Great Basin College

Spring 2008

English 101 Composition I

Instructor: Christiana Varner

Contact Number: 406-788-3377

Huff, Darrell. How To Lie With Statistics. (Required)

Lester, James D. & James D. Lester, Jr. Writing Research Papers, 12th ed. (Required)

Other: Ability to access Web Courses. You can use any computer on campus to access Web Course, and you can also access Web Course from your home computer if you have internet access.

Course Description:

English 101 is a university transfer course in critical reading, critical thinking, and expository/expressive writing. It emphasizes the organization and revision of the informal essay. It introduces the student to fundamental rhetorical concepts such as audience awareness, purpose, thesis, and a variety of organizational patterns. In its reading component, it emphasizes the modern essay; in its style component, it offers practice in arranging words, sentences, and paragraphs to their best advantage. The course’s greatest strength is offering students repeated practice in revising writing before a final grade is assigned. The goal of the course is to prepare students for the kinds of thinking, reading, and writing that other college courses require. It allows anyone who aspires to a two-year or four-year degree to acquire sound writing skills, especially the ability to produce clear, concise, interesting prose.

Course Policies:

Because English 101 is a writing workshop, your regular online participation is important. Your participation (or non-participation) will be reflected in your grade.

Course Objectives:

Throughout the semester, the student will produce writing assignments of varying length and will

·  Use a writing process from the generation of ideas through revision to a final draft

·  Choose point of view and diction appropriate to the stated audience

·  Organize the essay into a specific rhetorical pattern relevant to the purpose

·  Apply principles of coherence, clarity, unity

·  Recognize the fundamentals of revision: addition of specific detail, concision, reorganization

·  Show knowledge of standard writing conventions -- punctuation, spelling, usage, grammar – by editing his/her own writing.

·  Reflect on, analyze, draw conclusions from, and compare various essays and genres

Revision Policy:

In English 101, students are expected to revise drafts for clarity, adequate development, conciseness, and emphatic arrangement. Peer reviews via Bulletin Board responses will constitute the basis of “writing conferences” in a “writer’s workshop” focused course. Essays will be assessed but not always graded, and revision suggestions will be made. Students will be required to revise three essays before submitting them for a final grade. In evaluation, the instructor will use a standard rubric which describes the key writing skills determined by Great Basin’s English department to be essential to good writing: content, organization, voice, and mechanics. All major assignments must be submitted via the assignment dropbox and the course Bulletin Board using proper manuscript form: double-spaced and word-processed using 12 point font and standard script, with one inch margins.

Learner Outcomes / Measurements
Generate ideas for writing / Evidence in prewriting, rough drafts, BB
Choose appropriate point of view, diction / Essays 1-6
Organize essay into relevant rhetorical pattern / Essays 1-6
Apply principles of coherence, clarity, unity / Quality and connectedness of sentences and paragraphs in all essays
Fundamentals of revision / Comparison of early drafts with finished drafts and reflection paper
Knowledge of standard writing conventions / Edited essays
Summarize articles and/or book chapters / Essays 2-6
Explain implicit meanings in texts / Essay 2-6
Relate texts to own experience / Essay 3 and reflection paper
Reflect, analyze, conclude, and compare / BB Peer feedback and finalized essays

Late Paper Policy:

The English department has adopted a policy about late papers: No late papers will be accepted. Exceptions to this must be arranged between the instructor and student at least one week prior to the deadline. In cases of emergency hospitalization, please contact the instructor as soon as possible.

Student Evaluation/Grading:

Essays make up the bulk of your grade in this class. However, as you will note below, regular participation(BB), peer review(BB), and completion of other assignments weigh heavily. A final grade for the course will be determined by the following criteria:

·  Timed writing responses to readings 10% (5% each)

·  Essay Drafts 1-6: 30% (5% each)

·  Finalized Essays 15% (additional 5% each)

·  MLA task: 5%

·  Reflection Paper: 5%

·  Peer Reviews 20%

·  Bulletin Board responses to readings/questions posed by instructor: 10%

·  Participation in chats 5%

I use a grade system which awards +’s and -’s and will give a W until the 13th week of class, after which an F will be given. A student must formally withdraw before Friday of the 13th week to avoid earning an F for the course. According to the policy established by Great Basin College, to receive an Incomplete, a student must have completed at least 3/4 of the course with a grade of C or better, but be unable to complete the class for good cause.

Following is the breakdown of percentages and letter grade equivalents.

100-94 A

93-90 A-

89-86 B+

85-83 B

82-80 B-

79-76 C+

75-73 C

72-70 C-

69-66 D+

65-63 D

62-60 D-

59 and below F

Policy of Academic Integrity:

Students are expected to be honest. If ideas are borrowed, the source must be given credit by standard MLA documentation format. Internet sources are subject to documentation as well as careful evaluation. Acts such as plagiarism are violations of the standards of intellectual honesty. Students who violate such standards are subject to punishment ranging from failing a class to dismissal from the academic institution.

Grade Appeal or Professional Conduct: Policy of Academic Integrity:

If you have concerns or academic problems, or if you feel you need special assistance, please discuss all matters with me ASAP. See pages 34 and 50 of the GBC General Catalogue 2006 - 2007 about the procedure to follow should you need to protect your rights in any class. Also, please note that there is an Academic Success Center that you can contact for help/tutoring should you need it. Their number is 775-753-2149.