Department of English

English 103: Rhetoric and Composition I

Fall 2020
Section

Instructor: Rachel Kurasz, my pronouns are She/Her

Meeting time/place:
Office address: Reavis Hall Rm. 313
Office hours: TBD and by appointment
Email: rkurasz2@niu.edu
URL:

Course description and objectives:

The primary goal of this course is to help you become a better writer. Writing is a continuing
process of thinking, discovering, learning, communicating, and reflecting. You will need these
skills to succeed as an engaged citizen of NIU and the world beyond. You have things to say and
voices with which to say them. You have much to contribute to the classroom conversations at
each class meeting. You also have a good knowledge of English that comes from many years of
use—speaking, reading, and writing.
English 103 offers you the occasion to explore the purposes, intents, and audiences of
expressive, informative, and persuasive writing, as well as the rhetoric of electronic
communication. The course provides the opportunity for you to become more conscious about
the strategies involved in shifting focus among the writer, message, audience, style, and medium.
It asks you to become more sensitive to the ways all writing emerges from the expressions of
community and in turn influences the nature of community.
Finally, this course affords you the opportunity to become more aware of yourself as a writer by
creating an electronic portfolio. This portfolio is a collection of material that you will select and
assemble to demonstrate the course competencies identified in the English 103 Outcomes.
Reflective writing both generates material for your portfolio and serves as the glue that holds
your portfolio together by showing how its pieces demonstrate course competencies.

Required texts:
English 103: Rhetoric and Composition I 2

Lunsford, Andrea and John Ruszkiewicz. Everything’s an Argument: Custom Northern Illinois University
Edition. Macmillan, 2019.
Khan-Cullors, Patrisse, Asha Bandele, and Angela Y. Davis. When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives
Matter Memoir. Macmillan, 2018.

Course requirements:
We learn to read and write better by reading and writing regularly. Consequently, this will be a
workshop course where we will write often. We will spend significant time not only on individual
writing, but also in small groups where we will work collaboratively, sharing and responding to one
another's writing. We will analyze and evaluate language, experiment with language, play with
language, get very serious with language.
By the end of the semester you will produce an electronic portfolio that demonstrates the
competencies identified in the English 103 Outcomes. Along the way, however, you will produce
a great deal of text—notes, lists, scribbles, drafts, responses to drafts, and other reflective pieces.

Evaluation:
The primary vehicle for evaluation in English 103 will be your electronic portfolio.
Summary of graded work:
Personal Narrative 1 5%
TikTokMyLife Assignment 15%
Compare/Contrast Assignment 15%
Visual Analysis 15%
Argument Analysis and Group Skit 20%
E-Portfolio 10%
Attendance and participation: 20%

This system of evaluation rewards you for timely, serious effort on daily assignments and in
workshop. It gives extra weight to your highest level of achievement near the end of the
semester. It does not penalize you for mistakes or experiments that go awry, as you learn from
mishaps how to produce quality finished work. In fact, this system assumes that finished,
effective communication is often the end product of a very messy creation process in which you
take risks, follow false leads or trails, make lots of mistakes, and return anew to your writing
task. This system encourages you to engage in the recursive and sometimes chaotic process of
becoming a productive, confident, and fluent writer.
Early in the semester we will arrive at an understanding of the standards by which our writing is
judged, both within the community of our class and within the larger public audience of readers.
The course assumes that your final revised essays will observe the conventions of grammar,
spelling, and punctuation of written academic American English. If you need extra support with
these conventions, I will help you. You may also seek writing assistance from the University
Writing Center, 2nd Floor of the Founders Library.
Grading:
NIU has recently moved to a plus/minus grading system. The following scale will be used in
determining course grades:
English 103: Rhetoric and Composition I 3

