English 111: Basic Composition
Course Syllabus
Fall 2009
Instructor: Dr. Diane Awbrey, Trask 312N
Email: awbreyd@evangel.edu
Phone: x8368
Text(s):
Office Hours: MWF 2 – 4, TTH 1 – 3
or by appointment
Hacker, Diana. A Writer’s Reference. 6th ed. Boston: Bedford St. Martin’s, 2007.
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-45025-0; ISBN-10: 0-312-45025-7
Course/Catalog 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. Passing both the
documented essay and the Writing Proficiency Examination is required. Prerequisite: ENGL 102 or
ACT/ENG 21-28.
Course Purpose and Objectives:
English 111 is designed to help students communicate their thoughts clearly and correctly in writing.
The course concentrates on the expository academic essay and on research documentation using the
MLA style, enabling students to write both for college courses and later for professional assignments.
Course Objectives
When you finish this course you should be able to:
1. Understand and apply the writing process to various writing situations:
a. generating writing ideas.
b. separating the composing from the editing process to decrease stress and writer’s block.
c. giving and receiving helpful peer criticism.
d. proofreading, editing, revising, and evaluating your own writing using formal diction and
usage.
2. Identify and write to a specific audience.
3. Organize and develop ideas into a coherent, academic paper that includes the following elements:
a. a thesis that “maps” the paper.
b. good supporting paragraphs.
c. effective transitions.
d. well-constructed sentences.
e. error-free grammar, usage, and punctuation.
4. Understand and avoid plagiarism.
5. Employ proper documentation conventions using MLA style.
6. Generate paper topics derived from readings for the semester.
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Course Policies and Requirements:
This composition course consists of daily readings and activities (in the form of quizzes,
assignments, discussions, and collaborative exercises).
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Attendance is mandatory. Three tardies equal one absence. One or two absences will not
hurt the grades of serious students. The nature of this course, however, requires
extensive in-class writing and thinking. Missing even one class may mean you miss a key
component for future work. If you cannot attend a class session for some reason, please
notify me as soon as you know, so we can make arrangements for missed work. Leaving
me a voice mail or e-mail is a good start, but does not constitute “making arrangements.”
Be sure to follow up with a real conversation about completing your assignments.
•
All assignments are due on the date and time specified on the Course Schedule or on the
specified drop box.
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All students are expected to communicate with the teacher any concerns, technical
difficulties, and or questions they may have via email, phone call, or face-to-face
appointment.
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Students are expected to have procured the required texts.
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Students are expected to have:
Daily computer access
Daily internet access
Evangel email access
Microsoft Word 2003 or 2007 (available in the Evangel computer labs)
Microsoft PowerPoint 2003 or 2007 or Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer:
Viewer 2003 free download: http://office.microsoft.com/enus/downloads/CD010798701033.aspx
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All students should be prepared to submit homework as directed per assignment – via inclass hard copy, University email, Angel assignment drop boxes, and/or Angel quizzes
(directions on how to access Angel and work the different parts within Angel can be found
on the eUniversity Homepage: http://www.evangel.edu/euniversity/index.asp).
Angel Learning Management System:
This course will be conducted in class and through the Angel learning management system. All
information needed to access and interact with the course can be found on the Evangel
University’s eUniversity Homepage (http://www.evangel.edu/euniversity/index.asp). Attendance
in class is still the best way to learn about changes in assignments and schedule.
Course Content:
Major course content (reading assignments, PowerPoints, drop boxes, quizzes, exams) is located
under the Course Content tab on Angel. Please take a look at the Angel Student Quickstart Guide
(located on the Evangel eUniversity homepage) for directions on how to access content, take
quizzes, send emails, and conduct other activities within Angel
http://www.evangel.edu/euniversity/index.asp.
Read introductory materials as soon as you have access to Angel. Other readings, discussions,
and due dates are listed on the Course Schedule below.
