ENGLISH COMPOSITION 101
Fall Quarter 2011
Instructor: Dr. Bruce R. Magee

Catalogue Description: Freshman Composition I. 0-3-3. Standard course for first-year college students; the three stages of writing (prewriting, writing, and rewriting); writing essays in various modes; grammar review.

Objectives

• English 101 is an introductory writing course; the course will cover all fundamental principles of writing, and will stress the three stages of the writing process (prewriting, writing, and rewriting).
• Grammar exercises will supplement writing instruction to provide you a review of current usage.
• We will use essays for two purposes: to generate topics for your writing and to study as models for structure and style in composition.

1. At least 5 essays, including a final. These should be at least 70% of the grade.
2. At least two essays should be written in class and should demonstrate a level of performance comparable to those written out of class.
3. One essay should be written in the argumentative mode.
4. Essays should build from around 500 to 700 words by the end of the quarter.
5. At least one essay should be fully revised after the initial evaluation and preferably for a grade.
6. An essay final should be given during the last week of classes. Topics should not be given in advance but should be assigned at the beginning of the examination period.
7. Students should demonstrate a minimum level of writing competency on the final essay:
1. There must be a stated thesis sentence and stated topic sentences.
2. There must be clear evidence of organization, coherence, and unity.
3. There must be adequately developed content (350-450 words) with ample paragraphs for support.
4. There should be no more than 10 serious errors in grammar and punctuation.
• sentence punctuation errors (run-together, comma splice)
• verb errors (tense, agreement, shift)
• pronoun errors (case, agreement, shift)
• modifier errors (dangling, modifying forms, etc.)
• fragments
• spelling errors

• Five essays, including a final, will be assigned during the quarter. You should turn in your paper in class on time. A paper not submitted in class on the due date is late. SUBMIT YOUR ESSAYS ON TIME. YOU MUST SUBMIT ALL FIVE ESSAYS AND TAKE THE FINAL.
• COMPLETE ANY MAKE-UP WORK BEFORE FINALS WEEK.

• Class attendance is regarded as an obligation as well as a privilege, and all students are expected to attend regularly and punctually all classes in which they are enrolled. Attendance is worth 10% of your total grade.
• I shall keep a permanent attendance record for this class. This record is subject to inspection by appropriate college or university officials.
• Regular attendance will help you understand your assignments and complete them on schedule. I encourage you to attend unless you absolutely cannot avoid being absent.
• Bring a 9" x 12" manilla folder to class for me to file your work in.

Conferences are encouraged during the quarter. They will be used to discuss specific writing strengths and/or weaknesses.
 

The grading scale is A: 90-100%, B: 80-89%, C: 70-79%, D: 60-69%, F: 0-59%.

Guidelines for a paper's form

1. OUT-OF-CLASS papers should be typed. Illegible handwritten papers will be returned ungraded; legible papers will be graded, but with a penalty assessed. I encourage you to learn to use a computerized word-processing program. It can save time, aid proofreading, and improve the appearance of an essay. This requires foresight since the computer lab closes on weekends.
2. In-class papers MUST be written in ink.
3. Use one side of the paper only.
4. Use standard 8 1/2" by 11" white paper. Loose leaf or typewriter paper please--no frazzled edges ripped from notebooks.
5. All essays, whether hand-written or typed, must by DOUBLE SPACED.
6. Use margins of at least an inch on each side of the paper. Leave a 1.5" margin on the right-hand side.
7. Papers should be folded vertically with the following information on the outside cover: name, section, theme assignment, instructor's name, and date.
8. KEEP A PAPER COPY OF THE FINAL DRAFT IN YOUR OWN FILES. It's the cheapest insurance you can buy.