University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Course Syllabus
RHET 1311: Composition I (3 hours, online)
Fall 2017
August 16 - December 12, 2017

Instructor: Susan Van Dusen

Email: sevandusen@ualr.edu
Course website: http://rhet1311-vandusen.weebly.com/
Office hours: By request for phone, video or online chat discussions

Syllabus Contents
Course Description

Required Texts

Time Allocation

Course Objectives

Means of Assessment

Grading

Late Work

Discussion Board Guidelines

Discussion Post Requirements
Discussion Board Ground Rules

Course Policies

Required Technology
Reliable Internet Access
Google Hangouts
UALR Email
Blackboard
Reliable Document Storage (Google Drive)
Adobe Acrobat Reader
Word Processing Software

Dropping Classes

Academic Integrity Policy

Disability Statement

Non-discrimination Policy

Course Description
This class is offered through the Department of Rhetoric and Writing. If you have any questions
or concerns, please contact Dr. Brian Ray, director of composition. You may also contact Dr.
Joyce Carter, department chair.

Prerequisite for RHET 1311: A minimum ACT English score of 19, a minimum SAT I verbal score
of 450, RHET 0310 or RHET 0321. Practice in writing, with an emphasis on personal, expressive
writing, as well as transactional writing. Students will focus on organizing and revising ideas and
writing well organized, thoroughly developed papers that achieve the writers purpose, meet
the readers needs, and develop the writers voice. Final course grades are A, B, C, or NC.
Students must complete this course with a grade of C or greater to take RHET 1312. Three
credit hours.
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Required Texts
This course will utilize readings from the Writing Spaces and Writing Commons, both of which
are peer-reviewed, open-source textbooks for college writers . All materials are Creative
Commons licensed and available for download. You are not required to purchase a textbook.
Online materials are linked in the course schedule.
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Time Allocation
Although this is an online course, you are still expected to spend as much time on to it as you
would a face-to-face class. You need to log in to Blackboard, check your email and check our
course website regularly throughout the week to keep up with assignments, messages and
discussion board posts.

A minimum of three hours per week should be devoted to discussion board posts, readings and
classwork. You also can expect to spend about an additional three hours per week writing and
revising your own compositions.
It is highly recommended that you set aside specific times each week to devote to this class,
just as you would if you were attending a face-to-face class. As the semester progresses, the
projects will become more complex, and you will need to have dedicated time available to
successfully complete your assignments.

Learning Outcomes
The Department of Rhetoric and Writing has adapted the following outcomes for composition
courses from the outcome statements of the Council for Writing Program Administrators.
Course objectives are also aligned with the UALR General Education Core Curriculum and Core
Competencies. The program conducts assessments of student portfolios every semester to
ensure we are following the guidelines.

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

Demonstrate basic rhetorical ability by completing texts for at least 3 different

rhetorical situations, with each one written appropriately for that context. (E.g.,
personal essay, literacy narrative, exploratory source-based paper.)

Demonstrate awareness of basic proofreading and editing skills by completing finished

drafts that follow appropriate conventions of grammar punctuation, usage, and spelling.

Revise and reflect on all major projects [at least 3] effectively, based on instructor
feedback, peer review, and self-assessment. (E.g., evidence of improvement on global &
local issues plus a substantial reflection essay.)

Produce at least one final draft that effectively integrates electronic and print sources
into the writer's own text and documents them effectively. (E.g., exploratory paper that
uses primary and secondary sources located through library databases to pose and
answer a question.)

Effectively use different software programs and applications to compose and revise
documents in different modes and mediums. (E.g., an e-portfolio site or blog with
working links that is eye-friendly, readable, and navigable.)