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Course Schedule:
Introductory reading: Syllabus and WB 1 – 9
Syllabus Quiz, closes August 29, 11:55 p.m. on Angel
Week 1, August 26:
Introduction to the Writing Process
Introduction to Angel/Turnitin.com
Sample paragraph writing due in Angel drop box by end of class
Week 2, August 31 – September 4: Prewriting: Reading, Brainstorming, and Thesis Writing
Content Reading:
Writing a Thesis WB 13 – 15
Hacker reading C1-a to C1-c
Assignments:
Tuesday, September 1, in class
Introduction to Essay 1: Fasting from Technology
Thursday, September 3, 11:55 p.m.
Exercises: Hacker C2-1
Exercises: Hacker P1-1
Thursday, September 3, in class
Discuss thesis writing/development
Week 3, September 7 – 11: Prewriting: Outlining and Paragraph Development
Content Reading:
Reading. “Reverse Outlining: An Exercise for Taking Notes and Revising Your Work”
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/689/01/
Outlining WB 22 – 24
Reading. William James’ “Habit” in Course Content
Summary & Paraphrase WB 50 – 51
Hacker reading A1- a to A1-d; R3-c
Hacker reading C4
Assignments:
Monday, September 7,
LABOR DAY, NO CLASSES
Tuesday, September 8, in class
Discuss Outlining
Wednesday, September 9
Electronic Fast Completed
Thursday, September 10, in class
Discuss “Habit” by William James
Thursday, September 10, 11:55 p.m.
Summary of William James drop box closes
(300 – 500 words)
Exercises: Hacker P1-2
Friday, September 11, 11:55 p.m.
Essay 1: Thesis drop box closes
Week 4, September 14 – 18: Paragraph & Paraphrase Writing
Content Reading:
Paragraph writing WB 27 – 31
Transitions WB 31
Summary & Paraphrase WB 50 – 51
Hacker reading A1- a to A1-d; R3-c
Assignments:
Monday, September 14, 11:55 p.m.
Essay 1: Outline drop box closes
Tuesday, September 15, in class
Discuss Paragraph Development
Tuesday, September 15, 11:55 p.m.
Revised first-day paragraph drop box closes
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Wednesday, September 16, 11:55 p.m.
Thursday, September 17, in class
Friday, September 18, 11:55 p.m.
Summary of William James drop box closes
Discuss paraphrase writing
Paraphrase of William James drop box closes
Week 5, September 21 – 25: Thinking about Persuasion
Content Reading:
Begin Essay 2: Persuasive Essay WB 40 – 41, 44 – 46
Hacker reading A1-a through A1-d
Assignments:
Monday, September 21, 11:55 p.m.
Essay 1 drop box closes
Tuesday, September 22, in class
Discuss Persuasion; Begin Essay 2
Thursday, September 24, 11:55 p.m.
Exercises: Hacker C4-1, C4-2
Exercises: Hacker P1-3
Essay 2: Persuasive Thesis/Outline drop box closes
Week 6, September 28 – October 2: Writing and Revising
Reading:
Reading. Simone Weil, “Reflections on the Right Use . . .”
Hacker C3
Assignments:
Tuesday, September 29, in class
Discuss “Reflections of the Right Use. . .”
Thursday, October 1, 11:55 p.m.
Exercises: Hacker P2-1
Thursday, October 1, in class
Essay 1: Revision Workshop
Week 7, October 5 – 9: Introducing and Concluding an Essay
Content Reading:
Introductions WB 25; Hacker C2-a
Conclusions WB 26; Hacker C2-c
Assignments:
Tuesday, October 6, in class
Persuasive Introduction due END OF CLASS
Thursday, October 8, in class
Persuasive Conclusion due END OF CLASS
Thursday, October 8, 11:55 p.m.
Exercises: Hacker P3-1, P3-2
Week 8, October 12 – 16: Logical Fallacies
Content Reading:
Reading. “Love is a Fallacy”
http://www1.asknlearn.com/ri_Ilearning/English/631/elang-ilearning/page3a.htm
Documented Essay WB 47
Hacker reading A2, A3
Assignments:
Monday, October 12, 11:55 p.m.
