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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 Center in
Knutti 114. 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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