English 114B: Approaches to University Writing

The Absent Center

English 114B: Spring 2015

Email: gina.srmabekian.87@my.csun.edu
Instructor: Gina Srmabekian

Office: Santa Susanna #410

Office hours: W 12:30-1:30
Room: Education 1122
Ticket #: 13953

Required Texts and Materials:

Boxers and Saints, Gene Luen Yang

Please keep in mind that this class will emphasize open communication. While I ask that
everyones opinion is respected, I would like my students to lead classroom
conversations authentically. Debates are encouraged. I will participate with you, not
force you into participation. Therefore, please refrain from offending others
intentionally and please refrain from taking offense liberally.

Course Objectives
Demonstrate competence in university writing

 Demonstrate the ability to use rhetorical strategies that include the appeal to audience,
logic, and emotion
Understand writing as a recursive process and demonstrate its use through invention,
drafting, and revision (creating, shaping, and completing)
Demonstrate the ability to use conventions of format, structure, style, and language
appropriate to the purpose of a written text
Demonstrate the ability to use library and online resources effectively and to
document their sources
Course Components
Completion of Approaches to University Writing entails the following items:
1. Regular attendance and participation
2. Weekly writing journal reflections (5oo-1500 words)
3. The Projects, including exercises and all essay drafts
4. Final Portfolio/multimodal project
Class Assignments
* All out-of-class assignments must be written in MLA format, with 1 margins on all 4 sides,
in a 12 pt. font of Times New Roman.
* Every assignment will come with a fully explained assignment sheet or writing prompt which
will go into greater detail.
* All 3 major assignments (3 Projects) below must be submitted on your Moodle page before
they are due. You will also have to bring me a hard copy of the paper.
Our Method: Project Text, Project Space, Project Web
Throughout each project, you will be asked to engage with a different medium in a series of
interconnected reading, writing, and thinking exercises that link to class work. As each
progression is completed, the combined drafting builds the foundation and process of an essay.
This movement grows out of the specific assignments and collaborative nature of the
progression and leads to essays that bear marks of distinction, direction, and development.
There are three projects, each requiring three exercises and one essay and/or multimodal
response. There is also a fourth, informal, reflective essay. This fourth essay serves as your
portfolios introduction. The portfolio is a compendium of the semesters work.
A. Project I: Project Text
Essay 1: The Gospel of No and The Cultural Artifact
How ideologies shape social consciousness and how they are commoditized.
B. Project II: Project Space
Boxers and Saints: The Gods are Fleeing
How idolatry is represented in the text through visual rhetoric and how visual
rhetoric in our society creates idols.
C. Project III: Project Text
Online Portfolio/Webpage
D. Informal Reflective Essay/ Creative Piece Cover Letter for Portfolio

E. Portfolio
You will submit a final portfolio online on Friday, May 18th. This will be the last day of class
and we will not be taking a final exam in this class. Based on this, do not throw away
anything in this class Save/back up all files. Remember that you are not just writing for me,
but rather an academic audience. We will begin working on this in great detail 2 weeks before
the semester ends.
Writing Journal
Each week, post a thoughtful response to our readings and/or class discussion on Moodle. Do
not merely summarize what you have read; instead you should express your interpretation of
what youve read, making connections to texts and things beyond the class.

Remember that apart from being integral to your participation grade, the writing
journal is used as a preliminary workspace for the projects that you will do. Timely and
well thought-out responses will bolster not only your grade, but will help you in drafting
your essays.
Papers
The bulk of your grade (see below) will be based upon finished essays and exercises that you will
submit over the course of the term. Each item will be assigned a specific due date as well as
instructions regarding drafting, conferences, peer group work, and use of the Writing Center.
Out-of-class papers must be composed and revised at the computer. Please print a copy of each
draft before you revise it.
Note: late papers will not be accepted unless you have obtained an extension from me ahead of
time. You must submit your essay even if you miss class on its due date.
Revision Policy- All is not lost!
If you receive a low grade on your final essay for Progressions 1 and/or 2, you do have the
option of revising it for a maximum of 10 extra points. There are 4 components to your
revision process:
1. Meet with me in my office hours.
2. Go to the LRC and meet with a writing tutor to discuss revisions (Include the LRC slip
in your revised packet).
3. Type a one page letter to me/summary of how, why, and what you did to revise your
paper. This should be reflective and talk about the revisions process you went through.
4. Turn in a revised copy of the essay, the letter, and the LRC form with the original
entire graded, essay-packet (everything you turned in for the essay) to me within 3
weeks of the original, graded essay being returned to you.
Breakdown of Points/Percentages
Participation, in-class assignments, and Moodle (10pts for post, 5 pts for reflection): 20%
Exercises and Peer Reviews (25pts): 20%
Essays (100pts): 30%
Final Portfolio (200pts): 30%

VERY IMPORTANT: To pass this class you must complete all 3 Projects and the final
portfolio.
93-100% A
90-92% A87-89% B+
83-86% B
80-82% B77-79% C+

73-76% C
70-72% C67-69% D+
63-66% D
60-62% D59% and under: TRY AGAIN

COURSE POLICIES:
Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty
Dont do it. I will know.
Participation & Attendance
Class participation includes discussions, weekly Moodle posts, student-instructor conferences,
and workshop activities. Leading discussion and defining glossary terms (10-dollar words) will
weigh heavily on your participation grade as well as your overall standing in class.
Students should attend, be prepared for each class, and arrive on time.
Two late arrivals or early departures will count as one absence.
You will be allowed 4 absences. Grades are therefore dropped a letter after four absences.
Six absences result in an F.
In cases of emergency, please contact me via email.

Furthermore, if you are present in body but absent in mind, (that is, if you are not
participating), you will be marked absent for the day. Attendance will be taken at the
end of class AFTER the class activities to ensure students get the most of out of their
time.
Emails
Email me if you have a specific concern or question about an assignment or reading, to inform
me about an absence or emergency, or to set up an appointment for office hours. DO NOT
email me to find out about what you missed in class (I will not respond). Email one of your
classmates for information that was missed in class. In general, allow me 48 hours to respond
to your email before resending it (exception: I do not respond to emails after 5pm on Friday. If
you email me after that time, do not expect a response until Monday).
Late Work
I do not accept late work. All assignments are due at the start of class on the due date for
credit. However, if you turn in an essay late, it will be docked a full letter grade for everyday
that it is late. A C paper turned in on time is a D paper turned in a day late.

- Double-Or-Nothing: In case of exceptional circumstances, a student may be allowed an

extension by:
1) Following the aforementioned guidelines for revision PRIOR TO turning in
their essay.
2) Writing a proposal for either a creative or critical response which engages in
the rhetoric of the class. The proposal must adhere to the student outcome
guidelines, must in some way inform or extend the discourse of the late
assignment, and will be turned in with the essay.
3) The essay, proposal, and creative/critical response will be evaluated as a
whole for full credit in the portfolio.
Classroom Conduct
Be courteous and respectful to your instructor and your peers. This includes listening and not
speaking when another individual in the class is speaking.
All items on this syllabus are subject change according to the needs of the class.