ENG 111-07/FALL 2005
Expository Writing
An Introduction to College Writing
Instructor:
Office:
Phone:
Office Hours:
Email:
James Kirkpatrick
Learning Resource Center (library) #415;
Mailbox on library 4th floor
704-330-6278
M-F, 3-5; T-TH, 11-12; by appointment as needed
james.kirkpatrick@cpcc.edu
Textbooks
Rosa, Alfred and Paul Eschholz. Models For Writers: Short Essays for
Composition. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2004.
Rosa, Alfred and Paul Eschholz. The Writer’s Brief Handbook. 5th ed. New York:
Longman, 2004.
Prerequisites / Corequisites
As required by placement test score(s), ENG 090 with a grade of "C" or higher and/or RED
090 with a grade of "C" or higher; or appropriate placement test score(s); or consent of
Division Director / None
Course Description
This course is the required first course in a series of two designed to develop the ability to
produce clear expository prose. Emphasis is placed on the writing process, including
audience analysis, topic selection, thesis support and development, editing, and revision.
Upon completion, students should be able to produce unified, coherent, well-developed
essays using standard written English. The course has been approved to satisfy the
Comprehensive Articulation Agreement general education core requirement in English
composition.
Objectives
Those students who successfully complete ENG 111 should be able to (1) read assigned
essays with understanding and make reasonable inferences based on their context; (2)
participate productively in both large and small peer group discussions and in
student/teacher conferences; (3) use various methods, such as freewriting and
brainstorming, to generate ideas for writing; (4) establish and recognize the purpose of a
writing assignment and develop and use a style and strategy for achieving that purpose; (5)
write concretely by using facts to support generalizations; (6) select a topic and apply
planning, writing, revising, and proofreading techniques in developing the topic into a wellstructured, coherent essay; (7) write correctly by following the conventions of grammar,
punctuation, sentence structure, spelling, manuscript form, and other essentials of writing
that make meaningful communication possible; (8) use a word processor for writing; and
(9) evaluate and revise writing assignments.
Requirements
a) You must keep up with the assigned readings. You will be analyzing, in oral and
written formats, what you read each and every class period. It is important to keep
up with the reading assignments, which will be the basis for, amongst other things,
unannounced quizzes. Any in-class quizzes or in-class assignment cannot be
made up at a later date.
b) Students will write four essays (3 typed, out-of-class; 1 in class) and will write a
final, fifth essay in class during the final exam period.
c) Students will keep a journal, in which you are to write weekly, dated responses to
the readings or writing-related questions (some of which I will assign you) for that
week. No outside sources should be used for this journal. The journal will be
collected at least three times during the semester with no more than 48 hours notice
given before collecting it. No late journals will be accepted.
d) Students must save copies of all graded assignments.
e) You are expected to come to class ready to talk about the readings and your
writing. You are to be an active participant, not just occupy an empty seat in class.
The participation of each student is needed to make the class interesting and
dynamic for all. Of course, through active listening you are expected to support
meaningful class discussion.
f) Students will have one research assignment during the course of the term, an
assignment using MLA-style documentation.
g) You may revise one essay with a grade below 60 (the original must be attached or
I will not grade the revision); the re-graded essay will have a highest possible grade
of “C.”
Grading Policy
Grading is done on a ten-point scale (90-100=A; 80-89=B; 70-79=C; 60-69=D; below
60=F).
Grades are broken down as follows:
Three typed essays (15% ea.):
45%
One in-class essay:
10%
*Journal:
10%
In-Class Writings/Quizzes/Participation:
20%
*Final essay (completed in the exam period): 15%
*See the Service-Learning option below
Service Learning Option—
Service-learning is a process of involving students in community service activates with a
facilitated means for applying that experience to their academic and personal development.
It is a form of experiential education aimed at enhancing and enriching student learning in
course material. It is student-centered, hands-on, and an experience that can be used as
part of your learning experience in this course.
