English 401.16
First year writing
Fall 2015
Instructor: David Cataneo
Email: david.cataneo@unh.edu
Office: Hamilton Smith 233
Phone: 603-397-2346
Class times: Tu, Th 3:40-5pm, Hamilton Smith Room 141
Office hours: Tu 5:30-7, Th 2-3:30 (and by appointment)
Course description and objectives: This course will help students acquire writing skills for use
in their academic, professional, and personal lives. Through writing, rewriting, reading,
and analysis, students will study and practice how to develop, research, organize, and
clearly communicate concepts and ideas.
Required texts: 1) Bullock, Brody, Weinberg, The Little Seagull Handbook
2) Transitions 2015-16
Both are available at the Durham Book Exchange, 36 Main Street, Durham
3) Eggers, The Circle
Grading:





Class engagement – 10 percent
In class exercises/homework assignments – 15 percent
Memoir essay – 25 percent
Analysis paper – 25 percent
Researched persuasive paper – 25 percent
I prefer to grade individual assignments with a numerical grade on a 100-point
scale. To give you an idea how this might translate into a final grade, here is a
conversion table:
A: 92-100; A-: 90-91; B+: 87-89; B: 82-86; B-: 80-81; C+: 77-79; C: 70-76; C-: 6769; D+: 65-66; D: 61-64; D-: 59-60; F: 58 and below.
Ground rules and guidelines:

Absence policy: Each student is allowed to miss up to three meetings (classes or
conferences) regardless of the reason, excused or unexcused. Each additional
absence beyond the allowed three will lower a student’s final grade by one-half
letter grade (e.g., B+ becomes a B). Missing more than 50 percent of a scheduled
conference or class counts as an absence. Exceptions will be made only in cases of
extenuating circumstances accompanied by documentation.

Missed work: A student who misses a class is solely responsible for gathering
assignments, class notes, and course changes from a classmate.

Chronic lateness: This will affect your class engagement grade.

Cell phones, laptops, etc.: Cell phones are required to be turned OFF during class
time (not on vibrate, etc.). Text messaging is strictly prohibited. Laptops and other
electronic equipment are not to be used during class. Devices are prohibited during
all class time activities, including workshops. Except in cases of medical conditions,
students are also prohibited from leaving the room during class time for bathroom
breaks, etc.

Late assignments: Assignments for a given day are due at the start of class and will
not be accepted late. Printer malfunctions/problems are not sufficient cause for
lateness. Assignments will be accepted through email only if you have to miss class
on the due date. The three major assignments will be accepted late only with prior
approval by the instructor. Extensions must be arranged at least 24 hours in
advance of deadline, through email or telephone. In any case, major assignments
that are late will not receive a grade higher than 85. And no major assignment will
be accepted in any case more than seven days after it is due.

Plagiarism and factual integrity: Plagiarism will result in a failing grade for the
assignment and almost certainly for the course. Fabrication passed off as fact will
result in a failing grade for the assignment and almost certainly for the course.

Disability and accommodations: If you are a student with a documented disability
who will require accommodations in this course, please register with the Access
Office in the MUB, room 118 (862-2607). Students already registered with the
Access Office are encouraged to share their Accommodation letter as soon as
possible.
SEMESTER OUTLINE
Reading assignments will be detailed weekly.
Topics to be covered (outline subject to change):
WEEK 1
Tu Sept 1, Th Sept 3
Introduction: Goals and ground rules: what we will accomplish and how we will get there;
the relationship between thinking and writing; facing the blank page; a time and place to write;
the writer’s tools; the vital importance of multiple drafts; elements of good writing; elements of
bad writing; memoir assignment preview.
WEEK 2
Tu Sept 8, Th Sept 10
First things first: picking a topic and creating a thesis; how to be not too broad, not too
narrow – just right; where writers get their ideas; importance of theme and focus; personalizing
the personal essay; what to do before you write; note taking, free writing, and outlines; the
simple declarative sentence; the cogent paragraph.
WEEK 3
Tu Sept 15, Th Sept 17
Description, story telling, and sculpting: Showing, not telling; making a story come alive;
organizing and sorting; whittling a free write into a draft; focus and more focus.
WEEK 4
Tu Sept 22, Th Sept 24
Advanced description and wordsmithing: the value of verbs; writing with precision; how to
be kind to the reader; the link between grammar and clarity; workshopping, reading, editing,
polishing and improving your work and the work of others.
WEEK 5
Tu Sept 29, Th Oct 1
Last things last: how to polish, perfect, and review the final draft; additional strategies for
clarity and coherence in the big picture and small picture; analysis assignment preview; the next
set of writing skills. (Memoir assignment due 9-26)
WEEK 6
Tu Oct 6, Th Oct 8
Analyze this: creating and forming a thesis; reading and thinking vs. reading and
regurgitating; identifying the so what?; forming the implications of implications; transcending
the text.
WEEK 7
Tu Oct 13, Th Oct 15
Focus like a laser: how to keep analyses on topic, clear, and coherent; the essence of sharp
analysis; types of analysis; matching analysis to discipline and audience.
WEEK 8
Tu Oct 20, Th Oct 22
Advanced drafting: reverse outlines and other valuable checklists; grammar and precise
analysis; sentence and paragraph structure in clear exposition.
WEEK 9
Tu Oct 27, Th Oct 29
Analyze that: workshopping and reviewing analysis draft; researched persuasive paper
preview.
WEEK 10
Tu Nov 3, Th Nov 5
The elements of argument: forming a thesis/claim; argument and audience; tools for
making a case via evidence; logic and faulty logic; strategies and pitfalls of argument.
WEEK 11
Tu Nov 10 (NO CLASS), Th Nov 12
You can look it up: how to make a case rather than an assertion; citations and sources;
research, roadmaps, and plagiarism.
WEEK 12
Tu Nov 17, Th Nov 19
Advanced persuasion: more tools for argument; examples, anecdotes, and emotions;
anticipating the counterpunch; the vital opposing argument.
WEEK 13
Tu Nov 24
Library day - the reference world at your fingertips.
WEEK 14
Tu Dec 1, Th Dec 3
Defend yourself: Persuasive essay draft due; workshopping persuasive essays; how to find
and fill in the gaps; deconstructing arguments and picking a winner; review.
WEEK 15
Tu Dec 8, Th Dec 10
Last chances: wrap-up and review.