Demonstrate awareness of multiple genres by producing at least one effective text in a

professional, public, and non-essay genre. (E.g., portfolio contains a press release, an
 opinion-editorial essay, and a design for a billboard ad or PSA.)
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Means of Assessment
Students will be assessed according to the following criteria:

Portfolio/Final Reflection (50% of grade)

The portfolio/final reflection is a required element for every RHET 1311 student. This
assignment will require you to keep all written work (drafts, peer reviews and final papers)
organized throughout the semester in order to look back over the entire course and reflect on
the concepts and strategies presented, as well as how the course activities met the learning
outcomes. This assignment will be evaluated for the depth of reflection, structure and
organization, and grammar and mechanics. View assignment and rubric. Due: Dec. 5

Writing Assignments (30% of grade)

Three main writing assignments and their accompanying peer reviews will make up 30% of your
grade:

Read about and discuss elements of a rhetorical analysis, followed by writing a rhetorical
analysis of a speech presented by President Ronald Reagan following the Challenger space
shuttle explosion. This essay will be evaluated on its clarity, style and understanding of
rhetorical devices. View assignment and rubric. Final essay due: Sept. 27

Read and discuss narrative essays, followed by writing their own narrative about a personal
experience. This essay will be evaluated on its clarity, creativity, style and insight. View rubric.
View assignment and rubric. Final essay due: Oct. 20

Analyze a photo essay and create your own using photos you take and text you write. This essay
will be evaluated on the storytelling, creativity, writing structure and mechanics, and photo
choice. View assignment and rubric. Final essay due: Nov. 17

Discussions (11% of grade)

Discussion prompts will be provided most weeks and are an essential part of the course.
Discussions will be evaluated for content, engagement and clarity. View the discussion board
grading rubric here. All discussion boards use the same rubric. Guidelines for discussions are
below.

Other (9% of grade)

The category includes some short 10-point quizzes in Blackboard to review your knowledge of
our assigned readings. It also two synchronous online conferences and two prewriting
assignments, all of which are pass/fail.

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Grading
Grading in this course will be calculated on a traditional scale: (A = 90-100%, B = 80-89%, C = 70-
79%, NC = 0-69%).

Your accurate grade percentage will be displayed in the Grades button of the Blackboard site.
You should see a grade and feedback on shorter activities within 72 hours of the deadline. You
should see feedback on longer assignments within 7 days of the submission deadline. I will
communicate any changes from these deadlines via your UALR email account.
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Late Work
You are allowed to turn in one essay assignment (rhetorical analysis, narrative or photo essay)
up to three days late without penalty. For example, if the assignment is due at 11:59 p.m.
Sunday, you may turn it by 11:59 p.m. Wednesday. However, you should email Mrs. Van
Dusen (Sevandusen@ualr.edu) before the original due date to let her know you intend to
turn that assignment in late. This option does not apply to the course portfolio.

Any other work will not be accepted late unless arrangements are made with in advance.
Assignments should be submitted on or before the due date in the format specified for the
assignment. Failure to submit an assignment according to the guidelines by the deadline counts
as a late submission and be given a grade reduction (i.e., if you submit a document in an
unapproved format, submit to the wrong email address, etc.).
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Discussion Board Guidelines

Our online discussion board is a place for learning, sharing and participating. You will use the
discussion board to:
Ask questions about the reading material or assignments
Discuss topics with your classmates and instructor
Respond to posts by your classmates
Reflect on the subject matter to demonstrate your understanding of key concepts

The discussion board is a place where you can develop your writing and critical thinking skills in
a low-stress environment, while also getting to know your classmates.

Discussion Post Requirements

Initial Discussion Posts
Due dates are indicated on the course schedule.

Your initial discussion posts should be at least one paragraph of four or more sentences directly
addressing the discussion prompts. One paragraph is the minimum requirement and will earn
you an average grade, which is a C. To earn a higher grade, you must go above and beyond the
minimum requirements by writing a longer, thoughtful response or by responding to more than
one classmate.

When writing your initial post, use critical thinking skills to:
Analyze - Discuss the topic in detail using your unique point of view.
Ask questions - Consider what questions you have about the topic and include those questions
in your post. Encourage your classmates to reply with their thoughts on these questions.

** NOTE ** Some discussion board assignments may vary from this format. When in doubt,
refer to the weekly assignments for specific information.

