Advanced Composition, Fall 2011


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Policies
last update: August 21, 2011

 

Course and Instructor Information
English 3130 Advanced Composition, sec. 201, W 5:30-8:20pm, Burleson 303

Instructor: Dr. Kevin O'Donnell, http://faculty.etsu.edu/odonnell/, odonnell@etsu.edu 423 439-6679
Office: Burleson Hall 313

Fall 2011 Office Hours:  TR 11:15-12:30 and 2:15-3:30; W 12-2

 

Course Texts

- American Society of Magazine Editors, ed.  The Best American Magazine Writing 2010.  Columbia U Press, 2010.  $16.95.  ISBN: 0231157533

- Michael Harvey.  The Nuts and Bolts of College Writing.  Hackett Pub Co, 2003.  ISBN: 0872205738  $4.95

- Recommended, not required:  Sherry Ellis.  Now Write! Nonfiction: Memoir, Journalism and Creative Nonfiction Exercises from Today's Best Writers.  Tarcher, 2009.  $14.95.  ISBN: 1585427586

- A grammar handbook of your choice  

- A 9.75x7.5-inch, stitch-bound composition notebook with 100 sheets

 

Five Major Essays
Essay 1: Narrative/ Personal Experience
Essay 2: Tech Writing ("How-to"-- Expository/ Explanatory)
Essay 3: Review / Criticism
Essay 4: Academic Writing--Writing from Sources
Essay 5: Writing in the nonfiction genre of your choice

Final Grade Breakdown

1.  Five major essays of 1250-2000 wds each (the lowest grade, excluding Fs, will be dropped):  40%
2.  Best essay, revised for the web:  20% 

3.  Composition notebook:  15% 
4.  Miscellaneous short memos (proposals, Wikipedia exercise, etc.):  10%
5.  Participation in writing groups, class discussion: 10%

6.  Final exam:  5% 

 

Attendance, Due Dates
Attendance: The official English department attendance policy says that if you have more than 3 absences you fail the course.

Due Dates:  I do not accept late work.