Dr. Mark Jordan ~ ENGL 1301: Composition & Rhetoric Assignments You will find a Calendar of Assignments in table form after the following introductory section on grading criteria. As mentioned in the Syllabus, formal essays will make up the bulk of your course grade. A WORD OF CAUTION: Your browser may be set up so that when you try to access this link, it may access its own cache of my link, rather than my actual link. The problem with this is that the cached link will not show any current assignments. To avoid this problem, you may want to either click on "Refresh" or "Reload" when you access this link, or else set your browser options so as to not save any history of links you access. Grading Criteria Here is a specific list of characteristics I look for in a well-written document: You should assume that your writings (essays, especially) will be graded for these five criteria, unless I specifically tell you otherwise. A precise, consistent focus: Don't switch to a similar but different topic unconsciously; don't change from one opinion or purpose to another unconsciously; make sure your supporting arguments really support the point you mean for them to. A clear pattern of organization: Essays should have effective introductions, main bodies, and conclusions. How to do these things, and what to include in them, is all covered in the Three-Part Format link. Adequate development: It is common for inexperienced writers to assume the audience either understands or agrees with them far more than the audience really does. Thus student writers, assuming understanding and agreement, stop short of adequately developing their points. The two key tools to adequate development are to use both logos, in the form of full explanation of claims you're making, and pathos, in the form of specific examples, stories about individuals which back up your explanation. These two key appeals are mentioned above and discussed in the Three-Part Format section also. Effective error control: This is the dreaded "grammar part." I see grammatical errors as being similar to static in a radio signal: a listener, or in this case a reader, will overlook a certain amount, but at some point the static becomes more noticeable than the signal itself. Can grammatical problems alone cause a student to fail in my class? It's rare, but it's possible. The way to control this aspect of your writing is to master effective proofing strategies. Several are explained in the same Three-Part Format link mentioned above. Beyond that, a good key to more fundamental improvement is to simply count the errors I mark, figure out what your two or three most frequent mistakes are, and devote yourself to finally understanding what you are doing wrong in these specific cases. I am happy to work with students personally on specific errors, whether via email or in person. Sensitivity to audience: Poor development is in itself a key sign of lack of sensitivity to the needs of the audience, because it shows that the writer is assuming that just a brief summary of the writer's view is adequate, rather than a more thorough explanation. Another sign of a problem in this area is the absence of a preview of supports in the introductory paragraph; a similar sign is an absence of transition wording and/or clear connections to the thesis in the topic sentences of body paragraphs. Yet another similar sign is a failure to tell how a fact, quote, story or example specifically relates to the main point of a given paragraph. At this early point in the course, these items I have just mentioned may be foreign to you, but we will soon cover them. And for web students, please bear in mind this also: I am particularly bothered when students fail to personalize the filenames of essays they send as attached files, and/or when they fail to include their names as a heading within the essay file. So please pay special attention to instructions in this regard, which deal with audience sensitivity in the specific context of myself as an audience who receives many student files.

Calendar of Assignments All major and daily assignments will be posted here beginning the first week of class. You will be able to click on the Assignment name to go to the page giving detailed instructions for each assignment; however, shorter assignments may not need their own page and will be explained in full in this calendar. Some assignments involving discussion of topics will actually be done on the spot as email and sent immediately; these assignments are not graded for grammar because the email medium is less formal than the writing you will do in formal essays. As for your essays and any other longer, more formal assignments, these should not be done on the spot within an email message, but should be done meticulously in your word processor program (MS Word, WordPerfect, etc.) so you have the chance to revise for improvement and for error proofing. Once they are complete they should be submitted as email attachments (see Email). Assignment # Type Description Due Date Weight ONE In Blackboard, submit "Getting Started" responses as a Rich Text file. Once you have activated your OC email account and logged in to Blackboard, first read the Announcements.  Then locate the menu to the left and select Assignments.  Then select Daily Grades on the next screen.  Select Getting Started and follow the further instructions. Due by midnight, Friday, Aug. 29th One daily grade TWO In Blackboard, do the first Discussion Board topic, Getting to Know Each Other. Log in to Blackboard.  Click on Assignments, then click on Daily Grades.  Scroll down past the Getting Started assignment and click on Getting to know each other.  Follow the further instructions. Due by midnight, Friday, Aug. 29th (same due date as first assignment) Part of Attendance Grade THREE In Blackboard, submit Quiz One as a Rich Text file. Within Blackboard, select Assignments in the menu on the left, then enter Daily Grades.  Find the Quiz One assignment and complete it according to the further instructions there. Due by midnight, Tuesday, September 2nd One daily grade FOUR In Blackboard, submit Quiz Two as a Rich Text file. Within Blackboard, select Assignments in the menu on the left, then enter Daily Grades.  Find the Quiz Two assignment and complete it according to the further instructions there.  The quiz will become available on Tuesday. Due by midnight, Friday, September 5th One daily grade FIVE In Blackboard, submit the essay partial draft as a Rich Text file.  