English 091—Fall 2013
[Course Number/Date/Time]
[Classroom]
[Instructor Name]
Office:
Office Hours:
Office Phone: [Do Not Give Out Your Home Phone or Cell Phone]
Email: [Your Official University Email]
Required Textbooks
Hacker, Diana and Nancy Sommers. A Writer’s Reference. For Multi-Modal Projects. Bedford St.
Martins.
Kathleen T. McWhorter. Successful College Writing. 5th Edition. Bedford St. Martins.
Other Required Materials
 A PDF Reader on Your Computer: Adobe Acrobat or Preview (If You Use a Mac).
**Note: Most of Your Computers Already Have These Installed.
 A Three-Pronged Folder For Keeping a Portfolio of Your Work
 Photocopies of your work as needed for class and group discussion
 A Blazer Email and access to the internet for Blackboard.
 Any Type of Notebook You Would Like to Use for Collecting Your Ideas and
Thoughts.
Course Overview: [INSERT YOUR OWN COURSE THEME HERE IF YOU CHOOSE]
Departmental Course Description: EH 091 focuses on connections between reading and
writing, especially as they relate to a writer's purpose and development of academic writing.
Includes review of grammar, punctuation, and usage, with emphasis on editing skills and
writing effective paragraphs and expository essays. Prepares students for EH 101; may not be
used for fulfillment of any degree requirement.
FIRST DAY CLASS POLICY: On the first day of class, all English 091 students are given an inclass writing assignment provided by the department. The writing sample is to be read and
evaluated by the instructor immediately after class. Writing samples that indicate a student is
prepared for English 101 should be brought to the Director of Freshman English and
Developmental Program. If the instructor and director concur, the student will be waived from
the English 091 requirement.
After collecting the writing samples, send the students as a group to the University Writing
Center, Sterne Library, to sign up for the course tutorials. Each student is required to complete
eight tutorial sessions during the fifteen-week semester to work with tutors on individual
course assignments. Attendance of the UWW tutorials counts as 10% of the course grade.
Writing Assignments
The following table lists all assignments and their point values. Required assignments that
carry no point values must be completed in order for you to receive full credit for the unit and
the course.
Assignments
Due Dates
Essay 1: Literacy Narrative
Essay 2: Rhetorical Response
(Analysis)
Essay 3: Comparison/Contrast
Analysis
Essay 4: Illustration Essay
Week 4
Week 8
Total Available
Points/Percentages*
10%
10-15%
Week 11
15-20%
Week 14
20-25%
Final Portfolio Project: (Two
Substantial Revisions and
Reflective Argument)
Short Responses and Informal
Writing
Final Week of Class
15%
Various due dates
throughout the
semester
Various due dates
throughout the
semester
8 Appointments
Throughout Semester
5-10%
Peer Review and Workshop
Materials
University Writing Center
Tutoring
Total
5-10%
10%
100%
To receive an A in this course, you must earn a total score of 90%; for a B, 80%; for a C, 70%; and
for a D, 60% and F, 59% or lower.
**Note: The minimum grade required to take the next level course at UAB is a C. While a grade
of D may be assigned to papers in this class and may be the final grade assigned for the class, a
student whose final grade is lower than a C will not progress to the next course. For example, a
student earning a grade below a C in EH101 would not be allowed to take EH 102.
Composition Course Policies
Approved by Freshman Composition Committee 4/17/2013
Academic Misconduct and Plagiarism: UAB Faculty expects all members of its academic
community to function according to the highest ethical and professional standards. Academic
dishonesty and misconduct includes, but is not limited to, acts of abetting, cheating, plagiarism,
fabrication, and misrepresentation. Candidates are expected to honor the UAB Academic Code
of Conduct as detailed in the most current UAB Student Catalog. Please consult this resource for
additional information regarding the specific procedures to be undertaken when a student
violates the UAB Academic Code of Conduct:
https://www.uab.edu/students/academics/honor-code
•
•
•
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ABETTING is helping another student commit an act of academic dishonesty. Allowing
someone to copy your quiz answers or use your work as their own are examples of
abetting.
CHEATING is the unauthorized use or attempted use of unauthorized materials,
information, study aids, the work of others, or computer-related information.
PLAGIARISM means claiming as your own the ideas, words, data, computer programs,
creative compositions, artwork, etc., done by someone else. Examples include improper
citation of referenced works, the use of commercially available scholarly papers, failure
to cite sourced, or copying another person's ideas.
FABRICATION means presenting falsified data, citations, or quotations as genuine.
MISREPRESENTATION is falsification, alteration, or the misstatement of the contents of
documents, academic work, or other materials related to academic matters, including
work substantially done for one class as work done for another without receiving prior
approval from the instructor.
Violations of the UAB Academic Honor Code are punishable by a range of penalties, from
receiving a failing grade on an assignment to an F in the course to dismissal. Any course grade
of F for academic misconduct supersedes any other grade or notation for that class. Withdrawal
from a course while a possible violation of the Academic Honor Code is under review will not
preclude the assignment of a course grade that appropriately reflects the student’s performance
prior to withdrawal if the violation is substantiated.
Assigning Grades Involving Plagiarism: Plagiarism is defined as “using the words or thoughts
of another person without proper citation; specifically, it is submitting as one’s own work any
portion of a book, magazine, journal, handout, original creation, speech, lecture, oral
communication, paper or examination written by someone else.” This policy includes both
traditional material and electronically mediated material such as that found on websites. The
faculty member is entitled, under the policies of the University, to record an “F” for the course
in which the offense has been committed, penalize the grade on an individual assignment, or
assign additional sanctions as outlined in the UAB Academic Code of Conduct.
TURNITIN - UAB reserves the right to use electronic means to detect and help prevent
plagiarism. By enrolling at UAB, students agree to have course documents submitted to
www.Turnitin.com or other means of electronic verification. All materials submitted to
Turnitin.com will become source documents in Turnitin.com’s restricted access database, solely
for the purpose of detecting plagiarism in such documents. Students may be required by
instructors to individually submit course documents electronically to Turnitin.com.
Attendance: The number of unexcused absences permitted in a composition course will be one
times the number of weekly meetings plus one day: 3 absences for T/Th classes or 4 absences
for a MWF class. Each additional unexcused absence will be considered excessive and will be
penalized. Any absence in a composition class beyond those stipulated above will be
considered excessive and penalized three percentage points off of the final course grade.
Tardiness is defined as entering the classroom after roll is taken. Each tardy will count as ½
absence. Similarly, leaving class before it has ended will be counted as ½ absence. Students
arriving after the roll has been called are responsible for notifying the instructor so they can be
marked tardy rather than absent.
The university regards certain absences as excused and in those instances requires that
instructors provide an accommodation for the student who misses assignments, presentations,
examinations, or other academic work of a substantive nature by virtue of these excused
absences. Examples include the following:

