Course Description

ENG 0701 develops the reading skills, writing skills, and self-awareness you need to understand and    participate in academic discourse. Academic discourse is the system of institutions, scholars, texts, and arguments that creates, shapes, and perpetuates knowledge in the university. These are our specific course goals and objectives:

• To read a variety of challenging texts and participate in academic discourse through college-level discussions and short writing assignments, both in-class and assigned as homework.
• To learn to employ rhetorical terms and strategies and strengthen your ability to analyze rhetorical techniquesin published essays and visual texts.
• To learn to employ academic evidence and respect the conventions of academic writing.
• To develop competent academic arguments over multiple drafts and collaborate with classmates in peer-review workshops. You will compile your final drafts into a portfolio that demonstrates your work throughout the semester and is graded by me and a committee of faculty in First Year Writing.
• To meet with me for at least three one-on-one conferences for intensive, individualized support, and to reflect on the writing process and set goals for continual improvement. 
  

Course Materials

1. Let’s Talk by Andrea Lunsford. ISBN: 978-0-393-44112-3. The cost is roughly $20 for an eBook and $31.25 for paperback. Any additional readings will be free and available through our course Canvas site.
2. Daily access to a computer with a reliable Internet connection, mic, and webcam (for our Zoom sessions).
   Note: Using Canvas and your Temple email are crucial requirements for this course. Please check the technology specifications for using Canvas from computers and networks off campus. You will be submitting work online through Canvas for this course, and therefore, you will also need to have regular access to Microsoft Word. You can download a free copy of Office 365 through TU Portal, and it is also available on all TU-owned computers. If you use Google Docs, you will need to learn how to convert your document into Word to submit your papers. Feel free to consult Temple’s Information Technology Services for support: https://its.temple.edu/. You may need to occasionally use headphones or speakers in a private location for some course materials.
3. Resources to assist with costs and technology: Temple wants you to know that limited resources are available for students who do not have the technology they need for class. Students with educational technology needs, including no computer or camera or insufficient Wifi-access, should submit a request outlining their needs using the Student Tech Assistance Fund. Also, on-campus computer labs are available for student use.  
   

 

Instructional Methods

This course will meet sychronously on Zoom, Mondays and Wednesdays 12:00-1:40pm. You should treat this course as seriously as you would an in-person class. Attendance is important and will impact your grade. The Zoom link for our weekly course meetings is available HERE. 

Course Communications

To facilitate communication, the university requires you to have and use an e-mail account ending in @temple.edu. You are always encouraged to ask questions in office hours or via email. My office hours are on the first page of this syllabus. However, many students prefer to email, especially for short questions. Emails will generally be answered within 48 hours, and if you email after 5pm on a Friday you will likely not hear back until Monday morning.

Course Technology Requirements

You will need the following to participate fully in the course:

• A computer and/or tablet with high-speed Internet access. A smartphone alone will not be sufficient.

  Recommended Internet Speed: 8mbps download & 5mbps upload. You can test your connection at https://www.speedtest.net. Please note: Hard-wired connections are more consistent than Wi-Fi for Zoom sessions.

• A web-enabled working video camera and microphone.

• Access to Temple University’s Canvas site and email server.

• Microsoft Office. A free copy is available to you at https://its.temple.edu/office-365

This course requires the use of Canvas, including access to materials and assignment submission. Some videos posted via Canvas will require the use of speakers. The instructor may utilize web-conferencing tools to deliver synchronous material. In order to participate in synchronous sessions (should they exist), you should have a computer, a webcam, headphones, and a microphone.

This course requires the use of Microsoft Office (i.e., Word, Excel, PowerPoint). To access these materials, please log in to TUportal and look for the Microsoft Download link under TUapplications within the My Portal tab.

Students should check their Temple email daily for course updates. 

All students are required to comply with  Temple University’s Computer and Network Security Policies.

Limited resources are available for students who do not have the technology they need for class. Students with educational technology needs, including no computer or camera or insufficient Wi-Fi access, should submit a Student Technology Assistance Application in TUPortal and linked from the Dean of Students Support and Resources webpage. The university will endeavor to meet needs, such as with a long-term loan of a laptop or Wifi device, a refurbished computer, or subsidized internet access. The Affordable Connectivity Program is available to purchase discounted internet services and devices for qualified individuals. 

