Fall 2014

Bridgewater State University

Writing Rhetorically With Sources
ENGL 102-001, M-W-F, Rondileau, 110, 8:00 8:50
ENGL 102-004, M-W-F, Conant, 367, 9:00 9:55
Instructor: Melissa Freitas
Office: Maxwell Library lobby
Office Hours: M & W, 12:15 1:45
Email: m1freitas@bridgew.edu
A syllabus is a type of contract. By accepting this syllabus you are agreeing to abide by the terms
specified here. Your syllabus outlines all of the policies, guidelines and assignments for this course.
It is each students responsibility to read this document before the drop/add period ends and make
sure that she/he understands what is expected of them. If there are any questions, please contact
me.

Course Description
Welcome to Writing II: Writing Rhetorically with sources. In this class, you will build off of and refine
the skills that were developed in Writing I. In this class, these skills will be directed toward the task of
constructing a researched argument. Over the course of the semester, you will become acquainted with
the process of independently devising appropriate thesis statements that are based on your responses to
assigned readings, finding and evaluating sources that support your thesis, and translating those ideas into
a well organized essay that follows MLA format. We will work toward this goal by completing many
different types of assignments such as workshops, response essays, in-class exercises and homework
assignments.

Expected Outcomes
According to departmental standards, each student will:

Continue to grow as a writer and reader in relation to the ENGL 101 outcomes.
Become familiar with conducting research through the use of electronic academic research tools
such as the Maxwell Librarys online catalogue and electronic research databases.
Locate both primary and secondary source materials and evaluate their credibility.
Approach research as a recursive process, consisting of a series of tentative hypotheses that are
then tested and affirmed or revised.
Effectively integrate secondary sources into their own text, using an appropriate citation style,
while demonstrating a clear awareness of the relationship of these sources to the writers central
point and a clear distinction between the ideas and language of the writer and those of the
sources.

Required Texts and Course Materials

Lunsford, Andrea. The Everyday Writer, 5th ed Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2014. (LEW)
*Note: using the 4th ed. Is also fine!

Maasik, Sonia and Jack Solomon. Signs of Life in the USA: Readings on Popular Culture for Writers. 7th
ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2012. (SoL)
Numerous supplemental pieces will be required for this class and will be posted as links on Blackboard.
Students are responsible for printing out all required materials.
In addition, you will need to purchase a few additional items and register for a few services. Be sure to
buy:
a notebook
a portable USB drive
a three ring binder and some folders to keep your handouts and other materials organized
a stapler, staples and/or paper clips
You must also have a working BSU email account and register for Blackboard. Be sure to keep an eye on
both your email and Blackboard, as important announcements and links will be posted on a regular basis.

Class Policies
Attendance:
All students are expected to regularly attend class and actively participate; Students who miss more than
six class meetings will fail the course for the semester. (This applies to any and all absences throughout
the semester. There are no excused or unexcused absences.)
Your syllabus will be kept up to date and clearly outlines which assignments may or may not be turned in
via email or made up. If you do not attend class on a date when I have scheduled such an assignment, you
will not be allowed to hand it in at a later time.
If you are absent from class, it is your responsibility to check your syllabus to see what you missed that
day and what is expected from you on the day you return to class. I am available by email if you have any
questions. I do not accept absence as an excuse for coming to class unprepared.
Your syllabus clearly states what materials you need to bring to class in order to participate on any given
day. If you do not come prepared (i.e. you do not have your book(s), handouts, an assignment or a draft
that is due, etc.) then you cannot earn credit for any work we do that day.
Exceptions to this policy may be made at the instructors discretion, and will be limited to major events
such as serious illness/ injury, hospitalization, the death of an immediate family member or a car accident.
I will require appropriate documentation in order to make an exception.

