Writing for Success

DWTG-0V91- 0U1
Summer 2009

Instructor: Thomasina Hickmann

Email: hickmann@utdallas.edu
Phone: (972)883-6707
Office: CN 1.126

Class Times and Location: Tuesday and Thursday from 1:00-2:45pm in CN 1.204
Office Hours: Wednesdays from 8:00-9:00am

Required Textbook:

The Little, Brown Handbook by H. Ramsey Fowler and Jane E. Aaron, 10th edition. Longman,
2007.

Course Description: A writing-intensive course that offers students the opportunity to develop
proficiency in the inventing, drafting, revising, and editing skills necessary for writing multi-
paragraph papers. Topics will include sentence structure, grammar, paragraph development,
usage, and mechanics. This developmental course cannot be used for degree credit.

Credit Hours: 2

Lab Required

Course Objectives: Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

State and maintain a focus in writing

Provide adequate support for written statements
Produce writing samples that include functioning paragraphs and effective introductions
and conclusions
Recognize purpose and audience
Show effective organization in writing
Compose effective sentences
Document references according to the MLA style
Show development of the relevant skills necessary to perform satisfactorily on the THEA
exam

NOTE: Please be advised that this syllabus is subject to change.

Attendance and Participation Policy

If your enrollment at The University of Texas at Dallas depends upon your attendance in this
class, you should accumulate no more than two unexcused absences, as stated in the course
contract you have signed. In the case of an excused absence, you must make up any missed
work within one calendar week. This arrangement is subject to your providing official
documentation that explains the nature of the emergency, such as a letter from a doctor in the
event of illness or a funeral program/announcement in the event of a family death. Without the
proper documentation, any absence above the two allowed unexcused absences will jeopardize
your enrollment in the course and at UT Dallas.

If you are consistently late to class, your tardiness will negatively affect your attendance record
and therefore jeopardize your enrollment at the university.

Your success in the class depends upon your active participation. In order to comply with the
university’s TSI policy, you must complete the assigned work on time and adequately prepare
for class discussions.

If you pass the THEA test and no longer choose to attend the class, you should consult with
the instructor immediately to determine your options. For example, you may be obliged to
continue attending the class in order to maintain your enrollment status at the University.

For those students who are NOT subject to the university’s TSI policy: You are responsible
for all work missed due to an absence from class. Your final grade, however, may be lowered
after three unexcused absences. If you choose not to attend class once you are enrolled, you
must withdraw from the course to avoid receiving a final grade of “F.” The deadlines for
withdrawal are published in each semester's course catalog.

NOTE: Depending on your skill level, you may need more than one semester of developmental
coursework to pass the relevant portion of the THEA test.

Course Requirements and Grade Evaluation

Your final grade for the course will be based on the following:

Lab Assignments = 10%

Grammar/Mechanical Conventions Exam = 20%

Essay 1/Rough Draft = 10% Essay 1/Final Draft = 20%

Essay 2/Rough Draft = 15% Essay 2/Final Draft = 25%

 Grading Scale

A+ 97-100 C 73-76

A 93-96 C- 70-72

A- 90-92 D+ 67-69

B+ 87-89 D 63-66

B 83-8 D- 60-62

B- 80-82 F 0-59

C+ 77-79

Assignments

To prepare for class, complete the readings and the relevant exercises before the date on which
the material has been assigned for class discussion.

Essays: Your papers should be typed, double spaced, have one inch margins, and use 12 point
Times New Roman font (For more information, refer to the MLA format explained in Chapter 47
in The Little, Brown Handbook.). Late assignments will be docked one letter grade, but, if the
work is turned in more than one week after the due date, it will not be accepted. In addition,
assignments submitted via email will not be accepted unless by prior arrangement with the
instructor.

For Essay 1, you will write a 450-600 word paper on an assigned topic. In writing this essay,
you should not rely on outside research. For Essay 2, you will write a 750-900 word research
paper on an assigned topic. In regard to Essay 2, you should incorporate at least 3 different
research sources drawn from the UTD databases only.

