RHET 1312, p.

University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Department of Rhetoric and Writing
Course Name and Number: RHET 1312: Composition II
Credit Hours: 3
Location and Time of Course: Sect. 12 (CRN 61160)
Tues/Thurs. 12:15 to 1:30 PM in Dickinson 201
Instructor: Tammy Scaife
Office Hours: MWF 11:15-2:15 and TR 11:00-noon in SUB 109
Welcome to Rhetoric 1312: Composition II. RHET 1312 introduces students to academic
argument based on substantiating, evaluating, and proposing claims. We will spend a lot of time
considering what argument is and how it informs our daily interactions. What rhetorical and
argumentative devices lie beneath the surface within advertisements, news websites, and Opeds? Additionally, we will learn to use the Classical, Toulmin, and Rogerian models to better
interpret, analyze, synthesize, and write arguments. There is a service-learning component to
our course. To help build research and writing skills, engage in critical thinking, and to become
immersed in the complex nature of a community of writers, we will provide writing mentoring to
a group of Hall High School students. Practically, this will consist of (2), 50 minute, after-school
sessions of writing mentoring to Hall students. One session will be in October, and a second will
be in November.
Definition of Service-Learning: Service-Learning is an academic course-based teaching
and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and
reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen
communities. (from Learn and Serve America National Service Learning Clearinghouse).
Course Catalogue Description: Prerequisite: RHET 1311 with a C or greater or equivalent.
Practice in writing, with an emphasis on academic forms. Students will focus on analysis,
argumentation, research, and documentation writing. Final course grades are A, B, C, or NC.
Three credit hours. This class is offered through the Department of Rhetoric and Writing at the
University of Arkansas at Little Rock. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Dr.
Brian Ray, Director of Composition at bcray@ualr.edu or (803) 319-6428.
Contacting your Instructor
Email: tvscaife@ualr.edu
I will only respond to emails sent from your UALR email address--a
requirement to protect your privacy under FERPA. I answer daily emails
during the week before 10:00 p.m. On the weekends, I answer emails within
12-24 hours. If you havent heard back from me in 24 hours, I probably didnt
get your email. Emails must be written in a professional manner beginning
with Mrs. Scaife, and signing off with your full name and time of course.

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Required Textbook and Frequently Used Websites
Writing in the Disciplines by Cullick and Zawacki
Websites:

http://writingspaces.org/
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/

Materials: Paper, pencil/pen for group/in-class work; computer,

printer access

Learning Outcomes
The Department of Rhetoric and Writing has adopted the following outcomes from the Council
of Writing Program Administrators.
A. Demonstrate basic rhetorical ability by completing texts for at least 3 different rhetorical
situations, with each one written appropriately for that context. (E.g., personal essay,
literacy narrative, exploratory source-based paper.)
B. Demonstrate awareness of basic proofreading and editing skills by completing finished
drafts that follow appropriate conventions of grammar punctuation, usage, and spelling.
C. Revise and reflect on all major projects [at least 3] effectively, based on instructor
feedback, peer review, and self-assessment. (E.g., evidence of improvement on global &
local issues plus a substantial reflection essay.)
D. Produce at least one final draft that effectively integrates electronic and print sources
into the writer's own text and documents them effectively. (E.g., exploratory paper that
uses primary and secondary sources located through library databases to pose and
answer a question.)
E. Effectively use different software programs and applications to compose and revise
documents in different modes and mediums. (E.g., an e-portfolio site or blog with
working links that is eye-friendly, readable, and navigable.)
F. Demonstrate awareness of multiple genres by producing at least one effective text in a
professional, public, and non-essay genre. (E.g., portfolio contains a press release, an
opinion-editorial essay, and a design for a billboard ad or PSA.)
G.

Collaborate effectively with peers and younger writers to revise focused, well-organized,
polished writings.

H. Become aware of the joys of civic responsibility by engaging younger writers and
sharing the writing process with them.

