Writing in the Course*
INTR101: Introduction to Liberal Arts
"Exemplary Lives"
Meeker's Section 13

Detailed instructions for writing assignments will accompany the actual assignment. Students will follow the accepted format for MLA essays found in The Bedford Handbook.  I will need two copies of your writing effort one in paper form with the organizational work, planning, drafting, writing, and editing, including any tutor’s marks. Even if you use a computer, save and print your brainstorming work, the first draft and, of course, the final product and turn these in with your paper. This is an important step in the writing process. If you do not turn in this work, your essay will not be graded.

Other general guidelines for your essays include the following:

1.   All essays must be typed (12pt only), and pages except for page 1 must be numbered.  Use the computer system on campus or your own word processor.  

2.   All essays must be proofread.  Ink corrections in the final draft are preferred to uncorrected errors.

3.   All essays should be stapled. Do not hand in your essay in a folder, or binder, or a plastic cover.

NOTE: The first and last papers in the course will be collected in an on-line database before any marks are put on them. These will be used for course assessment purposes only.  Please e-mail the first draft of the first paper and the final draft of the final paper to me at cherylm@monm.edu

• Requirements: (A – E  are number 2A under Expectations and Requirements in the course handbook)

A.         Introductory Essay (number 2A under Expectations and Requirements in the course handbook) The first essay, sometimes called the diagnostic essay, is evaluative and students must revise this essay. This essay will be written for Friday the first week of class.   

B.         Two Formal Thesis Focused Essays: (number 2 B under Expectations and Requirements in the course handbook) For the next essays in the course students will be given the option to write a revision. However, some rules apply.  If you choose to do so, the revision, it must be accompanied by the original, and must be so designated in the heading as the Revised Version.  Students are given 2 class periods to complete revised papers.  (E.g. if the essay is handed back on Monday, you have until Friday, or if it is returned to you on Friday, you have until Wednesday of the following week.)

C.         Informal writing exercises: (Number 2 C, under Expectations and Requirements in the course handbook)

Sometimes you will be asked to make as many as three or four entries a week in a journal notebook especially designated for this purpose. I suggest you keep a three-ring binder for your journal and place your typed responses in the binder after I read them.  Keep them in chronological order as the course progresses. About 750-1000 words a week is expected.  This is around three or four entries of a page each (typed or word processed, double-spaced) per week.

Your journal is not a diary, but rather a notebook of inquiry, reaction, review, and analysis. Your entries may be focused around specific topics and assertions. Entries might include any or all of the following:

1.         Answers to study questions
You will be asked to consider as part of overnight reading assignments.

2.         Responses to class discussion
For instance, you may wish to use the journal to review your understanding of, or to explore your confusion about, points made in class discussion. Perhaps you did not get a chance to say something you wanted to at the time.  Perhaps you disagree with majority sentiment in the discussion.  Perhaps the conclusion we reached needs further development.

3.         Direct responses to readings
Journal entries might be seen as explications or analyses of passages from the texts we are reading.

4.          Convocation Responses: (will take two forms-précis and/or reaction

Please take careful and abundant notes during convocation for use later in developing your précis or reaction.

a. Précis:

You will be asked occasionally to write précis of convocation presentations and of articles pertinent to works we read this term.  "Précis" refers to a summary, but especially to a summary of main points made in an oral presentation or a piece of writing.  The précis exercise involves:

1.         Stating concisely the main point or points (thesis) made by a speaker or writer.

2.         Summarizing the speaker's or writer's development of that point or points and,

3.         a concluding statement in which you summarize the speaker's presentation.  You may use a quote from the speaker to emphasize the conclusion.

A précis allows the student to demonstrate her/his ability to think analytically, and to synthesize other people's ideas in a short, well-ordered report.

b.  Reaction Paper:

If a précis is not appropriate for the information given at the convocation, then you will be asked to write a reaction paper.  Careful notes during convocation will allow you to later make the decision as to whether this is a précis or reaction convocation. Good notes are necessary to write an organized response.

Most importantly, make your journal entries add up to something. To do this you might use a three-step approach to organization: a) react to the issue, b) analyze the issue, and c) explore the issue in regards to a broader context or goal.  Topical and thesis focus for your entries is strongly recommended.  Journals will be due the next class period at the beginning of the hour. Journals not turned in on the indicated due date and at the appropriate time will not be accepted for evaluation.

            D. A research or library exercise  (Number 2 D, under Expectations and Requirements in the course handbook)  Detailed requirements will be handed out in class.

            E. Comprehensive essay final exam (Number 2 E, under Expectations and Requirements in the course handbook)