CO150 Common Syllabus, 2008-2009

CSU and the English Department require instructors to meet with their classes during scheduled times during finals week.  Given the nature of CO150, we do not administer an exam; instead we conduct an activity that wraps up the semester in a meaningful way. Here is one option for a final exam activity:

Since students will be turning in their Public Arguments or their Local Inquiry Portfolios at the final exam time, you might have students write an extended postscript that asks them to reflect on what they've learned in the course and how this assignment demonstrates that learning.  Some possible postscript questions include the following:

• How has your writing changed this semester?  If didn't change, why not?
• How have your writing processes changed?  If not, why not?
• Have you been able to apply what you've learned in CO150 to other courses this semester?  If not, how do you think you will use what you've learned in this course in the future?
• What's your working definition of rhetorical situation?  How would you summarize how your understanding of that concept has influenced your writing?
• If you were to revise your local inquiry project for another audience, whom would you chose and how would that choice influence the outcome?

Alternatively, you could provide students with these questions ahead of time and ask them to prepare a short presentation for the class that explains their argument and their rhetorical choices.