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Course Requirements
Assignment

Learning
Outcomes Met

Percentage of Total
Grade

10%

Peer Reviews and Essay Drafts

A, C

15%

Essay 1 Exploring an Argument

A, B, C, D

15%

Essay 2 Making a Solid Argument

A, B, C, D

25%

Essay 3 Engaging Younger Writers

(Multimodal)

E, F

20%

A, B, C, D, E, F

15%

Readings and Reflections and Participation

Online Portfolio

Description of Course Requirements

Readings and Reflections and Class Participation (10%)
You will be expected to attend and participate in class discussions and group work. An
encouraging, interested attitude goes a long way. Your reflections will serve as a record of
impressions, observations, ideas, and discoveries that may eventually serve as the basis for your
essays, service-learning experiences, and portfolio reflection. I will evaluate each one on a 10point scale.
Peer Reviews and Essay Drafts (15%)
You will submit essay drafts to the instructor via Google Docs. You will also bring a digital copy
or printed copy to class and will thoroughly give and receive feedback using a feedback letter
form. Peer Review letters are 100 points each. You must have a full draft in order to participate
in peer review workshops in class.
Essay 1 Exploring an Argument (15%)
You will pick at least 6-8 articles to read on the same topic and produce an annotated
bibliography that succinctly summarizes those sources. Next, you will take 4 of those articles
and explore the arguments each author makes in an Exploratory Argument essay. The purpose
of the Exploratory Argument is (2-4 pages)- to help you think about and develop ideas, often it
is useful to critique, through a close reading, the writings of others about a particular issue. The
first task is to join the conversation, issues in your choice of college scholarship essay prompts,
and explore the various arguments about the topic. Tentative deadline is Sept. 22.
Essay 2 Making a Solid Argument (25%)
Once you have completed the first several writing tasks, you will construct a (5-7 page) research
based argument. You will identify the best format for your argument, Classical, Toulmin, or
Rogerian. You may continue with your topic from Essay 1 or choose another topical area of
focus. I will have to approve any new topics. The key here is to first understand the complexities
of your issue and second, know the best argument to construct given your audience. You will be

RHET 1312, p. 4
responsible for writing a short Abstract, preceding your paper that describes both your audience
and purpose. You should include at least 6-8 sources. This is an essay that employs elements of
all three appeals, but relies mostly on Logos, sufficient evidence to support your position.
Tentative deadline is October 25.
Essay 3 Engaging Younger Writers (20%)
You will create a multimodal Weebly site or blog that focuses on strategies and tips for writing in
the genre of college scholarship essays as well as facts concerning your chosen topic or issue.
Your audience will be a Hall High Senior. Tentative deadline is Nov. 17.
Course Portfolio (15%)
Instead of a course final, you will create an online portfolio using the Weebly.com website
builder. The portfolio and reflective statement show how you learned and applied skills and
knowledge about rhetoric and writing. As such, you should include drafts from each project,
invention work, reader-response entries, mini projects, and daily work. Stresses audience
analysis, production of texts in digital environments, research, and collaboration in order to
learn a new tool. Tentative deadline is Dec 9.

Grading Scale
Because instructor feedback is vital in writing courses, you will not have to submit a project of a
similar type before feedback is given on the previous submission. I generally try to grade shorter
assignments within a few days of the deadline. Longer projects may take up to two weeks before
feedback is provided.
100-90=A; 89-80=B; 79-70=C; 69-below=NC
The activities in this course are weighted. In other words, each set of activities is worth a
percentage of the final score. If you attempt to add points and divide by the total points possible
in the class, you will calculate a score that will be different from the weighted score as outlined
here in the syllabus.

Late Work

You can submit ONE major assignment (not the portfolio) up to one week late.
After that, no late work will be accepted.

In-class writing and activities cannot be made up for points.

Although, you should confer with a classmate in order to not fall behind. In
the event that your absence is due to a university-sponsored activity, an
alternate activity may be assigned. However, you must provide me a copy of
your excuse letter in advance, signed by the appropriate parties.

