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CASPER COLLEGE COURSE SYLLABUS
ENGL 1010-08 English I: Composition
Semester/Year: Spring 2007
Lecture Hours: 3
Lab Hours: 0
Credit Hours: 3
Class Time: 1100-11:50
Days: M. W. F.
Room: AD 170
Instructor: Ms. Joy Marsh Email: thlmavis@bresnan.net
Home Phone: 267-2803 Please, unless it is an emergency, no calls after 9 p.m.
Additional Contact Information: Kathy Coe, Academic Assistant, 268-2533, or 800442-2963, ext 2533, or email kcoe@caspercollege.edu
Office Hours: 10-10:45 M. W. F. or by arrangement. I will be in the Student Lounge at
this hour beginning January 22nd.
Course Description: A study of the fundamentals of purposeful communication in
English. The course focuses on reading and writing expository essays, on using effective
language for exposition of ideas, and on thinking clearly. Students are to practice
synthesizing information, organizing it coherently, and writing clearly.
Statement of Prerequisites: English ACT score of 18, S or C or better in DVST 0610 or
COMPASS score of 75 or better.
Goal/Objectives: To provide a sound foundation in the writing of academic papers in
various formats and for a variety of audiences. Due to the emphasis on principles of
composition, students should leave this class confident of their ability to handle the
research and written work required by any future area of study.
Outcomes: At the end of section 08 of ENGL. 1010 Students will:
! Consistently apply and refine the outcome skills of DVST 0610
! Demonstrate effective critical thinking and reading skills: the ability to
summarize, analyze, synthesize and evaluate ideas
! Know and apply effective rhetorical modes (e.g., definition, narration,
description, division and classification, comparison and/ or contrast, analogy,
process analysis, cause and effect analysis, illustration, argumentation),
culminating in the ability to write an effective argument
! Know and apply revision strategies
! Be able to evaluate their own writing as well as the writing of others .Demonstrate
fundamental awareness of documentation skills .Write a minimum of 3500 words
during the semester
This Syllabus is Subject to Change at the Instructor’s Discretion
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Methodology: The objectives of this class will be pursued through lecture, researched
and written assignments, and peer-review groups.
Evaluation Criteria: Grades are based on attendance, writing projects and participation.
Written work will be evaluated for:
(1) organization
(2) clarity of thought
(3) use of academic format
(4) quality and use of research
(5) meeting deadlines.
Spelling, punctuation and grammar will be noted/corrected and will affect the overall
grade. Due to the availability of spell check, there is no excuse for misspelled words.
Misspelled words will be marked off at a point apiece.
Each assignment of any kind is worth 25 pts. Final papers in each section are worth
50 pts. Errors such as the wrong form of two, too, to, there, their, they’re, where,
were, etc. will be graded off every time it happens.
Required Texts: The St. Martin’s Guide to Writing: 7th ed. Axelrod & Cooper; the
Oxford Desk Dictionary and Thesaurus: American Edition and the Hacker Handbook, A
Pocket Style Manual; Hacker .
Class Policies: Last Date to Change to Audit Status or to Withdraw with a W Grade:
March 23, 2007.
Attendance: Part of your grade. Points are assigned to each step of the process that goes
into producing your final draft. There are other activities included as part of meeting the
objectives of this class that are graded. The interactions in the classroom are an important
part of the learning experience that can’t be “assigned” like textbook work. You could
conceivably do “A” on work on each of your papers and still fail this class on lack of
attendance. If I may suggest: don’t do that to yourself.
Cell Phones/Pagers: These absolutely must be off during class time.
Laptops: Laptops are welcome in the classroom for note-taking and other activities
directly related to learning to write in academic style. Play and share games on your own
time.
Exams: All tests will be essay or other written answer. Grammar, punctuation etc. will
be checked and graded as part of the work.
Assignments: All papers will be double-spaced in 12 pt font. The preferred font is
Times New Roman. Please follow the attached model exactly.
This Syllabus is Subject to Change at the Instructor’s Discretion
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NOTICE: There are computers available at a number of places on campus; find out the
hours the labs are available. Get a disk or a flash drive and back-up all your work while
it is in progress so that you don’t have to re-do it all. Computers are wonderful but they
are not fail-proof. According to the reports from previous classes, computers and
printers fail at the worst possible times. (1). Don’t wait until the last minute to do your
assignments and (2). Have a back-up plan to get your work in on time. Also, I will
accept papers by email if need be.
Make-up Work:
! The student is solely responsible for making up missed work. Between the
syllabus and your peers, you should always know what is required.
! All late work is due the Friday of the week it was originally due or it will not
be accepted at all!!!
! You may arrange to take a quiz early if you are going to be gone for Academic
Reasons. Illness will be handled on a case by case basis up to three (3) absences.
Student Rights and Responsibilities: Please refer to the Casper College Student
Conduct and Judicial Code for information concerning your rights and responsibilities as
a Casper College Student.
Chain of Command: If you have any problems with this class, you should:
! First contact the instructor in order to solve the problem.
! If you are not satisfied with the solution offered by the instructor, you should
then take your problem through the appropriate chain of command starting with:
! The department head,
! Then the division chair, and
! Lastly the vice president for academic affairs.
Academic Dishonesty - Cheating & Plagiarism: Casper College demands intellectual
honesty. Proven plagiarism or any form of dishonesty associated with the academic
process can result in the offender failing the course in which the offense was committed
or expulsion from school. See the Casper College Student Code of Conduct.
ADA Accommodations Policy: It is the policy of Casper College to provide appropriate
accommodations to any student with a documented disability. If you have a need for
accommodation in this course, please make an appointment to see me at your earliest
convenience.
