Edison College/Franklin-Monroe High School
Syllabus
I.
ENG 121 (3 Credit Hours)
English Composition I
II.
Faculty : R. Acacia Morrell
Phone: 937.367.7145
Email: acacia_morrell@darke.k12.oh.us
III.
Office Hours:
Text:
M-F 7:30-7:45; M/W 2:30-3:00
The Brief Bedford Reader, by Kennedy & Aaron, 11 th
edition- required
ISBN:0-312-61338-5
IV.
Course Competencies: a.
Academic Essay & Organization: i.
Think critically about your own and others’ writing. ii.
Be able to compose a basic multi-paragraph essay with an introduction, clear and concise thesis statement, sufficient support and details in paragraphs, and the correct usage of transitions between paragraphs. iii.
Knowledge and practice of writing process: planning, drafting, revising, editing. iv.
Identify and use a variety of rhetorical patterns of writing. v.
Knowledge and familiarity of MLA guidelines for format and documentation. b.
Grammar and Mechanics: i.
Demonstrate grammatical proficiency with Standard American English ii.
Use of appropriate voice for target audience c.
Standards i.
This is a writing course, and you will be expected to demonstrate good writing throughout your college career, not just in this course. The assignments below are designed to develop your writing skills regardless of what writing abilities you possess. In accordance with the Ohio Course
Transfer Agreement, we will be writing a minimum of 5,000 words, or 20 pages, of graded work. This will be done via writing a variety of essays, short responses, and a research project.
V.
Course Goals a.
This course involves writing based on critical reading skills, primary research techniques, and the student’s own personal experiences. Such writings may include explanation, commentary, interpretation, analysis, and review. All writing will stress standard English, organization, and style. Having completed the course, the students shall be able to: b.
Recognize that writing, and the study of it, is a significant part of a college education. c.
Produce personal writing based on memory, reflection, and observation. d.
Produce academic writings based on observation, interviewing, analysis of reading, inductive reasoning, and primary and periodical research.

e.
Model the writing process of critical thinking, composing, revising, editing, and publishing. f.
Apply critical thinking to the evaluation of his/her own arguments and those of others. g.
Use the library and research databases as a significant source of information for college courses. h.
Write clearly organized, well developed, essays fulfilling specific assignments. i.
Read for summary, example, analysis, and application. j.
Accept responsibility for finished drafts that use standard American English sentence structure, grammar, punctuation, and mechanics. k.
Choose written organization and style appropriate to college work. l.
Follow MLA guidelines for documenting source material.
VI.
Grading Rubric a.
Grading scale i.
90-100 = A ii.
80-89 = B iii.
70-79 = C iv.
60-69= D v.
59 and below is failing b.
There is no extra credit offered in this course c.
While the total number of points varies it is roughly between 1100- 1500 points offered. All essays are worth 100 points. Quizzes are worth 50 points. The final exam is worth 100 points. d.
Rubrics for essays are distributed on a per essay basis. A rubric that will be the foundation of all essay rubrics for class can be found at https://professionals.collegeboard.com/testing/sat-reasoning/scores/essay/guide.
It is based on the Collegeboard’s SAT Writing rubric. e.
Revision Policy: Revision and reflection is a major part of writing. You may revise up to two of the major essays described above. I must receive the revision by the assigned deadline. I expect revisions to go beyond simply addressing my comments (since I do not comment or correct everything) by carefully examining and trying to meet the grading criteria for each essay. Turnitin.com allows me to see if you have read my comments on your paper. I will not grade a revision if you have not read my comments on your prior effort. You can receive a maximum of 10 additional points for revisions. Revision is not allowed for any essay that is suspected of plagiarism.
VII.
Classroom Policies and Procedures a.
Withdrawal Policy: Students must withdraw officially from a course or will receive an “F”. b.
Final Exam: All students will be expected to complete a final exam on the designated date and time, unless prior arrangements have been discussed and approved by the instructor. c.
Attendance Policy: Students are expected to attend and actively engage in all class sessions. If you do not have a computer at home the library, computer lab, and the classroom computers are available. Please ask to receive a pass to utilize these computers. Not owning a computer or the lack of access to the internet is not a viable excuse for failure to complete coursework.

d.
Plagiarism: One commits plagiarism whenever one submits a paper he or she has not actually written. This includes, but is not limited to, cutting and pasting another’s materials without giving proper citation and purchasing another’s paper online. e.
Welcome to ENG 121, Composition 1. This is a writing course, driven by reading the writings of others and the practice of our own writing. The purpose of this course is to give you practice with four forms of academic writing: narrative, criticism, analysis, and research writing. In addition, there will be weekly writing exercises in response to the readings. This is a writing course, and you will be expected to demonstrate good writing throughout your college career, not just in this course. The assignments below are designed to develop your writing skills regardless of what writing abilities you possess. In accordance with the Ohio
Course Transfer Agreement, we will be writing a minimum of 5,000 words, or 20 pages, of graded work. f.
Students with Disabilities-Edison Community College will make reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities. If you believe you may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability, contact the instructor privately with your self-identification letter. If you do not have a selfidentification letter, contact the Coordinator of Disability Services in Student
Affairs, room 160 West Hall, Piqua Campus, or e-mail disabilities@edisonohio.edu
. For additional information, visit the Disability
Services website at www.edisonohio.edu/disability . g.
The Edison Community College Student Handbook can be found at the following website address http://www.edisonohio.edu/uploadedFiles/_Web_Assets/Documents/Handbooks/Stud ent_Handbook_2014.pdf
VIII.
Cell Phone Policy: Phones are not allowed to be used in class. a.
If I see you using your phone or other electronic device for non-classroom purposes it will be confiscated. You may pick up your phone at the conclusion of
7 th
period. b.
The second and subsequent times I have to take away your phone/electronic device it will also result in a deduction of five points from your Semester Exam.
IX.
Assignments: a.
All assignments are due at the beginning of class on the day assigned. I will accept papers one day late for ½ credit. After one day late no assignments will be accepted. b.
All readings and homework listed on the syllabus are to be completed by the next class. . c.
All assignments must be in hard copy. All assignments will be in MLA format.
This includes them being typed in Arial, or Times New Roman, 12 point font, with the following header in the upper left corner:
Your name
Date
ENC1101
Morrell d.
In the case of an absence, it is the student’s responsibility to make up all work and to get it to me in a timely manner. I consider a timely manner to be within two weeks of the date of the absence.