In addition to turning in a hard copy of each draft, you should submit the paper electronically to
www.turnitin.com. I will consider an essay late unless I have received both a hard copy and
an electronic copy by the beginning of class on the due date.

Lab work: These assignments provide instruction designed to address your individual concerns.

You are required to make an appointment for a consultation in the Writing Center to work on the
first drafts and the final drafts of the assigned essays (4 drafts in total). You must make your
appointment at least the day before the essay assignment is due because you will need at least
that much time to work on developing the ideas or making the revisions that you and the
consultant discuss. Depending on your skill level, you may need to do additional lab
assignments, which will consist of further one-on-one tutoring sessions and/or online exercises in
the Writing Center.
Exams

The Grammar/Mechanical Conventions Exam will be based on the assigned material in Parts 3, 4
and 5 of The Little, Brown Handbook.

You cannot make up a missed exam except in the case of an excused absence. See the
attendance policy on the previous page for a description of the kind of documentation you will
need to provide.

Some Helpful Online Resources: For information about writing assignments, grammar, and
mechanics, go to

http://www.utdallas.edu/ossa/student-success/resources/

owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/index2.html; www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts;

www.drgrammar.org

For information about specific words, consult the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

at www.ldoceonline.com or the Merriman-Webster Dictionary at www.m-w.com or go to

www.wordsmyth.com or www.visuwords.com

Student Conduct and Discipline: The University of Texas System and The University of
Texas at Dallas have rules and regulations for the orderly and efficient conduct of their business.
It is the responsibility of each student and each student organization to be knowledgeable about
the rules and regulations which govern student conduct and activities. General information on
student conduct and discipline is contained in the UTD publication, A to Z Guide, which is
provided to all registered students each academic year. The University of Texas at Dallas
administers student discipline within the procedures of recognized and established due process.
Procedures are defined and described in the Rules and Regulations, Board of Regents, The
University of Texas System, Part 1, Chapter VI, Section 3, and in Title V, Rules on Student
Services and Activities of the university's Handbook of Operating Procedures. Copies of these
rules and regulations are available to students in the Office of the Dean of Students, where staff
members are available to assist students in interpreting the rules and regulations (SU 1.602,
972/883-6391).

Email Use: The University of Texas at Dallas recognizes the value and efficiency of
communication between faculty/staff and students through electronic mail. At the same time,
email raises some issues concerning security and the identity of each individual in an email
exchange. The university encourages all official student email correspondence be sent only to a
student's U.T. Dallas email address and that faculty and staff consider email from students
official only if it originates from a UTD student account. This allows the university to maintain a
high degree of confidence in the identity of each individual corresponding and the security of the
transmitted information. UTD furnishes each student with a free email account that is to be used
in all communication with University personnel. The Department of Information Resources at
U.T. Dallas provides a method for students to have their U.T. Dallas mail forwarded to other
accounts.

Academic Integrity: The University expects all students to maintain a high level of
responsibility with respect to academic honesty. Because the value of an academic degree
depends upon the absolute integrity of the work done by the student for that degree, it is
imperative that a student demonstrate a high standard of individual honor in his or her scholastic
work.

Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts or omissions related to
applications for enrollment or the award of a degree, and/or the submission as one's own work or
material that is not one's own. As a general rule, scholastic dishonesty involves one of the
following acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion and/or falsifying academic records. Students
suspected of academic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary proceedings. Plagiarism, especially
from the web, from portions of papers for other classes, and from any other source is
unacceptable and will be dealt with under the university's policy on plagiarism (see general
catalog for details). This course has access to the resources of turnitin.com, which searches
the web for possible plagiarism and is over 90% effective.

