Western Nevada College
ENG 101 Composition 1 Section 1006
Course Syllabus – Spring 2015
Tuesday/Thursday 9:30 – 10:45 A.M.
Instructor: Gary Brady-Herndon M.A.
Number of Credits: gary.brady-herndon@wnc.edu
3
Transferability of Course within Nevada: This course transfers within Nevada
Course Description
Expository writing with special attention to the modes, arrangement and style. Students learn to write essays which are unified, thorough, clear and convincing. They learn the research, reasoning and organizational skills necessary for effective academic and research writing.
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course the students should be able to:
 Approach writing as a process
 Recognize and demonstrate the qualities of effective writing: purpose, point, unity, coherence, specificity, conciseness and correctness
 Write to an audience
 Recognize and demonstrate persuasive argument
 Document research using MLA format
Linkage of course to educational program mission and at least one
educational program outcome.
 Have college-level skills in reading, writing and oral communication appropriate to their degree and/or emphasis.
 Have problem solving, creative, and critical thinking skills.
 Have effective and efficient learning skills, including the location and evaluation of information.
 Understand the importance of cultural traditions, diversity, and ethnics in the modern world.
Required Textbook:

Kirszner, Laurie and Stephen Mandell (Eds.). Patterns for College Writing.
12 th edition. Bedford/St. Martens, 2012.
Microsoft Office or Open Office word processing program (free from http://www.openoffice.org/ )
INSTRUCTOR AVAILABILITY:
Instructor: Gary Brady-Herndon Office: 350H
Phone Number: TBA Email: gary.brady-herndon@wnc.edu
Please use email to contact me.
Fall 2014 Office Hours:
My office hours for student concerns are:
Tuesday: 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Thursday: 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
I will make time for you, but please set it up with me in advance.
COURSE ASSIGNMENTS:
Rhetorical Analysis Essay
Cultural Analysis Essay
(150 pts)
(150 pts)
Research Project
Proposal
Annotated Bibliography
Opposing Argument
Final Research Paper
(500 pts total)
(50 pts)
(100 pts)
(100 pts)
(250 pts)
Attendance (50 pts. See below)/Daily quizzes over reading and/or homework
(150pts.) (200 pts)
Accumulated course grade will be taken out of 1000 points total
EVALUATION METHODS AND GRADING CRITERIA
For average work, you will earn an average grade, which is a “C”. A further important item of note: in general papers that don’t meet the minimum/word count requirements will earn a grade no higher than a “C-”.

All major assignments (the 2 analysis essays and the entire research
project) must be completed in order to pass the class. Students will be expected to turn the papers for the research project in via Canvass.
ROUGH DRAFTS:
I am willing to look at rough drafts via email or in person, provided they are submitted to me at least 1 week prior to the due date of the
essay. However, I will only provide commentary and feedback – I will not engage in grade speculation.
Grading: I do NOT mark every single error on your papers, especially grammar and mechanical errors. I will point out major and recurring errors, but there will be others that I will not mark.
COURSE POLICIES AND EXPECTATIONS
Students are expected to abide by the policies in the WNC Policies and
Procedures manual (available online). However, here I attempt to provide greater specificity about my personal expectations.
Attendance
While the temptation to skip class is a common one, I would strongly advise against that mentality. I take attendance at the beginning of class. If you are not in the classroom when I take attendance you will be counted absent.
You cannot make up missed attendance points. If you leave before the class ends, I will change your attendance grade from Present (P) to Left Early
(LE). Two LE marks counts as one absence. To earn the 50 point
Attendance Grade, you cannot miss more than 4 days without a
legitimate excuse during the semester. If you have to miss a class for a legitimate reason or illness, be prepared to supply documentation to confirm your absence.
Most days you will be given a reading activity or a homework sheet to complete before the next class. When you arrive to class, you will have a 10 point quiz over the reading assignment (or I will assess your completed homework sheet, etc.). Quizzes cannot be made up; you must be in class when the quiz is given in order to have a chance to earn those points. No
Exceptions!!! I will not go back and review questions for those who arrive late, so make sure you are on time and remain for the entire period; otherwise you will miss many easy points. You are responsible for the

