Writing Studies 3121				Spring 2012
Section Number:
Class Meetings:
Instructor: Mike Lynch
Office: Kirby Plaza 320
Office Hours: 9:20-10:20 Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10-11 Fridays, and by appointment
Office Phone: 726-6217
Mailbox: Writing Studies Office (Humanities 420)
Email: mlynch@d.umn.edu
Department Secretary: 726-8131
Course Website: http://www.d.umn.edu/~mlynch/writ3121.htm
Course Prerequisites: WRIT 1120 or equivalent; 60 credits minimum.
Required Materials
Oliu, Walter E., Charles T. Brusaw and Gerald J. Alred. Writing that Works: Communicating Effectively on the Job. 10th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2007. Print.
Kolln, Martha. Rhetorical Grammar. 6th ed. New York: Longman, 2007. Print.
Microsoft Word is recommended. See course website for information on acquiring the latest Office suite.
Course Description
WRIT 3121 focuses on professional writing in business and organizations, especially for audiences who must make decisions based on your writing. We will work on planning, composing, revising, and editing several types of writing. Assignments and activities will address the principles of effective writing and your ability to apply them to specific writing tasks. Because the primary course objective is to prepare you to work in a professional setting, professional standards will be set. The degree to which your work products, habits, attitude, and performance would or would not be acceptable in a professional workplace will be reflected in your grades.
Readings & Assignments
During the course of the semester you will work on a variety of writing assignments, individual and group exercises, and unannounced quizzes on the readings. All assignments must be word-processed, double-spaced, stapled, and formatted appropriately. You are advised to keep at least two back-up copies of every paper to safeguard against accidental data loss. IMPORTANT: You must turn in all of the major papers to pass the course.
The Rhetorical Grammar exercises must also be typed and each answer should consist of complete sentences. Do not turn in odd-numbered answers, as these are provided for you in the back of the text; you are only graded on your even-numbered answers. Handwritten book exercises will receive an automatic score of zero that cannot be made up.
All assignments must be turned in on or before the class meeting (not after) on the due date. Late work will not be accepted for credit, except in the event of unusual and unpreventable circumstances (about which you notify me as soon as possible, usually before the due date), but I am very unlikely to make such an exception, particularly if it involves blaming the computer for something you could have avoided by saving often and keeping a backup copy of your work. You must be prepared to present documentation for any late work you feel has a legitimate reason to be accepted for credit.
Note: All work done for this class is considered to be public. It may be reproduced or reviewed in class for instructional purposes.
Group Work
You will be assigned groupmates early in the semester. In groups, you will meet occasionally outside of class, but will mainly work on in-class assignments, including Peer Review on certain papers.
Peer Review is a collaborative process designed to nurture your writing skills; it is integral to the success of your work. On Peer Review Days, your peers read and make comments about your paper using a Peer Review Worksheet which is handed out at the beginning of each Peer Review Day. If you are not present or prepared for Peer Review, your paper's score will be reduced. Tardiness on a Peer Review Day may prevent you from participating and thus lower your paper's score.
Attendance Policy
Regular attendance in WRIT 3121 class sessions is likely to improve your performance on assignments. If class meetings conflict with any priority you may have (job, family, etc.), I suggest you transfer into another section of WRIT 3121. Please come to class fully prepared to discuss the assigned readings and/or work with writing drafts.
If for some reason you are absent, it is your responsibility to get missed notes and assignments from your classmates; do not ask me for notes. You must submit any assignments on time or prior to the absence in order to receive credit for them. An absence during one of the in-class writing/revising assignments will result in an "F" for that assignment. Make-up assignments will only be given if a legitimate, verifiable reason for the absence is provided. UMD defines "legitimate and verifiable circumstances" as: subpoenas, jury duty, military duty, religious observances, illness, bereavement for immediate family, and NCAA varsity intercollegiate athletics.
Attendance at conferences with the instructor are required; points will be deducted if you fail to sign up, show up, or bring a draft. There are three rounds of conferences (for the proposal, progress report, and A&R report).
