Prerequisites:
There are no prerequisites for this class, but the ability to type and some familiarity with computers are highly recommended.
Description:
In English 101 students will learn to:
- write papers using processes that include discovering ideas and evidence, organize that material, and revising, editing, and polishing the finished paper;
- think critically so that they can recognize the difference between opinion and evidence and so that they can support an intelligent, challenging thesis;
- read non-fiction critically and write analytically about it;
- address papers to a range of audiences; develop a sense of voice appropriate to the subject, the writer's purpose, the context, and the reader's expectations;
- compose unified, coherent paragraphs that develop topic sentences with detailed support;
- shape effective sentences;
- write correctly following the conventions of standard edited English;
- and document essays using textual evidence.
In addition, this online section of 101 students will develop all the skills described above primarily through the use of electronic media. Most class meetings will take place in an electronic classroom, Virtual Park Hall. Students will also use email and the World Wide Web extensively for class assignments.
Course Materials:
The following texts are required and are available at the University Bookstore (and possibly elsewhere):
- Lunsford and Connors, The St. Martin's Handbook,
3rd ed. (SMH)
- Lunsford and Ruszkiewicz, The Presence of Others: Voices
That Call for Response, 2nd ed. (PO)
- Rottenberg, The Structure of Argument, 2nd ed.
(SA)
- Freshman English at UGA pamphlet. (Also available on-line.)
In addition, students must have an individual email account (free accounts are available on the University ARCHES system; you can set one up from their home page) and will need daily access to a computer with Internet access (see MOO Information for specific hardware and software requirements).
Course Requirements and Grading:
Students will write five papers of 500-1000 words, including one thorough revision of an earlier paper, and a final exam. In addition, daily participation in on-line discussions and completion of other assignments is required.
Final grades will be determined on the following basis (see syllabus for due dates):
| Paper 1: | 05% |
| Paper 2: | 10% |
| Paper 3: | 15% |
| Paper 4: | 15% |
| Paper 5 (revision): | 10% |
| Participation: | 10% |
| Final Exam: | 30% |
Policies:
1. Absences: Because writing skills develop slowly over time, students' regular attendance is essential in freshman English. Consequently it is not advisable to be absent at all during the quarter. On the sixth absence, no matter what the reason, students will be dropped from the course either with a W or a WF before the midpoint of the quarter or with a WF after the midpoint (See p. 45 of the University of Georgia Bulletin for a fuller discussion of this policy).
2. Late Papers: Because of the pace of this course, it is essential that work be turned in on time. Assignments should be turned in at the start of class on the day they are due. Late papers will be penalized ten points per day late unles s an extension has been obtained prior to the due date.
3. Academic Honesty: Dishonesty in the classroom (cheating, plagiarism, etc.) is a serious offense which does a disservice to students, teachers, and the University at large; it will not be tolerated. See the pamphlet A Culture of Honesty for the University's policy on reporting, hearing and prosecuting academic honesty violations (or click here). See also the discussion of plagiarism in the Freshman English handbook (pp. 20-21).
4. Tolerance: This is a discussion-based course, so anything that hinders the free exchange of ideas damages everyone's experience of it. We will, no doubt, encounter differences of interpretation and, perhaps, of values. You are free to disagree, either with me or with each other, but do so in an atmosphere of tolerance and mutual respect. This principle is particularly important in electronic discussions, which are infamous for their degeneration into "flame wars." Be sensitive to the t he impact your words may have on other people, but also be willing to give others the benefit of the doubt before assuming they are being deliberately insensitive.