CRISWELL COLLEGE ENG 101 L00.A – Composition I Spring 2016
Thursday, 8:00–10:30 am, Room A201
Professor: Debbie Harmsen Office: The Adjunct Office Email: [email protected] Phone: 214-750-3600, ext. 107 Office Hours: By Appointment before or after class
Course Description: A comprehensive review of English and an introduction to the fundamentals of composition. (Prerequisite: ENG 090, or required minimum ACT or SAT score.)
Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to: Demonstrate a solid understanding and use of English grammar. Brainstorm to come up with topics, themes, and angles to any piece of writing. Research an essay topic using observation, interviews, and source material. Organize ideas and thoughts into outlines and rough drafts. State clearly to others what the main idea is for a paper he or she is writing. Compose various types of essays. Demonstrate ability to revise papers to improve content as well as mechanics. Interview subjects and incorporate insight from interviews into his or her writing. Apply logic to his or her writing. Show familiarity with the different types of styles (e.g., Chicago, MLA). These course objectives will be evaluated by appraisal of essays and other writings, quizzes and exams, and in-class discussions.
Required Texts: – Rules for Writers, 8th Ed., by Diana Hacker, Bedford – On Writing Well, 30th Ed., by William Zinsser, Harper Perennial/HarperCollins – Criswell College Style Guide (available online)
Optional Texts: – A Manual for Writers, 8th Ed., by Kate L. Turabian. University of Chicago Press – The Chicago Manual of Style: The Essential Guide for Writers, Editors, and Publishers, 16th Ed., University of Chicago Press Course Requirements and Evaluation Procedures: Essays & Final Paper—You will write three 500-word essays plus revisions, one 300-word essay, and one sourced essay of 2,000 words (Final Paper). Detailed information for essays will be provided at the time each essay is assigned. A note about essays: Essays and their revisions must be turned in on time; be written in Standard American English; adhere to the assigned word count; follow the guidelines set forth in the Criswell College Manual of Style; and, except for in-class essays, be typed, double- spaced using 12-point Times New Roman font.
Weekly Homework—Nearly every week there will be selections of text for you to read in our main textbook Rules for Writers and/or secondary text On Writing Well. If the lesson in the text covers grammar, do not just give the text a cursory glance, but be sure you understand the principles being taught and note where you have questions so we can discuss those in class. In addition to the aforementioned essays, there will a few other homework assignments for you to turn in at the next class.
Quizzes—You will be quizzed periodically over the assigned readings and notes from the previous class. These will be pop quizzes.
Class Discussions—Come to each class prepared, with notes from the previous class reviewed, homework read, and any writing or other assignment typed, printed, and brought to class. You will be expected to be an active contributor to class discussions. Often there will be in-class exercises to enhance learning and in-class essays to write for practice. Your class participation grade includes classroom discussion and in-class exercises.
Exams—There will be a midterm exam testing you over material covered in both class and homework through class seven. There will be a comprehensive final exam in the form of an essay test. Percentages of grades will be as follows: Class Participation…………………….…...... 15% Quizzes & Homework……………………….. 10% Essays & Revisions………………………….. 35% Midterm……………………………………… 10% Final Exam…………………………………… 15% Final Paper…………………………………… 15%
Grading Scale: A 97–100 4.0 grade points per semester hour A- 93–96 3.7 grade points per semester hour B+ 91–92 3.3 grade points per semester hour B 88–90 3.0 grade points per semester hour B- 86–87 2.7 grade points per semester hour C+ 83–85 2.3 grade points per semester hour C 80–82 2.0 grade points per semester hour C- 78–79 1.7 grade points per semester hour D+ 75–77 1.3 grade points per semester hour D 72–74 1.0 grade points per semester hour D- 70–71 0.7 grade points per semester hour F 0–69 0.0 grade points per semester hour Incomplete grades: Students requesting a grade of Incomplete (I) must understand that incomplete grades may be given only upon approval of the faculty member involved. An “I” may be assigned only when a student is currently passing a course and is in a situation involving extended illness, serious injury, death in the family, or employment or government reassignment, not in a situation caused by student neglect. Students are responsible for contacting their professors prior to the end of the semester and for filing the appropriate completed and approved academic request form with the Registrar’s Office. The “I” must be removed (by completing the remaining course requirements) no later than 60 calendar days after the grade was assigned, or the “I” will become an “F.”
Attendance Policies: Absences—Since class participation is vital to learning, student should not miss class unless absolutely necessary. More than three (3) absences for block classes will result in a grade of “F” for the courses. The professor and the Vice President of Academic Affairs must approve all exceptions to this policy. Proportionate absences apply to all other terms (winter, summer, etc.). Students are responsible for all absences due to illness or any other reason. Granting of excused absences is permitted at the discretion of the professor.
Tardies—Missing more than fifteen (15) minutes at the beginning or end of a class period is considered one absence. Three instances of tardiness of fifteen minutes or less equals one absence. The tardy student is responsible for notifying the professor of his/her presence in writing at the end of class. Students who wish to depart early should clear it with the professor.
