VANCOUVER
SCHOOL OF ENGLISH, PHILOSOPHY AND HUMANITIES
ENGLISH COMPOSITION 1101
SPRING 2008 SYLLABUS
CLASS
Course number:
Time:
Room:
INSTRUCTOR
Name:
Office:
Office Hours:
Office Phone:
E-mail Address:
ENGL 1101
Tuesday/Thursday 8:30 – 10:00 pm
134
Susanne Green, Ph.D.
119
by appointment
604.682.8112 (toll free 1.877.338.8002)
suegreen@fdu.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Intensive study and practice in expository writing; readings to stimulate a student writing are drawn
primarily from the essay. This course is a thematic section of writing focusing on violence in society.
Overview of the Course:
In English 1101 you will become a better writer. This course prepares you for the academic and
professional worlds by giving you the opportunity to do a great deal of writing – as an individual
responding thoughtfully to other writers, to life experiences, and to your environment. Writing in your own
voice requires gaining the confidence that your voice is worth listening to. That means that you will need
to think carefully and critically about what you read, write, hear, and experience. You will need to learn
how to revise your writing so that it reflects coherent, convincing, and complex modes of thinking. You will
collaborate with other writers and discuss your discoveries in a supportive atmosphere where we learn
writing by writing and rewriting.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
By the end of the course, you will be able to:
1. formulate a strong thesis, organize and develop writing to fulfill that thesis, and integrate
materials from readings to provide support for your thesis. You will be able to structure an essay
using a variety of strategies.
2. write essays of a specified length, using appropriate documentation in MLA format.
3. write a strong essay within a given time restriction.
4. write essays that are relatively free of major errors in grammar and mechanics. Writing is not
just about the finished product!
5. use techniques for revising papers, for overcoming writing anxieties, and for finding an
appropriate voice and tone for your writing.
REQUIRED TEXTS
1. Hacker, Diana. Rules for Writers. 5th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2004.
2. Kennedy, X. J., Dorothy M. Kennedy, and Jane E. Aaron, eds. The Brief Bedford Reader. 9th ed.
Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2006. (Includes The St. Martin’s Custom Reader.)
3. A dictionary of your choice.
Spring 2008
1
Final Rev
Course Schedule: (this schedule is tentative and
Date
Class
Jan 8
Diagnostic Essay
Syllabus and Class Expectations
Jan 10
Identity Artifact Writing
Theme: Violence and Society
Prewrite on Fear in Society
Jan 15
ESSAY 1: DESCRIPTION and
NARRATION
Brainstorm on Descriptive Essay
Jan 17
Peer Reviewing Workshop
Murray’s “Writing is Rewriting” (handout)
Jan 18
Final Day Drop/Add Changes
Jan 22
Peer Review Essay 1
Jan 24
Jan 29
Jan 31
Feb 5
Feb 7
Feb 12
Feb 14
Feb 19
Feb 21
Feb 26
Feb 28
Mar 4
Mar 6
Mar 7
Mar 11
Mar 13
Mar 18
Mar 20
Mar 25
Mar 27
Apr 1
Apr 3
Apr 8
Apr 10
April 15
Apr 17
Self-Assessment on Essay 1
ESSAY 2: COMPARE and CONTRAST
Brainstorm on Compare and Contrast
Essay
Peer Review Essay 2
Sedaris (233) In-Class and Response
Self Assessment on Essay 2
Film: Bowling for Columbine
Film: Bowling for Columbine
Analytical Paragraph Workshop
Peer Review Analytical Paragraph
ESSAY 3: EDITORIAL
Green (Handout)
Brainstorm on Editorial
Eliminate Wordiness Workshop
Peer Review Essay 3
Self Assessment on Essay 3
Simpsons’ “Bart the General”
Midterm Essay Exam-YOU MUST BE
HERE-NO EXCEPTIONS
ESSAY 4: ARGUMENT AND
PERSUSASION
Brainstorm Essay 4
