ENG 101: Writing I
Heather Duncan
Course Information
Professor Information
Term: Spring 2013
Office:
Credits: 3
Meeting Time: MWF
E-mail:
Classroom: Clemens
Office Hrs: M and W 10-11am and by appt.
Course Attributes
Course Catalog Description
First semester of the General Education Writing Skills Requirement for students required to take both
ENG 101 and ENG 201. Practice in developing essays with variable emphases on purpose, subject,
audience, and persuasion; in constructing mature sentences and paragraphs; and in revising.
Introduces documenting and writing from sources. Twenty-five pages of graded, revised writing,
excluding first drafts, exercises, and quizzes. Students may not receive credit for both ENG 101 and
ESL 407.
In this course we will be exploring a variety of topics and genres t
Last day to drop: Jan. 19th
Last day to add: Jan.22nd
Last day to resign with grade of “R”: Mar. 29th
Goals
Assessment
In 101, students will
• gain familiarity with learning approaches
formal and informal writing assignments
connected to successful writing
• compose in a variety of academic, professional,
and civic contexts, including digital environments
• undertake a productive writing practice, including
formal writing assignments, including one digital
composition and assignments in more than one genre
formal writing assignments require drafts and revision
revising
• make and support arguments
formal and informal writing assignments
• acquire an introductory understanding of rhetorical formal and informal writing assignments
analysis
• practice critical and evaluative reading
formal and informal writing assignments
• understand the role of conventions in different
students write in more than one genre
genres.
In 201, in addition, students will
• practice library research methods
a formal, research-based writing assignment
• evaluate primary and secondary sources
a formal, research-based writing assignment
• compose a researched essay
a formal, research-based writing assignment
Through 101 and 201, students will
• be introduced to the humanistic discipline of
formal and informal writing assignments
rhetoric
• investigate questions of the humanities through
formal and informal writing assignments
rhetorical study
Grading
Narrative Essay
10%
Media Review
10%
Proposal
10%
Rhetorical Analysis
10%
Digital Portfolio
40%
Informal Writing
10%
Class Participation
10%
Required Materials
•
The Norton Sampler, 7th ed., Thomas Cooley, New York: Norton, 2010 (available in UB North
Campus bookstore)
•
Additional readings available via UB Learns
Assignment Descriptions
Below are very brief descriptions of the assignments for the course. More detailed descriptions of the
assignments will be made available to you as the course progresses. Note: I accept all assignments
in electronic (email) format only. Assignments must be submitted as email attachments (no cut
and paste) by 9am on the day they are due.
Narrative Essay
You will compose a narrative essay about an event in your life that triggered an instance of critical
thinking. This could be one single event or a series of events, as long as the end result was a change in
your perspective about yourself, your environment, or the world in general. Minimum of 1,500 words.
Media Review
You will write a review of a media artifact. This could be a film, a novel, a television show, a video
game, a work of art—i.e. any expression of creativity. The goal of this assignment is to offer an
informed critique of the object in question. Minimum of 1,200 words.
Proposal
The objective of this assignment is to propose a change to something in your local environment. This
could be any place that you are particularly familiar with (e.g. your hometown, your workplace, your
dorm, etc.). Minimum of 1,500 words.
Rhetorical Analysis
This assignment will require you to choose a persuasive essay (from our textbook or a source of your
own choosing) and conduct a rhetorical analysis of the author’s argument. The goal is to summarize,
dissect, and critique the argument in question. Minimum of 1,500 words.
Digital Portfolio
This will represent the culmination of your writing activities for this semester. You will choose three of
your assignments to revise for presentation on a blog which you will create and design yourself. This
will require you to make significant changes to your work. We will hold regular portfolio workshops
throughout the semester.
Informal Class Writing
We will be using the UBLearns discussion board feature to engage in weekly online discussions of
course material. To receive full credit, you must write at least one post or comment of approximately
one paragraph in length per week and respond to at least one of your peers. We will also engage in a
variety of informal writing exercises in class throughout the semester.
Class and Workshop Participation
This course expects regular attendance and participation. This includes both small group and classwide discussion of readings and assignments. Participation in peer review workshops is especially
important for the portfolio assignment.
