UHC/General Writing Practical Matters

Practical Matters for UHC/General Writing

Read the following carefully. This document outlines the basic assumptions and requirements of the course.

Attendance. You are expected to attend all class meetings and to participate in disucussions and workshops. The class discussions are one of the places where you will learn to work with difficulties, often through the discussion of a sample student essay (sometimes yours, sometimes one written by a colleague in class). This is part of the work of the course. If you are not in class, on time, with the books and papers in front of you, you are not doing the work of the course. If for some reason you cannot make a particular class, it is your responsibility to let me know (in advance, if possible), to see that any required work is turned in, and to get copies of handouts.

Assignments. All the readings must be completed on schedule. Difficulty Papers and Triple Entry Journals must be turned in before we begin discussing assigned texts. You must be prepared for class discussion, and must give yourself plenty of time to go back to your DPs and TEJs, and the assigned texts when you are preparing an essay. You will need to write with the book open on your desk. All written work must be turned in on the date due. Late papers cannot become part of class discussion or returned to you promptly for revision. If you do not keep up with the reading and writing, or if you fail to come to class, you are not taking the course. If this is the case, you will either be asked to withdraw or you will be given a failing grade.

Format. All written work must be typewritten or computer printed. I may want to make copies of your writing for class discussion. For this reason, be sure the copy you hand in is clear, easy to read, double-spaced and with ample margins at each side. Put the assignment number, date, and (if appropriate) the title of your essay at the top of the first page. Number the following pages and clip them together. Put your name, the assignment number, and my name on the back of the last page. When you hand in a revised text, include with it any previous drafts of the same assignment. Since you will be revising regularly for this course, you are at a great advantage if you do your work on a word processor, as writing on a computer makes revision and editing much easier and more efficient. (If you are not accustomed to writing on a computer, let this course be your introduction to word processing.)

Editing and the Writing Workshop. All students in General Writing are expected to be able to write "reasonably correct prose." This means that you are responsible for editing and proofreading your own work. I will not serve as your proofreader and will ask you to resubmit any piece that is not proofread and correct. Proofreading is a skill -- and, for everyone, a necessary chore. You will need to learn how to do this work. The Writing Workshop (501 CL) is an excellent resource for learning how to edit and revise. The consultants there can work with you on a one-time basis, or they can supplement your work in this course throughout the term. Their services are free, but you should check or call ahead to make an appointment.

Plagiarism. Be sure to read the departmental handout on plagiarism. If you are drawing on or quoting the work of others (whether they are published authors, fellow students, teachers, or friends, and whether your source is written, published, or spoken), you must acknowledge that you are doing so. In some cases, you may choose simply to write a note of acknowlegement to people who have helped you; at other points you will need to cite your sources more formally. (You should consult the MLA Style Manual.) If you are quoting someone, you must indicate that you are doing so by naming your source, using quotation marks and giving the reference for your citation. If you are summarizing or referring to the work of others, you need to make that clear to your readers in the body of your essay.

Portfolio. You will be asked to turn in a folder containing all the written work you have done for this course at three points during the term. You should also keep handy any notes you have taken on your reading or in class, as well as notes or drafts you used in preparing your essays. You will not receive grades on Difficulty Papers, Triple Entry Journals, and Reflection Papers, but you will receive a grade on the three essays. This grade will be factored into the grade you will receive at each folder review. The first two folder review grades are meant to serve as progress reports. Your final grade will be based on the work presented in the final portfolio.

Schedule. You will have at least one writing assignment every week (with a one week break at the end). You should plan a working schedule that will allow you to keep up with the reading, to write DPs, TEJs, and RPs, and to review (from a distance) what you have written before printing it out and handing it in. Your portfolios will be collected and reviewed in the 5th week, the 10th week, and at the end of the semester.

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	Read the following carefully. This document outlines the basic assumptions and requirements of the course.
	Attendance. You are expected to attend all class meetings and to participate in disucussions and workshops. The class discussions are one of the places where you will learn to work with difficulties, often through the discussion of a sample student essay (sometimes yours, sometimes one written by a colleague in class). This is part of the work of the course. If you are not in class, on time, with the books and papers in front of you, you are not doing the work of the course. If for some reason you cannot make a particular class, it is your responsibility to let me know (in advance, if possible), to see that any required work is turned in, and to get copies of handouts. Assignments. All the readings must be completed on schedule. Difficulty Papers and Triple Entry Journals must be turned in before we begin discussing assigned texts. You must be prepared for class discussion, and must give yourself plenty of time to go back to your DPs and TEJs, and the assigned texts when you are preparing an essay. You will need to write with the book open on your desk. All written work must be turned in on the date due. Late papers cannot become part of class discussion or returned to you promptly for revision. If you do not keep up with the reading and writing, or if you fail to come to class, you are not taking the course. If this is the case, you will either be asked to withdraw or you will be given a failing grade. Format. All written work must be typewritten or computer printed. I may want to make copies of your writing for class discussion. For this reason, be sure the copy you hand in is clear, easy to read, double-spaced and with ample margins at each side. Put the assignment number, date, and (if appropriate) the title of your essay at the top of the first page. Number the following pages and clip them together. Put your name, the assignment number, and my name on the back of the last page. When you hand in a revised text, include with it any previous drafts of the same assignment. Since you will be revising regularly for this course, you are at a great advantage if you do your work on a word processor, as writing on a computer makes revision and editing much easier and more efficient. (If you are not accustomed to writing on a computer, let this course be your introduction to word processing.) Editing and the Writing Workshop. All students in General Writing are expected to be able to write "reasonably correct prose." This means that you are responsible for editing and proofreading your own work. I will not serve as your proofreader and will ask you to resubmit any piece that is not proofread and correct. Proofreading is a skill -- and, for everyone, a necessary chore. You will need to learn how to do this work. The Writing Workshop (501 CL) is an excellent resource for learning how to edit and revise. The consultants there can work with you on a one-time basis, or they can supplement your work in this course throughout the term. Their services are free, but you should check or call ahead to make an appointment. Plagiarism. Be sure to read the departmental handout on plagiarism. If you are drawing on or quoting the work of others (whether they are published authors, fellow students, teachers, or friends, and whether your source is written, published, or spoken), you must acknowledge that you are doing so. In some cases, you may choose simply to write a note of acknowlegement to people who have helped you; at other points you will need to cite your sources more formally. (You should consult the MLA Style Manual.) If you are quoting someone, you must indicate that you are doing so by naming your source, using quotation marks and giving the reference for your citation. If you are summarizing or referring to the work of others, you need to make that clear to your readers in the body of your essay. Portfolio. You will be asked to turn in a folder containing all the written work you have done for this course at three points during the term. You should also keep handy any notes you have taken on your reading or in class, as well as notes or drafts you used in preparing your essays. You will not receive grades on Difficulty Papers, Triple Entry Journals, and Reflection Papers, but you will receive a grade on the three essays. This grade will be factored into the grade you will receive at each folder review. The first two folder review grades are meant to serve as progress reports. Your final grade will be based on the work presented in the final portfolio. Schedule. You will have at least one writing assignment every week (with a one week break at the end). You should plan a working schedule that will allow you to keep up with the reading, to write DPs, TEJs, and RPs, and to review (from a distance) what you have written before printing it out and handing it in. Your portfolios will be collected and reviewed in the 5th week, the 10th week, and at the end of the semester.
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