PERSUASIVE ESSAY drop box closes
Tuesday, October 13, in class
Introduce Essay 3: Documented Essay
Wednesday, October 14, 11:55 p.m.
Essay 3: Documented Essay Thesis/Outline drop box closes
Thursday, October 15, 11:55 p.m.
Exercises: Hacker P4-1
Thursday, October 15, in class
Discuss “Love is a Fallacy”
Week 9, October 19 -- 23: FALL BREAK and Preparing for a Documented Essay
Course Content:
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Hacker reading R3, MLA-2, MLA-3
Note-taking strategies WB 48
Assignments:
Monday & Tuesday, October 19 & 20
Monday, October 19
Thursday, October 22, 11:55 p.m.
Thursday, October 22, in class
Friday, October 23, 11:55 p.m.
FALL BREAK
Essay 2: Persuasive Essay available for revision
Exercises: Hacker P5-1
Revised Essay 2: Persuasive Essay drop box closes
Discuss note-taking
Essay 3: Notes on ONE outside source drop box closes
Week 10, October 26 – 29: Documenting an Essay
Content Reading:
Assignments:
Tuesday, October 27, in class
Thursday, October 29, 11:55 p.m.
Thursday, October 29, in class
RED FLAG ESSAY EXAM
Exercises: Hacker P6-1
Review RED FLAG EXAM results
Week 11, November 2 – 6: Writing Opposing Arguments (Creation Week)
Content Reading:
Opposing Arguments WB 42
MLA Documentation
In-text citations WB 49, MLA-4a
Works Cited citations WB 50 – 52, MLA-4b
Assignments:
Monday, November 2, 11:55 p.m.
Essay 3: Notes on all sources drop box closes
Tuesday, November 3, in class
Discuss handling opposing arguments
Wednesday, November 4, 11:55 p.m.
Essay 3: Two documented body ¶s drop box closes
Thursday, November 5, 11:55 p.m.
Exercises: Hacker P7-1
Thursday, November 5, in class
Discuss in-text documentation
Saturday, November 7, 11:55 p.m.
Online QUIZ on documentation closes
Week 12, November 9 – 13: Completing the Documented Essay
Content Reading:
Double-checking documentation WB, 52 – 60
Assignments:
Monday, November 9, 11:55 p.m.
Essay 3: Two more documented body ¶s drop box closes
Monday/Tuesday, November 9 & 10
PROFICIENCY EXAM
Tuesday, November 9, in class
Double-checking documentation
Thursday, November 11, in class
Double-checking documentation
Friday, November 13, 11:55 p.m.
Essay 3: DOCUMENTED ESSAY drop box closes
Week 13, November 16 -- 20: Writing a Literary Analysis
Content Reading:
Willa Cather, “Eric Hermannson’s Soul” http://www.classicreader.com/read.php/bookid.1001/sec.1/
Essay 4: Writing about literature (thesis) WB 61 – 66
Assignments:
Tuesday, November 17, in class
Introduce Essay 4: Literary Essay
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Wednesday, November 18, 11:55 p.m.
Thursday, November 17, in class
THANKSGIVING WEEK
Tuesday, November 24, 11:55 p.m.
Online Quiz on “Eric Hermannson’s Soul”
Discuss “Eric Hermannson’s Soul”
Essay 4: Thesis drop box closes
Week 14, November 30 to December 4: Writing and Revising
Tuesday, December 1, in class
Outlining a literary essay
Tuesday, December 1, 11:55 p.m.
Essay 4: Literary Essay Outline drop box closes
Thursday, December 3, in class
Developing the literary essay
Thursday, December 3, 11:55 p.m.
Revision of Essay 3: Documented Essay drop box closes
Week 15, December 7 – 9: Last Things
Tuesday, December 8, IN CLASS
Tuesday, December 8, 11:55 p.m.
