The Research Paper
ENGL 201, Section OBS

Summer 2011 -- Online

Instructor: Cassie Cross cross.cassie@gmail.com
Office Hours: Tuesdays 5-6pm, e-mail for appointment Office: R230K

Hello! Welcome to The Research Paper, ENGL 201. Whether writing is your most favorite or most avoided activity, each and every student has the opportunity to succeed at writing an interesting, well-informed and maybe even enjoyable research paper. Yes, writing can be fun to read. I’d like to invite you to think about this class as less of a “research report” class and more of a “research essay” class.

Writing is a recursive and frequently collaborative process of invention, drafting, and revising. In this course you will develop the skills you need to write a research essay. You will learn research methods, analyze text and sources, learn how to develop a thesis and gather supporting evidence. We will also discuss the connection between writing, reading, and critical thinking.

Writing is a process, and you will learn how to do clear and thoughtful revision of your work. This course will rely on a workshop format, where your classmates will respond to your writing and you will give thoughtful and respectful comments on your peers’ papers as well.

Responding to writing—published writers as well as your classmates’ work—will help you to think more critically and objectively about your own writing. Ideas, given time and reflection, can develop and grow; in this course you will have the opportunity to make use of the process format and succeed in writing well-informed, highly developed research papers.

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

· Write an objective summary of a complex college level essay

· Critically evaluate source material, in terms of style, tone, logic, and overall persuasiveness

· Write a critical analysis of source material

· Synthesize source material and integrate it into your writing smoothly and appropriately

· Be comfortable using library sources and materials

· Use an appropriate note-taking system

· Cite sources properly, both in text and on Works Cited pages

· Be able to develop, organize and support a clearly defined thesis in a 6-10 page research paper

· Fine-tune group feedback and editing skills

· Have a firm grasp of grammar and mechanics and be able to edit your own work

What books do I need for this course?

They Say, I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing by Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein

The Little Seagull Handbook by Richard Bullock and Francine Weinberg

What is required of me for this course?

· Two papers, edited and polished

· Drafts/revisions of each of the two papers

· One short essay, edited and polished

· Research proposal

· Turning in all drafts and essays on time

· Active participation in workshop and online discussions

How is my grade figured?

Paper 1 (4-5 pages).................	20%	Research Proposal...................................	15%
Paper 2 (6-10 pages)..............	35%	Discussion Board Posts..........................	10%
Conversation Between Critics..............................................	10%	Peer Review/Workshop.........................	10%

How do I succeed in this class?

Communication is key. I don’t have the pleasure of meeting you face-to-face on a regular basis, therefore I want to see you online. Post to the discussion board, turn in assignments on time, and contact me by email if you have any concerns. Worried about an assignment? Let me know. I’d rather help you with your draft than give a poor grade to a problematic final paper.

I am also available to meet with you, should you need a one-on-one appointment. I have live office hours on Tuesday evenings from 5 to 6pm at Bellevue College.

How does the discussion board work?

Throughout this course I will be assigning you discussion topics to explore alongside the readings. Read the essays and be an active participant in the online discussion board. Trust me, the essays will be interesting to you.

You should be posting at least once on each discussion, whether it is responding to the question I ask, or posting a response to one of your classmates’ comments. Responses will typically be 200-250 words.

Discussions will always open on Tuesdays. I encourage you to look outside the reading and incorporate aspects of current events, news, pop culture, personal experience, etc., into the discussion as you find relevant to the topic. Everyone in this class has a unique background and viewpoint, and we can gain understanding of issues by seeing different sides.

How do I format my papers?

All essays must be typed, double spaced, in size 12 font, with 1 inch margins. Late papers lose 5 points every day they are late. I do not comment on late drafts. (You do, however, have the option of making an appointment with me outside of class.) All assignments will be submitted on Blackboard Vista through the Assignment Dropbox.

What is workshop? How will it work?

In this class we will be utilizing the process of peer review, which I like to call workshop. You will be assigned to a workshop group on the discussion board, where you will post your paper, as well as read and respond to two of your classmates’ papers. If you do not complete a workshop, it affects your grade. The amount of time and effort you spend responding to your classmates’ papers also affects your grade.

What does the instructor expect from me?

I expect professionalism from my students. If you have any problems or concerns with your performance in the course, please contact me. Failure to meet deadlines on a consistent basis without communicating with me the reason will result in a significant impact to your grade. I expect your emails to be addressed and composed in a professional manner. I expect timeliness completion of assignments in accordance with our class calendar. Please plan time for troubleshooting computer issues should they arise. With the amount of resources Bellevue College offers its students, there should be very few reasons for late work due to computer malfunction.

Where can I get extra help outside of this class?

The Writing Lab offers one-on-one help with writing, including class assignments, college applications, resumes, and more. Make an appointment by calling ahead (564-2200) or stopping by (D204).

How does my instructor feel about plagiarism?

Plagiarism is grounds for probation or suspension from Bellevue College as well as for failure in this course. I will not tolerate it, and will report any instance of plagiarism I find to the Vice President of Student Services. Plagiarism is a counterproductive, non-writing behavior that is unacceptable in a course intended to aid your growth as an academic writer.

What do I do if I have a learning disability, or something that will prevent me from succeeding in this course?

If you are a student who has a disability or learning challenge for which you have documentation or have seen someone for treatment, please register with The Disability Resource Center. If you are eligible, you will be provided with an accommodation letter, which you must review with me the first week of class. More information can be found at: www.bellevuecollege.edu/drc

When do we start?

You’ve already started! Reading this syllabus is step 1. Next, I want to hear about you. Send me an email through the Blackboard mail system and introduce yourself. I expect to hear from everyone in the course by next Monday, July 4^th!