RHET 1312, p. 5
Technology Support
We will use technologies to complete activities in this course. Computer problems are not an
excuse for late or incomplete work. Your enrollment in this course indicates that you
have access to a reliable computer with Internet access, and you have a backup
plan in case of computer failure. For assistance with UALR Gmail and Google Apps
contact the Help Desk at 501-916-3011. For assistance with Blackboard, call the
STAR office at 501-569-8954
I recommend using either Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox as your browser. If you use
Internet Explorer or Safari, you will more than likely have problems accessing some of the
elements of the course. If you have any questions about how to download either of these
browsers, please contact me or go to Firefox or Chrome.
UALR email must be used to transmit correspondence. Personal computer failure is
frustrating; however, the late work policy will be implemented. I strongly urge you to back
everything you produce up to an internal and external source, e.g. your Computer hard
drive AND Google drive. Please keep in mind that last minute problems occur when
functioning in last minute situations.
We will be using Google Docs for typing our essays. Be sure to create only one version
(one Google Document) of an essay so that I and your peer review partners may see the
progression of your essay over time. I and your peer review partner will be able to go into
your single Google Doc and see all comments and revision history at a single glance.

Etiquette Policy

We are a learning community, so we must act like one in the classroom and
in online environments or meetings outside of class. Examples of disruptive
behavior and misconduct as outlined in the Statement of Student Behavior
are:
Conduct inappropriate for an academic setting
Disrespect for authority
Lewd, indecent, and obscene behavior
Pattern of arriving late or leaving early
Use of profanity
Inappropriate use of electronic devices (texting, ear buds, etc.)
Bringing children or guests to class without prior approval
Verbal, written, or electronic threats
Refusal to follow a directive
Harassment of faculty, students, or staff
Usage or possession of intoxicants and/or illegal substances
Possession of firearms or other weapons
Behavior deemed disruptive by the instructor

Faculty members have the right to eject any student from class who exhibits or participates in
behavior that inhibits student learning (The UALR Student Handbook, Section VI).

RHET 1312, p. 6

Attendance
Regular attendance is both necessary and expected in order to successfully complete this course.
Therefore, you will be dropped from the course if you accrue six or more absences.
Being dropped from the course will result in a W on record. Subsequently, any absence detracts
from your final participation grade, as missed in-class work cannot be made up. The only way
you can be excused from an absence is for a university sponsored event. However, you must
provide me a copy of your excuse letter in advance, signed by the appropriate parties. And, you
must make arrangements to turn in any work due beforehand in order to receive points. See
UALRs policy and deadline dates for dropping courses: http://ualr.edu/records/drop-class/
Statement on Privacy and Writing
Please consider all writing for this class to be "public. Part of becoming an effective writer is
learning to appreciate the ideas and feedback of others; in this course, our purpose is to come
together as a writing community. Remember that all students will be expected to share writing
with others. Avoid writing about topics that you wish to keep private or that you feel so strongly
about that you are unwilling to listen to the perspectives of others. Additionally, the feedback
that is provided is intended to help improve your writing; be open to the suggestions about your
writing.

Reasonable and Safe Access to Education

Your success in this class is important to me, and it is the policy and practice of the University of
Arkansas at Little Rock to create inclusive learning environments consistent with federal and
state law. If you have a documented disability (or need to have a disability documented), and
need an accommodation, please contact me privately as soon as possible, so that we can discuss
with the Disability Resource Center (DRC) how to meet your specific needs and the
requirements of the course. The DRC offers resources and coordinates reasonable
accommodations for you with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations are established through
an interactive process among your instructor(s) and the DRC. Thus, if you have a disability,
please contact me and/or the DRC at 501-569-3143 (V/TTY) or 501-683-7629 (VP). For more
information, please visit the DRC website at www.ualr.edu/disability.
UALR Online Accessibility Accommodation Policy
Web Accessibility Statement: It is the policy and practice of UALR to make all web information
accessible to students with disabilities. If you, as a student with a disability, have difficulty
accessing any part of the electronic course materials for this class, please notify me immediately.
UALR Weather Policy
Weather Policy: The UALR website, UALR email, the Universitys main telephone number
(501.569.3000), and the campus emergency alert system are the official means of
communicating all information concerning weather-related closing. Local television and radio
stations will also be notified. Weather and road conditions vary from place to place. Employees
and students are expected to exercise good judgment regarding the safety of travel when road
conditions are affected by the weather.