Academic Honesty: Absolute truth is an essential belief and basis of behavior for those who believe in a God who cannot lie and forbids falsehood. Academic honesty is the application of the principle of truth in the classroom setting. Academic honesty includes the basic premise that all work submitted by students must be their own and any ideas derived or copied from elsewhere must be carefully documented.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to: cheating of any kind, submitting, without proper approval, work originally prepared by the student for another course, plagiarism, which is the submitting of work prepared by someone else as if it were his own, and failing to credit sources properly in written work.
A note about plagiarism: You are expected to submit only work that you have done and work that has been done solely for this class. You must document the information you pick up from elsewhere. Do not pass another’s work off as your own! Learning Disabilities: In order to ensure full class participation, any student with a disabling condition requiring special accommodations (e.g., tape recorders, special adaptive equipment, special note-taking or test-taking needs) is strongly encouraged to contact the instructor at the beginning of the course. Likewise, if a student has a learning disability, please inform the professor so assistance can be provided.
Auditing and Sit-in Students: Any student may enroll in a course as an Auditor or Sit-in as long as the class is below capacity. A student’s permanent transcript will reflect which courses have been completed as audits. Sit-in students are not given grades by professors and their transcripts will not reflect enrollment in the course.
Please note that this syllabus is subject to change.
Schedule Date Class Topics Homework Week 1 Course and syllabus overview. Review: Class 1 notes. 1/21/16 Introduction to Composition—the Four Read: Rules for Writers: The Writing Process (sect. 1); Stages Grammar Basics (sections 46-49); Usage: a, b Types of Essays—Descriptive Write: Essay #1 – Descriptive (300 words) – Bring 2 copies to class Week 2 Grammar—A Few Basics Review: Class 2 notes. 1/28/16 The Ideas & Planning Stage Read: Rules for Writers: The Writing Process (sect. 2); Types of Essays—Compare & Contrast Punctuation (sections 32-39); Usage: c, d, e, f, g Write: Essay #2 – Compare & Contrast (500 words) Week 3 Punctuation—A Few Basics Review: Class 3 notes. 2/4/16 Outlining & Drafting Stages Read: Rules for Writers: Grammar (sections 19-27); Types of Essays—Classification Usage: h, i, j, k, l Write: Do select grammar exercises from the reading Week 4 Grammar 101 Review: Class 4 notes 2/11/16 The Revision Stage Read: Rules for Writers: The Writing Process (sect. 3); Academic Writing (sect. 4-7); usage m, n, o, p, q, r, s Write: Revise Essay #2 Week 5 Clarity in Writing Review: Class 5 notes 2/18/16 Types of Essays—Exemplification Read: Rules for Writers: Clarity (sections 8-18); Usage t, u, v, w, x, y, z. On Writing Well: Part 1—Principles (chapters 1-7) Write: Essay #3 - Exemplification (500 words) – Bring 2 copies to class. Week 6 Mechanics of Language Review: Class 6 notes 2/25/16 In-class exercise: peer review Read: Rules for Writers: Mechanics (sections 22-27); On Logic & Reasoning Writing Well: Part 2—Methods (chapters 8-9) Write: Revise Essay #3 Week 7 Types of Essays—Analysis Review: Study for the Midterm 3/3/16 Review of grammar & types of essays Week 8 Midterm Exam Review: Class 8 notes. 3/10/16 Post-exam lecture: Persuasive Essays Read: On Writing Well: Part III—Forms (section 18) Write: You’re the reporter and critic—See a movie, watch a play or TV show, read a magazine article, listen to a campaign speech or sermon, or go to a sporting event— and take notes while doing it. Bring notes to next class. Ponder: Think about topic for your final paper; topic due in class 10. Be prepared to be able to briefly explain your idea to the class.
SPRING BREAK
Week 9 Go over midterm exams Review: Class 9 notes 3/24/16 Gathering Information Read: Rules for Writers: Research (sections 53-55); On Primary & Secondary Sources Writing Well: Part III—Forms (section 12) Write: Essay #4—Critique (500 words) Ponder: Whom could you interview for your story. Week 10 Final Paper Topic Due Review: Class 10 notes 3/31/16 The interview Read/Research: Work on the research for your final paper Report: Conduct interview this week. Write: Sketch up rough outline for your final paper. Week 11 Discuss how interviews went Review: Class 11 notes 4/7/16 In-class: outlines/peer review Read: Rules for Writers: Writing Papers in MLA Style Citing sources (sections 56-60) Revise Essay #4 Research: Complete research for final paper by Week 12. Bring notes to class. Write: Revise Essay #4 (if not completed in class) Week 12 Style Review: Class 12 notes 4/14/16 Other types of writing Read: Rules for Writers: Writing Papers in APA Style (sections 61-65) Write: Work on final paper. Write introduction and bring it to class. Week 13 More on Style Review: Class 13 notes 4/21/16 In-class: read introductions Read: On Writing Well: Part IV—Attitudes (optional) Write: Solid draft of final paper due Week 14 (bring 3 copies) Week 14 In class: peer reviews Review: Study for final exam 4/28/16 Review for final exam Write: Work on final paper
Week 15 Final Exam Write: Final paper due next week 5/6/16 Week 16 Final Paper Due 5/13/16 Go over final exams.