AMERICAN SAMOA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Language and Literature Department
English 151 (50) Freshman Composition
Fall 2022
Instructor: Ben Goodwin
Course Alpha/Title/Section: English 151 (50)
Class Days/Time: MW 3:30-4:50 / rm #27
Academic Department: Language and Literature
Office Location: Administrative Building 2nd Floor
Office Hours: MWF 10-10:50 / TR 8-9:20
Email Address: b.goodwin@amsamoa.edu
Contact Number: 699-9155 ext. 320
Textbook Title: The Norton Field Guide to Writing 5th Edition – Richard Bullock, Maureen Goggin and Francine
Weinberg
ISBN Number and Price of textbook: 978-0-393-88566-8
Publisher Name/Copyright Year: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. 2021
Additional Materials/Resources: Dictionary, Thesaurus
Course Description: This is an intensive introduction-to-college-writing course that requires multiple compositions. This
course is designed to help students recognize and critically evaluate important local and global issues affecting the
population. Students will be required to adhere to the rules of Standard American English and write narrative, persuasive,
and expository essays and submit a research term-paper. Modern Language Association (MLA) format will be introduced.
American Psychological Association (APA) is required. (Note: 3 Lecture Credits)
Pre – requisite(s): CAPP 91 or Qualifying Placement Test Score
Course Learning Outcomes (CLO):
1. Develop basic paragraphs and papers; identify one strong topic sentence for each paragraph and provide some
evidence of support. Change working thesis into a strong and direct final thesis.
2. Locate, identify and evaluate information independently. Write first draft, make necessary revisions and submit a
final draft.
3. Gain exposure to and strengthen resume and cover letter writing. Write effective business and personal letters.
4. Use college-level writing with proper punctuation, mechanics, spelling and grammar.
Course Objectives:
1. Learn various modes of discourse in essay writing.
2. Strengthen research and writing skills through the composition, revision and editing of multiple essays.
3. Practice using APA documentation rules for citing sources in the text and the References page of the
research paper.
4. Strengthen job skills through the application of critical thinking in writing and during classroom
discussions and through the development of professional/business writing.
5. Strengthen life skills through developing personal habits such as punctuality and work ethic.
Methods of Instruction:
1. Lectures
2. Group Discussions
3. In-class writing activities
4. In-class research presentations
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5. Online video conferencing
6. Moodle discussions
Grading Scale:
A
93-100
A-
90-92
B+
87-89
B
83-86
B-
80-82
C+
77-79
C
73-76
C-
70-72
D+
67-69
D
63-66
D-
60-62
F
0-59
Assignment Weights:
1. Weekly Assignments 15%
2. Expository Essay 15%
3. Narrative Essay 15%
4. Argument Essay 15%
5. Research Paper 30%
6. Misc. (attendance, effort, class participation) 10%
Course Requirements:
7. Completion and application of assigned readings
8. Various homework and in-class writing assignments
9. Composition of multiple drafts of essays in varying rhetorical contexts using APA citation
10. Composition and presentation of a research paper using APA citation
11. Each student will work on and submit a properly documented research paper 7-10 pages in length that will
include an introduction, body, conclusion, and references page. The paper will be written following a thorough
study of APA style in the textbook. A minimum of eight sources will be required for the research paper. This paper
must be typed, double spaced, Times New Roman, font size 12. A “F” grade will be given in the course if the
semester research paper is not submitted. A “F” grade will be given if the semester research paper is
plagiarized. You are also required to present your research finding to the class. Grading for the presentation will
be based on the “Individual Presentation Rubric.”
Important Dates:
1. August 18-23 - Add/Drop Period
2. August 24-September 2 - Administrative Drop Period
3. August 24-September 9 - Drop Only Period
4. September 12-October 21 - Period to Receive a “W”
5. October 24-November 14 - Withdrawal Period to Receive a “W/F”
Attendance: (2018-2020 ASCC General Catalog, p. 40)
All students attending ASCC are expected to attend all of their scheduled classes. Students with excessive
absences during the first two weeks of instruction will be administratively dropped. Instructors are required to
include in their course syllabi the College’s attendance policy and have it distributed to students during the first
week of instruction. A student cannot exceed six (6) absences for Monday, Wednesday, Friday classes, four (4)
absences for Tuesday, Thursday classes; and three (3) absences for CAPP and summer sessions. Students with
excessive absences, in accordance to this policy, will receive a lower or failing grade for the semester or session.
15 Weeks Semester(s) = 6 absences for courses offered on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
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= 4 absences for courses offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays
10 Weeks Session(s) = 4 absences for courses offered on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
= 3 absences for courses offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays
6 Weeks Session(s) = 3 absences for courses offered daily
= 2 absences for courses offered daily
5 Weeks Session(s) = 3 absences for courses offered daily
= 2 absences for courses offered daily
A student can be excused from classes at the discretion or upon verification by the instructor, for the following
reasons: medical reasons, family emergency, special curricular activities, military obligations, jury duty, and
related official College sponsored activities. It is the responsibility of the student to make arrangements with
his/her instructor(s) for work to be made up for absences due to legitimate reasons. Students are required to
submit in writing, justifications or provide documentation for absences to the Dean of Academic Affairs.
Veteran students are to refer to the Student Services Veterans Educational Benefit sections for additional
requirements.
