English 101 – Composition I
Instructor: Christy Scheuer
Course Time and Location: 11:00 - 11:50 am,
M-F, CC3360
Instructor Phone: 206-934-4538
Course Website
E-mail: christina.scheuer@seattlecolleges.edu
Office: IB 2306 D
Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 12 – 2:30 p.m.
Canvas.northseattle.edu
When we read, we start at the beginning and continue until we reach the end. When we
write, we start in the middle and fight our way out. —Vickie Karp
COURSE OVERVIEW
In this class, you will develop your ability to communicate your ideas in clear, accessible,
and engaging ways and to modify the style of your writing depending on your audience
and purpose. Throughout the quarter, we will also read, reread, and discuss other
people's writing as a way to develop our own writing strategies and to think about how
the work that you do here can be applied in other contexts and classes.
Although all of the assigned reading will be significant, your writing is the most
important text that we will consider in this class. Ultimately, the best way to learn
how to write is to start writing—to suspend judgment of your abilities and dive into the
process.
You will need to be prepared to write often, both in formal essays and in class
discussions. My goal is to make you feel as comfortable as possible with the writing
process, which includes freewriting and brainstorming, drafting, sharing your writing
within a writing community, and presenting final drafts of which you can feel proud.
Core Goals:
1. Be specific.
2. Be passionate.
3. Become a close, critical reader of other writing.
Required Texts:
Cohen, Stanley, ed. 50 Essays: A Portable Anthology. 4th edition. New York: Bedford/St.
Martin‘s, 2011. ISBN 031266821X.
Trimble, John. Writing with Style. 3rd Edition. Boston: Prentice Hall, 2011. ISBN:
0205028829.
ENGLISH 101 COURSE OUTCOMES:
1. You will become a more relaxed, confident, and skilled writer.
2. You will learn to see writing as a process, one that requires time and thoughtful attention.
You will practice all phases of the writing, editing, and revising process.
3. You will become comfortable and skilled in expressing yourself in different forms of the
essay.
4. You will be able to recognize, define, and create a thesis statement and to be able to
develop and shape supporting material for that thesis.
5. You will develop the ability to revise your own writing using a variety of forms of
feedback and to offer useful feedback to others on their writing.
6. You will use critical thinking skills to challenge “commonplace” ideas about the world and
to engage in informed discussions with your colleagues.
7. You will become a more effective and confident reader and develop your critical reading
and thinking skills so that you can analyze, synthesize, and evaluate ideas found in each
other’s essays and in academic texts.
8. You will gain the ability to write what you mean in clear, correct sentences and practice
developing a repertoire of sentence structures.
9. You will become more proficient at in-class writing tasks.
10. You will establish your own writing goals and develop strategies to transfer these skills
to your work in other classes.
DEVELOPING A COMMUNITY OF WRITERS
Students come to this class with a broad range of educational, writing, and personal
experiences. This diversity enhances our class by expanding the range of viewpoints
expressed and providing us with new ideas to discuss in class. It is very important that
you are respectful of every student’s work and opinions so that the classroom is an
environment in which everyone feels welcome. Writing can be difficult and frustrating
at times, but the writing process is much more enjoyable and rewarding if we work
through it together.
Please communicate with me at any time regarding any concerns or questions you have
about the course. You can come to my office hours or make an appointment if you
would like to talk about your progress in the class, specific assignments, or any other
concerns or questions that arise during the quarter. I’m here to help you, and I enjoy
talking to students throughout the writing process.
MAJOR ESSAYS
This course is divided into three units, and each unit will give you a chance to practice a
different approach to the essay. In each unit, you will turn in a paper proposal and an
initial rough draft, and we will then discuss the papers in peer work-shopping sessions.
Writing a thoughtful, complete draft will significantly improve your final paper.
Papers must be typed and uploaded to the Canvas Assignment Dropbox. All
assignments (including drafts) should be typed, double-spaced, using 12 point Times
New Roman font.
COURSE POLICIES:
 Attend daily. The importance of regular attendance cannot be overestimated.
Please arrive on time and expect to remain until class is over. Your attendance and
participation will figure into your final grade in the form of your participation grade
and points assigned for in-class exercises and quizzes. These exercises cannot be
made up. If you arrive late or leave early and miss an in-class exercise, you will not
be permitted to complete the exercise you missed.
 Papers must be typed. All assignments (including drafts) should be typed, doublespaced, using 12 point Times New Roman font. I will not accept handwritten drafts.
 Save your work. It is your responsibility to keep a copy of all assignments that you
turn in.
 Submit your work on time. An assignment is counted late if you do not submit it
during class on the date it is due. In-class exercises and drafts (the small stuff) will
not be accepted late. The major essays may be submitted late, but for each class
period an assignment is late, your grade on that assignment will be reduced by one
letter grade. For example, an A paper that is received one class late will be reduced
to a B; two class periods late, a C; three classes late, a D; and four classes late, an F. If
an assignment is turned in even 1 minute after class time on the day it is due, it will
be counted as one day late.