Course Policies
Disability Services
Government regulations require that university policies, practices, and procedures not discriminate on
the basis of disability. Disability Services coordinates reasonable modifications so that individuals with
disabilities can access and benefit from all programs, services, and activities of the university. Please
visit the Disability Services website for further information: http://www.ub-disability.buffalo.edu/.
Academic Dishonesty
Please familiarize yourself with the University’s Academic Integrity policy, which can be found at
http://undergrad-catalog.buffalo.edu/policies/course/integrity.shtml. In a writing course, we are
particularly concerned with plagiarism, which the catalog describes as “Copying or receiving material
from any source and submitting that material as one’s own, without acknowledging and citing the
particular debts to the source (quotations, paraphrases, basic ideas), or in any other manner
representing the work of another as one’s own.” The writing program’s policy states that the first
instance of plagiarism will result in an “F” on that assignment. Any additional instances of plagiarism will
result in failure of the course.
Late Assignment Policy
On occasion, students are unable to meet assigned due dates. If you believe you will be unable to
meet a due date, you must email me prior to the day an assignment is due. In your email you should
explain your situation and identify when you will complete the assignment. Typically I will grant students
a week extension on one assignment during the semester. Assignments turned in late without prior
arrangement will be reduced one full letter grade. Assignments later than one week may not be
accepted.
Attendance Policy
The writing program attendance policy allows students one week of absences. That means you may
miss three classes without penalty. Each additional absence will drop your final grade 1/3 of a grade
(e.g. miss six classes total and your final grade will drop from a “B” to a “C”).
University Repeat Policy
Please be advised that English 101, 102, and 201 have been designated as “limited enrollment”
courses. Self-registration in these courses in the Fall and Spring semesters will be limited to those
students who are taking the course for the first time; repeat enrollments during Spring and Fall will not
be allowed. Students who plan to repeat one of these courses for any reason should plan to register for
the course during one of the summer sessions.
Repeat enrollment refers to registration by a student who was previously enrolled in the course at UB,
or who transferred an equivalent course to UB, and who received a letter grade of A, B, C, D or F and
qualified values thereof (e.g., A-, D+) or a grade of P, S, U, I, J, N or R. The only case in which a
student may self-register for a repeated course is when the student has taken an Administrative
Withdrawal for an entire previous semester, so that all the grades for that semester were registered as
W. All appeals of this policy should be directed to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
Student Conduct
Students are expected to interact respectfully with one another and with the instructor, and in no way to
interfere with other students’ ability to learn or with the instructor’s ability to teach through rude,
offensive or distracting behaviors. For further information, please visit the undergraduate catalog on this
matter. http://undergradcatalog.buffalo.edu/policies/course/obstruction.shtml.
Incomplete Policy
An incomplete grade may only be given to students (at the instructor’s discretion) who have (1) fulfilled
the attendance requirement for the course and (2) completed all but one of the written assignments.
Library Skills
Beginning in Fall 2011, students will be required to complete the Library Skills Workbook within the
first year of their arrival. Students in English 102 and 201 will be required to complete the Workbook in
conjunction with their units on research writing. The Workbook is accessible through UBLearns, but
students would be best advised to visit the Library's page to look for updates and additional information
before beginning (http://library.buffalo.edu/libraries/gethelp/libraryskillsworkbook). Many composition
sections meet directly with the librarian who is a direct liaison to the Composition Program, Laura
Taddeo, but she would like to let it be known that she is happy to address questions and grant
assistance at any point during the semester to anyone in our courses. She can be reached at 6457970, ltaddeo@buffalo.edu, or room 522 of Lockwood Library.
Course Schedule
Note: Course schedule is subject to change. Notifications of changes will be made in class or via
email. Whatever is listed for each day of class is due ON THAT DAY. All assignments are due on
the day they are listed by 9am in my email inbox. To receive credit for class participation, you must
complete readings in advance of class discussions.
