English 1101 Sample Syllabus 1 English Composition I English 1101 CRN semester and year Georgia State University Time Classroom Instructor Office Office Hours Phone Email Course Description This course is designed to increase the student s ability to construct written prose of various kinds It focuses on methods of organization analysis research skills and the production of short argumentative and expository essays readings consider issues of contemporary social and cultural concern A passing grade is C Learning Outcomes engage in writing as a process including various invention heuristics brainstorming for example gathering evidence considering audience drafting revising editing and proofreading engage in the collaborative social aspects of writing and use writing as a tool for learning use language to explore and analyze contemporary multicultural global and international questions demonstrate how to use writing aids such as handbooks dictionaries online aids and tutors gather summarize synthesize and explain information from various sources use grammatical stylistic and mechanical formats and conventions appropriate for a variety of audiences critique their own and others work in written and oral formats produce coherent organized readable prose for a variety of rhetorical situations reflect on what contributed to their writing process and evaluate their own work Texts Glenn Cheryl et al Writer s Harbrace Handbook 2nd ed Boston MA Harcourt College Publishers 2004 Sugarman Tammy and Lyn e Lewis Gaillet Pullen Guide and Supplement 2003 ed Packaged with Harbrace Handbook Miller Robert Keith Motives for Writing 4th ed Boston McGraw Hill 2003 Course Work Assignments and Evaluation The grades for this course will be weighted as follows 1 Journal 15 2 In Class Assignments 15 This grade includes class participation responses to writing prompts written and oral feedback of others papers in peer groups and timed essays 3 Three Essays 3 5 pages 15 each 45 This grade includes both drafts and final papers 4 Writing Across the Curriculum Assignment 25 Interview 10 Essay and draft 15 We will discuss the grading system for the essays and the Writing Across the Curriculum assignment before the first due date Course Policies Attendance Class attendance is necessary Students who miss more than 6 classes will fail the course I understand that emergency situations do occur so please do not use your absences unnecessarily I will not make a distinction between an absence caused by sickness and one caused by laziness Tardiness Please do not wander in and out of class It is distracting and takes away from the learning environment We will begin or end every class period with a short writing assignment which I will use to take attendance and which will also count towards your In Class writing grade If you are tardy and miss that assignment see me after class If you are consistently late it will adversely affect your grade Late Work Because we will spend class time discussion the revision of your drafts all drafts must be turned in on the day they are listed as due As for the final drafts of your papers I expect them to be on time Late papers will be docked a letter grade for each day that they are late I know that emergencies do occur If you know a paper will be late please contact me before the due date so that we can discuss arrangements Paper Submission Students must bring two copies of each paper to class on the days in which drafts are due Several people may be reading over them in class Final drafts must include your name the class and the date They must be stapled no plastic binding They should be typed on a word processor double spaced with standard margins and font Computers are available in the Writing Center 976 GCB the Learning Lab in 120 Kell Hall and the Computer Lab in 106 Library South When you turn in your final papers include all of the drafts particularly those on which other students have made comments They should be paper clipped to the final paper I do not accept emailed or faxed papers for final submission without prior discussion Cell phones Cell phone use is strictly prohibited during class Turn off all cell phones and beepers at the beginning of the class period Office Hours My office hours are from 10 00 am to noon on Mondays and Wednesdays or by appointment In addition you may email me to discuss specific questions you have about your writing Academic Dishonesty All students are expected to follow Georgia State s code of academic conduct Plagiarism will not be tolerated If you have any questions about plagiarism or other forms of academic dishonesty feel free to ask The University s policies on Academic Honesty can be read in the student handbook or on the following website http www gsu edu wwwreg LK 4 html AcademicHonesty Accommodations for Students With Special Needs Students who need accommodations are asked to arrange a meeting during office hours or at another mutually convenient time during the first week of classes or as soon as possible if accommodations are needed immediately Bring a copy of your Student Accommodation Form to the meeting If you do not have an Accommodation Form but need accommodations make an appointment with the Office of Disability Services Suite 230 New Student Center ext 3 9044 to arrange for accommodations The Center for Writing and Research The Writing Center located in room 976 in the General Classroom Building provides personal one on one service for students in order to help them at all levels of the writing process You can schedule an appointment or just drop by and wait The service is free This is a valuable resource for writers and I highly suggest that you use it Course Schedule Note The reading is due on the day it is listed You must be prepared to discuss the reading before you come to class that day Week 1 Aug 25 29 M Introduction Discuss syllabus W Diagnostic Essay Assign and discuss journals F Audience Purpose and Context Harbrace p 2 26 Motives Understanding Your Rhetorical Situation p 2 7 Week 2 Sept 1 5 M Labor Day no class W Motives Writing to Understand Experience p 51 56 Schiel and Sanders F Motives Njeri and Dillard Week 3 Sept 8 12 M Harbrace p 34 42 Motives Preparing to Write p 7 21 Discussion on Brainstorming methods Peer Groups Brainstorming Sessions W Motives Drafting p 21 26 Harbrace p 42 66 F Further Study Audience Discussion on Self as Audience The Intimidating Audience No Audience Week 4 Sept 15 19 M Draft of Paper