ENG 201-011, Spring 2010
Advanced Composition
Instructor: Dr. Nicholas Laudadio
Teaching Assistant: Marialena Dibenigno

COURSE INFORMATION
COURSE SCHEDULE

Course Information
Prerequisite: ENG 101 and sophomore standing. College-level writing and reading, including continued practice in the composing process, with emphasis on argumentation and research. Frequent projects in gathering, analyzing, synthesizing and documenting information from sources.

From the English Department handbook: "The goal of English 201 is to facilitate the transition from writing and reading based on personal experience to writing and reading for the variety of academic purposes students will encounter at UNCW. Involved in that transition is the gradual acquisition of the conventions of academic writing, such as an inquiring, balanced, informed voice and a tolerant intellectual stance. More specifically, academic writing normally demands the following:
• familiarizing oneself with a body of facts, interpretations, or opinions about a given topic;
• articulating questions that can be examined profitably through research;
• surveying and assessing conflicting facts, interpretations, or opinions;
• adopting and supporting a position, while also remaining tolerant toward conflicting points-of-view and acknowledging their appeal.
While these proficiencies cannot be taught and mastered over a single semester of study-indeed they require attention in all courses at all levels of instruction--the following sequence of assignments is designed to initiate the long-term process of learning to write and read for academic purposes."

Required Texts
• Bartholomae, David and Anthony Petrosky, eds. Ways of Reading: An Anthology for Writers. Eighth Edition. Bedford/St. Martin's, 2008.
• Readings, images, and films accessable through the online course schedule.

Supplies
• Notepad and writing instrument with which to take notes in class. As in your reading, I expect you to take notes during class on relevant concepts and secondary recommendations (we tend to throw a lot of terms around during discussion: theorists, titles, authors, and artists' names and I expect you to write some of them them down).
• A printed copy of the day's online readings (with notes), or a digital copy on a laptop/netbook/tablet.
• USB key on which you keep every last thing you write for class (keep it on you at all times).
NB: Always save repeatedly and backup regularly as important documents have a tendency to disappear and crashes/losses are not an acceptable excuse for late/missing assignments.

Film Screenings
You will be watching two films in this class on the campus streaming media server TealVision--direct links are on in the schedule, but the main login in is available at https://appserv02.uncw.edu/tealvision/login.aspx. However you watch the film, realize that you (as with the readings) MUST WATCH THE FILM BY THE DATE IT IS LISTED ON THE SYLLABUS, NOT AFTER.

Class Requirements and Assignments
• You will be required to prepare reading/research notes (see below), an annotated bibliography, complete a close reading assignment, write three longer essays, participate in class discussions, and attend class regularly (see attendance policy below).
• All assignments should be sent to laudadion@uncw.edu--responses in the body of an email, essays as Microsoft Word .doc files.
• I do not guarantee acceptance of late assignments without notification before the due date. When accepted, all late assignments will be reduced by one-third of a grade per class day. (Absence from class on the date due (as well as computer problems) does not excuse the lateness of your assignment.)
• Regarding the above requirements: no exceptions without my verbal/written consent.

Reading/Research Notes
This semester you will be required to submit 500 word responses to the readings and they will be due by 12 am, the day of class. They will usually be direct responses to questions asked in the text, and I want them to be focused and inquisitive, formal but not rigid (we'll go over this in class).

Breakdown of Grades
Two longer essays: (30%), Three shorter essays (30%), Ten responses: (30%)
Participation: includes group work, quizzes, class participation, attendance, and general attitude (10%)
In-Class Grades: A 95; A/A- 93; A- 91; A-/B+ 89; B+ 88; B+/B 87; B 85; B/B- 83; B- 81; B-/C+ 79
C+ 78; C+/C 77; C 75; C/C- 73; C- 71; C-/D+ 69; D+ 68; D+/D 67; D 65; D/D- 63; D- 60; F 59 -
Final Reporting Grades: A 94-; A- 90-93; B+ 87-89; B 84-86; B- 80-83; C+ 77-79; C 74-76; C- 70-73; D+ 67-69; D 64-66; D- 60-63; F 59 -

What the Grades Mean*
A: An A paper is a superior one that not only addresses the assignment carefully and thoughtfully, but also goes beyond it to say something confident and original. It is also marked by excellent stylistic choices: the introduction is engaging, the transitions are artful, the sentence structures are varied and mature, the diction is appropriate and highly specific, and the tone appropriately addresses the audience. MLA format is followed accurately. Overall, by using college-level writing and critical thinking skills, the A paper reflects a confident and insicive voice participating in a larger conversation.
B: A B paper is a good paper that addresses the assignment carefully and thoughtfully. It is significantly more than competent, almost free of mechanical errors, gives the reader substantial information both in quality and interest, and uses satisfactory MLA format when needed. College-level writing, and thinking will be evident; specific points are appropriately arranged, well-developed, and unified around a clear thesis. The paper may contain a few minor mechanical errors or awkward spots. In addition, the B paper may also display: an active and engaging introduction, a developed conclusion that closes the paper thematically by relating back to the beginning, smooth paragraph transitions, and varied sentence patterns. Overall, the B paper exceeds the minimum paper requirements.
C: A C paper is a satisfactory paper that addresses the assignment acceptably. It is generally competent and readable despite mechanical errors, has reasonable organization and development, uses a thesis statement effectively, and uses MLA format when needed. This paper may contain minor errors in style, tone, mechanics, or organization; or this paper may be a B paper except for a major flaw. In addition, the C paper may have an uninteresting opening paragraph, truncated conclusion, missing or sloppy paragraph transitions, or monotonous sentence patterns. Overall, the C paper does an average job at meeting the assignment criteria.
D: A D paper is a below-average paper that rudimentarily addresses the assignment. The paper's organization may be neither clear nor effective, while sentences maybe be awkward, ambiguous, and marred by many mechanical errors. Evidence of careful proofreading cannot be found, and although MLA may have been attempted, the format is not acceptable. Overall, the D paper lacks a thesis statement, and it gives the impression of having been conceived and written in haste.
F: An F paper is an unacceptable paper on the grounds that its treatment of the subject is superficial, it lacks discernible organization, and its prose is garbled and hampered by major stylistic problems. This paper may be confusing or characterized by unacceptable organization, mechanical errors, factual errors, or overall treatment of the assignment. No attempt at MLA format has been made. Overall, the F paper falls far short of what is acceptable college writing.
* These descriptions are adapted from Prof. Mike McGuire's composition syllabus located at http://www.writing101.net/student_resources/COM101-021-syllabus-FA04.pdf.

