Course Syllabus and Outline

INGL 3103 (Sec. 031) Intermediate Writing I, Fall 2014

University of Puerto Rico-Mayagez Campus

College of Arts and Sciences
Department of English
Instructor: Glory J. Soto
Office: CH 408
Office Hours: Mondays 10:30 a.m. 11:20 a.m.

Mailbox: English Department

E-Mail: glory.soto@upr.edu

This document may be amended over the course of the semester in order to meet course objectives and correct
unintended errors.
General Information:
Alpha-numeric codification: INGL 3103
Course Title: Intermediate English I
Course Schedule: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. CH 221. 9:30 a.m. 10:20 a.m.
Number of credits: 3
Contact Period: 3 hours per week
Non-Contact Period: 2 hours of outside assignments for each contact hour (6 hours in total)
Course Description (according to the 2008-2009 Undergraduate Catalogue of the University of Puerto Rico,
Mayagez Campus):
English: Analysis of selected readings, such as essays, fiction, poetry or drama, and practice in writing compositions with
attention given as needed to grammar and idiomatic expressions.
Pre/Co-requisites and other requirements:
Intermediate English I (INGL 3103) is the first course of a sequence designed for entering students at the Mayagez
Campus of the University of Puerto Rico who have scored 570 or above on the College Board Entrance Examination, but
who have not qualified for advanced placement in the Honors Program of the English Department by obtaining a score
of 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement Test. Those students who receive 3 on this test are enrolled in English 3103. Students
who successfully pass INGL 3103 must pass INGL 3104 and six additional credit hours in the English department courses
to satisfy University requirements. Students who were enrolled in Basic English (INGL 3101 or 3102) in previous
semesters, CANNOT take this course. Please see me if you have any doubts about your placement in this course.
Course Objectives:
After completing INGL 3103, students should be able to demonstrate the following skills and abilities in the area of
writing:
Recognize in the texts they read several of the traditional modes of essay development such as narrative,
argument, evaluation, causal analysis, and rhetorical analysis
Effectively develop and organize the content of their own essays based on one or more of these modes
Apply the various stages of the writing process to his or her written work, including drafting, peer editing,
and publishing
Utilize one or more prewriting techniques
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Course Syllabus and Outline

INGL 3103 (Sec. 031) Intermediate Writing I, Fall 2014

Narrow a topic
State an authors purpose and intended audience
Write an effective thesis statement and recognize such statements when they are present in the texts they
encounter
Provide relevant supporting details and evidence/justification for relevant statements in their essays
Recognize the organizational structure of essays assigned for reading
Write successful introductory, transitional and concluding paragraphs for their own essays
Carry out an elementary online research project using the campus library and/or internet including the
proper use of outside sources and the basic forms of documentation
Effectively integrate the words of others into their own texts using direct quotations, paraphrasing and
summarizing.
Demonstrate correct usage of MLA documentation with general formatting, in-text citations, and the Works
Cited page

Instructional Strategies:
X conference X discussion X computation X seminar with formal presentation
X workshop research
Minimum or Required Resources Available:
Routine access to computing facilities and Internet (wired classroom), digital projector, overhead screen, speakers, TV
with DVD (available if needed)
Attendance:
Attendance of the course is compulsory and will be verified at the beginning of each class. Students are expected to come
to class all the time and to always be on time. The student is responsible for all material covered on the day s/he is
absent. You must provide the appropriate documentation for an absence to be considered excused and the professor will
reserve the right to accept an excuse or not. Excused absences and tardiness, as well as early departures from class,
count as of an unexcused absence, so make a point of being in class and on-time. After the equivalent of three
unexcused absences, 10% will be deducted from the students final grade per absence. Refer to the below chart for a
general idea of the consequences of absences/tardiness/early departures from class.
Unexcused Absences (and/or equivalent in tardiness)
1-3
4
5
6
7+

Maximum Grade for Course

A
B
C
D
F

Course Time Frame and Thematic Outline:

Outline
Introduction to the writing process, to technologies for writing and publishing
writing, and using appropriate documentation (MLA)
Personal essays, narratives, writing about myself, and journaling
Writing for others, becoming part of the conversation, (They Say, I Say text),
and accomplishing an academic writing style
Writing in different genres: narrative, rhetorical analysis, argument, evaluation,
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Contact Hours
5
10
15
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Course Syllabus and Outline

