The most important information about this course:

1. This course requires that you complete multiple drafts of 3 different essays, in order to get a passing grade.

2. The Instructor has to see and read your drafts being developed during the course of the semester, not all at the end.

3. You can only miss 4 of our classes, before failing the course for absences. I will email you if you hit 3, and then 4 absences. But it is still your responsibility to keep track of your attendance.

4. A passing grade in this course is a C- or above. You also have to have a C- or above Final Portfolio to pass. A failing Final Portfolio means failing and retaking this course.

5. Everyone hands in a Final Portfolio of work at the end of the course, with a final finished and revised copy of each of the 3 essays. You will need to keep all drafts of your work as you develop and rewrite papers over the semester. Save each rough draft before starting on a new version, so you have them all.

5.1 If you fail to hand in rough drafts for this course, you will automatically fail. You can't simply hand in all the work at the end of the semester. You have to write, revise, and rewrite all semester. That is how this course works, because that is how one learns about writing. Writing is a process.

5.2 You also have to hand in complete drafts throughout the semester, meaning with a beginning-middle-end. You are meant to craft entire drafts, and then to significantly revise them throughout the semester. Aim for a minimum of 2 completely revised drafts per essay.

6. There are no books to buy for this class. All material is on Canvas.

7. In First year Writing courses, we have required individual conferences. Students must meet a minimum of times individually with the Instructor to review current writing. Some weeks we won't have a group class, as we will be having these individual online conferences. [ENG 701 students meet a min. of 3 times with the professor, and ENG 802 /902 students meet a min. of 2 times.]

8. My aim as your Instructor in this class is to work with you to achieve success, and to clarify how you can become a better college writer. Clear writing is a universally important communication skill.

Any questions? Always ask the Instructor. amy.friedman@temple.edu or amelia@temple.edu