ENG 101: Intro to College Writing

Syllabus Fall 2023

M-W-F: 9:05am-9:55pm
Classroom: THMH 106

Instructor: Kalen Krantz

Email: krantzkt@lopers.unk.edu
Office Hours: 10:00am-11:00am + 12:00pm - 1:00pm MWF (or by appointment)
Room Number: THM 103

*NEW* Early Midterm Grade Requirement: The registrar’s office/UNK are implementing an
early grade report requirement as of this semester. Faculty are required to enter an
early/midterm grade for all students: grading opens the sixth week of classes for this report. The
idea is to give students an opportunity to withdraw from a course in which they are not
succeeding and take another course instead before midterms.

Catalog Description: A study of the art of composition with special emphasis on the writing
process and on essay form. Students study methods of invention and arrangement and hone their
stylistic, grammatical, and punctuation skills. Prerequisite: ENG 100A or English ACT score of
17 or greater or department permission.

Class Texts: All articles will be posted on Canvas, you will not need to purchase any textbooks
for this course. You will still need to select two texts to write on over the course of this semester.
The two texts can be any of your choosing, but they must merit academic discussion. Materials
may be purchased (Amazon) or borrowed (use UNK’s library, Interlibrary loan, Kearney Public
library, professors and friends) at your discretion.

Required Materials: • 2 books for your research project of your choice

•The 2 books can be selected a few weeks into semester, you have time! (ask me if you need
recommendations)
• Access to Microsoft Word (download Office 365 with UNK email account) or Google docs.
(required)
•Access to a computer or a laptop
• Download Zotero Research Assistant and/ or bookmark it. (optional, but helpful)
• Bookmark: Purdue Owl Writing lab. (optional, but helpful)
• Zoom (optional)

Course Essays (Projects)

1. Inquiry Project Proposal: due September 7th at 11:59pm
a. Submit a written proposal that includes:
i. The subject of your inquiry
ii. A guiding question
iii. Sources
2. Annotated Bibliography: due September 18th at 11:59pm
a. Investigate at least 5 scholarly sources
b. Two paragraphs per source (1. Brief summary 100 words, 2. Analysis 200 words)
 i. This assignment fulfills LOPERS 2:2 in that it allows students to practice
their citation and research skills in order to provide descriptions of their
sources for their upcoming essays.

(The prompts of the essays will be of your choosing, consisting of the Big Questions that are the
main ideas your selected texts)(make sure to ask for help if needed)

3. Essay 1: Narrative: Due September 30th 11:59pm

a. This paper fulfills LOPERS 2:3 in which it allows students to develop writing
conventions in a narrative-driven essay.
4. Essay 2: Argumentative 2 ways: Due October 16th 11:59pm
a. This paper fulfills LOPERS 2:4 in which it gives students a chance to discern the
audience and use the essay to develop code-meshing skills.
b. This paper fulfills LOPERS 2:1 by allowing students to use two arguments (local
and global) in order to practice asserting their arguments into academic
discussions.
5. Rhetorical Situation Presentation: Due November 8th before class!
a. This paper fulfills LOPERS 2:4 in which it gives students a chance to discern the
audience and use the essay to develop code-meshing skills.
b. This paper fulfills LOPERS 2:1 by allowing students to use two arguments (local
and global) in order to practice asserting their arguments into academic
discussions.
6. Final Essay: Due Final Day of Class
a. Write a final essay (answering your Big Question from Inquiry Project Proposal)
and including all of your acquired sources (A summarization of all of your
findings) (4-6 pages)
b. Cite sources in your discipline’s format
i. This paper fulfills LOPERS 2:1,2,3, and 4 by combining all facets through
proper citation, argument development, audience code switching, and
writing conventions.