On-campus computer labs are available for student use. Here is a list of all of these labs: https://its.temple.edu/computer-labs.

Note that technology resources are available for students, including laptop and battery share. Some software is available for free download on the ITS Academic Support page. Other specialty software may be available for remote access through ITS.
    

Grading Scale

A Range	B Range	C Range	D Range	F Range
A  93 - 100	B+ 87 - 89.49	C+ 77 - 79.49	D+ 67 - 69.49	F 0 - 59
A- 90 - 92.49	B  83 - 86	C  73 - 76	D  63 - 66
	B- 80 - 82.49	C- 70 - 72.49	D- 60 - 62.49

C- or better is required to fulfill the GenEd area requirement.  

Assignment Descriptions

Your final grade consists of... 

A Final Portfolio of 4 polished writing assignments and the work that it took to create them (including previous drafts and other writing to show your work) [60%/100 pts].
-I will provide written feedback for the first three essays so you can revise them for the final portfolio. We will also discuss them in one-on-one conferences.
-The 4^th essay will not receive written feedback in draft form; instead, you will receive verbal feedback in class or conference.

-Peer Review Workshops:  Peer Review Workshops are important opportunities to get feedback from your peers and practice reading someone else’s work from a kind yet critical perspective. These are required elements of the course, and you must participate in them. Each of our three main peer review sessions will be worth 5%. Unless otherwise announced, peer review will be done in person in class, and it cannot be made up if you are absent. If you do not follow the directions, come to Peer Review prepared, and participate as directed, you will not be eligible to stay for workshop and you will be marked absent and receive a 0.

First draft grades: Your first three papers will receive in-process grades worth 5% each (for a total of 15%).

Shorter Assignments [10%]: This category includes quizzes, homework assignments, and small miscellaneous assignments. They will range from 2-5 points each. These assignments cannot be made up.  

Course Minimum Grade

Although D- is a passing grade, a minimum grade of C- is required in General Education courses and, in many programs, courses required by the major.

For more information, please see Temple University's Academic Policies on Grades and Grading.    

 

General Policies

All Temple University Academic Policies will be upheld.

The General Education Policies and Requirements details program expectations.

   

Attendance  

Attendance is required. You must be present at every regular class meeting. There are no “excused” or “unexcused” absences in this class. All absences are equal regardless of the reason they happen. If you have five (5) or more absences, you will receive an F for this class. The only exception to this policy will be for students who have DRS accommodations that allow a few extra absences or call for other modifications, and you must contact me early in the semester to work out the details of these accommodations. I will do my best to warn you after your 4^th absence that you are at the limit, but it is your responsibility to keep track of your attendance. If you do not have a DRS accommodation, you will fail on the 5^th absence whether I warned you or not. This policy exists because it is vital that you are present and engaged in this course to receive a passing grade. Missing more than four classes is equivalent to missing more than two full weeks of class, and that is more than enough to put you in unsatisfactory territory.

Punctuality is required. If you are repeatedly late or have a habit of leaving class early your class participation grade will suffer. I will count 2 latenesses/early departures as equivalent to an absence. I will try to warn you when your latenesses convert to absences, but you are responsible for keeping track of your own attendance.

Incomplete

A student will be eligible for a grade of “Incomplete” only if the student: 1) has completed at least 51% of the work at a passing level, 2) is unable to complete the work for a serious reason beyond their control, and 3) files a signed agreement with the instructor outlining the work to be completed and the time frame in which that work will be completed. The student is responsible for initiating this process and all incomplete forms must be sent to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs prior to the start of study days in that semester.  

Please refer to the following for further details: Temple University’s Incomplete Policy. (Policy #02.10.13). 

Withdrawal from the Course

If a student wishes to withdraw from a course, it is the student’s responsibility to meet the deadline for the last day to withdraw from the current semester.

See Temple University's Academic Calendar for withdrawing deadlines and consult the University policy on Withdrawals (Policy # 02.10.14). 

