EN 101-005: English Composition - Fall 2019

MWF 9:00am - 9:50 am RJ 101

Instructor: Morgan Beers

Email: mdbeers@crimson.ua.edu
Hours: Monday 10:30-12pm; Wednesday 1-2:30pm (and by appointment)
Location: Morgan 238

Description: English 101, the first in a two-course sequence, introduces students to the rhetorical strategies, critical reading
and thinking skills, composing processes, sentence-level conventions, and reflection skills needed to
participate successfully in The University of Alabama discourse community. Intended for native speakers of
English. Grades are reported as A, B, C, or NC (No Credit). A grade of C- or higher is required as a
prerequisite for advancing to another English course at The University of Alabama. Offered each semester
and in summer school. EN 101 does not apply as credit to the English major or minor. This particular
section is an ePortfolio class which means each student will be working toward the creation of a
personal website to showcase their semester work.

Learning
Outcomes: By the end of the semester, you will:
• Develop a repertoire of diverse rhetorical strategies that will enable you to assess and appropriately
respond to each assignment’s genre, audience, and purpose.
• Demonstrate in writing a strong command of critical thinking skills such as analysis, synthesis,
interpretation, and evaluation.
• Compose essays by working through multiple drafts; by participating in opportunities for peer and
instructor feedback; by applying that feedback in revisions; and, in general, you will treat the
composition of any written text as a deliberate and recursive process.
• Employ grammar, punctuation, mechanics, usage, and basic citation and paper formatting in a
manner appropriate to the genre and assignment being composed.
• Reflect, in writing, on your own development as a writer.

Classroom
Expectations: TBD – Students will engage in an expectation setting activity on the first day of class

Required Texts: UA Custom Edition of BULLOCK / NORTON FIELD GUIDE TO WRITING – Available through the
UA Supply Store
Other Required
Course Materials:
• Laptop for use in class (you can check out laptops from Gorgas library
https://www.lib.ua.edu/using-the-library/equipment/)
• A Weebly account and website (free; instructions will be provided in class)
• Access to a printer
• Pen or pencil
• Notebook with paper
• Folder or binder to store class notes, process writing, etc.

Attendance: Regular attendance in your writing class is vital to your growth as a writer. Regular attendance equals success.
You should, therefore, strive to attend every class meeting. It is in class, after all, that you will learn the habits
of good writers, as you will have ample opportunities for conversation, collaboration, questioning, revising,
writing, etc. Occasionally, however, you may have to miss class. The First-year Writing Program Attendance
Policy makes reasonable allowances for such absences.
Please review the following information carefully:
• You should not miss more than six class meetings for classes meeting three times a week, or four
class meetings for classes meeting twice a week. You are considered absent any time you are not in
class—no matter what the reason. The First-Year Writing Program does not distinguish between
excused and unexcused absences.
• If you miss more classes, you will receive a course grade of NC (“No Credit”) for excessive absences.
Your instructor is required to assign this grade, except in rare cases warranting a policy waiver.
However, you may appeal an attendance-related NC grade to the Director of First-year Writing after
grades have been submitted.

What you can make up:

• Making up missed work does not erase absences. Again, you should strive to attend every class
meeting.
• You may make up major-grade work (such as papers or tests) if class was missed due to legitimate
circumstances beyond your control (i.e., documented illness or medical emergency; a family funeral;
activities at which you officially represent the University of Alabama). If such circumstances should
arise, please promptly communicate them to and document them for your instructor.
• You may make up major-grade work missed due to absences for other reasons only with the consent
of your instructor.
• You may arrange to turn in major-grade work in advance or online only if allowed by your instructor.

