Fall 2015
English Composition I, ENGL 111
Monday-Friday, 9:16-9:56, Room 211
Instructor Name: Dr. Shawn Temple
Catalog Description:
English Composition I is the first in a two-course composition sequence. The central purposes of
English Composition I are to develop critical reading and thinking skills and to write thesisdriven, text-based essays. The course takes a process-oriented approach to writing that
incorporates prewriting, drafting, reviewing, and revising. Students in English Composition I
learn basic research skills and apply them to at least one text-based research essay.
Required Texts:
Graff, Gerald, Cathy Birkenstein, and Russel Durst, eds. They Say I Say with Readings. 3rd. ed.
New York: Norton, 2015. Print.
Other Learning Materials:
 Multiple ways to back up your work on a computer because computer problems are not an
appropriate excuse for handing a paper in late.
 A notebook (any kind) for class notes.
 Several folders so you can organize handouts from class as well as your writing
Course Learning Outcomes:
[Please include the following items as they’re listed.]
Writing:
Students will be able to:
1. Write clearly, grammatically and fluently with focus and continuity in standard American
English in out-of-class and in-class writings. (Goal 1)
2. Exhibit the ability to organize information in order to develop and support a main idea in
both in-class and out-of-class papers. (Goal 1, 2, and 3)
Reading:
Students will be able to:
3. Identify thematic connections among and between various texts. (Goal 2, 3, and 5)
4. Explicate readings carefully in both written work and during class discussion and/or
group work. (Goal 2, 3, and 5)
Information Literacy:
Students will be able to:
5. Access, evaluate, and use information effectively and ethically at an introductory level.
(Goal 4)
6. Compose and revise essays using responsible documentation and research. (Goal 4)
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Grading Policy:
English Composition I requires:
1. 25 pages of text-based, graded writing
2. 4-5 out-of-class essays of 4-8 pages
3. A minimum of 3 in-class timed essays (including the final in-class essay)
4. At least one out-of-class essay involving text-based research
5. A common departmental final in-class essay synthesizing 2 or more texts
6. Requirement that at least 80% of the student’s final grade be derived from graded essays,
with the following ranges: 45-55% of the final grade should be out-of-class essays, 2535% should be in-class timed essays, and 10-20% should be class participation and
preparation.
7. Class preparation and participation
Plagiarism Policy:
The Student Handbook states the following:
Raritan Valley Community College requires independent, honest work on the part of its
students, and students are expected to conduct themselves with scholarly integrity. Each
confirmed incident of academic dishonesty, cheating or plagiarism must be reported by
the faculty member, in writing, to the Dean of Academic Affairs.
Examples of plagiarism include, but are not limited to:
1) Copying answers from a textbook to submit for a grade.
2) Quoting text or other works without citation when requested by the faculty member to
present one’s own work.
3) Submitting a paper or essay obtained from a term paper service or taken from the
Internet.
4) Submitting a paper or report written by another student, a spouse, or a colleague as
one’s own.
5) Submitting another student’s project, essay, research paper, or computer program as
one’s own.
6) Submitting a paper wholly or in substantial part using the exact phrasing of source
material.
7) Submitting a paper closely paraphrased from source material, where the original
source material is simply edited with perhaps minor word changes occurring.
8) Submitting a paper closely paraphrased from source material, splicing together
sentences from scattered segments of the original.
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Essay Requirements:
Essays should follow the assignment guidelines. All out-of-class essays (including rough drafts)
should be word-processed. Due dates for rough and final drafts are listed on the
assignments. Specifics are listed with each essay assignment. Please make sure to review them
prior to completing the rough draft and the final draft.
The rough draft will be given a grade based on completion and attempt. While it will not have to
be a final copy, the page requirements, quote expectations, and text references must be prevalent
in the paper in order to earn credit. Late drafts will not be accepted late.
For each day that an essay is late, the student’s grade will be reduced a full letter grade. After
five days, the paper is not accepted and the student will be given a zero.
Class preparation and participation:
Come to every class prepared. Preparation involves doing and bringing the assigned reading and
writing assignments; be ready to discuss and write about the assigned readings in class. Class
participation involves paying attention in class, contributing to the discussion, and listening to
your peers. It can also involve free writing exercises, group work, and pop quizzes. Use of
technology unrelated to the course (cell phones, laptops, etc.) can negatively impact your
participation grade. Come to class ready to share your ideas, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
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