Statement on Academic Rights & Responsibilities

Freedom to teach and freedom to learn are inseparable facets of academic freedom. The University has a policy on Student and Faculty Academic Rights and Responsibilities (Policy #03.70.02).

Academic Honesty

This course includes extensive consideration of many issues pertaining to academic honesty. We will discuss the meaning of the word “plagiarism,” in particular, as well as the rules professors and universities in the United States require their students to follow. Ultimately, however, you alone are responsible for understanding (1) Temple’s policies on academic honesty and (2) the definition of plagiarism. See the following for details:

http://www.temple.edu/bulletin/Responsibilities_rights/responsibilities/responsibilities.shtm#honesty

Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT are exciting new technologies that you may find useful in this class. As such, I have not banned them outright, and we may even use them occasionally in class activities. But AI cannot replace real human thinking and writing, and you should never use AI generated writing in place of your own work. Even in its most updated forms, AI has been known to reproduce biases, generate fake research sources, provides ideas within incorrect contexts, and spread disinformation and other harmful ideas. Human writing is the purpose of English 802, and we expect to see your genuine, human writing in your final portfolios.

Generative AI tools are permitted in this course for the following activities:

• brainstorming and refining your ideas;
• coming up with a variety of prompts for library research;
• drafting outlines;
• suggesting alternate perspectives or adjacent ideas;
• organizing your thoughts.

If you use AI in any form, you must acknowledge having done so in writing on anything you submit for this course. This site gives directions for citing AI in your papers, and if you use it for small assignments, you must include a note at the end explaining how you used AI and why it was useful. Also, you are responsible for the information you submit based on an AI query (for instance, that it does not violate intellectual property laws or contain misinformation or unethical content).

Generative AI tools are not permitted in this course for the following activities:

• To complete assignments or other writing that requires self-reflection or personal experience.
• To generate full sentences or paragraphs that you incorporate into your own writing without acknowledgement.
• To do group work unless I have specifically directed you to do so.
• To peer review a classmate’s draft.
• To generate full drafts or revisions (even if the revision is on your own, original draft).

If you are found to have used AI without acknowledgement on a small assignment, the penalty will range from an Incomplete on the assignment to an F for the course depending on the severity of the situation. If you are found to have used AI without acknowledgement on a draft submitted for peer review or my feedback, you will have one week to revise and resubmit or you will receive an F for the course. If you are found to have used AI without acknowledgement in your final portfolio, the penalty will be an F for the course.

Penalties for academic dishonesty of any kind will result in failure of the course in all cases. Moreover, all instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the First-Year Writing Program. In serious cases, Temple’s Disciplinary Committee will also be asked to investigate the matter.

Netiquette and Class Conduct Expectations

 It is important to foster a respectful and productive learning environment that includes all students in our diverse community of learners. Our differences, some of which are outlined in the University's nondiscrimination statement, will add richness to this learning experience. Therefore, all opinions and experiences, no matter how different or controversial they may be perceived, must be respected in the tolerant spirit of academic discourse.

Treat your classmates and instructor with respect in all communication, class activities, and meetings. You are encouraged to comment, question, or critique an idea, but you are not to attack an individual. Please consider that sarcasm, humor, and slang can be misconstrued in online interactions and generate unintended disruptions. Profanity should be avoided as should the use of all capital letters when composing responses in discussion threads, which can be construed as “shouting” online. Remember to be careful with your own and others' privacy. In general, have your behavior mirror how you would like to be treated by others.

For more information, please visit https://diversity.temple.edu/.

Disability Disclosure Statement

Any student who has a need for accommodation based on the impact of a documented disability should contact Disability Resources and Services (DRS), Ritter Annex 100, (215) 204-1280 or 215-204-1786 (TTY) or drs@temple.edu, to make arrangements.  If you have a DRS accommodation letter to share with me, or you would like to discuss your accommodations, please contact the instructor as soon as practical. I will work with you and with DRS to coordinate reasonable accommodations for all students with documented disabilities. Accommodations are not retroactive. All discussions related to your accommodations will be confidential.

Information regarding accessibility for additional technologies is provided below:  

• Canvas
• Zoom
• VoiceThread
• ProctorU
• Proctorio
• GoogleDrive
• Outlook
• Sharepoint
  
  

Technical Support 

For a listing of technical support services available to Temple University students, see the Tech Support page.