Meeting Day
Assignments
1/14
Introduction to ENG 101
1/16
Read Introduction (p. 1-18)
Introduction to Narrative Essay Assignment
Class Discussion—writing as process
In-Class Exercise—Mapping the Writing Process
1/18
From Ch. 3—Read p. 84-91, Thomas Beller “The Ashen Guy”
Class Discussion
In-Class Exercise—Brainstorming
1/21
Class Canceled—MLK Day
1/23
Read Rodriguez “None of This Is Fair”, Yiyun Li “Orange Crush”
Class Discussion
1/25
Read sample narrative essay (available on UBLearns)
Group Exercise—Evaluation and Revision Strategies
1/28
Narrative Essay Rough Draft Due
Peer Review Workshop
1/30
Read Sandra L. Giles “Reflective Writing and the Revision Process” (available on
UBLearns)
Introduction to Digital Portfolio Assignment
Group Exercise—Reflective Writing
2/1
Lab Day—meet in Clemens 128
Using Blogger, customizing your blog
2/4
Narrative Essay Final Draft Due
Introduction to Media Review Assignment
In-Class Exercise
Course Schedule
Note: Course schedule is subject to change. Notifications of changes will be made in class or via
email. Whatever is listed for each day of class is due ON THAT DAY. All assignments are due on
the day they are listed by 9am in my email inbox. To receive credit for class participation, you must
complete readings in advance of class discussions.
2/6
Read Ch. 2 “Description,” p. 41-50, Ann Hodgman “No Wonder They Call Me A
Bitch”
Class Discussion
In-Class Exercise—Description Techniques
2/8
Lab Day—meet in Clemens 128
Portfolio Workshop
2/11
Read a review of your choice, print and bring to class
Class Discussion
Group Exercise—Critique
2/13
Media Review Rough Draft Due
Peer Review Workshop
2/15
Portfolio Workshop
2/18-2/22
Classes Canceled--Mid-Semester Conferences
2/25
Media Review Final Draft Due
Read Ch. 9 “Cause and Effect” p. 339-347, Ch. 10 “Argument” p. 376-388
Introduction to Proposal Assignment
Introduction to Toulmin Model
In-Class Exercise—Warrants
2/27
Read Jonathan Swift “A Modest Proposal”
Class Discussion
In-Class Exercise—Clustering
3/1
Lab Day—Meet in Clemens 128
Portfolio Workshop
3/4
Read Dennis Baron “Don’t Make English Official—Ban It Instead”
In-Class Exercise—Using Irony and Satire
3/6
Group Exercise—Observation and Critique cont.
3/8
Proposal Rough Draft Due
Peer Review Workshop
3/11-3/15
Classes Cancelled—Spring Break
3/18
Proposal Final Draft Due
Read Stanley Fish “Plagiarism Is Not A Big Moral Deal” (on UBLearns)
Introduction to Rhetorical Analysis Assignment
Class Discussion
3/20
Class Discussion cont.
In-Class Exercise—Dissecting An Argument
Course Schedule
Note: Course schedule is subject to change. Notifications of changes will be made in class or via
email. Whatever is listed for each day of class is due ON THAT DAY. All assignments are due on
the day they are listed by 9am in my email inbox. To receive credit for class participation, you must
complete readings in advance of class discussions.
3/22
Read Johnson C. Montgomery “The Island of Plenty”
Class Discussion
3/25
Read William Moller “Those Who Live In Glass Houses”
Class Discussion
3/27
Read Greg Lewis “An Open Letter to Diversity’s Victims”
Class Discussion
3/29
Read sample rhetorical analysis paper (on UBLearns)
In-Class Exercise—Evaluation
4/1
Rhetorical Analysis Rough Draft Due
Peer Review Workshop
4/3
Writing Effective Introductions
In-Class Exercise—Introductions
4/5
Writing Effective Conclusions
In-Class Exercise—Conclusions
4/8
Rhetorical Analysis Final Draft Due
Read Appendix “Using Sources in Your Writing” p. 487-513
In-Class Exercise—Incorporating Sources
4/10
Bring one of your papers to class
Revising
In-Class Exercise—Switching Genres
4/12
Lab Day—meet in Clemens 128
Portfolio Workshop
4/15-4/19
Classes Cancelled--Conferences
4/22
Read Paul Lynch “The Sixth Paragraph: A Re-Vision of the Essay” (on UBLearns)
Bring 3 portfolio assignments to class
Class Discussion
In-Class Exercise—Revising for Audience
4/24
Bring 3 portfolio assignments to class
In-Class Exercise—Revising for Purpose
4/26
Lab Day—meet in Clemens 128
Finish Portfolios
4/29
Digital Portfolios Due
Conclusions