EN 101D English Composition

Instructor: Amy Hurley

Semester: Spring

Course Description

Professional writing and research skills are foundational elements in your college career.  Each course you undertake will include a writing and/or research component; therefore, early mastery of these skills will give you a solid foundation upon which to build your academic success.  This course will focus on rhetoric, critical thinking, the composition process, the conventions of writing, and the importance of discipline in the writing process.

Required Textbooks

·         Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 6th ed. New York: MLA, 2003.  ISBN #  0873529863

·         Humphrey, Doris and Robert Conklin.  Connections: Writing for Your World. Mason, OH: Thomson/South-Western, 2005.  ISBN #  0538727500

·         Harvey, Michael. The Nuts and Bolts of College Writing. Indianapolis: Hackett, 2003.  ISBN #  0872205738

Course Schedule

Unit

Topic

Learning Objectives

1

Introduction/Six Traits

·         Given an introduction to academic writing and its purposes, students will evaluate how their personal background and experience in writing fits with a classification of academic writing.

·         Using the Six Traits of writing, students will accurately evaluate sample essays to establish agreement and anchoring in scoring for individual traits.

2

Six Traits

·         Using the Six Traits of writing, students will accurately evaluate sample essays to establish agreement and anchoring in scoring for all traits.

3

The Writing Process

·         Using the steps of the writing process as instructed, students will demonstrate each step completely in a practice essay.

4

MLA

·         Using the MLA handbook, students will recognize correct MLA usage in sample papers (parenthetical documentation and works cited) in preparation for application in their writing.

5

The Research Process

·         Students will independently begin the research writing process by developing an outline, evaluating resources, taking notes, and drafting an essay.

6

Narrative Essay: Peer Review

·         Using lecture notes and sample essays, students will accurately evaluate the structure, style, and correctness (based on assignment requirements and the Six Traits) of narrative essays.

·         Using class instruction and sample essays, students will compose a well-developed narrative essay.

7

Narrative Essay

·         Given a rubric for revision and proofreading, students will evaluate the narrative essay of a peer to be sure it meets the assignment requirements and follows the Six Traits.

8

Definition Essay: Peer Review

·         Using lecture notes and sample essays, students will accurately evaluate the structure, style, and correctness (based on assignment requirements and the Six Traits) of definition essays.

·         Using class instruction and sample essays, students will compose a well-developed definition essay.

9

Definition Essay

·         Given a rubric for revision and proofreading, students will evaluate the definition essay of a peer to be sure it meets the assignment requirements and follows the Six Traits.

10

Description Essay: Peer Review

·         Using lecture notes and sample essays, students will accurately evaluate the structure, style, and correctness (based on assignment requirements and the Six Traits) of description essays.

·         Using class instruction and sample essays, students will compose a well-developed description essay.

11

Description Essay

·         Given a rubric for revision and proofreading, students will evaluate the description essay of a peer to be sure it meets the assignment requirements and follows the Six Traits.

12

Classification Essay: Peer Review

·         Using lecture notes and sample essays, students will accurately evaluate the structure, style, and correctness (based on assignment requirements and the Six Traits) of classification essays.

·         Using class instruction and sample essays, students will compose a well-developed classification essay.

13

Classification Essay

·         Given a rubric for revision and proofreading, students will evaluate the classification essay of a peer to be sure it meets the assignment requirements and follows the Six Traits.

14

Research Paper: Peer Review

·         Given a rubric for revision and proofreading, students will evaluate the research paper of a peer to be sure it meets the assignment requirements and follows the Six Traits.

15

Final Portfolio

·         Using the final portfolio format, students will compile all papers written and evaluate their progress as a writer for submission.