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Instructor: Cactus May
Voice Mail (24 hrs/ day): 491-5416
Office: 264 Ayles SE
E-mail: pmay@vines.colostate.edu
Office hrs: MW: 1:00-2:00 in Eddy Room 300
................ F: 10:00-11:00 in Eddy Room 300

CO250, Section II: WRITING ARGUMENTS

Natural Resources

Course Description: This course emphasizes the writing principles and processes practiced in CO150. CO250 focuses on reading and writing a range of arguments appropriate for academic and general audiences. This course offers you multiple opportunities both to read and analyze varieties of argumentation and to research, write and revise your own arguments on controversial issues. You will complete a carefully sequenced series of arguments that will include summarizing, synthesizing, evaluating and crafting arguments, many of which will be based on library and field experience. We will write in class and out; additionally, you will be asked to respond to your classmate's writing and to participate in regularly scheduled workshops.

Course Topic: This section of CO250 will be concerned wholly with one topic: NATURAL RESOURCES; no other essay topic will be considered.

Required texts and materials: Everything's an Argument, by Andrea A. Lunsford and John J. Ruszkiewicz; an IBM-compatible discB3 2 inch; a pocket folder; an e-mail address.

Attendance: Mandatory. You are allotted FOUR absences total; after FOUR, your grade will be adversely affected. No late papers. No make-up quizzes. Frequent tardiness will result in a recorded absence.

Grading: The grading criteria for individual assignments will be discussed in class. I will use the university plus and minus system, e.g., A- or B+, etc. Your final course grade will be determined as follows:

Definition Assignment

15%

(3-4 pages)

Evaluation Assignment

15%

(3-4 pages)

Causal Assignment

15%

(3-4 pages)

Proposal/Humor Assignment

15%

(3-4 pages)

Writer's Notebook -due as announced-

20%

(15-20 pages total)

Group Presentation -At final meeting time-

05%

As Applicable

Assignments, Quizzes and Participation

15%

Every Scheduled Class Meeting

Submitting papers: All drafts must be word-processed, double-spaced with 1@ margins. With each final draft, submit all rough drafts, workshop sheets, sources and postscripts in a pocket-folder (final draft in the right pocket; everything else in left pocket).

Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. -- Helen Keller

Due Date: Essays are due at the beginning of class on the announced date. Late papers will not be accepted.

Workshops: In-class workshops benefit writers in two ways: you learn how to improve your writing both by giving and receiving comments on your writing. Therefore, these class sessions are mandatory, and you must come with your word-processed assignment in hand. If you miss a scheduled workshop, or if you attend unprepared, you will be charged with an absence and the final grade of that particular paper will be lowered one letter.

Revision Policy: Papers are graded A, B or C, pluses and minuses, or an R. R indicates you may rewrite within one week to receive a C. You must meet with me in person before completing the rewrite. Otherwise, a D will be recorded for the assignment. No F's will be awarded as long as the essay attempts to meet assignment requirements. No other rewrites will be permitted. F's cannot be revised.

Copy from one, it's plagiarism; copy from two, it's research. -- Wilson Pizner

A Note About Plagiarism: Plagiarism is the use of other's writings without citation. You will receive a failing grade for doing it.

Life is a shipwreck, but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats. -- Voltaire

The Human Factor: Please feel free to come and talk to me about any of your concerns; I will assist in anything I can do to make this environment more conducive to your learning style.

And this: This policy statement serves as a contract. By choosing to remain in class, you have indicated your acceptance of these terms.