English 101 | Fall 2015
College Composition: Exposition and Argumentation
Ms. Morris
jennym@csd300.com
(509) 397-4368
Room 220
Hours: 7:45-8:15 a.m. M, W, Th, F
3:30-4:30 p.m. M, T, Th
Welcome to English 101! In this five-credit, college-level class, you will
enhance your written communication skills by learning to organize,
develop, and support your ideas and perspectives in exposition and
argumentation. You will also become familiar with research resources
and practices. Additionally, you will build on your current understanding
of the rules and conventions of Standard American English.
A note from EWU: “Writing is not only integral to your experience in college but to your life as a
thinking individual. This class will allow you to explore and debate contemporary issues in writing and
to use your own experience as a springboard to examining these larger issues. It should help you
express yourself clearly and therefore think clearly about the world around you so that you can
participate in your community and in the culture at large. Your input is important, and your voice is
necessary.”
Eastern Washington University Course Goals | By the end of English 101, students will be able to:
1. read, comprehend, and analyze a variety of popular and/or scholarly texts.
2. identify and analyze the elements of the rhetorical situation, including context, purpose,
audience, subject, and author.
3. use academic discourse to compose a variety of analytical, argumentative, and reflective texts
that appeal to an academic audience.
4. generate error-free texts that include focused topics that are controlled by implicit/explicit
theses (points), supported by main ideas, developed with evidence, and organized in ways that
influence a particular audience to think, feel, or act as a result of the information presented.
5. analyze, use, and document evidence (examples, quotations, paraphrasing, etc.) from secondary
sources to supplement and complement the students’ own writing.
6. compose in a voice, tone, and style that is appropriate for the target audience and specific
purpose.
7. develop a recursive and collaborative writing process that includes planning, drafting, revising,
organizing, editing, and proofreading.
8. identify and analyze logical fallacies in their own and others’ writing.
9. collaborate in small and large peer-groups for the purpose of sharing relevant ideas, respectful
opinions, and constructive feedback.
10. identify areas in their own and in peers’ writing where revisions are needed to create texts that
will appeal to specific audiences.”
What to expect...
Textbooks:
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Required: Joining the Conversation: Writing in College and Beyond by Mike Palmquist
(ISBN: 0-312-41215-0)
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Optional: The Brief McGraw-Hill Handbook (ISBN: 978-0-07-739622-0)
*Please note: Both texts are available new, used, and for rent from Amazon.com. Please be sure to get
the text version with a matching ISBN number. If you have any financial concerns regarding the
purchase of a textbook, please come see me!
Major required writing assignments:
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Diagnostic paper
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Autobiographical Essay, 3-5 pages
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Essay Exam
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Reflection/Self-Evaluation Paper 2-3 pages
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Researched Argumentation Essay, 5-7 pages
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Writing Portfolio
Important Resources
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Ms. Morris' Teacher Page: Important links, changes to our course calendar, and other
documents will be regularly updated on my teacher page, at www.colfax.k12.wa.us/Domain/80.
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Remind101: Sign up to receive text message reminders about upcoming deadlines by texting
the code @b1c602cc to 81010. Parents/guardians are welcome to sign up as well!
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Skyward and EagleNet: You will be provided with log-in information to access your grades on
both websites. Be sure to keep track of your progress!
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EWU Writers' Center: The Writers’ Center is a free resource for EWU students (that's you!).
In one-to-one, online or face-to-face 50-minute sessions, Responders offer thoughtful feedback
on any kind of academic or personal writing, at any stage in the writing process. During
sessions, Responders encourage students to consider and implement strategies for improving
their writing and becoming a more successful writer. The Writers’ Center also provides
feedback on forms of visual and digital communication like PowerPoint presentations, posters
and websites. For more information about the Writers’ Center and to schedule an appointment
with a Responder, visit www.ewu.edu/writerscenter. (One Skype visit required this semester.)
