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English 101 Section 1011– Composition I
Course Outline/Policies
Instructor: Laurel Topken
Class: VGH 304 Thursday 7-9:45
Number of Credits: 3
Transferability of Course within Nevada: This course is designed to apply toward a WNC degree and/or transfer to other schools within the Nevada System of Higher Education, depending on the degree chosen and other courses completed. It may transfer to colleges and universities outside Nevada. For information about how this course can transfer and apply to your program of study, please contact a counselor.
Linkage of Course to Educational Program Mission and Outcomes: This course is a degree requirement for the Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees and satisfies the 3-credit writing requirement for these degrees. It is designed to provide instruction that contributes to a student’s personal, social and intellectual growth by fostering the abilities to speak and write effectively; to think critically and solve problems, … to locate and evaluate information resources; and to appreciate the arts and the humanities. English 101 also contributes to WNC’s General Education Mission: The purpose of the Associate of General Studies degree is to provide academic knowledge and skills for personal growth, professional advancement, and/or successful transfer.
Instructor Contact Information: email:
Office hours: Monday/Wednesday 11:30-12:30 at the Daily Grind
Tuesdays 12-1 in Pinion Hall
Thursday 6-7 in Pinion Hall
You can also leave a message at the office.
Course Description in WNC Catalog: Studies expository writing with special attention to the modes, arrangement, and style. Students learn to write essays that are unified, thorough, clear, and convincing. Students read essays to augment critical reading skills. They learn the research, reasoning, and organizational skills necessary for effective academic and research writing.
Course Objectives or Outcomes:
Upon completion of this course, students will demonstrate that they
- Approach writing as a process
- Recognize and demonstrate the qualities of effective writing: purpose, point, unity, coherence, specificity, conciseness, and correctness.
- Write to an audience
- Recognize and demonstrate persuasive argument
- Document research using MLA format.
Required Materials
Bullock, Richard, Maureen Daly Goggin, and Francine Weinberg. The Norton Field Guide To Writing with Reading and Handbook. 3rd e. New York: W.W. Norton and Co., 2013. Print.
Hacker, Diana, and Nancy Sommers. The Bedford Handbook. 8th e. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2010. Print.
Tolkien, J.R.R. The Hobbit. New York: Ballantine Books, 1997. Print.
Notebook for journal and homework
Grading Policy and Procedures:
Your grade will be calculated as an average of the grades earned on assignments. Fs will be given when applicable. Your course grade will be calculated as follows:
Preparation and Participation 25
Peer Response200 Writing Assignments 400
Research Paper250
Final Exam/Magazine100
Journaland Homework 25
Grade Scale:
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A 100-94A- 93-90B+ 89-87
B 86-83
B- 82-80
C+ 79-77
C 76-73
C- 72-70
D+ 69-67
D 66-63
D- 62-60
F 59-0
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- If you withdraw yourself from the course, you will receive a W. Last day to withdraw with a W is October 28.
- If you drop out of sight and do not officially withdraw yourself, or if you plagiarize, turn in unacceptable college-level work, or fail to turn in every written assignment, you will receive an F.
- Early Alert System – Please note that in an effort to help students successfully complete their courses, the Counseling office on campus will ask faculty for names of students they feel may be in need of additional assistance. A counselor may contact you to offer some ideas.
Scholarly Honesty/ Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is taking someone else’s work and claiming it to be your own. This can be intentional or accidental; that is by choice or by carelessness and misunderstanding. Plagiarizing may result in a failing grade on the paper and/or failure of the course.
Attendance and Late Work:
Since this course requires everyone’s participation, you have 1 class you can miss without potential consequences. Use it wisely; you never know if there will be a time when you absolutely cannot make it to class. Absences over 1 will result in your being unable to earn over an A in the class, 2 a B, 3 a C, and with 4 you will not be able to pass the course. If you must miss class (death in the family, personal emergency, ECT), you must contact me on the day of the missed class or immediately after to make arrangements. If you must miss class for school activities (band, athletics, etc), you must bring me, before the absences happen, a list, signed by the appropriate faculty or athletic department member, of the dates the absence(s) will occur. You are responsible for all assignments, whether you are in class or not. Part of your attendance is arriving to class on-time, actively participating, and staying for the entire class period. Being late to class or leaving early 3 times will count as an absence. Our workshop days are the most important days; they cannot be made up and others are affected by your absence. If you miss them it will affect your grade.
