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Semester: Spring 1999
Course Number: ENG 100
Section Number: 020, 027
Course Title: Writing I
Credit Hours: 3
Time/Day/Room: sec. 020: TThF2 12:40-1:40 pm, Combs 105
sec. 027: TThF2 3:00-4:00 pm, Combs 105
Instructor: William Cole
This course is an exploration of one of humanity's most remarkable and powerful technologies -- written language. We will pay particular attention to one class of "machines made of words," the argumentative essay. In the first half of the course, we will take apart some of these machines, learning to read and analyze argumentative writing. In the second half of the course, we will put the machines together again, forming original syntheses of information while considering the impact of this and other technologies on human existence.
Texts available at the University Bookstore. Please obtain the correct editions of each text; earlier editions will not be suitable.
This section of English 100 serves the following General Education goals:
A. To communicate accurately and effectively;
B. To locate select, organize, and present information effectively;
C. To think and reason analytically; and
E. To function responsibly in the natural, social, and technological environment.
Students will pursue these goals through the development of the following specific skills:
Most classes will begin with a brief (10 min.) in-class writing assignment. Each student will be responsible for administering one of these assignments: providing the topic, timing the assignment, and grading the essays. These essays may not be made up or submitted late, but students will be allowed to drop their five lowest grades.
Students will complete four formal writing assignments, each involving several stages of drafting and revision. Final drafts must be typed or word-processed and must include any necessary documentation. Along with the final draft, students must turn in any preliminary notes, outlines, or drafts they may have written.
Paper 1--Summary (10%):
A responsible and accurate summary of the position and arguments of a reading. The summary should demonstrate a clear understanding of the reading and command of formal techniques of quotation, paraphrase and MLA-style documentation (500-750 words).
Paper 2--Critical Analysis (20%):
Students will analyze and critically evaluate a reading's strategies and effectiveness, using concepts of rhetorical analysis and logical argument developed in class (750-1000 words).
Paper 3--Synthetic Argument (20%):
After reading a body of related readings, students will produce an argumenatative response to the issues raised. This assignment will develop skills in generating a thesis, providing support, and documenting multiple sources (750-1000 words).
Paper 4--Research Essay (20%):
Using the issues explored in Assignment 3 as a starting point, students will conduct independent research (using the library and Internet) to develop an original argument supported with sound critical thinking and outside sources (1000-1500 words).
There will be a one hour midterm exam on grammar rules and editing skills.
This course will rely heavily on in-class participation by its members. We will discuss the process of writing, analyze readings, and workshop each other's papers, and all of these activities require everyone's active involvement. The quantity and quality of this involvement will determine the participation grade.
Because writing skills develop slowly over time, students' regular attendance is essential in freshman English. Consequently it is not advisable to be absent at all during the semester. If a student must miss class for any reason, it is his or her responsibility to make up any missed work, obtain notes, and/or make sure assignments are turned in on time. Chronic absence will result in a reduced class participation grade.
Because of the volume of writing in this course, it is essential that work be turned in on time. Assignments should be turned in at the start of class on the day they are due. Late papers will be penalized ten points per day late unless an extension has been obtained prior to the due date.
The Department of English, Foreign Languages, and Philosophy is strongly committed to academic honesty. No form of cheating or plagiarism will be tolerated. Plagiarism is defined as follows: "Using another author's words, sentences or even ideas without explicit acknowledgment is plagiarism. If you quote directly from a source, put the sentence(s) or portion(s) of sentence(s) you use in quotation marks. Then indicate your debt with a footnote or a parenthetical comment."
In compliance with the ADA, all qualified students enrolled in this course are entitled to "reasonable accommodations." It is the student's responsibility to inform me of any special needs before the end of the second week of classes.