Tardiness: Class begins promptly at the time stated on your syllabus. If you arrive more than ten minutes
late, you will be unable to earn credit for any in-class work on that date.
In order to receive credit for a class period you must be present for the entire class. If you leave early,
then your grade will be affected as though you had arrived late.
Formatting: All of your work must be typed and double spaced; never hand in anything thats been
handwritten! All margins should be set at one inch. All lines of text should be double spaced. You must
use Times New Roman for a font and your font size should be set at 12. All sources must be cited

according to MLA rules. All assignments should be labeled on the first page, in the upper lefthand corner
with a heading that looks like this:
Your name
ENGL 102 (section number)
Professor Melissa Freitas
Date:

Your work must be secured in the upper lefthand corner with a staple, or at the very least, a paperclip.
You must print on white paper that is blank on both sides and use black ink. Assignments that fail to meet
any of these standards will be automatically downgraded by half a letter grade (five points).
Any electronic documents you submit must be formatted as an MS Word document (A correctly
formatted document will have one of these file extensions: .doc or .docx.) All students have access to MS
Word courtesy of BSUs computer labs. If you have a Mac, or any questions about submitting or
converting documents, contact IT at: 508-531-2555.
It is your responsibility to submit e-documents in the correct format. If I cant open a document, then you
will not receive credit for the assignment.
Email Policies: my BSU email address is located at the top of your syllabus. If you have questions or
want to schedule a meeting with me, please use that address; the digital dropbox is for assignments only! I
check my email during business hours (9 -5) Mondays through Fridays. Please allow me two business
days before you ask if Ive read your message.
Helpful hint: CC yourself when you email me or submit something to the dropbox. Technology is great,
but its not 100% reliable! If you CC yourself when you email me youll have proof that you contacted
me in a timely manner.
Email is best saved for brief exchanges and questions that have definite and direct answers. I do not
review essay drafts via email. If youd like feedback from me on your work, Im happy to provide it
during a face-to-face consultation.
General Conduct: In this classroom, it is vital that we all show respect for one another. Any behavior
that shows anything other than courtesy and consideration will not be tolerated. I reserve the right the
right to ask any offender to stop in any behavior that violates this policy. Repeat offenders may face
disciplinary measures up to and including being asked to withdraw from the course. Examples of
problematic behavior may include, but are not limited to the following examples:
talking in class while either the instructor or a classmate is talking
using an electronic device such as a cell phone or laptop at any time during class
using sexist, racist, insulting or vulgar language (in class, email or on Blackboard)
sleeping in class
leaving before the designated end of the class period
Please note: if I see you engaging in any of the following activities during class time, then you will earn a
grade of zero/F for any activities we may be conducting that day.

Academic Dishonesty: Academic dishonesty refers both to plagiarism and misrepresenting your work in
other ways. Plagiarism is the use of someone elses words or ideas without acknowledging the original
source. Acts of academic dishonesty include the following:

turning in another students essay as your own;

turning the same essay (that you wrote) in for credit in two different classes. (NOTE: It is fine to
write about the same idea in two courses, to branch off of a project to create a new one, or to push
an idea that youve started developing in one paper significantly further in another, but it is
academically dishonest to turn in the same writing project in two courses);

including information or ideas from a print or online source in your essay without including a
citation to indicate the origin of the words;

If you have a question about whether you need to cite a source, ask your instructor or a Writing Studio
consultant or simply take the safe route and cite the source. You may also use SafeAssign, which is a free
program you can access though Blackboard, to help you detect potential problems.
Be warned: it doesnt matter if the entirety of an assignment or just a portion of it violates the Academic
Integrity policy of BSU. Cheating is cheating; there is no sliding scale for how grave the offense is. In this
class, any assignment containing plagiarized material will receive a failing grade (F/0), and the incident
will be reported to the Academic Vice Presidents office, as per BSU policy. Repeat offenders will
receive a failing grade for the semester and may face further disciplinary action from BSU.

