Chris McKinney
845-9258
7-514
cdmckinn@hawaii.edu

Course Description: Introduction to the rhetorical, conceptual, and stylistic demands of writing at the college level; instruction in the composing process, search strategies, and writing from sources. (3 credits)

Prerequisite: "C" or higher in English 22 or 60 OR placement in ENG 100

Recommended Preparation: Typing and computer experience. If you are not familiar with computers, go to the Computer Lab (Building 2, Room 405) as soon as possible.

You have all thought, read, and written before, and you will continue to participate in these activities for the rest of your lives, whether in school, work, or leisure. This course is designed to enhance your skills in all three, so always remember to bring your books, paper, pen, and gray matter to class.

Reading: We will be reading from The Bedford Guide For College Writers. Use your highlighter to mark passages that strike you as important. I expect all students to do this.

Writing: There will be in-class writing, several textbook assignments, and four longer essays in this class. Formal writing assignments will be graded on various criteria depending on assignment.

Thinking: Must be done on a daily basis for academic survival.

If you put effort into completing these tasks, you will become better readers, writers, and thinkers. We will be working on refining certain skills (like editing) and learning new ones (like how to do effective research and research writing). My hope is that this class will be interesting and challenging, and that we will all walk away knowing that we became better.

"What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure." -Samuel Johnson

Texts:

The Bedford Guide For College Writers with Reader, Research Manual, and Handbook, Fifth Edition; a dictionary is also recommended.

Required Materials:

One 3.5 computer diskette (either high density or double density)
Highlighter
Smooth edged loose leaf paper (8 1/2 x 11)

Course Objectives and Outcomes:

• To develop the ability to read and think analytically, use appropriate diction, and write logical, well-organized, fully developed, grammatically correct essays. 
  
  
• Practice in writing clear, effective university-level prose with attention to all stages of the writing process -- generating ideas, drafting, revising, and editing.
  
  
• To develop a confident and effective writing voice through focused freewriting, collaborative learning, reader response, narration, compare and contrast, cause and effect, literary analysis, process, argumentative writing, research, and critical reading.

Essay 1 (personal narrative, 3-4 pages) = 30 points

Essay 2 (compare and contrast, 3-4 pages) = 30 points

Essay 3 (literary analysis, 3-4 pages) = 30 points

Essay 4 (research thesis paper, 4-6 pages) = 40 points

Texbook assignments = 40 points total

In-class writing, preparation, and participation = 30 points

Midterm (cause and effect) = 20 points

Final Exam (argumentative) = 30 points

Grades in each of these eight categories will be given on a point system. For example, the most points you can receive for Essay 1 is 30. At the end of the semester, all points will be added, and this will be your grade for the semester. 250-223 points = A. 222-200 points = B. 199-175 points = C. 174-150 points = D. Fewer than 150 points = F.

"How can I know what I think till I see what I say?" -E.M. Forster

Assignments: This is a three-part course. During PART ONE, students will study the narrative writing of professional writers and compose their own first person narrative essays (3-4 pages). PART TWO concentrates on introducing critical thinking and academic writing structure to the class. Two essays will be assigned, one a compare and contrast paper (3-4 pages), the other a literary analysis (3-4 pages). During the final portion of the semester, PART THREE, students will compose a proper research thesis paper (4-5 pages). For two days, when this last paper is assigned, the class will meet in the library and learn how to use its resources.

All four essays will require multiple drafts. All drafts must be typed and printed on a computer and saved on a 3.5 computer diskette. All final drafts must have a title and page numbers. Handwritten drafts will not be accepted. Late drafts will deduct half a letter grade from the final grade of the essay (a B for the final draft becomes a B-). If a first draft is not turned in, one whole grade is deducted (a B for the final draft becomes a C). Late drafts will not be accepted on the class period before the final draft is due because I will not have the time to comment on it and get it back to you. There are no exceptions. One whole grade will be deducted from late final drafts. Again, there are no exceptions.

"Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body." -Joseph Addison

Reading assignments, textbook writing assignments, in-class focused freewrites, and collaborative learning will be administered throughout the semester. The textbook assignments may be handwritten or typed. Assignments submitted late will be marked down by two points. In-class focused freewrites, reading assignments, and grammar exercises are worth two points each. If you are absent during an in-class freewriting assignment, two points will be deducted from your final grade. If you do not complete your grammar exercises, again, two points will be deducted from your grade. If reading assignments are not being completed, two-question quizzes will be administered. If you miss one question, one point will be deducted. If you miss two, two points will be deducted. Failure to attend and contribute in collaborative learning exercises will also cost two points. These points add up to thirty, so make sure that you come to class prepared.

Attendance: Attendance, which I take every day, is extremely important. By just missing one class, you could fall significantly behind. If you do miss a class, make sure the reason is valid. Unless an absence is valid (medical or family emergency), your absence will cost you one point. This is firm. If you miss a class, it is also your responsibility to inquire about what you missed. If you are continually absent, I will ask you to withdraw from the course. Any student who misses the equivalent of three weeks of class (MWF 9 classes/TTh 6 classes), will fail this course automatically. If you are late, make sure that I have you marked down as present (I take attendance at the beginning of class). If tardiness becomes a problem, a point will be deducted from your final grade per late entrance. Think of this class as a job. If you don’t show, you don’t get paid, and if you’re chronically late, you’ll probably get canned.

Plagiarism: Submitting a paper that you did not write, recycling papers you have written for other classes, or quoting others without citing them constitutes plagiarism. Plagiarism will result in an F for the course.

Things You Need To Remember:

1. All four Essays must be typed, saved, and printed on a computer. If you do not own a computer, you can go to the Computer Lab (Building 2, Room 405). Make sure you have a student I.D. (to obtain an I.D. card, take your pink slip to Building 2, 2nd floor). There are also other computer facilities on campus in Building 2 on both the 5th and 6th floors, and in the Learning Center (Building 7, Room 313).
   
   
2. All other assignments may be neatly handwritten in ink, typed, or computer printed.
   
   
3. Assignments turned in late will be marked down.
   
   
4. Come to work, or you’ll be fired.
   
   
5. Participation and preparation is a must. Quizzes will be administered if these requirements are not being met.
   
   
6. If you need extra help with your writing, or have specific grammar or sentence structure errors to work on, you may want to sign up for a writing tutor at the Learning Center (Building 7, Room 313).
   
   
7. Always remember, writing is re-writing. Constantly edit your work.
   
   
8. Do not give up. Writing is often difficult for even the greatest writers. Stay in the game.
   
   
9. My door is always open. I encourage all students to see me if any problems arise.