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Contact Information

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Prof Pat Swenson

Sierra Tower 812

Phone: 818.677.3410

Office Hours: Tuesday 12:30pm-1:30pm

Campus Email: pat.swenson@csun.edu

ProfPat's Main Page

ProfPat's Education Links

Please "like" my new book on Facebook!



Course Links


Course Assignments

Two Major Essays

First drafts need to be posted in your Moodle small group forum for peer feedback (see Peer Workshop Guidelines). Second and third drafts need to be posted on our Turnitin page.

WPE Practice Exams

Please post your exams in our Moodle whole-class WPE forums by the due dates listed in the schedule. Only one draft is required.

Our Book & Films

Please post these assignments on our Turnitin page by the due dates listed in the schedule. Only one draft is required. NOTE: In addition to the below assignments, you will be required to post an analysis for our book and our two films in a Moodle whole-class forum.

Essays About Writing

Post the Writing Self-Audit in Moodle by the end of week one. The Writing Process Essay post is due the last week of class! Only one draft is required. Please post in Moodle.

Response to the Peer Workshop questions need to be posted in your small group Moodle workshop forum for all three workshops.

Lectures & Readings

For our four readings, you will be required to post a response in a Moodle whole-class forum:

Required Materials

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INTO THE WILD (Book)
by Jon Krakauer

Online Nature Readings
(see links in schedule)

AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH
a film by Al Gore

CAST AWAY
a Tom Hanks film


Course Policies

Late Work

Please post your responses by the due dates in our schedule. Since this online class is "time arranged," you may post your work early, but remember to re-visit the whole-class forums to read/respond to your peers. Please note that late posts will be marked down one full grade per week. You will not receive credit for assignments posted more than 3 weeks late.

Grading

Your final grade is based on the quality and completeness of all written assignments, your effort to improve your writing, forum participation and workshops.

1. Two Major Essays
Workshops & Drafts: 30%

2. Analyses of Readings: 10%

3. Into the Wild Analysis: 15%

4. Analyses of our Two Films: 30%

5. WPE Practice Exams, Self-Audit, Process Essay: 15%

NOTE: Whole-class forum postings will be graded 'A' for effort and thoughtfulness. Please leave yourself enough time to read and respond to your peers. You will receive a letter grade for each assignment posted on our Turnitin page (except for 2nd drafts of Major Papers 1 & 2). Note that each Whole-Class Forum has its own question and posting instructions - please click on the discussion link listed on our Moodle page. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me.

Academic Dishonesty

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.

Please adhere to the CSUN Student Conduct Code for all course activities, including email, forum and chat discussions, and written and oral analyses.


Accessibility

It is the policy of the CSU to make information technology resources and services accessible to all CSU students, faculty, staff and the general public regardless of disability. The California State University System is undertaking an unprecedented and coordinated effort to bring the CSU into compliance with federal and state laws pertaining to the Americans with Disabilities Act. Under Section 508, agencies must give disabled employees and members of the public access to information that is comparable to the access available to others.

Students concerned with accessibility to digital course materials should contact the Center on Disabilities (COD) for assistance.

Course Description & Requirements

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English 305OL - Intermediate Expository Writing - Spring 2013

Course Number: 13608

Online - Time Arranged

Course Prerequisites:

Completion of the lower-division writing requirement. Not allowed for credit in the English major and minor.


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.

Students from other CSU Campuses who wish to enroll, must submit the Concurrent Enrollment Form to their home Campus. Anyone in the world may take the Online Courses through CSUN's Open University!


Student Learning Objectives

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:

1. Discovering your own "voice."

2. Developing a variety of writing styles.

3. Developing a sensitivity to the impact of language.

4. Improving your ability to use appropriate research methods and materials.

5. Improving skills in standard written English.

6. Developing Computer & Internet Competency.

7. Developing an understanding and appreciation of Nature!


Course Requirements

Welcome to English 305OL, an intermediate course in expository writing available to students who have completed their lower division writing requirement. This course is not available for credit in the English major and minor.

NOTE: This class will NOT meet live; All homework must be completed by midngiht EVERY Saturday. Please disregard the class time listed on the Portal!

During the semester you will be asked to produce a variety of writing, including short written responses to the readings, multiple drafts of two major essays, an analytical essay on your writing process, practice WPE exams, a written response to our book, and written responses to our films.

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 Moodle forum or you will be asked to post on our Turnitin page. For our two films and one book, you will be asked to post in a Moodle forum and on our Turnitin page. You will receive a letter grade for each assignment posted on Turnitin.

Whole-class forum postings will be graded 'A' for 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.

NOTE: The class will also be divided into PERMANENT SMALL GROUPS for the purpose of our two workshops. You may use these forums to communicate with your groupmates throughout the semester. If you wish to work with a particular person(s) please let me know by the end of the first class session.


Assignments that need to be posted on Turnitin:

*** 2nd Drafts of Two Expository Essays

*** 3rd Drafts of Two Expository Essays

*** Into the Wild Analysis

*** Cast Away Analysis

*** An Inconvient Truth Analysis


Technical Requirements

Students will need to have access to the Internet - either Microsoft Explorer, Firefox, Google Chrome, or Safari - and an active CSUN email account to access the Moodle 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 Moodle 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. Moodle requires access to cookies and will not allow a successful log-in until and unless your web browser has them enabled.

Instructions will be provided for all computer activities; you may visit CSUN's IT for Students site for information on technical requirements and applications. CSUN also provides information on computer resources and availability. Please be familiar with CSUN's online applications, particularly Moodle, prior to our first meeting.