English Usage and Composition (ENGL 5003)

Sample Syllabus

(Check with instructor for updates.)

Instructor: Dr. Scherrey Cardwell Website: http://www.cameron.edu/~scherrec/ Email: scherrec@cameron.edu

Office: Nance Boyer 2029 Office Phone: 581-2324 Office Hours: Posted on office door

Course Description

An intensive study of usage, rhetoric, and composition. Required of all candidates for the MS and MEd degrees. 3 semester hours credit.

Prerequisites

Admission to the graduate program and approval of the graduate coordinator.

Course Statement of Objectives

Each student who completes English 5003 is expected:

1. to be able to use the conventions of functional English grammar, spelling, and punctuation in standard written English;
2. to have acquired skill and confidence in making appropriate usage choices, with authority derived from standard glossaries and lexicons of English usage;
3. to demonstrate proficiency in rhetoric and expository prose;
4. to have mastered skills of library research and writing, using the American Psychological Association (APA) style of documentation or the style appropriate to the student's field of study.

Weekly Schedule

See attached course calendar.

Required Texts

American Psychological Association. Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. (2001). (5th ed. rev.). Washington, DC: Author. (Hereafter referred to as APA.)

Troyka, Lynn Quitman. (2002). Handbook for Writers. (6^th ed.).Upper Saddle River, NJ: Simon & Schuster. (Hereafter referred to as HW.)

Research and Writing Assignments

1. Research Assignments:
   1. An annotated list of six (6) to eight (8) reference sources on an issue or topic of current concern in the student's field of interest. (All references must have been published between 1996-2003).
   2. A documented research report (APA style) which defines and summarizes an issue or topic of current interest (see annotated reference list above), 1,200 to 1,500 words in length (approximately six to eight typewritten pages).
2. Essays:
   Four (4) essays (500 to 750 words in length) emphasizing strategies frequently used in the social sciences: definition, analysis and classification, comparison, cause-effect analysis.
3. Grammar/Mechanics Exercises
   Frequent exercises in functional grammar, usage, punctuation, and spelling.

Evaluation

Graded assignments and the percentage values assigned to them in determining the course grade are as follows:

In order to pass this course, the student must complete all assignments, including ungraded exercises in grammar, usage, and writing. Final drafts of essays will NOT be accepted more than one week after the day designated on this syllabus without the instructor's consent. Extra-chance revisions for poor essays must meet the conditions I specify in order for me to accept them. Unless I specify otherwise, such revisions must be turned in within two weeks; if I require you to visit the Writing Center, you must do so in order for me to accept the revision.

Attendance/Withdrawal Policy

Regular class attendance is required. If you must miss class, please notify the instructor and arrange to make up any missed assignments as soon as possible.

A student who finds it necessary to withdraw from the course must complete the official administrative process, which includes obtaining a drop-and-add form from the Registrar's Office, having it signed by the instructor, and returning it to the Registrar's office. See page four of the Enrollment Schedule.

CALENDAR OF ASSIGNMENTS (Fall 2003)

Adjustments in the following schedule of assignments will be made by the instructor if they are deemed necessary.

Reading assignments are listed under these headings: Required and Review. Please complete all required reading assignments prior to the class session in which they are listed, and do all of the exercises contained in them unless the instructor advises you to omit some of them.

Review assignments contain information with which most college graduates are familiar. Please skim this material, but slow down and read carefully any material which is new to you or about which you need to refresh your memory.

Session 1, Wednesday, Aug 20, 2003

Introduction to the Course
Review of Grading Standards
Diagnostic Grammar and Writing Evaluation

Session 2, Wednesday, Aug 27, 2003

Required: HW, Writing Argument, pp. 138-154.
HW, Using Sources and Avoiding Plagiarism, pp. 480-501.
APA, Writing Style, 2.01-2.05, pp. 31-40.
Review: HW, Planning and Shaping, pp. 20-46.

Session 3, Wednesday, Sep 3, 2003

Required: HW, Drafting and Revising, pp. 47-73.
APA, Quotations, 3.34-3.41, pp. 117-122.
Review: HW, Writing Paragraphs, pp. 74-89.
Essay#1--Definition (rough draft written in class)
Assignment of research projects (Prospectus due at the beginning of Session 5)

Session 4, Wednesday, Sep 10, 2003

Required: HW, Fragments, Comma Splices, and Fused Sentences, pp. 255-288.
APA, Reference Citations in Text, 3.94-3.103, pp. 207-214.
Review: HW, Writing Paragraphs, pp. 74-104.
HW, Successful Library Research, pp. 527-543.
LIBRARY TOUR (Required for everyone)

Session 5, Wednesday, Sep 17, 2003

Required: HW, Research Writing as a Process, pp. 502-526.
HW, Agreement, pp. 227-245.
APA, Agreement of Subject and Verb, Pronouns, 2.07-8, pp. 44-48.
Research Report Prospectus DUE; Essay#1 (revision) DUE.

Session 6, Wednesday, Sep 24, 2003

First Exam: HW, Chapters 10, 12, 13.
Essay #2--Analysis and Classification - rough draft

Session 7, Wednesday, Oct 1, 2003

Required: HW, Pronouns: Case & Reference, pp. 210-226, and Verbs, pp. 181-209.
APA, Verbs, 2.06, pp. 41-44; Pronouns, 2.08, pp. 48-50.
APA, Reference List, 4.01-4.16, pp. 215-281.

Session 8, Wednesday, Oct 8, 2003

Required: HW, Misplaced/Dang1ing Modifiers & Shifting/Mixed Sentences, 283-302.
APA, Misplaced/Dangling Modifiers, 2.09, pp. 50-54.
Essay #2 (Revision) DUE
Review: Continued review of APA Reference List, pp. 215-281.
Annotated References List DUE

Session 9, Wednesday, Oct 15, 2003

Essay #3--Comparison--Rough Draft DUE

Session 10, Wednesday, Oct 22, 2003

Required: HW, Quotation Marks, pp. 438-447.
APA, Quotations, 3.34-.41, pp. 117-122.
HW, Capitals, Italics, Abbreviations and Numbers, pp. 459-478.
APA, Capitalization and Italics, 3.12-.19, pp. 94-103.
APA, Abbreviations, 3.20-3.29, pp. 103-111, and Numbers, 3.42-3.49, pp. 122-130.
Annotated References List (revised) DUE

Session 11, Wednesday, Oct 29, 2003

Second Exam: HW, Chapters 8, 9, 28, 30
Essay #3 (Revision) DUE

Session 12, Wednesday, Nov 5, 2003

Required: APA, Manuscript Preparation & Sample Paper, 5.01-5.29, pp. 283-320.
Essay #4--cause and effect--Rough Draft DUE

Session 13, Wednesday, Nov 12, 2003

Required: HW, Usage Glossary, pp. 340-358.
Research report--rough draft DUE

Session 14, Wednesday, Nov 29, 2003

Diagnostic Evaluation #2
Essay #4 (Revision) DUE

Session 15, Wednesday, Dec 3, 2003

Research report (Revision) DUE
Review for Third Exam

Session 16, Wednesday, Dec 10, 2003

Third Exam: HW, Chapter 20, Usage Glossary