Response Posts
Due dates are indicated on the course schedule and are usually two days after your initial post is
due.

You are required to respond to at least one other students initial post with well-thought-out
responses of at least one paragraph of four or more sentences. One paragraph is the minimum
requirement and will earn you an average grade, which is a C. To earn a higher grade, you must
go above and beyond the minimum requirements by writing a longer, thoughtful response or
by responding to more than one classmate.

A successful, well-thought-out response will add to the overall discussion. If your classmate has
posed questions in their initial post, try answering their questions. Simply posting statements
such as I agree, Me too, Good point or similar phrases will not satisfy the response
requirement.

Discussion Board Ground Rules

Proofread your posts and make sure you are using correct grammar, punctuation and
spelling. This counts toward your grade.
Text speak is not an acceptable communication method for this class. You may use
emoticons sparingly but do not use abbreviations such as LOL, SMH, etc.
Avoid plagiarism. If you quote a source, include a link to the original source. You dont
need to use MLA style on discussion boards. However, you should not try to pass off
someone elses writing as your own.
Practice proper Netiquette:
No YELLING! Refrain from using ALL CAPS, as this constitutes shouting in the
online discussion world.
Speak with respect to your fellow students and instructors. Use of profanity,
bullying or inflammatory language is strictly prohibited.
Be sure to answer the question or address the topic at hand. However, you also should
feel free to ask questions and include your personal experiences that are relevant to the
subject.

Course Policies
Appropriate academic conduct means maintaining a safe learning environment based on
mutual respect and civility. Students in online courses are expected to follow these basic rules
of netiquette:
Identify yourself in all posts and emails.
Use descriptive subject lines.
 Avoid sarcasm, as it can be easily misunderstood.
Respect your privacy and the privacy of others.
Reply to messages promptly.
Use correct grammar, punctuation and spelling.
Never use harassing, threatening, embarrassing, or otherwise abusive language or
actions.
Never transmit or promote content known to be illegal or that violates course policies.

Online communication that fails to meet these standards of conduct will be removed from the
course. Repeated misconduct may result in being blocked from online discussions, receiving a
grade penalty, being dismissed from the course or, in extreme cases, being subject to university
disciplinary action.
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Required Technology
To be successful in this online course, you will need the following:

Reliable Internet Access

You will need consistent Internet access to complete this course. You will be expected to check
Blackboard and our course website on a regular basis, participate in online discussions and
submit your assignments electronically. If you are unsure that your Internet connection is
reliable or if you do not have regular and consistent access to a computer (i.e., access to a
computer with Internet multiple days a week), please drop this course now. This course cannot
be effectively completed if you only have access to a computer once a week or if your Internet
access is unreliable.

In addition, you might need to download and use either Firefox or Chrome as the browser you
use in the course. Certain features in Blackboard and in Gmail and Google Drive will not work
well in Safari or Internet Explorer.

Google Hangouts
Twice during the semester, we will participate in Google Hangouts (synchronous video
conferences) to review where we are in the class, address questions or concerns, and discuss
where were going next. You will receive specific instructions on how to participate prior to the
Hangout, and you will be required to have either a computer with a webcam or a smartphone
with the Hangouts app installed. If you do not have either of these available, you can
participate with audio only by phone, however it is not preferable.

Students who want to practice connecting via Hangout will be given an opportunity before our
first session.

UALR Email
Due to FERPA regulations regarding student privacy, I will only respond to emails submitted
through your UALR email account. Do not contact me via Blackboard mail.

In accordance with fair use policies, course readings that are copyrighted and linked into the
course schedule can only be accessed through your UALR Gmail account. If you need help
accessing your email account, please contact Technology Support. For help with technology on
the UALR campus, please contact Technology Support.

Blackboard
Blackboard will be used for course announcements, discussions and other course activities. For
help with Blackboard, visit UALR Blackboard Student Support.