What you can’t make up

• Class discussions, group work, in-class writing, or other daily class work in a writing class cannot be
reconstructed. Therefore, daily work missed due to absence or tardiness cannot be made up. Missed
daily class work will have a negative impact on your grade!
Major Assignments:

Approx. Word Count % of Final Grade Due

Intro Letter 500-750 words 10% 9/8

Memoir Approx. 1250 words 20% 10/6

Reflection on memoir Approx. 300 words 5% 10/13

Profile Approx. 1250 words 20% 11/10

Reflection on profile Approx. 300 words 5% 11/17

Reflection essay approx.

ePortfolio including reflection
1250 words; other word
essay and participation in 20% 12/9
counts as given
showcase event
throughout semester
Throughout
Daily Grades 20%
semester

Missed Exams
And Coursework: Please see attendance policy. You are allowed a one-week grace period for one essay or reflection (except
the final ePortfolio). After that one late essay or if that essay is more than a week late, the work is
penalized 5 points per day late (including weekends and non-class days). Talk to your teacher before the
due date if you have extenuating circumstances and need to request a possible extension.

Grading Policy: Papers are graded A through F with pluses and minuses as necessary. “A” work is generally regarded as
excellent; “B” work is good; “C” work is competent; “D” work is marginally below college standards;
and “F” work is clearly below minimum college standards. Work that does not follow the assignment
(though otherwise acceptable) will also receive an “F.” Work that is not done or not turned in is
recorded as a zero. Your teacher will provide more specific grading criteria on assignment sheets and/or
rubrics. All major papers will be graded and returned before the next major assignment is due.
Freshman-level proficiency in writing is required for a passing grade.

Final grades for the class below a C- are given a mark of No Credit (NC), which does not reflect on your
GPA but will require you to take the course again. You may also receive an NC for excessive absences;
please see the attendance policy.

Paper grades can be converted to percentages like this:

A+=98, A=95, A-=92, B+=88, B=85, B-=82, C+=78, C=75, C-=72, D+=68, D=65, D-=62, F=50.
 Final numeric grades will be converted to letter grades like this:
100-98=A+; 97-93=A; 92-90=A-; 89-88=B+; 87-83=B; 82-80=B-; 79-78=C+; 77-73=C; 72-70=C-; 69
and below=NC

Phone/Laptop
Policy: We’ll make frequent use of technology in this class, but please stay focused on class work and don’t have
material on your screen that could distract you or your classmates. There will also be times that I may ask the
class to put away laptops/tablets and work on paper. I will ask you to discontinue use of your phone or
laptop if it becomes disruptive to your classmates. If you have a specific need to use technology more
regularly, please speak to me outside of class.

Emergency
Policy: If I have to cancel class for any reason, please check your UA email or look on our Blackboard Learn page
for instructions. You may need to submit work or complete tasks to keep us on track for the semester.

Interest in English
Major/Minor: The English Department offers a major and four minors (English; Creative Writing; Linguistics; Comparative
and World Literature). If you are interested in becoming an English major or minor, feel free to ask me for
more information or drop by the Undergraduate Studies Office in Morgan 103. You can also check out our
website: www.english.ua.edu.

If you’re already a major or a minor, you can join EMMA, the English Majors & Minors Association. For
more information, send an email to ua.emmassociation@gmail.com or connect through Facebook:
www.facebook.com/groups/EMMAssociation/

Academic
Misconduct: All students in attendance at the University of Alabama are expected to be honorable and to observe
standards of conduct appropriate to a community of scholars. The University expects from its students a
higher standard of conduct than the minimum required to avoid discipline. Academic misconduct includes all
acts of dishonesty in any academically related matter and any knowing or intentional help or attempt to help,
or conspiracy to help, another student. The Academic Misconduct Disciplinary Policy will be followed in the
event of academic misconduct.

Resources: Please feel free to email me with any questions or concerns. I check my email frequently during the week and
you should expect a reply within 24 hours. Replies may be delayed on weekends. The UA Writing Center is
another excellent resource. Their office is located at 322 Lloyd Hall. You can schedule an appointment with
them using writingcenter.ua.edu (they also do walk-ins when possible). They do not proofread papers or write
papers for you, but they can help with overall structure, organization, development, and mechanics. Take a
 copy of the writing assignment sheet and any work you’ve completed toward the assignment if you go. Go to
http://writingcenter.ua.edu/ for more information or to set up an appointment.

