English 1103 Sample Syllabus 1
English Composition 1103
Instructor:
Class Times:
Room:
email:
Office:
Phone:
Ofc. Hours:
or by appt.
Required Texts:
· James, Missy and Alan P. Merickel. Reading Literature and Writing Argument. Upper Saddle River:
Prentice-Hall, 2002.
· Glenn, Cheryl, et al. The Writer’s Harbrace Handbook. 2nd ed. Boston: Heinle, 2004.
· Sugarman, Tammy S. and Lynee Gaillet. Introduction to the Pullen Library. Mason: Thomson Custom
Publishing, 2003.
· One folder with clasps.
Course Description and Outcomes:
Prerequisite: admission by permission of department. A passing grade is C. This course is designed to help
students develop sophisticated written texts. It emphasizes critical reading, analysis, and writing while incorporating
advanced research methods. In addition, because it replaces English 1101 and 1102, it incorporates the primary goals
of each of those courses but also emphasizes more intensive analysis.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
· engage in writing as a process, including various invention heuristics, gathering evidence, considering
audience, drafting, revising, editing, and proofreading
· demonstrate the collaborative, social aspects of writing, including the ability to use writing as a tool for
learning
· analyze, evaluate, document, and draw inferences from various sources
· identify, select, and analyze appropriate research methods, questions, and evidence for a specific rhetorical
situation
· use grammatical, stylistic, and mechanical formats and conventions appropriate to various audiences and
disciplines
· integrate others’ ideas with their own to produce well reasoned, argumentative essays demonstrating
rhetorical engagement
· reflect on what contributed to their writing process and evaluate their own work
Attendance Policy:
Attendance is mandatory, and class participation forms an important part of the final grade (see below). I will
allow four absences throughout the semester. If you miss five classes, you will lose one letter grade. If you miss more
than eight classes, you most certainly risk failing the course. I do not require that you bring in excuses for absences.
Should you find it necessary to drop this class, you are responsible for submitting the appropriate request for
withdrawal. If you withdraw from this class prior to the drop date, you will receive a W. If you withdraw from this
class after the drop date, you will receive a WF. Should you fail to withdraw, you may receive an ‘F’ as your final
grade. The final day to drop this class with a possible ‘W’ is October 17, 2003.
Tardiness:
As attendance is mandatory, so is being on time for class. More than four tardies will lower your final grade for
this course by ½ grade. This policy also applies to early departures. When you must come in late or leave early, please
do so as quietly as possible. Frequently we will have reading quizzes or in-class writing during class time; entering
late only causes disruptions to others who are concentrating on their work. No make-up work is allowed for any inclass group or writing assignments or reading quizzes.
General Assignment Requirements:
Except for in-class group or writing assignments and quizzes, all other assignments must be typed and must
comply with the following:
· Double-spaced
· 12-pt. Font, Times New Roman
· One-inch margins
· MLA style documentation, when necessary
· ½ grade penalty for assignments that are required to be stapled
All assignments are due at the beginning of class on the due date. There is a full letter grade penalty for
assignments turned in one class period late. No assignments will be accepted after that one grace class period and a 0
is given to that assignment. No assignments will be accepted via email or fax or in my mailbox. However, I will
accept any and all assignments BEFORE the due date. Please bring any early, completed assignments to class. So, if
you are planning on not coming to class, PLAN FOR IT ACCORDINGLY.
Handwriting assignments must be legible. Write larger or print if necessary. If the assignment is not legible, you
will be required to type the assignment, and failure to return it on the day specified by me will result in 0 for the
assignment.
Miscellaneous Policies:
· Please turn off all cell phones and pagers before entering the classroom. Such continuous behavior will
result in being asked to leave the class and may risk receiving an ‘F’ for the class.
· Sleeping, reading and the writing of material not assigned for participation in this course will result in an
absence for that day. Such continuous behavior will result in being asked to leave the class and may risk receiving an
‘F’ for the class.
· Part of your class participation may include reading your work aloud; be prepared at any time to read either
from your in-class writing or from any of the assignments you prepare outside of class. Remember, you are here to
work on your writing skills, as are all of your classmates. In such an environment, each student can only benefit from
the other. I will be bringing some of my drafts into class as well. Reading, editing, writing are all skills you will
practice with everyone in the classroom. Also, remember that you must be willing to read ANYTHING in class;
doing so, enables you to become more aware of audience, which is a major component for writing any material,
personal or business. When writing any assignment, the standard audience for this class is an academic audience.
