English 101CD

Native Americans

Dr. Susanne George Bloomfield

Fall 2005

COMPOSITION 101: NATIVE AMERICANS

CLASS REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS

1. The textbooks required for English 101CD will be The Dance House: Stories from Rosebud by Joseph Marshall III and The Concise Wadsworth Handbook by Kirszner and Mandell.

2. A Home Page for this class has been created within my university Home Page and all of the class information as well as other resources can be accessed at the follow URL:

http://faculty.unk.edu/b/bloomfields

2. Grades will be determined by a point system and will include several factors:

A. FORMAL PAPERS (225 possible points)

Students will write four papers in response to reading and writing assignments discussed in class: the first two of 3 pages each (750 words); the third of 4 pages (1,000 words); and the fourth of 6-8 pages (1,500-2,000 words) with a minimum of 3 outside sources. If the text for the class (The Dance House) is used, it should be cited but will not count as an outside text.

The organization, content, style, and grammar as well as the quality and appropriateness of the research will help determine the points earned. The papers will be worth 40, 50, 60, and 75 points respectively. They must be typed according to the MLA format in 12 point Courier New font with the number of words on the last page. They must be turned in fastened together with a paper clip and inside a two-pocket folder along with all rough drafts. Points will be deducted for late papers or missing rough drafts.

B. DAILY GRADES (approximately 44 possible points)

In addition, daily writing assignments, including rough drafts, will be worth either 2(**), 3(***), 4(****), or 5 (*****) points. Asterisks mark when these assignments are due and how much they are worth. If a student is absent, he or she may hand in the assignment early, hand it in at the session following the absence, or work out a special arrangement with the professor if unusual complications arise.

C. Participation/ATTENDANCE (32 possible points)

Participation is an important part of the discovery, writing, and revising process. As we will be doing group collaboration and individual conferencing during the class periods, attendance is crucial. Points will be given for every class attended, with 3 extra points for no absences. After two absences, additional points will be deducted for each absence. Only under exceptional circumstances will absences be excused or modifications made.

The class will meet for 29 sessions. For example, if a student has perfect attendance, he or she will receive 29 points plus 3 bonus points, bringing the maximum attendance points possible for the semester to 32. If a student misses one class period, 28 points will be given and 27 points if two sessions are missed. After that, not only will students not receive a point for attending that period, but an additional point will be subtracted. (3 absences = 25 points; 4 absences = 23 points; 5 absences = 21 points, etc.) This graphically demonstrates how poor attendance could substantially harm a student's semester grade. If a student is on the borderline of a grade break, participation in class discussion and group work could tip the balance.

3. Daily writing assignment points, attendance points, and points for the four papers will be totaled and scaled for the final grade. The scale will not be determined by any set percentage but by natural breaks in the point list. After every major assignment, a point list will be posted so that students will be able to determine their approximate standings at that time.

4. My office is in 109D Thomas Hall, and this semester my office hours will be from 12:30-2:00 T-TH. If a student cannot meet with me during this time, I will be happy to make special arrangements. My office number is 865-8867. Students may leave a message with the English Department secretary at 865-8299 or contact me by e-mail: bloomfields@unk.edu.