Engl 1010 Critical Reading and Expository Writing, sec 5, O'Donnell, Fall 2019


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Policies
last update: August 8, 2019

 

Course and Instructor 
English 1010 Critical Reading and Expository Writing, section 5

MWF 10:25-11:20am Burleson Hall 304

Instructor: Dr. Kevin O'Donnell, faculty.etsu.edu/odonnell/

odonnell@etsu.edu 423 439-6679 
Office: Burleson Hall 313 -- Fall 2019 Office Hours: Mon and Weds 3:10-4pm; Tues 12:45-3:35pm

 

Final Grade Breakdown

1. Best 4 of 5 major essays (the lowest of the 5 grades will be dropped, excluding Fs): 40% 
2. Best essay, further revised for the web: 20% 

3. Participation in 5 draft workshops, over the course of the semester: 10%

4. Reading quizzes: 10%

5. Miscellaneous, ungraded short memos and other writings (including in-class writing practice; topic proposals; revision plans; etc): 10% 
6. Final exam: 10% 

 

Five Major Essays (900-1500 words--3-5 pages--each)
1. Narrative based on first-hand experience
2. How-to (tech writing)

3. Review/ criticism 
4. Op-ed/ viewpoint

5. Writing in the nonfiction genre of your choice (travel writing, sports writing, food writing, etc)

 

Internet Access / Printing / Required Handbook

We are not using a conventional textbook for this course. Instead, we'll be reading texts that are on the web, including 1) award-winning magazine writing; 2) essays by ETSU students; and 3) textbook chapters from a so-called "open access textbook." (See the course calendar for reading assignments.) You will be required to print some of this material. So you need easy access to the internet, and access to a printer, toner, and paper, in order to thrive in this class.

 

In addition, I do require you to buy a grammar handbook. Any standard U.S. grammar handbook published within the past 10 years or so will do. I recommend the good ol' Hodges Harbrace handbook. Used copies of older editions are available at Mr. K's bookstore, in Johnson City, or many places online, including at abebooks.com.

 

All the writing that you submit for this class must be typed, double-spaced, and machine-printed in a legible font.

 

Attendance, Due Dates 
Attendance: I will strive to make the classes worth your while, so try to not to miss. The Department of Literature and Language policy: more than 9 absences and you fail the course. In addition, my individual policy is that, if you miss anywhere between 4 and 8 classes, I reserve the option to lower your final grade up to one full letter grade.

Due Dates: I do not accept late work. If you must miss class on a day when a draft or essay is due, email your assignment, before class time, as an attachment to odonnell@etsu.edu. Then also bring a hard copy to the following class period.