Wayland Baptist University
Hawaii Campus (www.wbu.edu/hawaii)
School of Languages and
Literature
Mission Statement:
Wayland Baptist University
exists to educate students in an
academically challenging, learningfocused, and distinctively Christian
environment for professional success
and service to God and humankind.
-- Aloha Ke
Akua –
English 1301 Syllabus
Composition and Rhetoric
Winter 2015/2016 Tuesdays 6:00- 10:00 PM
November 9, 2015 – February 13, 2016
at Wayland Baptist University
Instructor Tad T. Matsunaga
Phone
(808)455-8365
e-mail
tadmatsunaga@aol.com , tad.matsunaga@wayland.wbu.edu
Office Hours Before or after classes and by appointment with the instructor.
PREREQUISITE: None
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Principles of clear, correct, effective expository writing, with illustrative
readings and frequent essays and conferences.
English 1301 teaches the techniques of English composition with an emphasis
on the process of learning to write clearly and effectively, and to read
analytically. This course fulfills the English prerequisite requirement for higher
courses, such as English 1302.
You will develop effective writing skills through practice and study of:




topic selection
writing structure and organization
writing mechanics
critical reading
English 1301 Syllabus
 college level analysis of various types of writing
You will experience and participate in:
 self-editing and peer editing
 actual writing experience and conferencing with the instructor
TEXTBOOKS
 How To Write Anything: A Guide and Reference with Readings, by
John J. Ruszkiewicz and Jay T. Dolmage; Boston, MA: Bedford/St.
Martin’s, 3rd ed., 2015. ISBN: 978-1-4576-6703-9
MATERIALS
 A portfolio. You are responsible for saving pre writing, drafts, peer
evaluations, and final drafts of all written assignments in a portfolio.
You should have this portfolio with you at all conferences with the
instructor. This portfolio with the ending writer’s evaluation essay
will be worth 20% of your grade.
COURSE COMPETENCIES
 By the end of the course, you will be able to:
1. apply standard rules and conventions of the English language
to written expressions.
2. summarize the steps and components of the writing process.
3. compose academic, nonfiction essays or responses in at
least four different rhetorical modes or styles.
4. demonstrate proficiency in writing skills based on the criteria
of standard essay structure and English usage.
5. compose a clear, coherent, unified essay, organized around a
single central idea and use a variety of techniques to support
your writing.
6. compose effective thesis statements.
7. apply basic rhetorical modes: description, comparison,
narration, and illustration…
8. employ the various stages of the writing process, including:
brainstorming, outlining, drafting, revising, and editing.
9. demonstrate understanding of and effective use of paragraph
structure, including topic sentences, supporting examples,
and transition sentences.
10. demonstrate effective use of introductions and conclusions.
11. employ various forms of support for claims, including
concrete, significant and specific examples, illustrations,
anecdotes, facts and reasons.
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English 1301 Syllabus
12. read, analyze, and discuss readings with an understanding of
structure and mechanics.
13. identify effective writing techniques in your own essays and
in peer writing.
14. organize and develop essays, demonstrating the ability to
write for an academic audience.
15. avoid plagiarism
ATTENDANCE
As stated in the Wayland Catalog, students enrolled should make every
effort to attend all class meetings. All absences must be explained to the
instructor, who will then determine whether the omitted work may be made
up. When a student reaches that number of absences considered by the
instructor to be excessive, the instructor will so advise the student and file an
unsatisfactory progress report with the campus dean. Any student who misses
25 percent or more of the regularly scheduled class meetings will receive a
grade of “F” for the course. Additional attendance policies for each course, as
defined by the instructor in the course syllabus, are considered a part of the
University’s attendance policy.
All Wayland students are expected to attend every class meeting; the minimum
percentage of class participation required to avoid receiving a grade of “F” in
the class is 75%. Students who miss the first two class meetings without
providing a written explanation to the instructor will be automatically dropped
from the roster as a “no-show.” Students who know in advance that they will
be absent the first two class meetings and who wish to remain in the class must
inform the instructor in order to discuss possible arrangements for making up
absences.
WBU STATEMENTS
A) Disability statement- In compliance with the Americans with Disabilites
Act of 1990 ADA), it is the policy of Wayland Baptist University that no
otherwise qualified disabled person with a disability be excluded from
participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to
discrimination under any educational program or activity in the
university. The Coordinator of Counseling Services serves as the
coordinator of students with a disability and should be contacted
concerning accommodation requests at (808)291-3765.
Documentation of disability must accompany any requests for
accomodations.
B) Statement to Students to retain course research papers [for
undergraduate course only]:
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English 1301 Syllabus
WBU degree-seeking students are strongly encouraged to retain copies of
all research papers. To graduate from WBU, students must complete the
senior Exit Seminar course, GRAD 0001. The Exit Seminar is designed to
capstone an adult learner’s discipline knowledge through the completion
of a discipline portfolio or the completion of an approved research
project. The research papers retained from previous courses,
particularly courses within the discipline, will aid the adult learner in
completing the GRAD 0001 course.
PLAGIARISM
Copying written material that is not your own without indicating the source
of the material is called plagiarism, and is considered cheating. It is expected
that you will do your own work. Copying someone else’s work without giving
credit to them is dishonorable. You should be especially careful not to copy
from printed material or from someone else’s written material without telling
the reader where the material came from. Work that is not done by you and
not attributed to a source will receive a “0” grade. Please consult with the
instructor if you have any doubt about what constitutes plagiarism.