This Syllabus is Subject to Change at the Instructor’s Discretion
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Independent Work & Class Work Schedule of Events
January 17—Class organization. Opening remarks. Review syllabus
Tell Me about Yourself: 1-1/2 pages according to the information requested on the green
sheet.
Jan 19—Readings—“Introduction” pg. 1, Axelrod & Cooper; Part 1, “The Writing
Process” pgs.1-top of 15, Hacker Handbook.
! Be prepared to respond to Exercise 1.2 in Axelrod & Cooper.
25 pts.
! Discuss academic writing, discuss ideas, where to get them, how to organize
them. Exercise 1.2 Hacker.
Jan. 22-- First Draft-TMAY for peer review Collect contact information. You may
collect just from your peer review group or from any number of people in the class so
that you have many possible sources of information if you need to catch up from an
absence.
25 pts.
Jan. 24—Citation Styles Exercise: A Pocket Style Manual
Jan. 26—Revision for peer review.
Jan. 29 Monday—Final draft due.
25 pts.
25 pts.
25 pts. For being on time—Paper worth 50 pts.
In-class editing/proofreading exercise
Writing from Literature
Jan. 31—Begin Interpreting Stories. Chapter 10: Interpreting Stories
! Be prepared to discuss Kate Chopin’s “Story of an Hour.”
! Distribute song lyrics: Explain first assignment.
25 pts.
25 pts
February 2—Bring in your ideas of what themes might be common between the
two pieces.
25 pts
! Discussion
! Bring in information about the artists and what was happening in their lives/the
world when the songs being discussed were written.
Feb. 5— Library—meet there.
! Write out: What sources you found in the library. How will you use them? 25 pts.
Feb 7—First draft due: peer review. Remember to have sources and quotes.
Feb 9— Vocabulary Exercise
25 pts
25 pts.
This Syllabus is Subject to Change at the Instructor’s Discretion
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Feb 12— Revision due for peer review
25 pts.
Feb. 14. Explaining a Concept Paper: Read Chapter 5
! Come prepared to discuss/write responses to the readings found on pages 211,
216 and 223.
25 pts
Feb. 16—Final Draft of WFL paper.
! Clear Sentences—Bedford Handbook. Active Verbs & Parallel Construction
25pts
Feb. 19— Rough draft, EAC paper for peer review
25 pts.
Feb. 21 —Editing exercise: bring your corrections to the exercise that will come by
email.
25 pts
Feb. 23— Clear Sentences continued
! Needed words and Mixed Constructions
25 pts.
Feb. 26—Revision for peer review: EAC paper
25pts
From here to the end are your syllabus/assignments and activities for the remainder of
the semester.
Feb. 28—Clear sentences pgs. 151 & 157-158
25 pts.
March 2--- Peer Review/EAC
25 pts
March 5—Clear Sentences II—pgs167-177. Read ahead of time and be prepared to do
the numbered sentences in class.
! Misplaced & Dangling Modifiers
25pts.
March 7— Read Chapter 9: “Speculating on Causes.” We will discuss the reading from
page 449 through page 456. There will be an in-class assignment based on the reading
25 pts
March 9— MID-TERM—In-class writing exercise.
50 pts.
March 12-16 SPRING BREAK—YEE HAW!!
March 19— Final draft of EAC paper
25pts. For on-time, possible 50 pts for a
well-written/well edited paper.
! Chapter 9: “Speculating on Causes” pg. 461-465.
! Exercise 1 & 2 on pg. 465 for discussion.
! A reading
This Syllabus is Subject to Change at the Instructor’s Discretion
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March 21— Rough draft for SOC paper: Peer review
25 pts
March 23— Vocabulary Exercise. There will be a handout. Bring your dictionary.
25 pts
March 26—Revision of SOC paper for peer review
25 pts
March 28—Vocabulary II—Please bring in a list of 20 words from your reading that you
don’t know or aren’t sure of the meaning of. Bring your dictionary.
25 pts.
March 30— Reading: Taking a Stand/Arguing a Position, Chapter 6, pgs.261-326.Please
read all the sample essays and be prepared to respond to them over some of the next few
classes.
! “Arguing a Position” pg. 268 Exercise 1& 2 for in-class writing.
25 pts
April 2—Final draft of “Speculating on Causes” paper. 25 pts for on time/50pts possible
for paper.
! Shifts: In-class: pgs.180 & 181 to write corrections.
25 pts
! Class discussion of final project.
April 4—Come prepared to write about possible ideas for your final project.
25 pts
April 6—GOOD FRIDAY—No school
April 9— Library: Finding 10 sources, one of which must be a book of at least 200
pages. These sources should be connected with your final project subject.
April 11—Rough draft of “Arguing a Position” paper for peer review
25 pts
April 13— Due: Annotated Bibliography created from Library exercise.
25 pts
! “Arguing a Position” pgs.269-276. Be prepared to discuss/write how you might
apply the ideas in # 1 on pg. 274 to your own paper.
April 16— Revision draft of “Arguing a Position” paper for peer review
25 pts
April 18—Rough draft of paper for final project for peer review.
25 pts
April 20—ADVISING DAY—No classes.
April 23—Final draft due for “Arguing a Position” paper.
25/50 pts
April 25—Revision of final paper for peer review
April 27— Conference slots
This Syllabus is Subject to Change at the Instructor’s Discretion
25 pts
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April 30—Conference slots
May 2—Conference slots
May 4—Presentations
May 7—presentations
May 9—Presentations
May 11—Presentations
May 15—Scheduled final—brief class meeting in assigned room.
This Syllabus is Subject to Change at the Instructor’s Discretion