Reading and writing assignments are to be completed at the beginning of the class they were scheduled for. If you absolutely cannot make it to class send your work with a friend. All late papers will be docked a letter grade for every week it is late, and will not be accepted beyond two weeks.
I will not be giving any extra credit points during the semester except for 5 points per paper for going to the Academic Skills Center (ASC). If you are absent multiple times and would like to make up for one class time, you must write a two page paper about going somewhere in Fallon. This could be to the park, an event, or even a business. Only one absence may be made up. Your presence and participation is important to this class.
Preparation and Participation:
To receive full credit for this portion of your grade, you must come prepared and willing to participate. That means that you have completed any reading or writing required and are ready to discuss or do activities with your classmates. You will join in on the discussions and activities, contributing to the lesson with your perspective and thoughts. Quizzes may be given on reading assignments due to lack of participation. You must also have your writing assignments ready to turn in at the beginning of class.
Writing Assignments:
In this class, you will be writing one research paper 6-8 pages, four 3-5 page essays, two 1 page reading responses, and a magazine with revised papers. You will read essays and stories to help you with your assignments and workshop the rough drafts of the essays and the research paper.
All written assignments must be completed to pass the course. Any two papers may be revised for a better grade. The revised papers need to be resubmitted within one week after the original has been returned, and must be accompanied with the original. In all cases of revision, the final assigned grade will be an average of the original and rewritten scores. A revision does not automatically guarantee an improved grade. There must be substantial improvement in the revision (not simply correcting errors) to warrant a higher grade.
Document Style:
In this class, we will use the MLA Format to cite other’s writing. The papers will be in Times New Roman 12 point font double spaced with 1 inch margins on white paper with black ink. The page number must be in the upper right corner, and the entire assignment must be stapled before class. No title pages are necessary; simply list your name, date, my name and assignment double spaced in the upper left hand corner. Your title should be centered two spaces below your information, and the body of the paper double spaced below the title. All papers must be at least to the bottom of the minimum page requirement, and will include a rough draft.
Students with Disabilities:
*If you have a disability for which you will need to request accommodations, please contact Susan Trist, Coordinator for Disability Support Services at 775-445-3268 or as soon as possible to arrange for appropriate accommodations.
If an issue occurs, that will affect your education, please contact a counselor immediately. They are there to help you get the most out of your time in college. Please note that in an effort to help students successfully complete their courses, the Counseling office on campus will ask faculty for names of students they feel may be in need of additional assistance. A counselor may contact you to offer some ideas.
Code of Conduct:
We are a class full of adults and I expect considerate behavior. This is a class, as well as Western Nevada College, where ideas are shared, debated, and sometimes argued over. I encourage this, as it is one of the great reasons to come to college. But be aware that others may not share the same values as you and you should judge your comments and actions accordingly and speak respectfully. If you become disruptive, I will ask you to leave or have you taken out of the class.
Some of the papers you will read in class may be sensitive; they need to be handled with care. Do not discuss them with people not taking the class. On the other hand, keep in mind that when you share your writing it then becomes public. You may want to carefully consider what you write about. Do you want others to know about this topic? Will you be able to take constructive criticism on the writing?
Finally, please turn off your electronic devices (i.e. cell phones, PDAs, MP3s, ect.) and put away your ear buds and headphones at the beginning of class. If there are multiple offences you may lose participation credit for the day. Lap tops may be allowed on workshop days with prior approval. Also, there will be no texting in class. Any cell phone use in class will result in having to write a cell phone poem and reading it in class that day. If you fail to do this, you will lose your participation points for the day.
Additional Resources:
Your class mates and I are your prime resources. Workshopping, office time, and before and after class you can talk to me or your classmates about the assignments. Also, in the event that you do miss a class, make sure to contact a classmate or me for the next class’s assignment. It is your responsibility to find out what you missed (handouts, changes, due dates, etc.) Missing a class is no excuse for coming to the next class unprepared.
Conferences – It is suggested to attend a conference with me before the last drop date. Class time has not been set aside for these conferences. Also you must attend a conference with me between the time I return your graded Informative paper and you turn in your Position paper.
