contextualize, to complicate the issue or argument.

1. Complete the major writing assignments, culminating in a final portfolio.

3. Keep an electronic reflective journal.

1. Participate in class activities & complete daily reading/writing assignments.

5. Ask for help when needed.

There will be one minor assignment and four major assignments due this session.

Explain your personal approach to doing research such as what types of sources you use, how you search, and how you organize your research materials. If you have discovered that you have strategies that have not worked in the past, explain what you will do differently this time.

Look through the table of contents of the text Introduction to Psychology: Gateways to Mind and Behavior and the syllabus for your Psychology class. Think about a question or problem that these explorations provoke. Write a short one to two page essay that explores this question or problem and presents it in such a way that you can begin researching the problem. You must include two sources in your exploration of the problem that contribute to your thinking on this topic. A works cited page in APA format is required with appropriate in-text citations in the body of the paper.

Causal Analysis Response to Opposing Views: Choose 2 of the daycare articles that suggest alternative perspectives on the benefit of daycare for children. In the beginning of the essay, you must identify the question or problem that the two articles address. Then you must clarify and contrast the positions concerning the causes of these problems that the articles imply or state. The introduction of the essay should capture your readers' interest by describing the issues surrounding daycare and explain why these issues are intriguing or controversial. In writing your analysis, you should try to change your reader's view about some aspect of daycare---either by identifying and supporting an unexpected cause or consequence, or by arguing against your reader's initial understanding or beliefs. You must be sure the causal relationship outlined by each article is clear, and you must be sure your position concerning the perspectives in the articles is clear.

Position Paper on Spanking (Classical Argument) for Two Audiences:

In this paper, you must write the same argument for two audiences. Based on the readings concerning spanking as a punishment for young children, you must argue for or against this practice. Your position on spanking must be clear. Your introduction will present the issue, provide background, and state the claim you intend to support for the appropriate audience. The body of your argument will summarize and respond to opposing views as well as present reasons and evidence in support of your own position. You will choose whether to summarize and refute opposing views before or after you have made your own case. Try to end the essay with your strongest arguments.

The first part of this essay addresses your position on spanking to parents of young children who live in your neighborhood who are between 20 and 30 years old. They may already have older children. Then you must write a second version of your argument addressed to a group of teenage girls, 15-18, who are attending a pre-natal education course. They are expecting their first child, and they live with their parents. You must consider the audience you are addressing as you adapt your argument to be appropriate to that audience. This adaptation does not mean that you must change your position on spanking, however, it does mean that you may consider different styles of persuasion and different circumstances to support your points.

1. definition of the problem
2. analysis of background causes and effects (summary of research)
3. argument for a particular solution

The definition of the problem must explain the technical issues the audience must understand. The analysis of background causes and effects must take into account different perspectives on the issue, and you must cite sources and summarize research that take these perspectives. You may use your own personal analysis as well. You must synthesize the various perspectives to provide an overall picture of the problem. In the argument for a particular solution, you must present a solution to the problem based on the causes and effects you have identified. You must also present alternative solutions and argue why the one you have chosen is the most reasonable.

The research paper must refer to at least seven sources in the text. The sources must be in American Psychological Association (APA) format. No more than half the sources may be from websites. In-text citations must also follow the APA format. The paper must be double-spaced, in a 12-point font, and follow the format guidelines for APA research papers located in The Writer's Reference by Diana Hacker. Plagiarized papers will fail.

The final project for the course is the submission of your writing portfolio. You will begin construction of the portfolio in the first week of class, since the portfolio will contain all the writing you have done for the course, and you will continue to build it throughout the quarter.

The portfolio is more than just a folder that contains your writing assignments. Since learning to write effectively is a journey, the portfolio will represent that part of the journey you have taken in this course. It will chart your progress, your struggles, your successes, your concerns, and your insights. As the final submission for the course, it will require rhetorical considerations, since part of the portfolio assignment requires that you present your "case, " showing that you have met the goals for the course and the progress you have made.

The portfolio will be evaluated in the following ways:

1. Completeness: You cannot pass the course without completing all writing assignments and reflective assignments. The portfolio should contain these items as proof that you have completed the work for the course. (I will not grade a portfolio if it lacks a writing assignment.)

2. Each of the major writing assignments will be given separate grades, which are factored into the final portfolio grade.

1. The Cover Letter: Present your writing and writing self in a way that demonstrates you have achieved the goals for the course and that demonstrates the progress you have made. One purpose of the cover letter is to show how you have achieved the goals for the course. This will include an analysis of which goals have been met most fully, and which are areas that you will need to work on in subsequent quarters. While you must address the stated goals for the course, you will also want to consider your personal goals for the course or for your development as a writer. In addition, you should offer an assessment of the writing you have done. Which pieces do you think are most effective? What were you trying to achieve? How well do they accomplish what you want? Which pieces fall short of your goals and why? What would you do if you had more time to revise any of them? Although you should be able to demonstrate the progress you have made this term, remember that you have only traveled a short distance on the journey, so you are not expected to have accomplished all your goals completely. The case you make, should let me know what that journey has been like.

2. The writing done for the course. Here you must include all major writing projects and

reflective pieces submitted throughout the quarter, along with all drafts.

The portfolio system encompasses a different way of viewing writing, grades, and

responsibility. It allows you to submit your best writing near the end of the term and to revise several pieces of writing over time. All major writing assignments will require you to work through a process of prewriting, presentation draft ("audience ready" and submitted for my comments), revised drafts, and the final draft for a grade. My first response to your paper takes place when you submit a presentation draft, which must be your best effort at that time. First, I will review the essay and offer commentary, and then we will review the essay for grammar and punctuation. Finally, you will submit your final revision. Then I will give the essay a grade. You may revise the essay once more after it has received a grade. The system is meant to encourage you to work on revising and/or refining the paper for the final submission, since even the best papers can be improved and re-envisioned.

