I. College Level Expectations in English Language Arts
A. Sample Course Syllabi and Course Objectives
I.A3) Writing I - Course Syllabus
UMass Lowell
Writing I Syllabus
College Writing I
A first-semester English composition course syllabus at the university emphasizes critical thinking and
clear, concise writing. Students are expected to revise their writing with the help of the professor, students
in the class, and/or tutors. The syllabus from a recent semester follows:
Course Description:
In this course, you will learn skills to improve your critical thinking and your
writing of expository prose. You will learn to produce writing that exhibits focused theses,
systematic methods of analysis and argumentation, strong organization and development,
appropriate syntax and diction, and correct grammar and usage.
Learning Objectives:
In this course, students focus on the basic elements of several modes of expository prose,
honing their expository writing skills by generating several essays and revising them
extensively. The broad learning objectives for this course include the following:
 Students will develop critical reading and thinking skills.
 Students will practice writing in various expository modes.
 Students will practice the writing process, including drafting, revising, and editing.
 Students will review relevant grammar and mechanics.
Instructional Rationale:
You will find that all current theory on the teaching of writing is based on the assumption
that learning requires active involvement on the part of the learner. Thus, you will be
expected to actively engage with texts we read. As the semester progresses, you will employ
various critical approaches to
these texts; you will also engage various rhetorical strategies in your own writing.
Tutorial Assistance
You are encouraged to take advantage of the tutors in The Write Place. All good writers
take advantage of readers whenever possible. You might want to get in the habit of finishing
your drafts early so that a reader can give you early feedback.
Grading system:
 Five formal essays, each revised at least once
70%
#1 = 10%
#2 = 15%
#3 = 15%
#4 = 15%
#5 = 15%
 Participation.
15%
 Quizzes and ancillary assignments.
15%
Required Texts:
Maasik and Solomon, Signs of Life in the USA
Ehrenreich, Nickel and Dimed: On (not) Getting by in America
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Lunsford and Connors, The New St. Martin’s Handbook
Course Requirements:
Students will be expected to practice academic honesty.
◊ Completion of all required readings
◊ Regular attendance and participation in class discussions
◊ Five formal essays (4 to 5 pages at 250 words per page)
◊ At least one revision of each of your formal essays.
SCHEDULE
Please try to arrange your schedules so that you can be free on Thursday evenings from 7
to 9 or 10 for the weekly films that will be shown as part of the “Common Text Film
Series.” You will be encouraged to view these films and respond to them in writing.
WEEK 1
Tuesday 9/6: Welcome and Introductions. Review Syllabus. Diagnostic writing.
Homework: Your homework this week may seem heavy on “information.” This is the
introductory portion of your coursework, please complete these reading assignments and be
prepared to discuss them in class!
Read pages 1-35 of your text (this includes the introduction, “Popular Signs”, a photo essay
entitled “Portfolio September 11, 2001”, and most of the section entitled “Writing about
Popular Culture”). Write a response to the essay “Patron of the Arts” on pp. 31-35, using
these questions to guide you: how does the essay demonstrate a critical analysis of an
element of popular culture? (List all the ways you can identify) How does it avoid being
merely an essay about the writer’s own experience? What details make this essay
informative? What details make it analytic? Bring at least one product catalogue to class on
Monday.
Thursday 9/8: Hand in critical response to “Patron of the Arts”. Discuss semiotics,
cultural analysis, and your questions. Group work on product catalogues. First paper
Assigned.
Homework: Read Shames, “The More Factor” and answer all three of the “Reading the
Text” questions (in writing). Please view the film in the “Common Text Film Series” and
write a response essay (2 pages) that relates this to the readings you have done this week.
The film this week is “Clerks” -- showing at 7pm in O’Leary 222
WEEK 2
Tuesday 9/13: Discuss Shames and work on in-class writing
Homework: Read Norton, “The Signs of Shopping” and Hine, “What’s in a Package.”
Write a 2-3 page response to the prompt #6 on page 69 of you’re your text – your essay
should use Norton’s argument to direct your analysis of the web site (so, you are looking for
how the site urges you to consume, how it directs your attention and desire, how it attempts
to convince you that you need these products).
Bring a list of all the topics and ideas you can think of in response to the essay topic you
have selected for your first paper.
Thursday 9/15: Discuss analysis of web sites. Discuss Hine’s essay. Group work on essay
brainstorms.
Homework: Write a first draft of your paper for peer critique.
Also write a 2 page response to the film that is showing in the film series:
The film this week is “Waging a Living” –showing at 7pm in O’Leary 222
WEEK 3
Tuesday 9/20: Peer critiques of first papers.
Homework: Revise your first essays according to the peer response.
Thursday 9/22: First essays due. In my department office box by 3:15. (no class meeting)
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Homework: Read the Introduction to Nickel and Dimed and answer the questions handed
out in class. Write a response to Norma Rae that takes into account your reading of
Ehrenreich’s introduction.
The film this week is “Norma Rae.”
WEEK 4
Tuesday 9/27: Second Essay assigned. Discuss reading and responses. Review preparation
for second essay.
Homework: Read “Serving in Florida” in Ehrenreich. Write a short essay response to one
of the questions (to be provided in class).
