Materials Needed:

Course Description: English 180, the WIU Writing Program's first required writing course, seeks to prepare students for writing at the academic level through extensive writings and readings. By the end of the course, students should be prepared to enter English 280 satisfactorily and be able to analyze, argue, organize, and research.

Course Requirements:

Grading Scale: Each percentage towards your overall grade is set on a 10% scale (something worth 100 points = 90 is A cut off, 80 B, etc.). If this is unclear, please see me. Extra Credit is allowed for up to 20 points applied directly to your Participation/Discussion Percentage. Details are accessible via this syllaweb. You can keep track of your grades on a daily basis by recording them on your grade chart. Utilize it and stay current with class totals.

Late Work and Grading Procedure: All papers are to be handed in to me WITH a title page during the period in which they are due. Do not arrive in class on the day your essay assignment is due and expect to print it. Major Essays will be accepted un til 3:30 on the day they are due without penalty. Should you find that you are unable to meet the essay assignment deadlines, I will accept *major paper assignments* late; however, keep in mind that for every day your paper is late, I will drop your majo r essay grade for each day late. If you need assistance, find yourself unable to meet the given deadline, or extenuating circumstances arise, contact me BEFORE your paper is due. I make myself very available. Feel free to email, call, or stop by my office should the need arise. My office hours, e-mail address, voice mail, etc., are for your benefit - use them as necessary!

Receiving a "U": Throughout the semester, you may find that one or more of your major essays receives a letter grade lower than a "C-". The grade that is written on these papers can either increase through revision or be entered into the gradebook as received. Grades in the "D" range are considered "U" essays and can be revised/rewritten to achieve a higher grade up to a "C+". If you receive a "U" on any of your essays, it is in your best interest to rewrite or revise one for a higher grade (up to a C+ / 79%) and speak with me before beginning. All "U" rewrites must be turned in with the original essay and by the date given by your instructor. If you choose not to revise this paper or it is not handed in on time, the percentage grade written on your essay will be entered as your grade for this assignment.

***Revising makes for better writing, however, if the majority of your essays receive U's, this would indicate little to no growth as a writer. Therefore, I will allow 1 U essay to be rewritten over the course of the semester.

Attendance Policy: It is in your best interest AND in the best interest of those in your peer group for you to attend all classes. Five absences are accepted throughout the semester for ANY reason. I DO NOT NEED TO KNOW WHY! Subsequent absences will result in a lowering of your overall grade by 10 points per day absent. If you are absent more than eight (8) times throughout the semester, ENG 180 policy requires that you receive a U for this course (unless proper documentation can be supplied to the instructor.

Tardiness: I loathe tardiness and that being said, I keep track of them. If you are 10 minutes tardy 5 times, youve missed an entire class and Ill count these as absences. If you have a schedule conflict, let me know ahead of time that you might need to be late occasionally. If you are consistently late, I will discuss this issue with you. Walking into class late is disrespectful to me and to your classmates who made the effort to get to class on time. I dont like the interruption and I dont like repeating myself. Keep in mind that all materials, notes, and handouts are your responsibility. If you miss class, check the course website, talk to a member of your peer group, and retrieve any handouts necessary from the folder outside my office before the next class.

Cell Phones: Come on! Treat your classmates and your instructor respectfully. Turn your phone off or place in silent etiquette mode and do not periodically check it for messages. Put your cell phone on silent or vibrate or leave it out of my classroom.

-- I reward excellent attendance: 10 extra credit points for no missed classes throughout the semester.

And finally, part of your ENG180 grade involves meeting me for a conference mid to late semester (Re: AB&P, Essay 4). Attendance is not optional. Schedule your meeting wisely.

Jodi Cook
6/05