La Salle University
English 107
Writing I
Dr. Lehr
Fall, 2005
DESCRIPTION and OBJECTIVES
English 107 is the first of a two-part sequence designed to introduce students to college writing. The
objectives, according to the 2003 Revised Guidelines for the Freshmen Writing Program, are as
follows:
[THE ESSAY]

use pre-writing, drafting, revising, and editing skills.
 generalize critically about information and explain and illustrate those generalizations with
specific appropriate details.
 write unified, well organized, cohesive paragraphs in essays that support a clear thesis.
 write introductions that include a clear thesis and conclusions that move beyond summary.
 use transitional devices effectively.
 recognize and be able to use expository organizational patterns.
 write summary and personal reaction essays about readings.
 learn about library resources.
[THE SENTENCE]
 recognize sentence boundaries, and write sentences, which avoid errors such as comma splice,
run-on, and fragment problems.
 write grammatically correct, standard English sentences that avoid tense or subject-verb and
noun-pronoun disagreement problems.
 write sentences that have few, if any, mechanical and punctuation errors (i.e., those with
capitalization, commas, semi-colons, colons, and apostrophes).
 use techniques such as coordination and subordination to achieve sentence variety.
 recognize the distinction between active and passive voice.
Revised 09-26-05
[DICTION]
Students need to avoid
 inappropriate shifts in levels of diction.

sexism, racism, or other discriminatory language.

trite phrases, mixed metaphors, flowery or pretentious language, slang, and jargon.

