Course Objectives:
Throughout the course, I will press the following concepts:

Texts, Materials, and Expenses:

A NOTE ON TEXTS:
Brenda Daly, author of the optional text, Authoring a Life, will be visiting our class. I would strongly suggest that you read her very fine book, an excerpt of which is in our course packet.

Assignments and Grading:
Because this course is about FORCING you to develop habits of writing that will allow you to become writers, I will FORCE you to research, think through projects, and draft. The breakdown is as follows:

Project 1. Literacy Narrative, research provided. 5+ page draft–25 points. Final paper–25 points.

Project 2. Design a print project. Proposal/bib.–10 points. 5+ page draft–15 points. Final paper–25 points.

Project 3. Design an electronic project. Proposal/bib.–10 points. 5+ page draft–15 points. Final project–25 points.

Drafts:
You receive all the points or none for the draft. You must draft in this class. Don't tell me you don't draft, because I'll just tell you that's because you don't care about writing enough yet. Don't tell me your process doesn't include drafting, because I'll tell you your process needs work. Your draft will not be graded–it will receive extensive feedback for revision. If you have a five page draft on the day its due, you receive the full points. If you don't, you receive no points. This step makes it possible for everyone to pass the class with a C or better. It also makes it possible for pretty good writers to get C's in the class. Be aware that I am tough about this. You MUST draft to do well in the class.

Format for written assignments:
Out-of-class assignments, major and minor, must be typed and must show attention to the needs of your audience (that means the form and format will vary, but they must be appropriate, and usually within the conventional norms for the type of document you're designing). Major projects must be professionally presented–that means how they look, what they're made of, how they are printed, count. I require that you always print a copy of your document for your records. Never hand in your only copy of a document. In addition, have a copy in your computer file and have a copy on a backup disk. This is for your own protection in case of lost projects–these projects take so much time and effort. Though I have yet to lose a student's document, you don't want to be the first.

Attendance:
I have little tolerance for students who don't come to class. If you have something else to do when this class meets, drop this class. It's simply disruptive for the students who want an education to have uninterested, uncommitted students dropping in and out of class needing to be continually brought up to date. Ditto for being late. I take attendance and relay important information in the first five minutes. Be there when class starts. In addition, so much of what we do in this class is collaborative that people are counting on you to be here, to be prepared during class, and also to meet regularly with your group for your projects. Irregular attendance will result in your being dropped from your group and since you cannot pass the class without completing each assignment, you cannot pass the class with irregular attendance. I am not interested in why you are unable to be here; in the case of serious illness or family problems, contact your advisor who will help you obtain excuses for all your classes. After missing more than a week of classes, (total), you will be asked to drop the class.

Due Dates:
Because I advocate a process approach to writing, I expect you to rethink and revise papers and projects throughout the semester. Therefore, I can be flexible on the due dates for major assignments and I will read them as many times as you'd like me to. The projects are large, though, and I don't want you to be scrambling to complete all of them during finals week, so I've included some due dates on the assignment sheets to help you plan your time. The due dates for proposals are open to a little negotiation–just let me know. Drafts are NOT negotiable–we can't have class and I can't give you timely feedback if you do not have a draft ready on the days they are due. Please turn in papers in class or during office hours, and not into my mailbox, or under my door, or anyplace else where they might be misplaced.

Plagiarism:
I assume all the work you turn in will be your own. This doesn't mean that I do not encourage you to collaborate with others in this class, or get input or feedback from other class members or outside sources. But the work you turn in must be yours and must cite secondary sources in a manner consistent with NDSU University Senate policy, Section 335: Code of Academic Responsibility and Conduct. If you are having difficulty citing sources, please talk to me as you turn in a project, so I can provide specific feedback.

Special Needs:
If you have any disabilities or special needs, or need special accommodations in this course, please share your concerns or requests with me as soon as possible.

Brief Syllabus

Unit 1:
Mondays: Drafts
Wednesdays: Reading discussion
Fridays: Speakers

Unit 2:
Mondays:Drafts
Wednesdays: Writing exercises
Fridays: Research/conferencing

Unit 3:
Mondays: exercises
Wednesdays: collaboration
Fridays: Computer lab (EML 377)