Academic Skills Center (ASC) – Visits to the tutors in the ASC are not required, but they can give you five extra credit points on every final draft. This only counts if you attended the scheduled class workshop, you spend at least ½ hour with a tutor working on your draft, and the tutor signs your sheet. If you miss a workshop, you can only make it up by going to the ASC. For these visits, you will need to make an appointment. The ASC is located in Room 307 in Getto Hall, Fallon Campus. Go through the library to the back and through the double glass doors on the left. The ASC phone number is 423-7565 ext. 2278.
Grammar and Punctuation practice – We will be working on some of these issues in class but I recommend doing additional practice or work on specific problems through or additional exercises out of the handbook.
English 101 Composition and Rhetoric Thursday 7-9:45
Spring 2014 Tentative Syllabus
Week 1
1/23Introductions, Syllabus, Classroom Bingo, Review:
1st day paper, writing anxiety quiz, Bedford xxi “How to Use this
Discuss Writing ProcessBook”
“Shitty First Drafts”Norton 3-8
Assign Descriptive Narrative
Read a sample
Discuss Purpose and Audience
Brainstorm
Week 2
1/30MLA FormatNorton 259-265, 484-532
Discuss SensesNorton 387-395, 367-375
Look for figurative language
Observation Exercise
Discuss Abstract and Concrete words
Abstract Exercise
Adjective and Adverb Exercise
Week 3
2/6 Discuss Beginnings and EndingsNorton 275-381, 299-311
Library Introduction
Peer Response DiscussionBedford 216-224
Peer Response
Week 4
2/13Descriptive Narrative Due Norton 19-23, 312-317
Writing in Academic ContextsNorton 421-431
Assign Research Project and DiscussLook over Bedford 437-487
Guiding Readers
Brainstorming
IRIS
Note Taking
Week 5
2/20IRIS Due, Topic DueNorton 432-456, 87-118
Choosing and Narrowing TopicNorton 714-718, 457-461
Research Specialist to talk to classLook over Bedford 491-620
Familiarize with library and start researching
Beginning Draft/Voice
Thesis
Week 6
2/27Peer ResponseNorton 462-479, 480-482
Art Box RevisionBedford 142-146
Discuss common errors
Introductions and Conclusions Exercise
Citations
Week 7
3/6Informative Due/ Reader’s Response 2 dueNorton 9-15, 910-913
Assign Choice Paper and DiscussNorton 205-213, 382-386
Genre and Stance
Read Samples
Week 8
3/13Peer ResponseBedford 203-215, 379-383
Mystery Box Revision
Evaluate argument
Discuss claims and opposing claim
Week 9
3/20Spring Break
Week 10
3/27Choice Paper Due Norton 119-149, 266-268
Research Specialist to talk to class on evaluating sources
Discuss Position Paper
Debate
Discuss positions
Week 11
4/3Peer Response Bedford 392-400
Citations
Purpose and Audience
Week 12
4/10Position Paper Due/ Readers Response 2 DueBedford 589-620
Assign and Discuss Literary Analysis
Writing multiple introductions or conclusions
Discuss Novel
Discuss Writing a Literary Analysis
Week 13
4/17Peer ResponseNorton 269-274, 282-286
Card Revision
Movie
Week 14
4/24Literary Analysis DueNorton 323-341, 746-753
Discuss Argument Paper
Discuss Arguments
What do you do with your paper now?
Week 15
5/1 Peer Response
Organization Exercise
Week 16
5/8 Argument Due Norton 235-248, 255-258
Work on Magazines
Week 17
5/15Magazines Due
Magazine Presentations
Informative, Position, Argument Papers / Advanced / Proficient / Developing / Emerging /Totals and Comments
Memorable Ideas
points / The writing is compelling and the topic causes thinking even days later. / The writing lingers in thoughts for awhile. / The writing is remembered with prompting. / The writing is forgotten when the reading is completed.
Moving Compelling points / The writing connects with the reader in a way that generates a strong impact, feeling or response. / The writing stirs the reader to think about something in a way that they hadn't thought about before and stretches them to be more than they were. / The writing brings out an emotional response, but it doesn't last beyond the initial feeling. / The writing lacks connection to the reader.
