English 111: Introduction to Composition
Fall 2005
Class: English 111, Tues. 7:00-9:45, LW 105
Instructor: Prof. Nathan Leslie
Office hours: 4:00-6:30 Tues., Thurs., Room 312 in the old building.
Phone: 703-450-2646
E-mail: nleslie@nvcc.edu
My Website: http://www.nvcc.edu/home/nleslie/
Our class WebBoard: http://loudoun.nv.cc.va.us:8080/~ENG111Leslie
Important Administrative Notes:
1. Please make sure you have paid for the course right away. After a period of days, NovaConnect will boot you from this course if your payment is not resolved!
2. In addition because NovaConnect, our new online registration database, allows some students to sign up for incorrect courses, it is possible you have incorrectly signed up for this course. The prerequisites for this course are one of the following: a) placement in the course as a result of your Compass tests, b) successful completion of the ESL program including 017 or c) successful completion of English 05 or English 009.
3. As a result I may ask some students to provide written proof that they should be in this course.
Whew. Ok. Now we can get down to business…
English 111 is a college level expository writing course that focuses on formal argumentative and analytical prose. Students advance their understanding of themselves as writers, including understanding that they participate with others in responsible public discourse and have moral and ethical responsibilities in that discourse. In other words, what you say and write matters!
Approaching writing as a process, this course emphasizes scholarly inquiry and research and includes a variety of techniques and topics. On the most basic level, students completing this course should be able to write an extended piece of expository and argumentative prose (of at least 2,000 words) demonstrating effective communication and the conventions of standard written English and manuscript presentation. Perhaps most importantly, students should also be able to analyze and understand the world around them—essays, advertisements, images, as well as films and artwork.
Note: This course will involve a healthy bit of work—typical of any college course, meaning if you are not committed to a college education, this will not be the class for you.
In other words, in many ways I hope English 111 will help prepare you for classes to come. Part of my job in teaching this class is to help polish your academic abilities in general through writing.
Upon completion of this course the student will be able to do the following:
16. Discuss and analyze various topical and composition issues.
Special Note:
Throughout much of the second half of this course our topical focus will be on two central questions: 1. What is happiness? 2. What is ‘right’? In the second half of this semester these questions will dominate the major essays of this class, and comprise much of our class discussions and lectures. I will use two books, a film, and a series of essays to help us think about these questions. I hope by addressing these contemporary (and universal) questions that you will think about the world anew, and with a critical eye. In the first half of the class we will explore your own life experiences and the important issue of technology in contemporary society.
Required Texts:
75 Readings by Buscemi and Smith
Rules for Writers by Diana Hacker
Rules for Writers Workbook
The Consolations of Philosophy by Alain de Botton
Graded Assignments:
(See separate handouts that fully describe each writing assignment):
Short Response Papers (three): 15%
Essay 1: Reflection Essay: 10%
Essay 2: Technology Essay: 10%
Essay 3: Argumentative Research Essay: 20%
Essay 4: Definition Essay (in class essay): 10%
Class Journals (WebBoard): 10%
Class participation and writing process work (outlines, drafts, peer critiques): 20%
Quizzes/Small Group Presentations: 5%
***You cannot pass this class without turning in your final portfolio. For info on the portfolio please see page 5.
Bring a copy of relevant texts to each class.
MLA Format:
All papers must be typed, double-spaced, and submitted with the entirety of the writing process included. In addition, all essays must be written in MLA format with proper MLA documentation. Essays not in the proper format will need to be redone. I will not accept or read e-mailed assignments (except in the case of medical emergency). I must have a printed copy so that I can line-edit your assignments.
Attendance:
I take student attendance very seriously. If you miss one or
two classes it could seriously affect your overall class participation grade and
your grade in the class. Students are expected to miss no more than four
classes for any reason, including illness. I make no distinction between
“excused” or “unexcused” absences. Missing even one or two classes could affect
your overall class participation, of course. I take attendance for each class
in the first ten minutes, and if you are late you will not be counted as
present. In addition, if you decide to leave class after break you will not be
counted as present for the entire class. You are counted as present if you
attend the entire class. Otherwise, you are not counted as present.
Disabilities: If you have a documented disability please come see me during the first three weeks of the semester. Only documented disabilities will be acknowledged.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T: As a member of my English 111 class, you will be required to express your ideas in a respectful manner, as well as respectfully listen to the ideas of others even if you happen to disagree with them. In addition, as a member of my class you will participate in my classroom honor code (see separate handout). Here are some obvious ways in which you can be respectful and practice common courtesy in my classroom:
--Don’t arrive late or leave early.
--Don’t wander around the classroom while class is in session.
--Always turn off your cell phones and/or pagers while in class.
--Don’t talk amongst yourselves while others are talking (this includes me).
Students who exhibit inappropriate behavior will be dropped from this course!
Thank you!
