RHT 101:
Freshman Rhetoric & Composition I
Spring 2005
Section: 026
Days: Tues, Thurs
Time: 11:00AM-12:15PM
Classroom: L310
Instructor: Paul Martinez
Email: pmartine@triton.edu
Phone: 708-456-0300 ext. 3957
Office: L102B Wed: 2-3PM
Thurs: 9:30-10:30AM
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Freshman Rhetoric I emphasizes logical, coherent writing skills for competency in any
school or professional writing situation.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
 Generate ideas & gather supporting evidence
 Adapt writing to a specific occasion & audience
 Organize, draft & revise effective essays
 Develop coherent theses
 Incorporate & document outside sources in essays
 Actively engage a variety of readings
 Develop critical reading, writing & thinking skills
REQUIRED COURSE TEXT:
The St. Martin’s Guide to Writing. 7th edition. Edited by Axelrod & Cooper. Please
bring this book to every class meeting.
WORKLOAD:
Writing: In addition to informal assignments and writing exercises, you will write 5
“formal” essays this semester. All essays must be typed, stapled, and turned in on
time. Late work is not accepted. Specific directions will accompany each assignment.
Reading: You must read the assigned essays, chapter excerpts, articles, etc. before each
class that they are scheduled. You are expected to actively engage these readings and
voice your comments/questions about them during class discussion/lecture.
Quizzes: Quizzes will cover assigned readings and material covered during lecture. If
absence or tardiness cause you to miss a quiz, you cannot make up that quiz; however,
your lowest quiz grade will be dropped. While there are 5 scheduled quizzes this
semester, additional pop quizzes will given if the quality of in-class participation drops
below a satisfactory level.
Participation: Voicing your questions/comments in class discussion, sharing your input
during group work, and contributing to peers through peer-essay reviews are all
constructive means of participation. On the contrary, indifference, disruptive or
disrespectful class behavior will negatively affect your class status and grade.
CLASSROOM POLICES:
Attendance: Regular attendance is required. You are given 4 “free” absences to cover
illness, religious/personal holidays, etc. If you are absent more than 4 days, you will
be withdrawn from the class. Punctuality is also required. Every 2 tardies count as one
absence; if you are exceptionally late to a given class, you will be marked absent that day.
Cell Phones/Pagers: Cell phones and pagers must be silenced during class. Any student
who uses these devices during class will be dismissed for that day and will be marked
absent.
Plagiarism: Plagiarism refers to the act of representing the words or ideas of another as
your own. Plagiarism is not tolerated at Triton College. The consequences of plagiarism
may include failure in this course and further disciplinary action from the college. Please
see the Triton College Catalog (pages 30-31) for further information concerning Triton’s
academic honesty policy.
TUTORING:
Writing tutors are available to provide you with extra assistance on your essays on a first
come, first served basis in the Academic Success Center (ASC), which is located in
R100. You can also schedule an appointment with an ASC tutor by calling 708-4560300 ext. 3366.
GRADING:
You must earn a “C” or better to advance to RHT 102 or to receive credit for this class in
technical programs. Your grade will be based on the following percentage system:
 5 Essays
50%
 Responses/Exercises 25%
 4 Quizzes
20%
 Participation
5%
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:
You need only browse through pages marked “skim.” Please thoroughly read all other pages.
Week 1:
R 1/20 Introductions; Syllabus
Week 2:
T 1/25 From Chapter 1: pages 1-4 (Why Writing is Important; How Writing is Learned)
R 1/27 Quiz 1; Writing assessment
Week 3:
T 2/1 Response 1 Due; From Chapter 3: pages 83-88 (includes "Uncle Willie")
R 2/3 Response 2 Due; From Chapter 3: pages 97-103 ("A Different Kind..."; "Father")
Week 4:
T 2/8 Essay 1 Due: Remembering a Person
R 2/10 Response 3 Due; From Chapter 5: pages 201-208 (includes "Love...")
Week 5:
T 2/15 Quiz 2; From Chapter 5: pages 217-220 ("Indirect Aggression")
R 2/17 From Chapter 5: pages 223-226 ("Cannibalism")
Week 6:
T 2/22 Chapter 12: skim pages 583-608 (A Catalogue of Reading Strategies)
R 2/24 Essay 2 Due: Explaining a Concept
Week 7:
T 3/1 Chapter 19: skim pages 677-692 (Arguing)
R 3/3 Response 4 Due; From Chapter 6: pages 261-267 (includes "Sticks and Stones")
Week 8:
T 3/8 Quiz 3; From Chapter 6: pages 270-273 ("Nickel and Dimed")
R 3/10 From Chapter 6: skim pages 277-287 (includes essays by J. Rauch and S. Kurtz)
Week 9:
T 3/15 Response 5 Due; From Chapter 6: pages 287-290 ("Children Need to Play…")
R 3/17 Essay 3 Due: Arguing a Position
Week 10: SPRING RECESS: NO CLASS
Week 11:
T 3/29 From Chapter 8: pages 391-398 (includes "A Hell for Fathers…")
R 3/31 From Chapter 8: pages 400-404 ("The Elder Scrolls…")
Week 12:
T 4/5 Quiz 4; From Chapter 8: pages 407-409 ("Working at McDonald's")
R 4/7 Essay 4 Due: Justifying an Evaluation
LAST DAY TO DROP ANY CLASS AND RECEIVE A “W” GRADE
Week 13:
T 4/12 From Chapter 10: pages 507-511 (includes "The Story of an Hour")
R 4/14 Response 6 Due; From Chapter 10: pages 511-514 ("Sunday in the Park")
Week 14:
T 4/19 Library Day; Chapter 21: skim pages 709-746 (Library and Internet Research)
R 4/21 Quiz 5; From Chapter 10: pages 517-526 ("My Father's Chinese Wives")
Week 15:
T 4/26 From Chapter 22: skim pages 747-773 (Using and Acknowledging Sources)
R 4/28 Response 7 Due; From Chapter 10: pages 526-530 ("Araby")
Week 16:
T 5/3 From Chapter 10: pages 531-536 (includes two student sample essays)
R 5/5 Essay 5 Due: Interpreting Literature
Week 17:
Final Exam: Date/Time TBA