Reflection Tag: This Essay is about my SP303W class I was taking first semester. My teacher wanted to teach us how to properly use a syllabus and how to analyze all the information that teacher’s provides to his students.
Download Link: ERH101SyllabusPrompt
Olivia-Aman Cotton
ERH 101: Writing and Rhetoric 1
September 21, 2015
Analysis 1: Syllabi/Prompts
SP303W: Journal Entries
The SP303W course is a writing intensive Spanish course in the Modern Language and Culture Department; because it is a 300 level class the professor is under the assumption his students have a good understanding of the basics and does very little introductions. The syllabus for this course has very clearly stated goals, to increase the sophistication level of students Spanish. This is described in the syllabus as, “broadening our vocabulary and grammar, improving pronunciation, refining listening skills, utilizing correct grammar and syntax, and reading a variety of genres comfortably” (Knowles). The assignment I have chosen to analyze is the weekly informal journal entries students must turn in every Wednesday. Students must have two journal entries that amount to a page, they can be typed or hand written and count for ten-percent of students grades. These journals are similar to diaries in the manner that you are free to write about whatever you want. This freedom allows student to write about topics that would interest them and hopefully make the assignment more enjoyable. When writing about topics that we find interesting, or we are unsure about we are constantly looking up new words and learning new ways to say things. The SP303W syllabus provides value, clarity, and credibility to its students and the journal entries assignment. This assignment allows students to improve their speaking and ability to communicate and allows students to improve their vocabulary, grammar, and syntax.
The SP303W syllabus provides it students with value, credibility and clarity. When teachers are writing syllabi they are often fighting an argument with their students. They are giving their students a list of rules, assignments, and grading policies and convincing them this is the best way for it to be done and if you do it this way you will be rewarded with a grade. Most students when given tasks, just ask the questions “Why?, “Why do I need to do this assignment?”, or “How is this going to help me?” As Lunsford teaches us, “when shaping your appeal to your audience you want to establish credibility through ethos, meaning demonstrating knowledge, establish a common ground and demonstrate fairness”(Lunsford). Dr. John Knowles Syllabus does a good job of referring to higher sources such as the Modern Language Department and the VMI Honor policy to remind his students that this class is more then just what he wants to teach, but also staying on track with producing honorable students .By telling his students why his assignment will benefit them, or help them increase their knowledge he is establishing a common ground that allows students to understand why he is giving us the assignments. The Syllabus in SP303W, however, builds its own credibility throughout because the professor not only clearly explains assignments to his students, but clearly explains the purpose or goals to most his assignments. For example, the journal entries might appear to be a repetitive, time-consuming task, however, the writer Dr. Knowles does not allow you to question the object of the assignment by telling you, “The goal is to encourage writing and new vocabulary growth” (Knowles). Since the goal is stated clearly it appeals to logos, because the students can follow the professors reasoning behind the assignment, it is no longer just a mundane task, but one with a purpose. When students are writing their journals they have been given a sense of value. Student now know they are writing with the intent of broadening vocabulary, which can then improve communication.
The journal assignment improves students’ ability to communicate in everyday conversations. A goal of the journal assignment that is not explicitly stated is to sophisticate our speaking, or communication ability, which means being able to say more then elementary phrases. Unless apart of an outside organization the only time students at VMI speak Spanish is during class. Not to mention during class it is a very forced conversation, we discuss whatever the theme of the chapter is and our vocabulary and grammar builds from that. As previously stated, the journals are free writes where you can write about whatever (e.g. your day, your emotions, current events, and etc.). This assignment is extremely beneficial to student because they have to look up words and figure out things to say about topics that are relevant to their everyday life. It is not often that students discuss aliens in everyday conversations, however needed to talk about a current event in Spanish could be extremely useful. By writing these conversations down it makes it easier to then communicate when the time comes. The teacher will often then prompt a conversation in class with you regarding one of your entries. This is to reinforce our teacher wants us not only to be better writers, but speakers also.
Dr. Knowles’s assignment connects to the goals of the course because the journals help increase the sophistication in expression in writing, broaden vocabulary and grammar, and utilize grammar, syntax, and choice of words, which are a things that all student need improvement on. When writing your essay you are trying to build your vocabulary, but there is also the grammar component. A large part of writing and communicating is saying things in a way that people can understand you. Because Spanish and English do not translate word for word, the syntax and word choice often get lost in translation and that changes the meaning of what people are trying to say. Our professor works on this by correcting our journal entries. He has a code listed in the syllabus for mistakes that are often made and as he goes through and reads them he also marks them up. It is then the student’s responsibility to make corrections and improve on these mistakes in their next journal entry. If you continue to make the same grammar mistakes points will be taken of your grade, so there is a huge incentive to improve in this area. Besides the fact you want people to understand what you are writing and saying.
In conclusion, the SP303W syllabus allows student to see the value, clarity and credibility of assignments in the syllabus, because of how goal oriented and clear the syllabus is. The journal assignment in particular allows us to improve on communication. It does this by allowing student to write about topics that not only interest them, but they might use in everyday conversations. Because we are free to write about whatever we want that allows for a variety of topics and new vocabulary to be learned. Along with learning new vocabulary we are corrected on our grammar and word syntax, which allows us to be better understood in writing and speaking.
Help Received: The Writing Center _Olivia-Aman Cottton_
Word Count: 1168
Work Cited
Knowles, John. Programa Del Curso SP.303W.01 Fall 2015. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.
Lunsford, Andrea A., and Franklin E. Horowitz. The Everyday Writer. 5th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2004. Print.