 Homework that is due should be brought to class in paper form. Though you
will submit your final essays on Canvas, your rough drafts and homework
assignments will be due in paper form in class. It is a good survival policy for you to
locate several possible printer locations on campus where you could print out your
work if your home printer is not working. A non-functioning printer is not a valid
excuse for missing the due date of a piece of written work and does not allow you to
turn that work in late.
 Drafts and revisions are required for the major papers. The major papers will
go through a typed draft version and a final, corrected version before a grade is
assigned. In terms of the grading system, drafts and final versions constitute
separate assignments, with drafts receiving point for completion. If a draft is
handwritten, haphazard, or incomplete, you will not receive full points. Failure to
bring a draft to class on the assigned date will result in a zero. You must have a
hard copy of the rough draft in class on the day that it is due to get points for
the Rough Draft and Peer Review.
ATTENDANCE AND CLASS PARTICIPATION
Since this is a small, discussion-based course, your regular attendance is imperative. If
you miss a class, it is your responsibility to seek a trustworthy classmate to provide you
with notes on class discussion and lecture material, information about assignments,
handouts, and announcements. Please let me know as soon as possible if chronic health
problems, a personal emergency, or extraordinary circumstances threaten to interfere
with your attendance so that we can discuss the best course of action.
I will take attendance every day. If you are more than 5 minutes late to class, you will be
counted as “late,” and 3 instances of being late will equal 1 absence.
Please come to every class prepared to discuss the assigned reading for that day. This
means that you will have read the assignment carefully and identified any passages that
you would like to discuss—this can include passages that you loved and those that
confused and annoyed you. You will often be asked to do in-class writing about these
passages.
GRADES
Your grade will be based on a variety of projects and assignments, including drafts,
formal papers, homework, and numerous small in-class writing exercises. I emphasize
both the writing process and improvement in this class, and the grading system reflects
this emphasis. Although each of the longer papers is a significant part of your grade,
there are many other chances to earn additional points through class participation and
more informal writing assignments.
I encourage all of you to come to my office hours—or e-mail me to set up an alternative
office hour—to discuss the drafts of your papers. You may also schedule an appointment
with me at any time if you have a question about how you are doing in the class or a grade
that you received.
All Final Essays should be uploaded to the appropriate Assignment Dropbox in
Canvas by 11:59 p.m. PST on the day that they are due. They will be graded
electronically and returned to you via Canvas.
The Major Papers:
Personal Revolution Essay
Rough Draft and Peer Review
Narrative Analysis Essay
Rough Draft and Peer Review
Problem/Solution Essay
Rough Draft and Peer Review
Problem/Solution — Radical Revision
250 points
30 points
250 points
30 points
250 points
30 points
150 points
Everything Else:
Homework
Seminar Papers and Summary/Responses (6 x 20)
In-Class Writing (10 x 5 points)
Attendance and Participation
140 points
120 points
50 points
50 points
Total: 1350 points
You will accrue points for each of the above assignments over the semester. These points
will be added together to arrive at a final grade that is calculated as a percent average.
The grade given at the end of the quarter will be based on a 4.0 scale. No grades of I
(incomplete) or NC (no credit) will be granted except in the most extreme circumstances. If
you do not feel you will be able to complete the course to your satisfaction, it is your
responsibility to drop/withdraw from the course. I am happy to consult with you and
advise you in these matters, so that we can determine a course of action that is most
appropriate for you. For more information regarding withdrawing and other registration
related questions, go to https://northseattle.edu/policies/adding-dropping-andwithdrawing-course
The specific point value assigned to any assignment or exercise will correspond to how
well you meet the terms of the assignment. You can find the grading criteria for each major
assignment by looking at the Grading Rubric of that assignment.
As a general guideline:
A (4.0): An “A” paper is outstanding, typically exceeding normal expectations for the
assignment. It explores the subject in great depth and reveals attention to nuances and
complexities of the topic at hand. It is original, focused, carefully supported, nicely
organized, and a pleasure to read. It more than meets the requirements of the assignment
and exhibits the writer‘s mastery of mechanical skills and style.
B (3.0): A “B‘ paper is better than average. It examines the subject in some depth. The
thesis is supported and the organization is generally clear. Paragraphs and sentences are
generally well constructed. Mechanics are clean for the most part. The papers meets the
requirements for the assignment but lacks some of the tight structure, higher level analysis,
and cohesion of an A paper. May have some minor gaps in logic, unsupported assumptions,
or lack of full synthesis that leads to a really strong thesis.
C (2.0): A “C” paper offers an acceptable examination of the subject, but it lacks the depth
that comes with superior analysis. The thesis is present but not well supported with
examples and illustrations. In fact, often these papers require more definiteness,
focus/specificity, and original thought in thesis statements. Skeletal overall organization is
present, but more unity and coherence in body paragraphs is needed. Paragraphs may not
be fully developed. Papers may depend on generalizations and lack detail overall.
Sentences are clear but may be awkward at times. Often more extended summary than
analysis here that omits the thinking beneath the surface of matters.
