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Department of Rhetoric and Writing

Rhetoric and Composition Syllabus

RHET 1311.01 College Composition 1

Sections 20 8:00am MWF

Section 23 11:00am MWF

Class Room: SUA102C

Instructor: Ms. Snow
Email: rrsnow@ualr.edu
My Office: SUA 100 Hours on Mondays 9:00am-10:00 Come see me!

University and Department Statement: This class is offered through the Department of
Rhetoric and Writing at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. If you have any questions or
concerns, please contact Dr. Brian Ray, Director of Composition at bcray@ualr.edu or (803)
319-6428.
Description:
RHET 1311 Composition I
Prerequisite: A minimum ACT English score of 19, a minimum SAT I verbal score of 450,
or a grade of C or higher in RHET 0310 or RHET 0321. Students will focus on organizing
and revising ideas and writing well organized, thoroughly developed papers that achieve
the writers purpose, meet the readers needs, and develop the writers voice. Final
course grades are A, B, C, or NC. Students must complete this course with a grade of C
or greater to take RHET 1312. Three credit hours.
Course Learning Outcomes for Composition: The Department of Rhetoric and Writing
has adopted the following outcomes from the Council of Writing Program Administrators.
A. Demonstrate basic rhetorical ability by completing texts for at least 3 different rhetorical situations,
with each one written appropriately for that context. (E.g., personal essay, literacy narrative,
exploratory source-based paper.)
B. Demonstrate awareness of basic proofreading and editing skills by completing finished drafts that
follow appropriate conventions of grammar punctuation, usage, and spelling.
C. Revise and reflect on all major projects [at least 3] effectively, based on instructor feedback, peer
review, and self-assessment. (E.g., evidence of improvement on global & local issues plus a
substantial reflection essay.)
D. Produce at least one final draft that effectively integrates electronic and print sources into the writer's
own text and documents them effectively. (E.g., exploratory paper that uses primary and secondary
sources located through library databases to pose and answer a question.)

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E. Effectively use different software programs and applications to compose and revise documents in
different modes and mediums. (E.g., an e-portfolio site or blog with working links that is eye-friendly,
readable, and navigable.)
F. Demonstrate awareness of multiple genres by producing at least one effective text in a professional,
public, and non-essay genre. (E.g., portfolio contains a press release, an opinion-editorial essay, and
a design for a billboard ad or PSA.)

Programmatic Course Portfolio: All students develop a course e-portfolio that should be a
minimum of 10% of the course grade. The portfolio and reflective statement show how
students learned and applied skills and knowledge about rhetoric and writing. As such,
students should include drafts from each project, invention work, reader-response entries, mini
projects, and daily work.
Grading Policy and Scale:

Scale for Grade Calculation

Used on individual assignments and for final course grade calculation:

100-90

4.0

89-80

3.0

79-70

2.0

69-60

1.0

59-0

.0

Individual Course Policies

Communication: UALR email must be used to transmit correspondence. Personal computer
failure is frustrating; however, the late work policy will be implemented. I strongly urge you to
back everything you produce up to an external source, e.g. your Google drive or another cloud.
Please keep in mind that last minute problems occur when functioning in last minute
situations.
Student Behavior: Classroom Community: The rules and regulations of University of Arkansas
at Little Rock student handbook will be followed in our classroom. Students are entitled to
receive instruction free from interference by other members of the class. An instructor may
eject or withdraw a student from a course when the students behavior disrupts the educational
process.
Statement on Privacy and Writing: A statement about the public nature of writing in
academic spaces: There is a Public Nature of the Classroom. Please consider all writing for
this class to be "public. Part of becoming an effective writer is learning to appreciate the
ideas and feedback of others; in this course, our purpose is to come together as a writing
community. Remember that all students will be expected to share writing with others. Avoid
writing about topics that you wish to keep private or that you feel so strongly about that you
are unwilling to listen to the perspectives of others. Additionally, the feedback that is
provided is intended to help improve your writing; be open to the suggestions about your
writing.

