Syllabus--WR 320
Spring 2002
CRN 34498, 9:00-9:50 MWF, 184 PLC
Instructor: Dr. Susan Fagan
Spring Term Office Hours:
MWF 10:15-11:45 and by Appointment
Office: 529 PLC
Phone: 541-346-3978
Email: sfagan@oregon.uoregon.edu
What You'll Find On This Page
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Course Objective
Although you may not be trained as a writer, writing will be an important part of your professional life. This course is designed to help you improve your ability to write and communicate effectively by examining and practicing the forms, style, and techniques of scientific and technical writing.
Prerequisites
You must be at least a junior and have completed Wr 121 and Wr 122 or Wr 123 or their equivalents to take this course.
Texts
- Lannon, Technical Communications, 8th ed.
- Wr 320 Course Packet
Required Assignments
- Writing six technical documents, from 2 to 12 typed pages each (length varies--see course calendar); giving an oral report; and finishing miscellaneous short assignments.
- Completing assigned reading and topics for discussion.
Attendance
This course is primarily a workshop course. What happens in class cannot be duplicated or summarized for you if you are not there. Therefore, attendance is required. More than three unexcused absences will reduce your final grade (by one full letter grade for each absence over 3). Six absences will result in an automatic failing grade. Being late to class, which is a disruption for everyone, will also affect the final grade; every three "tardies" will count as one unexcused absence.
In general, excused absences are given for illness if the student provides a doctor's note, or for a conflicting University obligation when the student provides a signed request by the appropriate University supervisor. "Double scheduling" of classes (such as weekend workshops) during class time is not considered reason for an excused absence.
Unless an absence is excused for a verifiable reason (see previous paragraph), your instructor will not use office hours to review material missed because of absence.
Writing Mechanics
- All assignments should be typed or printed on
8 1/2 by 11" paper. Do not use ease-erase or onion-skin paper.
Dot-matrix is acceptable if legible (i.e., use a clean, dark
ribbon; readable print style; etc.).
- Unless otherwise specified for a particular
assignment, papers should be double spaced, with at least a
one-inch margin on all sides. Do not use a cover or title sheet,
or a binder or folder (one staple in the upper left hand corner
will suffice). Place your name, date, and the assignment number in
the upper right hand corner of the first page, and your name and
the page number on each succeeding page, also in the upper right
hand corner.
- Use at least a 10-point font or larger. If you
use a 10-point font, make sure it is readable (some are too
small). Check with your instructor if you are not sure.
- First drafts must be submitted with the final
copy of your work.
- Keep a copy of your written work until your
original is returned.
- Assignments must be completed by the beginning
of the designated class period. This policy covers first drafts,
final drafts, reading, and preparation of topics for discussion.
Your success depends on your participation; coming to class
unprepared for the day's activities is like not attending at all.
NOTE: Do not plan to print assignments in the computer
classroom in the few minutes available before class begins. This
time has proved to be not adequate and thus such printing is
disruptive to your instructor and other students.
- Late papers and/or papers without a first
draft will be accepted, read, and commented on, but will not be
graded, nor can late papers be revised and resubmitted to earn a
higher grade (see next two items). However, a late paper with no
grade is better than no paper at all, as a missing assignment will
be averaged into your final grade as a zero, but a late paper will
be noted as having been completed.
- You may revise and resubmit any assignment
except the research report once, if the following conditions have
been met: (1) the first draft was completed for the
scheduled peer review session and the student participated in that
session; (2) the assignment was turned in on time with the
first draft and peer review attached; (3) the student is in
class and receives the paper with the instructor's comments on the
day the assignments are returned; (4) the student prepares
a revision in time for a review conference with the instructor
(usually during office hours); and (5) the student meets
the revision due date (generally within one week--due dates will
be announced in class).
- Revising does not mean simply recopying the
assignment to incorporate grammatical and spelling corrections, or
merely responding to instructor comments, but rethinking,
reorganizing, and rewriting the paper (see Guidelines
for Revision). A higher grade on
revised work, if earned, will be counted in your final grade, but
will not replace the original grade (the two grades will be
averaged).
- Form and content cannot be separated. A
grammatically or mechanically perfect paper will not automatically
receive an A grade, as content, style, and logic will also be
considered. Neither can a grammatically flawed or unprofessionally
prepared paper earn a top grade. In addition, your writing should
improve; the level of work which receives an A at the beginning of
the course might not be A-level work at the end of the
term.
- The final grade will be based primarily on the
writing assignments. Assignments 1, 4, and 5 will count 10% each;
assignment 2, 15%; assignment 3, 20%; and the report (assignment
6) 35%. In addition, class attendance, participation, the oral
report, and overall improvement in writing performance will be
considered.
- All work submitted in this course must be your
own and written exclusively for this course. The use of sources
(ideas, quotations, paraphrases) must be properly documented. If
you use a professional typist to prepare your final copies, you
must instruct the typist not to make any changes in or edit your
work in any way. Please refer to your textbook, pp. 575-578, for a
definition of plagiarism, how to avoid plagiarism, and information
on proper documentation. For the consequences of academic
dishonesty, please refer to the Code
of Student Conduct in the Time Schedule
of Classes. In cases where plagiarism has been clearly
established, the award of an F for the final course grade is the
standard practice of the Composition
Program.
Students who have any questions about what types of behavior constitute academic dishonesty should refer to information provided via the web site of the Office of Student Life. Also illuminating is a definition of plagiarism provided by the Academic Writing Program at Wake Forest University. J. L. McGrath at Paradise Valley CC provides an excellent explanation of how to quote sources correctly to avoid plagiarising. Please see your instructor if you have any questions about using sources.
|
|
- No incompletes will be given in this
course.
Accommodation
Students with a documented disability (physical or learning) which they think may affect their performance in this class should contact the University's Counselor for Students with Disabilities during the first week of the term and request that a letter be sent verifying the disability. They should then meet with their instructor to discuss whatever accommodations may be necessary.
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Last updated 03/25/02