English 101 (IF)
Composition--Exposition
Fall 2007
Daily 10:00 – 10:50 Room OLY 305
Instructor: Jim Maynor
Office Hours: TBA
Email: jmaynor@comcast.net
Phone: 253-588-3603 (4020)
When emailing me, please identify the class in the subject line, and include your name,
not your email handle, (i.e.bigbadbootydaddy12@hotmail.com) in the post.
Required Texts
Kirszner, Laurie G. and Stephen R. Mandell. Patterns for College Writing: A Rhetorical
Reader and Guide. 10th ed. Boston: Bedford, 2007.
Lundsford, Andrea A. The Everyday Writer. 3rd ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2005.
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
 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.
 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, October 2, is the last day to withdraw so the class will not show on your
transcript.
 Plagiarism—submitting someone else’s work as your own—will not be tolerated.
 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.
 Make sure that you keep a backup copy of all your writing assignments.
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
Please notify me of any special needs or condition that may require accommodation, and
students needing such assistance should also contact the Disability Support Services
(964-6527) during the first week of class.
Grading
Short essays
Research essay
Summaries & responses
Midterm & final
Participation
Quizzes
30%
20%
20%
10%
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 9/19 – 9/21
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 9/24 – 9/28
PCW ch. 7 “Description”; Essay 1 assigned;
PCW ch. 2, “Invention”; PCW ch. 3, “Arrangement”;
E 1 peer intro reviews; language awareness focus;
figurative language
Week 3 10/1 – 10/5
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;
Week 4 10/8 – 10/11
(No class on 10/12)
PCW ch. 9, “Process”; peer review workshop;
grammar review; Essay 2 due
Week 5 10/15 – 10/19
Mid-term in-class essay & grammar exam;
Process essay due
Week 6 10/22 – 10/26
PCW ch. 14 “Argumentation”; research essay topics
explored; PCW ch. 11, “Comparison & Contrast”
Week 7 10/29 – 11/2
MLA exercises; argument & persuasion;
Research workshop; introduction peer review
Week 8 11/5 – 11/9
Grammar review; research essay workshop; organizing
the long essay
Week 9 11/13 – 11/16
(No class on 11/12)
Library and research workshops; argumentation, cont.
Week 10 11/19 – 11/20
Review of research essay draft; MLA documentation
Workshop 11/21 – 11/23 Thanksgiving
Week 11 11/26 – 11/30
Grammar review & final exam essay topics;
Final peer review research essay drafts;
Research essay due
Final Exam: Friday, 12/7, 9:00 – 11:00 am