ENWR 101 / Section 6

Syllabus

Fall 1995

University of Virginia


Office Hours and How to Contact Me

My office is located in Bryan Hall, room 140. I will hold office hours on both Monday and Thursday mornings, from 9:15 to 10:45. If you cannot come at those times because of conflicts with another class (not because you don't get out of bed that early) I'll schedule an appointment with you for a different day/time. You can always get in touch with me quickly through e-mail at mgk3k@virginia.edu. You can also leave notes for me in my box in the English Department's main office (Bryan 219), or, if you need to, call me at home: 977-9987.

Required Texts

All the books are available at the University Bookstore (behind Newcomb Hall); used copies of any of them are fine, so long as they are the correct edition. Also, if you don't already have one, you should take this opportunity to obtain a good desk dictionary (Webster's, American Heritage or Random House).

Computer Disks and Electronic Mail

As noted above, each of you must have at least two disks set aside for your work in this class. All of your writing for me--papers and anything else--should be stored on these disks, in duplicate copies. Use one disk for the original material, and one for a backup. Bring these disks with you to class every day. If you do not have them with you when you need them, I will consider you unprepared for class and mark you absent.

Each of you should also have or will soon have an account on one of the University's UNIX computers. This account includes access to electronic mail. I will be using e-mail to send announcements, comments on your papers, and other information to you on a regular basis. Get into the habit of checking your e-mail once a day, even if this seems excessive at first. You will be held responsible for the contents of all e-mail messages 24 hours after they have been posted.

Assignments

Assignments for the course consist of four essays, and a paper for the class's final project. Each of the first four essays will be written in both an initial (or draft) version and in a second (or revised) version. The final project will be drafted, revised, and then revised a second time. You will therefore hand in a total of eleven written items for the semester. For more detailed information, please see Writing Assignments. There will be no mid-term or final exam in this course.

Grades

The following are possible final grades for ENWR 101: A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, or No Credit (NC). If you receive an NC grade, you must repeat the course until you obtain a C or better. The NC will then be removed from your transcript.

I will read your individual essays (both initial and second versions) with attention to four general categories: focus, organization, style and mechanics. In keeping with the English Department's policy for ENWR 101, however, I will not affix specific letter grades to any of your papers. The intent of this policy is not to create mystery and anxiety about your progress, but rather to keep the emphasis of the class on developing your writing instead of on merely boosting your marks. Your degree of success with a particular assignment should always be evident from my comments on the paper. At mid-term I will give you a written evaluation of your work thus far, along with a relative indication of your standing in the class: "high" (A+ to B+), "middle" (B to C+), or "low" (C to No Credit). Finally, you should know that you have the right to come to my office and inquire about your progress in as much detail as vou like at any time during the semester.

Late Papers

All papers are due at the beginning of class. In keeping with departmental policy, however, you will be allowed two late papers--these must be turned in by the beginning of the next class after the original due-date. A third late paper will reduce your semester grade by a whole letter (B+ to C+ for example). Four or more late papers will result in a grade of NC for the course.

Attendance

This class is also a community--as such, you have a responsibility not only to yourselves but to each other. Attendance is therefore mandatory. In keeping with departmental policy, however, you will be allowed two unexcused absences. Every absence after the second will reduce your semester grade by two-thirds of a letter (A- to B for example). Consistent lateness will also be considered as an absence. If special circumstances arise that will be affecting your attendance, please discuss the situation with me immediately.

Workshops, Readings, and Other Activities

On the two days following the submission of every draft, we will conduct the class as a writing "workshop." A workshop is a structured environment during which you will share your writing with other class members, and critique--constructively--one another's work. The specific format will vary, but you can expect to work in both large and small groups, and occasionally individually. Most importantly, you should view the workshop as an opportunity to learn from each other by being prepared to apply discussion of someone else's writing to your own.

Please Note: In order to participate in workshop activities, it is absolutely essential that you have with you the computer disks containing a current copy of your paper. In fact, you should get into the habit of bringing your disks with you to every class. Anyone who does not have them when they are needed will be considered unprepared for class and marked absent.

On the days that we are not workshopping, classes will be devoted to discussing the assigned readings and (occasionally) to brief in-class writings or other activities. Everyone will be held responsible for all the readings and will be expected to participate as we discuss them.

Please Note: Your participation (or lack of participation) in workshops and other class discussions will be factored into your final grade.

Conferences

Each of you must meet with me in my office at least twice for a conference about your work--once before Fall Break and once after. I hope, however, to see you a good deal more often than that, whether you want to pose specific questions about your writing or to discuss any more general concerns. Office hours are your time and you should take advantage of them.

The Writing Center

The Writing Center offers free, individual tutoring to all students at the University, undergraduate and graduate. Located on the third floor of Bryan hall (924-6678), it is open daily Monday through Friday, 9:00-5:00, and evenings Monday through Thursday, 7:00-10:00. Appointments are recommended but not essential. You should utilize this resource as often as you like, in this or any other class.

Save Everything!

You must save all written work from this course; not just drafts and revisions, but also exercises and any other writing we do. Get a folder and start organizing your work this way now so you can hand it in to me at the end of the semester. Failing to do this will make it impossible for me to evaluate your progress for the course. You should also preserve all your work on disk--don't delete older papers as we move on to new assignments. When in doubt, save it!

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Last Modified: September 3, 1995