** Any revisions to this syllabus will be posted on Canvas. ** Students must visit Canvas regularly and be sure to check their account settings to allow announcements to be received from Canvas.  All announcements posted on Canvas are officially binding for all students, whether they check Canvas or not. Students are also responsible for all information posted on Canvas, including, but not limited to, the participation policy and the plagiarism policy.

August/September

October

November

December

Required Texts:

• Bullock, et al., The Little Seagull Handbook, 5th Edition (LSH) [available in the bookstore and for electronic access in Canvas]
• On-Line Readings as listed below.

Required Technology:
Computer with Camera
Software:

• Microsoft Word (available in Office 365 for Morgan students: Visit http://portal.office.com and enter your MSU email to get it. Office 365 may be installed on personal devices only.)
• All written assignments must be submitted through Canvas in order to receive credit.
• Pdf-reading Software (such as Adobe). Most of the files for the course are presented as pdf's, so reading them will require the proper software.
• Respondus Lockdown Browser: Instructions for the acquisition and use of this software can be found here.
  
• Please email or call me (or come speak with me) as soon as possible if you have any questions or concerns.

We all tend to take our stories seriously, even if we do not write them down.  In this English 101 course, we will learn and practice academic writing by using stories as a foundation for the academic writing process.  We will read texts from literature and popular culture that involve and use as examples some of the kinds of stories that writers like our group might tell.  Using these readings as text and as example, we will study and practice expository writing, using the stories we have read, and the stories we know from our own lives. 

This course will engage students in identifying how their stories relate to academic disciplines, and will encourage students to match their interests and experiences to disciplines, while developing communication and writing skills.

Course Requirements:
 
Attendance/Participation. Because writing can be a troublesome task, it is useful to discuss it with other people who may be having similar problems or who may have helpful advice to share. Because of the importance of regular attendance, excessive (6 or more) unexcused class absences will result in a failing grade for the course. Excessive lates will also lower your grade. Be sure to check your attendance records in Navigate 360 regularly and contact your professor with any questions. Further, students will be expected to participate in class discussions.

• Late homework assignments will receive half credit.
• All homework assignments must be typed and submitted on Canvas in order to receive credit.

• Students are responsible for all assignments, even if they are absent.
• Initial Papers are due and must be submitted on Canvas by the beginning of class on the due date.
  
• Final Papers are due and must be submitted on Canvas by the end of business on the due date.
• Late Final papers will lose 2/3 of a letter grade for each class day.
• ** Plagiarism on any assignment will have dire consequences. **
• Please familiarize yourself with the plagiarism policy and let Dr. Mekler know if anything is unclear.

• Because of the importance of these conferences, attendance is mandatory.
• Unexcused absences from a conference will be considered the same as an unexcused absence from a regular class.
  
• Forgetting that you had a previously scheduled commitment does not constitute an excuse.
  
• Students are also certainly invited to meet with me outside of class to address needs and concerns.
  

American with Disabilities Act

• If you require an accommodation due to a disability, please contact the Office of Student Disability Support Services (SDSS) to register.  More information regarding the intake procedure can be found on the SDSS website: http://www.morgan.edu/SDSS

Grading:

Attendance/Participation Peer Editing Homework  Grammar Examination Essays Final Examination

5% 5% 10 % 10 % 50 % 25 %

A: 90-100 B: 80-89 C: 70-79 D: 60-69 F: 0-59

• In addition to a few extra points provided in different places in the course, there is also a set of Grammar Review Exercises available in the Quizzes folder in Canvas. Completing those exercises can allow students to earn up to three (3) extra points on their final average (in addition, hopefully, to improving their writing as well).
  