UAct: The University of Alabama is committed to an ethical, inclusive community defined by respect and civility.
www.ua.edu/uact provides extensive information on how to report or obtain assistance with a variety of
issues, including issues related to dating violence, domestic violence, stalking , sexual assault, sexual violence
or other Title IX violations, illegal discrimination, harassment, child abuse or neglect, hazing, threat
assessment, retaliation, and ethical violations or fraud.

ODS: The University of Alabama is committed to ensuring the full participation of all students in its programs. If
you have a documented disability (or think you may have a disability) and need reasonable accommodation(s)
to participate in this class, contact the Office of Disability Services (or ODS; 205-348-4285, ods@ua.edu,
Houser Hall 1000, www.ods.ua.edu) as soon as possible. If you have been approved to receive
accommodations through ODS, please meet with me privately after class, during office hours, or by
appointment to submit your accommodation letter and discuss how accommodations can be implemented in
this course.

Mental Health & Wellness Resources

Each semester, thousands of UA students and faculty experience unhealthy stress at some point. Some of you experience it
more often—and may be affected more severely—than others. Some may experience academic stress, while others may
experience hazing or harassment. Still, some of you may struggle with mental illness and may face a number of emotional,
cognitive, and physical challenges as you navigate the semester. If you experience these issues, it’s important that you seek help
if you feel you need it.

Every year, suicide is among the leading causes of death among college students, so it’s critical that you know that you are not
alone, and that confidential help is always available at UA.

If you find yourself stressed, struggling with unhealthy thoughts or behaviors, experiencing hazing/harassment, and/or
battling mental illness—or if you just want someone to listen—please know that there are people here to help and who will
keep your information private via HIPAA guidelines.

Here are a few resources that may be particularly useful:

• Counseling Center (at 205-348-3863 or https://counseling.sa.ua.edu
• Women & Gender Resource Center (https://wgrc.sa.ua.edu)
• Office of Disability Services [who may be able to help those diagnosed with mental illness] (348-4285 or
www.ods.ua.edu)
• Suicide Prevention—contact Counseling Center, call 911, or seek help in a local Emergency Department.
You can find other resources on the UAct website (https://www.ua.edu/campuslife/uact/).

Please know that I am always willing to make a referral for you if you do not feel comfortable doing so yourself.
 Non-Discrimination Policy

As an academic community, our educational mission is enhanced by the robust exchange of ideas that occurs between a
diverse student body, faculty, and staff within a respectful and inclusive learning environment. As a campus community we are
dedicated to the pursuit of personal and academic excellence, to advancing the ideals of individual worth and human dignity,
and to maintaining a nurturing and respectful learning environment. All members of the UA community are expected to
contribute positively to the environment and to refrain from behaviors that threaten the freedom or respect that every
member of our community deserves.

The University of Alabama is committed to providing an inclusive environment that is free from harassment or discrimination
based on race, genetic information, color, religion, ethnicity, national origin, socioeconomic status, political beliefs, sex, sexual
orientation, gender expression, gender identity, age, ability, size, or veteran status. The University of Alabama prohibits any
verbal or physical conduct that threatens or endangers the health or safety of any individual or group, including physical abuse,
verbal abuse, threats, stalking, intimidation, harassment, sexual misconduct, coercion, and/or other communication or conduct
that creates a hostile living or learning environment. Harassment or other illegal discrimination against individuals or groups
not only is a violation of University Policy and subject to disciplinary action, but also is inconsistent with the values and ideals
of the University.


Class Calendar

Any necessary changes will be announced in class and posted to BBL. Readings and homework are due by the date
listed on the syllabus.