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EWU Libraries: EWU Libraries provides access to 750,000 books and over 50,000 journals,
magazines and newspapers online and in print. Librarians are available to assist students in all
of their research needs in person, IM chat, email, or by phone. To access our resources, contact
us, or for more information, visit http://www.ewu.edu/library.
Homework and Make-up Work Policy
Homework will be due at the beginning of class. If your work is not ready when class begins, do not
expect full credit. Do not ask to print out an assignment at the start of class. If it's not printed and ready
to be turned in, it's late. In the case of an excused absence, you will have the same number of days to
turn in your late work as the number of days you were absent. It is the student's responsibility to
complete any work missed during an absence. If you have a planned absence or are going to miss
class for a school related activity, please meet with me ahead of time to collect your assignments early.
If you are unexpectedly absent due to illness or another event, please contact me outside of class as
soon as possible to discuss what you've missed. Remember, this is your responsibility; I will not seek
you out.
Because timeliness is important in the learning process, it is imperative you stay on schedule with your
work. My feedback on an assignment turned in six weeks late is of far less educational value to you
than my feedback when given during the actual unit of study. In keeping with this philosophy, credit
for late assignments will be reduced by 25 percent per day late (e.g. two days late results in 50 percent
off your final score). No late assignments will be accepted once the unit is complete. Please make a
habit of checking Skyward to be sure you aren't missing work.
Classroom Procedures
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You are welcome to eat and drink in my classroom as long as you don't disturb me or the rest of
the class. This privilege may change at any time if students abuse it or leave trash behind.
Please make sure that you have a sharpened writing utensil, paper, and all required materials
before class begins. If you have to return to your locker for an item, you will be marked late.
Cell phones, iPods, headphones, and other similar devices are not allowed during class without
approval. If I see a device out during class that is not being used for learning purposes, I reserve
the right to confiscate it and/or deduct credit from the current assignment. Habitual use of cell
phones/gaming devices during class will result in a loss of privileges during and/or after school.
If you do not take the time to listen to me during class, I will not take the time to repeat
myself for you after it.
If it is discovered that you have cheated on or plagiarized an assignment, you will receive an automatic zero with no option to make up the missed points.
Materials
Please expect to use a pen or pencil, college-ruled paper, and any assigned text on a daily basis.
Grades
I will update Skyward on a weekly basis so that you may track your progress in this class. I will gladly
meet with any students earning an overall grade below a 'C'-level, or any student concerned about his
or her grade. Students must receive a 2.0 or higher in this class to earn the five college credits offered by EWU.
IMPORTANT: The school has recently changed its policy regarding athletic eligibility. Teachers are
no longer allowed to write notes excusing a student with a failing grade. Please use Skyward to moni-
tor your grades regularly. It is my hope that you can participate in sports and clubs. Please notify me if
you feel that any mistake has been made. Otherwise, a failing grade will result in an ineligible status,
regardless of last-minute work turned in.
Classroom Library
I offer a small selection of books for checkout in my classroom. You are welcome to sign up and check
out books for personal reading, however please note that I have not read every book in my selection,
and many of the novels deal with mature themes. All books should be discussed with a parent or guardian before you read them.
-------------------------(cut here)-------------------------Classroom Expectations Agreement
Dear Parent/Guardian,
I believe that the key to student success begins with a classroom environment that is both structured
and consistent. To ensure your child's optimum success in my classroom, I have listed my classroom
policies and procedures for your review. Because this is an upper-level class, I expect students to
conduct themselves in a manner appropriate to an elevated academic setting. It is the student's
responsibility to use his or her time effectively. Please make sure you and your student discuss and
clarify these expectations this week (especially noting the cell phone policy), so that your student can
turn in a signed portion (see below) by Friday, September 4.
I have read and understand Ms. Morris' syllabus and classroom expectations, and I am prepared to
comply.
___________________________________
___________________________________
Student Signature / Date
Parent or Guardian Signature / Date
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
Student Email
Parent or Guardian Email