Foundations for College Writing
Weekly Course Schedule (14-week semester)
Week 1: Introduction to course, habits of mind, Core Value 1; introduce Core Value 2, discuss and
practice annotating a text and performing a “close reading”; suggested reading “What I Really Want Is
Someone Rolling Around in the Text”
Week 2: Read and annotate McIntosh (reading for Essay 1); discuss rhetorical situation (Core Value 3);
practice reading to summarize; fill in worksheet for summarizing McIntosh
Week 3: Translate worksheet into written summary; peer review summary; read and annotate Fortgang
Week 4: Revise summary of McIntosh; fill in worksheet for and produce summary of Fortgang; introduce
Core Value 5, Essay 1, and concept of exploratory essays (vs. five-paragraph essay); complete critical
engagement worksheet
Week 5: Core Value 4; topic sentences + how to elaborate and develop ideas (PIE or ICED strategy);
workshop on using sources appropriately (quoting & adequate paraphrasing) and making quotation
sandwiches; draft 1-2 paragraphs for Essay 1 (latter half of this week and beginning of next)
Week 6: Could discuss openings/intro paragraphs and/or transitions; could peer review one paragraph;
draft of Essay 1 due with peer review and reflection in class that day
Week 7: Conference with students to return drafts of Essay 1 (conferences are in lieu of the regular class
meeting); revision of Fortgang summary due; read and annotate Introduction to Media Literacy; look at
ads in class
Week 8: revision of Essay 1 due (could gather work as a midterm portfolio); screen Killing Us Softly 4 in
class and discuss; review rhetorical situation & introduce rhetorical appeals; conference again regarding
revision and/or midterm portfolio to give students feedback on progress in the course
Week 9: read and annotate Hine; introduce Essay 2; summaries + critical engagement worksheet;
students select and bring in ads to analyze
Week 10: Discuss what analysis looks like in writing & point out how Essay 2 differs from five-paragraph
essay; go over examples and draft individual paragraphs for essay (description of ad, analysis of ad, etc.);
can do mini-peer reviews of these in class
Week 11: Go over intros & conclusions, and putting together a works cited page; full Essay 2 due; peer
review and reflection
Week 12: Go over final course portfolio; revisions to summaries for Essay 2 due; work on reflective
statements & do peer review
Week 13: New draft of Essay 2 due; revision & editing workshops; meet in computer lab or bring in
laptops/paper & pen to work on portfolios
Week 14: Meet in computer lab or bring in laptops/paper & pen to work on portfolios; final portfolio
due the last day of class
Finals Week: Conference with students to return portfolio, give final “grade” (passing or not passing),
and advice for future writing courses