EVANGEL UNIVERSITY
Humanities Department
Rev. 8/2009
ENGLISH 111 3 credit hours Composition Fall 2009
Meeting times: MWF (Sec. 1 - 11:00-11:50 a.m. Trask 206) (Sec. 2 - 1:00-1:50 p.m. Trask 206)
Instructor: SC Vekasy
Voice Mail: 8647
Office Hours: Posted (Trask 312A)
EU e-mail: vekasys@evangel.edu Personal Website: www.wordtinker.com
TURNITIN INFORMATION: Sec. 1 Class ID: 2783082
Password: progress
Sec. 2 Class ID: 2783084
Password: promise
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Introduction to the thesis-support essay form, including informative, persuasive,
documented, and literary analysis, with an emphasis on avoiding plagiarism. Includes strategies for organizing,
writing, editing, revising, quoting, summarizing, paraphrasing, and documenting. Requires passing of general course
work, documented essay, and proficiency essay. Prerequisite: ENGL 102 or ACT 20-28/SAT 496-629 or Essay 6-8.
COURSE PURPOSE: To help students communicate clearly and correctly in writing
REQUIRED SUPPLIES:
English 111 Write Book Composition Notebook from EU Bookstore
Disk or flash/zip drive for backing up files
9‖ x 12‖ envelope; 3‖ x 5‖ cards
COURSE OBJECTIVES: At the end of the course, a student should be able to
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
write with greater ease, fluency, and confidence by understanding the writing process for any writing
situation, whether in course work or in life experiences
organize, develop ideas, and write competently at the college level by using a variety of invention, support
gathering, organizing, drafting, and revising strategies
write an effective thesis essay by knowing how to a) develop a thesis statement, b) create strong support
paragraphs using specific examples and logical thinking, c) use effective transitions, d) construct
sentences effectively, and e) eliminate errors by proofing, editing, and revising one’s writing
develop a greater sensitivity by writing with specific purposes for specific audiences
understand and apply various levels of usage
effectively discover a writing "voice" and appreciate the "voices" of others in a culturally diverse society
develop a critical eye by offering and accepting peer criticism of written work
differentiate between the composing and editing processes
synthesize and integrate information from media sources into one’s writing
understand and avoid plagiarism by learning to accurately summarize, paraphrase, and quote others
learn to use MLA documentation forms correctly
compose at the computer in a timed situation
METHODS AND PROCEDURES:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Lecture and discussion of good writing using the text and supplemental materials
In-class notes covering both text and lecture content
Individual conferences in and out of class when necessary
Work with tutors at the Write Place (college writing lab on Trask second floor)
Writing assignments, including informative, persuasive, and documented papers, as well as class notes,
exercises, online help, outlines, rough drafts, peer reviews, revisions, and final drafts
Revision of out-of-class papers to improve both writing skills and final grades
Research on a complex topic in order to present convincing arguments in a formal style
UNITS:
1. Plagiarism/Collusion Issues
2. Planning and Drafting Papers
3. Paragraph Development
4. Keyhole Essay Format
5. Illustration
6. Persuasion
7. Documentation
8. Literary Analysis
HELPFUL ONLINE REFERENCE SITES
Go to www.wordtinker.com ―Helpful Sites‖ for a list of grammar and writing helps.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND POLICIES:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
EU computer password and personal e-mail account that you check every day. E-mail is the primary
communication between instructor and students. You MUST keep your box cleaned out (Use Edit, Select All,
Delete). If the instructor sends you a message, and you do not receive it because your box is full, the instructor
is not responsible for the consequences.
Basics: 1) You should be able to type at least 30 wpm to function well in class. 2) Any personal use of the
computer during the class period (net surfing, e-mailing, games, etc.) results in your being marked absent for
that day along with a forfeiture of any daily points. 3) No electronic devices can be used during class. Keep
them turned off and out of sight! 4) Always bring your Write Book to class or you may lose daily points.
Daily Assignments, including class notes, will be kept in a ―Class Notes‖ file to be turned in late in the
semester; written exercises, group activities, etc. also earn daily class points.