needless repetition of language.
TEXTS AND
MATERIALS
Keene, Michael L., and Katherine H. Adams. Easy Access. 4th edition. New
York: McGraw-Hill, 2006. (EA)
Madden, David, Ed. A Pocketful of Essays: Volume I Rhetorically Arranged.
Boston: Thomson Wadsworth, 2006. (PE)
A standard dictionary
Pocket folder (portfolio for papers and assignments)
.
CLASSES AND CONFERENCES
Classes meet two periods a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Generally, the last twenty-five minutes
of each period will be reserved for individual conferences, though there will be additional required
conferences at other times. During the class time we will discuss the assigned readings, evaluate papers,
and work in groups. Since this course is a workshop, participation is essential. Therefore, come
prepared to each class with your textbooks and all of your assignment completed. (Without the
required textbook, you are unprepared and, thus, will be marked absent.) If you are unable to attend a
conferences or class, please try to notify me in advance. Keep in mind a missed conference is equivalent to a
missed class.
ATTENDANCE
Attendance is required, of course, for all classes and conferences. To participate fully you must attend.
More than four absences—whether from class or conference—will significantly lower your
participation grade, and more than six will result in a F (Failure). Keep in mind that only positive
participation will count for attendance; negative participation (e.g., clowning around, talking to others,
coming unprepared for class) will detract from it. If for some reason, you must miss a class, please get
the assignment for the next class from another student.
OFFICE, TELEPHONE, FAX, E-MAIL, AND MAILBOX
While conferences that replace classes are required, if you wish to meet with me additionally, you can
always come to my office (Olney 156) anytime and sign on the sheet on the door.
Office Hours: Monday: 8:30-12:30; Tuesday and Thursday, 3:15-4:15, and by appointment
Telephone:
951-5002; Fax: 951-1488 (Box 187); E-mail: lehr@lasalle.edu
Mailbox:
English Department (Olney 141).
ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADES
Paragraphs and Quizzes--20%
There will be seven of these short graded assignments of which the five highest grades will be
taken.
Papers—60%
Diagnosis
0%
Description
5%
Illustration
10%
Comparison Contrast
10%
Cause and Effect
15%
Argument
20%
These papers range in length from approximately 400 to 1000-1200 words. There will be drafts
required for each of them, which must be attached to each final draft. All drafts must be kept
in a portfolio and brought to each conference.
Late papers: With few exceptions, late papers will receive a lower grade.
Revisions:
Papers with split grades can be revised for the higher of the two grades, but
must be resubmitted within two weeks of the time the papers is returned.
Format:
On all papers, include your name, course, section, date, and the title of your
essay. All papers written outside of class must be printed from a computer.
All work in class and handwritten short assignments must be done in either
blue or black ink.
Participation & Portfolio—15%
Oral Report—5%
SCHEDULE
Following is a tentative schedule of the topics, readings, and assignments along with their due dates.
Specific detailed directions for each will be given in class.
I.
II.
III.
IV.
Week
Aug. 30
Topics/Assignments
Introduction to Course; Diagnostic Essay
Sept. 1
PE “Description”: 29-30; PE: N. Scott
Momaday, “The Way to Rainy Mountain”: 3137; EA: Chap.1 “Choosing a Topic” & Chap. 2
“Prewriting”: 7-14
Sept. 6
PE: Joan Didion, “Marrying Absurd”:
42-46; Review of Grammar: EA: Chaps. 41-44
Nouns, Pronouns, Articles, & Adjectives: 413424
Sept. 8
PAPER#1 DESCRIPTION; PE
“Illustration”: 47-48; Review of Grammar: EA:
Chaps. 45-49 Adverbs, Prepositions,
Conjunctions, Interjections, & Verbs: 425-444
Sept. 13
PE: Alan M. Dershowitz, “Shouting ‘Fire!’ ” :
57-63; Deborah Tannen, “How to Give Orders
like a Man”: 75-84; EA: Chaps. 4-5 “Planning”
& “Drafting”: 18-25
Sept 15
ILLUSTRATION DRAFT; EA: Chaps. 6 & 7
“Creating Effective Paragraphs” & “Revising”:
26-41
Sept. 20
Review of Grammar: EA: Chaps. 50-52
Sentence Construction, Phrases, & Clauses: 445456; Chap. 8: “Proofreading . . . Paper”: 42-46
Sept. 22
PAPER #2 ILLUSTRATION;
V.
VI.
VII.
Sept. 27
PE: “Comparison-Contrast”: 89-90;
Suzanne Britt, “Neat People vs. Sloppy
People”: 91-94; Bruce Catton, “Grant and Lee:
A Study in Contrasts”: 95-99; Rachel Carson, “A
Fable for Tomorrow”: 101-103
Sept. 29
COMPARISON-CONTRAST DRAFT: EA:
Chaps. 30-32 Fragments, Comma Splices, &
Run-on Sentences: 282-304
Oct. 4
EA: Chap. 33 “Verb Errors”: 304-315
Oct. 6
EA: Chap. 34 “Using Commas”: 316-333:
Quiz #3
Oct. 11
Chaps. 35-36 “Pronoun Errors” & “Using
Apostrophes”: 334-353
Oct. 13
PAPER #3 COMPARISON-CONTRAST;
EA: Chap. 37 “Problems with Modifiers”:
354-360
VIII. Oct. 18
IX.
X.
PE: “Cause-Effect”:105-106; E.M. Forster,
“My Wood”: 107-110; Lewis Thomas,
“The Lie Detector”:115-117
Oct. 20
EA: Chaps. 38-39 “Faulty Parallelism”: &
“Mixed Construction”: 361-371; Quiz #4
Oct. 25
MID-SEMESTER BREAK; NO CLASS
Oct. 27
CAUSE-EFFECT DRAFT; EA: Chaps. 19 & 20
“Evaluate Your Sources. . .” & “Do Research in
the Field”: 157-164; Chaps. 53-55 Sentences:
457-468;
Nov. 1
EA: Sentences;
(cont.)
XI.
XII.
Nov. 3
Conferences
Nov. 8
PE: “Argumentation”: 165-166; EA: Chap. 56
“Word Choice”: 469-481.
Nov. 10
PAPER #5 CAUSE-EFFECT; EA: Chap. 9—
“Writing an Argument”: 54-71
Nov. 15
PE: Shelby Steele, “Affirmative Action: The
Price of Preference”: 173-184; EA: Chaps. 1718 “Plan Your Research Strategy” & “Do Your
Research Systematically”: 139-154; Quiz# 5
Nov. 17
EA: Chaps. 24 -26 “Use Your Sources
Effectively . . . ,” “Revise and Edit,” &
“Document Your Sources Correctly”: 171-188;
XIII. Nov. 22
XIV.
XV.
ARGUMENT DRAFT; CONFERENCES
Nov. 24
THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
Nov. 29
PAPER #6 ARGUMENT; EA: Chap. 12
“Preparing an Oral Presentation”: 93-102
Dec. 1
ORAL REPORTS
Dec. 6
ORAL REPORTS
Dec. 8
ORAL REPORTS; EVALUATIONS
[Dec. 12-16
Revised: 09-05
Final Revisions Due]