<English 435 Syllabus: Spring 2008>

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Instructor: Dr. Jackie Grutsch McKinney
Office: 279 Robert Bell
Office Phone: 285.8381
Email: jrmckinney@bsu.edu
Office hours: Fridays 11-1 and by appointment

“For excellence, the presence of others is always required.” (Hannah Arendt)

To tutor well, one must know the subject, know the learner, know the context, and know about teaching. This class, quite simply, aims to teach you these things through readings, class discussions, writing assignments, and observations of tutoring. By taking this class, you will be prepared to tutor writing in a writing center, other tutoring center, or privately. You will also learn skills that will be essential if you want to work in editing, professional writing, or teaching. Being able to talk to others about their writing is important in each of these contexts. This class will also give you a beginning understanding of the field of Rhetoric and Composition.

This course will only be as good as you make it. The assignments, the classroom activities, the readings have been designed for your immersion--so jump in! The active participation of each member of the class will help us all to learn more and to think about things in different ways. I don't expect that you know everything already; you don't have to worry about getting it right, or having it figured out before you join in.  Just try.

Required Texts
Murphy & Sherwood: The St. Martin's Sourcebook for Writing Tutors, 3rd ed.
June Casagrande: Grammar Snobs are Great Big Meanies
Mary Pipher: Writing to Change the World
Ryan & Zimmerelli: The Bedford Guide for Writing Tutors, 4th ed.

Attendance Policy
Because this class is centered on in-class discussion, group work, and in-class writing, attendance is required. Missing more than three classes, for ANY reason will lower your grade significantly. If you miss more than six classes, for any reason, you will NOT pass the course.  Additionally, being late is not acceptable; your final course grade will be lowered if you are consistently late for class or leave early.  A missed conference also counts as an absence.  

Grading and Late Work
Late work is not acceptable (unless you have documentation of an extremely dire situation: accident report, hospital bill, etc.).  If you have to miss class on a day an assignment is due, please arrange to have a classmate bring it to class for you, bring it to me before class, or email it to me before class.

This class will use a portfolio approach. You will receive grades and/or feedback on all assignments which you will revise for your final portfolio.

Classroom Expectations
Respect for others is expected. Any behavior that distracts (eating, talking while others are talking, etc.) or is disrespectful (personal attacks, etc.) is unacceptable. Students may be asked to leave the classroom if they choose to act in such a way. Cell phones, pagers, IM, and email should be turned off during class time. In the case of an emergency, you may be reached during classes or conferences at the department phone number (285-8580).  

Furthermore, while observing in the Writing Center, you will be held to the same level of professionalism as the regular tutors.  You will keep student information and concerns confidential.

Plagiarism/Academic Misconduct
Using someone else's ideas or words as your own on any assignment is plagiarism.  It is a violation of the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities as defined in the student handbook (or at www.bsu.edu/sa/dean/stucode/) and will be treated as such. If you are concerned about inadvertently violating this policy, please see me before completing the assignment.

Special Needs
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, if you have emergency medical information to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible.

Writing Center & Optional Conferences
You are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the Writing Center.  The Writing Center offers free one-to-one assistance on all of your writing projects for all of your classes. The Writing Center is located in RB 291. It is open Monday-Wednesday 10-7 and Thursday & Friday 10-5. You may drop by or make an appointment by calling 285-8387.

Alternatively, if at any point in the course you’d like to meet with me to discuss an assignment, reading, paper revision, or another aspect of the course, you may.  You are welcome to come during my office hours, or we can arrange another meeting time.  As a professional courtesy, I expect you to show up if you ask me to make a special appointment to meet with you.

Assignments
Portfolio: 75% of final grade, includes:
    Blog (2 entries/week)
    Paper 1: Interview a Prof
    Paper 2: Student Composing
    Paper 3: A Day in the Life of a Tutor (Interview & Observation Case Study)
    Philosophy of Tutoring Writing
Discussion Leader: 5% of final grade
Midterm Exam: 20% of final grade