Completion of formal papers following appropriate writing procedures (rough notes, thesis, outline, rough
draft, peer review, revision, final draft, etc.); Red Flag paper counts the same number of points, Proficiency
Essay is double points.
Oral Presentation of one selected paper near end of course
Work missed during an absence: Daily points receive credit only if made up by the following class period. ALL
missed work is totally the responsibility of the student. Find out what you missed complete the work before
you return to class. Call or e-mail a classmate for this information. After an absence, do not ask, ―What did we
do last time? or ―Did I miss anything?‖ Information about assignments is not fully explained on the class
calendar on TurnItIn.com, and the instructor cannot catch you up individually.
ONE late paper will be accepted without penalty. However, it must be submitted by the next class period and
must have a LATE PAPER sticker attached. A paper without a LATE PAPER sticker will not be accepted for
credit. If you do not use your LATE PAPER sticker, you may redeem it at the end of the term for extra points.
Plagiarism or Collusion on any assignment will result in a failing grade for the course and University
disciplinary action. See ―Statement on Academic Responsibility‖ for more details.
Copies of Papers: Always keep several copies of your work on both the hard drive and on floppy disks or flash
drive. If a paper is lost or misplaced and no copy exists, the points are lost. This is your responsibility.
Tip: You can assess your own writing by using the Flesch Reading Ease and Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level
indicators in the Word program. Go to Tools, Spelling and Grammar, Options, then check ―Show Readability
Statistics‖ at the bottom left of the menu. A ―ballpark‖ level for the Reading Ease score should be 60 to 70.
Your Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level should be 7.0 to 8.0. Passive sentences should be below 10 percent. This is
one way to evaluate your writing in progress. KEEP THIS INFORMATION HANDY FOR YOUR REFERENCE
THROUGHOUT THE TERM! DO NOT ASK THE INSTRUCTOR FOR THESE NORMS.
Class Attendance: The University does not ―allow‖ a certain number of cuts. Any student who misses 11
classes
for any reason will receive an F in the course regardless of other progress (See #14).
Arriving Late to Class: Lateness reflects a careless attitude toward one’s work and calls negative attention to
oneself. Be ready to work on time. The instructor reserves the right to view a student’s attendance and
tardiness as an ―attitude‖ grade if a borderline case exists at the end of the term.
NOTE: A student who 1) over-cuts the class, 2) fails the assigned course work, 3) fails the documented essay,
OR 4) fails the proficiency essay will need to repeat the course with a different instructor.
Students who fail ONLY the final essay may receive an Incomplete IF they 1) have had good attendance,
2) have turned in every paper, 3) have visited the Write Place appropriately, and 4) have shown a positive
attitude during the semester.
FORMATTING PAPERS:








ALWAYS title your work. If you can’t think of a title, the piece probably is not focused.
Papers = 600-700 words; Documented Essay = 1000-1200 words. Include word count for each paper.
Save each stage of your work under similar, but different file names (Outline, Rough Draft/Peer Review, etc.).
Back up your files on disks or drives often! Remember, no hard copy, no points.
Include your last name and the page number in upper right corner of each sheet (e.g., Johnson 1).
ON PAPERS SUBMITTED TO TURNITIN.COM, DO NOT USE YOUR ID NUMBER OR YOUR NAME.
All papers must be submitted with an outline, a rough draft/peer review, and a final copy.
Fold sheets like a book (open on the right), endorse near top with Row #, Name, Section #, Date, and
Assignment Title.
EVALUATION: (Appropriate points are earned for each assignment.)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Daily assignments, exercises, class notes, peer review sessions, etc. (These may be unannounced.)
