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SAINT

LOUIS UNIVERSITY
1818 Advanced College Credit Program
1818.slu.edu

ENGL 1900 Advanced College Credit Strategies in Rhetoric & Research
Lutheran High School North

Course Syllabus
Fall 2016

Instructor: Justin Dixon

Contact Information: jdixon@lhsnstl.org 636-448-1868 (Don’t call after 9pm)

Course Description: ACC Strategies is a dual-credit course designed to focus on the making
of meaning. The culmination of this course is the creation and submission of a portfolio of
student writing that will exemplify your growth as a writer and thinker. You can expect to
read and write extensively throughout the semester. The course begins with an evaluation
of your current writing abilities and works toward growth and competency in narrative,
expository, argumentative, and creative writing.

Text Information:
- Vocabulary Power Plus for the ACT, Book One (Purchase on iBooks for $8.99)
- All other texts available on OnCampus


Course Objectives: Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to
demonstrate:
a) an understanding of concepts common to written communication: purpose,
audience, style, etc.
b) an understanding of the recursive attributes of the writing process.
c) effective skills in analytical reading, critical thinking, and deployment of rhetorical
strategies.
d) the ability to discuss your writing in group settings with confidence, acuity, and
articulation.
e) competence and correctness in grammar, spelling, and usage.
f) mastery of library research methods and sources, organization of material, and
documentation.
g) mastery of over 200 new vocabulary words.
h) effective skills with developing an electronic portfolio.


Major Assessment and Evaluation Strategies:
- Attendance. When an absence is unavoidable, the student is responsible for
acquiring missed course materials and the information supplied in class BEFORE the
following class session. Ask a reliable classmate or see me during my posted office
hours.

- Successful completion of all readings. You are expected to complete each reading
assignment before the class period of the day for which it is assigned. For many of
the reading assignments, I will provide discussion questions in advance so that you
know what specific issues to think about before you come to class. If it becomes
clear that you have not read the assigned text, you will lose all participation points
for the day.

- Participation in class (including a willingness to read aloud from the text and from
your own work). Active participation in class discussion and activities (including
peer reviews) is REQUIRED. The texts we read in class will serve as exemplars for
your own writing; therefore, you should always come to class with closely read and
annotated texts in hand, prepared for lively discussion. You will be expected to
engage actively in class discussions and a significant part of your participation grade
will be based on contributions to these discussions. Feel free to ask questions,
challenge and encourage one another, and interact as a community as we work on
these texts together. Note: We will be discussing current and controversial
issues in class. I expect all students to respect one another, even when they
disagree. Furthermore, I would hope that we can all be mature and not allow
disagreements in class to spill out into the rest of the school.

- Participation in online discussion. This class will utilize a blog
(accstrat.blogspot.com), and you will be required to post responses to my prompts
as well as to each other. Blog posts will be required prior to 11:59 pm the night that
the reading is assigned so that students will have time to read and respond.

- Vocabulary Quizzes. Quizzes will be fill in the blank with no word bank. Students
will be expected to spell the word correctly and use its appropriate form.

- Group Genre Presentation.
Student groups will research and present a number of different approaches to
argumentative writing. Students will present samples of writing to the class and
teach how to write an effective essay in their assigned genre. Student presentations
will take the entire block.

- Remembered Event Essay.
Students will compose a short personal narrative, highlighting a single event in their
lives. This essay will undergo several drafts and reviews prior to submission.

- College Research Paper.
Students will compose a research paper about the college of their choice. Research
will consist of online, print, and interview sources. This essay will undergo several
drafts and reviews prior to submission.

- College Application Essay
Students will compose a personal essay, fit for submission as a part of their college
application. This essay will undergo several drafts and reviews prior to submission.




- Résumé
Students will create a résumé highlighting their academic, athletic, and service
achievements throughout their high school career. This résumé should be fit for
submission as a part of their college application.

- Final argumentative Essay
Students will compose a researched, argumentative essay on the topic of their
choice, using the techniques discussed in class throughout the semester. This essay
will undergo several drafts and reviews prior to submission.

- Online Writing Portfolio
Students will compile early and final drafts into a comprehensive online writing
portfolio. This culminating assignment will be in place of a final exam.

Method for Determining Final Grade for Course:

In-class work and Participation: 5 %
Successful Participation in online discussion: 5%
Vocabulary Quizzes: 5%
Remembered Event Essay: 10%
College Research Paper: 15%
College Application Essay: 10%
Résumé: 10%
Group Genre Presentation: 5%
Final Argumentative Essay: 15%
Online Writing Portfolio: 20%


97-100 = A+ 93-96= A 90-92= A- 87-89= B+ 83-86= B 80-82 = B-
77-79= C+ 73-76= C 70-72 = C- 67-69= D+ 63-66= D 60-62 = D-
0-59= F

The highest grade “A,” for example, is assigned to work of exceptional quality which shows a
critical understanding of writing techniques and shows insight, inventiveness, creativity
and passion.

Accordingly, “B” work shows some exceptional quality but not in all the areas listed; “C”
work is average and may have some exceptional qualities as well as deficiencies; “D” work is
of insufficient quality in some of the areas listed and has little redeeming quality in others;
and “F” work is insufficient in most areas and has no sufficient redeeming qualities.

Students must earn a C or better to receive college credit through Saint Louis University’s
1818 Advanced College Credit program. Any passing grade, however, will earn high school
credit.


Academic Integrity Statement: This class holds the same standards of academic integrity
as other classes at Saint Louis University. Complete, specific college guidelines are available
at http://www.slu.edu/x12657.xml.