Sowell (421) In-class and Response
Research: Computer Lab Worksheet
Citations: MLA Style Workshop
Peer Review Essay 4
Self Assessment on Essay 4
Rhetorical Analysis Workshop on
Dixie Chick’s “Earl”
Last Day for Student Withdrawal
Presentation of Songs to Class
Presentation of Songs Con’t
ESSAY 5: REVISION
Brainstorm on substantial revision
No Class-Personal Writing Conference
No Class-Personal Writing Conference
King on Editing (handout)
Grammar Spotlight
Peer Review on Essay 5
ESSAY 6: REFLECTION
Brainstorm on Reflective Essay
Peer Review on Essay 6
Lamott on Writing (handout)
Last Day of Class *TBA
Final Essay Exam-YOU MUST BE HERE –
NO EXCEPTIONS
Spring 2008
2
subject to change)
Homework
Brief Bedford, pp 9-47, 117-123
Bring Identity Artifact to Next Class
Vowell (134)
Notes
Canin (155)
Essay 1: Draft
Essay 1: Final
Brief Bedford, pp 163-167, 199-205
Essay 2: Compare and Contrast
(Draft)
Ericsson (337)
Essay 2: Final
Daum (389)
Huntington (330)
Analytical Paragraph Draft
Said (520)
Analytical Paragraph Final
Essay 3: Draft
Essay 3: Final
Readings for midterm essay exam
*TBA
*TBA
Vidal (384)
Bring 6 sources to class
Essay 4: Draft
Essay 4: Due
Rhetorical Analysis with song lyrics
and CD or Video
*TBA
Bring essay to revise to conference
Bring justification for revision to
conference
Sign up sheet
Sign up sheet
Reading response on King
Essay 5: Draft
Essay 5: Final
Essay 6: Draft
Essay 6: Final
Reading response on Lamott
Readings for final essay exam *TBA
Final Rev
Assessment:
Essay #1: Description/Narration
Essay #2: Compare/Contrast
Essay #3: Editorial
Essay #4: Argument/Persuasion
Essay #5: Revision
Essay #6: Reflection
Midterm Essay Exam
Final Essay Exam
Attendance
In-class writing activities and other
assignments
TOTAL
10 points
10 points
10 points
10 points
10 points
10 points
10 points
10 points
10 points
10 points
100 points
Grading Policies:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Unexcused late papers will be penalized.
In order to pass the course, you must hand in all major papers, including all drafts and revisions.
This means that you might have A’s in all the papers you have handed in and still fail the course
because you have not handed in all major assignments.
Other assignments as indicated by the professor.
All students must consult and abide by the University’s policy on attendance:
http://fduinfo.com/studentlife/handbook/
Click on the Metropolitan Campus logo, then on
Academic Regulations. Individual professors may set their own policies for class attendance and
participation. Meaningful class participation is considered an important component of your grade
for this course.
A grading guide or rubric will be provided for most essay assignments.
Grading System:
A+
=
95 – 100
A
=
90 – 94
A=
87 – 89
B+
=
84 – 86
B
=
80 – 83
B=
77 – 79
C+
=
74 – 76
C
=
71 – 73
C=
68 – 70
D
=
61 – 67
F
=
0 – 60
Incomplete (I) can be awarded in special
policy must be followed.
=
4.00
=
4.00
=
3.67
=
3.33
=
3.00
=
2.67
=
2.33
=
2.00
=
1.67
=
1.00
=
0.00
cases. University
WITHDRAWALS
In the event you choose to withdraw from our course, the burden of following through with the withdrawal
process your responsibility. You may or may not be dropped for excessive absences. Please understand
that if you do not officially withdraw before the end of the 9th week of the semester (March 7,
2008), you must be assigned a grade based upon what you have earned. Please refer to the College
Catalogue for more detail. If you believe you MUST withdraw, for any reason, PLEASE consult with me
first! Perhaps we can find a way to help you complete our course successfully.
Spring 2008
3
Final Rev