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Written English: ENGL 101
(Departmental Syllabus)
Course purpose and
objectives: The goals for written English I are to develop
students' critical reading, thinking, and writing skills. Students will be
expected to read, understand, analyze, and relate selections from the Austin text to their
experience and/or other ways of knowing. To help students develop critical
reading, thinking, and writing strategies over the term, the Department
asks teachers to present writing as a process. Ideas for brainstorming
(i.e. clustering, free writing, etc.), revising drafts, editing, and
proofreading should be taught. Designing a series of assignments which
build upon each other (i.e. grouping assignments thematically, reading one
author through another, etc.) will help students make connections and
synthesize information. Students will also be expected to become familiar with
expository modes of writing and rhetorical strategies.
As a foundation for other general
studies courses (ENGL 102, 103, 104), literary survey courses, and other
college courses, students will learn to think and write critically; this
skill includes being able to formulate a thesis (an arguable assertion
supported by illustration and analysis). The Department encourages those
students who write exemplary essays, using the criteria stated, to submit
their work to the Catherine Fix Essay Contest. Use of the Austin text, Reading the World: Ideas
that Matter is designed to introduce students to writers and ideas from
both Western and Eastern traditions. Thus, the course will focus on authors
of both genders and on writing from a variety of cultural and ethnic
contexts.
Because Shepherd University
values the importance of computer literacy, and because the Department of
English values the processes of revision and editing in writing, all essays
must be computer drafted. All students must acquire a University computer
account and become familiar with the three General Studies basic
technology/communication requirements: 1) Internet use, 2) electronic
library research, and 3) word processing.
Essential skills and
outcomes to be required through the course include:
1) an ability to render close textual analysis;
2) an ability to synthesize information from multiple
texts;
3) an ability to render clear, cogent ideas;
4) an ability to structure well-developed essays,
with thesis, textual support, and analysis;
5) an ability to correctly employ standard written
English usage;
6) an understanding of and respect for
ethnic/cultural diversity;
7) an ability to utilize basic
technology to improve writing and thinking skills.
Required texts and
materials: A Writer's Reference, Diana
Hacker, St Martins Press; Reading the World: Ideas that Matter,
Michael Austin, Norton & Company; student computer account for use of
the Knutti 206 Collaborative Learning Computer Lab.
Essays: A minimum of six essays
(at least 500 words each) are required, at least three of which will be
documented essays and two of which will be in-class essays. All essays will
be computer drafted, with at least one essay “workshopped” in the Knutti
206 Lab. Each essay will be graded and returned prior to the next writing
assignment.
The University Writing Center: To receive individual
instruction and feedback on writing in progress, students should be
encouraged to visit The Academic Support Services Center in the basement of
Scarborough Library. Visits are by appointment (via the online
schedule found at www.shepherd.edu/ascweb)
or through ShepOwl at http://www.shepherd.edu/scwcweb/tutorform.htm.
Appalachian
Heritage Writer-in-Residence Project: Instructors of
ENGL 101 are encouraged to utilize works by the Writer-in-Residence in
their course and incorporate at least one of the residency events each fall
into their course curriculum, as this important program presents an
extraordinary opportunity for General Studies English students at Shepherd
to come into contact with a regional writer of note. For information and
lesson plans, see residency webpage at http://www.shepherd.edu/ahwirweb/.
Grading: Grades awarded for essays should be consistent with the Department Grading Criteria at
http://www.shepherd.edu/englweb/criteria.htm,
and should follow the values: 90-100=A, 80-89=B, 70-79=C, 60-69=D,
0-59=F.
Revision
Approved 3-12-08
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