Course Requirements

There'll be a lot of writing in this class. In the first half of the semester, students will turn in two papers per week (that's a total of ten essays) of 300-400 words each. One of these first ten assignments will be revised.  In the second half of the semester, you'll be writing a series of longer essays, of 700-900 words, all of which will be revised in full.  In addition, there will be two in-class writing assignments (a mid-term exam and a final exam), as well as some quizzes on grammar and mechanics. 

All essays must be typed, double-spaced, with 1" margins and stapled.  You must submit two copies of each paper at the beginning of class on the date due. Students are expected to follow the MLA guidelines, which will be discussed in class. No late papers will be accepted.

Class participation is a crucial part of this course.  A lot of what we’ll do involves discussing student papers in a seminar environment.  You should be aware that anything you write as part of the course is subject to class discussion. Everyone is expected to participate in these class workshops, the point of which is to provide constructive criticism of your peers’ writing, and to learn from one another’s mistakes and successes.

Attendance is mandatory.  Students are encouraged to attend all classes, but they are allowed to miss three classes, which they are urged to save for religious observance, illness, etc. Students who exceed their three allowed absences will suffer increasingly severe grade penalties.  Absence from class on a particular day does not exempt you from turning in that day’s assignment, so if you’re going to be absent make sure that you devise some way to get me that day’s assignment by or before the beginning of class.

Students are required to come meet me in office hours for a formally scheduled conference at least twice in the course of the semester.  This does not, of course, prevent you from also coming to see me at any other time, unannounced, during my office hours.

Essays, including exams                                 80%

Class participation, quizzes, etc.                     20%

Plagiarism and Academic Integrity

Needless to say, plagiarism in any form will not be tolerated. The following is excerpted from Columbia’s official policy regarding academic integrity:

In making clear Columbia’s policy on plagiarism, it is not feasible here to include the numerous forms that plagiarism might take.  It is useful, however, to list several obvious varieties in order to dispel any confusion about what the College will not tolerate.

1.    Submitting essays, or portions of essays, written by other people as one’s own.

2.    Failing to acknowledge, through proper footnotes and bibliographic entries, the sources of ideas essentially not one’s own

3.    Failing to document paraphrases, ideas, or verbatim expressions not one’s own.

4.    Collaborating on an assignment or examination without specific permission from the faculty member to do so.