Nancy A. Taylor , Lecturer
English 305OL PACE -
Wednesdays 8-10pm beginning 3/26/08 and Saturdays (3/29; 4/5; 4/19; 5/3) 12:30-4:30
Spring 2008 Course Syllabus
Course Description and Objectives
Welcome to English 305OL, an intermediate course in expository writing available to students who have completed their lower division writing requirement. This course provides preparation for the Upper Division Writing Proficiency Exam (UDWPE), satisfies the writing requirement in the Liberal Studies major, and provides an additional opportunity for students to review, reassess, and further develop their writing and research skills. Important aims of the course:
- Discovering your own "voice"
- Developing a variety of writing styles
- Developing a sensitivity to the impact of language
- Improving your ability to use appropriate research methods and materials
- Improving skills in standard written English
- Developing Computer & Internet Competency
- Developing an understanding and appreciation of Nature!!!
NOTE: This class will meet LIVE online on the following Saturdays from 12:30-4:30pm: 3/29; 4/5; 4/19; 5/3). Please check your availability BEFORE registering for this course. This is a live discussion-based course, so please plan to be online for the entire class meeting!
Enrollment Procedures
CSUN regularly enrolled students register for online courses in the same manner as they register for any course. If you wish to add the course after the semester begins, you must email the course Professor for a permission number. Drop forms may be put in the relevant faculty on-campus mailbox for signature, after contacting the instructor. Students must email the instructor and receive an acknowledgement to complete the enrollment procedure. Directions will be given by the instructor about how to access the course website and complete the specific enrollment requirements for the course. Students from other CSU Campuses who wish to enroll, must submit the Intrasystem Concurrent Enrollment Form to their home Campus. Anyone in the world may take the Online Courses through CSUN's Open University.
Required Materials
- Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith by Jon Krakauer
- Online Nature Readings (see links in schedule)
- Rent or Purchase of the Al Gore film AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH
Course Requirements
During the semester you will be asked to produce a variety of writing, including short written responses to the readings, multiple drafts of 3 expository essays, an analytical essay on your writing process, and practice WPE exams.
Carefully read each homework assignment -- our week to week schedule will vary. For some papers, you will be required to respond in a whole-class WebCT forum or you will be asked to email a Microsoft WORD document to the Instructor. You will receive a letter grade for each assignment sent to the Instructor via email.
Whole-class forum postings will be graded based on effort and thoughtfulness. Please leave yourself enough time to read and respond to your peers. Note that each Whole-Class Forum has its own question and posting instructions - please click on the threaded discussion link listed on our WebCT page.
NOTE: The class will also be divided into PERMANENT SMALL GROUPS for the purpose of our three workshops. You may use these forums to communicate with your groupmates throughout the semester.
Assignments that need to be emailed to the Instructor in a Word document:
- 2nd Drafts of Three Expository Essays
- 3rd Drafts of One of the Three Expository Essays
Technical Requirements
Students will need to have access to the Internet and an active CSUN email account to access the WebCT system. To activate your CSUN e-mail address or reset its password use the account utility page.
Can't login? If you see the main WebCT login screen repeatedly, despite entering a valid e-mail address and password, then you may need to enable cookies in your web browser's options or preferences area. WebCT requires access to cookies and will not allow a successful log-in until and unless your web browser has them enabled. Since Chat is a Java applet, you should visit the WebCT browser tune-up page to check your computer settings.
Instructions will be provided for all computer activities; you may visit CSUN's Office of Online Instruction site for information on online courses and programs. CSUN also provides information on computer resources and availability. You can access this information 24 hours a day by visiting Student Computing Workshops. You may also attend an on-campus workshop in WebCT Chat, HyperNews, and Email. Please be familiar with CSUN's online applications, particularly WebCT and HyperNews, prior to our first meeting.
NOTE: For chat preparation install Java before using chat!!! Because of a legal dispute between Microsoft and Sun, recent versions of Internet Explorer / Windows do not come bundled with Java, a program that WebCT chat relies on. If you try to use a Java-based program and Java has not been installed on your system, you will see a message indicating that you need to download "JAVA Virtual Machine." You may download and install Java directly from Sun at http://www.java.com/en/index.jsp (click the big yellow Get It Now button on that page). Follow the directions for installation, closing your web browser and/or restarting your system as it suggests. Once Java has been installed you should encounter no further trouble with WebCT chat.
Grading
Your final grade will be based on the quality and completeness of all written assignments, your effort and improvement over the course of the semester, class participation and attendance, and class activities and presentations.
- Three Expository Essay Workshops & Drafts: 65%
- Written Responses & Discussion of Reading Selections: 25%
- Practice WPE exam: 5%
I use +/- grading. All work must be turned in to earn a passing grade.
Plagiarism
According to the CSUN catalogue, plagiarism is the act of “intentionally or knowingly representing the words, ideas, or works of another as one’s own in any academic exercise,” and will result in a failing grade for the assignment. In addition, it may result in a failing grade for the course and disciplinary action on the part of the university. Internet software is available to assist CSUN faculty to scan student writing. ALL student assignments will be scanned for plagiarism.
Attendance and Late Work
Please come to our online discussions on time and prepared! Every absence will lower your overall grade. Should you miss more than one Saturday discussion class (excused or unexcused) you will not be allowed to pass the course. Late papers and threaded discussion posts will be marked down one full grade per week and will adversely affect your overall class grade.
Please feel free to email me at any time and/or arrange a private/small group meeting with me in a chat room. Good luck this semester!