|
ENGLISH 201 – the Research Paper |
Instructor: Jeffery White |
|
Fall 2013 |
Office: R230 Q |
|
10:30-11:20
M-F |
Phone: 425-564-3084 |
|
Room R201 |
e-mail: jwhite@bellevuecollege.edu |
|
|
Office Hour: Daily 8:30-9:20 |
Textbooks: The
Little, Brown Handbook (11th ed.) Fowler, Aaron
Structure
This course is
designed to take you step by step through the process of writing a major
research paper. We will break this
process into several manageable phases, each culminating with either a short
2-3 page paper or the presentation of research materials. Throughout the
quarter we will read and analyze both our own and previously published writing.
We will learn to use various research tools, including those located in the library
as well as online locate relevant resources. Once material is located, you will
be introduced to methods for reading and effectively evaluating it. You will also
be introduced to effective note-taking strategies, methods of constructing and
organizing a bibliography, and proper source citation. The final paper will
present evidence of your ability to summarize and critically analyze outside
material while synthesizing it to effectively support a clear and engaging original
thesis.
Content
It's been said
before: You get out of this experience
what you put into it. At its heart, this
course is about exploiting resources:
hunting down, identifying, analyzing and then extracting information
that helps you develop an informed position which you then attempt to persuade
your audience to adopt. Your success in this class depends upon the degree to
which to you make use of your resources.
My job is to cultivate some independent thinking and confidence in your
own judgment. Your job will be to add insight to an ongoing investigation of
your self-selected topic a. You will be limited only by certain academic
conventions and your own imaginations.
COURSE POLICIES
It
can't simply be learned;
It
must be participated in. -- Barry Lopez
This is not a
"Warm Body" class -- one of those classes which you attend half
conscious, take the occasional note and leave after fifty minutes. Because we'll be trying to do too much in too
little time, we'll need to divide the workload equally; every student will be
responsible for more than simply his or her own success or failure. If you, for whatever reason, aren't prepared
or able to be an active, responsible member of this learning community, then another
class may more suit your expectations.
What follows are our course policies.
While they seem somewhat rigid
and daunting, they will soon fade to the background while making your work
easier. These policies serve to keep all
involved on task, on schedule and attempt to keep stress and related neurosis
to a minimum.
Communicating with Your Instructor
I will address
you by your first name unless requested to do otherwise. When addressing me in
person, you are invited to call me Jeffery, Mr. White or Professor White, which
ever you are the most comfortable with. “Dude,” “Yo,”
“Hey,” etc. are not effective terms of address.
When
communicating with me via email, I will expect the following format: an opening
salutation, followed by the content of your message and concluding with your
name and course number. I will not respond to written communication that does
not follow these conventions. Should you send me an assignment via email,
request an acknowledgement to insure its arrival in my mailbox.
Late Assignments
All assignments
are due in class on the specified date.
I will accept papers either in person or in my mailbox until 12:30 p.m.
on the day they are due. (You take your own chances with Checkpoints or other assignments that are confirmed in person.)
I'll accept nothing after that time unless specific arrangements are made with
me before
the class in which it is due. I'll permit such an arrangement only once.
Not
surprisingly, you will need to execute nearly all of your work according to
specific guidelines. Work that doesn't
meet these guidelines will be evaluated accordingly. I outline the guidelines daily in class, each
day supplementing the previous. Most
often the first five to ten minutes are crucial to work that is to follow. If
you want the information, be there when it's given or cultivate a friendship
with a member of class who takes good notes.
Tardiness
You're tardy if
you're more than five (5) minutes late for class. I will allow you to be tardy
three (3) times. For every time that you're late after that, you risk forfeiting
one (1) final grade point. Walk into
class late ten (10) times, and you'll receive no credit for the course.
Absences
1. Miss the first week of class:
no credit.
2.
Students who miss fewer than 5 classes receive a 1-5
point bonus on their final grade. You forfeit 2 final grade points for each
absence over four.
3.
TEN ABSENCES, NO
CREDIT.
4.
As stated above, you’ll need to get missed information
from another class member. I will supply you with any missed handouts provided
you know which they are.
5. Those with exceptional circumstances should speak to me in person BEFORE those circumstances affect their attendance record.
Papers and Assignments
All papers must
be double-spaced and typed or computer-generated. In addition to the rough and
final drafts of an 8-10 page research paper, three shorter papers (2-3 pages,
one of which may be revised and resubmitted) are required for you to receive
credit for this course. Throughout the quarter, you will be required to meet
various Checkpoints (evidence of
research done to that point). For each "Paper Checkpoint" met, you
receive 2 points; failure to meet a "Paper Checkpoint" results in a
loss of two points from your overall grade points. Also, those without drafts
on paper checkpoint days will be excused to go work on them and receive an
absence for that class. Failure to meet "Mandatory Checkpoints" will result in no credit for the course.
Grades
1.
Descriptive Outline, Summary Outline, All Paper
Checkpoints, and your Oral report receive either a minus
(-): 1 point; a check ( ): 2 points; or a plus (+): 3 points (bonus) 10% OF FINAL GRADE POINTS
2. Summary paper:
10% OF FINAL GRADE POINTS
3. Critical Analysis paper: 20% OF
FINAL GRADE POINTS
4. Synthesis paper: 20% OF
FINAL GRADE POINTS
5. Preliminary Review of Research: 20% OF
FINAL GRADE POINTS
6. Final Research paper: 20% OF
FINAL GRADE POINTS
For those of you
interested in keeping score: There are
200 possible grade points (excluding bonus points). A score below 120, 60% of
200, represents a failing grade. With the exception of the Summary paper, all
scores translate directly as final grade points (for instance, if you get a 32
on your Synthesis paper, you receive 32 final grade points). To calculate grade points for your Summary paper,
divide the scores that appear on your paper by two. However,
avoid converting your number grade to a letter grade through percentages.
Your final grade is based on the total
of your paper points as well as points awarded for meeting other requirements.
An average of a B (32) on your
papers does not mean that you will receive a B as a final grade. You also receive points simply for doing some
assignments (checkpoints) regardless of the quality of that work. And there is
ample opportunity to receive bonus points for attendance, rewrites and
exceptionally well executed checkpoints.
Total Grade Points translate to letter grades
in the following manner:
193-200 = A 177-184
= B+ 153-160 = C+ 129-136 = D+
185-192= A- 169-176
= B 145-152 = C 120-128 = D
161-168
= B- 137-144 = C-
Plagiarism: Should you use another's words or ideas and
represent them as your own, you are plagiarizing. Should you get help with your
writing to such a degree that it, in any part, is no longer your own; then,
too, are you plagiarizing. Plagiarism is grounds for failing the course, and
possibly for dismissal from school. Please consult your Little, Brown Handbook
for suggestions on how to avoid these rather dire consequences.
Disability Resource Center (DRC)
The Disability Resource Center serves students
with a wide array of learning challenges and disabilities. If you are a student
who has a disability or learning challenge for which you have documentation or
have seen someone for treatment and if you feel you may need accommodations in
order to be successful in college, please contact us as soon as
possible. If you are a student with a documented autism spectrum disorder,
there is a program of support available to you. If you are a person who
requires assistance in case of an emergency situation, such as a fire,
earthquake, etc, please meet with your individual instructors to develop a
safety plan within the first week of the quarter.
The DRC office is temporarily located in the Library Media Center or you can call the reception desk at 425.564.2498. Deaf students
can reach the DRC by video phone at 425-440-2025 or by TTY at
425-564-4110. . . Please visit our website
for application information into our program and other helpful links at www.bellevuecollege.edu/drc
Affirmation of Inclusion
Bellevue
College is committed to maintaining an environment in which every member of the
campus community feels welcome to participate in the life of the college, free
from harassment and discrimination.
We value our
different backgrounds at Bellevue College, and students, faculty, staff
members, and administrators are to treat one another with dignity and respect. http://bellevuecollege.edu/about/goals/inclusion.asp
Student Code
You will be
expected to abide by the BC “Student Code” outlined in brief in the paragraph
below. Please be aware that I take the expectations for attendance, tardiness
(explained above) and mobile phone usage very seriously. Phones must be
silenced and remain out of sight during class time. Should you need to record
information, I suggest you do so on paper and transfer to your phone after
class. Should you fail to adhere to this
mobile phone, I will give you one verbal warning followed by a written warning.
After that you will be dismissed from class until you have met to discuss the
matter with the Dean of Students. I am willing to discuss individual exceptions
to the above should your circumstances require.
“Cheating,
stealing and plagiarizing (using the ideas or words of another as one’s own
without crediting the source) and inappropriate/disruptive classroom behavior
are violations of the Student Code of Conduct at Bellevue College. Examples of unacceptable behavior include,
but are not limited to: talking out of turn, arriving late or leaving early
without a valid reason, allowing cell phones/pagers to ring, and inappropriate
behavior toward the instructor or classmates.
The instructor can refer any violation of the Student Code of Conduct to
the Vice President of Student Services for possible probation or suspension
from Bellevue College. Specific student
rights, responsibilities and appeal procedures are listed in the Student Code
of Conduct, available in the office of the Vice President of Student
Services.” The Student Code, Policy
2050, in its entirety is located at: http://bellevuecollege.edu/policies/2/2050_Student_Code.asp
A FINAL NOTE: I am interested in helping you do as well as you want in
this class. If you're having difficulty, speak to me about it. If life
interferes with school, as it has a habit of doing, let me know. If you show me that you're concerned with
doing good work in this class, I'll do what I can to help you around the
obstacles. Communication is the key
here. Keep me informed of your
circumstances, and you should do fine. Talk
to me after things fall apart, and there will be little that I can offer beyond
my sympathy. It will also benefit
you the read the Arts and Humanities “Student
Procedures and Expectations” page located here: http://bellevuecollege.edu/artshum/policy.html