A 93-100
A- 90-92
B+ 87-89
B 83-86
B- 80-82
C+ 77-79
C 70-76
D 60-69

Attendance/Participation:
Writing never occurs in a vacuum, but within the context of audience, and the immediate
audience for writing in this course is our class. This course requires a commitment to this
community, a commitment most obviously demonstrated by your presence, punctuality, and
engagement. Thus, your attendance and punctuality in class and lab are required (habitual
tardiness and/or unexcused absences will negatively affect your grade, and may ultimately result
in failure for the course). Further, assignments not submitted on time may receive a lowered
grade. Please alert me to excused absences due to illness, medical emergency, family emergency,
or religious observance so that we can agree upon submission of missed assignments. You are
given 3 free unexcused absence passes, after you use all of these though, your grade will begin to
suffer a -5 points for each subsequent unexcused absence.
*Communication is key as I allow excused absences, but you need to email me before class starts
to let me know. If you start missing a lot of classes though, I will require some form of proof of
absence to keep in my files like a doctor’s note, coach email, etc. As long as you keep
communicating with me, we can generally solve all problems that may come your way during
the semester.
Plagiarism:
The English Department has developed a formal policy concerning plagiarism to supplement the
University statement in the Undergraduate Catalog. This policy is available online at
http://www.engl.niu.edu/academics/composition/plag.shtml. Since plagiarism can jeopardize
your academic future, we will review the policy together early in the semester and discuss its
implications for us as writers.
Bring Your Own Device Classroom
As you may notice we are in a BYOD classroom. This means that you may bring your laptops,
tablets, phones, etc. to class. Also on activity days if you do not have a device I can get one for
you to use. The only things to remember are: you must be using your device for classroom
activities/note taking, not watching the latest episode of The Walking Dead or RuPaul’s Drag
Race, messaging friends, playing games, etc. It is quite easy to tell when a student is using their
devices for class and or when they are using them to goof off, if you are not being present in
class and using your device to goof off, you will get points deducted from
attendance/participation.
Now Devices can enrich our classroom a lot for example if you think a certain video or post etc.
should be shared in class feel free to bring it up. They also can help when I or someone else
experiences the phenomenon known as “Brain fart” and you can’t remember a persons name, the
title of a celebrity’s show, etc. In these cases googling and providing the answer helps a lot.
English 103: Rhetoric and Composition I 4

Cellphones are a tool that provide safety and security as well as entertainment. You are allowed
to have them, and to have them on. BUT make sure to silence your phone as it does feel quite
embarrassing to be in class talking about something serious and then your phone goes off playing
a sound clip from Bob’s Burgers (specifically the song when Bob is stuck on the toilet) this is a
story from my own experience, it was me I was embarrassed. So just always double check.
Conferences:
We will schedule required conferences during the semester where we will discuss your drafts and
writing. I believe this is the strongest writing tool to have as then I get to know you and your
writing and can set individual writing goals. My hope is that through my class you become a
better stronger writer than you were before my class; even if you are currently a good writer I
will challenge you to become even better than you already are. You are also encouraged to make
an appointment or drop by during my office hours to discuss any aspect of the course or your
progress as a writer. Or to grab a staple, borrow a pen, etc. It should be noted that I am a creative
writer as well and I keep tabs on all open writing contests and literary magazine open
submissions going on so if you are interested in working on a piece to submit for a contest/ or
magazine feel free to talk to me about it.
Accommodations for students with disabilities:
If you need an accommodation for this class, please contact the Disability Resource Center as
soon as possible. The DRC coordinates accommodations for students with disabilities. It is
located on the 4th floor of the Health Services Building, and can be reached at 815-753-1303
or drc@niu.edu.
Also, please contact me privately as soon as possible so we can discuss your accommodations.
Please note that you will not be required to disclose your disability, only your accommodations.
The sooner you let me know your needs, the sooner I can assist you in achieving your learning
goals in this course. This feeds into my next point.
I am a faculty member with a disability:
I am a Lupus patient with a seizure disorder, it is mostly affected by weather and flashing lights,
but is being controlled with medication. I just need to be up front about this as some days will be
bad and I might need to host class from home (online) or reschedule conference meeting times. I
hope for a good semester with my health not getting in the way, but Lupus is a day by day thing.
The bonus in this is that because I taught during the COVID-19 epidemic I am well versed in
how to conduct class online. I also us the disability resource center myself if you have any
questions. I know this may be a bit too open (you will learn I am a fairly open person who shares
lots of stories) but it is far better to have you be aware than I have a seizure in class and everyone
freaks out.
Name and Pronoun Statement
Class rosters and University data systems are provided to faculty with the student's legal name
and legal gender marker. As an NIU student, you are able to change how your preferred/proper name
shows up on class rosters. This option is helpful for various student populations, including but not limited
to: students who abbreviate their first name; students who use their middle name; international
students; and transgender students. As a faculty member, I am committed to using your proper
name and pronouns. We will take time during our first class together to do introductions, at
which point you can share with all members of our learning community what name and pronouns
English 103: Rhetoric and Composition I 5

