Writing: Theory and Teaching, Spring 2012


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Policies
last update: April 9, 2012

Special!! First Year Composition Teaching Materials

posted April 2012

 

Also, note the final grade policy revision, below. 

 

Course and Instructor Information
English 4057/5057 Writing: Theory and Teaching

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

Spring 2012 Office Hours: TR 10:30-12:30; W 11:30-1:30

 

Course Texts

- American Society of Magazine Editors, ed.  The Best American Magazine Writing 2011.  Columbia U Press, 2011.  $16.95.  ISBN: 0231159404

- Erika Lindemann. A Rhetoric for Writing Teachers (4th edition). Oxford UP, 2001.  $49.95.  ISBN: 0195130456

- Mike Rose. Lives on the Boundary: A Moving Account of the Struggles and Achievements of America's Educationally Underprepared.  Originally published 1989.  Any edition.

- 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

 

Four Essays, 1,000-1,500 Words Each
Essay 1: Narrative/ Personal Experience
Essay 2: Tech Writing ("How-to"-- Expository/ Explanatory)
Essay 3: Academic Writing--Writing from Sources
Essay 4: Writing in Response to the Assignment of Your Choice

 

Final Grade Breakdown

1.  Four essays (see above)--lowest grade, excluding Fs, dropped:  30%
2.  Teaching philosophy, and/or syllabus and course materials for a particular class that you plan to teach:  30%

3.  Miscellaneous ungraded writing assignments (reading responses; informal proposals; Wikipedia exercise, etc.):  10%
4.  Composition notebook:  10% 
5.  Revision of one piece of writing, which you post on the web:  20%

 

(Final grade policy revision: Apr 9, 2012: Note that the initial final grade breakdown included Classroom presentation, which was worth 10% of the final grade.  I've eliminated that assignment, and allotted the 10% grade portion to the final revision, which was formerly worth 10%.  It is now worth 20%. -- Dr. O'Donnell)

 

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:  My general policy is that I do not accept late work. However, if some exceptional circumstance prevents you from meeting a deadline, talk to me individually about the matter.