Final In-Class Writing
Essay 4: LITERARY ESSAY due
FINAL EXAM: Proficiency, November 9 and 1
a
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PROFICIENCY EXAM: Policies and Procedures
The proficiency exam is a two-hour, in-class writing. It is scheduled March 29 and 30. The purpose
of this event is to provide you an opportunity to exhibit your writing skills in a timed environment.
English 111 faculty score the proficiency tests using the concepts covered in English 111. The grading
process is blind, meaning graders do not know whose papers they are reading. In order to pass
this course, you must pass the final proficiency examination and the documented essay.
Procedure: Please plan ahead to be available for this exam. It constitutes the final exam for this
course. You must pass it in order to pass the course and gain proficiency in writing before
graduation. Your final grade for the class cannot be posted until you have taken and passed this
exam. If you request an individually scheduled test, the fee will be $25.
Policies: No matter what grades you make on essays written during the semester or at midterm,
receiving credit for English 111 depends upon receiving a passing grade on the proficiency. Each
assigned out-of-class essay can be compared to a take-home test because you are able to receive
help as you write. However, the final proficiency test will prove to the English faculty that you can
write acceptably without assistance. It is imperative that you work hard to learn the skills
necessary to write an acceptable paper by yourself.
Here are some suggestions:
•
Thoroughly study your teacher’s comments on each returned paper.
•
Use your handbook and the online exercises to study each rule that pertains to a problem
indicated in your essay.
•
Ask questions. If you are not satisfied with the answers, make an appointment with your
teacher or at the Write Place before the scheduled exam.
Grade Access:
Course grades will be recorded and displayed through Angel. In our Angel course, go to the
Report tab to see your grades (Category drop box, choose Grades, click Run). Remember that
grades posted on Angel may not be up-to-date. E-mail the instructor if you have questions about
your grade. Major papers and assignments count as follows:
1. Informative Essay
Revision worth 10% of grade
50 points (5%)
Due: Monday, Sept. 21, 11:55 p.m.
2. Persuasive Essay
Revision worth 8% of grade
100 points (10%)
Due: Monday, Oct. 12, 11:55 p.m.
3. Proficiency Exam
better
200 points (20%)
Due:
4. Documented Essay
150 points (30%)
Due: Friday, Nov. 13, 11:55 p.m.
Must pass with Cor better to pass the class
5. Character Analysis Essay
100 points (10%)
Due: Tuesday, Dec. 8, 11:55 p.m.
6. Quizzes, assignments, &
prewritings
380 points (25%)
As Assigned
Revision worth 6% of grade
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Must pass with C- or
to pass the class
Must pass this category
with C- or better
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Grade Evaluations: Essays are evaluated on three levels. They are the basic assignment’s
structural level (sometimes referred to in this course as the “keyhole” or basic assignment, which
will be explained in the course content), the paragraph level (also referred to as “content”) and
at the sentence level (sometimes called “language skills” or “control of language”). The
following sliding scale serves as the departmental rubric for grading essays in English 111. An
explanation of this scale follows.
Basic Assignment
Clear THESIS
Focused topic sentences
Introduction/conclusion
Paragraph closures
& thesis paraphrase
Basic
Content
Logic, coherence
Development
Focus & unity of
paragraph
Content
Control of Language
Lack of splices, fragments, fused
Spelling, punctuation, grammar
Clear sentence structure
Word choice
Mature style
Language
=A
* = A- B+
=B
*
* = B- C+
Fulfilled (A/B)
=C
Weak
*
*
* = C- D+
= D (65%)
*
* = D- (60%)
= F (55%)
(C/D)
Unfulfilled
* = F (50%)
GRADING SCALE: The above sliding scale is used to evaluate all completed essays. The grader begins
on the left with the fulfillment of the basic assignment (thesis and outline). Once the baseline has
been established, the grader may only move up or down two levels from the previous mark. So, for
example, on the scale above, the grader may determine a paper does not fulfill the basic assignment
and begin with the bottom box. From there, on the next column, the grader will determine to what
extent the content element of the assignment as been fulfilled (strong paragraph development and
use of examples, logical argumentation, and unity of the paragraphs). The mark for this section may
appear only within the range marked by dotted lines on the chart. The top box (or asterisk) within
the dotted lines on this example indicates the highest score the paper could receive on content. The
lowest box or asterisk represents the lowest score. If a paper content exhibits above average but
not excellent content development, for example, it would receive the mark identified on this sample
with a check. From there, the final grade may only fall within the range indicated by the second set
of dotted lines. This paper displays weak basic structure, slightly above average paragraph
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development, but strong language skills; its final grade will probably be in the B- to C+ range. If this
paper were limited in sentence-level language skills in addition to its weaknesses in content
development, its grade could have fallen as low as a D-. Because of its strength in language skills,
however, it is saved from a failing grade. On the Proficiency Exam, however, all three areas must
receive a passing grade.
