Syllabus for
SAINT LEO UNIVERSITY
ENG 121: Academic Writing I
Instructor:
Instructor Availability:
Communication:
Class:
Credits:
Textbooks:
Bill Perry
Directly After Each Class
E-mail: william.perry02@saintleo.edu
Home Phone: 843.768.3869
Cell: 770.883.2228
Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday
3
Harris, Muriel. The Academic Writing Guide to Good English. 6th ed. Saint Leo
University: Pearson Custom Publishing, 2006.
Hirschberg, Stuart, Terry Hirschberg, and George Miller. The Academic Writing Reader.
Saint Leo University. Boston: Pearson Custom Printing, 2006.
Note: Bring the two textbooks to every class.
Pre-requisites:
Passing grade in ENG 002 or satisfactory score on the English Placement Test
Course Description:
Academic Writing I will teach the techniques of effective writing, logical thinking, and intelligent
reading, with special emphasis on expository writing. To ensure competence in oral
communications, a speech component is included.
Learning Outcomes:
As a result of this course, students will:
1. Perfect the ability to write clear theses.
2. Demonstrate proficiency in writing well-constructed introductory, body, and
concluding paragraphs.
3. Demonstrate the ability to revise and proofread..
4. Demonstrate proficiency in editing, revising, and producing drafts of an essay.
5. Demonstrate proficiency in spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
6. Improve sentence structure.
7. Improve writing style.
8. Improve critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
9. Improve speaking skills.
10. Develop proficiency in writing a five-paragraph essay in the various rhetorical modes.
Attendance:
Attendance for all class meetings in mandatory, and every student is expected to be in class on
time. Absences can negatively affect your grade. Therefore, if you have to miss a class because
of a military work assignment or other valid reason, you must notify me. All work must be made
up for the class missed. Habitual tardiness is disruptive and disrespectful. It will count as an
absence, resulting in a reduced grade.
Submitting
Assignments:
Your assignments are due on time. Your essays will be handed in at the beginning of class the
day they are due. In the unlikely event that you cannot attend class the day an essay is due, you
may e-mail it to me. Any work submitted by e-mail must be sent as an attachment in the
Microsoft Word program. Failure to turn in an essay on time will result in one letter grade
deduction for every class day missed. If circumstances prevent work from being done on time,
please notify me before the essay is due.
Grades:
You will receive two grades for your essay assignments. The bottom grade will be for grammar,
mechanics, and spelling. The top grade will be for unity, coherence, and development. The
grades are averaged together.
The grading scale for grammar, mechanics and spelling will be as follows:
Error
 Disagreement of subject/verb or pronoun/antecedent
 Fragmented or garbled sentence
 Fused (run-on) sentence or comma splice
 Dangling construction
 Faulty parallelism
 Misplaced modifier
 Shift of tense or person
 Unclear pronoun reference
 Incorrect punctuation
 Misspelling
Total course grade will be calculated as follows:
Six 500-word Essays (about 2 pages)
Quizzes
Final Exam/Essay 7
Class Participation/Work
Presentation
Notebook
60%
15%
15%
2%
5%
3%
SLU Grading Policy:
95-100
94-90
89-88
87-84
83-80
79-78
A
AB+
B
BC+
77-74
73-70
69-68
67-60
59 and below
C
CD+
D
F
Points Deducted
5
5
5
5
3
3
3
2
2
2
Grading Criteria:
It is important for you to have an understanding of what constitutes an A, B, C, D, or F paper.
Below are some common characteristics that may help you to understand the differences in
grades.
A. Outstanding Work. An A paper presents interesting, insightful ideas. It exhibits a mature level
of thought (that is, exhibits the ability to draw inferences and make analogies which show insight
into the topic). There is a clear focus (thesis, controlling idea) which is developed in an
organized, concise, logical manner. Unified and coherent paragraphs include specific, relevant
supporting evidence and examples. Sentences are varied and well constructed. Word choices are
precise, fresh, and vivid. There are virtually no errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, or usage.
Research, if used, is thorough, accurately documented, and effectively integrated.
NOTE: Often the A Paper is distinguished from the B paper by a more assured prose style, more
creativity in form or content, more subtlety in rhetorical strategy.