GRADING
Students shall have protection through orderly procedures against
prejudices or capricious academic evaluation. A student who believes he or
she has not been held to realistic academic standards just evaluation
procedures, or appropriate grading, may appeal the final grade given in the
catalog. Appeals may not be made for advanced placement examinations or
course bypass examinations. Appeals are limited to the final course grade,
which may be upheld, raised, or lowered at any stage of the appeal process.
Any recommendation to lower a course grade must be submitted through the
Executive Vice President/Provost to the Faculty Assembly Grade Appeals
Committee for review and approval. The Faculty Assembly Grade Appeals
Committee may instruct that the course grade be upheld, raised, or lowered to
a more proper evaluation.
COURSE WORK
Essay #1
Essay #2
Portfolio and Writer’s Essay
Quizzes, Classwork, Participation
Final Examination
Total Grade
GRADE SCALE
20%
20%
20%
20%
20%
____________
100%
4
90 – 100%
80 - 89%
70 - 79%
60 - 69%
Below 60%
=
=
=
=
=
A
B
C
D
F
English 1301 Syllabus
PAPERS (40%)
You will write two essay papers (3 or more pages for each). All
essays must be typed, double-spaced with a cover page (see sample APA
cover page in writing handbook). The cover sheet includes, the title
(concise) of your paper, your name, and the person or agency to which
your paper is submitted. It also usually provides a line that states the
reason for the submission—for example, to satisfy a course requirement
(English 1301), and the date. Margins should be one inch. Number
each page top right (short title, page number). Staple all work together
before it is to be turned in (also include drafts and peer evaluations) —
newest material should be placed on top. Loss of one letter grade per
day for late papers.
PORTFOLIO and WRITER’S ESSAY (20%)
You will be required to hand-in a WRITING PORTFOLIO with all of the
work you have done for the course, collected together, including your
drafts of papers, etc. Bring this portfolio with you to all conferences
with the instructor, and you should also make it a point to evaluate your
progress as you go along. At the end of the term, you will turn in your
portfolio and a WRITER’S ESSAY in which you present an analysis of
yourself as the writer of the essay(s) that you wrote for the English 1301
course using terminology and concepts covered in the textbook, e.g.
vantage point, sensory words, thesis statement…. Analyze and describe
the process used in writing the essays, and what you observed about
yourself as a writer. Reflect on strengths and points needing
improvement as you have written the essays. Recommended paper
length for this Writer’s Essay is two pages minimum (with cover page,
thesis statement, etc.). The Writer’s Essay and the portfolio will count
for 20% of your final grade.
QUIZZES, CLASSWORK, PARTICIPATION (20%)
There will be both announced and unannounced quizzes. Your quizzes
will test your reading comprehension and your writing ability.
There will be class assignments both in and outside of class. You must
participate. Any non-documented absences will be deducted from your
grade. The class will do in-class and group assignments, and your
contribution in these activities will become your participation grade. Be
prepared for the classwork assignments so that you can speak up and
contribute to the class. Students are responsible for finding out from
classmates or the instructor, all missed work and assignments.
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English 1301 Syllabus
FINAL EXAMINATION (20%)
The Final Examination will consist of two parts: 1) answering various
course content questions, and 2) responding to questions on a published
essay.
TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE (For 3rd Edition)
(Tuesdays)
WEEK ONE (November 10, 2015)
Introduction, Course Syllabus, The Writing Process, Audience and Purpose,
Ideas, Brainstorming, Reading, Writer’s Block
Readings
In How To Write Anything … : Chapters 19, 21, and 23
WEEK TWO (November 17, 2015)
Shaping and Drafting, Genre, Thesis Statement, Introduction, Body, Conclusion,
Effective words, sentences, paragraphs, Topic Sentences, Supporting
Sentences, Concluding Sentences, Major Support, Minor Support, Transition
Words and Phrases, Quotations, Citations, paraphrases, revising, Peer Editing,
APA
Readings
In How To Write Anything … : Chapters 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 35, 36
and 47
WEEK THREE (November 24, 2015)
The Narrative Essay
Chronical events in people’s lives, telling a story
Readings
In How To Write Anything … : Chapter 1
WEEK FOUR (December 1, 2015)
Essay #1 — Narrative Essay Peer Editing First Draft due Dec. 1, 2015
Comparison/ Contrast Essay
Readings
In How To Write Anything … : Chapter 2
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English 1301 Syllabus
WEEK FIVE (December 8, 2015)
Essay #1 — Narrative Essay Final Draft For Grade due Dec. 8, 2015
The Cause and Effect Essay
Defining definitions, types of Definitions
Readings
In How To Write Anything … : Chapter 5
(For 3rd Edition)
WEEK SIX (December 15, 2015) (Christmas Break Dec. 21- Jan. 4, 2016)
The Argumentative Essay
The rational appeal, reasoning strategies, the emotional appeal, the ethical
appeal, ferreting out fallacies,
The Argumentative Essay
Readings
In How To Write Anything … : Chapters 3, 21, 22
WEEK SEVEN (January 5, 2016)
Essay # 2 — Argumentative Essay PEER EDITING First Draft due Jan. 5, 2016
Evaluations
Readings
In How To Write Anything … : Chapter 4
WEEK EIGHT (January 12, 2016)
Essay #2 — Argumentative Essay FINAL DRAFT FOR GRADE due Jan. 12,
2016
Proposals
Readings
In How To Write Anything … : Chapter 6
WEEK NINE (January 19, 2016)
The Essay Examination
Readings
In How To Write Anything … : Chapter 9
WEEK TEN (January 26, 2016)
— Final Examination and Writer’s Essay due Jan. 26, 2016
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English 1301 Syllabus
Final Examination
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