Evaluation:
Grades will be based on number of points accumulated by completing assignments and quizzes.
Points accumulated will be divided by the total points available in the class. The grading will be
based on the following:
Percent
100-94%
93-90%
89-87%
86-84%
83-80%
79-77%
Grade
A
AB+
B
BC+
Percent
76-74%
73-70%
69-67%
66-64%
63-60%
Below 60%
Grade
C
CD+
D
DF
Late Assignment/Missed Quiz Policy:
All assignments are due at the dates and times specified. Late assignments can be submitted up
to 24 hours late for a deduction of a quarter of total points, 48 hours late for a deduction of half
the total points available, and 72 hours for a deduction of three quarter of the total points
available. No assignments will be accepted for any credit after 72 hours.
•
Please be proactive in your assignment preparation and submission!
•
If you have any difficulties submitting an assignment, please email the professor immediately!
•
Difficulties with an assignment? Contact the professor before the day it’s due!
Missed daily work may be made up at the discretion of the professor. If you know will be
unavailable to before the date due, please make arrangements for an alternative due date. If
daily work is missed, the student has 48 hours to contact the professor for a possible make-up
time. Good excuses only, please! (Technical difficulties? Not really a good excuse. Please contact
the professor via email immediately!) Final paper deadlines are fixed.
Communications:
Student (what to do and know):
•
Email: Students should daily check their Evangel University email account and Angel home page
for announcements, course communications, reminders, and for submitting specific course
questions. (If you need an email account or a technical question answered, students may
contact Evangel’s Information Technology HelpDesk: http://www.evangel.edu/Info/HelpDesk.asp.
•
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Emails to the professor should contain the following:
The subject line of any email should contain the course name, the student’s name,
and a brief reason for the email. Example: ENGL 111 YOUR NAME; Essay 3
The body of any email should contain proper grammar, punctuation, and complete
sentences.
Please be descriptive as to the reason for the email.
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Phone and Face-to-face Meetings: Phone conversations and face-to-face meetings may be
pre-arranged by appointment. Please contact the course professor for available times.
•
Course Announcements: Daily and weekly course announcements will be posted on the
course Angel homepage. Please check them daily!
•
Class Time: Attendance in class is required. Some assignments may be introduced,
modified, or deleted during class without advanced warning or posting on Angel. Many
assignments will be started or revised and turned in during class time. Missing class is no
excuse for late assignments.
•
Assignments turned in on Angel: Assignments turned in on Angel should be saved in a
Word document on your University U drive or a personal flash drive. The title of each file
should include your last name and something that identifies the assignment. For example,
my first essay file name would be: Awbrey_InformEssay.doc.
Professor (what the student can expect):
•
Emails: All student emails will be answered within 12 hours of receipt, unless the instructor
gives prior notice of delays.
•
Phone and Face-to-face Meetings: Please email your request for a telephone or face-to-face
meeting. We will set a time/place/number together via email.
Academic Dishonesty:
Please see the Academic Dishonesty section in the Evangel University Student Handbook
(http://www.evangel.edu/CurrentStudents/StudentHandbook/Part2.asp#AcademicDishonesty)
and information about plagiarism in Course Content.
