*ENGLISH 1101: ENGLISH COMPOSITION I
(3 CREDITS)
What you need to know about this course, including goals and objectives –
1.
It emphasizes rhetorical knowledge , specifically, knowledge of the rhetorical elements that define a particular writing situation.
The most important of these are the writer’s consideration of –
 the purpose for writing, such as to persuade or inform.
 readers and their needs .
 tone , meaning word choice and sentence structure.
2.
It emphasizes essay writing . When writing essays, you’ll be expected to show attention to a number of components or elements, including the following:
 An introduction that is informative and interesting.
 A thesis statement that makes a point or offers a perspective or point of view.
 A series of body paragraphs that follows a specific pattern of development, such as the pattern of illustration or the pattern of comparison/contrast. Individual body paragraphs must consistently address the thesis, offer readers a topic sentence, and be unified, cohesive, and well developed.
 A conclusion that offers closure and leaves an impression.
3.
It emphasizes critical thinking in the context of reading and writing. You’ll be expected to:
 analyze , interpret , and critique while responding to assigned readings written by professionals as well as writings authored by your classmates.
 produce writings that demonstrate critical thinking on your part through the expression of ideas and observations that are reasonable and well informed and the presentation of facts that are substantiated and relevant to your point of view.

4.
It emphasizes writing as a process . You will need to show that you are able to work through the stages of writing – pre-writing , drafting , revising , and editing – at your own direction as well as the direction of others.
5.
It emphasizes collaboration . You will be called upon to work with others for the purpose of improving your own as well as your collaborators’ writings.
6.
It emphasizes mastering the accepted conventions of the English language . You’ll be expected to edit and proofread your own work at your own direction and the direction of others in order to produce writings that are relatively free from errors in grammar , spelling , punctuation , and capitalization and that adhere to a specific style for formatting and documentation , such as MLA style.
7.
It emphasizes composing in electronic environments . You’ll be expected to show an understanding of the role that media and technolog y play in the act of writing and when presenting a written text.
8.
It introduces the use of sources . You will be expected to demonstrate a basic understanding of the role that sources play in supporting a writer’s point of view , and you must be able to locate and use a minimum number of sources that are appropriate and credible .
What you need to know about course format –
Class time may be devoted to activities that may include but are not limited to the following:
 Lectures: for example, your instructor may offer a lecture on the elements of argument or that describes the organizational pattern of a comparison/contrast essay.
 Small group or whole class projects or activities : for example, you may participate in a peer editing session where you exchange rough drafts with members of a small group for the purpose of offering feedback and ideas for revision. Or you may

be asked to work with a partner to create of list of main points covered in an assigned reading that is to be discussed in class.
 Writing workshops: for example, your instructor may organize in-class workshops where you will work independently on producing pre-writings in order to explore a potential topic for an essay.
 Conferences: for example, your instructor may engage in oneon-one mini-conferencing to discuss your progress on an assignment or project.
 Videos or lab activities: for example, your instructor may show the class a video that models peer editing or may arrange time in a computer lab for the purpose of completing grammar exercises.
You will be expected to come to each class meeting prepared and upto-date with readings and assignments and ready to participate in a positive and constructive manner.
Course work you’ll complete to demonstrate the goals you have achieved may include but may not be limited to –
1.
Quizzes, tests, or exams , such as reading quizzes or a midterm and final exam.
2.
In-class assignments or activities , such as peer-editing sessions or writing workshops.
3.
Informal writings , such as pre-writings, rough drafts, or journal entries.
4.
Formal writings , such as essays. An essay may take many forms, such as a narrative, an analysis, an argument, or a proposal.
When writing an essay that uses sources, you may be asked to submit other kinds of formal writings, such as an annotated bibliography.
5.
Presentations and readings , such as an oral report summarizing a group project or reading to the class an essay you have written.
Note: Expect to produce a minimum of 5000 total words
(roughly 20 total pages of written work).
Here’s a sample sketch outline to indicate the pace you can expect on a weekly basis from this class –
Week 1: (Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing)

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Course Overview
College Level Reading: Breaking Bad Habits of Mind
College Level Reading: Words and Details Matter
From the Textbook:
Pages 1-18 (Purpose/Audience/Genre/Stance/Design)
Chapter 40: 352-365
Week 2: (Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing / Knowledge of Composing
Processes /Knowledge of Conventions)
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Moving from Reading Critically to Writing Critically
Writing Evaluations and Annotated Bibliographies
First Short Assignment Due (50 points): Crafting an Annotated Entry
From the Textbook:
Chapter 12: 125-133
Chapter 11: 116-124
Week 3: (Rhetorical Knowledge / Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing /
Knowledge of Composing Processes / Collaboration / Knowledge of
Conventions)
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First Major Paper Discussion: The Analytical Summary (100 Points)
Locating Major Claims and Learning to Explain Evidence
Opening Statement/Thesis/Body Paragraphs/Conclusion
In-Class Build of Example Paper
From the Textbook:
Chapter 7: 38-58
Week 4: (Rhetorical Knowledge / Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing /
Collaboration / Knowledge of Composing Processes / Knowledge of
Conventions)
Rough Draft of Paper 1 due
In-Class Workshop of Papers
Peer Review
Individual Meetings with Instructor
Week 5: (Rhetorical Knowledge / Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing /
Knowledge of Composing Processes / Collaboration / Knowledge of
Conventions / Composing in Electronic Environments)
• Final Draft of Paper 1 Due

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Major Paper 2 Discussion: The Compare/Contrast Paper (100 Points)
Locating and Evaluating Sources Online
Selecting An Appropriate Topic
In-Class Build of Example Compare/Contrast Paper
From the Textbook:
Chapter 33: 300-305
Chapter 34: 306-312
Chapter 43: 384-386
How you’ll be graded in this course –
Essays must account for no less than 70% of a final grade. This is the grading scale used for this course:
A – 90% and above
B – 80 – 89%
C – 70 – 79%
D – 60 – 69%
F – 50 – 00%
* This is not an official English Department document. In this document, I have restated what I feel to be the most important information that appears on the department’s official syllabus for English 1101. (Cathy LaParl)