Advanced Composition, Spring 2008, O'Donnell
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Policies
last update: January 2008
Instructor and Course Information
English 3130 Advanced Composition, sec. 1, MWF 11:30-12:25pm, Burleson 302
Dr. Kevin O'Donnell, instructor: www.etsu.edu/writing/odonnell/,
odonnell@etsu.edu 423 439-6679
Office Hours: T 1-3pm; W 12:40-1:30 and 3:10-4:30pm; F 12:40-2:40pm
Required Texts and Materials
1. American Society of Magazine
Editors. The Best American Magazine
Writing 2007. Columbia University Press, 2007. ISBN-10: 0231143915
$16.95
2. Michael Harvey. The Nuts
and Bolts of College Writing. Hackett Pub Co, 2003. ISBN:
0872205738 $4.95
3. Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn. 102
Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers.
New York: Henry Holt, 2006. ISBN: 0805080325 $15.00
4. An english-grammar handbook, such as
the Hodges Harbrace handbook, any edition.
5. Easy access to the world-wide web.
Five Major Essays (see "Calendar" for due
dates)
Essay 1: Narrative/ Personal Experience
Essay 2: Review / Criticism
Essay 3: Academic
Writing--Writing from Sources
Essay 4: Expository/ Explanatory Writing ("How-to")
Essay 5: Writing in the nonfiction genre of your choice.
Final Grade Breakdown
1. Five major essays of 1250-2000 wds
each (lowest grade, excluding Fs, will be dropped): 40%
2. A 500-word book
review essay, written to be performed--spoken out loud, into a
microphone--for the series, "You Might Want to Read This," to be
podcast on the web: 10%
3. Best essay, revised for posting on
the web: 35%
4. Miscellaneous informal writing
activites (proposals, in-class writings, Wikipedia exercise, etc.): 10%
5. Final exam: 5%
Attendance, Due Dates
Attendance: The official English department attendance policy says that
if you have more than 6 absences you fail the course. In addition, I've set the
following policies: 1) You may miss two classes free, no questions
asked. 2) No absences will be excused, so use your freebies wisely! 3) If
you miss between two and six classes, I reserve the right to lower your grade,
incrementally, up to one full letter grade.
Due Dates: I do not accept late work. If you must miss class
on a due date, email your work as an attachment to odonnell@etsu.edu, or put it in the U.S.
Mail, addressed to me at the ETSU English department, Johnson City 37614.