Instructor

Neal Haldane, PhD, Professor, Communication and Writing Office: 2424 Phone: 734-432-5559 Email: nhaldane@madonna.edu Course description You will learn to develop effective sentences and paragraphs, and then apply these skills when writing reflective, descriptive, narrative, and expository papers. You will examine the writing process and also present oral or multimedia reports. Course objectives Students will receive an introduction to the process of writing through the use of a variety of strategies, including reflection, narration, description and exposition. Students also will collaborate with peers, learn to deliver oral presentations, and critique the work of other writers. These experiences are designed to make students more effective writers and instill confidence in their communication skills. Learning outcomes Successful students will learn to: Select an appropriate topic using such prewriting strategies as brainstorming, listing, clustering, and questioning, that meets the needs of the individual assignment and identifies a specific reading audience. Collect appropriate information though personal reflection, peer and instructor feedback, and external research that supports and helps develop the selected topic. Apply the appropriate writing strategies (narration, description, reflection, and exposition) individually and in combination when constructing the major assignments along with any in- class writing projects. Revise papers using peer and instructor feedback to improve content, organization and presentation. Deliver oral and multimedia presentations that demonstrate an ability to adapt written work for spoken and visual performances. Collaborate in small- and large-group settings to recognize, identify, suggest, and implement different writing strategies. Participate in a service-learning project and reflect on those experiences.

WRT 1010 College Composition I Collaborative Studies with UNV 1010/BIO 1010 Fall 2012

 Course materials Service Project A Pocket Style Manual, Diana Hacker, 6th ISBN: 10:0-312-54254-2 Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge Assignments Students will write eight texts during the term, two in each of the following categories: reflection, observation/description, narration, and exposition. Students will select the best text in each category, revise those pieces, and then include them in an electronic portfolio. Students will share their work with peers, respond to a blog, take grammar quizzes, and deliver oral presentations in person or via multimedia. Grading breakdown Grading Scale Portfolio 60 points 94-100 A 90-93 A- Drafts/group work 10 points 87-89 B+ 84-86 B Blog postings 10 points 80-83 B- Quizzes 10 points 77-79 C+ 70-76 C Oral presentations 10 points 60-69 D 0-59 F Portfolio details The online portfolio will contain the four best examples, one from each category, of your writing and communication abilities. A memo explaining the significance of your portfolio also is required. Reflection: Telling people what you think an event, person, or activity suggests about ourselves and our society is the core of reflective writing. One assignment will have you reflecting on your service-learning experiences. The second assignment will involve reflecting on a significant event in your life. Observation/Description: This style of writing concentrates on observation and a description of events that create a picture in peoples minds. One assignment involves describing your service project in a video. The second will have you describe a favorite place and why it is important in your life. Narration: This form of writing is simply storytellingrelating a series of events. One of your narratives will involve your favorite memory. The other narrative will focus on your best friend. Exposition: This type of writing explains or informs. The individual assignment in this area will involve researching and writing your UNV 1010 oral presentation. Drafts/group work details You will receive credit each time you turn in a paper on time. In addition, you will share your work with a small group of peers who will offer suggestions for improvement and revision. You also will complete in-class activities. Blog details You will respond to questions related to all three classes on the course blog. Quizzes Have trouble crafting sentences? Punctuating paragraphs? Citing sources? Well tackle all those nit-picky grammar things in these quizzes.

Oral presentations/multimedia details Oral presentations are part of the class. The first is a 60-second video commercial connected with your service project. The second connects viewers to your favorite place. The third is the UNV 1010 group presentation. WRT 1010 Schedule, Fall 2012 Date Topic Due Sept. 4 Introduction/Group work/MLA style Sept. 11 Sept. 18 Sept. 25 Oct. 2 Oct. 9 Oct. 16 Oct. 23 Oct. 30 Nov. 6 Nov. 13 Nov. 20 Nov. 27 Dec. 4 Dec. 11 Choosing and narrowing a topic Planning/Composing Reflective elements DRIWR DRIWR Reflection draft 1 Description draft 1 Reflection draft 2 Description draft 2 Video presentations Narrative draft 1 Narrative draft 2 Exposition draft 1 Exposition draft 2 Portfolio Reflection/elements Video completion Narrative writing Narrative revision

Exposition elements

ExpositionCombining it all Group presentations Portfolios evaluated

Independent research/group project time

General Education Goals This class helps satisfy Goal 1Communication: 1.1 Demonstrate the ability to write clear, effective English prose. 1.2 Demonstrate the ability to read effectively, think critically, and communicate clearly in group situations as well as in individual presentations. Student Evaluation of Faculty Instruction (SEFI) Students are invited to evaluate every course every semester, utilizing the University's online Student Evaluation of Faculty Instruction (SEFI) system. This is accessed from the opening page of the University's Web site under the "Current Students" menu. Your instructor will inform you when during the semester the SEFI can be accessed. Emergency Continuation of Instruction In the event of a local or regional crisis or emergency that prevents students from traveling to campus (such as a flu epidemic), course instruction will be continued on the class's Blackboard site, provided that campus technology and electricity are operating. If campus facilities, technology, and electricity are not operational, students should continue doing their reading and assignments until they receive communication from the instructor or the University.