Out-of-class formal papers
In-class formal papers
Proficiency essay
Oral presentation of one selected paper
Final writing at end of course (optional)
Daily Course Schedule – English 111 – Fall 2009 – Trask 206 – Vekasy
Aug 26
W – Introduction – Texts, Procedures
Aug 28
F – Course Syllabus, Schedule, Policies, etc. -- In-class paragraph
Aug 31
M— Submitting Papers to TurnItIn.com – Plagiarism Resources (Quiz on Sep 25)
Sep 2
W -- In-class writing of Diagnostic Essay (Make appt. with Write Place to see results by Sep 18)
Sep 4
F – Planning Your Paper -- Begin Class Notes file
Sep 7
M -- LABOR DAY (no class meeting)
Sep 9
W – Drafting Your Paper – Online helps for Writing
Sep 11
F – Writing Strong Body Paragraphs (WB) / PP-Topic Sentences
Sep 14
M – In-class Paragraph Exam (TurnItIn.com)
Sep 16
W – Keyhole Structure (WB)
Sep 18
F – Forming a Thesis (WB) / WRITE PLACE APPT DEADLINE
Sep 21
M – Outlining (WB)
Sep 23
W – Introductions (WB) / Rubric for Formal Papers
Sep 25
F – QUIZ on Plagiarism Resources
Sep 28
M – Using Examples / Illustration Paper ―Personal Ethics‖ Topic / Transitions – PP FANBOYS
Sep 30
W – Thesis and Working Outline DUE
Oct 2
F – Rough Draft of Illustration Paper DUE / Peer Reviews
Oct 5
M – Illustration Paper DUE (TurnItIn.com) / Argument/Persuasion
Oct 7
W – Documentation / Notes, Works Cited Pages / Avoiding Plagiarism and Integrating
Sources (H) / MLA Section / Argument Paper Topic ―How to Survive a Weak Economy‖
Oct 9
F – Homecoming (no class meeting)
Oct 12
M – Thesis Statement / Outline DUE
Oct 14
W-- Rough Draft DUE (Peer Review)
Oct 16
F – Persuasive Paper DUE (TurnItIn.com) - Online Quiz Points
Oct 19
M -- FALL BREAK (No class meeting)
Oct 21
W– Documented Essay Topics / Begin Research / Pro-Con Lists Explained (WB) /
Distribute Library Reports and Essay Checklists; Topics Assigned
Oct 23
F -- RED FLAG ESSAY (Written in class) (TurnItIn.com)
Oct 26
M -- Pro/Con List DUE / Thesis and Outline DUE
Oct 28
W -- Review Documenting Sources (MLA 3-1, 4-1) -- Documented Essay (WB)
Oct 30
F -- LIBRARY PERIOD (no class meeting) – Continue Research, Make Source Cards and
Note Cards for Documented Essay {LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW WITH W}
Nov 2
M – Rough Draft DUE (Peer Review) / Library Reports DUE
Nov 4
W – Conference Day (no class meeting)
Nov 6
F – Bring Source Cards to class – Works Cited Help
Nov 9
M -- Documented Essay DUE (TurnItIn.com) KEYHOLE REVIEW
PROFICIENCY ESSAY [SIGN UP FOR A COMPUTER AT WRITE PLACE]
Short Stories Assigned (By Friday, read your story at LEAST TWICE!)
Nov 10
T -- PROFICIENCY ESSAY [SIGN UP FOR A COMPUTER AT WRITE PLACE]
Nov 11
W – Writing About Literature / Character Analysis (WB)
Nov 13
F -- For class points, bring your copy of the story to class for group discussion
Nov 16
M – Character Analysis Sample Paper
Nov 18
W – CLASS NOTES DUE (We will format them in class before we turn them in.)
ORAL REPORTS EXPLAINED
Nov 20
F -- Thesis Statement and Working Outline DUE (Peer Reviews)
Nov 23
M -- In-Class Exercises for Credit
Nov 25
W—THANKSGIVING BREAK (no class meeting)
Nov 27
F – THANKSGIVING BREAK (no class meeting)
Nov 30
M – Rough Draft of Literature Analysis DUE (Peer Review)
Dec 2
W -- (Literature Analysis DUE (TurnItIn.com) -- ORAL REPORTS (5-7 minutes each)
Dec 4
F -- ORAL REPORTS (5-7 minutes each)
Dec 7
M – ORAL REPORTS (5-7 minutes each)
Dec 9
W -- ORAL REPORTS (5-7 minutes each)
{LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW WITH WP/WF}
Evangel University will make reasonable accommodations for persons with documented disabilities. Students
should notify the Disability Services Coordinator (located in the Academic Support Center, Zimmerman, Suite
218) and their instructors of any accommodation needs as soon as possible.