Instructor: Katie McCurdieWinter 2015

GRAMMAR/WRITING 3 COURSE INFORMATION

Contact Information• Email only! I have no office phone • mck@pdx.edu

• Office hours: Tuesdays from 1-3 in UCB 400A• Just come in – the door is unlocked!• Or make an appointment for a different day or time

Required Materials • Great Writing 4: Great Essays, Fourth Edition• Grammar and Beyond 3 Textbook (Online Workbook)

• 8 ½ x 11 inch lined paper – this is standard size for university classes• A folder for handing in essays• Pencils, eraser, and colored pens or highlighters

• Please bring these materials to class every day!

Course Outcomes• Use the writing process to write academic essays• Use a variety of sentence types in your writing• Use Level 3 grammar in your writing• Verb tenses• Gerunds & Infinitives• Modals• Passive and active voice• Adjective clauses• Noun clauses• Adverb clauses and connectors

• Use correct spelling, capitalization, and punctuation in your writing

Course Requirements• Homework is due each class • Must be completed before class • Late work is not accepted

• Several short quizzes• In general, quizzes cannot be made up (2 Knowledge quizzes

dropped)

• Revised Writing assignments• 2 essays

• In-class Writing Tests• 2 essays (one midterm exam, one final exam)

• Grammar midterm exam • Final grammar exam

Independent Study Course Component

• You have choices!• Grammar and Beyond 3 online workbook (3 exercises)• Other grammar texts (3 exercises)• Computer programs in Learning Center (3 exercises)• Grammar websites (3 exercises)• One tutoring session on grammar

• Due the same day we have grammar quizzes (most Fridays)

• Graded out of 10 points (based on completion)• Worth 5% of your total course grade• 1st assignment due Friday, Jan. 23 for Part 12

Grading Criteria• Knowledge HW & Independent Study 5%• Knowledge Quizzes 5%• Grammar Quizzes 15%• Drafted Essays 15%• Midterm Grammar Exam 10%• Midterm Writing Exam 10%• Final Writing Exam 20%• Final Grammar Exam 20%

• The magic number = 70%

Attendance• Required by IELP • All absences are marked “Absent” • If you have a documented illness or emergency, the absence can be excused by your advisor (not teacher)• 3x late = 1 absence (late = 10 minutes or more)•What should students do if they miss a class?• Before the next class…• Check website to get homework and handouts

• Contact another student

• Email or visit Katie if you still have questions

If you are absent, your professors will still expect you to be prepared for class when you return

Bad Excuses!• Being absent or late to class:• “I didn’t hear my alarm clock.”• “I was buying a new BMW.”• “I had to take my uncle to the bank.”• “The rain made me feel tired.”• “I had to watch an important soccer match.”

• Not having homework:• “I was absent, so I didn’t know what the homework was.”• “I forgot.”• “My friend had a party.”

• College professors do not want to hear excuses!

Real Excuses• “I have the flu and I’m not allowed to attend classes.”

• “I have to have surgery.”

• “My relative passed away.”

• “I got into a car accident on the way to school.”

Academic Honesty• Do you own work at all times• Never look at another student’s test or quiz answers• Never copy another student’s homework• Always write your own, NEW essays

• Plagiarism is very serious! What is it?• Handing in someone else’s essay as your own• Using ANY words or ideas from someone else in your essay

without giving them credit• Handing in an essay you wrote before for another class

• Academic DIShonesty can result in failure or expulsion from college

Classroom Behavior

• Only one person talks at a time – don’t interrupt others• Raise your hand and wait patiently to be called on• Always respect others• Even if you know all the answers, let other students answer, too – don’t “hog” class time!• Participate actively – no cell phone use during class!

Welcome to Class!• I’m looking forward to teaching you!• Please let me know if I can help in any way!