ENGL1101 - Composition I

• focus on a purpose.
• use conventions of format and structure appropriate to various situations.
• understand a writing assignment as a series of tasks, including finding, evaluating, analyzing, and synthesizing appropriate sources.
• use a variety of technologies in the writing process.
• develop flexible strategies for generating, revising, editing, and proof-reading.
• demonstrate competent use of syntax, grammar, punctuation, and spelling.

Required Texts:

• Lunsford, Andrea A.  The Everyday Writer.  3rd ed.  Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2005.
• Kimball, Miles A.  The Web Portfolio Guide: Creating Electronic Portfolios for the Web.  New York: Longman, 2003.

• Any good college dictionary.
• A good handbook of grammar and usage, such as The Longman Handbook or the Harbrace Handbook.
• A style guide such as The MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (MLA) or the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA) or other style guide appropriate for your major (check with the reference librarians to locate a suitable style manual).
  

• USB jump drive, CD-RW, or  3.5-inch HD (High Density) diskette, IBM-formatted.  (I recommend you buy two diskettes--one to back up your work, just in case.)
• Email account (NOTE: You will need to have a Georgia Southern account for your Web page work.  If you do not know how to access it, please make arrangements to find out!)
• Hard case for your diskette. Do not carry it loose.

Informal writing activities may include listserv discussions, peer response, and heuristics, among others; formal assignments will include at least four multiple-draft assignments that demonstrate the student's ability to meet the course and Regents Core Curriculum goals.

  Please come to class prepared.   No excuses.
 

Class Listserv

All students will join, read, and contribute to the class listserv.  You are required to make 10 postings during the semester as stipulated in the schedule of assignments.   You also need to read each other's postings; you will not get credit if you merely repeat information others have already posted.  You may choose to post more than once per week, either responding to other students' posts, asking questions regarding assignments, readings, or class discussions, or discussing topics of interest to the general student population.  Spamming, use of inappropriate language, or posting of inappropriate materials will not be tolerated.  It is your listserv, and as such it is up to you (the students) to police it. 

Postings should be substantive (that is, they should actually have something to say) and should be approximately 250 words in length, they should reflect good format for email, and they should reflect an awareness of the rhetorical situation of which they are a part.
 

Attendance

Attendance is mandatory.  My attendance policy is firm: no excuses are allowed.  However, missed assignments may be made up.  It is the student's responsibility to find out any assignments or information missed as a result of tardiness or absence.  Please make arrangements with another student early in the semester to ensure that, should you need to be absent, you will still have access to this information.  Late assignments will automatically be lowered one full letter grade, or 10% (again, no excuses; save your creativity for your essays).
 

Grades

Distribution of final grade:    Attendance and Class Participation  Listserv Postings (10 @ 1 pt.)  Projects (4 @ 10 pts.)  WebCT Research Exercise Final Web Portfolio 10 pts.  10 pts.  40 pts.  10 pts.  30 pts.

Grades are assigned as follows:    A  B  C  D  F  90-100  80-89   70-79  60-69  Below 60

For information on criteria for evaluation of student compositions, see English Composition for Students in English 1101 and English 1102.  Please note that a grade of "C" or better in ENGL1101 is a prerequisite for ENGL1102.   You can also use the attached checklist to help you evaluate your own work.
 

Regents' Test

Students enrolled in ENGL 1101 have automatically been scheduled to take the Regents' Test at a time that fits their class schedules.  You MUST attempt the Regent's Test in order to be eligible to enroll in ENGL 1102 (even if you do not pass it).  Please check WINGS for your test date.  For more information on the Regents' Exam, see http://class.georgiasouthern.edu/~writling/regentslink.html.
 

Disclaimers

All assignments in this syllabus are subject to change, depending on the instructor's assessment of students' needs.  It is the student's responsibility to obtain missed assignments, handouts, changes to the syllabus, and other course-related information.

Inappropriate use of computer resources can result in students losing their accounts, failure of a class, or legal repercussions.  Inappropriate use includes but is not limited to illegal access of information (hacking), using someone else's account without authorization, tampering with the settings on Georgia Southern University's writing lab computers, uploading, downloading, or installing pirated software or files, and viewing or distributing pornographic or otherwise offensive materials using Georgia Southern's facilities.  If you are unsure whether or not a specific use is allowed, contact Computer Services.
 

Assignments

The schedule of assignments is a tentative one and is provided for planning purposes only.  Students are expected to check the schedule frequently for changes, and to complete all assigned readings and coursework as shown by the dates listed.  Additional information on assignments may be added to this site and/or discussed in class.  It is the student's responsibility to find out any assignments or information missed as a result of tardiness or absence.  (See also Attendance policy above).

The content of personal and other unofficial home pages is not sanctioned by Georgia Southern University and does not represent official information or opinions of the University. jwalker@georgiasouthern.edu is solely responsible for the contents of this page.