RSWR 3345
Summer 2008
Wednesdays—May 26- August 9
Instructor: Dr. James
Walker Todd
E-Mail: xjtodd@swbell.net
Cell phone: (210)
279-5341
School phone: (210) 826-7595
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course provides instruction in
formulating research topics, conducting research, and writing papers which
marshal support from secondary sources.
Students will learn to read and understand research reports, to analyze
and interpret results, and to develop in-depth research papers centering on
topics in their academic disciplines.
TEXTBOOKS and MATERIALS: Hacker, Diana. A Writer’s Reference
Sixth Edition. (
You will
also need access to a computer, or word-processor and copier; writing material
you can carry with you at all times such as a stack of blank note cards or a
pocket-sized spiral notebook. You will also need a standard American English
Dictionary, e.g., The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language,
Funk & Wagnall’s Standard College Dictionary, Webster’s New
Collegiate Dictionary, or the college edition of either The Random House
Dictionary of the English Language, or Webster’s New World Dictionary of
the American Language.
COURSE
OBJECTIVES:
As a
result of this course, you will be able to:
1.
Research effectively in a library
2.
Evaluate the validity of sources for research projects
3.
Differentiate between the purposes and types of academic essays
4. Design
writing projects appropriate to given goals
5. Write
effective exposition and argumentation.
6.
Effectively edit documents with reference to organization, grammar, and style
7.
Prevent plagiarism by giving proper credit for all sources used
8. Apply
APA, MLA, or Turabian rules accurately
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Academic:
You will
brainstorm; perform two library research projects; write a 3-page research
proposal; research, outline, draft, and edit a 15 page paper; edit a paper for
a member of your writers’ group; and have a final exam over the textbook and
class notes.
Participation: Collaboration is a proven method
for improving research and writing skills, therefore this class promotes
it. When you work with partners in this
class keep in mind that you are collaborating, not competing.
GRADING: Grades will be based on the final
average at the end of the semester.
The final
course grade will be the grades of the following assignments with these
weights:
Project preparation (brainstorming, proposal, research
notes, and outline): 40% Project
presentation (drafts, edited final paper, bibliography): 40%
Collaboration (editing a partner’s draft,
in-class participation with group): 10%
Final exam: 10%
Grade
Distribution will be:
A 90-100
B 80-89
C 70-79
D 60-69
F Below
60
ATTENDANCE: Students are expected to be on time
and attend all class
sessions.
Any student missing 25% of the class meetings (3 classes or too many
"early good-byes" from class) will receive a grade of "F"
in the course as per university policy.
CLASSROOM COURTESY: Exhibit courtesy to your classmates
by being
on time and staying for the entire
class time. Use cell phone outside of
the classroom. Limit your discussions to
course content.
Assignments, and presentations, are weighted as follows:
IT IS UNIVERSITY
POLICY THAT NO OTHERWISE QUALIFIED DISABLED PERSON BE EXCLUDED FROM
PARTICIPATION IN, BE DENIED THE BENEFITS OF, OR BE SUBJECT TO DISCRIMINATION
UNDER ANY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM OR ACTIVITY AT WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY.
VI.
Course Outline and Schedule:
A.
Planning:
Session
1: Get acquainted; course overview; form writers’ groups; receive assigned
topics for reports; discuss section C1 and C5 in the text; discuss critical
thinking
Session
2: Discuss sections R1, R2, and R3 in the text; turn in brainstorming notes
with working outline; discuss the planning of research projects; discuss
rhetorical strategies and styles
B.
Research and Organizing:
Session
3: Meet at the main branch of the SA library: perform library research
projects.
Session
4: Meet at the main branch of the SA library: perform library research
projects: turn in annotated bibliography of twelve sources from three
categories.
Session
5: Discuss sections A1, A2, and A3; present research proposal with annotated
bibliography of 25 sources including materials from five categories; class
court.
Session
6: Discuss sections C2, C3, and C4; present detailed outline (several pages)
and 20 note cards; class court.
C.
Drafting:
Session
7: Discuss sections S and W; present one section of the draft (at least five
pages). Practice drafting techniques
Session
8: Discuss sections G and M; present a second section of the draft (at least
five pages). Practice identifying sentence strengths and weaknesses.
D.
Editing:
Session
9: Present full draft of research project; writers’ group for editing.
Session
10: Discuss sections M and A (your choice); present final edited paper.
Session
11: Present oral summary of project in class; Final exam.
VII. Other matters
A.
I will usually be available before class and after class if you need
consultation, just let me know
B. The
Research Proposal Outline:
1.
Question,
Problem or Need the paper addresses
2.
Possible
approaches discussed in your writer’s group or consultation
3.
Review
of the Literature: what’s been done or not done
4.
Thesis
or Hypothesis: The side you intend to argue
5.
Working
Outline (your material and your rhetorical strategy)
6.
Limits
of project: what will be omitted
7.
Timeline
for the project
8.
Working
bibliography
D.
Academic
Honesty:
University students
are expected to conduct themselves according to the highest standards of
academic honesty. Academic misconduct for which a student is subject to penalty
includes all forms of cheating, such as illicit possession of examinations or
examination materials, forgery, or plagiarism. Plagiarism is the presentation
of the work of another as one’s own work. It is the student’s responsibility to
be familiar with penalties associates with plagiarism stated in the catalog.
E. Services for the Disabled:
It is university policy that no otherwise qualified
disabled person be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of,
or be subject to discrimination under any educational program or activity in
the University. The Campus Dean serves
the University as coordinator or activities for the handicapped and should be
contacted concerning your needs. Contact the Dean of Student’s office as soon
as possible before registration to ensure adequate time for assistance.
F. Attendance and Deadlines:
Attendance is required—the whole
class session, every week. Three absences will result in an “F” for the
course. There are no “excused” absences.
A military drop is permitted if all three of your absences are
involuntary TDY’s. If you leave at or
before the break during any class,
you are counted absent for the week. Arriving late to class can also be
counted as an absence if you arrive too late or are late too often.
Assignments are late if they are not
presented at 6:00
pm on the date due. Turning in an assignment one week after it is due receives
a one-letter-grade deduction. Late work will not be accepted after the start of
class the week after it is due.
An “incomplete” for the course grade is only allowed under
certain circumstances. You are not guaranteed the right to get an incomplete in
the course if you fail to turn in the final paper on time. You must prove to
the Assistant Dean that you meet the conditions for receiving an incomplete
grade. Even if you are allowed a course extension, you must make it up within a
specific time or the “incomplete” becomes an “F” according to school policy.
G. Help
An English faculty member is available at WBU on Saturdays from 10am until 2pm for consultation on your project.