Absences due to jury or military duty, provided that official documentation has been
provided to the instructor in a timely manner in advance.

Absences due to participation in university-sponsored activities when the student is
representing the university in an official capacity and as a critical participant, provided that
the procedures below have been followed:

o
Before the end of the add/drop period, students must provide their instructor a
schedule of anticipated excused absences in or with a letter explaining the nature
of the expected absences from the director of the unit or department sponsoring
the activity.
o
If a change in the schedule occurs, students are responsible for providing their
instructors with advance written notification from the sponsoring unit or
department.
Absences due to other extenuating circumstances that instructors deem excused. Such
classification is at the discretion of the instructor and is predicated upon consistent
treatment of all students. In these instances, instructors must devise a system for reasonable
accommodation including, for example, policies allowing for dropped exams/quizzes,
make-up exams, rescheduling of student classroom presentations or early or later
submission of written assignments.
Writing Assignment Requirements

Late work will not be accepted without penalty unless you make arrangements with
your instructor for an extension before the due date. Otherwise, 10 points will be
deducted from your final grade on the assignment for each class period the assignment is
late. This applies to both formal papers and informal writing.

Drafts must be turned in with all essays. Drafts should show significant changes in
purpose, audience, organization, or evidence.

You are required to keep hard copies of all graded assignments and electronic copies of
all drafts and assignments for the course. These copies are necessary in the event that
you need to resubmit a missing assignment or if you should choose to file a grade
appeal.

