English 101: College Writing

Spring 2015
Instructor: Matthew Wedlock
Room: Siegel Health Technologies Bldg. C105
Email: mwedlock@bristolcc.edu
Email etiquette: I respond to student emails the same day I receive them, up to 5p.m.
However, if you email me on a Saturday or Sunday I will respond first thing Monday.
Website: bcc-gtc-eng101.tumblr.com
Class Meetings: We will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:30 pm - 1:45 pm.
Course description: This college-level composition course provides students an opportunity to
develop their writing through various stages of composing, revising, and editing. In addition,
students learn how to formulate and support a thesis using a number of rhetorical strategies, to
conduct research, and to integrate a variety of sources according to the Modern Language
Association guidelines. Students write in Standard English with consideration given to audience,
purpose, and context.
Prerequisite: Satisfactory performance on the writing skills test or C or better in
English 090. Passing score on the colleges reading placement test or concurrent
enrollment in/prior completion of RDG 090.
Course Text:
I will provide all the readings through various pdf files on E-Learning and our Tumblr page.
Course Topics: This is a course that focuses on process writing in college and beyond. The
more writing that we do the better the writing will become. Our class will focus on writing as a
practice. This regular writing practice will include a focus on pre-writing, drafting and editing
through online journaling and research. The goal is that the final research portfolio and research
paper will include a subject that interests the writer and is interdisciplinary.
Course objectives:
Students will write focused and developed essays that develop the narrative essay, the persuasive
essay, and the expository essay
Students will formulate appropriate organizational patterns.
Students will demonstrate a rhetorical awareness of audience, purpose,
and genre.
Students will use a multi-stage writing process that includes drafting,
revising, and editing.
Students will develop critical reading skills.
Students will find and evaluate source material, then ethically integrate
such material with original thought using MLA guidelines.
Grading: Grading will be based on online journaling, participation, writing assignments, inclass assignments/peer review, and a final research paper. These will all be contained in your

portfolios. Portfolios can be in a three ring binder or a folder( I recommend the binder). Also
your Tumblr will serve as a portfolio for research. Grading will be graded on an A+ to F scale
and the breakdown is as follows. Work must be submitted on time or will be penalized.

NOTE: If you do not turn in a first draft of your essay assignments I will not consider
any final drafts, meaning you will receive zero points total for the writing essay assignment. I
should also note that I will not pass any student in my English 101 courses who does not
complete all major essay assignments, the core of this composition course (personal essay,
argumentative research & study paper, and expository essay).
Tumblr Archive(E-Portfolio)


Participation(Portfolio)



Writing assignments/drafting (Portfolio)

In-class writing assignments/peer review(Portfolio)

25%
25%
25%
25%

SUBMITTING WORK:

For purposes of grading, you will not turn in hard copies of your work to me. To avoid
glitches, you will not upload your written work to E-Learning. On peer review days hard copies
are ESSENTIAL. You will email me all of your written assignments by the due dates and times.
For purposes of peer-to-peer feedback, you will give hard copies to your peers so we can
workshop those essays in class. The Computer has many ways of saving your project.
Please use the following format when submitting work:
Subject: Last name, First Name, ENG 101
To avoid issues of lost work:
- Save local copies, or printouts, of required readings (including the syllabus) so that you can do
your work even if the internet is down.
- Save all work, including all drafts, to a flash drive.
- Get in the habit of e-mailing drafts to yourself, so that you can retrieve them from your archives
if your computer crashes or you lose your flash drive.

Late, incomplete, or missing assignments will not be given credit. It is the
responsibility of the student to keep track of their assignments, including the submission time
and date. It is your responsibility to ensure that I receive your assignment on time. My computer
is broken or I dont have the Internet at home and similar phrases are NOT valid reasons for
failure to complete any work. If youre having technology problems, plan ahead: Internet access
is available on campus and at public libraries. If you are having trouble completing an
assignment, make an appointment to talk with me.

Tentative Schedule:
NOTE: I reserve the right to change (and will alert you to any changes) to this course schedule.
Week 1: (Jan. 22nd)

Introduction, Free-write exercises, Exploring

Portfolio E-Learning, Google Docs, Tumblr

Week 2: (Jan. 27-29)

Memory and Identity

Week 3: (Feb. 3-5)

Writing to think and writing to learn

Week 4: (Feb. 10-12)

Thinking through the disciplines

Week 5: (Feb 17-19-no class)

Collective Memory

Week 6: (Feb. 24-26)

Week 7: (Mar. 3-6)

Sentence Building and Sentence Style

Writing to Inform (Sign/Symbol, Memory)

Week 8: (Mar. 10-12)

Writing to Analyze

Week 9: (March. 16)

Spring Break

Week 10: (Mar. 24-26)

Planning and Drafting/Academic Writing and

Collaboration

Week 11: (Mar. 31 & April 2)

The Craft of Research{Imprint/Impact}

Week 12: Apr. 7-9)

Week 13: (Apr. 14-16)
Research

Punctuation and Word Choice

MLA and APA formatting; Structuring the

Week 14: (Apr. 21-23)

Revisions and Finishing Touches

Week 15: (Apr 28-30)

Week 16: (March 5-7)

Final Peer Reviews. Finish up Portfolios.

