ENGL& 101 (AF)
English Composition I
Fall 2009 Daily 7:00 – 7:50 Room CAS 529
Instructor: Jim Maynor
Office Hours: TBA
Email: jmaynor@comcast.net
Phone: 253-588-3603 (4020)
Required Texts
Kirszner, Laurie G. and Stephen R. Mandell. Patterns for College Writing: A Rhetorical
Reader and Guide. 11th ed. Boston: Bedford, 2010.
Lundsford, Andrea A. The Everyday Writer. 4rd ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2008.
Recommended A good dictionary.
Course Description and Requirements
In this course, students will focus on writing and analyzing unified, coherent expository essays
that support and develop a thesis; using modes of development (the rhetorical devices)
appropriately in compositions; recognize writing as a process; and incorporating secondary
sources in essays using MLA or APA styles of documentation.
In addition, this course will help students develop critical reading and writing skills. While there
is a significant amount of often challenging reading in this class, the readings will serve as
examples of the various rhetorical strategies that can be incorporated into your own writing. This
course will also guide you through the various stages of the writing process, from generating and
developing ideas to drafting and revising essays. Since revising an essay often requires a major
reworking of content and form, these revisions will form a central part of this course. Expect to
work a single essay through several versions, and when I assess your work, I will be looking
closely at the paper’s development through the drafting and revising stages. We will also develop
an understanding of basic research methods and gain a command of important documentation
skills.
You will write several formal essays in this class, consisting of short essays (two to three pages
in length) and one longer research essay, which will incorporate some primary and/or secondary
sources. You will also write a number of summaries and responses as well. All essays and
summaries will be based upon your reading of the assignments from the text or from
supplemental material. As you will see, one of the most important skills we will be developing in
this class is your ability to read a text closely and respond critically.
Participation
Students are expected to come to class fully prepared to engage the material, for your insights,
questions, and comments are a crucial element of the learning process. Your contributions to the
class will be factored into your final grade.
Grammar and Mechanics
English 101 requires a working knowledge of fundamental English grammar and mechanics, and
it is expected that you will have a command of these basic writing skills as you begin this course.
While we will have some initial grammar review sessions, it is up to you to address any
consistent problems that you may have in this area, using exercises in The Everyday Writer or
through one-on-one assistance from the instructor. It is also strongly recommended that you
make use of the Writing Center (964-6252).
Policies
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Turn off your cell phone during class, unless you are expecting an emergency call. Please
let me know if you are required to have your cell phone on.
All text-messaging, i-Pods, laptops, and other keyboarding devices must be turned off
during class.
Make sure that you keep a backup copy of all your assigned essays and other writing
tasks.
Missed quizzes cannot be made up unless a documented excuse is presented.
A late assignment will be penalized one letter grade for each day it is late.
Students who cannot attend class consistently are advised to drop the class, and Tuesday,
6 October, is the last day to withdraw so the class will not appear on your transcript.
Plagiarism—submitting someone else’s work as your own—will not be tolerated.
Class attendance is required, and your final grade will be penalized one-half of one letter
grade for each absence over five. Consistent tardiness will also be factored into your final
grade, with three tardies equaling one absence.
Essay Assignments
A detailed assignment sheet will accompany each formal essay assignment, describing the
paper’s objective, its format, its due date, and the grading criteria that will be applied. All out of
class writing assignments must be typed or word-processed, double-spaced, with one-inch
margins and using12-point font.
Conferences
Each student will arrange to have a conference with me towards the end of the quarter. At this
time, we will discuss the progress of your long essay as well as any concerns you may have
regarding your performance in this class. I also want to encourage students to make an
appointment with me at any time to discuss their writing.
Special Needs
Students with disabilities who believe they may need academic adjustments, auxiliary aids or
services to fully participate in course activities or meet course requirements are encouraged to
register with the Access and Disability Services (ADS) Office, Room N115 in the Sunrise
Building. You may also call the ADS Office at (253) 964-6460 or 964-6526 to make an
appointment.
Grading
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Short essays
Research essay
Summaries & responses
Midterm & final
Participation
Quizzes
20%
20%
20%
20%
10%
10 %
93% - 100%
90% - 92%
87 % - 89%
83% - 86%
80% - 82%
77% -79%
73% - 76%
70% - 72%
67% - 69%
63% - 66%
60% - 62%
Below 60
Scale
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF
Course Schedule
Selected readings from each section will be announced in class, and some supplemental readings
from handouts or other texts will be added as well. Due dates for essays, summaries, and other
tasks will be announced in class.
Week 1 (9/23 - 9/25)
Course overview; writing and grammar assessment;
aspects of a summary; begin grammar review; PCW,
ch. 1, “Reading to Write”; PCW ch. 6, “Narration”;
Summary #1 assigned; sentence combining exercises
Week 2 (9/28 – 10/2)
PCW ch. 7 “Description”; Essay #1 assigned; PCW
Ch. 2 “Invention”; PCW ch 3 “Arrangement”;
Essay #1 peer review of introduction; language
awareness; figurative language
Week 3 (10/5 – 10/9)
Essay #1 due; PCW ch. 8 “Exemplification”
Essay #2 assigned; PCW ch. 4 “Drafting and
Revising”; PCW ch. 5 “Editing and Proofreading”
Grammar workshop; Essay #2 peer reviews
Summary #2 assigned
Week 4 (10/12 – 10/16)
PCW ch. 9 “Process”; peer review workshop;
Grammar review; Essay #2 due
Week 5 (10/19 – 10/23)
Mid-term in-class essay and grammar exams;
Process essay, cont.
Summary #3 assigned
Week 6 (10/26 – 10/29)
No class on Friday, 10/30
PCW ch. 14 “Argumentation”
Research essay topics;
Week 7 (11/2 – 11/6)
Ch. 15 “Combining the Patterns”
Summary #4 assigned
Week 8 (11/9 – 11/13)
MLA exercises; research workshop
No class on 11/11 Veteran’s Day observed
Week 9 (11/16 – 11/20)
Peer review of research essay introductions
Debate: How Big a Threat is Global Warming?
Pg. 616 ff.
Week 10 (11/23 – 11/24)
Quotation and documentation workshop
No class on 11/25 – 11/27
Thanksgiving break
Week 11 (11/30 – 12/4
Casebook: Is There a Case for Torture? Pg. 679 ff.
Peer review of research essay drafts
Week 12 (12/7 – 12/8)
Grammar Review; Final Exam topics
Final Exam: December 10, 8:00 – 10:00 am