Final copies should be typed and double-spaced with numbered pages and a title.
Non-Harassment, Hostile Work/Class Environment: The UAB College of Arts and Sciences
expects students to treat fellow students, their Course Instructors, other UAB faculty, and staff
as adults and with respect. No form of hostile environment or harassment will be tolerated by
any student or employee.
Conferences: Individual or small-group conferences may be scheduled several times during
the semester. Students should come to conferences prepared to discuss their work. A missed
conference counts as an absence.
The University Writing Center: The University Writing Center, located in Sterne Library
175, offers a number of free services for UAB students and faculty. The Writing Center offers 30minute writing consultations that are open and free for all UAB students. Experienced tutors
will help students at any stage of the writing process, from understanding the assignment and
brainstorming ideas to revising and refining a final draft. While tutors do not edit for students,
they can help writers learn about their common errors and develop better editing processes. To
make an appointment, please visit the University Writing Center Website:
http://www.uab.edu/writingcenter/ The Writing Center also accepts drop-in appointments,
depending on availability.
Students with Disabilities: If you anticipate accessibility issues related to the format or
requirements of the course, please meet with your instructor to discuss ways to ensure your full
participation. If you determine that formal, disability-related accommodations are necessary, it
is very important that you be registered with Disability Support Services. If you have a
disability but have not contacted Disability Support Services, please call 934-4205 or visit DSS at
516 Hill University Center. If you are registered with Disability Support Services, please make
an appointment as soon as possible to discuss accommodations that may be necessary.
Early Alert System (EAS): Your instructor may participate in an initiative at UAB to alert
students who are at risk of getting a D, F, or W in their 100 or 200-level courses. This means that
after mid-terms your instructor may flag those students who are falling into this category on
BlazerNet. The EAS will generate an email to the student notifying them of their at-risk status
and listing some resources where you might get assistance. Please read these emails when they
come to you. If you receive an email with “Early Alert System (EAS)” as the sender or in the subject
line, please be sure to read it.
Pre-enrollment for English 102: Students currently enrolled in English 101 may pre-register for
English 102 classes offered during the next semester during assigned registration
times. However, you must earn a “C” or higher to satisfactorily complete English 101. Be
warned that if you do not earn a “C” or higher in English 101, then you will be administratively
withdrawn from English 102 if you pre-registered. It will be your responsibility to register for
English 101 again.
Recommended But Not Required Policies
Electronic Devices and Classroom Conduct: Cell phones should be muted and may not be
used in class. Tablets and laptops may only be used with instructor permission and for activities
that are related to the work of the class, such as taking notes or working on projects for the
course.
Electronic Submissions: Electronic submissions are not acceptable unless special arrangements
have been made. You may not assume that you have met a deadline by sending work in
electronic form without permission.
Withdrawals: The last day to drop/add courses is [INSERT DATE], and the last day to
withdraw from courses with a W is [INSERT DATE].
SCHEDULE OF ASSIGNMENTS (THE FOLLOWING IS INTENDED ONLY AS AN
EXAMPLE)
SCW: SUCCESSFUL COLLEGE WRITING
WR: A WRITER’S REFERENCE
BB: READING ON BLACKBOARD (FACULTY C AN ACCESS READINGS THROUGH THE ONLINE
READER ON THE FRESHMAN COMPOSITION INSTRUCTOR ’ S RESOURCE, OR POST THEIR OWN