Live Chat or Request Help:  tuhelp.temple.edu.

Phone: 215-204-8000

Email:  help@temple.edu

Website: its.temple.edu

Location: The TECH Center, Room 106 

Academic and Support Services

Temple University provides a variety of services to support you throughout your studies. Please take a moment to view these by visiting the Academic Support Services page.

The following academic support services are available to students:

• Student Success Center
• University Libraries
• Undergraduate Research Support
• Career Center
• Tuttleman Counseling Services
• Disability Resources and Services

  
If you are experiencing food insecurity or financial struggles, Temple provides resources and support. Notably, theTemple University Cherry Pantry and the Temple University Emergency Student Aid Program are in operation as well as a variety of resources from the Division of Student Affairs. 

Continuity of Instruction in the Event of Emergency

Students are to register for the TUAlert System to be made aware of University closures due to weather or other emergency situations and follow all additional university-wide emergency instructions. Students can register for this system on the Campus Safety Services website. Students registered for the class will be alerted to any alternate testing procedures and submission of assignment requirements from the instructor via email.

Please note that online classes are generally not affected by campus closures.  

  

Privacy Policy

Please see the links below to become familiar with the privacy policies for each of the following: 

• Temple University
• Canvas Instructure
• Zoom

    

Course Schedule

 -Links to all readings and assignments are available on Canvas. You can always find a detailed breakdown of each week in the Modules section.  The Modules are the heart of the class. 

-Pay close attention to this schedule, especially the assigned readings and other activities.

-This schedule is subject to change according to the needs of the class, but I will try to keep changing to a minimum. I will notify you of changes through email, on Canvas, and (if possible) in class.

Unit 1: Understanding & Analyzing Arguments (Rhetorical Analysis)

Week 1: Introductions and Starting Essay #1 (August 25-29)

August 25, 2025  
To do before class:
-Read syllabus and check out the course Canvas site.
In class:
-Review syllabus, complete syllabus scavenger hunt, do introductions, and complete a first day activity related to Essay #1

August 27, 2025
To do before class:
-Complete readings on Canvas
In class:
-Review the assignment for Essay #1
-Discuss readings and rhetorical analysis  

Week 2: Working on Essay #1 (September 1-5; no classes on Labor Day)

September 1, 2025: Labor Day
No Class

September 3, 2025
To do before class:
-Complete readings on Canvas  
In class:
-Discuss readings and practice rhetorical analysis  

Week 3: Working on Essay #1 and Peer Review Workshop (September 8-12)

September 8, 2025
To do before class:
-Complete readings on Canvas
-Begin writing Essay #1
In class:
-Discuss readings and Essay #1

 September 10, 2025
To do before class:
-Submit complete draft of Essay #1
-Sign up for conferences, held next week
In class:
-Complete Peer Review Workshop for Essay #1

IMPORTANT: Your draft must be a minimum of 3 pages (double-spaced), and it must be a serious attempt at the assignment, or you will be asked to leave class and take an absence. Your first draft does not need to be perfect; it only needs to exist.  

Unit 2: Visual Rhetoric & Cultural Messaging in Advertising

Week 4: Conferences for Essay #1 and Starting Essay #2 (September 15-19)

September 15, 2025
No class.
-Paper #1 DUE
-Come to your required conference and complete the “Conference Follow Up Reflection” assignment.

September 17, 2025
To do before class:
-Complete readings on Canvas
-Review assignment for Essay #2

In class:
-Discuss readings and Essay #2  

Week 5: Working on Essay #2 (September 22-26)

September 22, 2025
Before class:
-Complete readings on Canvas
In class:
-Discuss readings

September 24, 2025
Before class:
Complete readings on Canvas
In class:
-Discuss readings.
-Focus on the integration of sources and summarizing key arguments. Continue to focus on logos as a rhetorical tool.