INGL 3103 (Sec. 031) Intermediate Writing I, Fall 2014
report, or causal analysis
45 contact hours
Grading System:
90-100 A
80-89 B
70-79 C
65-69 D
64-0 F
Quantifiable (letters)
Not Quantifiable
Evaluation Strategies: While a final, graded exam is compulsory for all students who entered in INGL 3103, this course is
based primarily on writing essays, not on exams; however, I will give short quizzes over the assigned readings to assure
you have read them. The chart that follows lists the distinct tasks required by your instructor, the quantity of each, and
the percent of the total grade these represent:
Task or product
Journal, Reaction Papers, Quizzes
Narrative Essay
Rhetorical Analysis Essay
Argumentative Essay
Persuasive Project
Final Essay

Quantity
May Vary
1
1
1
1
1

TOTAL:

Percent
20%
20%
20%
20%
10%
10%

100%

NOTE: Drafts of essays will be shared in class on paper. Final essays will be turned in on paper. Do not send any
document to me by e-mail if I have not specifically requested you to do so.
Essays:
These papers should be written in academic format in response to class discussion and readings. Each paper should be
revised in a series of drafts as you develop your own individual approach to pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing, and
proofreading. As part of your grade you will visit the Writing Center in the Celis Building, office 323.
Journals/Reaction Papers:
Students will open an account on www.schoology.com, join the electronic classroom website and respond to particular
topics discussed in class, which will be announced 24-48 hours prior to the deadline. More information will be provided
on how to join. You should be able to answer in 150 characters or less, and be able to respond to any comments I might
post back.
Persuasive Project:
Students will be part of a persuasive project. They will either record a video or present in front of the class. Students will
invent a product, which they would like to sell, and promote it as to persuade the audience.
Final Exam: Students will have two hours to develop a concise and precise discussion on a topic that will be given on the
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Course Syllabus and Outline

INGL 3103 (Sec. 031) Intermediate Writing I, Fall 2014
day of the final exam. Attendance to the final exam is compulsory and there are no negotiations that can be made to
substitute or eliminate this exam.
REQUIRED TEXT:
Graff, Gerald, and Cathy Birkenstien. They Say/ I Say: The Moves that Matter in Academic Writing
W.W. Norton 2014
Additional Recommended Resources (These books may be accessed in The Writing Center or in the library)
Hacker, D. (2007). A Writers Reference with Extra Help for ESL Writers. 6th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martens.
Lunsford, A. (2009). The Everyday Writer. 4th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martens.
McWhorter, K. (2009). Successful College Writing. 4th ed. Bedford/St. Martens.
Raimes, Ann. Keys for Writers. 5th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2008.1
Rosen, L. (2009). The Academic Writers Handbook. 2nd ed. Boston: Pearson Longman.
Wysocki, A., and Lynch, D. (2009). The DK Writers Handbook. Boston: Pearson Longman.
Online Resources:
Companion Website for How to Write Anything
http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/howtowrite1e
This website offers students a guide and reference for materials and topics addressed in the book. To use this site you will
need to register as a student. Registration is free and only takes a few moments.
How to Recognize Plagiarism Tutorial
http://www.indiana.edu/~istd/
This website provides a one to two hour tutorial created by the School of Education at the Indiana University
Bloomington to help you to understand and recognize plagiarism. It also allows you to print a certificate upon passing a
related test. Your professor may require you to turn in your signed certificate as evidence that you have confirmed your
understanding of plagiarism and how to recognize it.
The Internet Detective
http://www.vts.intute.ac.uk/detective/
a free online tutorial that will help you develop Internet research skills for your university and college work. The tutorial
looks at the critical thinking required when using the Internet for research and offers practical advice on evaluating the
quality of web sites.
The Owl at Purdue
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/
The Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue Universityhouses writing resources and instructional materials.Students,
members of the community, and users worldwide will find information to assist them with many writing projects, during
any stage of the writing process.

This text is available in the General Library rather than in The Writing Center.