Aug	27	Course Introduction Before Friday: View the departmental syllabus and submit a receipt form. Read the Memorandum of Understanding and submit an acknowledgement form.
	29	Reading Assignment Due: Contexts: LSH: W-1 and W-2, pp. 1-8
Sept	1	** Labor Day: No Class **
	3	Reading Assignment Due: LSH: Personal Narrative, W11, pp. 77-82
	5	Writing Sample
	8	Homework Assignment Due: Upload "Personal Narrative Example" (song, book, etc.. that tells a story to which you can relate) Grammar Review Exercise
	9	Last Day to Drop Classes with Grade of "W"
	10	Discussion of Sample Writing Samples
	12	Discussion of Grammar Review Exercise
	15	Walker, "Everyday Use" Submit Responses to Homework Q's
	17	Fragments, Comma Splices, and Fused Sentences: LSH: pp. 319-31, 368-73
	19	Four Principles of Writing Writing Processes: LSH: W4, pp. 18-30
	22	Verbs: LSH: pp. 373-85 Corrected Grammar Review Exercise Due
	24	Discussion of Paper One (Personal Narrative Essay): Outlines Argument, LSH: W9, pp. 58-67 Exploration of Subject Assignment Due
	26	Agreement and Pronouns: LSH: E2, pp. 331-41; S5-S6, pp. 385-97, 437-41 Complete Exercise 2 on pge. 375 Complete Exercise S-6b on pge. 377
	29	Developing Paragraphs: LSH: W6, pp.35-45 Paper One Outline Due "Peer Editing Session"
Oct	1	Discussion of Sample Paper One Parallelism, Coordination, Subordination: LSH: S7-S8, pp. 397-401 Complete Exercise S-7 on pge. 380
	3	Paper One Due "Peer Editing Session"
	6	Conferences: No Class
	8	Conferences: No Class
	10	Frederick Douglass, "Learning to Read and Write" Complete "For Discussion and Writing" Q's 1-2
	13	Prepositions: LSH: L5, pp. 419-20 Complete Exercise L-5 on pp. 390-91
	15	Malcolm X, "Literacy Behind Bars" Complete "Engaging with the Text" Q's 1-4
	17	Unnecessary Words and Modifiers: LSH: L6, pp. 421-22; L7, pp. 422-26 Complete Exercise L-6 on pge. 391 Complete Exercise L-7c on pp. 395-96 Revised Paper One Due
	20	Walker, "In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens"
	22	Punctuation: LSH: P1-P6, pp. 451-72 Complete Exercise P-1a-b on pge. 404 Complete Exercise P-1j on pge. 408
	24	Punctuation, cont. Brief Grammar Review Deadline to submit corrected Grammar Review Exercise
	27	Rhetorical Analysis: LSH: W10, pp. 68-76 Discussion of Essay Two (Rhetorical Analysis Essay)
	29	Grammar Examination
	31	Discussion of Paper Two Read Sample Outline and Essay
Nov	3	Paper Two Due "Peer Editing Session"
	5	Discussion of Student Sample Essay Two Last Day to Drop Classes
	7	Conferences: No Class
	10	Conferences: No Class
	12	Literary Analysis: LSH: W13, pp. 91-99 Dunbar, "Sympathy" Submit responses to Discussion Questions Deadline to Submit Corrected Grammar Examination
	14	Angelou, from I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, pp.1-9 Submit responses to Discussion Questions Revised Paper Two Due
	17	Sample Essay Three: Option One Reading Complete an Editing Sheet  and submit it before class.
	19	Discussion of TV News and the Civil Rights Struggle
	21	Discussion of Paper Three: Option Two ** No Class, but complete assignment **
	24	Sample Essay: Option Two Reading
	26	Wellness Day: No Class
	28	Thanksgiving Break-No Class
Dec	1	Paper Three (Literary Analysis or Media Analysis) Due "Peer Editing Session"
	3	Discussion of Paper Three, cont.
	5	Discussion of Paper Three, cont.
	8	Discussion of Paper Three, cont.
	10	Final Exam Review Revised Paper Three Due Last Day to Submit Assignments or Excuses for Absences/Lates
	12	Final Exam