Thursday 9/29: Discuss reading and responses.
Read “Serving in Maine” in Ehrenreich. Write a comparison of some aspect of this chapter
with the film “Belfast Maine”. Write a rough draft of the thesis for your second essay and
bring to class on Tuesday for peer critique.
The film this week is “Belfast Maine” – this film starts at 5pm because it is
particularly long.
WEEK 5
Tuesday 10/4: Discuss reading and film. Peer critiques of theses. In-class analysis.
Homework: Read Michael Parenti, “Class and Virtue” (p. 373 in your reader). Write a
response to this essay that relates it to Ehrenreich’s experiences in Florida and Maine. Write
a rough draft of your essay for peer critique.
Thursday 10/6 Discuss responses to Parenti and Erhenreich. Peer critiques of rough drafts.
Homework: Revise essay for Tuesday.
Optional: Write a response to this week’s film.
WEEK 6 Revision Week
Tuesday 10/11: Second Essays due. Discuss revision. Review analytic skills. Group work
on revision
Homework: Revise thesis and topic sentences of your first essay.
Read revision materials (to be handed out)
Thursday 10/13: Hand in revised theses and topic sentences. More in-class revision work.
Homework: Read the Introduction to chapter 2, “Brought to you B(u)y” (pp 141-149),
“Masters of Desire” (160-170). Write answers to the “Reading the Text” questions for
“Masters of Desire”.
If you are looking for extra credit, you can attend this week’s film and write a two page
review (as it relates to some aspect of our course topics).
The film this week is “Brassed Off.”
WEEK 7
Tuesday 10/18: Revised first essay due. Third essay assigned Discuss essays and work on
analysis in groups.
Homework: Read “A Gentleman and a Consumer” (171-180) and respond to the “Reading
the Text” questions. Bring an advertisement to class.
Thursday 10/20: Discuss readings and work on drafts of third essay. Group work on essays.
Homework: Read “Kid Kustomers” (181-185), “What we are to Advertisers” (205-209). In
writing, answer the “Reading the Text” questions for both essays.
Write: a rough draft of your third essay. Bring and a copy of the rough draft of your third
essay to class on Tuesday.
The film this week is “Roger and Me” – NOTE: there are two screenings, one at 5pm and
one at 7pm. Both are in O’Leary 327
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WEEK 8
Tuesday 10/25: Peer critiques of your third essay.
Homework: Revise third essay using peer responses.
Thursday 10/27: Third essays due. Discuss the introduction to chapter 4. Fourth essay
assigned: film analysis.
Homework: Read the introduction to chapter 4, “The Hollywood Sign” and be prepared to
discuss it in class on Friday. Read “Creating the Myth” (316-324) and answer all the
“Reading the Text” questions. Write a response to this week’s film that relates it to the
myths that Seger outlines in “Creating the Myth”
The film this week is “9 to 5”
WEEK 9
Tuesday 11/1: Discuss film analysis and essay.
Homework: Read “Asian Women in Film” (355-363) and answer “Reading the Text”
questions.
Thursday 11/3: Discuss reading and work on essays.
Homework: Read “The Time to Get Serious Has Come” (384-388). In writing, answer all
the “Reading the Text” questions. Write a rough draft of a film analysis.
The film this week is “La Ciudad”
WEEK 10
Tuesday 11/8: NO CLASS – Friday class schedule
Thursday 11/10: Fourth essay due. In-class, read and discuss introduction to Chapter 5.
Homework: Read Ehrenreich’s chapter “Selling in Minnesota”. Write a 2-3 page response
to this chapter and how it relates to the film this week.
The film this week is “Is Walmart Good for America”
WEEK 11
Tuesday 11/15: Research paper assigned. Discuss Ehrenreich and film.
Homework:
Read Gladwell, “The Science of Shopping” (403-409) and answer all the “Reading the
Text” questions. Write a list of research topics and brainstorm on two.
Thursday 11/17: Discuss reading and work on research paper
Homework: Read “The Ghetto Cityscape” (61-466)) and answer all the “Reading the
Text” questions. Write a research proposal and a list of works you will cite.
Bring the proposal and works cited list to class on Tuesday, 11/22.
The film this week is “Dawn of the Dead”
WEEK 12
Tuesday 11/22: Proposals and lists of works cited due. Discuss essays and work on research papers.
Homework: Work on research papers
Thursday 11/24: No Class – Thanksgiving Break
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WEEK 13
Tuesday 11/29: Research papers due. Work on revision in groups.
Homework: Revision
Thursday 12/1: Conferences.
Homework: Revision
The film this week is “The Corporation”
WEEK 14
Tuesday 12/4: Conferences.
Thursday 12/6: Revision.
Homework: In addition to revision, you can write a two-page review of this week’s film for
extra credit.
The film this week is “Fast, Cheap & Out of Control”
WEEK 15
Tuesday 12/13: Last day of class.
For related information, see:
Section IB. Writing Level 100 Assignments 1.B 2) Describing and Analyzing and Advertisement’s Argument
& Section IC. College Placement – Writing 1.C 3) Sample Exemplar, Question, Rubric, and Student Response
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