This concept will be explained in more detail at the beginning of the course.
Plagiarism:
I hope it goes without saying that plagiarism is a serious offense. For a complete definition of plagiarism,
see:http://www.gsu.edu/~wwwreg/LK4.html#AcademicHonesty. If you are caught, you WILL fail the course, and
appropriate disciplinary measures will be taken on the University level. If you have any questions as to what is or is
not plagiarism, we will cover this issue in class. But to be certain, you can always see me about this issue before
writing or during the writing of any of the assignments for this course. You can find this link on my web site.
Writing Studio:
If you are having any trouble with your writing, I strongly encourage you to make an appointment with a tutor in
the Writing Studio, Room 976, General Classroom Building. A copy explaining the Writing Studio’s function is
attached.
Grading Scale:
A copy explaining the grading scale for this class is attached.
Accommodation Statement:
Students who need accommodations are asked to arrange a meeting during office hours or at another mutually
convenient time during the first week of classes, or as soon as possible if accommodations are needed immediately.
Bring a copy of your Student Accommodation Form to the meeting. If you do not have an Accommodation Form,
but need accommodations, make an appointment with the Office of Disability Services (Suite 230, New Student
Center, extension 3-9044) to arrange for accommodations.
Your final course grade will consist of the following:
Class participation
10%
Reading Quizzes
10%
In-Class Writing
Assignments 10%
Commonplace book 30%
Two essays
20%
Research Paper
20%
Thesis and Outline, 1st Draft, and Final Draft
Revisions for the two assigned essays will be accepted anytime up to the final class day of this course. Revision
grades will be averaged in with the original grade, and revising your papers will never result in a lower grade. No
essay revisions will be accepted after the class period on the last day of the semester as noted in this syllabus.
Please note that this syllabus represents only a plan. As the semester progresses, deviations may be necessary.
This syllabus also represents a contract between you and me, and by remaining in this class we both agree to abide by
its terms.
Class Schedule:
August
25
27
29
Class begins/syllabus handout
Diagnostic essay
No class
September
1
3
5
Labor Day
Diagnostic essay/self-assessment
Reasearch/MLA
8
10
12
Research/MLA
The process of writing
The process of writing
15
17
19
The process of writing
Chpt. 1: Reading to Explore and Examine
Truer to the Game—5
London—8/Essay #1 due
22
24
Chpt 2: Writing to Evaluate and Articulate/Intro
Letter from Birmingham Jail—170
To Be of Use—56
In-class writing assignment
26
September/October
29
1
3
6
8
10
Frederico’s Ghost—12
Girl—16
Chpt 3: Individuality and Community
Desiree’s Baby—63
Harrison Bergeron—109
Lost Sister—132, The Chinese in All of Us—188
Chpt 4: Nature and Place/Intro
A Blizzard Under Blue Sky—239
In-class writing assignment/ Essay #2 due
13
15
17
A Man To Send Rain Clouds—270
Solitude—355
The Place Where I Was Born—360
Last day to withdraw and possibly receive a ‘W’
Commonplace book due: Chpts. 1-4
20
22
24
The process of writing
The process of writing
The process of writing
27
Chpt 5: Family and Identity/Thesis and Outline due
Separating—419
Everyday Use—428
In-class writing assignment
29
31
November
3
5
7
Divorce and Our National Values—481
Chpt 6: Power and Responsibility/Intro
Cathedral—514
The Maypole of Merry Mount—537
10
12
14
The Things They Carried—571
Mending Wall—599
In-class writing assignment
17
18
19
20
21
Conference with me/1st draft due
Conference with me/1st draft due
Conference with me/1st draft due
Conference with me/1st draft due
Conference with me/1st draft due
24
26
28
Inaugural Address of John F. Kennedy—612
Thanksgiving holiday
Thanksgiving holiday
December
1
3
Peer Review
Peer Review
5
8
10
Peer Review
The process of writing: conclusion
Final in-class writing assignment
Final draft of research paper due
Commonplace book due: Chpts. 5-6
Final submission of all or any revisions of essays
13-19
Final Exams Week