Department of English and Journalism
English 280-21
Spring 2000
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Bruce Leland
Simpkins 217
MWF 11:00-12:00; Th 2:00-3:00
mfbhl@wiu.edu
English 280 is the second required writing course at Western Illinois
University, to be completed during the sophomore year. The course
reinforces the centrality of writing in academic life, as a way of
discovering and clarifying ideas, making informed judgments, communicating
with members of a discourse community, and arguing toward conclusions.
Knowledge is developed in discourse communities as experts in fields
share
insights, exchange ideas, and debate positions. Reading, talking,
research, and writing all play important roles in this social construction
of knowledge. Students in 280 will participate in such a discourse
community as they explore significant topics of academic interest.
Class Meetings:
Class meets every Tuesday and Thursday
for 75
minutes. We will alternate between the computer lab
(Simpkins 319) and a classroom (Simpkins 315).
If we are not in one room, we'll be in the other.
Grades:
I tend not to grade with
mathematical precision. The
following percentages will, however, give you a sense of how your final
grade will be determined:
Major papers: 70%
In-Class Writing: 10%
Bulletin Board: 10%
Participation and exercises: 10%
Grading Standards:
While we will concentrate on particular issues of thinking
and writing
with each assignment, all writing you publish (i.e. share with your
reader) will be evaluated on its effectiveness in its rhetorical context, as measured by the
customary
standards for college
writing.
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Escape clause: This syllabus and the WebCT site are subject to
revision as circumstances
dictate. You can expect additional links and revisions to be added with
some
regularity--check it often!.
Special needs: If you have a condition which requires physical
accommodation in the classroom or which may interfere with your ability to
complete course requirements, please let me know at once. If you have an
emergency which keeps you from class, notify me by phone or email. If
fasting for Ramadan or Lent causes problems, let me know about that too.
Finally, if you feel you are falling behind at any time or failing to work
up to your potential, come in to see me.
Historic computer photographs on this site grabbed from the Succeed Engineering Visual Database
www.wiu.edu/users/mfbhl/280/syllabus.htm
01/09/00
