English Composition I
Required Text
Rawlins, J., & Metzger, S. (2015). The Writer’s Way (9th ed.). Cengage.
ISBN: 9781285966113
Please be aware that the text for this course is in eBook format. For more information about how to access your ebook, review these instructions.
Course Description
This course develops written communication skills with emphasis on understanding the writing process. Students will analyze readings and practice writing for personal and professional applications. This course satisfies the General Education requirements.
Course Objectives
· Incorporate writing components appropriate to a collegiate essay
· Evaluate how the writing process is used in one’s own writing
· Analyze the role of reading and writing in one’s academic and professional career
· Apply strategies to achieve clarity and effective style in writing
· Differentiate between different writing patterns (rhetorical modes)
· Demonstrate guidelines and strategies for writing an effective research paper
Credit Hours: 3
Prerequisites: None
Tentative Course
Schedule
|
Course Week |
Weekly Content |
|
Week 1: Introduction to Writing |
· Read prologue P1-P8, Chapter 1 (Learning to Write, pp. 3-18), Chapter 2 (What Makes Writing Effectives, pp. 19-28), Chapter 3 (Writing In School: An Introduction, pp. 29-39), “Something Happened A Long Time Ago” (pp. 22-23) · Written Lectures: o Why Study Writing o Types of Writing · Video Lecture 1 · Discussion "Introductions" · Assignment "Literacy Narrative” |
|
Week 2: Topics and Outlining |
· Read Chapter 4 (Choosing Topics and Getting Started, pp. 45-69), Chapter 7 (Organization: Mapping, Outlining, and Abstracting, pp. 106-130) · Written Lectures o Finding Things to Write About o Clarity and Organization · Video Lecture 2 · Discussion "Interviews” · Assignment "Prewriting and Outlining for the Narrative Essay” |
|
Week 3: Content and Organization |
· Read Chapter 5 (Thesis, Purpose, and Audience, pp. 74-86), Chapter 6 (Style and Tone, pp. 87-105) · Written Lectures o Building a Thesis o Narrative and Descriptive Writing · Video Lecture 3 · Discussion “Narrative Essays” · Reflection Journal · Assignment "Narrative Mode” |
|
Week 4: Informative Essays |
· Read Chapter 9 (Beginning, Ending, and Titling, pp. 148-160), Chapter 13 (Writing to Inform, pp. 222-246), Informative Essays (pp. 352-359), “The Good Mother” (pp. 368-370) · Written Lecture: o Reading for Meaning · Video Lecture 4 · Discussion "Informative Essays” · Assignment "Outline for an Informative Paper” |
|
Week 5: Revising and Editing |
· Read Chapter 8 (The Spirit of Revising, pp. 131-147), Chapter 11 (Editing, pp. 175-202) · Video Lecture 5 · Discussion "Being Misinformed” · Reflection Journal · Assignment "Informative Essay” |
|
Week 6: Persuasive Writing |
· Read Chapter 14 (Writing an Argument, Stage 1: Thinking Critical, pp. 247-267), Chapter 15 (Writing an Argument, Stage 2: Selling the Case, pp. 268-285), “Lucy, You Have Some ‘Splain’ to Do” (pp. 326-330) · Written Lecture: o Different Perspectives · Video Lecture 6 · Discussion "Persuasive Essays” · Reflection Journal · Assignment "Persuasive Mode” |
|
Week 7: Feedback |
· Read Chapter 10 (Peer Feedback, pp. 161-174) · Video Lecture 7 · Discussion "Peer Review” |
|
Week 8: Research |
· Read Chapter 16 (Research, pp. 289-297), Chapter 17 (Using Sources, pp. 298-312), Chapter 18 (The Academic Research Paper, pp. 313-325) · Written Lecture: o Research · Video Lecture 8 · Discussion "Recap” · Assignment "Revise Your Persuasive Essay” |
Grading Policy
|
Grading Category |
Grade Weight |
|
Discussions |
20% |
|
Journals |
10% |
|
Assignments |
70% |
Estimated Student
Workload
The following table outlines the academic effort required by students to become successful in this course. While the times in the table are hourly approximations, it is presented to help students with their time management. Please note, depending on the student’s background knowledge and experience of the course subject, and an individual student’s academic capabilities, these times will vary.
|
Course Week |
Activity and Time Required |
|
Week 1 |
· Reading/Watching: 2.0 · Discussion: 3.0 · Homework: 4.5 · Total Time Estimated: 9.5 |
|
Week 2 |
· Reading/Watching: 3.0 · Discussion: 3.0 · Homework: 6.0 · Total Time Estimated: 12.0 |
|
Week 3 |
· Reading/Watching: 4.2 · Discussion: 3.0 · Homework: 7.0 · Total Time Estimated: 14.2 |
|
Week 4 |
· Reading/Watching: 2.5 · Discussion: 3.0 · Homework: 6.0 · Total Time Estimated: 11.5 |
|
Week 5 |
· Reading/Watching: 2.2 · Discussion: 3.0 · Homework: 10.0 · Total Time Estimated: 15.2 |
|
Week 6 |
· Reading/Watching: 2.2 · Discussion: 3.0 · Homework: 10.0 · Total Time Estimated: 15.2 |
|
Week 7 |
· Reading/Watching: 1.0 · Discussion: 6.0 · Homework: 0.0 · Total Time Estimated: 7.0 |
|
Week 8 |
· Reading/Watching: 1.7 · Discussion: 3.0 · Homework: 9.0 · Total Time Estimated: 13.7 |
