English 1106: Writing from Research

Spring 2015
Miss Lindsey Macdonald
Email: lmacdon@vt.edu
Office: Shanks 250
Office Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m., or by appointment

Course Description

English 1106 builds on the skills learned and practiced in English 1105. As its name
implies, however, English 1106 is also an introduction to writing with sources, both
primary and secondary. For your writing in this course, you will find and cite sources from
the library and the Internet, but you will also conduct fieldwork, such as practicing careful
observation, conducting interviews, and crafting surveys.
In addition to practicing research skills by collecting primary and secondary sources, you
will practice synthesizing elements of research into coherent wholes. Successful synthesis
of research requires that you understand and interpret your sources, putting them in
conversation with each other. This work also emphasizes correctly documenting and
attributing your sources. Furthermore, you will be expected to read a number of shorter
readings which primarily comprise non-fiction essays. Our class theme is identity, space,
and place, so we will be examining a range of topics, including education, technology, race,
health, and gender, and explore how they relate to ourselves and the world around us.

Required Texts & Course Materials

Writing at Virginia Tech (2014-2015) ISBN-10: 1-269-86408-4

Readings for Writing at Virginia Tech ISBN-10: 1-269-69996-2
You must own or have reliable access to a printer and a stapler.

Your Work in This Class

Essays
We will have three formal essays in this class (a fieldwork paper, a secondary source
analysis paper, and an argumentative research paper), which I will discuss in greater detail
as their due dates approach.
Journals and Informal Writing Assignments
You will be expected to turn in a journal most class periods. These journals will be in the
form of a short in-class writing assignment or a take-home writing assignment. In both
cases, using a given prompt, you will reflect on issues and ideas brought up in the reading
for that class period. Take-home writing assignments must be 1-2 pages typed and turned
in the class period they are due. You will also be required to turn in drafts of all your major
papers along with peer review sheets. These drafts and peer review sheets will count as
informal writing assignments. Other specified class activities will also count towards your
journal grade.

All journals and informal writing assignments will be graded on a check scaleyou
receive a check if you do the journal and do it well, a check minus if you half-heartedly
complete the journal, and a zero if no effort at all is present in your journal. These checks
translate to a 5-point scale: a check is worth 5 points, and a check minus is worth 2.5
points.

Presentations
Toward the end of the semester, you will give an individual presentation with visual aids.
This presentation will focus on your final research paper topic and should last for a total of
five minutes. We will discuss these presentations in more detail as they draw closer.

Grading
Points
250
200
50
250
50
200
1000

Assignment
Essay One: Fieldwork Essay (5-6 pages)
Essay Two: Secondary Source Analysis (4-5 pages)
Annotated Bibliography for Research Paper (minimum of five sources)
Essay Three: Formal Research Paper (7-8 pages)
Individual Presentation
Journals/Informal Writing Assignments
Course Total

Letter Grades:
A (94-100, 935-1000 points); A- (90-93, 895-934 points)
B+ (87-89, 865-894 points); B (84-86, 835-864 points); B- (80-83, 795-834 points)
C+(77-79, 765-794 points); C (74-76, 735-764 points); C- (70-73, 695-734 points)
D+ (67-69, 665-694 points); D (64-66, 635-664 points); D- (60-63, 595-634 points)
F (59 or below, 594 or fewer points)

Course Policies

Questions: Never hesitate to ask me questions if you are confused or need clarification.
Let me know if you cannot make it to my scheduled office hours, and well set up
another time where we can meet.
Cell Phones and Laptops: You will not be allowed to use your cell phones or laptops
during class time, unless I specify otherwise. Before class starts, make sure you turn
your phones to SILENT. Phones ringing or vibrating during class are a distraction to
both me and your peers. If you are expecting an important phone call, then please let
me know before class starts.
Attendance: Class participation is key, so your regular attendance in class will enhance
class discussion and foster a collaborative environment. Although I do not have an
attendance policy, a take-home journal or in-class journal will be due almost every class

period, and you will not be able to make these up or turn them in late unless you are
sick or have a family emergency.
Late Work: No late work will be accepted unless you are ill or have a family emergency.
Please come and speak with me if you feel like you wont be able to complete a project
on time. I will work with you and see how we can address the issue.
Revision Policy: Since the writing process is an integral component to English 1105,
revision will be built into each assignment. Therefore, once you turn in your final draft
you cannot revise for a better grade.
Scholar: You will also be required to use Scholar in this course (http://scholar.vt.edu).
On Scholar, I will post our class syllabus, as well as your major assignments and
handouts throughout the semester; your course grades will also be recorded on Scholar
throughout the semester. I will always announce, however, any work that will be due
and posted on Scholar.
Documentation: You must also be able to use correct documentation and format that
meets the standards of college and professional writing (such as the standards of the
Modern Language Association). All submitted pieces of writing should be typed,
double-spaced, in Times New Roman font size 12 with margins of one inch, or I will
deduct points from your work. You also must staple your essay in the top left corner.
Further, if you have any citations in your paper you must have a Works Cited page. You
must also have in-text citations. It is important to give credit to the sources you are
using, and having correct documentation is also helpful in avoiding the issue of
plagiarism.
Course Changes: I reserve the right to change the syllabus and schedule as needed. I
will notify you of any changes either in class or through Scholar.
Principles of Community: In this course, we will always emulate the Virginia Tech's
Principles of Community. If you have any questions, please ask me or consult the
Principles of Community web site at http://www.diversity.vt.edu/principles-ofcommunity/principles.html. A copy of the Principles can also be found in the inside
cover of Writing at Virginia Tech.
Honor Code: Academic integrity should always be the utmost priority in all the course
work that you complete. Therefore, the Virginia Tech Honor Code will be enforced. You
may find the complete Honor Code here, under Constitution:
www.honorsystem.vt.edu
Disability Accommodation: If you need adaptations or accommodations because of a
disability, have emergency medical information to share with me, or need special
arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, do not be afraid to talk with me. I
am more than happy to work with you on arranging the best accommodations for your
particular needs. You should also visit the Services for Students with Disabilities office.
More information may be found at the SSD website: http://www.ssd.vt.edu
VT Writing Center: Take advantage of the VT Writing Center, which is now located on
Newman Librarys second floor. Any student who visits the Writing Center will receive
a one-class extension on your assignment (provided you fill out a Client Release Form
to show you successfully completed your appointment). You can schedule an
appointment or walk-in. For more information, visit the Writing Center website, or call

540 231 5436. This is a valuable, free service. More information can be found at the
Writing Center website: www.composition.english.vt.edu/writing-center/index.html