SECTION 49.36 SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY

(d) Cheating includes, but is not limited to

(1) copying from another student's test paper, laboratory report, other report, or
computer files, data listings, and/or programs or engaging in conduct that
facilitates such conduct by another student.
(2) using during a test, materials not authorized by the person giving the test;
(3) failing to comply with instructions given by the person administering the test
which would include, but not be limited to, time restrictions, use of blue book,
seating arrangements;
(4) collaborating with or seeking aid from or giving aid to another student during a
test;
(5) knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting in whole or
in part the contents of an unadministered test, test key, homework solutions, or
computer program;
(6) substituting for another student, or permitting another person to substitute for
oneself, to take a test;
(7) soliciting another person to obtain an unadministered test or information about
an unadministered test;
(8) discussing the contents of an examination with another student who will take
the examination;
(9) possession during a test of materials that are not authorized by the person giving
the test, such as class notes or specifically designed "crib notes." The presence
of textbooks constitutes a violation only if they have been specifically
prohibited by the person administering the test.
 (10) submission of substantial portions of the same academic work for credit
(including oral reports) more than once without written authorization from the
instructor.
(e) Plagiarism means the appropriation, buying, receiving as a gift, or obtaining by any
means another's work and the submission or incorporation of that work in one's own written
work offered for credit without appropriate attribution.
(f) Collusion means the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing
academic assignments offered for credit.
(g) Falsifying academic records means the altering of grades or other falsification
(statements, acts or omissions) of academic records including but not limited to the application
for admission, grade reports, test papers, registration materials, and reporting forms used by the
registrar's office or other university offices.
(h) Falsifying data or experiments includes, but is not limited to, the submission of false
findings and/or the citation of false references in research or other assignments submitted for
credit and/or for the awarding of a degree.
Disability Services: The University of Texas at Dallas is on record as being committed to both
the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation; reference Public Law 92-112 - The
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. With the passage of new federal legislation entitled
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), pursuant to section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, there is
renewed focus on providing this population with the same opportunities enjoyed by all citizens.

As a faculty member, I am required by law to provide "reasonable accommodations" to students

with disabilities, so as not to discriminate on the basis of that disability. Student responsibility
primarily rests with informing faculty of their need for accommodation and in providing
authorized documentation through designated administrative channels. Information regarding
specific diagnostic criteria and policies for obtaining academic accommodations can be found at:
www.utdallas.edu/student/slife/hcsvc.html. Please visit the office of Disability Services in
Student Union (1.610) or call at 972.883.2098 to obtain proper paperwork for this class.

Religious Holy Days: The University of Texas at Dallas will excuse a student from class or
other required activities for the travel to and observance of a religious holy day for a religion
whose places of worship are exempt from property tax under Section 11.20, Tax Code, Texas
Code Annotated. The student is encouraged to notify the instructor or activity sponsor as soon as
possible regarding the absence, preferably in advance of the assignment. The student, so
excused, will be allowed to take the exam or complete the assignment within a reasonable time
after the absence: a period equal to the length of the absence, up to a maximum of one week. A
student who notifies the instructor and completes any missed exam or assignment may not be
penalized for the absence. A student who fails to complete the exam or assignment within the
prescribed period may receive a failing grade for that exam or assignment.
 CLASS SCHEDULE

Week 1 – 6/09-6/11 Introduction to the course and Diagnostic Writing

Sample
Thursday: Discussion of Chapters 6 and 10

Week 2 – 6/16-6/18 Tuesday: Discussion of Chapters 2 and 4

Thursday: Outline 1 is due.

Week 3 – 6/23-6/25 Tuesday: Discussion of Chapter 3 and common

grammatical errors
Rough Draft of Essay 1 is due.
Thursday: Discussion of common grammatical errors
Writing Conferences

Week 4 – 6/30-7/02 Tuesday: Discussion of Chapters 15, 19, and 20

Thursday: Discussion of Chapters 17 and 18
Final Draft of Essay 1 is due.
Turn this in with the rough draft that has my comments.

Week 5 – 7/07-7/09 Tuesday: Discussion of Chapters 21 and 25

Thursday: Grammar/Mechanical Conventions Exam

Week 6 – 7/14-7/16 Tuesday: Library Orientation

Thursday: Discussion of Chapters 45 and 46

Week 7 – 7/21-7/23 Tuesday: Outline 2 is due.

Thursday: Discussion of Chapter 47

Week 8 – 7/28-7/30 Tuesday: Rough Draft of Essay 2 is due

Thursday: Writing Conferences

Final Exam Week Thursday, August 6th – Final Draft of Essay 2 is due.
Turn this in with the rough draft that has my comments.