Final Exam: May 12th (Portfolio

Presentation)

Assignments:

Readings selected by
direction of project

10, 11,
12, 13

Investigative
Research:
- Developing and
Framing an
Argument
- Appealing to the
reader
- Breaking down the
argument
- Identifying &
addressing
counterargument.
Discovering and
evaluating text to
support evidence

Theme: Imprint/
Impact
Waldrop Dialogic
Arguments

Final Research
paper. This is not
just research, this
Independent research is argument,
based on project.
exploration, the
culmination of our
Library Day
studies. What is it
you want to share?
What do you feel is
important that
needs proper
research. Research
is not just a
paper.

Week 14&15: Wrapping up Portfolios. Peer Review and collaborative edits. Peer accountability
sheets.

Final Exam May 12th: Present Portfolios

Academic Dishonesty Policy: A college community must be established on a foundation of

truth and academic integrity. Bristol Community College has an obligation not only to promote
these high standards of academic honesty, but also to address academic dishonesty. Academic
dishonesty is demonstrated by cheating, plagiarism, and facilitating dishonesty. Please refer to the
Student Handbook for further information.
Attendance Policy:
If you mis six (6) classes, you will be withdrawn from the course.
You are allowed to miss four (4) classes without penalty. Five (5) classes lowers grade by a
half.
There is no distinction between excused & unexcused absences.
Arriving to class unprepared for a scheduled in-class activity equates to an absence.
Two (2) late arrivals or early departures to/from class, or any combination, equates to
absence.
Students with perfect attendance for the entire semester will earn an additional five points
toward their final average.
However, in the event that you are absent, make sure to do the following:
Review the syllabus & Tumblr to see what was covered on the day you were out.
Take note of the homework that will be due when you return & make sure to complete it.
After reviewing both the syllabus and Tumblr, if you are confused contact me immediately.


Being absent is not an excuse for coming to class unprepared.
Gateway to College Policies: At all times, I expect you to help develop and actively protect a
respectful environment (in class and beyond); be present not only in body but in mind.
Cell Phone Policy:
At the start of class put your cellphone away. In the event that someone needs to get in touch
with you regarding an emergency, they should call Campus Police and/or Iva Britto and the
message will be delivered to you immediately.
If a student repeatedly violates the cell-phone policy, they will be asked to leave the class and may
be withdrawn from the program.
Plagiarism Policy (Student Accountability):

A college community must be established on a foundation of truth and academic integrity. Bristol
Community College has an obligation not only to promote these high standards of academic
honesty, but also to address academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty is demonstrated by
cheating, plagiarism, and facilitating academic dishonesty.
Cheating Includes, but is not limited to: (1) use of any unauthorized assistance in taking
quizzes, tests, or examinations; (2) dependence upon the aid of sources beyond those authorized
by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying out other
assignments; or (3) the acquisition, without permission, of tests or other academic material
belonging to a member of the College faculty or staff. Cheating shall also include the use, by
paraphrase or direct quotation, of the published or unpublished work of another person without
full and clear acknowledgement. It also includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared
by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials.
Taking credit for work done by another person or doing work for which another person will
receive credit. Copying or purchasing others work or arranging for others to do work under a
false name. (Student Handbook)
Plagiarism Includes, but is not limited to, the use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the
published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgement. It
also includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency
engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials. This would also include
material that is obtained from the computer. (BCC Student Handbook )
Facilitating Academic Dishonesty: Students who allow their work to be used by other students or
who otherwise aid others in academic dishonesty are violating academic integrity.
Read the policy online: http://www.bristolcc.edu/Academics/integrity/ai_dishonest.cfm
Disability policy: If you are a student who would normally seek accommodations in a
traditional, face to face classroom, please speak to me and the Office of Disability Services as
soon as possible. You may contact the Office of Disability Services to arrange for appropriate
accommodations by calling 508-678-2811 ext. 2955. You may also contact the Office of
Disability Services online at http://www.bristol.mass.edu/Students/ods/request_forms/
ods_contact_us.cfm

Seamus Heaney - Selected Poems 1966-1987

Digging - Between my finger and my thumb/the squat pen rests; snug as a gun.
The relation to lineage through farming. Digging, a collection of shoveled dirt. The
way that one must find his or her own way to dig.
Death of a Naturalist - Respecting nature, not taking lightly the environment; again
there is an allusion to war poised like mud grenades. That Nature could take us in.
Follower - But today it is my father who keeps stumbling/behind me, and will not
go away
Reversal of time in the way one could perceive the prince of discs
weilding his shield.
Mid-Term Break- The death of his brother and what that means in terms of inches
how time is nothing more than the span between