Late Work and Make-Up Policies

Homework and in-class activities: hard copies of homework are due at the start of class. If you are
absent, you have until midnight on the designated due date to submit your work electronically by
uploading it to the digital dropbox. No late homework will be accepted. In-class activities and in-class
writing assignments may not be made up.
Summary and Response Assignments: these assignments must be turned in on the day we discuss the
relevant readings in class. If you are absent from class, you have until midnight that night to submit your
work to the digital dropbox. No late assignments will be accepted.
Blackboard Discussions: Blackboard assignments must be completed within the time frames specified
on the syllabus. If you are having technical difficulties use a different computer and/or consult IT
immediately. No make-ups or late assignments will be allowed.
Quizzes: some quizzes will be taken in class and others will be available online. (Expect pop quizzes!)
Quizzes may not be made up. If youre late for class, you will have less time to complete your quiz, and
the ten-minute tardiness rule still applies. If you arrive after I have collected a quiz, you will not be able to
make up the quiz.
Online quizzes will be available for a specific time frame and cannot be made up or submitted after the
deadline has passed. No exceptions will be made for technology failures as all students have access to the
BSU computer labs and IT support.

Workshops: in order to receive credit for a workshop, you must be present and have the required amount
of hard (paper) copies of your draft. There are numerous computer labs on campus that open at 7:45 a.m.
and stay open late, so printing out your work should not be an issue.
If you do not have hard copies of your draft DO NOT email me your draft to show me that you did your
work, or ask me to print it out. If you come to class without a draft, you will receive a grade of zero for
the workshop and be marked as absent. Students who do not arrive with the appropriate number of drafts
will receive an automatic grade of 60% for that workshop.
Essays: All essays are due at the start of class on the date specified on the syllabus; however, each student
will be allowed one opportunity to turn in a late essay. Late essays will not be accepted unless you discuss
the issue with me at least a week in advance of the due date. In the event of an emergency, please contact
me ASAP and provide me with an appropriate form of documentation. In a situation which warrants an
extended due date, the essay must be handed in by the date and time that has been mutually agreed upon.
After that point, the assignment will not be accepted and no credit will be awarded.
If you are absent from class (or know you will be absent) on the day an assignment is due, you will not be
granted an extension. Instead, you will have until midnight on the due date to send your essay to the
digital dropbox.

Class Resources
The Writing Studio: The BSU Writing Studio is great resource for students who want extra assistance or
feedback on their work. Here, you can build on your in class workshop experiences at the individual level,
by scheduling a conference with one of the studios consultants. The Writing Studio is located on the
ground floor of the Maxwell Library in the Academic Achievement Center. Appointments can be made in
person, by phone (508-531-2053), or by email (writingcenter@bridgew.edu). Walk-ins are also welcome,
but the Writing Studio cannot guarantee that they can accommodate walk-ins, so making an appointment
is best.
Special Accommodations: In accordance with BSU policy, I am available to discuss appropriate
accommodations that students with physical or learning disabilities may require. Requests for
accommodations should be made during the drop/add period. Students should register with the
Disabilities Resources Office in Boyden Hall for disability verification and determination of reasonable
academic accommodations.

Final Grade Breakdown

Participation, Quizzes, & Homework: 15%
Blackboard discussion: 15%
Summaries and Responses: 15%
Short Essays: 20%
Researched essay: 25%
Presentations 10%
A word or two on grading: many students operate under the unfortunate misconception that if they attend
class regularly and turn in all their assignments, they deserve a grade of B- or better. Students do not
deserve grades; grades are earned, and a grade of B- or better is reserved for individuals who perform at a
level that can be described as better than average or more than satisfactory. An individual who turns
in their assignments and does not skip class is not exceptional. He/she is putting in the minimum amount

of effort that is required to pass this class. If you would like to receive a grade in the B range, then you
must invest more than a minimal amount of effort.
Final grades reflect the exact percentage of points earned over the course of the semester and will not be
scaled.
Grading Scale

A = 93% - 100% / A- = 90% - 92%

B+ = 87% 89% / B = 83% - 86% / B- = 80% - 82%
C+ 77% - 79% / C = 76% - 73% / C- = 70% - 72%
D+ = 67% - 69% / D = 66% - 66% / D- = 60% - 62%
F = 59% and below

Schedule of Assignments (subject to change at instructors discretion)

9/3:

Introduction to class
Review syllabus

MLA review: topics include why to cite, where to cite and when to cite.
Review the relevant chapter in LEW

MLA review: topics include: direct quotes, paraphrasing and summaries.