B. Good Work. A B paper demonstrates a thoughtful, solid understanding of the subject.
Although ideas are interesting, they tend to lack originality or insight. Focus is clear and content
well organized, but paragraphs may be slightly underdeveloped or need more support. Most
sentences are varied and well constructed. Word choice is generally appropriate. Although there
may be some minor errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, or usage, none of these problems is
glaring or highly distracting. Research may not be as thorough, appropriately documented, or
effectively integrated as an A paper.
C. Adequate Work. A C paper is an average paper, presenting ideas that may be obvious or
unexceptional. It is generally clear throughout, but some information may be general or
repetitious. It has a clear thesis with some concrete details and examples. The essay is somewhat
developed and organized. Paragraph breaks may not always correspond to shifts in topic.
Sentence structure is adequate but undistinguished and can be repetitive or awkward with
imprecise or inappropriate word choices. Errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling or usage may
distract the reader but do not prevent comprehension. Research may not be appropriately used or
effectively integrated.
D. Poor Work. A D paper tends to lack insight and interesting ideas. Focus is often confusing or
not easily identified. The essay is usually undeveloped and poorly organized. Paragraph breaks
can be arbitrary. Statements are unsupported, repetitive, or irrelevant. Sentence structure and
word choice may be inaccurate, confusing, or awkward. There are many grammar, punctuation,
spelling, and usage errors. Research is poorly documented and ineffectively used to develop the
paper.
F. Unacceptable Work. An F paper presents simplistic, inappropriate, or incoherent ideas and
lacks focus. It tends to be undeveloped and disorganized. Paragraphs are incoherent, and
paragraph breaks often do not correspond to shifts in topic. Statements are unsupported,
repetitive, or irrelevant. Sentence structure and word choice are inaccurate, confusing, or
awkward.
There are many grammar, punctuation, spelling, and usage errors that often prevent
comprehension. Research is not evident, or sources are undocumented, i.e., plagiarized. The
paper does not meet the requirements of the assignment. (adapted from Pace University)
Essays:
You will write seven 500-word essays for this course. These assignments will require
proofreading, editing, and several drafts. Your writing will be graded on organization and
coherence. You will need a clear thesis, well-developed supporting paragraphs, and an effective
conclusion. Correct grammar and spelling will be expected.
Essay Format:
1. Type all essays in double space, using 12-point Times Roman font.
2. Use standard size paper (8 1/2 x 11).
3. Use 1” margins.
4. Indent each paragraph 5 spaces.
5. Write name, essay #, essay type, date due, ENG 121.
6. Write essay title, purpose, and underline thesis.
7. Staple in upper left corner, no cover sheet.
Quizzes:
You will take six quizzes during this course.
Notebook:
Everyone will keep a notebook for the course. It should be a 1 1/2-inch (or larger), three-ring,
hardback binder. It should be divided into 5 sections: (1) your syllabus, (2) printed and
supplemental written notes, (3) completed/graded essays and in progress essays, (4) graded
quizzes, (5) exercises/handouts.
Note: Bring your Notebook to every class.
Presentations:
You will choose one of your essays to present to the class. This does not mean you will read the
essay. You will defend your essay’s thesis, presenting a coherent and logical argument with
effective introduction, points of support, and strong conclusion. Your presentation should be no
more than 10 minutes long.
Class Etiquette:
While in class be attentive and sensitive to your fellow students and instructor. No inappropriate
language in class. Be respectful of others’ opinions. Silence your cell phone, pager, personal
digital assistant (PDA), iPod, or any other similar device. Please be in class on time and stay
until class is over. You may not use a computer in this class unless given special permission. The
instructor may allow laptops in class for specific assignments.
Saint Leo University
Core Values:
Integrity: The commitment of Saint Leo University to excellence demands that its members live
its mission and deliver on its promise. The faculty, staff and students pledge to be honest, just and
consistent in word and deed. Students will be fulfilling this mission by completing essays that
inform the campus and outside communities.
Respect: Animated in the spirit of Jesus Christ, we value all individuals’ unique talents,
respect their dignity and strive to foster their commitment to excellence in our work. Our
community’s strength depends on the unity and diversity of our people, on the free exchange
of ideas and on learning, living and working harmoniously. Students will demonstrate
respect within the classroom as they discuss their essays and ideas.