READINGS FROM LIBRARY DATABASES, ETC.)
NOTE: I RESERVE THE RIGHT TO OCASSIONALLY CHANGE ASSIGNMENTS AND DUE DATES .
YOU WILL ALWAYS BE NOTIFIED WELL IN ADVANCE OF ANY CHANGES .
Date
Week 1
READING DUE, CLASS ACTIVITIES, & ASSIGNMENTS DUE
Welcome to English 091!
Introduction to Course
First Day Essay
Buy Textbooks! Take Handout of Course Outcomes!
SCW: Chapter 1 “Succeeding in College”
Week 2
Short Response 1 Due—Literacy Experience Journal (SHORT
RESPONSES ARE OPTIONAL AND CAN BE REPLACED WITH OTHER
INFORMAL WRITING) (READINGS LISTED ARE EXAMPLESINDIVIDUAL TEACHERS SHOULD FEEL FREE TO USE OTHER
READINGS AND BREAK UP TEXTBOOK CHAPTERS DIFFERENTLY)
SCW Chapter 11 (pages 227-239)
BB: Jimmy Santiago Baca “Coming Into Language”
Short Response 2: Response to Jimmy Santiago Baca’s “Coming Into
Language”
SCW Chapter 11 (pages 240-257)
BB: Gerald Graff “On Disliking Books at an Early Age”
Short Response 3: Short Analysis of Graff’s “On Disliking Books”
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Invention Workshop: Developing an Argument About Literacy From Your
Own Experience
Invention Worksheet Due!
Rough, Rough Draft Workshop
Bring One Copy of a 2 Page Draft of Your Intro, Thesis, and One Body
Paragraph (WORKSHOPS CAN BE DESIGNED BY INDIVIDUAL
TEACHERS. ROUGH, ROUGH DRAFT WORKSHOPS ARE OPTIONAL)
Peer Review
Bring One Copy of Your Expanded 4 Page Draft to Class
Literacy Narrative Due!
Introduction to Unit Two: From Narrative To Analysis
Portfolio Session #1: Developing a Self-Assessment
SCW: Chapter 3 “Reading in College” (pages 45-62)
Portfolio Assessment #1 Due
SCW: Chapter 4 “Responding Critically to Texts and Images” (pages 67-76)
BB: David Sedaris “Me Talk Pretty One Day”
Short Response 4: Annotation Worksheet
SCW: Chapter 4 “Responding Critically to Texts and Images” (pages 77-96)
Short Response 5: Key Passage Analysis of “American Jerk” (pgs 50-51).
SCW: Chapter 6 “Developing and Supporting a Thesis” (pages 122-139)
Rough, Rough Draft Workshop
Bring One Copy of a 2 Page Draft of Your Intro, Thesis, and One Body
Paragraph
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Peer Review—No Reading Due
Rhetorical Analysis Due!
Portfolio Session #2: Developing a Revision Strategy
Introduction to Unit 4: Comparison/Contrast Analysis
Bring One Copy of Your Expanded 4 Page Draft to Class
SCW: Chapter 15 “Comparison and Contrast” (pages 373-384)
Portfolio Assessment #2 Due
Short Response 6: Mapping Out Connections Worksheet
SCW: Chapter 15 “Comparison and Contrast” (pages 385-396)
Short Response 7 Due: Mini Comparative Analysis
SCW: Chapter 8 “Writing Effective Paragraphs” (pages 165-179) and “Black
Men in Public Space” by Brent Staples (160-163).
Short Response 8 Due: Invention Worksheet
Rough, Rough Draft Workshop
Bring One Copy of a 2 Page Draft of Your Intro, Thesis, and One Body
Paragraph
Peer Review—No Reading Due
Bring One Copy of Your Expanded 4 Page Draft to Class
Comparative Analysis Due!
Portfolio Session #3: Critically Annotating Essays for Revision
Introduction to Unit Four: Illustration Essay
Portfolio Assessment #3 Due
SCW: Chapter 13 “Illustration: Explaining With Examples” (pages 305-315)
Short Response 9 Due: Illustration Analysis
SCW: Chapter 13 “Illustration: Explaining With Examples” (pages 317-325)
Short Response 10 Due: Developing Persuasive Examples
Week 12
SCW: Chapter 13 “Illustration: Explaining With Examples” (pages 326-336)
Invention Workshop: From Examples to Persuasive Arguments
Invention Worksheet Due!
Rough, Rough Draft Workshop
Bring One Copy of a 2 Page Draft of Your Intro, Thesis, and One Body
Paragraph
Week 13
Peer Review—No Reading Due
Bring One Copy of Your Expanded 4 Page Draft to Class
Illustration Essay Due!
Week 14
Week 15
Introduction to Unit 5: Preparing Your Portfolio
Portfolio Session #4: Portfolio Organization Session
Bring Copy of Course Outcomes With You!
THANKSGIVING BREAK-NO CLASS
Portfolio Assessment #4 Due
SCW: Chapter 25 “Portfolios” (pages 728-733)
Portfolio Workshop
Peer Review for Reflective Essay
Final Portfolio Due!