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Course Syllabus and Outline

INGL 3103 (Sec. 031) Intermediate Writing I, Fall 2014
Thesaurus.com
http://thesaurus.reference.com/
Rogets New Millennium Thesaurus includes a brief definition, synonyms, and antonyms (where appropriate) for each
entry. Arranged in easy-to-use dictionary-style format, with more than 18,000 entries.
Tomsimo
http://www.tomisimo.org/dictionary/
TomsimoTM is an English-Spanish, Spanish-English Dictionary that makes finding words easy by automatically
searching in both languages. Tomsimo aims to provide an unabridged, bilingual dictionary for the English and Spanish
languages.
Bylaw 06-33 (Institutional Policy on Partial Exams Offered Outside of Regular Class Hours):
According to article 6 of bylaw 06-33 (Institutional Policy on Partial Exams Offered Outside of Regular Class Hours),
Partial exams offered outside of the established course period should not conflict with other classes, laboratories, or
departmental exams in the program of studies of the students registered for a course. If it is not possible to accommodate
students at the same time, or if a valid excuse is submitted by one or several students in a timely manner prior to the
exam, the principle of equity demands that these students be tested at another time, in conditions equivalent to those of
other students in the section. Article 7 indicates that scheduling conflicts that cannot be resolved between the student
and the professor can be directed to the attention of the director or the directors of the corresponding departments,
programs, or offices. Contrary to what some professors have indicated to students, there is no reason why they should
miss classes when they confront situations like this. As such, an absence from a class due to an exam in another course will not be
excused.
According to Law 51:
All reasonable accommodations according to the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) will be coordinated with the
Dean of Students (Prof. Teresita Cruz) and in accordance with the particular needs of the student. Any student needing
such accommodations should contact the Office of the Dean of Students in the Decanato de Estudiantes building, Office
DE-6 (in front of the Jos de Diego). For more information, please call (787) 265-3862 or (787) 832-4040, exts. 3258 or
3274. You may also email tcruz@uprm.edu or m_rosado@uprm.edu. Consult the Servicios a Estudiantes con Impedimentos
website (http://www.uprm.edu/sei/index2.htm) for more details.
NB: The Dean of Students notifies the professor of accommodations that must be made for a student via a formal letter,
however students disabilities are NOT disclosed to the professor.
Departamento de Orientacin:
On the first floor of the Decanato de Estudiantes (across from the Jos de Diego building), you can access counselors who can
advise you on managing your stress, your time, and the various pressures that you might be confronted with in your first
year (or future years) at the Colegio. Don't be timid about seeking help when you need it. Recognizing your need for help
and actively seeking resources to support you is a sign of maturity. For further information, link to
http://www.uprm.edu/orientacion/index.html or to schedule an appointment, call (787) 832-4040, extensions 2040, 3372,
or 3864. This department is open Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Writing Center:
Students should take responsibility for obtaining help as needed. In addition to the instructors office hours, the Arts and
Sciences Writing Center, located at 323 Celis. The Writing Center supports all reading and writing needs including the
reading of texts, vocabulary development, pre-writing, drafting, content development, organization, and the preparation
of final drafts.
Academic Honesty:
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Course Syllabus and Outline

INGL 3103 (Sec. 031) Intermediate Writing I, Fall 2014
As per Cert. 45, 2005-06, it is the institutional policy of the Mayagez Campus to observe the highest standards of
intellectual and scientific integrity and to pursue the prosecution of all violations. Violations include plagiarism (using
the work, processes, ideas, and results of others without proper credit). Moreover, Article 14(A)(2) of the UPR General
Regulations for Students identifies cheating as a punishable conduct.
As such, a professor may present a formal complaint to the Campus Disciplinary Board if she or he believes a student has
committed plagiarism. If the professor pursues this line of action, Article 15 of the UPR General Regulations for Students
stipulates that the repercussions may be the following:
A written warning which will be included in the students official record
Probation for a determined period of time
Suspension for a determined period of time
Administrative permanent withdrawal from the UPR system
Other sanctions provided by special regulation
Additional Requirements:
1) Students should bring their required texts (or copies of the assigned readings) to class and be prepared to discuss
these. If they do not bring their texts to class, they should be able to discuss both the homework assigned for the
previous class as well as the readings on the agenda for the day with detailed annotated notes.
2) It is expected that students will submit assignments on the due date upon the start of class. For each day of class
that an assignment is late, the grade for that assignment will be lowered one full grade. In case of an emergency,
contact the professor so that your circumstances may be taken into consideration and arrangements be made.
3) In wireless classrooms or Internet connected classrooms, students should not engage in web activity that is not
course related.
4) If the instructor is absent for professional reasons, a substitute will teach the class in her place or a make-up class
will be scheduled. Attendance will be taken and factored into the final grade on such an occasion.
5) All work for the course will be word-processed on a computer. No hand-written work will be accepted.
6) Turn off or silence your cell phone before the start of class. Cell phone calls and text messaging are not
permitted inside or outside of the classroom during the scheduled course hours. If a cell phone rings in the
classroom or a student exits the room to answer a cell phone call, she will be asked to leave the room for
the remainder of the class period and his/her absence will be factored into the final grade for the course.

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