University Policies
UALR Statement on Disability Support Services: We provide accommodations to
students who identify with a request from the Disability Resource Center (DRC); the DRC
correspondence will specify any accommodations a particular student needs. The University
Policy is as follows:
Students with Disabilities Statement: Your success in this class is important to me, and it
is the policy and practice of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock to create inclusive
learning environments consistent with federal and state law. If you have a documented
disability (or need to have a disability
documented), and need an accommodation, please contact me privately as soon as
possible, so that we can discuss with the Disability Resource Center (DRC) how to meet
your specific needs and the requirements of the course. The DRC offers resources and
coordinates reasonable accommodations for
students with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations are established through an
interactive process among you, your instructor(s) and the DRC. Thus, if you have a
disability, please contact me and/or the DRC, at 501-569-3143 (V/TTY) or 501-683-7629
(VP). For more information, please visit the DRC website at www.ualr.edu/disability.
Academic Integrity Statement: University regulations regarding academic dishonesty, as
set forth in the UALR student handbook and other university documents and publications, will
be strictly enforced in this class. Any student who submits work that he/she did not produce for
the given assignment may be assigned a grade of zero points for the assignment in question,

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and may possibly fail the class. In accordance with Section VI: Statement of Student Behavior,
under the code of student rights, responsibilities, and behavior, the university classifies
academic dishonesty as cheating, plagiarism, collusion, and/or duplicity. Cheating and blatant
plagiarism in this class can result in disciplinary sanction

UALR Online Accessibility Accommodation Policy:

Web Accessibility Statement: It is the policy and practice of UALR to make all web
information accessible to students with disabilities. If you, as a student with a disability,
have difficulty accessing any part of the electronic course materials for this class, please
notify me immediately.
UALR Weather Policy:
Weather Policy: The UALR website, UALR email, the Universitys main telephone number
(501.569.3000), and the campus emergency alert system are the official means of
communicating all information concerning weather-related closing. Local television and
radio stations will also be notified. Weather and road conditions vary from place to place.
Employees and students are expected to exercise good judgment regarding the safety of
travel when road conditions are affected by the weather.
Campus Resources:
University Writing Center-provides support to writers throughout the writing process:
http://ualr.edu/writingcenter/
Counseling Services- provides confidential mental health and career counseling services
for all UALR
students: http://ualr.edu/personalcounseling/
Health Services- provides non-emergency medical care to all UALR students:
http://ualr.edu/health/
Technology Support is offered at both the campus level along with outside services.
UALR offers support for students: http://ualr.edu/itservices/ along with Blackboard help:
http://ualr.edu/blackboard/
Ottenheimer Library-offers ask a librarian and research support: http://ualr.edu/library/

R EQUIRED T EXTBOOKS
Everyone is an Author with Readings, Andrea Lunsford, et al. editors, W.W.Norton Publisher.
Portfolio Keeping: A Guide for Students, Nedra Rynolds, Bedford/St. Martins Press

O THER M ATERIALS

Computer/word processor/internet/Blackboard access

USB flashdrive or cloud storage (recommended)
Pens and/or pencils for writing
Folder/binder for printed materials (optional)

Attendance Policy:
An absence is an unattended class period. There are no excused absences in this
course. However, everyone has up to 6 absences to use without penalty. You will not need to
tell me about them, or give me formal excuses. After 6 absences, you will have to re-take
the course because you will not pass this course with more than 6 absences. I TAKE
ATTENDANCE EVERY CLASS PERIOD.
Please arrive to class on time, as it will affect your participation

Late Work Overall, I do not accept late work. Any assignments not submitted by announced due
dates are subject to failure. I reserve the right to treat late work on a case-by-case basis.

Conduct and Professionalism

Please be respectful and attentive during all class discussions and activities. Electronic devices are
permitted, but if they become a distraction it will affect your ability to participate and therefore
result in a lower grade at the instructors discretion.

B LACKBOARD
Most materials for this class, including reading assignments, major and minor writing projects,
handouts, and additional documents will be provided through the course Blackboard shell. If you
need hardcopies of any materials for any reason, please notify me as soon as possible.

ALL DOCUMENTS MUST BE IN WORD OR PDF FORMAT

ONLY!!!!
Notification Email: rrsnow@ualr.edu

COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND VALUE OF ASSIGNMENTS

Assignment or Project 1: Literacy Narrative, My Experience with Research
Final Draft Due:

25%

Thursday, September 1 at 11:59 p.m.

