Rebecca Gerdes-McClain

rgerdesmcclain@ou.edu*

Office: Gittinger Hall, room 312

Hours: TR 12:15-1:00 and by appointment
English 1213: Principles of English Composition 2

Sections
1213-072

1:30-2:45
TR
Physical Science Rm. 360
Final: 1:30-3:30
Thursday, May 8
**Please note that your attendance at the final exam period is mandatory**
* I will reply to ALL emails by 8 pm each evening. If I do not reply to an email by then, you can
assume I did NOT receive it and it is YOUR responsibility to make sure you emailed the correct
address/come see me during my office hours.
Required Texts:
Writing Arguments: A Rhetoric with Reading, Brief 9th edition, Editors Ramage, Bean, and
Johnson
Supplementary reading materials available through D2L, the library webpage, and the Internet
Course Description:
In this class we will be learning and applying the Toulmin approach to argumentation. In an effort to
allow students to make this work as meaningful as possible, our course theme will be work. You will
each be encouraged to explore topics and craft arguments about professions and professional issues that
you care about.
You will write three essays (one exploratory essay, one ethical essay, and one proposal essay) and prepare
an annotated bibliography. Each of these essays will apply Toulmin terminology and criteria, as well as
the classical rhetorical appeals. My goal in assigning a variety of essay structures is to model the diverse
ways the Toulmin approach can be applied and to give you experience writing several kinds of essays you
may expect to encounter at OU.
Class Participation and Respect:
Since the work of the course depends on collaboration as readers and writers over the term, and since
your work is central to class interaction, attendance is mandatory. Come to class on time and prepared to
begin the work of the course. Be sure to bring with you the appropriate texts or materials. Be aware, if
you come to class unprepared, it will count as an absence.
We will be discussing some sensitive issues in this class, and I expect us all to behave like adults. The
use of abusive or hateful language, racial or sexual slurs will not be tolerated in this class.
Grades:
Your final grade in this course will be based on the following:
Annotated Bibliography:
Exploratory Essay:
Ethical Essay:
Proposal Essay:
Homework/Peer Review:

10%
20%
25%
35%
10%

Your final course grade will be determined from the following scale:
A= 100-90; B= 89.9-80; C= 79.9-70; D= 69.9-60; F= 59.9 and below

Rewriting Policy:
You will not be able to rewrite any of your major graded essay assignments (in other words, once youve
received a final grade for an essay, you may not rewrite it. However, throughout each essay unit, we will
be working with drafts that you will revise before turning in the final draft). This is to help you look
forward, instead of backwards. It is important to your success that you use your earlier essays and my
comments on those essays to guide your future writing, rather than as specific to that essay alone. Well
talk more about this throughout the semester. Dont worry, as long as you complete your assignments, no
single essay will destroy your grade. Well work together to make sure all your essays represent your
best efforts and that each essay is learned from.
D2L:
All course materials including handouts, project assignments, reading schedules, course policies, and
useful links will be available online through D2L (Desire2Learn). You will submit your essays through
the dropbox on that site.
You can access your D2L page by going to learn.ou.edu and entering your 4x4 and password, or through
Ozone by clicking the Desire2Learn link on the right under Quick Links. The materials for our course
will appear under ENGL 1113 in the Fall 2013 menu.
Office Hours and Email:
I keep regular office hours each week, and this time is reserved for you to discuss with me any issues,
concerns, or suggestions you have about your work or about the course. I have an open door policy, so
please dont hesitate to visit me during this time. If you cant make the hours posted, email me to arrange
another time when we can meet or to ask any questions you may have. In general, I am happy to
correspond with you via email, particularly if you need clarification on anything class related.
Seriously, I love to see students in my office. You can also come to see me about questions not specific
to this class. Consider me a resource.
Cell Phones, Laptops, and Other Electronic Devices:
Turn cell phones off. If, after a warning, a cell phone or other device remains a distraction, I reserve the
right to ask a student to leave my class.
Laptops will be allowed, provided they do not constitute a distraction.
Tardy Policy:
Class will begin on time. Any student arriving late (even one minute late) will be counted tardy.
Students who arrive more than 10 minutes late or who leave class early for any reason will be counted
absent. Furthermore, being tardy three times will count as one unexcused absence.
Paper Format:
All essays should adhere to MLA format. Specifications can be found in your textbook and in the
resources listed in the D2L content section.
Specifically, you must use Times New Roman 12 pt font, double space your essays, and include your
name and the page number on the top right corner of each page except the first page. The works cited
page should use proper MLA citation.

Late and Incomplete Work:

Assignments are due at the beginning of class on the day they are listed as due on the syllabus. I will not
accept late work without previous arrangement (only the large essay assignments, not daily assignments,
are eligible for extensions). For an extension request to be considered, the student must submit the
request, in writing (email is acceptable) at least 48 hours before an assignment is due. Students who miss
class on the day an assignment is due must still have their assignment turned in before class starts, via
dropping it off, drop box, or email. 20% will be deducted from any late work (unless previous
arrangements have been made). Unless other arrangements are made with me, late assignments
are accepted for one week after the original due date. After that week, the assignment will not be
accepted and you will receive a zero for the assignment.
If you are absent, you are still responsible for any work you missed that day, and you should
contact me to find out about any homework for the next class. Missing class is not an acceptable
excuse to not have homework submitted on time.
Assignments that are incomplete (not meeting minimum length requirements) are unacceptable. 10001200 words means papers not meeting at least 1000 words are incomplete. I will NOT accept incomplete
assignments. If you hand in an incomplete assignment, I will return it to you and you must turn it
in late, which will result in a 20% deduction.
All major essays will have complete rough drafts due, submitted to D2L and brought to class for peer
review. Failure to have a COMPLETE (meeting the minimum word count) rough draft submitted
to the dropbox and brought to class will result in a penalty of 10% on the final grade for that essay.