D (1.0): A “D” paper demonstrates below average effort. It does not examine the subject in
depth and lacks organization. Much of the D essay typically does not support the thesis in a
focused way. Quotations do not support points as they should. Reading may be a bit
simplistic. Furthermore, paragraphs are not developed well. Awkward sentence structure
may create problems for the reader. The paper may exhibit significant mechanical
difficulties and likely will not complete all the requirements of the assignment.
F (0.0): An “F” paper is unacceptable. It lacks thesis and organization. Paragraphs are not
developed. It lacks details and examples. It may be difficult to follow, incomprehensible, or
incoherent. It does not follow the assignment or lacks basic requirements of the assignment,
such as proper length, documentation requirements, recognizable thesis and support, and
overall coherence and unity.
Grade Availability:
After your assignment submissions have been graded, your scores will automatically
appear in the Grades Tab on the ENGL 101 Canvas home page.
Grading criteria are as follows:
94-100: A (3.9 -4.0) 74-76: C
(1.9-2.1)
90-93: A- (3.5-3.8) 70-73: C-
(1.5-1.8)
87-89: B+ (3.2-3.4) 67-69: D+
(1.2-1.4)
84-86: B
(0.9-1.1)
(2.9-3.1) 64-66: D
80-83: B- (2.5-2.8) 62-63: D-
(0.7-0.8)
77-79: C+ (2.2-2.4) 61 or below: F (0.0)
PREREQUISITES:
This course is a college level English composition course, which requires that you
provide me with a piece of paper, from the NSCC Testing Center
(http://www.northseattle.edu/ enroll/testing/) or from your previous NSCC English
Instructor (http://www.northseattle. edu/humanities/english/), documenting that you
have the skills necessary to succeed in this class. You must present a copy of the
placement test evaluation form from the Testing Center, a recommendation form
from your previous NSCC English instructor, or a signed form from the Testing
Center indicating your placement into English 101 by Friday, April 10.
I‘m sorry, but I cannot make any exceptions to this rule. I CANNOT let you stay in the
course without proper placement verification. Any student who has failed to verify
placement by the end of the first week of class will be automatically dropped.
RESOURCES
Accessibility and Disability Services: My goal is to make the classroom as accessible
as possible to all students. If you require any disability-related accommodations, please
contact me by e-mail, phone, or in person. I would also recommend contacting disability
services. Their website can be found here: https://northseattle.edu/disability-services.
To make an appointment, contact the Disability Services office by phone at (206) 9343697, TTY at (206) 934-0079 modem, or e-mail at ds@seattlecolleges.edu.
The Page One Writing and Language Center: The Page One Writing Center
(previously the Loft) is the campus language lab/writing center, located on the top floor
of the library on the North Seattle Campus. The Page One Writing Center offers free
tutoring! The tutoring sessions last 30 minutes, are held on a first-come first served
basis, and can help you with reading, writing, grammar, listening and speaking. The
Writing Center also offers e-tutoring for online students. Although you will not be
required to use the services of the Writing Center, many students have found their
services helpful. For more information, call (206) 934-0164 or visit
https://northseattle.edu/tutoring/page-one-writing-center
Library: The library is a phenomenal resource to use if you have questions about
research or sources—or really questions about anything. We will head to the library a
few times as a class so that you can become more familiar with all that it has to offer.
You can find useful information at https://library.northseattle.edu/
USING CANVAS/TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES:
We will be using Canvas as our online courseware. To access our online course, go to
http://canvas.northseattle.edu/. Your username is your complete 9-digit NSCC student
ID number and your password is the first six letters of your last name. For example, if
your student ID number is 955-55-4411 and your last name is Petunia, then your
username would be 955554411 and your password would be petuni. If you have
trouble logging on, please check the Distance Learning office's troubleshooting
information at http://www.virtualcollege.org/resource/technicalhelp_index.htm. If you
can't solve the problem that way, contact the Distance Learning office help desk: 206
934.3738 or email them at North.eLearning@seattlecolleges.edu.
E -MAIL
E-mail is usually the most effective way to get a hold of me. Please e-mail me at any time
with any questions that you may have about the course. I will have office hours each
week, but feel free to e-mail me if these hours do not work for you, and we can set up a
different time to meet.
In this class, we will focus on developing effective rhetorical skills; therefore, I expect
your e-mails to be written in clear and communicative prose and proofread for
mistakes.
Office Hours:
You are encouraged to visit me during office hours or at another mutually convenient
time to discuss any aspect of the course. For students who are unable to come to
campus, I will be available by phone at 206-934-4538.
I am always happy to receive feedback about the course or to get to know you a bit
better, help you wrestle with difficult texts or concepts, or address any concerns you
may have.
PLAGIARISM AND ACADEMIC HONESTY
Plagiarism is the intentional use of someone else’s words or ideas without giving that
person credit. This includes submitting someone else’s essay in its entirety or in parts
as your own, using any words, phrasing, and/or ideas from a source (this includes the
Internet) without proper citation, having someone else write your paper or assisting so
much that the phrasing and ideas are no longer your own, and re-submitting an essay
previously written for another class. Plagiarism is absolutely prohibited and may result
in receiving a “0” on the paper and/or discipline on the part of the college
administration.