To complete a Service Learning Project and exempt yourself from
the Final, you must do the following:
a) Review and follow the procedures for service-learning students at CPCC, available
at: http://www.cpcc.edu/service%2Dlearning/student_procedures.htm.
b) Complete a minimum of 15-20 hours of service at a CPCC Service Learning Center
approved partner (again, see the Web site listed above).
c) Keep a reflective journal of your daily experiences at your service choice (for this, I
am interested in reading about all of the following: The kind of service you’re doing,
fully described; your impressions of the service experience as it evolves during the
semester; discussion of any societal issues that arise based on your experience there).
During the term of your service, you will be exempt from the regular class journal.
d) Do an oral presentation describing your experience at the end of the semester.
e) Write an essay at the end of the term, based on some societal issue encountered as
a result of your experience (a handout will be provided with more details). This will
replace the final essay exam.
The Service Learning Center has two full-time staff members, Dena Shonts and Dan Herrin,
and both can assist in many ways with this project. Contact them at: 704-330-6445 or 704330-6558.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is a serious academic (not to mention moral, even legal) offense. It is the
“intentional or knowing presentation of the work of another as one’s own without proper
acknowledgment of the source” (Handbook 45). Plagiarism includes borrowing facts and
language from published sources without proper citation. It also includes the use of whole
papers written by someone else (your brother, your best friend) or downloaded from some
online paper storehouse. The penalty for plagiarism is an F in the course. Plagiarism,
cheating, or any other form of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in this
course. All work submitted for this course is considered to be original work, completed by
the individual student, for this class.
Attendance
Students are expected to attend class. Every two instances of missed minutes from class
(late arrival/early departure) will be counted as one absence (and there is no such thing as
an excused absence). The English, Reading, and Humanities Division’s policy is that any
student who misses more than 20% of the term’s class meetings cannot pass the course
(grade=F).
Make-Up Policy
Any in-class assignments are done on specific dates and cannot be made up at a later date.
There are also no make-up quizzes or exams. Essay assignments have specific due dates;
late essays will be downgraded 10 points for each 24-hour day late. No essay will be
accepted more than three days after its original due date. Journal assignments will not be
accepted after their due date.
Additional Information
For the journal assignment, you should make one dated entry per week that is at least
one page in length. Unless I assign you a specific task for a specific week you should do the
“For Your Journal” exercise (which appears at the start of each textbook essay) for one of
that week’s essays. This is not a diary of your day-to-day life; it is important that you follow
the directions in the textbook carefully and identify in your journal which specific essay
this journal response goes with.
Support Services For Students In English Classes
The Academic Learning Center and Student Support Services (both located on the
bottom floor of the Central High building) offer writing tutors for students at CPCC. These
are crucial resources that every student should be aware of (and use) while taking English
courses at CPCC.
Special Services Certifications
Students who have a documented disability or who may think they may have a learning
problem may contact the Office of Services for Students with disAbilities. Instructors will
provide the necessary accommodations upon the advice of the Office of Services for
Students with disAbilities.
Academic Integrity Policy
The purpose of the CPCC Code of Student Academic Integrity (see CPCC Student Handbook)
is to support the continued growth and development of a strong academic community based
on the principles of academic honesty and integrity. Any student who violates the CPCC
Code of Student Academic Integrity is subject to academic disciplinary action. Such action
may include, but is not limited to, entry of the incident in the records of the Office of
Student Development; reduced grades; and dismissal from the College classes, programs,
and activities.
Withdrawal policy
When a student determines that he/she will be unable to complete courses in which he/she
is currently enrolled, it is the student's responsibility to initiate procedures leading to a
formal withdrawal ("W") in order to avoid a failing ("F") grade. To receive a "W" grade, a
student must withdraw before the last 25% of the academic term.
Important Dates:
If you are doing the Service Learning Option, you must contact CPCC’s Service Learning
Center and complete paperwork by August 31, 2005; you should have started your
service by September 30, 2005; you must complete your service by November 30, 2005
Last Day to Withdraw, Fall 16-Week Term
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Final Exam Date
Wednesday, December 7, 2005, 11-1:30