material covered in class. If you miss a class, make sure to get the information, notes, announcements, etc. from a classmate.
Participation weighs in more heavily in this course than in most others – you are expected to contribute to class discussions regularly. I am here to guide you. When you have questions, ask. But I also place great responsibility on your shoulders. You must take an active role in your education. Sitting there, trying just to “absorb” what is going on is not likely to help you much. Learn to read carefully and ask questions as soon as you feel lost.
Late Work
I will not accept late work. There are absolutely no exceptions to this policy !
If an emergency arises, please contact me ASAP. Communication with me before an assignment is due provides you the only means to explain unforeseen circumstances and exercise other options. PLEASE NOTE: Print out your work at least the day before and/or email it to yourself so that you are able to retrieve it anywhere. Computer and/or printer failure are NO excuse. If it is not turned in during the class period in which it is due, you will earn zero points for the assignment. But all major assignments (the 3 essays and the entire research paper,) must be completed in order to pass the class. This means that if you choose to not to complete an assignment by the due date and receive zero points, you will still need to complete it before the end of the semester in order to attempt to pass the course via the points you have earned
WITHDRAWAL PROCESS AND RESPONSIBILITY:
In order to withdraw from a class, a student must fill out the requisite paperwork before the final withdrawal date. I will not withdraw you from this course; you must do it yourself! If a student simply stops attending class, or fails to turn in major assignments, a grade of “F” will be issued as the final grade. The Last Day to Drop is March 27, 2015 with a “W”.
I encourage any student needing to request accommodations for a specific disability to contact the DSS coordinator, Susan Trist (445-3275), at your earliest convenience to ensure timely and appropriate accommodations.
CELL PHONES/PAGERS/OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES:
While Cell phones and iPods are convenient, their presence in the classroom can be distracting. All devices of this type should be turned off or switched to a vibrate setting while you are in class. Failure to do so will initially result in a warning; subsequent violations of this policy will result in an absence for the day. This policy includes texting during class or using phones/laptops for
Facebook!
ACADEMIC HONESTY STATEMENT:

The College is committed to academic integrity in all its practices. Cheating on papers, tests or other academic works is a violation of College rules. No student shall engage in behavior that, in the judgment of the instructor of the class, may be construed as cheating. This may include, but is not limited to, plagiarism or other forms of academic dishonesty such as the acquisition without permission of tests or other academic materials and/or distribution of these materials and other academic work. Acts of academic dishonesty will result in an F grade. Please refer to the student handbook for more information of the College’s academic dishonesty policies.
Plagiarism is the presentation of someone else's words or ideas as your own, without giving credit to the original author. This is not based on intent.
Whether you forget to put quotes around material or cite the source, or if you intentionally buy or copy an essay, plagiarism is a serious matter.
BUYING an essay or willfully submitting someone else's work as your own are instances of academic dishonesty that will result in failure of the class, at the very least. In a word – do not even consider it. In addition, you may not turn in papers written for another class to fulfill the assignments for this one.
COMMON CIVILITY
Entering a college classroom demands that you treat other students in a manner that is supportive of academic inquiry, curiosity, and shared learning. Do not be quick to make assumptions about others who have different backgrounds, opinions, and values. Fellow students are potential reservoirs of knowledge, experience and insight. By respectfully acknowledging your similarities and differences with other students, you will learn a great deal about yourself. Furthermore, if you are able to argue and discuss topics in a civil and reasoned manner (even those you feel most passionate about), you will have empowered your own voice and increased the likelihood that you will be heard and taken seriously by an academic or professional audience. In short: do not converse with your classmates while your instructor or peers are speaking; repeated disruption (as defined by the instructor) of the class will result in an absence for the day.
RIGHT OF REVISION STATEMENT:
The instructor and Western Nevada College reserve the right to make reasonable changes to this syllabus and/or schedule as necessary.
Continued enrollment in this course indicates that you have read and
agree to follow the course policies and procedures discussed herein.

*This schedule is just a rough estimation of our activities this semester and
may change substantially and for any reason as the semester dictates*
**Unless otherwise noted, reading assignments refer to Patterns for College
Writing**
***The reading assignments are due for the following class period. That is, each day we will complete the day's activities listed and then you will
prepare the work for the next class***
Tentative Course Schedule
Date
Jan. 20
Jan. 22
Date
Jan. 27
Jan. 29
Date
Feb. 3
Feb. 5
Week 1
Assignments
Introduction to the Course: review of syllabus, course expectations and policies.
Diagnostic paragraph
Thinking Critically about Research
Paragraph: The essay building box
Plagiarism Handout
Plagiarism: Just don’t do it
Academic Integrity: Discussion of Handout
Week 2
Assignments
Read Chapter 3: Arrangements pg. 51
Read Hasselstrom’s “A Peaceful Woman Explains Why She
Carries a Gun” pg. 354
Assign 1 st essay: Rhetorical Analysis
Discuss introduction and conclusion paragraphs.
Read Orwell’s “Shooting an Elephant” pg. 133
Week 3
Assignments
Discuss Rhetorical Triangle
Read Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “Letter from a Birmingham
Jail” pg. 566
Complete the Rhetorical Triangle Worksheet using “LFaBJ”
Read Brady “I Want a Wife” pg. 503
Read Smith “The Wife Beater” pg. 516

