spōz/) because they are written in the tradition of expository writing, which provides readers with research findings in order to inform and educate. Expository writing is found in many academic contexts, including our student journal, Inside English 1010, and popular news publications that run feature stories on cutting edge scholarship for general academic audiences. (~1,000 words + sidebars)

Researched Argument (COM1 Outcomes 1-6): The Researched Argument begins with your own curiosities about an issue or a problem, proceeds through a research process, and results in you working to persuade your readers to consider your position on the issue or problem. Your instructor will help you identify appropriate issues and develop an academic research question, but in the end the focus will be up to you. What is important is that you invest in the issue you research, and that you allow your writing to be a genuine process of inquiry and learning. (1,750-2,000 words + Works Cited; also requires Abstract and Annotated Bibliography)

Opposite Editorial (COM1 Outcomes 1-7): The Opposite Editorial (Op-Ed) is a civic genre that has different expectations than academic writing. Engaged citizens write Op-Eds for the general public in order to share their viewpoints with the community. In general, Op-Eds educate readers about an issue beyond how the media may already be covering it, and to persuade readers to consider the author’s point of view. (~1,000 words + sidebars)

Panel Presentation (Outcomes 3, 5, 7): As you are revising the other major projects for your final portfolio, you will prepare a video presentation about your final researched argument. In the presentation, you will state your main thesis and offer a summary of your supporting points. Your video will be posted to a group discussion, where some of your peers have also posted their presentations. You'll watch your peers' videos and offer comments or feedback that can be useful as they finalize their RA revisions. 

Final Portfolio: At the end of the term, you’ll submit revised, polished versions of your Researched Argument and either your Expos Essay or Op-Ed in a final portfolio, along with a Cover Letter narrating your revision choices and growth as a writer over the term. Revisions are mandatory and should take into account feedback given by your instructor to your previous drafts. (2,750< base text words plus info like sidebars, Works Cited)

Please note that all three major assignments--the Expos, the Researched Argument, and the Op-Ed--are required and must be turned in as drafts for instructor feedback in order to be included in the final portfolio. In other words, you must submit all major assignments in order to pass the course. A student who skips a major assignment--such as the op-ed, for example--will receive an F in the class regardless of final average.

Grading Scale

This course does not offer extra credit. The course also has a strict attendance policy (see above).

Product Elements     Weight
Mid-Term Portfolio Expos + Cover Letter  10%
Final Portfolio Revised RA + either Revised Expos or Revised Op-ed + Cover Letter 60%
Presentation Class presentations on either Researched Argument or Op-Ed 8%
Participation  Various homework, drafts, class activities, peer reviews, etc.  22%

Final portfolios showing no effort at revision may be substantially penalized. Final grades are based on percent of points earned: >90% = A, 80-89% = B, 79-70% = C, 69-60% = D, <60% = F.

The College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) has a clear and specific policy regarding grade appeals, found here: www.uwyo.edu/as/student-appeals/index.html. Please review these carefully.

Additional Policies

Please turn to our textbook, Writing @7200 Feet, second edition for additional classroom policies on pp. 11-16. While you’re there, please also read the Frequently Asked Questions about our portfolios and the grading process, on pp. 17-20.

The following policies are now included in our WyoCourse Spaces:

  • Under Classroom Climate & Conduct, find policies on
    • Classroom Behavior
    • Statement on Diversity
    • Academic Dishonesty
    • Duty to Report
  • Under Learning Tools, find policies on
    • Substantive Changes to the Syllabus
    • Disability Support
    • Student Resources

While you will be shown the location of these policies during the first week of classes, it is your responsibility to read and understand them. If you have questions about the policies, please email the Director of First Year Writing, Dr. Nancy Small (nancy.small@uwyo.edu).

Schedule Overview

The instructor may make changes to the syllabus as the course proceeds.  If necessary, these changes will be announced in class.  Substantive changes made to the syllabus shall be communicated in writing to the students.

Week # 

Topics and Tasks

Notes & Major Deadlines

Week 1/Aug 24

Getting Oriented & Started in English 1010

[See modules for weekly activities]

Week 2/Aug 31

Introducing the Expos & Annotation Strategies

 

Week 3/Sep 7

Developing Expos Assignment Content

 

Week 4/Sep 14

Crafting Expos Structure & Conventions

Full draft Expos for peer review due 9/18

Week 5/Sep 21

Mid-Term Portfolio due 9/25

Week 6/Sep 28

 Choosing Researched Argument Topics

 

Week 7/Oct 5

Locating & Tracking RA Sources

 

Week 8/Oct 12

Generating an Abstract & Annotated Bib

A.Bib/Abstract due 10/14

Week 9/Oct 19

Outlining & Synthesizing an Argument

 

Week 10/Oct 26

Revising & Submitting RA

Full draft RA for peer review 10/26
Researched Argument due 10/30

Week 11/Nov 2

Planning & Drafting the Op-Ed

 

Week 12/Nov 9

Revising, Reviewing, & Submitting the Op-Ed

 

Week 13/Nov 16

 Planning for Revision & Presentation Panels

Op-Ed due 11/20

Week 14/Nov 23

Presenting, Responding, Continued Revising 

Presentations posted by 11/23

Week 15/Nov 30

Wrapping Up & Submitting Final Portfolio

Presentation responses due by 11/30
Final Portfolios due 12/4

No final exam.
Submitting the final portfolio marks the end of our course.

Don’t forget to submit your work to Inside English 1010
(email to uwyo.english1010@gmail.com)