Office Hours & Contacting Me
Think of my office as an extension of the classroom and use my office hours to discuss any questions or difficulties you may have pertaining to the course. Outside my regular office hours, mutually convenient appointments can be made with me as well.
Special Needs
It is the policy and practice of the University of Minnesota Duluth to create inclusive learning environments for all students, including students with disabilities.  If there are aspects of this course that result in barriers to your inclusion or your ability to meet course requirements – such as time limited exams, inaccessible web content, or the use of non-captioned videos – please notify the instructor as soon as possible.  You are also encouraged to contact the Office of Disability Resources to discuss and arrange reasonable accommodations.  Fore more information, please call 218-726-6130 or visit the DR website at:
http://www.d.umn.edu/access
Academic Integrity
Academic dishonesty tarnishes UMD's reputation and discredits the accomplishments of students. Academic dishonesty is regarded as a serious offense by all members of the academic community. UMD's Student Academic Integrity Policy can be found at:
http://www.d.umn.edu/conduct/integrity
Student Conduct Code
Appropriate classroom conduct promotes an environment of academic achievement and integrity.  Disruptive classroom behavior that substantially or repeatedly interrupts either the instructor's ability to teach, or student learning, is prohibited. Students are expected to adhere to the University's Student Conduct Code:
http://www1.umn.edu/regents/policies/academic/Student_Conduct_Code.pdf
Teaching & Learning: Instructor and Student Responsibilities
UMD is committed to providing a positive, safe, and inclusive place for all who study and work here.  Instructors and students have mutual responsibility to insure that the environment in all of these settings supports teaching and learning, is respectful of the rights and freedoms of all members, and promotes a civil and open exchange of ideas. To reference the full policy please see:
http://www.d.umn.edu/vcaa/TeachingLearning.html
Final Exams
All 1xxx-5xxx courses offered for undergraduate credit should include a final graded component or end of term evaluation that assesses the level of student achievement of one or more course objectives. All final graded components are to be administered or due at the time and place according to the final exam schedule and not during the last week of class. To reference the full policy please see:
http://www.d.umn.edu/vcaa/FinalExams.html
Appropriate Student Use of Class Notes and Course Materials
Taking notes is a means of recording information but more importantly of personally absorbing and integrating the educational experience. However, broadly disseminating class notes beyond the classroom community or accepting compensation for taking and distributing classroom notes undermines instructor interests in their intellectual work product while not substantially furthering instructor and student interests in effective learning. For additional information, please see:
http://www.d.umn.edu/vcaa/ClassNotesAppropriateUseof.html
Course Grade Chart
Graded Course Components	Points	% of Total
Proposal	48	12%		Please note that this is only a general guide to grading, not necessarily an exact indicator of your final grade. Final grades may differ for various reasons and are determined at my discretion. The instructor reserves the right to add quizzes or other homework assignments to the course requirements at any time.
Group Project	28	7%
Progress Report & Literature Review	60	15%
Analysis & Recommendation: Written	100	25%
Analysis & Recommendation: Oral	28	7%
Final Exam	32	8%
ePortfolio Assignment	8	2%
Résumé/Cover Letter	16	4%
Exercises (4 pts. each)	24	6%
In-Class Work	8	2%
Conference Participation & Preparation	8	2%
Peer Review Preparation	8	2%		The first 2 peer review days are worth 4 points each; the last is worth 8.
Peer Review Participation	8	2%
Peer Evaluations	12	3%
Quizzes	12	3%		See the course website for letter grade equivalents.
TOTAL	400	100%
Overall Grading Criteria
A = Full mastery, versatility, originality, and intellectualism. No serious flaws.
B = Mastery of fundamentals. Very few serious flaws.
C = Acceptable but not outstanding. Some flaws may persist.
D = Minimal competence; some satisfactory elements. Many errors in fundamentals.
F = Unsatisfactory; serious flaws in many areas.