Assignment or Project 2: Research Report about ARKANSAS

25%

You choose anything about our Wonderful State ARKANSAS

For this project, you will conduct research on a subject in the state or local community and
use documentation and a citation method, then write a formal academic report.
Final Draft Due:

Thursday, October 27 at 11:59 pm

Assignment or Project 3: Advertisement Visual Rhetorical Analysis

25%

You as an individual or choose a small group will select an ad and write an analysis of the
advertisements goals, techniques, audience, etc. You will make a presentation to the class.
Due as presentations in classes November 11-18.
Final Project Your Digital Portfolio

10%

Portfolioyour final project will be a Digital Portfolio on CARBONMADE OR WEEBLY of your

work in this class. This will include all major writing assignments/projects and drafts. In
addition, you will include a cover letter that illustrates your understanding of the course
objectives written on the bottom of page 1 of this syllabus and how you met them as a
writer.
Final Draft Due:

Thursday, December 8 at 11:59 pm

Class Work, Discussion Participation, Writing Prompts, etc.

IMPORTANT DATES
Classes Start

Aug 17

Literacy Narrative Due

Labor Day Holiday
Last Day to Drop

Sept 1
Sept 5
Oct 13

15%

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Research Report Due

Oct 27

Thanksgiving Break

Nov 23-26

Last Day to Withdraw from All Classes

Dec 5

Consultation Day

Dec 8

Final Exams

Dec. 8-15

COURSE SCHEDULE
Week 1: College Writing and Why are We Here?
Wed Aug 17
Introduction to the Course
Fri Aug 19
Literacy Narrative Assignment My Experience Doing and Writing Research
Reading: Chapter 12 Writing a Narrative Lunsford Text
Melanie Luken Literacy: A Lineage
Chapter 4 Meeting Demands of Academic Writing Lunsford Text
Week 2:

Fun with Rhetoric!

Mon Aug 22
Just What is Rhetoric and Why Do I Need to Know?
Reading: Chapter 1, Thinking Rhetorically Lunsford Text
FIRST DRAFT OF LITERACY NARRATIVE DUE TUES AUG 23, 11:59 pm (Upload to Blackboard)
Wed Aug 24
More About Rhetoric
Reading: Chapter 2 Rhetorical Situations Lunsford Text
Chapter 3 Reading Rhetorically Lunsford Text
PEER REVIEW OF FIRST DRAFT OF LITERACY NARRATIVE
Fri Aug 26 A Good Narrative
Reading: Larry Lehna, The Look Lunsford Text
Reading: Michael Lewis, Liars Poker
Week 3: Meet With Me!
Mon Aug 29 TEACHER-STUDENT CONFERENCES
Wed Aug 31 TEACHER-STUDENT CONFERENCES

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Fri Sept 2

TEACHER-STUDENT CONFERENCES

No classes, just come to the CLASSROOM for a 10 minute conference when you are scheduled
You must do this reading and take an on-line quiz about

The Process Movement and

Writing
Reading: Chapter 7 Writing Processes Lunsford Text
QUIZ ON BLACKBOARD

Week 4: What is Genre and More About Narratives

Mon Sept 5
Have a fun, safe Labor Day!
Wed Sept 7 Understanding Genres
Reading: Chapter 10 Choosing Genre Lunsford Text
Final Draft of Literacy Narrative-class time to work
FINAL DRAFT DUE OF LITERACY NARRATIVE THURS SEPT 1, 11:59 pm (Upload to Blackboard)
Fri Sept 9 Workshop in class
Week 5:

Interesting Research

Mon Sept 12
Introduction of Arkansas Research Report
General Overview of Research Steps (beginning with research report vs. paper vs. essay)
and Types of Sources primary, secondary, major genres (newspapers, magazines,
websites, blogs, journals).
Reading: Chapter 19 Starting Your Research Lunsford Text
ARKANSAS GEMS from the Arkansas State Library (on Blackboard)
Wed Sept 14
Continue to Discuss Arkansas Research Report
Reading: Chapter 27 Review and Read MLA Style Essay
Chapter 28 Review and Read APA Style Essay
Fri Sept 16
Class Discussion and Study of Research Report in Four Worlds of Writing
(on Blackboard)
Week 6

: Whats My Topic? Abiding by the Rules: No Plagiarism.

Mon Sept 19
Find your Arkansas Research topic using Google and other on-line searches

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Reading: Larry Gordon Wikipedia Pops Up Lunsford Text
Wed Sept 21
Always in Your Own Words
Reading: Chapter 25 Quoting, Paraphrasing, Summarizing Lunsford Text

Notetaking from Four Worlds of Writing (on Blackboard)

RESEARCH TOPIC AND POSSIBLE SOURCES DUE THURS SEPT 22, 11:59 pm (Upload to
Blackboard)
Fri Sept 23
No Plagiarism Please
Reading: Chapter 26 Giving Credit, Avoiding Plagiarism Lunsford Text
Week 7: I Love the LIBRARY
Mon Sept 26
Library Session - Meet in the Library with a UALR Librarian
Reading: Chapter 20 Finding Sources Lunsford Text
Chapter 22 Evaluating Sources Lunsford Text
Wed Sept 28
Library Session 2
We will meet in the library again. You will find and present a BOOK to me.
If the UALR Library does not have it, order it from Central Ark. Library System!
Fri Sept 30
We will work on your Outlines for your First Drafts in class
Week 8: Starting to Get Research and Liking It!
Mon Oct 3
Writing Workshop: turning your Outlines into a First Draft
Wed Oct 5
Continue Workshop: writing your First Draft Research Report
FIRST DRAFT OF RESEARCH REPORT DUE THURS OCT 6, 11:59pm (Upload to Blackboard)
Fri Oct 7 Evaluate your partners First Draft Research Report
PEER REVIEW OF RESEARCH REPORT FIRST DRAFTS

Week 9: Bibliography and Notetaking Skills

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Mon Oct 10
Reading: Chapter 23 Annotating a Bibliography Lunsford Text
Wed Oct 12
Reading: Chapter 24 Synthesizing Ideas Lunsford Text
Fri Oct 13
I will oversee your first drafts and sources to be ready for conference next week

Week 10:

Meet With Ms. Snow

Mon Oct 17

TEACHER-STUDENT CONFERENCES

Wed Oct 19

TEACHER-STUDENT CONFERENCES

Fri Oct 21

TEACHER-STUDENT CONFERENCES

No classes, just come to the CLASSROOM for a 10 minute conference when you are scheduled
You must continue writing your Research Report, Final Drafts due Next Week!

Week 11: Multimodality and Delivery

Mon Oct 24
Reading: Chapter 34 Writing in Multiple Modes Lunsford Text
Wed Oct 26
Reading: Chapter 35 Making Presentations Lunsford Text
FINAL DRAFT OF RESEARCH REPORT DUE THURS OCT 27, 11:59 pm (Upload to Blackboard)
Fri Oct 28
Reading: Chapter 8 The Need For Collaboration Lunsford Text

Week 12: Thinking and Arguing Visually

Mon Oct 31 halloween
How to make a Visual Presentation of Your Arkansas Report
Reading: Leborg, Excerpts from Visual Grammar. (See Blackboard.)
Wed Nov 2
Workshop You will have class time to work on your visual presentation
Fri Nov 4
Workshop You will have class time to work on your presentation
Week 13: Multimodal Rhetoric______________________________________________
Mon Nov 7

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Workshop Being sure you have connected with a free portfolio or website builder
Wed Nov 9
Workshop Fine tuning any multimodal, technical difficulties
Fri Nov 11 VETERANS DAY
Visual Presentations will begin in class

Week 14: Visual Analysis Presentations

Mon Nov 14 Visual Presentations
Wed Nov 16

Visual Presentations

Fri Nov 18

Visual Presentations

Week 15 Portfolio Keeping

Mon Nov 21
Introduce the Portfolio Letter or Introduction
Reading: Chapter 2 Planning an Electronic Portfolio Nedra Renolds,
Portfolio Keeping
Chapter 9 Preparing to Write the Introduction N. Renolds,Portfolio Keeping
Wed Nov 23-26

THANKSGIVING BREAK

Week 16 Fine-Tuning Your Work into a Portfolio

Mon Nov 28 Reflection on The Writing Program Outcomes, Now vs. Then
Wed Nov 30 Workshop Portfolios
Fri Dec 2

Final Discussions

Week 17 Consultation Day and A Party!

Mon Dec 5 Consultations
Wed Dec 7

LAST DAY OF CLASS PARTY!

FINAL PORTFOLIOS ARE DUE Thursday DEC 8, 11:59 pm (Upload to Blackboard)

Week of Final Exams

No Finals for Composition Classes