Textbook Policy: (2018-2020 ASCC General Catalog, p. 43)
Students are required to purchase textbooks, workbooks, and other instructional materials designed for the
course(s) they are enrolled in. Textbook costs vary from course to course. Every student must have the required
materials identified in the current syllabus of the course(s) in which they are officially enrolled by the end of the
first week of instruction. Students’ failure to provide their instructors proof of this requirement will result in an
immediate recommendation by the instructor to drop the course(s). If the student does not drop the course or
purchase the required materials, then the instructor may initiate an administrative drop. (Administrative Drop,
2018-2020 General Catalog, p. 29)
Academic Honesty and Integrity: (ASCC General Catalog 2018-2020, p. 39)
ASCC prohibits the following actions:
 Plagiarism, the submitting of one person’s written ideas or thoughts as one’s own without
giving proper citation or credit to the original author; and,
 Cheating that includes, but is not limited to, unauthorized sharing of information on any exam
with others before the end of all final exams; and,
 The abuse of library or other institutional materials, misuse of library privileges and unlawful
duplication and/or distribution of copyrighted materials; and,
 Knowingly furnishing false information to the college with the intent to deceive or fraud; and
 Forgery, alteration or misuse of documents, records, or identification; and,
 The attempted or actual theft or damage of college property.
Students in violation of any of the actions listed above will be reported to the Dean of Student Services to
be disciplined and/or counseled, which may result to probation, suspension, or expulsion in accordance to
the severity of the action.
Access and Reasonable Accommodation: (ASCC General Catalog 2018-2020, p. 13)
ASCC is committed to assist and provide appropriate academic access services to students with a certified
disability who meet the academic and essential requirements for admission or participation in any education
program or activity at the College to which they can be given appropriate and reasonable accommodation.
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Topical Outline:
Week 3
Sept 5-9
Week 2
Aug 29-Sept 2
Week 1
Aug 22-26
Content Outline
Monday – Introduction to the course: objectives and
expectations. Writing in Academic Contexts pgs. 3-9
Wednesday – Point and Support – Go over and discuss good
writing sample.
Monday – Writing a Thesis Statement and Topic Sentences
pgs. 386-391
Week 4
Sept 12-16
Week 5
Sept 19-23
CLO’s:
Assessment:
1,2,4,5
1,2,3,4
In-class
writing
exercises
1,2,4,5
1,2,3,4
In-class
writing
exercises
Wednesday – Writing Effective Paragraphs / Assignment –
Pick one of paragraph writing prompts and compose a wellstructured paragraph.
Monday - Introduction to Expository Writing / Guided Writing
Assignment – Look at sample illustration essay, pick a topic,
prewrite, outline and begin drafting essay.
1,2,4,5
1,2,3,4
Composition
Rubric
Wednesday - Submit 1st Draft Illustration Essay
Monday – APA Review
Week 6
Sept 26-30
Objectives:
1,2,4,5
1,2,3,4
Wednesday – APA Review Continued / Discuss best practices
for revising, editing and proofreading.
Monday - Submit Final Draft Illustration Essay / Begin
Narrative Essay – Read Chapter 45 pgs. 462-470
In-class
writing
exercises
1,2,4,5
1,2,3,4
Composition
Rubric
Wednesday – Narrative Essay Prewriting and Outline / Begin
narrative first draft.
Monday – Narrative Essay Revising, Editing and Proofreading
Wednesday – Submit Narrative Final Draft.
4
Composition
Rubric
1,2,4,5
1,2,3,4
Composition
Rubric
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Week 9
Oct 17-21
Week 8
Oct 10-14
Week 7
Oct 3-7
Monday - Begin Argument Essay / Read pgs. 397-417
1,2,4,5
Wednesday – Read Is Google Making Us Stupid? pg. 789 and
answer assigned critical reading questions.
1,2,4,5
Monday – Argument Prewriting
Week 10
Oct 24-28
Week 11
Oct 31-Nov 4
1,2,3,4
Composition
Rubric
Wednesday – Argument Outline and First Draft
Monday –Argument Revising, Editing and Proofreading
1,2,4,5
1,2,3,4
Composition
Rubric
Wednesday – Submit Argument Final Draft
1,2,3,4
Monday - Begin Research Paper / Presentation of Topics /
Read Chapter 47 Getting a Start on Research pgs. 479-487
Composition
Rubric
Wednesday – Read Chapter 48 Finding Sources pgs. 489-506
Monday – Read Chapter 51 Quoting, Paraphrasing, and
Summarizing / Answer Research Paper Discussion Questions /
Begin Writing First Draft
1,2,3,4,5
1,2,3,4
In-class
writing
exercises
Wednesday – Continue working on research paper first draft.
1,2,3,4,5
Week 12
Nov 7-11
Composition
Rubric
Reading
Comprehensi
on Questions
1,2,3,4,5
Week 13
Nov 14-18
1,2,3,4
1,2,3,4
Monday – Read Chapter 52 Acknowledging Sources, Avoiding
Plagiarism pg. 539
In-class
writing
exercises
Wednesday – Submit Research Paper First Draft and fill out
Research Paper Checklist.
Monday – One on One Conferences
Wednesday – One on One Conferences
5
Composition
Rubric
1,2,3,4,5
1,2,3,4
Composition
Rubric
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Week 14
Nov 21-25
Monday - In Class Research Paper Presentations
Week 15
Nov 28-Dec 2
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Final Draft – Research Paper
1,2,3,4,5
1,2,3,4
Presentation
Rubric
Wednesday - In Class Research Paper Presentations
1,2,3,4
1,2,3,4,5
1,2,3,4
Week 16
Dec 5-9
Final Draft – Research Paper
1,2,3,4,5
Composition
Rubric
Composition
Rubric
Disclaimer: Subject to change to accommodate circumstances beyond the control of the instructor.
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