RHET 1312, p. 7

Academic Integrity Policy

Academic dishonesty cannot be condoned or tolerated in the university community. Such
behavior is considered a student conduct violation and if you are found responsible of
committing an academic offense on the campus, or in connection with an institution-related or
sponsored activity, or while representing the university or academic department, you will be
disciplined by the university. If you are found responsible of committing academic offenses,
including plagiarism and using work for two classes without the instructors written permission,
you will be subject to receive a failing grade for the assignment. Repeated offenses may result in
a failing grade for the course. For further information about the UALR Academic Integrity
Policy, contact the Dean of Students at 501.569.3328, deanofstudents@ualr.edu, or visit the
office located in the Donaghey Student Center, Room 215.
Nondiscrimination Policy
UALR adheres to a policy that enables all individuals, regardless of race, color, gender, national
origin, age, sexual orientation, veterans status, or disability to work and study in an
environment unfettered by discriminatory behavior or acts. Harassment of an individual or
group will not be condoned by any personstudent, faculty, or staff memberwho violates this
policy will be subject to disciplinary action. Any person who believes they have been
discriminated against should contact the Human Resources Office to obtain assistance and
information concerning the filing of complaints (501.569.3180). It is not the intent of this policy
to infringe upon or limit educational, scholarly, or artistic expression. At the same time the
University prohibits discriminatory practices, it promotes equal opportunity through affirmative
action.

Online Writing Lab

You can submit a paper electronically to the OWL (Online Writing Lab). Make sure that the
document is saved as a .doc and not any other formats such as .docx or .rtf. Then e-mail the
document as an attachment to owl.ualr@gmail.com. Visit the Online Writing Lab for more
information about the services they provide, their online submission guidelines, and virtual
writing conferences.
Think the Link for Your Success
The Link is the Student Success Center in the College of Social Sciences and Communication. It
is a one-stop shop for all current and prospective students in the college. We support students
looking to maximize their college experience and assist students experiencing difficulties. The
Link staff offers academic coaching and supplementary advising, can help you explore majors
and career options, and will connect you with great resources on campus and beyond. Located
on the first floor of Ross Hall in Room 120, the Link is open every day from 8 am to 5 pm. You
can stop in at any time or schedule an appointment by calling the Link at 501-537-0784. For
more information and resources, visithttp://ualr.edu/cssc/link/

RHET 1312, p. 8

Ottenheimer Library
Ottenheimer Library collects, organizes, and provides access to information resources and
library services that enrich and support the Universitys research and teaching mission, foster
intellectual development, and promote academic excellence. Visit the
Ottenheimer Library website: ualr.edu/library for information about the library and its
collections, and view available services.

Health Services
Health Services- provides non-emergency medical care to all UALR students: ualr.edu/health/.
Counseling Services- provides confidential mental health and career counseling services for all
UALR students: ualr.edu/personalcounseling/.

RHET 1312, p. 9

Student Acknowledgement Form

This form is an acknowledgement of students rights and responsibilities in the UALR
composition program. You must complete and submit this form to your instructor before any
work will be accepted in your composition course.
Acknowledgement
I understand, in accordance with the UALR Student Handbook, that I have rights as a student,
including the right:

to expect an education of the highest quality

to develop my potential to the best of my ability

to inquire, discuss, listen, and evaluate

to express views relevant to the subject matter in the classroom, and

to be free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national
origin, or disability.

Along with my rights as a student, I understand I have academic responsibilities, including

showing academic integrity in my college coursework and engaging in classroom conduct that
does not disrupt the facilitation of knowledge and student learning. I understand that such
behavior is considered grounds for academic disciplinary action. This will result in an imposed
grade penalty along with reporting student behavior to the Dean of Students on all violations of
academic integrity, as defined in the UALR Student Handbook as collusion, duplicity, and
plagiarism, along with classroom disruption that results in ejection.
Lastly, due to the writing community classroom environment and, in particular, the narrative
essay, there may be personal stories shared within the group. I will keep all of these matters
confidential to the classroom community only and will not share these stories with any person
outside of class.
I understand the guidelines and rules set forth by UALR, the Department of Rhetoric and
Writing, and the Composition Program.
Name (print):

T-number:

Name (sign):

Date:

Course Name: RHET 1312

Faculty: