ENGL 302-N09: Advanced Composition in the Natural Sciences and Technology
Fall Semester, 2007   George Mason University
Scott W. Berg, instructor

Office: Performing Arts Building, 407G
Office Hours: Mondays, noon - 1:00.  Better yet, make an appointment.
E-mail: sberg1@gmu.edu

Required Materials:

There are no required texts at the bookstore for this class.  The class "texts" will consist of the research you conduct and your own writing.  You will be responsible for the costs of printing and copying your research and your own writing. You'll be required to download Endnote X (a bibliography management program) for free from the GMU library web site or purchase it for a small fee from the GMU computer store in Johnson Center.

Be sure, though, that you own a good dictionary and a good English handbook.  I recommend The American Heritage College Dictionary or The American Heritage Dictionary (hardcover in either) and Diana Hacker's A Writer's Reference, 6th edition.

Also be sure that you own at least one Zip disk (or some other data storage medium) and that you be sure to bring your GMU ID with you to class (for printing). Buy a two-pocket folder.

PREREQUISITES FOR ENGLISH 302

Before taking ENGL302, you must have completed 45 total credit hours and any 200-level English courses required of your major.  While you are not necessarily required to take a section of 302 relating to your major, this is a Natural Sciences and Technology section and will focus on writing and research in a natural sciences and technology environment -- you may find the material difficult and/or less than exciting if you do not have an interest in these areas.  If you question your eligibility for this course, please tell me about your concerns right away.

THE COURSE

English 302N is intended to help students refine their writing, editing, and research skills in preparation for professional or graduate work in the natural sciences and technology.  It will be important that your grammar and syntax be correct, but it will be equally important that your writing be direct, concise, and thorough.  If you're motivated to move well beyond a freshman level of writing competence, I can assist you in doing so.  I'll give each of you as much help as you'd like, tell you  what works and what doesn't.  If you're willing to take advantage of such help, you'll see the results in your writing.

As in any natural sciences and technology environment, this course will involve both individual and collaborative work.

George Mason University and the Department of English maintain certain goals and expectations in this course.  By the end of ENGL 302, students should have demonstrated the ability to:

1) Use strategies that focus on writing as a process, including invention, drafting, revision, and editing.
2) Give and receive useful criticism of their writing in order to promote effective revision.
3) Produce writing that demonstrates proficiency in Standard Edited American English
4) Recognize and write for a variety of purposes and audiences within the natural sciences.
5) Identify and use research sources, including traditional print sources, online databases and web sites.
6) Use "newly emerging" technologies, including bibliographic management software.

Our course meets in a "smart classroom."  Each of you will sit and work at a computer station.  Working in such an environment puts an extremely high priority on saving your work in more than one location.  You might want to get used to e-mailing assignments to yourself as attachments.

A NOTE ON MY SCHEDULE: My overlapping lives as a teacher, author, advisor, and member of a family keep me very busy. Please keep in mind that the best way to make an appointment with me or to discuss something with me is to catch me after class or during office hours. I try to take note of every e-mail I receive, but I'm not always able to send a response quickly, and I'm not offended by (gentle) reminders.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

This is a cooperative discussion and workshop class, which relies on the attendance and active contribution of its members to succeed.  Let me know in advance of any absences.  An excused absence will be any legitimate absence which I know of ahead of time. These excused absences (as long as they are not frequent) will be treated differently than unexcused absences: there will be more opportunity to make up graded assignments, in-class writing, etc.

Punctuality is important.  Please be on time for class.

Your grade for class participation will represent my subjective opinion of your over-all level of commitment to and engagement with the course and the coursework.

You will write three major papers in this class, including a 1500 + word paper describing and discussing a news story or development in your field; a 2000+ word analysis of the written "conversation" surrounding that news story or development; and a 900 + word guide to research in your (sub-)field.

You will construct an electronic EndNote annotated bibliography of all of the research you do during the semester.  This bibliography will be at least 50 items long and will be handed in at the end of the semester in paper and electronic form. 10 of the 50 items will be annotated according to the directions given in class.

We will sometimes do smaller in-class and out-of-class writing assignments, including responses to pieces of research and responses to the writing of your peers. These writings may be less structured than the major papers, and will range in length from a single paragraph to a two pages.  Shorter assignments will be given a check mark; exceptional examples may receive a plus or minus as well.

We will conduct at least two peer review workshops during the semester, when you will meet in groups of four or five classmates to discuss your work.  These days are very important to this class, and as such, workshop participation is a required assignment, which cannot be made up.

REVISIONS

Revision is an important part of this class.  You will be asked to take longer assignments through more than one writing step; these various steps are part of your grade.  These steps may include very rough, open writing or very focused, specific revisions.

GRADING

You must do everything assigned--reading, rough and final drafts of papers, Endnote bibliography, workshops, conferences, and shorter writings--to receive a passing grade in the class.

Your grade will be determined according the following mix:

Finished version of annotated Endnote bibliography: 15%
Finished version of Paper #1: 20%
Finished version of Paper #2:  25%
Finished version of Paper #3:  10%
Drafts, workshops, workshop responses, and other written work for the course (weighted proportionately):  15%
Class participation: 15%

A grade of C or better in the course is necessary for graduation.

PLAGIARISM AND LATE ASSIGNMENTS

Here is the definition of plagiarism, according to the English Department:

Plagiarism means using the exact words, opinions, or factual information from another person without giving that person credit.  Writers give credit through accepted documentation styles, such as parenthetical citation, footnotes, or end notes; a simple listing of books and articles is not sufficient.  Plagiarism is the equivalent of intellectual robbery and cannot be tolerated in the academic setting.

Egregious plagiarism will result in an F for the assignment and an Honor Code violation on your record.

Late papers and assignments will be penalized.  This penalty will depend on the nature of the offense; for example, a paper three hours late will suffer much less than a paper three days late.  The standard penalty is a letter grade per day.

THE UNIVERSITY WRITING CENTER

The University Writing Center is a free one-on-one tutorial service, available to all GMU students who want to work on writing skills.  Stop by Robinson Hall, room A114, or visit http://writingcenter.gmu.edu for information and appointments.