Read pgs. 180-188 in LEW

9/5:

9/8:

9/10:

9/12:

9/15:

Read the Writing with Sources, handout thats posted on Blackboard

Today well discuss how to integrate and manage quotations
For today, please read Division and Analysis handout that is available as a PDF in the external
links section of Blackboard.
We will also briefly discuss what it means to write rhetorically
In-class analysis of print advertisements through small group work. Todays class will focus on
the ads for Campbells soup and McDonalds that are in your packet of ads.

9/17:

Today, well do more group work with advertisements. Today, we will cover the ads for milk and
Disney parks that are in your packet.

9/19:

Please read the handout on introductions and conclusions. We will discuss various strategies for
how writers can strengthen their writing and do some in-class work.

9/22:

9/24:

9/26:

Today, well review the features of a strong thesis statement.

Three copies of your proposal for the visual analysis essay are due in class. (Follow the
directions on the handout that was distributed.)Today, well use those proposals as part of a brief
workshop.
Blackboard Discussion thread #1 opens
Bring three copies of your draft to class for a workshop.
Presentations of visual analysis projects begin
Blackboard #1 closes

9/29:

Presentations of visual analysis projects continue

Final draft of visual analysis project due. (Please upload 1 copy of your essay to the digital
dropbox in addition to handing in a hard copy.)

10/1:

For today, please read the handout on argument and persuasion. (PDF in the external links
section of Blackboard)

10/3:

10/6:

Argument and persuasion continued.

Tie up loose ends and maybe get a bit of practice analyzing arguments
Read in SoL: Enough About You, pgs. 472-74
Summary & Response #1 due
Blackboard discussion thread #2 opens

10/8:

Read in SoL: High School Confidential: Notes on Teen Movies, pgs. 424-30
Summary & Response #2 due

10/10:

Read in SoL: How College Corrupts, pgs. 580 -86

Summary & Response #3 due
Blackboard # 2 closes

10/13:
Columbus Day: class canceled
10/15:

Read in SoL: Why We Love TVS Anti-heroes, pg. 318-21

Summary & Response #4 due

10/17:

Read in SoL: Commodify Your Dissent, pgs. 163 -68

Summary & Response #5 due

10/20:

Three copies of your proposal for the response essay are due in class. (Follow the directions on
the handout that was distributed.)Today, well use those proposals as part of a brief workshop.

10/22:

Read Yes/No/Okay, But (PDF in the external links Blackboard). Today, well do an in-class
activity based on our recent reading assignments.

10/24:
Workshop for response essay. Bring three hard copies of your draft to class.
10/27:

Bring your laptops to class so you can follow along with todays presentation on library research.

10/29:

Final draft of response essay due in class

Bring your notebooks to class. Today, well test the Myth of the Boring Topic and address the
issue of forming a good research question.

10/31:

Midsemester conferences begin. Be sure to review the relevant handout and have all necessary
items on hand.

11/3:

11/5:

Midsemester conferences continue

Midsemester conferences continue

11/7:
Last day of midsemester conferences.
11/10:

Bring in three copies of a proposal for your research topic. We will use these proposals as part of
a workshop where you can refine your focusing question

11/12:
Class canceled. Follow Tuesdays schedule.
11/14:
Small group presentations on MLA topics

11/17:

For todays class, bring in three copies of a 1-2 paragraph abstract (summary) of your research
paper. Today, well workshop these proposals. By this point, you should have a working thesis of
some kind and not just a topic or question!

11/19:
Small group presentations on MLA topics
11/21:

Read the Ballenger handout on introductions and review the handout on this topic that was
distributed earlier this semester.
Bring three copies of three different introductions to class for an in-class activity.

11/24:

Independent research and writing lab. Bring all relevant materials to class.

11/26:
Workshop for researched essay. Bring three hard copies of your draft to class. (Note: you must be
present and participate in the workshop in order to earn credit. No early submissions or make-ups
allowed!)
11/28:
Thanksgiving break: class canceled
12/1:
Independent research and writing lab. Bring all relevant materials to class.
Blackboard #4 opens
12/3:
Presentations of research papers begin
12/5:
Presentations continue
12/8:
Presentations continue
Blackboard #4 closes
12/10:
Last day of presentations
Final papers due