In 111 I hope to help you drastically improve your writing by emphasizing and practicing the writing process for each and every essay that you complete for this class. We will work thorough the writing process (pre-writing techniques, thesis, the outline, the rough draft, the peer critique, and the final draft) for each essay. It will be vital that you complete each step of the writing process for each essay. Though you will be required to turn in all steps of your writing process for each essay, this class is partially designed as a writing workshop. For many of the essays you will evaluate and discuss each other’s work thoroughly as each essay is written so that you can improve your work as the class progresses. Failure to turn in any part of the writing process with an essay will result in a 10% deduction from your final grade.
All peer critiques in this class will be graded. I will detail the peer critique expectations early in the semester. You will be responsible for turning in the peer critiques that you received upon completion of your final draft. Failure to do so will result in a 10% reduction of your grade on the essay—this means you must have your rough draft ready for a critique on the day it is due. If you miss the class when peer critiques are done, you will not be able to make up the grade and will lose 10% of your grade on the essay. If you don’t have your rough draft on the day of our critique, you will lose 10% of your grade on the essay.
Conferences:
I highly recommend for you to make an appointment with me to discuss your writing. First, I consider this a sign of commitment and interest on your part. More importantly, it will help your writing in this class. I will also have a required conference day for this class—see the schedule below. I am also always open to e-mail “conferences.” You can always e-mail me your essays and ask for feedback, provided that you grant me at least 2 days time to respond. Don’t e-mail me an essay the day it is due an expect to hear a reply! I need some advance warning.
The Writing Center: The Writing Center is a very helpful resource for your advancement as a writer since it provides personal one-on-one tutorials. You will be required to take one essay to the writing center this semester. I will have a form that you will need to have one of the writing center tutors complete regarding your essay. For information on The writing center, please see the link on my website under “Helpful Student Links.” Please call 703-450-2511 to set up an appointment. The writing center is located in the front of the main building on the right hand side (it has moved and is no longer in 268) and the WC is generally open from 9:30-2:30, though it also has evening hours on Tues. and Wed., I believe. Until the move is finalized I believe the writing center will meet outside of the humanities division office (LC 304).
Essays are due at the beginning of class on the day for which assigned unless otherwise noted. However, I will accept late work though there will be a deduction. Grades on late papers will be lowered one letter grade after one class, two letter grades after two classes, etc.
Students are expected to submit only original work. Using another’s ideas, oral or written, without documenting is considered plagiarism. Plagiarism is academic stealing. If you are unsure of how or when to document, ask questions before submitting your work.
Important note: It is very easy for me to spot a plagiarized essay. My policy is simple: if you plagiarize an essay you will fail the course! In addition, I will refer you to the appropriate administrators for expulsion from NVCC.
For this class you have the additional responsibility of comprehensively revising the first three essays and one response paper by the end of the semester. These revisions will form your portfolio, along with the definition essay, and the option to revise additional response papers if needed. The portfolio is a chance for you to improve your writing, as revising an essay can improve your final grade drastically. I will reconsider the grade for the entire essay. For instance, if you receive a C on the technology essay, you could conceivably still earn an A on the essay by revising it. Essay grades in this class are not final until the last day of class! If you receive a “redo” on any response paper or essay, you must revise it or receive a 0 for the assignment. A “redo” is my way of helping you see your essay as a work in progress, and nudging you towards revising it. Failure to turn in your portfolio will result in a failing grade in the class! The Portfolio is a requirement!
Class Journal: In addition to the more comprehensive response papers and essays, you will be required to contribute to our class journal for many classes this semester. Our class journal will be a public series of postings and discussions on WebBoard, an on-line bulletin board that you can access on campus and at home. A typical journal entry will consist of a one-two paragraph response and a response to another student’s posting. Other class journals will consist of individual reflections. Some class journals will be assigned for homework. We will also do some class journals in class. In a sense it is a way in which we can extend the class discussion beyond the bounds of the physical classroom.
Response Papers:
Response papers are short 1 ˝-2 page responses to material we cover in class. Over the course of the semester we will have 3 response papers. I may also assign additional response papers on a TBA basis. Some response papers will help you practice techniques for the larger essays. You will need to revise at least one of these response papers by the end of the semester.
Quizzes:
I will give pop-quizzes on a frequent basis. These will draw from the readings and will help initiate discussion.
I will emphasize grammar and usage throughout the semester on an as-needed basis. Early on we will address some of the basics. Throughout the semester we will also often work in “workshop” classes in the computer lab practicing writing techniques.
A list of possible extra credit assignments will be handed out early in the semester. Each thoroughly accomplished extra credit assignment can add one letter grade to an assignment of your choice. Extra credit cannot, however, make up for poor attendance or quizzes. Unless stated otherwise, you may only do a maximum of one extra credit assignment. I also like to offer extra credit for attendance at NVCC cultural events.
This is one of the keystones of this class. This is not a class in which I will lecture for an hour every time we meet. We will discuss each essay that we read, however, to hopefully bolster your understanding of critical thinking and the world around you. Since this class is based on discussion, I am requiring each student to lead a ten-fifteen minute discussion with a partner on one essay that we read in class. I will grade your “presentation” as three quiz grades. I will hand out a sign-up sheet early in the semester and detail the expectations for this grade at that time.