In-Class Work: Throughout the course of the semester, we will also have in-class exercises and
assignments in order to further establish our understanding. Our Rhetorical Situation
assignments later in the semester will be included in these. Daily assignments are used in large
part to gauge student understanding, and turning in these assignments on time is essential.
• This course will be using contract grading which I’ll explain in class (see file on Canvas).
• Participation: Participation in class is essential to understanding the material. Class discussion
and participation is a must in order to receive the full-contract grade.
• Class work:. All classwork, essays, and videos are to be submitted on Canvas before the final
deadlines. Check deadlines carefully. Late work for projects and the impact they will have will
be negotiated with our contract grading. In order to avoid this, make sure to turn everything in on
time!
• Rubrics: For each project/ paper you will be given a rubric with the criteria of what meets
expectations. Before you submit the final copy, use the rubric to guide in meeting the assignment
expectations. If you are having trouble navigating the rubric, reach out.
Late Work:
● Ordinary assignments - Any assignment outside of an essay/Inquiry Proposal will run an
additional day in terms of being available for turning in, but at the cost of losing five
points
● Essays/Inquiry Proposal Assignments - These assignment slots will stay open for two
days after these assignments are due, but you will also lose five points a day for each day
late.
● Exceptions:
○ If you are absent (one of your three absences) you may have two additional class
days to hand in an assignment with no late penalty.
○ Sports event days are not penalized

Discussion Board Protocol: Discussion boards will be posted on Monday, and will be due the
Friday, with an automatic-no penalty extension that will go through the following Monday.
These discussion boards will serve to synthesize and highlight the changes you notice in your
writing throughout this semester. You must at least make one post of 400 words and leave a
comment to another classmate consisting of at least 100 words unless told otherwise. Other small
assignments and activities will also be done on Canvas, but will be marked separately.
Discussion boards should be treated as regular class assignments, make sure to complete them.

Revisions:
You are recommended to revise and resubmit for a new grade after you receive your feedback on
each essay you hand in. Here is what you can do:
1. Read my feedback and think about what you would revise.
2. Meet with me to discuss your revision plan. (optional, can be through email or zoom as well)
3. Substantially revise your paper and resubmit via Canvas within 2 weeks of the date you
received feedback.

Course Objectives: Students will be able to:

1. Read texts critically by describing the method of organization, identifying and evaluating the
thesis, and analyzing the main points of support through assigned reading questions and
independent research for written assignments.
2. Develop various methods of inquiry for generating and developing ideas, mastering quality
research skills using library databases.
3. Write, revise, and edit to demonstrate accurate incorporation of quotation, summary, and
paraphrase according to academic guidelines.
4. Write, revise, and edit to demonstrate understanding of rhetoric, attending to topic, purpose,
angle, and audience of diverse writing situations
5. Write informatively and persuasively, utilizing rhetorical strategies to support key ideas or
positions on an issue.
6. Write with command of academic and nonacademic writing conventions (ie: appropriate
grammar, mechanics, punctuation, spelling, code switching).
Course Policies
• Writing is a process: Each essay will require extensive peer revision and some will include
trips to the Writing Center. Our grading contract expects a minimum of 1 visit to the Writing
Center (virtually or in-person) so plan accordingly. Students can schedule Writing Center
appointments in person or online.
• Respect!: During this semester we will peer review each other’s hard work, and that will
require us to be sensitive with how we give our feedback. Generally, a good rule of thumb is to
be respectful and give courteous feedback that improves our writing abilities, and doesn’t tear
others down.
• Reach out! During the week I’m committed to responding to your emails within 24 hours. I
don’t typically check email on the weekend but my job is to be here for you! Email me at any
point if any questions or concerns arise! I am always available after class as well, so make sure
to ask if you are having trouble with anything. When in doubt—reach out! I’m here for you: I’m
your biggest fan.

Attendance Policy:
Students have three absences that they can use without penalty in the semester. Any absences
after three must have proper documentation or reasoning. If a student knows they are going to be
gone, they should email the professor prior to class. COVID absences will be discussed with the
professor, and days missed as a result of a Positive COVID test will not affect the student
negatively. Religious holidays, Military service, and University events are also excusable, but
just let me know in advance!