Technical Support:
Angel questions? Your professor is your first level of support. Please contact her via email, chat,
or phone. Please see the eUniversity homepage for Angel login information, computer
requirements, and other helpful information (http://www.evangel.edu/euniversity/index.asp).
Technical questions? Please contact the Evangel University Information Technology HelpDesk:
http://www.evangel.edu/Info/HelpDesk.asp or at 417.865.2815 x8368. Help desk hours are 7:30
a.m. - 10 p.m. Monday-Friday, CST. All calls outside of office hours will be reviewed the next shift.
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Major Assignments:
Essay 1: Fasting from Technology
Drop box Closing Date: September 21, 11:55 p.m.
Drop box location: Papers Folder
As part of your first essay assignment, you will give up use of most technology for a
continuous 24 hours. For some, this may seem impossible, but when most of your parents were
your age, they did not have the Internet, email, iPods, cell phones, MP3 players, CDs, DVDs, VCRs,
digital cameras, camcorders, or movies to rent. Text messaging? They wouldn’t have had a clue!
Believe it or not, your parents not only survived, but they had an interesting and satisfactory
existence in spite of their deprivation. Yes, they did have movies, tape recorders, land-line
phones, radio, and color TV. Wow! (Of course when THEIR parents were young, they had only
black and white TV or perhaps not even a television set. Hard to imagine!)The purpose for this
fast is not simply to make you miserable—though you may find that happens; it is to sensitize you
to the role that technology plays in your life and allow you to write an informative essay about
that role. The experiment should open your mind to the good (and possibly the bad) that comes
from technology. You will refer to your experience in your essay, so if you “cheat,” it may be
evident. Besides, you will sign a statement giving the start and end time of your fast and listing
the items you did not use. So just bite the bullet and deprive yourself for one day. Here are the
rules for the assignment:
1. For a period of 24 hours, you must not use the Internet (except for a class assignment), email,
cell phones, iPods or similar items, CDs, DVDs, VCRs, radios, television, movies, or video
games. The only technology allowed is a land-line phone (used ONCE for no more than 3
minutes) and word processing (so that your other teachers won’t be unhappy).
2. Choose the day ahead of time, and let your parents and friends know that your cell phone will
be left in your room and turned off (to avoid temptation), your email left unchecked, and your
ears left without electronic music. Give folks your RD’s number for genuine emergencies.
3. Before you go out with friends, explain your “fast” so that they will agree not to have music
on in the car. Choose a restaurant without music (McDonalds? ☺). If THOSE friends don’t
agree to the terms, find other friends for the night or spend it alone with your Webkinz. (But
don’t get on the Internet to “play” with them. ☺
4. If you find yourself in a room with a TV or music on, leave as quickly as possible. (Consider it
like a temptation that you move beyond.)
5. You are not allowed to have a friend make a phone call for you; nor can you receive a message
through your friend who takes it on a cell phone. Neither can you check your missed calls or
email inbox. In other words, this assignment has no “loopholes.” Keep the spirit of the law.
6. Once you begin the 24-hour period, you are not allowed to switch to another day (because,
say, you are invited to a movie by someone unbelievably cool). If by some chance you give in
to temptation and “sin,” there is forgiveness—of course. However, you must start another
24-hour period (and confess your fall to the teacher, who will deduct a few points). No fair
counting the “clean” hours from one day and adding them to the next!
7. You may begin at any time in the day or night and end at the same time 24 hours later.
8. You should journal your feelings several times (in handwriting, of course) as you go through
the fast using the following as a guide:
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What surprised you about your feelings during the fast? What upset you the most?
Why? How upset did you get? Was the experience actually calming? Did you gain
anything during the day that you would not have had? What important things did you
lose?
What did you learn, if anything, about yourself? Will you make any permanent
changes?
Would you recommend the electronic fast to a friend? Why?
9. As soon as you end the fast, take time to write at least one page (double spaced) about your
feelings. (So maybe you won’t want to start and end at 2:00 a.m.)