Reading:
Lastly, one of the most important ways that you can improve your writing (not to mention your class participation grade and critical thinking skills) is to read the essays for each class. You are expected to have read the essays, and we will try to discuss each one at some point. The majority of your quizzes, as well as your final will draw from your readings. Aside from the informative readings from Rules for Writers (RW) listed on the syllabus, I will assign readings from 75 Readings on a regular basis. Some freshman level students believe that reading is beside the point. However, as you will discover, often the work we read helps strengthen your writing.
The Final:
As you may notice below, I have not assigned either a midterm or a final. You will not be required to take a final if you receive at least a C average on your quiz grade and class participation (in other words if you read the essays and books we discuss in class and participate in the class discussion). However, if you receive below a C average on your quiz grade/class participation or if I sense that you are not reading throughout the semester I will require you to complete a final on the readings, which will count as an additional 10% of your grade.
How to Succeed in this Class:
Take your responsibilities as a student seriously. First and foremost commit yourself to succeeding in the class. Balance your schedule so that you are able to commit at least 2-3 additional hours per week for homework and assignments. If you don’t have several free hours per week to dedicate to writing, it will be difficult to succeed in this class. In addition, commit yourself to attending class. Read each essay/chapter for every class and contribute to the class discussion. Participate in class activities. Take notes on lectures and discussions. Write well-developed response papers and class journals. Write well-developed and researched essays. Commit yourself to revising your essays and turning in a polished portfolio.
Introduction to course and meet the class. Student Expectations. Diagnostic essay. UNIT 1: BUILDING BLOCKS OF WRITING. Structure.
In Rules for Writers read 2-25. The paragraph. In Rules for Writers read 39-57. Class Journal #1 Due. In 75 Readings read “The Company Man” 118-120 and “Me Talk Pretty One Day” 31-36.
Week 3
Tues 9/6
The sentence. Workshop: Miscellaneous technical issues and exercises. In Rules for Writers read 126-154. Response Paper #1 due. UNIT 2: NARRATION/DESCRIPTION. In 75 Readings read “No Name Woman” 16-28 and “Shooting an Elephant” 1-8. In class workshop—the outline for Reflective Essay.
Week 4
Tues 9/13
In 75 Readings read “The Way to Rainy Mountain” 43-47, “Once More to the Lake” 47-54 **Rough Draft Reflective Essay Due.** Peer critique. Class Journal #2 Due.
Week 5
Tues 9/20
UNIT 3: CRITICAL THINKING: TECHNOLOGY
We will read/discuss several newspaper articles regarding technology in class (handouts). **Final Draft Reflective Essay Due.**
Week 6
Tues 9/27
Handouts: newspaper and magazine articles on technology (handouts). Response Paper #2 Due.
Week 7
Tues 10/4
Technology unit continued: newspaper and magazine articles on technology (handouts).
Week 8
Tues 10/11
Fall Break—No class
Week 9
Tues 10/18
Technology unit continued: newspaper and magazine articles on technology (handouts).
**Rough draft—technology analysis due.** Peer critique.
Week 10
Tues 10/25
***Final draft—technology analysis due. UNIT 4: What is Right? Counter Argument and Argument Strategies. In 75 Readings read “Should This Student Have Been Expelled?” 310-318 and “Shouting Fire” 318-324. Class Journal #3 due.
Week 11
Tues 11/1
In 75 Readings read “A Step Back to the Workhouse” 287-295, “Life Boat Ethics: the Case Against Helping the Poor” 295-302, and “What is Poverty” 96-100. Workshop: argumentative writing. Class Journal #4 due. Library orientation.
Week 12
Tues 11/8
Argumentative writing. In 75 Readings read “Pain is Not the Ultimate Enemy 218-222, and “Where Have All the Parents Gone?” 230-238. Read handout on poverty. Response Paper # 3 Due.
Week 13
Tues 11/15
In 75 Readings read “Why I Want a Wife” 366-68, “Women’s Beauty” 93-95. Argumentative techniques continued. Class Journal #5 Due.
Week 14
Tues 11/22
**Rough Draft of Argumentative Essay Due.** Annotated bibliography due. NO CLASS. REQUIRED CONFERENCES—IN MY OFFICE: 312 IN THE MAIN BUILDING.
Week 15
Tues 11/29
**Final Draft of Argument Essay Due.** UNIT 5: What is Happiness? Definition Strategies. In Consolations of Philosophy read chapter one on Socrates 3-42. Revision strategies.
Week 16
Tues 12/6
In Consolations of Philosophy read chapter two on Epicurus 45-72 and chapter three on Seneca 75-112. Definition essay strategies continued. Revision strategies discussed. Class Journal #6 due.
Week 17
Tues 12/13
**In class essay—definition essay. A final draft of this essay will be due at the end of class. We will meet in one of the computer labs upstairs. ***Portfolio and any extra credit all due at the beginning of class.****