I will be happy to provide feedback on any paper at any stage of the writing process. You do not need to wait until a paper is due for one of its several submissions. Please do not hesitate to phone my office, stop by, make an appointment, or catch me before or after class. As long as I see substantial revisions and real thought being put into your efforts, I will be happy to read as many drafts as you give me. I do not, however, want to read multiple versions of essentially the same thing.

A presentation draft is NOT a rough draft. It should be your best effort at that point. It should be audience ready, that is, it should be typed, proofread and edited, and it should be completed in all respects, ready for my initial assessment. All presentation drafts should be submitted in a pocket folder that contains all pre-writing, planning, drafts, and the assigned reflective writing for that assignment. While much can be learned from revision, and all good writers revise, I do not want you to treat the presentation draft lightly, thinking you won't put forth the effort until I guide you with my comments. Obviously, the more work you do at first, the less you'll have to do later.

Since we only come to know ourselves and our writing and reading processes through reflection, in this class the reflective thinking and writing you do will comprise a major part of your journey. It will help you to become more thoughtful about your writing, to be better able to assess both your writing and your development as a writer, and to articulate your assessment to others.

1. Electronic Reflective Journal Entries: These journals are sent Sunday night by email. Email received dated Monday is not accepted. These journals will record your thoughts at each stage of the writing process. Use the journal to work out problems you are having with a draft, to make plans for next steps, to weigh choices, ask questions, review your progress. Post your running commentary at least once each week of what's been happening, what you hope to be able to do, how you feel about the writing, etc. After each class, you might consider writing at least five minutes answering the questions: What happened in this session? How do I feel about the writing now? What will I do next? As you work through each writing project, writing reflectively for yourself in the journal, you will be accumulating a record of your concerns, insights, progress, difficulties that will be important for the reflective letter for your final portfolio. For your portfolio cover letter, you should read through your reflective entries for the projects and reflect upon what you have learned, how your writing or writing process is changing, how you can apply some of the insights or hard-learned lessons to future situations.

2. Reflective Companion Pieces to major writing assignments. For each major writing assignment you will be given a specific kind of reflective assignment. Unlike the reflective log, I will be your audience. Although the particular questions this will answer may vary, essentially you will write a "talk-to" which is submitted with your presentation draft. This tells me your take on the paper as you submit it, along with a prediction of how I will respond.

3. Your reflective cover letter for the Portfolio asks that you present your writing and you as writer. As the final reflective presentation, it is the culmination of all the other pieces. You cannot expect to present a good case in your portfolio unless you have been writing reflectively throughout the session.

4. In-class Reader Response Journals are done in the first five minutes of class. Here, you respond with your reactions to the readings we will be discussing. You can discuss what points you agree with or disagree with in the readings. You can pose questions that the readings caused for you. This writing will be the beginning of our continued discussion in class.

Paper Format: All presentation drafts and revisions should be typed, double-spaced, with the page number on each page. Be sure to save all hard copies of early drafts and save all your work on disk and on a back-up disk. (You should be using word processing to produce all your papers, either at home or in one of the open labs here.) Please consult the Writer's Reference for APA paper format.

University of Cincinnati or have transfer credits (advanced standing credits) approved by RWC admissions. If you have received an F, UW, W, I, or IP in English 101 you are not eligible for this course.

Attendance is mandatory. You are expected to attend every class. If you have an illness or an emergency, I do appreciate a phone call or email letting me know why you are absent.

Late papers: Presentation draft due dates are deadlines. I can and will waive the deadline if you ask for an extension prior to the due date and there is a good reason. If you are handing in a paper late, I will not accept it in class. It must be submitted during my office hours, and you must explain the circumstances. I reserve the right to determine further action based on this consultation.

Plagiarism: Plagiarism is using someone's ideas, words, material without giving credit to the source. Plagiarism may result in failure of the paper, and it may result in failure of the course, disciplinary action, and even expulsion.

Expectations for class: You are expected to come to class prepared, having completed the assignments thoroughly, and to participate fully in the activities of the day. We will discuss and/or write about the reading assignments, so be sure to have read carefully, annotating and reflecting upon the readings before class.

Reading Assignments: All reading assignments are to be completed prior to coming to class on the day the reading is assigned. The expectation is that you will have read the assignment carefully, read it at least twice, annotated, written a brief summary in your journal and formulated a thoughtful response. Most of the time, we will discuss the readings or otherwise use them for the activities of the day. Each day, you will do a brief in-class writing on some aspect of the reading; these will be graded. However, I reserve the right to give quizzes on the reading, which I will do if the class as a whole does not seem to be reading thoughtfully or thoroughly.

Your grade for the course will be determined using the following breakdown.

The Final Portfolio will comprise 60% of your grade for the course.

Portfolios that do not contain all drafts of major and minor writing assignments and reflective companion pieces will not be accepted.

Reflective Journal: 15%

Reader Response Writings: 15%

Grammar Quizzes: 5%

Attendance and Participation: 5%

Assignments are listed for the day on which they are due.

Reflective Journal Due Sunday night.

Reflective Journal Due Sunday night.

Reflective Journal Due Sunday night.

Reflective Journal Due Sunday night.

Reflective Journal Due Sunday night.

Reflective Journal Due Sunday night.

Reflective Journal Due Sunday night.

Reflective Journal Due Sunday night.

Reflective Journal Due Sunday night.