Fall 2000	Instructor: Susan Huss-Lederman
Fundamentals of English 680-090-03	Office: Heide 434
Room: HH 114 & 302 HH lab Meeting Time: 12:30-1:45	Phone: 262-472-5038
	Fax: 262-472-1037
Office Hours: Tues. & Thurs. 2-4, Tues 5-6, and gladly by appointment.	E-mail: hussleds@mail.uww.edu
	Web: http://facstaff.uww.edu/hussleds

Course Description: Expressing ideas clearly is an art. In English 090 we work as a community of active readers and writers, striving to discuss ideas and to write well with a genuine voice. In this course we will work on all of the components of writing well, from developing ideas to grammatical accuracy. We will critically read many interesting texts-- poems, stories, essays, newspaper articles-- and discuss them, using them as springboards to writing. All students will develop a writing portfolio and will be able to see their progress throughout the semester.

Objectives:

• to critically read and discuss texts in our classroom community
• to become a member of a writing community and to engage in the writing process
• to improve different facets of writing, from idea development to improved word choice to grammatical control
• to develop a writer's portfolio of college essays

Course Materials:

• Understanding Ourselves by Ellen Andrews Knodt. This is the main course text, available from the rental library.
• A good college dictionary that you can bring to class with you. Some dictionaries are better than others. The American Heritage Dictionary is a good one, available inexpensively in paperback from the University Bookstore. If you are unsure if your dictionary is a good one, I'd be happy to look at it with you.
• A notebook that you can divide into two sections: one for in-class writing and idea generation, and one for classroom notes.
• Post-it notes for marking up readings.
• A manila envelope or folder for handing in writing assignments.
• A 3.5 floppy diskette for saving work in the writing lab.

Class Participation & Attendance: The following factors constitute appropriate class participation:

· Arriving on time. Being late is disruptive to others. Arriving late counts as an absence.

· Regular attendance. Do not miss class. Your participation is valuable. Accumulating three or more unexcused absences results in the lowering of your grade by one letter.

· Participating in small group and class discussion. This means speaking up as well as listening.

· Not talking while others are talking. This distracts other students.

· Completing in-class assignments.

· Asking for clarification when needed.

· Being prepared for class by completing homework assignments.

· Keeping office appointments.

Grading Schedule:

Assignment	Worth
Class Participation	30 points
Grammar Quizzes	15 points
Writing Portfolio	40 points, total Essay 1= 5 points, Essay 2= 5 points, Essay 3= 10 points, Essay 4 = 10 points, Essay 5 = 10 points
Final Reflective Essay	15 points

Grading Scale:

A = at least 90 points	C = at least 65 points	F = anything less than 50 points
B = at least 80 points	D = at least 50 points

Extra Credit: Through arrangement with the instructor, students may earn extra credit by going to a campus event, writing a review of it, and making a brief presentation at the beginning of class. Extra credit can help by raising a borderline grade to the next level. Students must arrange extra credit assignments with me beforehand.

Plagiarism: Plagiarism, the act of intentionally using the work of another writer without citation, intending the reader to believe that it is your own work, is a serious violation of academic conduct. Engaging in plagiarism will result in your failing the assignment and/or the course.

Religious Observances: If you are absent due to the observance of a religious holiday, please let me know so that we can reschedule your assignments.

Special Needs: If you have special needs due to physical or learning disabilities, please let me know so that I can make the appropriate accommodations for you.

Finally, please stop by to see me during office hours or schedule an appointment if I can help you in any way. My door is always open.

UWW Required Statement: The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is dedicated to a safe, supportive and non-discriminatory learning environment. It is the responsibility of all undergraduate and graduate students to familiarize themselves with University policies regarding Special Accommodations, Misconduct, Religious Beliefs Accommodation, Discrimination and Absence for University Sponsored Events. (For details please refer to the Undergraduate and Graduate Timetables; the "Rights and Responsibilities" section of the Undergraduate Bulletin; the "Academic Requirements and Policies" and the "Facilities and Services" sections of the Graduate Bulletin; and the "Student Academic Disciplinary Procedures: [UWS Chapter 14]; and the "Student Nonacademic Disciplinary Procedures" [UWS Chapter 17]).

Schedule of Major Assignments: This schedule is subject to change with advance notice. There will be weekly grammar quizzes during the first half of the semester. I will also bring in short readings as handouts that are related to our task at hand (not on syllabus). UO refers to Understanding Ourselves.

Dates (Tuesday of each week given)	To Be Covered in the Week
Sept. 5	Introductions Reading: Brent Staples "I Oiled the Hinges" (handout)
Sept. 12	Reading: Martin Luther King, Jr. "I Have a Dream." UO pp. 230-235 Essay 1 due.
Sept. 19	Reading: Roger E. Hernandez "Hispanics Come with Many Voices." UO pp. 97-100
Sept. 26	Readings: Simon J. Ortiz. "My Father's Song." UO pp. 44-45. Lewis P. Johnson, "For my Indian Daughter." UO pp. 110-113. Essay 2 due.
Oct. 3	Reading: Maxine Hong Kingston. "The Culture of Silence." UO pp. 105-109
Oct. 10	Reading: Toni Cade Bambara. "The Lesson." UO pp. 82-89.
Oct. 17	Mid-semester writing conferences. Individual appointments. Class will not meet.
Oct. 24	Reading: Gary Soto. "Like Mexicans." UO pp. 100-105. Essay 3 due.
Oct. 31	Reading: Anna Quindlen. "Homeless." UO pp. 250-253.
Nov. 7	Reading: Mike Rose. "I Just Wanna Be Average." UO pp. 247-249.
Nov. 14	Writing Conferences. Individual Appointments. Class will not meet.
Nov. 21	Reading: Rick Greenberg. "Escaping the Daily Grind for Life as a House Father." UO pp. 171-174. Essay 4 due.
Nov. 28	Reading: Students' choice
Dec. 5	Reading: M. Scott Momaday. "The End of My Childhood." UO pp. 15-19. Essay 5 due.
Dec. 12	Course evaluations & final reflections.
Dec. 19	Finals Week. There is no final in this class. However, a final reflective essay is due by 3 p.m. Wednesday, December 20^th. Details will be discussed in class.

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