College Writing Program

CAS 108: Workshop in Writing | Extension for CAS 105E

Instructors: Please contact Tanya Bakhmetyeva

Course Description

Although CAS 108 students and Extension students might have different projects or learning goals, all students work together in group meetings to provide effective peer feedback.

CAS 108

• Grading: a two-credit course which is graded pass/fail.
• Prerequisite: CAS 105/105E or alternative satisfaction of the Primary Writing Requirement.

“Workshop in Writing” (CAS 108) offers ongoing practice and instruction in writing and critiquing writing. Students meet weekly with a Writing Center Consultant to work on forms of academic writing relevant to their spring coursework – forms which may include summary, critical response, the argumentative essay, the lab report, and others. Students may also choose to revise essays completed in previous semesters or work on other non-fiction projects. Guided by a Writing Center Consultant, students plan, draft and revise their writing, critique each other's work, assess their own writing, and participate in group sessions on writing issues that the group faces. The semester's work will culminate in a final portfolio that features polished essays and an overall self-assessment.

Extension for CAS 105E

• Grading: The Extension is not a course and does not bear academic credit, but it allows students to raise their CAS 105E final grades and satisfy the Primary Writing Requirement.
• Permission of program required.

The CAS 105E Extension is a weekly workshop and tutorial offered through the Writing Center for all CAS 105E students who have worked diligently during the Fall semester but have not attained a C or above.  These students can take an Incomplete in CAS 105E and sign up (by speaking to their instructors) to participate in a weekly workshop/tutorial that offers intensive work on writing in small group and individual settings.

In weekly Extension sessions, students work on forms of academic writing relevant to their spring coursework – forms which may include summary, critical response, the argumentative essay, the lab report, and others. Students may also choose to revise essays completed in previous semesters or work on other non-fiction projects. Guided by a Writing Center Consultant, students plan, draft and revise their writing, critique each other's work, assess their own writing, and participate in group sessions on writing issues that the group faces. The semester's work will culminate in a final portfolio that features polished essays and an overall self-assessment.

The Extension is designed for CAS 105E students but, if space is available, it may be open to CAS 105 students who have worked diligently but not satisfied the Primary Writing Requirement.

Portfolios

Typically, portfolios include 2-3 substantial written items. Examples of a substantial written item include:

• a series of short papers or summaries
• one longer paper, such as a research paper
• a set of application materials
• other projects

In addition, students should include all work from group and individual meetings.

Grading

108 In order to pass:

1. Your portfolio must be complete by the due date established by your instructor.  Portfolios will be evaluated by two instructors.  Late portfolios will not be accepted.
2. You must actively engage in all peer reviews, which will be evaluated by your instructor.
3. You must prepare for all individual meetings.

Extension

1. Your portfolio must be complete by the due date established by your instructor.  Late portfolios will not be accepted.  Portfolios will be evaluated by two instructors according to the college-level writing criteria established by the College Writing Program (http://writing.rochester.edu/courses/alternativecriteria.html).  Evaluators will then determine your grade for CAS 105E (or CAS 105).  If the writing shows significant improvement, your CAS 105E (or CAS 105) grade may increase to satisfy the Primary Writing Requirement.  Typically, grades will only increase by up to one letter grade.  However, completing the extension and the portfolio does NOT guarantee that your CAS 105E (or CAS 105) grade will increase. 
2. You must actively engage in all peer reviews, which will be evaluated by your instructor.
3. You must prepare for all individual meetings.

Friday, 14-Dec-2007 14:42:54 EST