English Composition 101-53 (Course I.D. 009100) Fall Semester, 2005
Instructor: Emily Kretschmer
Class times: Wednesday & Friday 10-11:45 a.m. Class location: Armstrong Hall 203
Instructor’s Office Hours: Wednesday & Friday 9-9:50 am & 11:50 am -1:00 p.m. & by appointment
Instructor’s Office: Armstrong Hall 201K Phone: No office phone. Cell # on request.
E-mail: emily.kretschmer@mnsu.edu
Web site: http://www.intech.mnsu.edu/soltrekker/homepage.htm
Required Materials: Mauk & Metz’s The Composition of Everyday Life
MNSU English department portfolio for Composition 101
Rewritable CD/Jump drive & notebook paper
Course Description:
The purpose of this course is to provide students with practice in computer-assisted and research-based writing. In conjunction with writing and research, the development of critical thinking skills will be encouraged and supported.
Course Objectives:
Students read and respond in discussion and writing to model essays.
Students practice strategies for audience analysis, exploratory writing, drafting,
peer review, revising, editing.
Students develop three major essays in several rhetorical modes, using ideas and material
generated in weekly 2-page papers.
Students improve their research skills using the following conventions of research-based writing: discovery and development of topics; interviewing; source evaluation and critical reading; quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing; organization and integration of source material; and bibliographic documentation.
Course Requirements:
Every Friday a reading assignment is due and every Wednesday a 2-page essay is due (see attached assignment schedule for specific details). The weekly 2-page essays are based on models and prompts in the readings from The Composition of Everyday Life.
Students develop three of the nine 2-page essays into longer essays of 5 pages, or 1000 words (Works Cited not included). The three major essays include a narrative essay, an informative essay, and a research-based persuasive essay. Each of the three major essays is peer reviewed in writing by another student, and also receives my feedback. Students meet and conduct peer review outside of class. Copies of written peer review are turned in to instructor according to the assignment schedule. Student’s name and the name of student and essay being reviewed must appear on the assignment. Final revisions of the three major essays are due on specific dates according to the assignment schedule. Due dates for final revisions of major essays are at approximately the beginning of each month—Oct., Nov., and Dec. See the schedule for specific dates.
The English Department portfolio for Composition 101 is required for this class. The finished portfolio consists of final revisions of the three major essays and completed forms found in the portfolio. The portfolio is part of a department wide program for Composition 101 and is graded by another instructor from the English Department.
Assignments for this course are turned in on the on-line course program Desire2Learn. Deadlines for assignments are posted on-line at assignment drop-boxes, and the drop-boxes will not accept assignments after deadlines. Hard copies of assignments should also be handed in to instructor at the beginning of the class on the assignment due date (until notified otherwise). Assignments will be read by instructor only if D2L deadlines are met. If you are absent you can hand in the hard copy of your assignment at the beginning of the next class only if the D2L deadline for the assignment was met. Do not wait to print assignments in class. Bring assignments printed and ready to turn in.
In place of a written final, at the end of the semester students give 4 to 5-minute informal presentations on pre-approved topics related to writing.
Grading:
Policies:
Students arrive punctually at and participate in all class meetings.
Students hand in hard copies of assignments at the beginning of each class.
No drink, food, candy, or gum allowed in the computer lab.
Students do not engage in non-class related activities on computers in class; nor do
students operate computers when other activities are ongoing in class.
Plagiarism is not tolerated and can result in a failing grade for the course.
Students with special learning needs are asked to consult the instructor about their needs at the beginning of the semester. Every attempt will be made to accommodate qualified students with documented disabilities. Contact the instructor or Disability Services at 507/389-2825 (V) or 1-800-627-3529 (MRS/TTY).
Instructor reserves the right to modify the course syllabus.
Students are responsible for getting their assignments and any changes to syllabus, course schedule, and assignments.
Assignment Schedule: Assignments due on dates specified.
W 8/31 Acquire textbook The Composition of Everyday Life
F 9/02 Chapter 1 –“Remembering Who You Were”
W 9/07 Weekly 1 due – Personal Narrative—Autobiographical Essay
F 9/09 Chapter 2 – “Explaining Relationships”
W 9/14 Weekly 2 due – Personal Narrative—Relationship Essay
F 9/16 Chapter 3 – “Observing”
+ Exchange draft of major essay 1 for peer review (Narrative Essay)
W 9/21 Weekly 3 due – Narrative—Observation Essay
F 9/23 Chapter 4 – “Analyzing Concepts”
+ Peer review of other student’s major essay 1 due (Narrative Essay)
W 9/28 Weekly 4 due – Informative—Concept Essay
F 9/30 Chapter 5 – “Making Arguments”
+ Your revision of major essay 1 due to instructor (Narrative Essay)
W 10/05 Weekly 5 due – Persuasive—Argument Essay
F 10/07 Read Chapt 6 – “Responding to Arguments” & Chapter 12 “Rsch & Wrtg”
+ Exchange draft of major essay 2 for peer review (Informative Essay)
W 10/12 Weekly 6 due – 1 source research / Persuasive—Argument Essay
F 10/14 Read Chapter 7 – “Evaluating”
+ Peer review of other student’s major essay 2 due (Informative Essay)
W 10/19 Weekly 7 due – 1 source research / Persuasive—Evaluation Essay
+ Your revision of major essay 2 due to instructor (Informative Essay)
F 10/21 No Class – Read Chapter 8 – “Searching for Causes” (for next class)
W 10/26 Weekly 8 due —2 sources research / Persuasive—Cause & Effect Essay
F 10/28 Read Chapter 9 – “Proposing Solutions”
+ Exchange draft of major essay 3 for peer review (Persuasive Essay)
W 11/02 Weekly 9 due – 2 sources research / Persuasive—Solution Essay
F 11/04 Read Chapter 11 – “Thinking Radically: Re-seeing the World”
+ Peer review of other student’s major essay 3 due (Persuasive Essay)
W 11/09 Your revision of major essay 3 due to instructor (Research-based Persua-
sive Essay)
F 11/11 TBA
W 11/16 TBA
F 11/18 Final Portfolios due
W 11/23 TBA
F 11/25 No Class
W 11/30 TBA
F 12/02 Presentations W 12/07 Presentations F 12/09 Presentations