GENERAL INFORMATION AND CLASS SYLLABUS

Fall 2001

English 100

Instructor: Dean Karpowicz

Office: Comm Arts 251

Office Hours: TT: 1-3; MW: 1-2; by Appointment

Phone: 595-2672

Email: dean.karpowicz@uwp.edu

Course Objectives: English 100 focuses on the elementary principles of logic and rhetoric that govern effective organization and presentation of ideas in writing. Minimal instruction in grammar and mechanics is available to students who may need it, but emphasis is on appropriate limitation of topic and the development of a thesis in a unified, coherent piece of writing. The readings are expository writings that serve as models of standard American usage and as examples of organizational strategies.

Course Work: We will be writing seven or eight short themes (approximately two or three pages) using the various rhetorical conventions discussed during the semester. Each theme will be graded and returned with the opportunity for students to revise. Revisions can be completed at any time during the semester, and the overall grade on each theme will be the result of the average between the original and that revision. There will be no final exam, but each student will be required to complete a portfolio of all original and revised themes. Portfolios will be due on the final day of class. Homework and class participation count. We will have several in-class assignments and response groups, and the amount of homework and quizzes are dependent on class discussion. I would prefer themes to be typed and double spaced on standard paper; however, if you do not have access to a computer or word processor, you may print your papers on every other line of loose leaf paper. (please, no crumpled, ripped out notebook paper.)

Required Texts:

· Patterns Plus: A Short Prose Writer (Pat)

· Simon &Schuster Handbook for Writers (S&S)

· I also suggest a standard dictionary and thesaurus (not required)

Class Policies and Procedures:

· Attendance

--Regular attendance is expected and required

--If a student misses no more than 1 class, he or she may drop his or her lowest theme grade. However, this does not mean that a student may skip writing a theme.

--More than 3 absences will affect your overall grade.

--If any student misses more than 6 classes (three weeks) he or she should not expect to pass.

· Late Work and Make-up Work

--Late themes will be penalized one letter grade for each day they are late.

--Late homework will not be graded. Late quizzes cannot be made up.

--Students who do not bring material for response groups will be penalized one grade on their final draft.

--If you have a problem with an assignment or homework, let me know beforehand.

· Grading Breakdown

80% Themes (Portfolio)

10% Homework/Quizzes

10% Class Participation

· Conferences

--I may set aside one week for conferences (without classes scheduled) near the end of the semester, time permitting.

--I would also suggest that any student receiving lower than a C on any given theme schedule a conference with me. However, this is not required.

Week 1

--Go over course objectives. Diagnostic writing.

HW: Read Pat chapter 1 & do diagnostic narrative paragraph.

Week 2

--Diagnostic paragraph due. Discuss grammar. Paragraph structure and theme structure handouts.

HW: Skim S&S Unit 1 and read Pat pp. 13-18.

--Grammar review. Group Narrative freewriting. Intro to Narration.

HW: Read Narration paragraphs in Pat pp. 18-26. Choose paragraph writing assignment & complete. Read S&S Unit 2; focus on thesis stement.

Week 3

--Grammar. Paragraphs due. Mechanics of Narration. Discuss reading. Intro to thesis.

HW: Read Pat pp. 27-47; S&S Unit 4 (paragraphs).

--Grammar. Freewriting on Dialogue and action. In class reading. Discuss readings.

HW: Write dialogue from assigned reading; Read S&S Unit 7, do assignment.

Week 4

--Grammar review. Freewriting resp. Discuss handout. Active Reading. Choose topic for Theme 1

HW: Write Theme 1.

--Theme 1 Due. Intro to description. Tone. Freewritng music exercise.

HW: Read Pat pp. 47-53. Read S&S Unit 8, assigned work.

Week 5

--Handouts. In class exercise. Discuss reading.

HW: Read Pat pp. 53-78. S&S Grammar assigned from unit 8.

--Freewriting. Discuss readings. Choose topic for Theme 2.

HW: Read S&S Unit 9. Write rough draft for Theme 2.

Week 6

--Rough draft of Theme 2 due. Response groups.

HW: Write final draft of Theme 2. Short grammar assignment (Unit 9)

--Final draft of Theme 2 due. Intro to examples. Stated thesis.

HW: Read Pat pp. 79-93. Read S&S Unit 10. Assigned work.

Week 7

--Continue Examples. Discuss paragraphs. In class writing assignment.

HW: Read Pat 94-109. Work in S&S Unit 10.

--Freewriting. Discuss reading and sample essay.

HW: Write outline for Theme 3. Read S&S Unit 11. Assigned Problems.

Week 8

--Outlines due. Write Theme 3 in class.

HW: Read Pat pp. 111-123. Finish S&S Unit 11.

--Intro to Classification and Division. Discuss reading.

HW: Read Pat 123-41. Read S&S Unit 12; assigned work.

Week 9

--Freewriting responses. Discuss essays. Choose topics for Theme 4.

HW: Outline and thesis for Theme 4. Finish S&S Unit 12.

--Outlines due. In class sample essay.

HW: Write Theme 4; Read S&S Unit 13.

Week 10

--Theme 4 due. Intro to Comparison and Contrast.

HW: Read Pat pp. 143-56. Assigned work from S&S Unit 13.

--Continue Comp/Cont. Discuss readings.

HW: Read Pat pp. 157-74. Read S&S Unit 14; assigned work.

Week 11

--Freewriting response. Sample essay. Discuss readings. Choose topic for Theme 5.

HW: Selected readings. Assigned work in S&S Unit 14.

--Discuss reading. Finish Comp/Cont.

HW: Write rough draft for theme 5; Read S&S Unit 15.

Week 12

--Rough draft for Theme 5 due. Response groups.

HW: Write final draft for Theme 5.

--Theme 5 Due. Intro to Cause and Effect.

HW: Read Pat pp. 203-17. Read S&S Unit 17. Selected exercises.

Week 13

--Freewriting response. Discuss readings.

HW: Read Pat pp. 218-37. Selected exercises, S&S Unit 18.

--Discuss readings. Sample student essay. Choose topic for Theme 6.

HW: Write Theme 6. S&S Unit 24 selected grammar.

Thanksgiving Break

Week 14

--Theme 6 due. Intro to Definition.

HW: Read Par pp. 239-50.

--Discuss readings. In class writing.

HW: Read Pat pp. 251-66. S&S Unit 25, selected grammar.

Week 15

--Discuss readings. Choose topic for Theme 7.

HW: Write Theme 7.

--Rough draft for Theme 7 due.

HW: S&S Unit 26, selected grammar.

Final portfolio with revisions and Theme 7 due.