X.
Classroom Behavior: a.
This is college please keep in mind that you need to be respectful to everyone in the classroom. Your classmates, like you, want to be treated with respect and consideration. Students who disrupt class and interfere with the learning environment will be asked to leave.
Syllabus is subject to revision per instructor.
Week 2 8/31-9/4
Syllabus Overview-Signature due by end of week
Subject, Audience, and Purpose
What is a rubric?
Plagiarism
Citations
H.W. Read pgs. 1-32
Week 3
Chapter 1 pgs. 1-32
9/07-9/011
Titles
“Disability” by Nancy Mairs
Thinking Critically
MLA
First essay assigned “Feature Story”, due in two weeks
H.W. Read pgs. 33-59 and 61-93
Week 4 9/14-9/18
Essay 1 questions discussed
Peer-editing of essay 1 “Feature Story”
Chapters 2 and 3
Academic Writing
Why Prewrite?
Thesis Statements
Quiz 1
H.W. Read pgs. 97-105 and 110-126 including “Champion of the World”, “Fish Cheeks” & “The
Chase”
Week 5 9/21-9/25
Discussion regarding assigned reading
Ch. 4 Narratives
MLA problem areas discussed
Essay 1 “Feature Story” due
H.W. Read pgs. 135-162 in Chapter 5 including “Arm Wrestling with my Father” and “Shooting
Dad”

Week 6 9/28-10/02
Quiz 2
Magazine Analysis assignment
Ch. 5 Description
Page 176 writing topics completed in class
Multi-genre paper introduced due 12/13
H.W. Read pgs. 179-196; including “On Compassion” and “Homeless”
Week 7
Heuristics
10/05-10/09
Academic Writing discussed
Sensory details
Ch. 6 Example
In class writing page 213
Multi-genre papers
Examples discussed
H.W. Read pgs. 215-243 including “Neat People vs. Sloppy People”, “Batting Clean-up and
Striking Out”, and “Grant and Lee: A Study in Contrasts”.
Week 8 10/12-10/16
Essay 3 assigned, page 252 number 1. Due in two weeks
Multi-genre paper topic due this week
What is a repetend?
Ch, 7 Comparison and Contrast
Quiz 3
H.W. Read pgs. 255-268; 276-286 including “How to Poison the Earth” and “Behind the
Formaldehyde Curtain”.
Week 9 10/19-10/23
Peer-editing of essay 3
Chapter 8 Process Analysis
This will be the topic of your next essay
Double Bubble Maps
Common writing issues
Multi-genre paper questions and concerns
Week 10 10/26-10/29
Essay 3 due
Brace Map
Essay 4 assigned, page 298 number 1 due in two weeks
Presentation to go with essay
H.W. Read pgs. 301-309; 322-337 including “Vampires Never Die” and “The Myth of Doomed
Kids”

Week 11
Peer editing of essay 4
11/02-11/06
Ch. 9 Division or Analysis
Reliable Resources. Research Narrative Assignment
Quiz 4
Multi-genre paper check for progress and Q & A
H.W. Read pgs. 339-367; including “The Ways We Lie” and “Doublespeak”.
Week 12 11/09-11/11
Process Analysis presentations and essay 4 due
Ch. 10 Classification
Essay 5-Resume assigned-due in two weeks
H.W. Read pgs. 385-395 and 416-426; including “The Rise and Fall of the Hit”
Week 13
Essay 5 Q & A
11/16-11/20
Chapter 11 Cause and Effect
Page 425 topic 1. In-class essay
H.W. Read pgs. 429-438; 452-463; including “Needs” and “Rural Delivery”.
Week 14
Essay 5 due
11/23-11/24
Chapter 12 Definition
Page 463 topic 1. In-class essay
11/30-12/04 H.W. Read pgs. 465-481 Week 15
Chapter 13 Argument and Persuasion
Logical Fallacies
Toulmin
Multi-genre paper check and Q & A
H.W. Read pgs. 488-499 including, “Safety through Immigration Control” and “Not Your
Homeland”
Week 16
Quiz 5
Evaluation assignment
12/07-12/11
Impromptu speeches vs. planned speeches
Collect multi-genre project assignments
H.W. Read pg 514 and 523-528; including “I Have a Dream”
Week 17 12/14-12/18
Final Exam PowerPoint review
Week 18
Final Exam
12/21-12/23