This course will take place in person predominantly, with the option for Zoom if you are sick and
still wish to join. We’ll determine what works best for everyone during our contract grading
during the first week of class.

My teaching approach: a course designed to cultivate revolutionary patience, hope and life with
our writing. This course is designed to be practical and applicable, chock full of skills and
knowledge to equip your academic toolbox. This class is also “hard fun,” a concept Seymour
Papert advanced. Papert's idea was that learning should be hard enough to be challenging and
motivating, but not so hard as to be discouraging. Assignments will be purposeful, supporting the
course goals and outcomes, never just busy work or hard for the sake of being hard. The course
will emphasize Academic Essentials: clear communication in writing and reading. Let’s begin
the journey of hard but rewarding fun.

General Studies: ENG 101 is a General Studies course that fulfills LOPER 2 (Writing
Skills). Purpose of General Studies: The UNK General Studies program helps students acquire
knowledge and abilities; to understand the world; to make connections across disciplines; and to
solve contemporary problems. The GS program is intentionally structured to allow students to
build necessary skills in the Foundational Core classes while making the transition to college
level coursework and forming critical thinking skills in the Portal class. Students then explore a
broad cross-section of academic topics in the Distribution Area and finally finish their GS
program in the Capstone course that is designed to help students synthesize, through
interdisciplinary instruction, their knowledge, skills, and experiences across the curriculum.
General Studies Outcomes:
This course meets the Program Level objectives: “Courses are designed for students to “develop
core academic skills in collecting and using information, communications in speech and writing,
and quantitative reasoning.” Students will be able to meet the following outcomes: 1) Evaluate
information appropriate to the task. 2) Apply principles of critical thinking to demonstrate
integrative learning

Students can, from LOPER 2: 1) Discern a writer’s argument or purpose. 2) Use appropriate
sources appropriately and responsibly. 3) Use context-appropriate conventions in writing. 4)
Communicate in a manner appropriate to audience and context.

Students will, from ENG 101, be able to achieve success by finding sources and summarizing
their arguments in the assigned research papers throughout the semester.

Standard Departmental Course Objectives

· Students should read and discuss at least 15-20 pages of academic prose per week. This may be
supplemented, but not replaced by, readings in other genres such as memoir, fiction, and poetry.
The readings should connect with class discussions, course topics, and writing assignments.

· Students should produce 25-30 pages (double-spaced) of typed, polished writing by the end of
the semester.

· Students should compose at least two papers 4-6 pages in length, as part of their 25-30 pages.
These papers can be research-focused or analytical (e.g., an analysis of a single article or book).

· Students should be required to complete writing tasks that involve brainstorming, outlining,
peer review, and revision based on written feedback.

· Syllabi should devote explicit and thorough attention to the following: audience awareness,
structure of written arguments, analysis and interpretation of academic works, writing process
and invention, appropriate formatting, revision strategies, and language awareness.

· Syllabi should contain a complete and detailed schedule of readings and assignments as well as
contact information, office hours, and course appropriate outcomes. They should also contain
course policies on attendance, conduct, academic integrity, and grade determination, as well as
other information required by the General Studies Council.

