**This syllabus is a guide to this class this semester. I reserve the right to make
changes/amendments at any time.**
Required Texts:
1.) Ballenger, Bruce. The Curious Researcher. 6th edition. Longman, 2009
2.) Colombo, Cullen, Lisle. Rereading America. 8th edition. Bedford St. Martins 2007.
3.) Stern, Linda. What Every Student Should Know About Avoiding Plagiarism. New
York: Pearson, 2009
4.) Maimon, Peritz, Yancey. A Writers Resource. 3rd edition. McGraw Hill 2009
Class Description: This course is designed to increase your skill as a writer of research
papers. To achieve this goal, you will be working on creating crisp, detailed papers. This
semester, we will be focusing on responding to texts. How do writers engage us? Are
they calling us into conversation? The main goal of this class is the completion of a
research paper that will be due near the end of the semester. To prepare and practice
writing the research paper, smaller papers will be assigned. At the end of the semester,
students will present their papers orally in class. To prepare properly for these goals, all
students must come to class prepared. On writing workshop days, you must bring in a
rough draft of your work. Do not come to class unprepared.
Laptops, cell phones, ipads, etc. are not allowed in class. If you are texting during
class, you will receive a 0 for the day. If you have a bona fide emergency and must
be in contact with family or friends, leave the room and text your message in the
hall. Abuse of this rule will affect your class participation grade.
Class Requirements: Your attendance and participation are integral to this course.
Absences are excused only at my discretion; you must contact me within one hour of
class for your absence to be excused. More than two absences may affect your final
grade.
In addition to writing five short (approx. 2 page) essays, you will be required to write a
research paper (approx. ten pages). The research paper is to be written in MLA format
with supporting quotes from outside sources and a Works Cited page.
All papers are due on the assigned date during class. You must submit a hard copy of
your paper to me during class. The research paper is (absolutely) due in class on the
3rd of May; I will not accept it late.
The printer broke, the dog ate my paper, etc. - Any shorter papers handed in after the
class during which they are due will be considered late. Five points will be deducted from
the papers grade for every class day the paper is late.
Plagiarism in unacceptable.
Assignments:
Week 7
3/5 Tuesday Conferences
3/7 Thursday Conferences
Week 9 (Race)
3/19 Tuesday From Notes on the State of Virginia (Thomas Jefferson)
3/21 Thursday Ballenger, p. 182 p. 185; p.115-116; p. 121- 131
Plagiarism/paraphrasing, p. 145 147, p. 162 -167 Advanced
Searching Martin Luther King, Jr. I Have a Dream Fourth Paper
first submission;
Week 10
3/26 Tuesday Spring Break NO CLASS
3/28 Thursday Spring Break NO CLASS