Your partial draft will consist of an intro paragraph and the first body paragraph.  You will submit them together as D1 plus your three initials.  I will grade the paragraphs separately. Due by midnight, Friday, September 12th Each paragraph is a separate daily grade SIX In Blackboard, submit the essay final draft as a Rich Text file. Instructions for the final draft are found in the same web link as instructions for the partial draft, but the final draft assignment is listed under Major Grades(Essays) in Blackboard.  You will turn the final draft in there.  The web link can be accessed within Blackboard, but also by clicking here. Due by midnight, Monday, September 22nd First major grade:  app. 12% of course grade SEVEN In Blackboard, do the second Discussion Board topic. Log in to Blackboard.  Click on Assignments, then click on Daily Grades.  Scroll down past the Getting Started assignment and click on The Course So Far; Essay One So Far.  Follow the further instructions. Will be open two weeks; mostly intended for next week, 9-8 through 9-13 Part of Attendance Grade EIGHT In Blackboard, submit the essay intro (no body paragraph) as a Rich Text file.  Unlike with the first essay, your partial draft will consist only of an intro paragraph.  You will submit that paragraph on Blackboard as D2 plus your three initials.  Due by midnight, Monday, September 29th One Daily Grade NINE In Blackboard, submit your first Error Log as EL1 plus your initials. An Error Log consists of your corrections of each numbered sentence in your graded essay.  See full instructions for your error log in your graded essay itself. Due by midnight, Wednesday, October 1st One Daily Grade (does not change essay grade) TEN In Blackboard, submit the Essay Two final draft as a Rich Text file. Instructions for the final draft are found in the same web link as instructions for the partial draft, but the final draft assignment is listed under Major Grades(Essays) in Blackboard.  You will turn the final draft in there.  The web link can be accessed within Blackboard, but also by clicking here. Due by midnight, Wednesday, October 8th 2nd Major Grade; app. 12% of Course Grade ELEVEN In Blackboard, do the 3rd Discussion Board topic Log in to Blackboard.  Click on Assignments, then click on Daily Grades.  Scroll down past the Getting Started assignment and click on Essay Two Discussion Board. Follow the further instructions. Open from 9-22 through 10-8-08 Part of attendance grade TWELVE In Blackboard, submit the essay three intro (no body paragraph) as a Rich Text file.  Before writing the intro for Essay Three, you must first read about and understand some concepts and stages of what is called the Hero's Journey.  You will then submit the intro paragraph on Blackboard as D3 plus your three initials.  Due by midnight, Friday, October 17th One Daily Grade THIRTEEN In Blackboard, submit your second Error Log as EL2 plus your initials. Remember that an Error Log consists of corrections only for each numbered sentence in your graded essay.  You will submit this in Blackboard, under Daily Grades. Due by midnight, Monday, October 20th One Daily Grade FOURTEEN In Blackboard, submit the Essay Three final draft as a Rich Text file. Instructions for the final draft are found in the same web link as instructions for the partial draft, but the final draft assignment is listed under Major Grades (Essays) in Blackboard.  You will turn the final draft in there.  The web link can be accessed within Blackboard, but also by clicking here. Due by midnight, Monday, October 27th 3rd Major Grade; app. 12% of Course Grade FIFTEEN In Blackboard, do the 4th Discussion Board topic Find this in Blackboard, under Daily Grades, showing there as Essay Three Discussion Board. Open from 10-9 through 10-27 Part of Attendance Grade SIXTEEN In Blackboard, submit the Fallacies of Argument quiz (Q3) Submit this quiz by accessing the Fallacies of Argument web link from within Blackboard Daily Grades.  Name your file Q3 plus your initials; submit as Rich Text. Due by midnight, Friday, October 31st A daily grade SEVENTEEN In Blackboard, submit the essay four intro (D4) After completing the quiz, submit your intro paragraph through Blackboard Daily Grades.  Name your file D4 plus your initials; submit as Rich Text. Due by midnight, Monday, November 3rd A daily grade EIGHTEEN In Blackboard, submit the essay three error log (EL3) Submit your error log for essay three in Blackboard, under Daily Grades.  Save as Rich Text.  Name your file EL3. Due by midnight, Friday, November 7th A daily grade NINETEEN In Blackboard, submit the essay four final draft (E4) Instructions for the final draft are found in the same web link as instructions for the partial draft, but the final draft assignment is listed under Major Grades (Essays) in Blackboard.  You will turn the final draft in there.  The web link can be accessed within Blackboard, but also by clicking here. Due by midnight, Monday, November 17th 4th major grade; app. 12% of course grade TWENTY In Blackboard, do the essay four discussion board topic (DB4) Find this discussion board in Blackboard, under Daily Grades, showing there as Essay Four Discussion Board. Open from 10-31 through 11-17 Part of attendance grade TWENTY-ONE In Blackboard, do the last discussion board topic. Find this discussion board in Blackboard, under Daily Grades, showing there as Essay Five Discussion Board. Open from 11-18 through December 7th (the Sunday before finals week) Part of attendance grade TWENTY-TWO In Blackboard, submit the essay five final draft. Note that for this essay, no intro paragraph is due.  You will submit the final draft as usual.  The web link can be accessed within Blackboard, but also by clicking here. Due by midnight, Wednesday, December 3rd. 5th major grade; app. 12% of course grade TWENTY-THREE In Blackboard, submit the final exam essay. The final exam will be done by you as usual.  You do not have to come to campus to take it.  However, you must submit it on time, or you may fail the entire course, because the semester is over.  When the due date for E5 nears, I will post final exam instructions here. Due by Wednesday, December 10th.  May be submitted early. The final exam counts 20% of the course grade.

mjordan@odessa.edu work: 432.335.6549 home: 432.332.5847 fax: 432.335.6559 surface mail c/o Odessa College, 201 W. University, Odessa TX 79764