Date
Feb. 10
Feb. 12
Date
Feb. 17
Feb. 19
Date
Feb. 24
Feb. 26
Date
March 3
Week 4
Assignments
Discuss Rhetorical Language
Read “A Modest Proposal” pg. 692
Common “do” and “don’t” of college writing.
Discuss Rhetorical Appeals
Wrap up discussion of the Rhetorical analysis essay.
Read Inked Well pg. 685
Week 5
Assignments
Rhetorical Analysis Essay Due!
Assign Cultural Analysis Essay
Read Ch. 1: Reading to Write: Becoming a Critical Reader
Maria Hinojosa: A Supreme Sotomayor: How My Country
Has Caught up to me Pg. 21
Discuss Cultural Analysis Topics
Bring to class two cultural analysis topics you are interested in pursuing.
Discuss two Cultural Analysis Essay Handout
Read and discuss the Truth about Online Dating
Week 6
Assignments
In Group Activity: Writing a Plot Summary
Read Glansberg: “Thirty-Eight Who Saw Murder Didn’t Call the Police” pg. 127
Read Jackson: “The Lottery” pg. 311
Discuss the reading selections and their themes.
Discuss progress on Cultural Analysis Essay
Read Malcolm X “My First Conk” pg. 281
Read Kincaid: “Girl” pg. 258
Plot Summary
Week 7
Assignments
Discuss readings and how to quote from a text to support an argument.

March 5
Date
Read White: “Once More to the Lake” pg. 194
Read Chopin: “The Storm” pg. 202
Finish the essay and bring three copies to class next time.
Peer Edit Cultural Analysis
Week 8
Assignments
March 10 Cultural Analysis Due!!
Assign Proposal
Create a list of four topics for research papers – bring to class
Brainstorming Discussion and handout
Argumentative Essay Thesis Statement
March 12 Brainstorm Research Paper Topics
Read Declaration of Independence pg. 553 and MLK, Jr.
Letter from a Birmingham Jail and discuss as examples of argumentative essays
Date
March 17
Week 9
Assignments
Spring Break: No Classes
March 19
Date
Week 10
Assignments
March 24 Read Chapter 2: Invention
Discuss Pg. 593-604 Should American Citizenship Be a
Birthright?
Two essays: Linda Chavez and George Will
March 26 Final discussion of Proposal assignment and final research topics
Discuss proposals in groups
Reading: Academic Voice
Date
Week 11
Assignments
March 31 Proposal Due!!!
Assign Annotated Bibliography

April 2
Date
April 7
April 9
Date
April 14
April 16
Date
April 21
April 23
Date
April 28
The Case for Mandatory Organ Donation Pg. 615
The Meat Market Pg. 607
Read Chapter 16: Finding and Evaluating Sources
Discussion of sample Annotated Bibliographies
St. Martin Press: Humanities Research
Week 12
Assignments
Library Day
Annotated Bibliography Due!
Assign Opposing Argument Essay
Pg. 630 – 31 Should Government Tax Sugary Drinks?
Pg. 632 33638 A Tax that Invests in Our Health
Pg. 636 – 638 Fat Tax
Week 13
Assignments
Chapter 14: Argumentation
Discuss the difference between argumentation and persuasion
Discuss A Case for Torture
Bring three copies of Opposing Argument Essay to class next time
Peer Edit Opposing Argument Essay
Week 14
Assignments
Opposing Argument Essay Due!!!
Assign final research paper
Compare and contrast organizational methods and argumentative philosophies
Discuss: Proud to be a Speciesist
Read Chapter 17 and 18: Integrating Sources and Avoiding
Plagiarism
MLA Worksheet
Week 15
Assignments
Read Chapter 17: Integrating Sources

April 30
Date
May 5
May 7
Citing Sources
Chapter 18: Avoiding Plagiarism
Discuss student’s approach to organization presentation of claims
Week 16
Assignments
Discuss the readings and MLA citation
Citation Workshop: Bring your WCed to class
Bring three copies of your essay to class next time.
Peer Edit Argumentative Essay
Date
Week 17
Assignments
May 12 Augmentative Essay due at midnight
Open consultation one on one with instructor about your paper if desired. Optional
May 14
May 16 Semester Ends