Academic Honesty:
The Academic Honor Code is published in its entirety in the Saint Leo University Catalog. The
first paragraph is quoted below:
As members of an academic community that places a high value on truth and the pursuit
of knowledge, Saint Leo University students are expected to be honest in every phase of their
academic life and present as their own work only that which is genuinely theirs. Unless
otherwise specified by the professor, students must complete homework assignments by
themselves (or if on a team assignment, with only their team members). If they receive outside
assistance of any kind, they are expected to cite the source and indicate the extent of the
assistance. Each student has the responsibility to maintain the highest standards of academic
integrity and to refrain from cheating, plagiarism, or any other forms of academic dishonesty.
ADA Compliance:
Students with documented disabilities who may need academic accommodation(s) should contact
the Americans with Disabilities Act office at: adaoffice@saintleo.edu for assistance.
Course Assignments
(Subject to Change)
Week 1
Tuesday, February 2: Class 1
In Class:
Placement Essay
Review: Syllabus and Notebook
Discussion: Purpose, Audience, and Thesis
Comma Splices, Run-on Sentences, and Fragments
Exercises 6.1 (comma splices) and 8.1 (fragments)
Assignment:
Academic Reader: Read pages 723-732 (“Gathering and Using Examples”).
Writing Guide: Read 6a, 6b, 8a, and 8b
Thursday, February 4: Class 2
In Class:
Review: Purpose, Audience, Thesis
Comma Splices, Run-on Sentences, Fragments
Discussion: Gathering and Using Examples
Paragraphs and Parallel Construction
Exercises 10.1 (parallelism) and 6.3 (compound sentences)
Thesis Handout and Exercises
Assignment:
Academic Reader: Read pages 733- 742 (“Narration”).
Writing Guide: Read chapters 3 and 10.
Essay 1: Due Tuesday, February 9 – On page 732 The Academic Reader, choose topic a,
b, or c.
Friday, February 5: Class 3
In Class:
Review: Gathering and Using Examples
Paragraphs and Parallel Construction
Discussion: Narration
Sentences (clarity, transition, variety)
Parallelism Exercise Handout
Run-on Sentence Exercise Handout
Well-Developed Paragraph Handout
Exercises 16.1 (sentence variety)
Quiz 1
Assignment:
Academic Reader: Read pages 595-597 (“Great Movies”).
Writing Guide: Read chapters 14, 15, and 16.
Week 2
Tuesday, February 9: Class 4
In Class:
Review: Narration (“Great Movies”)
Sentences (clarity, transition, variety)
Discussion: Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers
Pronoun Reference
Coordination and Subordination
Confusing Sentences Handout
Exercises 9.1 (dangling modifiers) and 9.3 (misplaced modifiers)
Assignment:
Academic Reader: Read pages 743-751 (“Description”).
Writing Guide: Read 9 a, b; 13 a, b; 19 b.
Essay 2: Due Tuesday, February 16 – Choose a narration topic discussed in class.
Due:
Essay 1 (bring to class) – Focus on Specific Example(s)
Thursday, February 11: Class 5
In Class:
Review: Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers
Pronoun Reference
Coordination and Subordination
Discuss: Description
Unnecessary and Appropriate Words
Misplaced and Dangling Modifier and Pronoun Reference Exercise Handouts
Exercises 41.1 (eliminating wordiness) and 13.2 (subordination and coordination)
Assignment:
Academic Reader: Read pages 53-55 (“So, This is Adolescence”).
Writing Guide: Read 41 a-c, 42 a, b.
Friday, February 12: Class 6
In Class:
Review: Description (“So, This is Adolescence”)
Unnecessary and Appropriate Words
Discussion: Subject-Verb Agreement
Clichés Exercise Handout
Inflated Words Handout
Indefinite Pronouns Handout
Exercise 7.1 (subject-verb agreement)
Quiz 2
Assignment:
Academic Reader: Read pages 753-751 (“Division and Classification”)
Writing Guide: Read chapter 7.
Week 3
Tuesday, February 16: Class 7
In Class:
Review: Subject-Verb Agreement
Discuss: Division and Classification
Apostrophes and Possessives
Subject-Verb Exercise Handout
Exercises 28.1 (possessive) and 28.8 (contractions)
Introduction Paragraph Handout
Assignment:
Academic Reader: Read pages 239-246 (“The Rhetoric of Advertising”).
Writing Guide: Read chapter 28 and pages 116-117
Essay 3: Due Tuesday, February 23 – Choose a descriptive topic discussed in class.
Due:
Essay 2 (bring to class) – Narration
Thursday, February 18: Class 8
In Class:
Review: Division and Classification (“The Rhetoric of Advertising”)
Apostrophes and Possessives
Discussion: Plagiarism
In-Class Writing: Choose a topic discussed in class and write an effective introduction to
your essay.