Course Calendar:
Date Assignment
Read: Syllabus
Aug. 12 Course goals/expectations Purchase: Power Plus Vocabulary for the ACT –
Summer Reading test Volume 1 (iBooks)
Read: “Why Read? Why Write?”
Read: “What do Students Need to Know about
Aug. 15/16 Review Syllabus Rhetoric?”
Summer Reading Essay Post to Blog
Power Plus One I-II Read: “Why Read? Why Write?”
Aug. 17/18 Essay Self-Evaluation Read: “Reading Critically”
Notes: The Rhetorical Triangle
Power Plus One IV, VI
Aug. 19/22 Notes: Reading Critically Read: “Disability”
Introduce Ad Analysis Post to Blog
Work on Ad Analysis
Discuss “Disability” Read “Champion of the World”
Aug. 23/24 Introduce Remembered Event Read “Fish Cheeks”
Essay Post to Blog
Read “Shooting an Elephant”
Aug. 25/26 Power Plus Quiz #1 Read “The Chase”
Ad Analysis Presentation Post to Blog
Read “Indian Education”
Aug. 29/30 Power Plus Two I-II Read “White Pride in my Classroom”
Work on Rough Drafts in class Post to Blog
Choice Not Chance
Aug. 31/Sep. 1 Presentation Register for weebly.com account
Power Plus Two III-V Read “Black Men and Public Space”
Remembered Event Rough Read: “White Privilege: Unpacking the
Sep. 2/6 Draft Due Invisible Knapsack”
Peer Review Post to Blog
Journaling
Writing portfolio Instructions Read: “What my Bike Taught me about White
Sep. 7/8 Discuss “Black Men and Public Privilege” (ActivelyLearn)
Space” Post to Blog
Power Plus Quiz #2 Read: “The Downside of Diversity”
Sep. 9/12 Paper revisions Post to Blog
Remembered Event Essay
Due (hard copy) Choose Research Topic
Sep. 13/14 Power Plus Three I-II Read: “From Education”
Introduce Research Paper Post to Blog
Read: “Too Much Pressure”
Listen: “Under Pressure” by Queen/David
Sep. 15/16 Power Plus Three IV, VI Bowie
Interviewing instructions Post to Blog
Read: “Liberal Education on the Ropes”
Sep. 19/20 Power Plus Quiz #2 Post to Blog
Outlining instructions Work on Research Paper
Read: “Getting Along Without Grades”
Sep. 21/22 Research Paper Notes Due Post to Blog
Power Plus Four I-III Work on Research Paper
Research Paper Outline/Thesis
Due
Sep. 23/26 Power Plus Four IV, V Read: “Our Cell Phones, Ourselves”
Thesis Bracket Challenge Work on Research paper
Power Plus Quiz #4
Sep. 27/28 Review Exercise V
Complete Bracket Challenge
Review MLA Format/Internal Read: “Our Cell Phones, Ourselves”
Citations (groups) Post to Blog
Work on Research paper
Research Paper Rough Draft
Due
Sep. 29/30 Power Plus Five I, II Read: “The FBI is Reading Over Your
MLA Presentations Shoulder”
Peer Review Post to Blog
Power Plus Five III, IV
Oct. 4/5 Conferencing/Revising Complete Research Paper
Research Paper Due (hard
copy)
Oct. 6/7 Power Plus Five V, VI
Introduce College Application Complete College Application Essay
Essay Prewriting Worksheet
Power Plus Quiz #5
Oct. 10/11 Application Essay Critique Complete essay critique
Power Plus Six I-III
Oct. 12/13/14 Present essay critique Complete: Introduction (2 copies – one
Mini-conference without name)
Power Plus Six IV, V
Oct. 17/18 Introduction Bracket Challenge Work on Application Essay
Power Plus Quiz #6
Review Exercise V
Oct. 19/20 Introduce Group Genre Project
Writing Time Work on Application Essay
Application Essay Rough
Draft Due
Oct. 24/25 Peer Review
Work in Genre Presentation
Groups
Application Essay Due (hard
copy)
Oct. 26/27 Work in Genre Presentation
Groups
Choice Not Chance
Presentation
Oct. 28/31 Power Plus Seven I-III
Introduce Resume Assignment TBD
Power Plus Seven IV, VI
Nov. 1/2 Presentation 1 (Compare &
Contrast) Assignment TBD
Power Plus Quiz #7
Nov. 3/4 Presentation 2 (Cause and
Effect) Assignment TBD
Power Plus Eight I-III
Nov. 7/8 Presentation 3
(Exemplification/Illustration) Assignment TBD
Power Plus Eight IV-V
Nov. 9/10 Presentation 4 (Classification) Assignment TBD
Power Plus Eight V
Nov. 11/14 Presentation 5 (Division and Read: “No Name Woman”
Analysis) Post to Blog
Resume Rough Draft Due Read: “Declaration of Sentiments”
Nov. 15/16 Power Plus Quiz #8 Read: “Ain’t I a Woman?”
Resume Bracket Challenge Post to Blog
Computer Lab – Creating the Read: “Saudis in Bikinis”
Nov. 17/18 Online Portfolio Read: “Size 6: The Western Women’s Harem”
Post to Blog
Power Plus Nine I-III
Nov. 21/22 Research/Writing
Power Plus Nine IV, VI
Nov. 28/29 Works Cited due
Nov. 30/Dec. 1 Computer Lab
Dec. 2/5 Power Plus Quiz #9
Power Plus Ten I-III
Dec. 6/7 Final Argumentative Essay
Rough Draft Due
Power Plus Ten IV-V
Dec. 8/9 Revising/Conferencing
Power Plus Quiz #10
Dec. 12/13 Computer Lab
Revising/Conferencing
Dec. 14/15 Present Final Paper
Dec. 16 Present Final Paper
Dec. 19-21 Finals / Finish Presentations

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