Attendance
You are allowed to miss two classes before you are penalized. Use these wisely (i.e. save them for when you are really sick). After three missed classes, your participation grade drops a level. After four missed classes, your final grade drops by a third. After five missed classes, you will receive a failing grade. The class depends upon your presence and you CAN and WILL fail if you do not show up.
• If you miss more than one class, you must contact me in person; otherwise, I will assume you have dropped the class.
• Do not schedule meetings with your advisor, doctor’s appointments or anything else during this class time. (Having a doctor’s note does not gain you a “free” absence.)
• Don’t leave class early.

Lateness
Don't be late. I lock the door (and lateness counts as a partial absence).

Incompletes
The incomplete grade may be given only to students who have 1) fulfilled the attendance requirement for the course and 2) completed all but one of the written assignments.

Email
As email is one of the primary modes of communication outside of the classroom, you must pay close attention to your spelling, grammar, and tone when writing your professors and TAs. I treat each email as an extension of classroom discussion (therefore part of your participation grade) as well as an example of your writing. So please, restrain your LOLs, BTWs, and HEY THEREs (here is a useful blog post on this very subject: http://mleddy.blogspot.com/2005/01/how-to-e-mail-professor.html).
Also, as I get many emails in a day, I encourage you reserve email for attendence updates, clarification of expectations, and specific questions about assignments. Reserve your more general questions, suggestions, and curiosities for office hours and during/after class.

Writer’s Block
Feel free to stop in during office hours for any reason; as paper time draws near, you’ll probably want to schedule an appointment if you’re in need of additional feedback. Please do not wait until the last minute to do so; I cannot (as you can probably imagine) schedule time for very many students two days before the deadline. If you need additional assistance on your paper draft beyond this meeting, please seek out the Writing Place; the staff are there to provide feedback on papers. (Please keep in mind, however, that merely having someone on the staff read your paper does not ensure you a higher grade. http://www.uncw.edu/stuaff/writingplace/ 962-7155 (appointments are recommended) Hours: M-Th 10-9; Friday 10-3; Sun 6 p.m.-9 p.m.

Academic Integrity
All students enrolled at UNCW are subject to the UNCW Student Academic Honor Code (hereafter referred to as the Honor Code), which is intended to help every member of the UNCW community appreciate the high value placed on academic integrity and the means that will be employed to ensure its preservation. Students are expected to perpetuate a campus culture where each student does his or her own work while relying on appropriate resources for assistance. In such a climate students enjoy a special trust that they are members of a unique community where one’s thoughts and words are attributed correctly and with proper ownership, and where there is little need for systems to sanction those who cheat.  As such, all UNCW students shall commit to the principles and spirit of the Honor Code by adhering to the following pledge:
“As a student at The University of North Carolina Wilmington, I am committed to honesty and truthfulness in academic inquiry and in the pursuit of knowledge. 
I pledge to uphold and promote the UNCW Student Academic Honor Code.”
Academic dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated in this class.  Please be especially familiar with UNCW’s position on plagiarism as outlined in the Honor Code:
Plagiarism is the copying of language, phrasing, structure, or specific ideas of another and presenting any of these as one’s own work, including information found on the Internet.  Common examples of plagiarism include but are not limited to:
• Reproducing someone else’s work without quotation marks or proper attribution and submitting it as your own.
• Paraphrasing or summarizing another’s work without attribution or acknowledgement of the source and submitting it as your own.
• Deliberate attribution to a source from which the referenced material was not in fact derived.
• Failing to cite a source for ideas or information.
You’ll find the Honor Code posted at http://www.uncw.edu/stuaff/doso/

Students with Disabilities
Students with diagnosed disabilities should contact the Office of Disability Services (962-7555).  Please give me a copy of the letter you receive from Office of Disability Services detailing class accommodations you may need.  If you require accommodation for test-taking or for other assignments, please make sure I have the referral letter no less than three days before the test or due date.

Violence and Harassment
UNCW practices a zero tolerance policy for any kind of violent or harassing behavior.  If you are experiencing an emergency of this type contact the police at 911 or UNCW CARE at 962-2273.  Resources for individuals concerned with a violent or harassing situation can be located at http://www.uncw.edu/wsrc/crisis.html.

Use of Electronic Devices
Please disable all of your phone's more vocal functions: rings, tones, songs, loops, beats, vibrations... An easy way to accomplish this is to turn it off. Whatever you do, just make it quiet (and don't text during class). Laptops may be used in this class, provided their use is confined to class activities and related research--keep the screen down when we're talking, lift it when you are note-taking or researching.