COURSE REQUIREMENTS (500 TOTAL POINTS) During the course of this semester,

you will engage in a variety of activities and projects to prepare you for the kinds of
writing you will likely encounter in your major field of study and future workplaces.
You will be required to complete four (4) major writing projects, weekly reading
responses, online writing assignments, and a final electronic portfolio. Additionally,
you will be required to attend two (2) student/teacher conferences. Due dates for
major projects are tentative and are subject to change.

Major Writing Projects (200 points)

1. Rhetorical Analysis of a Written (Academic) Argument (due February 8) For
your first project, you will choose a written academic argument within your
major field of study or interest and provide a rhetorical analysis of the
document.
2. Academic Synthesis Project (due February 28) Using the academic argument
from the first as one of your sources, you will locate an additional scholarly
source that presents an opposing viewpoint within your major field of study or
interest. You will then provide a summary and brief analysis of those
viewpoints and determine your own position within those arguments, using at
least three (3) sources to support your claim.
3. Causal Argument (due April 3) For this writing project, you will use the
foundational concepts of an argument to explore causal relationships
between current events, trends, or phenomena in your field of study, interest,
or potential career.
4. Proposal Argument (due April 24) For this project, you will consider the
problem(s) and issue(s) that surfaced when constructing your causal
argument and construct a proposal argument, particularly focusing on the
issues that may have an impact on your major and future workplace.
5. Participation (60 points total) Participation is crucial to your success in this
course. For each class period we meet, you will earn two (2) participation
points for attending class and participating in that days activities.
6. Reading Responses and Online Writing Assignments (120 points) This course
meets for a total of fifteen (15) weeks. Each week you will be asked to read
material that relates to what we are doing in the course, summarize that
material, and thoughtfully respond to the course readings. Additionally, you
will be asked to complete two (2) online writing assignments during the
course of the semester. You may keep your reading responses anywhere you
like, as long as they are together in one place. Reading responses and online
writing assignments are worth ten (10) points each.
7. Final Electronic Portfolio (100 points) Your final electronic portfolio is a
collection of your learning over the course of the semester. A separate

handout will be provided with instructions and guidelines for the final
electronic portfolio.