Syllabus - GE 2024

GE 2024 L1 - Fall 2006

Time & Place: MW 8:00 - 9:20 AM, CAS 306
Professor: Dr. Charles Nelson
Office: CAS 226
Office hours: Mon 12:30-1:00 & 2:15-3:15 PM, Wed 12:30-2:30 PM, Th 12:00-1:30 PM, and by appointment
Tel: (908) 737-0393

Prerequisites: ENG 1030 or equivalent; CS 0412, if required through placement testing; and MATH 1000 or equivalent.

Course Description

This semester, we will investigate the nature of research, argument, and technology, and answer questions, such as

• How does one formulate a good research question?
• How does one conduct research?
• How does one turn research into an argument?
• How can technology play a role in doing research and writing?

1. read, critique, and summarize academic and non-academic articles on your research topic;
2. conduct research in the library and online;
3. interview and survey people to explore what others think about your topic;
4. interpret our research data and formulate a hypothesis;
5. transform our readings, research data, and hypothesis into a formal research paper; and
6. use a variety of electronic tools including not only MS Word and Powerpoint but also weblogs, wikis, websites with syndicated feeds, Turnitin, and others.

Textbooks and Materials

Class Activities

Writing and reading assignments, class discussions, compositional coaching, written commentary, conferences, email correspondence, peer collaboration and review, interactive and other software, audio-visual presentations, lectures, web-site visits and RSS feeds, tutorials, blogging, publishing, library and internet research, internet chat-room discussions, and competitions.

Expect to spend approximately 10 hours per week outside of class to complete all assignments.

Course Requirements

Participation in appropriate academic support
Keeping copies of all submitted papers and originals of all graded papers
Attendance
Completion of all course requirements
Completion of work such as:

Grading

To pass the course, you must have a passing average overall. In addition, because this is a course that expects you to achieve a certain level of writing ability, you must also have a passing grade on the final draft of the paper.

Attendance, Punctuality, & Class Participation

Punctuality, attendance, and participation are important elements of being professional. Attendance will be taken. For each absence after 2, the participation grade will be lowered by 2 points (out of the maximum of 10 points). Chronic lateness (and leaving early) will also affect the class participation grade.

While in the computer classroom, computers must be used only for class-related activities, and cell phones must be turned off.

Homework is due before class begins. Class time cannot be used for doing homework unless given permission.

Late Work

Assignments must be turned in on time. Late assignments will be accepted until December 11, 2006. However, assignments more than 1 week late will be lowered one letter/number grade, and assignments more than two weeks late will be lowered two letter/number grades. If class is cancelled or you cannot attend class when an assignment is due, post it online in the prescribed site or email it to me as an attachment in Microsoft Word before the class begins in which it is due. There is no makeup of in-class work.

Email requirements

Checking email daily is required.

When emailing me, be sure to put your name at the bottom of your message. Sometimes students use friends' email addresses, and I can't tell who is emailing me.

In the Subject line, always begin it with GE 2024 and follow it with the subject of your message. For example, if you have a question on summarizing, your subject line might look like this: GE 2024 - question on summarizing

Scholastic Honesty

Copying from a book or other material without giving credit to the author, copying other students' work, doing other students' assignments for them, or pretending in any way that someone else's work is yours is a serious unethical act. It will result in failure in the assignment and possible failure in the course. Extensive or repeated academic dishonesty can result in dismissal from the university. For complete guidelines on academic honesty, see the Kean University Policy on Academic Honesty on page 13 of The Guide (pdf).

We will be covering the use of sources in class. In general, I will ask you to provide me with photocopies or printouts of all sources you use. I will explain the procedures for presenting this material later in the course. If you have any questions about the use you are making of sources for your assignments, see me before you turn in the assignment. You should also use the originality report function at Turnitin.com before turning in an assignment.

Questions & Complaints

Bring any questions you have about grades or policies to me. With respect to grades, you must keep copies both of all papers that you turn in and also the graded originals once they are returned.

Students with disabilities

If you have a disability, let me know, so I can help arrange for appropriate assistance.

Spring 2006 Semester Schedule