Quiz 3
Assignment:
Academic Reader: Read pages 763-775 (“Comparison and Contrast”).
Writing Guide: Read 51 b and 52.
Friday, February 19: Class 9
In Class:
Discussion: Comparison and Contrast
Commas and Consistency
Exercises 27.1 (punctuating compound sentences), 27.3 (commas for introductory words,
phrases, and clauses) and 27.4 (commas for introductory words, phrases, and clauses)
Assignment:
Academic Reader: Read pages 212-216 (“Sex, Lies, and Conversation”).
Writing Guide: Read chapters 11, 27 a-c.
Week 4
Tuesday, February 23: Class 10
In Class:
Review: Comparison and Contrast (“Sex, Lies, and Conversation”)
Commas and Consistency
Discussion: Semi-colons, Colons, Quotation Marks
Exercises 29.1 (punctuating compound sentences) and 30.2 (colons)
Consistency Exercise Handout
Assignment:
Academic Reader: Read pages 777-884 (“Process”).
Writing Guide: Read chapters 29, 30, 31.
Essay 4: Due Tuesday, March 2 – Choose a division and classification topic discussed in
class.
Due:
Essay 3 (bring to class) – Description
Thursday, February 25: Class 11
In Class:
Review: Semi-colons, Colons, Quotation Marks
Discussion: Process
Exercise 31.1 (quotations)
Quiz 4
Assignment:
Academic Reader: Read pages 154-158 (“Learning to Read and Write”).
Friday, February 26: Class 12
In Class:
Review: Process (“Learning to Read and Write”)
Discuss: Process Topics
Continue Commas
Exercises 27.7 (commas in series) and 27.13 (more commas)
Assignment:
Academic Reader: Read pages 787-796 (“Cause and Effect”).
Writing Guide: Read chapter 27 d-h.
Week 5
Tuesday, March 2: Class 13
In Class:
Review: Commas
Discussion: Cause and Effect
Exercise 27.15 (unnecessary commas)
Assignment:
Academic Reader: Read pages 265-268 (“Want Creation Fuels American
Addictiveness).
Essay 5: Due Friday, March 5 – Choose a comparison and contrast topic discussed in
class.
Due:
Essay 4 (bring to class) – Division and Classification
Thursday, March 4: Class 14
In Class:
Review: Cause and Effect (“Want Creation Fuels American Addictiveness).
Analyze Huckleberry Finn Excerpt
Quiz 5
Assignment:
Academic Reader: Read pages 799-807 (“Definition”)
Friday, March 5: Class 15
In Class:
Discussion: Definition
Definition Exercise
Assignment:
Academic Reader: Read pages 670-671 (“Salvation”)
Essay 6: Due Thursday, March 11 – Choose a process or cause and effect topic discussed
in class.
Due:
Essay 5 (bring to class) – Comparison and Contrast
Week 6
Tuesday, March 9: Class 16
In Class:
Review Definition (“Salvation”)
Discussion: Capitalization
Exercise 35.1 (capitalization)
Guide for Oral Presentations
Assignment:
Academic Reader: Read pages 809-821 (“Argument and Persuasion”).
Thursday, March 11: Class 17
In Class:
Review: Capitalization
Oral Presentations
Discussion: Argument and Persuasion
Capitalization Exercise Handout
Assignment:
Academic Reader: Read pages 539-542 (“The Haves and Have-Nots”).
Essay 7: Due Tuesday, March 16 – Choose an argument and persuasion topic discussed
in class.
Due:
Essay 6 (bring to class) – Cause and Effect or Process
Friday, March 12: Class 18
In Class:
Review: Argument and Persuasion (“The Haves and Have-Nots”)
Discussion: Italics
Exercise 38.1 (italics or quotations)
Quiz 6
Assignment:
Make sure notebook is in order
Week 7
Tuesday, March 16: Class 19
In Class:
Notebook Review
Academic Reader: Read “A Case for Torture,” pages 502-504.
Skim “The Haves and Have-Nots,” pages 539-542.
Read “The Lowest Animal,” pages 324-328.