you use, as you are comfortable. Additionally, if these change at any point during the semester,
please let me know and we can develop a plan to share this information with others in a way that
is safe for you.
Should you want to update your preferred/proper name, you can do so by looking at the
following guidelines and frequently asked questions:
https://www.niu.edu/regrec/preferred_proper_name/index.shtml
https://www.niu.edu/regrec/preferred_proper_name/preferrednamefaq.shtml
Multilingual Student Statement
I am committed to making course content accessible to all students. If English is not your first
language and this causes you concern about the course, please speak with me.
Undocumented Student Statement
Undocumented students are welcome in this class. If you are undocumented and need assistance
with successfully completing courses or a degree at NIU, the coordinator for Undocumented
Student Support, Sandy López, can help you with advising, campus services designed for
undocumented students, and other university resources. Visit Sandy in the Campus Life
Building, room 236 or contact her at slopez1@niu.edu or 815-753-2391
Note: For all students addressing undocumented immigration as a category of analysis in class,
do not use the word "illegal(s)" in a discussion. The term "illegal(s)" promotes a culture of
intolerance and violence toward foreign nationals and undocumented immigrants. A more
accurate and non-offensive term is "undocumented immigrant(s)." The use of this language
signifies respect to the population addressed and reflects our campus's most basic values of
diversity and civility in academic discourse.
Writing Center at NIU
Located in Founders Memorial Library Rm. 260
Hours: M-Th 8:30am-8:30pm F-9am-1pm
Walk-Ins accepted if properly staffed, appointments preferred
At the University Writing Center, we'll brainstorm with you, encourage you and offer
constructive feedback as you perfect your writing project. We provide a safe place for all
members of the NIU community to practice writing and writing-related communications without
fear of judgment. We'll help you improve your essay, resume or other project, and, more
importantly, help you grow into a more skilled writer.
To Make an Appointment Go To: https://www.niu.edu/writing-center/index.shtml
NOTE* I offer 10 extra credit points per assignment if you can provide proof of appointment
when turning your paper in*
ESL Center at NIU
Located in Reavis Hall Rm. 306B
The ESL Center provides one-on-one tutoring and support for the ESL students of our
community. We have one-hour sessions. You can sign up for sessions in the ESL Center, or by
English 103: Rhetoric and Composition I 6

calling and scheduling an appointment. We usually work with our clients in conversation,
pronunciation, written and verbal communication and American culture. We also provide
support and practice for the Graduate Exemption Test (GET) and Speaking Proficiency English
Assessment Kit (SPEAK) tests. Our tutors are experienced ESL/EFL TAs, instructors and
professors from NIU.
Please call 815-753-6637, email at niueslcenter@niuits.onmicrosoft.com, or come in to Reavis
306B to schedule an appointment.
*NOTE This applies to the 10 extra credit point per paper, BUT it can only be redeemed by one
of these entities. You do not get 20 extra credit points for going both to the ESL center and the
Writing Center.
Shameless Plug:
If you enjoy this class and find it useful, please consider taking additional English classes and/or
signing up for the major or minor in English. For additional information about these options,
please contact askenglish@niu.edu or come visit us in Reavis 216!
English 103: Rhetoric and Composition I 7

Course Calendar

In Progress