Prof. Richard F. Johnson
English 101-018: Fall 2004
MW 10:25 - 11:40 am.
L135

Syllabus for English 101-018

"The desire to write grows with writing."
-- Erasmus

Taking its cue from Erasmus, this course aims to increase students' desire to write. The course attains this objective by helping the student understand the writing process so that he/she gains confidence and control over his/her writing. As writing demands a degree of critical thinking, our class sessions should be thought of as workshops in which we consider how best to express our ideas and how other people might receive them. In class, we will be introduced to the elements of composition and argument through the analysis of essays and articles. The readings will be used as models for the development through writing practice of persuasive writing skills. Class time will also be devoted to planning papers, writing sections of them, reading works-in-progress, and evaluating drafts.

Contents

Class Guidelines

Required Textbooks:

English:

Classroom Policies:

  1. Attendance is important, encouraged, and appreciated. After the first week of class and at the discretion of the instructor, arriving 15 or more minutes late or needing to leave 15 minutes or more before class is dismissed will count as an absence.
  2. There are many forms of plagiarism. Make yourself aware of them. If you are uncertain about this issue, feel free to discuss it with me. If I have any reason to suspect that your work is not your own, appropriate action will be taken. Plagiarism is one of the grounds for failure of this course.

Course Requirements:

  1. Complete and submit all assignments (reading, written assignments, drafts, final revisions) in class on the day they are due.
  2. Write FOUR formal papers, putting each through at least one revision.
  3. Prepare for class each day and participate in discussions and workshops.

General Course Guidelines:

Students are urged to participate enthusiastically and consistently. Attendance is mandatory at all classes. A pattern of unexcused absences may result in failure of the course. Failure to complete assignments on time or to prepare for class will result in lowered grades. There will be no make-up assignments except in extreme cases. As mentioned above, plagiarism constitutes grounds for failure of the course.

Late Assignments:

All written assignments for each paper (prewriting tasks, drafts, and final papers) must be submitted in class on the dates they are due. Since students who turn in late drafts miss out on classwork crucial to the revision of papers, late drafts will result in a final grade of no better that a C- for that paper. Furthermore, this grade will result only if the paper is completed by the next class meeting. Written comments from the instructor will not be given on late work.

Course Grading:

Your final course grade will be based on the following criteria:

Performance:Attendance at every class meeting. Prompt arrival to class. Regular and active participation about the reading assignments and about the student's own work consistently at every class. Papers and homework handed in on time. Demonstration of engagement in the course and in the student's own personal writing development.

Product:Completion of formal paper for each unit demonstrating an understanding and application of the writing concepts and techniques introduced in the course.

Control of Process:Completion of in-class and home assignments of a quality demonstrating serious and reflective critical thought and attention. Includes whether the student experiments with pre-writing techniques; writes perceptive and thoughtful peer and self evaluations, and reading responses; understands the concept of revision and demonstrates this understanding by revising drafts substantially; resourcefully locates necessary documents for research, and demonstrates ability to synthesize and evaluate them; carefully edits and proofreads documents.

A student's final grade will be based roughly according to the following percentages:

In the event that a student's grade falls between two letter grades, that student's attendance and participation will influence his final grade. Final Grades are computed by letter, not numerical, grades. The instructor reserves the right to manipulate these grades as he sees fit.

Finally, your success in this class is important to me. If you have a disability and may require some accommodations or modification in procedures, class activity, instruction, requirements, etc., please contact me early in the semester so we can discuss and arrange for necessary accommodations and/or modifications with the Center for Students with Disabilities (Building D, Room 119, Extension 6266).

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Daily Schedule:

Please note that only the assigments due in class are listed here.

* * * * * * * * * * * * Unit One * * * * * * * * * * * *

Week One:

August 23:

Introduction to course: aims, assumptions, expectations, and procedures. Introductions to each other and books. Discussion of syllabus. Overview and discussion of writing process. Assign Essay 1.

August 25:

Week Two: Narration

August 30:

September 1:

Week Three: Narration (contd.)

September 6:

September 8:

* * * * * * * * * * * * Unit Two * * * * * * * * * * * *

Week Four: Description

September 13:

September 15:

Week Five: Example

September 20:

September 22:

Week Six: Comparison and Contrast

September 27:

September 29:

Week Seven: Process Analysis

October 4:

* * * * * * * * * * * * Unit Three * * * * * * * * * * * *

October 6:

Week Eight: Research

October 11:

October 13:

Week Nine:

October 18:

October 20:

Week Ten: Argument/Persuasion

October 25:

October 27:

Week Eleven:

November 1:

November 3:

Week Twelve: Cause and Effect

November 8:

November 10:

* * * * * * * * * * * * Unit Four * * * * * * * * * * * *

Week Thirteen: Definition

November 15:

November 17:

Week Fourteen:

November 24:

November 26:

Week Fifteen: Division or Analysis

December 1:

December 3:

Week Sixteen:

December 8:

December 10:

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Paper Assignments

There are four formal papers for this course. Click on the appropriate assignment to get a full description of the requirements for that paper.

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Last Updated: 8-12-04.
Richard F. Johnson, Ph.D.
Department of English and
Chair, Humanities Department
William Rainey Harper College
1200 W. Algonquin Road
Palatine, IL 60067
Office: Liberal Arts Center L229
Phone: (847) 925-6429
Fax: (847) 925-6039
Email: rjohnson@harpercollege.edu