Departmental Policies:
Attendance:
Students are allowed three (3) unexcused absences per semester in a course that meets three times a week,
or two (2) in a course that meets twice a week. The penalties for missing more than that are:
Penalties for Unexcused Absences
2x/week Course
3x/week Course
Penalty
3
4
1 letter grade
5
7
2 letter grades
7
10
Automatic F
Three (3) unexcused tardies= 1 unexcused absence

It is the policy of the University to excuse absences of students that result from religious
observances, Provost-approved activities, and legally required absences (such as military
service and jury duty) and to provide without penalty for the rescheduling of
examinations and additional required coursework. (Faculty Handbook)
Student Athletes and others engaged in Provost-approved activities must notify the instructor of the
reason for the absence ahead of time, and arrange to complete all coursework in a timely fashion.
Illness, family emergencies, car troubles, etc. are not excused absences. These are what your three
absences are for. Please keep this in mind when deciding whether or not to attend class.
Accessibility Statement:
Disabilities can be visible and invisible, and I am dedicated to creating an inclusive classroom
environment. If you have a disability, or think you may have a disability, I encourage you to contact me
so we can work together to develop strategies for your success. The Disability Resource Center (DRC)
provides support for students with documented disabilities, and you can contact them at drc@ou.edu or
325-3852. You may contact DRC without notifying me if you would prefer to keep your disability
confidential.
The Writing Center:
Most universities have a writing center, a place for students, faculty, and staff to meet and talk about
writing. The Writing Center here at OU is a resource I encourage you to use. As a writer you will want to
seek feedback from many different readers. The writing consultants at the writing center are able to talk
with you about your writing--at any stage in the process and for any course you are taking. They can
coach and guide you as you brainstorm, outline or draft your writing assignments.
You can make an appointment (online or by phone) and you can drop in whenever they are open. I urge
you to visit the web site for more information: http://write.ou.edu.
Meeting for Final Examinations:
All First-Year Composition courses must meet for their final examination periods.
Retention of Graded Papers:
The English Department requires instructors to collect all graded major writing assignments by the end of
each semester, and keep them until the grade challenge period for that semester has passed.

Academic Integrity:
The Provosts website (integrity.ou.edu) provides the definitions of academic integrity, plagiarism,
collusion, and cheating that are used by all instructors, in all courses at the University of Oklahoma. Each
student is individually responsible for accessing, reading, and understanding these definitions, and for
conducting him- or herself in accordance with the highest standards of academic integrity. Any concepts
you do not fully understand need to be cleared up with your instructor before you submit any work for a
grade.
The most common violation of academic integrity in First-Year Composition courses is plagiarism, which
the Provost has defined as:
1. Copying words and presenting them as your own writing.
2. Copying words (even if you give the source) without indicating that they are a direct quotation by
enclosing them in quotation marks.
3. Copying words and then changing them slightly or substituting synonyms (even if you give the
source).
4. Presenting someone elses ideas as your own, even if you change the wording.
It is also a violation of academic integrity to submit the same work for more than one course, unless you
have the express permission of both instructors.
Violations of academic integrity carry penalties up to and including expulsion from the university.
Important note regarding contestation of misconduct: In the event of plagiarism, the instructor may charge
the student with either an admonition or an academic misconduct charge. Any student who receives an
admonition can contest it. To do so, the student must contact the Student Conduct Office within 15
regular class days after receiving the admonition. Any student who receives the charge can deny the
charge through an appeals process.
Release Statement:
This policy statement and the course schedule that follow are subject to the change. You will be notified,
in class and on D2L, of any changes as soon as possible. Students will be held to the latest available
version of the syllabus.

Important Dates:
Friday, January 17
Friday, January 27
Friday, March 28

Drop/add ends
Last day to withdraw with a full refund
Last day to withdraw without instructor consent

Monday, January 20
Monday-Friday, March 15-23

MLK Day
Spring Vacation

No class
No class

Campus Resources:
The Writing Center
Most universities have a writing center, which is a place for students, faculty, and staff to meet and talk
about writing. The Writing Center here at OU, located in Wagner Hall, is a resource I encourage you to
use. As a writer you will want to seek feedback from many different readers. The writing consultants at
the writing center are able to talk with you about your writing at any stage in the process and for any
course you are taking. They can discuss your ideas with you as you brainstorm, outline, or draft your
writing assignments.
You can make an appointment (online or by phone) and you can drop in whenever they are open (M-F 95). I urge you to visit the web site for more information.
OU Writing Center
http://write.ou.edu
405-325-2936
Disability Resource Center
http://www.ou.edu/drc/home.html/
405-325-3852
Goddard Health Center
http://goddard.ou.edu/
405-325-4611
OU Cares
email: oucares@ou.edu
405-325-0841
OU Health & Counseling Services
http://goddard.ou.edu/counselingservices.html/
405-325-2911
First-Year Composition Office
Gittinger Hall, Room 122
405-325-592