ASSIGNMENTS
WEEK DATE TOPIC READINGS
DUE

08/21 Introductions - -
1
Norton Ch.4,
08/23
Academic Habits of Mind &
Creativity
“Developing Academic -
Habits of Mind”
Anne Lamott, “Shitty First
Bring completed list
Drafts”
08/26 The Creative Process of habits and goals to
Maria Popova, “Anne Lamott
class
on Writing…” (link on BBL)

2
08/28
Guiding Your Reader (Tone &
Audience)
Norton, “Rhetorical
Situations,” pp. 55-71. -
08/30 Utilizing Detail - First Paragraph of
Letter

3 09/02 Labor Day- No Class - -

 Upload draft of
09/04
Peer Review of Introduction
Letters - Introduction Letter
to TurnItIn by 5pm
Have created a
Liana Heitlin, “What Is Weebly account and
09/06 ePortfolios & Digital Literacy Digital Literacy?” (link on spent time playing
BBL) with layout and
settings

09/08 Final Draft of Introduction Letter due @ 11:59pm

09/09 Memoirs
“Growth from Decay,”
Norton pp. 794-796 -
4 09/11 Narrating & Describing
“Driving Forward,” Norton
pp. 810-814 -
George Watsky, “Ask me Bring 5 possible
09/13 Memoir Topic Development What I’m Doing Tonight” memoir topics to
(on BBL) class

Ch. 45 “Narrating,” and Ch. Have memoir topic

09/16 Outlining Your Memoir
42 “Describing,” Norton chosen

5 09/18 Scene Development - Bring completed

outline to class

09/20 Scene Workshop - Bring 1-2 paragraph

scene to class

Brené Brown, The Power of Bring notes on Brené

09/23 Writing with Vulnerability
Vulnerability (video on BBL) to class for discussion

Bring another scene

6
09/25 Peer Review of Memoir Scene - from your memoir to
class
Bring any questions
09/27 Writing Workshop Day - regarding assignment
or your own project
to class
09/29 Upload Memoir Draft to Blackboard by 11:59pm

09/30

7 10/02 Conferences

10/04

10/06 Final Draft of Memoir due @ 11:59pm

 10/07 Memoir Reflection - -
8 10/09 ePortfolio Workday - -
10/11 Multimodal Memoir - -

10/13 Upload Memoir Reflection to Blackboard by 11:59pm

Ch. 19, “Profiles,” Norton

10/14 Profiles
pp. 233-245 -
“Jerry Douglas,” Norton pp.
834-837; “The Art of Have a list of three
9 10/16 Exploratory Questions
Dancing in a Car,” Norton possible objects
pp. 838-840

10/18 Research/Field Observation Day - Bring completed

questions to class

Bring completed
10/21 Synthesizing and Organizing - works cited and field
observation notes to
class
Bring completed
10
10/23 Voice and Descriptive Writing - rhetorical aims and
strategies to class

10/25 Profile Workshop Day - -

10/27 Upload Profile Draft to Blackboard by 11:59pm

10/28

Conferences

11 10/30

11/01 Fall Break – No Class

12 11/04 Q&A and Style Lessons - -

 11/06 Profile Peer Review - -
11/08 ePortfolio Workday - -

11/10 Final Draft of Profile Due @ 11:59pm

11/11 Profile Presentations - -

13 11/13 Profile Reflection - -
ePortfolio Workday
11/15 No Class – Out of Town for - -
SAMLA

11/17 Upload Profile Reflection to Blackboard by 11:59pm

11/18 Discomfort & Growth - -

14 11/20 Writing as Reflection - Reflection Worksheet
Due

11/22 Comprehensive Reflection - -

11/25 ePortfolio Workday - -
15 11/27
Thanksgiving Break-
No Class - -
11/29
Thanksgiving Break-
No Class - -
12/02 ePortfolio Workday - -
16 12/04 ePortfolio Showcase - -
12/06 Food & Final Reflections - -

12/9 ePortfolio Due @ 10:30am