Summary & Paraphrase Writing:
Drop box Closing Date: Thursday, Sept. 10, 11:55 p.m.
Drop box location: Week 4
Summary/Paraphrase Writing: Print out William James’ essay “Habit” from the Week 4 Readings
Folder on Angel. The purpose of this exercise is to help you distinguish between the writing of a
summary, which broadly covers the main elements of another’s writing, and a paraphrase, which is a
close representation of each point in the original text, using your own words instead of the author’s.
Summary assignment: Using the “Reverse Outlining” technique found on the Purdue Owl
Website (see link below), mark the essay in the margins, create a sentence outline from your
notations, then write a 300- to 500-word summary of the reading. Drop the outline and
summary (in a Word document) into the drop box in Angel. Turn the marked hard copy in
with another copy of the outline in class. http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/689/01/
Paraphrase assignment: Write a paraphrase of one of the sets of paragraphs in William James’
essay “Habit” assigned in class. Remember, no more than THREE words in a row from the
original should appear. Any more and you have lapsed into plagiarism. Put the paraphrase into
a Word document and upload the document in the Turnitin.com drop box on Angel.
Essay 2: Persuasion
Drop box Closing Date: Monday, Oct. 12, 11:55 p.m.
Drop box location: Papers Folder
Persuasive Essay: Write a coherent, logical, persuasive argument for one of the following topics.
1. Consider a required course you know you need to take for your general education
requirement that you think you shouldn’t have to take. For instance, does a business major
really need to take art appreciation or introduction to literature? Does a lit major really need
statistics? Does anyone really need to take composition? After all, what are secretaries for?
Once you have identified a course you think is required but unnecessary to your education,
write a 3-page persuasive essay in which you try to persuade the University administration
that this course should be removed from the general education requirements for a particular
major.
2. Think about a creative category that should be included in the Assemblies of God Fine Arts
Festival that is not currently allowed. Write an essay in which you try to persuade the Fine
Arts staff at the Assemblies of God Headquarters to include this category in future years.
3. Consider a major that is not yet offered at Evangel but that you think the school should offer.
Write an essay in which you try to persuade the University administration to add this major.
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Essay 3: Documentation
Drop box location: Papers Folder
Drop box Closing Date: Friday, Nov. 13, 11:55 p.m.
Documented Essay: Using the same topic as your Essay 2: Persuasion, now take the opposite side
of your argument. In other words, write a rebuttal to yourself. Only this time, you will use
additional voices to bolster your argument. In your discussion, include the findings of others by
way of quoting, summarizing, or paraphrasing the James essay OR the Simone Weil essay, one
other PRINT source, one credible INTERNET source, and one PERSONAL INTERVIEW.
Essay requirements:
o Four to six pages of 12-point Calibri type with computer default margins.
o Keyhole structure (attention-getting opener, well developed introduction, wellsupported body paragraphs, conclusion that restates the thesis in a new way.
o FOUR sources (described above) and the appropriate number of citations as
outlined in the WB description of the documented essay
Essay 4: Character Analysis
Drop box location: Papers Folder
Drop box Closing Date: Tuedsay, Dec. 8, 11:55 p.m.
Character Analysis: Write a two- to three-page character analysis of ONE of the following
characters in “Eric Hermannson’s Soul”: Eric, Maggie, or Asa Skinner. Your thesis should identify
two major personality traits or characteristics you plan to focus on.
Each paragraph, then, should give clear examples and discussion of how the traits you have
identified lead to a better understanding of that character’s major actions or choices in the story.
For example, why does Maggie choose to return to New York when she clearly has strong feelings
for Eric? What specific characteristics in Eric cause him to fall in love with Maggie? What kind of
Christian is Asa Skinner? How does Eric’s relationship with Maggie redefine his relationship with
God?
The real danger in writing about literature is writing narrative summary (plot summary) rather
than analysis. Remember, you are being asked to ANALYZE, not SUMMARIZE. A paper that
merely summarizes the plot or aspects of the plot will not receive a passing grade.
8/25/2009
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