Week 6: Working on Essay #2 (September 29-October 3)

September 29, 2025
Before class:
-Complete readings on Canvas
In class:
-Discuss readings

October 1, 2025
Before class:
-Submit materials for Paper #2
-Complete readings on Canvas
In class:
-Discuss readings
-Continue conversation on Essay #2

Week 7: Peer Review Workshop for Essay #2 (October 6-10

October 6, 2025
Before class:
-Continue writing your first draft of Essay #2
-Begin work on revising Essay #1 if you have not yet done so
In class:
-Work on Essay #2 in class

October 8, 2025
Before class:
-Submit complete draft of Essay #2
In class:
-Complete your Peer Review Workshop for Essay #2
-Sign up for conferences

IMPORTANT: Your draft must be a minimum of three pages (double-spaced), and it must be a serious attempt at the assignment, or you will be asked to leave class and take an absence. Your first draft does not need to be perfect; it only needs to exist.

Week 8: Conferences for Paper #2 and Revising Essay #1 (October 13-17)

October 13, 2025
-Essay #2 DUE .
-Come prepared to discuss Essay #2 in conference.
-Additionally, you should bring a revised version of Essay #1 to discuss.  

October 15, 2025
No class. Conferences.  
Note: After you have completed your conference, please complete the Essay #2 Conference Reflection.  

Unit 3: Propaganda, Political Messaging & Synthesis

Week 9: Working on Essay #3 (October 20-24)

October 20, 2024
Before class: Complete readings and activities on Canvas
In class: Discuss readings

October 22, 2025
Before class: Complete readings and activities on Canvas
In class: Discuss readings; review Essay #3 and begin developing your ideas  

Week 10: Working on Essay #3 (October 27-November 31)

October 27, 2025
Before class: Complete readings and activities on Canvas
In class:
-Discuss readings
-Time for questions and work on Paper #3

October 29, 2025
Before class: Complete readings and activities on Canvas
In class:
-Discuss readings
-Practice summarizing an academic debate (not just summarizing a single text or author’s position)

Week 11: Peer Review Workshop for Essay 3 (November 3-7)

November 3, 2025
Before class:
-Finish writing your first draft of Essay #3

November 5, 2025
Before class:
-Submit complete draft of Essay #3
-Complete your Peer Review Workshop for Essay #3

IMPORTANT: Your draft must be a minimum of three pages (double-spaced), and it must be a serious attempt at the assignment, or you will be asked to leave class and take an absence. Your first draft does not need to be perfect; it only needs to exist.

Week 12: Conferences for Essay #3 and Starting Essay #4 (November 10-14)

November 10, 2025
-No class. Conferences.
-Essay #3 DUE  
Note: After you have completed your conference, please complete the Essay #3 Conference Reflection.  

November 12
In class:
-Review Assignment for Essay #4
-Do a self-reflective activity  and watch a TED TALK about the value of metacognition

Unit 4: Reflection & Final Portfolio

Week 13: Writing Essay #4: Reflecting on the Writing and Learning Process of English 701 (November 17-21)

November 17, 2025
Before class:
-Complete reading on Canvas
In class: 
-Discuss reading  
-Work on Essay #4 
-Review the requirements for a passing Final Portfolio

November 19, 2025
-In class: Work on Essay #4

Week 14: Fall Break (NO CLASS) (November 24-28)

Over break, try to rest, but if you have time and energy, use it to work on revising Essays 1, 2, and 3 for your Final Portfolio.

Week 15: Work on the Final Portfolio (December 1-5)

December 1, 2025
Before class:
-Keep revising and polishing your essays
-Paper #4 DUE
In class: 
-Peer Review workshop on Essay #1, #2, or #3 (your choice).  

December 3, 2025
Before class:
-Keep revising and polishing your essays
In class: 
Wrap up and review the requirements for a passing Final Portfolio one more time

Week 16: Final Portfolios are due (December 8-12)

Final portfolios are due on Wednesday, December 12.  

There is no final exam for this course. Once you submit the final portfolio, you have completed your work for English 0701. I will grade your final portfolio and calculate your final grade off Canvas, and then I will enter final grades on Banner before the end of the grading period.

Please note that I do not upload comments on final portfolios because you will have already received plenty of feedback from me throughout the semester. If you want some brief feedback on your final portfolio after the end of Finals or if you have any questions about your final grade, you may contact me via email. I will do my best to respond to you in a timely manner.