Writing & Rhetoric Program, SUNY New Paltz Course Policies

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Writing & Rhetoric Program University in High Schools Policies 2023

·       Writing & Rhetoric Program courses may be taught as one-semester or two-semester courses and should not have more than 25 students per class section so instructors may provide individualized support comparable to our campus-based sections.

·       Participating high schools will perform portfolio reviews in conjunction with SUNY New Paltz’s common final exam days/portfolio review procedures and dates.

·       All instructors must have an MA or MAT in English or a related field and must be interviewed and approved by the English Department Chair, and Program Coordinator.

·       First-time instructors are required to attend the SUNY New Paltz Writing & Rhetoric Program’s training (currently a Fall Retreat—2-3 hours) in the first year of being hired. All instructors are strongly encouraged to attend annual trainings for the first few years of appointment or when teaching a new course, and every few years as needed. Online trainings and make-up sessions will be available when possible.

·       Syllabi for all classes in the program must include required policies and learning objectives and be turned in (electronically) to the W&R Program Assistant prior to the first day of class each semester. These will be reviewed (as with all syllabi). Necessary revisions should be submitted in a timely manner.

·       The course must follow SUNY New Paltz’s W&R Program’s main assignment sequence and approach, including main papers (the same number in total and page range per project, as well as the same source and citation requirements).

·       The course must include a library information session with a research activity, an oral presentation, and required research/citation elements.

·       Required readings should cover a variety of genres and disciplines, serve as models for rhetorical strategies and devices, and remain complementary to the primary writing goals of the course. (Note: our courses are not literature focused but interdisciplinary.)

·       Instructional time for each course in the UHSP should be equal to or exceed the time/credit hours at SUNY New Paltz.

·       For Writing & Rhetoric/ENG170 sections, an interdisciplinary theme/wicked question should shape main questions for research, provide material and an analytical lens for the rhetoric/discourse around a topic, and provide a common knowledge set from which to perform further research and to develop ideas.

·       In the portfolio review for Writing & Rhetoric/170, students must attain a mark of Approaches, Meets, or Exceeds to earn college credit. For Composition I/160, students who attain an Approaches may earn college credit but are not recommended to take Writing & Rhetoric or sequential college courses in the UHS Program, but instead are to work on foundational skills.

·       Students in our High School Program courses should be limited to those seeking college credit; registered students should all be enrolled in the same class, attending alongside others in the UHS Program to ensure cohesive instruction.

·       Questions regarding potential districts/new instructors, student enrollment, course section scheduling, campus accounts for grade submissions, and other logistical or technical concerns should be addressed to the Executive Director of Special Sessions and Partner Programs, who oversees the UHS Program.