Assignment:
Prepare for Oral Presentation
Due:
Essay 7 (bring to class) – Argument and Persuasion
Thursday, March 18: Class 20
In Class:
Oral Presentations
Cannon Memorial Library Resources
Library Instruction
To arrange library/research instruction for your classes, please contact:
Elana Karshmer
Viki Stoupenos
Steve Weaver
Sandy Hawes
elana.karshmer@saintleo.edu
viki.stoupenos@saintleo.edu
steven.weaver@saintleo.edu
sandy.hawes@saintleo.edu
University Campus
FL, GA, SC Centers
MS, TX, VA Centers
COL and DL
Cannon Memorial Library
Librarians are available during reference hours to answer questions concerning research strategies, database
searching, locating specific materials, and interlibrary loan (ILL).
Reference Hours
Monday – Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
9 a.m. – 10 p.m.
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
The library provides an 800 number and an email address for general reference services: 1-800-3595945 or reference.desk@saintleo.edu . The library’s mailing address and local telephone numbers are:
MC2128, 33701 State Road 52, Saint Leo, FL 33574
352-588-8477 (Reference Desk)
352-588-8476 (Circulation Desk)
352-588-8258 (Main)
352-588-8259 (Fax)
Online Catalog “LeoCat” (All Books and Media)
Click on Library Catalog (LeoCat) on the Cannon Memorial Library website (http://www.saintleo.edu/library).
Simple Search choices are: title, author, keyword, subject, or journal title. Use Advanced Search to set limits or
expand your search terms. To borrow books from Cannon Memorial Library, present your SLU ID at the
Circulation Desk. To have books mailed to you, use the Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery link on the
library’s website, complete the online request form, and submit it.
Online Library Resources (Articles and E-books)
Saint Leo provides its own array of online article databases and e-book resources supporting campus, online,
center, and distance learning classes. Use the Online Library Resources link on the Cannon Memorial Library
homepage to see the latest subscription databases, e-book collections, etc.
Academic Writing Guide Registration
I hope this document will help you navigate the registration process and parts of the Prentice Hall site.
First, and foremost, do not use the www.prenhall.com/onekey site. This site, although it is listed in the book with the
exercises, is not for us. It links to a management site that is not needed with our format. Instead, everyone should use the
www.prenhall.com/harris site. This is the only site students will use.
(1) When you access the site, there is
a choice of books. Please choose the
one that matches the Academic
Writing Guide. Then, click on
continue on the next page.
(2) Next, you will need to register
and log into the site. Use the
information from your textbook to
register and login.
(3) The zip code for the school is
33574. Once you register and login
in, the site looks like this:
There are two areas in the site within which you will want to focus. The first is the practice & assess drop down menu,
which is at the top of the screen. (See blue circle in above picture.) The second is the chapter exercises, which is a drop
menu at the bottom of the screen.
In the first area under practice and assess, you will see the link for exercises. Click on exercises and a list of chapter
exercises will appear. If you choose a chapter, an exercise will appear in a separate box. These exercises can be
completed, the system will grade them, and it will immediately provide feedback to you. Feel free to try them. These are
extra exercises to provide practice for you before you take the quiz each week.
In the second area at the bottom of the screen, there is a drop down menu. It asks you to select a chapter. Once you select
a chapter, click on the go button. For example, if you click on Chapter 14, it will link you to the sections in chapter 14.
The first exercise you must submit is in this section. Click on section 14f. Scroll to the bottom of the page, and you will
see exercise 14.1 for proofreading.
You can copy and paste from this section into a WORD file in order to complete the exercises. If you feel you need more
practice, then you can access the extra exercises in practice & assess. These are self-grading exercises.
There are numerous other areas in this site, including the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL), so please feel free to browse
around. It provides a wonderful source of information, and it may be information you will want to direct your students to,
such as the OWL.
Turnitin.com Instructions
(1) Go to www.turnitin.com
(2) Click on New User at the top.
(3) Start to create your user profile.
a. Class ID = 2368466
b. Password = english (lowercase)
(4) Once you have registered, you are ready to submit your first paper.
(5) To submit a paper, please login to Turnitin and click on the name of your class. You will be taken to your class
portfolio page, which will look much like this:
(6) Enter the class by clicking on the name of the class.
(7) Next to the name of your first assignment will be a submit button. Click the submit button to submit your first
paper.
(8) Notice each assignment is labeled with the name of the essay. Each week, you will need to submit your essays to
turn-it-in in addition to posting it to the message board. The deadline for submitting to turn-it-in is the same as
the deadline for the essay – midnight on Sunday.
(9) If you have any problems, please let me know. In addition, you’ll need to contact the customer service for turn-itin.