Course Description for UWP 104D with Andy Jones

UWP 104D — Writing in the Professions:

Elementary and Secondary Education

Fall, 2012

Course Description
UWP 104D is an advanced composition course for upper-division students and credential candidates who plan to become elementary or secondary school teachers. The course focuses primarily on continuing your development as proficient writers of exposition; you will be reading essays, writing responses and papers (the majority of them dealing with the topic of education), and studying thinking and writing processes. If you attend class regularly, pay close attention to my comments on your essays, and invest ample time and energy in the writing and revising of the major assignments, you will leave this course with improved writing skills and with an appreciation for the importance of good writing skills in your life and in the lives of your future students. You may also develop some ideas as to how you might incorporate writing assignments in your teaching; remember, though, that although it is filled with future teachers, UWP 104D is not a teaching methods course.

Course Texts: 

All our course readings can be found online. See the syllabus for links.
On reserve at Shields Library you will find a copy of Kaleidoscope: Contemporary and Classic Readings in Education (12th Edition).
You should also take advantage of online writing texts, such as the Open Access Textbooks hosted by Colorado State University, and online writing labs hosted by Dartmouth, UNC Chapel Hill, and Purdue.

Attendance :

The emphasis of the class on the process of writing requires your regular attendance and participation. More than one unexcused absence may hurt your final grade. If you must be absent–say, for a family emergency or serious illness–please let me know in advance. In-class work, except with prior agreement or in cases of emergency, cannot be made up. You will, of course, be responsible for any out-of-class assignments announced in your absence. Class syllabi are subject to change and augmentation. E-mail me and your colleagues in the class with questions. Plan to arrive on time. Latecomers are distracting at best and disruptive at worst. If you have a conflict that will prevent you from being here at 10:30, then you should drop the course. If you choose not to drop the class, then you should plan to attend every one of our class meetings. Attendance is mandatory on the day of our group presentations.

Prerequisites: 

Satisfactory completion of the Subject A requirement and a passing grade in one of the following: UWP 1 or English 3 or its equivalent. Students enrolled in the College of Letters and Science or in the College of Engineering must have completed a minimum of 84 units before enrolling in UWP 101.

Office Hours: 

Visit me during office hours to discuss your writing concerns, my comments or grades on returned work, and your ongoing projects. Additional  office hours will be held Sunday evenings from about 9-11 at Crepeville (330 3rd Street).

Writing Assignments

Position Paper:

Each of you will present 26 copies of a short (two pages long) reaction to an assigned essay. We call these short essays position papers.

Late Work:

All work must be turned in via SmartSite before midnight on the dates specified on the syllabus. Late work will be penalized one grade fragment (A to A-, etc.) per day late. Invalid excuses include writer’s block, busy computer labs, a bothersome work schedule, etc. One possible way to fail this class is to turn in one or more assignments late. Plan extra time for revision and for unforeseen obstacles to submitting your work on time.

Group work :

Several times during the quarter you will bring virtual copies of  rough drafts to critique in small groups. Do not miss draft workshops.

Assignments and Grading:

All assignments will be graded according to the grading standards discussed in class, the document titled “General characteristics by letter grade of university-level student papers.” See http://writing.ucdavis.edu/instructor-resources/grading-standards-1 for details.