Reliable Document Storage (Google Drive)

It is highly preferable to store your documents, files and work in a cloud-based storage system.
You will need to understand how to use Google Docs and Drive (to which you have access
through your UALR Gmail account), as this is how you will turn in and store your assignments. If
you store your documents on your computer, a thumb drive or another source that can be lost
or damaged, you are risking your grade in the course.

Adobe Acrobat Reader

At times, you will be required to open pdf files, so an application, such as Acrobat Reader, will
need to be installed on your machine.

Word Processing Software

All of your work for this course will be written and shared in Google Docs, which you have
access to through your UALR Google account. Go to your UALR Gmail account and click on the
icon that looks like a Rubik's Cube in the top right corner. Then select "Docs. Watch this video
to get you started creating and sharing Google Docs.
PLEASE NOTE: All worked for this course must originate from your own UALR Google account
and must not be shared among other peoples accounts, unless you are specifically instructed
to do so for peer reviews or assignment submission.

For our photo essay project, you may choose to work in Google Sites, Google Slides, Instagram,
Weebly or another program that will display your photos and text together as a cohesive unit. It
is recommended you plan ahead and choose a program you are already familiar with for that
project.
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Dropping Classes
The last day to drop an individual class is Oct. 12 by 5 p.m.
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Academic Integrity Policy

Academic dishonesty cannot be condoned or tolerated in the university community. Such
behavior is considered a student conduct violation and students found responsible of
committing an academic offense on the campus, or in connection with an institution-related or
sponsored activity, or while representing the university or academic department, will be
disciplined by the university. Students committing academic offenses, including plagiarism and
using work for two classes without the instructors written permission, will be subject to receive
a failing grade for the assignment. Repeated offenses may result in a failing grade for the
course. For further information about the UALR Academic Integrity Policy, contact the Dean of
Students at 501.569.3328, deanofstudents@ualr.edu, or visit the office located in the
Donaghey Student Center, Room 215.
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Disability Statement
Students with Disabilities: Your success in this class is important to me, and it is the policy and
practice of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock to create inclusive learning environments
consistent with federal and state law. If you have a documented disability (or need to have a
disability documented), and need an accommodation, please contact me privately as soon as
possible, so that we can discuss with the Disability Resource Center (DRC) how to meet your
specific needs and the requirements of the course. The DRC offers resources and coordinates
reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations are
established through an interactive process among your instructor(s) and the DRC. Thus, if you
have a disability, please contact me and/or the DRC at 501-569-3143 (V/TTY) or 501-683-7629
(VP). For more information, please visit the DRC website.
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Non-discrimination Policy
UALR adheres to a policy that enables all individuals, regardless of race, color, gender, national
origin, age, sexual orientation, veterans status, or disability to work and study in an
environment unfettered by discriminatory behavior or acts. Harassment of an individual or
group will not be condoned by any personstudent, faculty, or staff memberwho violates
this policy will be subject to disciplinary action. Any person who believes they have been
discriminated against should contact the Human Resources Office to obtain assistance and
information concerning the filing of complaints (501.569.3180). It is not the intent of this policy
to infringe upon or limit educational, scholarly, or artistic expression. At the same time the
University prohibits discriminatory practices, it promotes equal opportunity through affirmative
action.
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Public Nature of the Writing Classroom

Please consider all writing for this class to be public. Part of becoming an effective writer is
learning to appreciate the ideas and feedback of others; in this course, our purpose is to come
together as a writing community. Remember that all students will be expected to share writing
with others. Avoid writing about topics that you wish to keep private or that you feel so
strongly about that you are unwilling to listen to the perspectives of others. Additionally, the
feedback that is provided is intended to help improve your writing; be open to the suggestions
about your writing.

Use of Copyrighted Material

The content in this course, and any third party content contributors (e.g., publishers, etc.) is
copyrighted. This course content is available to you during the semester in which you are
enrolled in the course. You may not modify, copy, reproduce, republish, upload, post, transmit,
or distribute, in any manner, the material in this course, including text, graphics, audio, video,
code and/or software without the expressed written permission from the copyright holder.