University Policies
• UNK Attendance Policy: Your instructor may have indicated on their syllabus an attendance
policy specific to their class. If so, that is the policy with which you must comply. If no other
policy is stated, the University-wide attendance policy will apply. You can find the Student
Attendance Policy Statement online. (The attendance policy for this class is listed under:
Attendance Policy).
Academic Honesty Policy: Academic honesty is essential to the existence and integrity of an
institution of higher education. The responsibility for maintaining that integrity is shared by all
members of the academic community. To further serve this end, the University of Nebraska at
Kearney has a policy relating to academic integrity. To ensure all students understand the
expectations, UNK has adopted Academic Integrity Policy.
• Tutoring / Support: If you are struggling academically and need tutoring resources, visit
linked page. Subject tutoring, writing support, and success coaching is available to you--but do
reach out.
• Students with Disabilities: It is the policy of the University of Nebraska at Kearney to provide
flexible and individualized reasonable accommodation to students with documented disabilities.
To receive accommodation services for a disability, students must be registered with the UNK
Disabilities Services for Students (DSS) office, 175 Memorial Student Affairs Building, 308-
865-8214 or by email unkdso@unk.edu
• UNK Statement of Diversity & Inclusion: UNK stands in solidarity and unity with our
students of color, our Latinx and international students, our LGBTQIA+ students and students
from other marginalized groups in opposition to racism and prejudice in any form, wherever it
may exist. It is the job of institutions of higher education, indeed their duty, to provide a haven
for the safe and meaningful exchange of ideas and to support peaceful disagreement and
discussion. In our classes, we strive to maintain a positive learning environment based upon open
communication and mutual respect. UNK does not discriminate on the basis of race, color,
national origin, age, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, disability or political affiliation.
Respect for the diversity of our backgrounds and varied life experiences is essential to learning
from our similarities as well as our differences. The following link provides resources and other
information regarding D&I: https://www.unk.edu/about/equity-access-diversity.php
• Students Who are Pregnant: It is the policy of the University of Nebraska at Kearney to
provide flexible and individualized reasonable accommodation to students who are pregnant. To
receive accommodation services due to pregnancy, students must contact the Student Health
office at 308.865.8218. The following links provide information for students and faculty
regarding pregnancy rights. https://thepregnantscholar.org/title-ix-basics/
https://nwlc.org/resource/faq-pregnant-and-parenting-college-graduate-students-rights/

•COVID-19 and Attendance

UNK has ended the plan to Mitigate the Spread of Infectious Disease that was put in place two
years ago to help us manage the COVID-19 pandemic. While the disease still exists, and will for
years to come, the number of cases and the severity of symptoms is much different than it was in
the earlier phases of the pandemic. We now have significant individual control over our risks.

As with other contagious diseases, students and employees should avoid coming to work if they
feel ill, and they should contact a health care provider as appropriate. Specifically :

● Individuals with a fever above 100.9(f) or diagnosed with COVID-19 or other contagious
diseases should avoid in-person interaction with other people for five days and until they are
fever-free for 24 hours. They should also follow advice from medical professionals regarding
masking, isolation, and other protective measures.
● UNK strongly encourages employees and students to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
 ● UNK’s Student Health Office will administer COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters free of
charge to students and employees. Student Health will also provide antigen and PCR testing when
medically indicated.
● If a student is diagnosed with COVID-19, the student should contact the professor at the earliest
possible convenience so that arrangements can be made. There will be no attendance penalty for
students who miss class after testing positive for COVID-19. Once again, email the professor if
you are diagnosed with COVID-19.

● Reporting Student Sexual Harassment, Sexual Violence or Sexual Assault: Reporting

allegations of rape, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment,
and stalking enables the University to promptly provide support to the impacted
student(s), and to take appropriate action to prevent a recurrence of such sexual
misconduct and protect the campus community. Confidentiality will be respected to the
greatest degree possible. Any student who believes she or he may be the victim of sexual
misconduct is encouraged to report to one or more of the following resources:
● Local Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault Advocacy Agency 308-237-2599
● Campus Police (or Security) 308-865-8911
● Title IX Coordinator 308-865-8655

Retaliation against the student making the report, whether by students or University employees,
will not be tolerated.

Last Words I teach because I love helping students improve their writing. I am here to help you
with the associated challenges—next steps, problems, transitions, learning—in any way I can.
Where I cannot, I will do all I can to redirect you to who can help. This class will be like
everything else in life—the more you invest in it, the more you will get out of it. Thanks for
making this a great semester!