Powerful Strength points / The writing is readable, focused, flows, concrete, suited to audience, compelling, and passionate. / The writing may have some grammatical issues, develops with some stumbling blocks, shows and tells. / The writing has basic issues, lost track of audience, tells more than shows, and loses reader's attention. / The writing is not something the writer is interested in and does not put forth any effort to keep the reader engaged.
Provocative Challenging points / The writing was written with the intention to make a difference, whether it is in thought or action. / The writing brings a spark of awareness in the reader's mind. / The writing agrees with the reader's opinions. / The writing doesn't inspire reaction.
Works Cited points / All sources are cited in proper format with the correct version for the source. / Some sources have issues or they are not in alphabetical order. / There are some missing sources or many problems in the citations. / No correct citations or no citations.
In-text Citations points / The citations are properly handled, there are no dropped quotes, and the summaries and paraphrases are introduced and cited. / There are some errors with the citations and the summaries or paraphrases are not introduced. / Dropped quotes are the norm. / No correct citations or no citations.
Opposition Acknowledged points / The opposition Is recognized and is logical for the argument. / Opposition is included but is not a particularly strong one. / The opposition lacks a logical connection or makes a better argument. / No opposition is acknowledged.
Literary Analysis / Advanced / Proficient / Developing / Emerging
Memorable Ideas 20 points / The writing is compelling and the topic causes thinking even days later. / The writing lingers in thoughts for awhile. / The writing is remembered with prompting. / The writing is forgotten when the reading is completed.
Moving Compelling 20 points / The writing connects with the reader in a way that generates a strong impact, feeling or response. / The writing stirs the reader to think about something in a way that they hadn't thought about before and stretches them to be more than they were. / The writing brings out an emotional response, but it doesn't last beyond the initial feeling. / The writing lacks connection to the reader.
Powerful Strength 20 points / The writing is readable, focused, flows, concrete, suited to audience, compelling, and passionate. / The writing may have some grammatical issues, develops with some stumbling blocks, shows and tells. / The writing has basic issues, lost track of audience, tells more than shows, and loses reader's attention. / The writing is not something the writer is interested in and does not put forth any effort to keep the reader engaged.
Provocative Challenging 20 points / The writing was written with the intention to make a difference, whether it is in thought or action. / The writing brings a spark of awareness in the reader's mind. / The writing agrees with the reader's opinions. / The writing doesn't inspire reaction.
Works Cited 10 points / All sources are cited in proper format with the correct version for the source. / Some sources have issues or they are not in alphabetical order. / There are some missing sources or many problems in the citations. / No correct citations or no citations.
In-text Citations 10 points / The citations are properly handled, there are no dropped quotes, and the summaries and paraphrases are introduced and cited. / There are some errors with the citations and the summaries or paraphrases are not introduced. / Dropped quotes are the norm. / No correct citations or no citations.
Accuracy (1-20 points) / Writing should be accurate. Remember to use proper punctuation, spelling, grammar, citations, and formatting. No text messaging symbols or short cuts. (Don't just rely on the computer spell checker, proof-read your assignment before you turn it in.) If you get a low score in this area, it is because there are many errors.
Powerful (1-20 points) / The writing should be powerful. The writing is readable, focused, flows, suited to audience, and passionate. If you get a low score in this area, then you need to look at the flow, organization, audience, and purpose.
Memorable (1-20 points) / This writing should be memorable. The writing is compelling and the topic causes thinking even days later. It should have emphasis on purpose and voice. If you get a low score in this area, you should reevaluate the purpose you chose the topic and how passionate you are about the topic.
Moving (1-20 points) / The writing should be moving. The writing connects with the reader in a way that generates a strong impact, feeling or response. It stirs the reader to think about something in a way that they hadn't thought about before. We are looking for originality and critical thinking. If this score is low, you may need to try looking at the topic from a different angle.
Provocative/Challenging (1-20 points) / The writing should be provocative or challenging. The writing is written with the intention to make a difference, whether it is in thought or action. It is intended to make the reader to question or take action. If the score is low, look at the introduction and conclusion. How do you get your reader involved in the piece?
- Excellent (90-100%)
- Good (80-89%)
- Acceptable (70-79%)
- Needs Significant Improvement (below 60%)
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