University at Buffalo

Fall 2002

English 101:  Writing 1

Sections D9  MWF 11-11:50 Alumni 88

E3  MWF 12-12:50 Alumni 88

G3  MWF 2-2:50  Clemens 106

H2  MWF  3-3:50  Baldy 113

 

Credit hours:  3           Prerequisite:  Appropriate test score

Instructor:  Ms. Jane Adam      Office:  644 Clemens

Office hours:  M W F 1-1:50 pm      email: adam_jane@hotmail.com            adam@acsu.buffalo.edu

 

 Required texts:  (available at University Bookstore)

McQuade & Atwan, The Writer’s Presence: A Pool of Readings 3rd ed.

Harris, Prentice Hall Guide to Grammar and Usage 5th ed.

Also Required:

--Pocket folder

--Access to computer, word processor, or typewriter --all essays must be typed double spaced

 

Course Objectives:  English 101 gives you the opportunity to develop critical, organizational, and language skills which you will build upon in English 201 and use throughout your college years and your life.  You will become familiar with standard modes of thinking and writing, such as narrative, description, exemplification, definition, and analysis--for both explanatory and persuasive purposes.  You will learn effective habits of reading and observation.  You will learn to build and develop an essay around a well-chosen central idea.  You will become familiar with the writing and revising process.  You will work toward University-level control of English usage.

                The class will work toward these objectives through reading and discussion, informal in-class writing, and planning, drafting, and revising of formal essays--with input at every stage from instructor and peers.  To demonstrate your progress as a writer and to motivate yourself to think critically about your education, you will keep all your written work throughout the semester, and you will revise some of your essays for your midterm and final portfolios.

 

Coursework

                Formal Essays (five total, length & topic choices TBA)--for each essay you will write one draft and at least one revision.  Essays must be typed double spaced.

                Informal Writings and Grammar Exercises--to be done in or out of class, individually , or in small groups as announced;  completeness will count toward final grade. you will also analyze and reflect on some of these in your midterm and final portfolios.

                Group Activities will include discussions and presentations from assigned reading, plus draft workshops for formal essays.  Participation will count toward final grade.

                Assigned Reading--The basis for class discussion and both formal and informal writing assignments.  Quizzes on reading will count toward final grade.

                Midterm and Final Portfolios--include a further revision of one of your graded formal essays and a written analysis of the steps you took to revise it.

 

Conferences:  Each student will meet with the instructor at least once before each portfolio is due.

 

Grades

                Each formal essay will receive a letter grade.  With each essay you will also submit your planning  notes, drafts, and printouts or photocopies of any materials you use as references.

                Your midterm portfolio will contain a further revision of Essay #1 or   #2, and your final portfolio will contain  further revisions of Essays #3, #4 and #5   Both portfolios will also include all notes

 

 

Grades cont.

 

and drafts and copies of any reference materials for the essays you revise, along with a written analysis (1-2 pages) of your revision process.

 

You must turn in all five essays, a minimum number of informal writings and quizzes, and both portfolios in order to pass the course.  Your coursework will then be weighted as follows to determine your final grade:

 

                25%  --  Formal Essays #1 and #2, Midterm Portfolio

                60%  --  Formal Essays #3, #4,and #5, Final Portfolio

                15%  --  Group Activities, In-class (informal) writing activities, conference attendance, quizzes

             

 

Final Portfolios are due Monday, December 9, 2002.  No late portfolios will be accepted.

 

 

Policies

 

Attendance--You are allowed five absences without penalty. For each additional absence, your final grade will be lowered.  If you use all five of your absences before October 18 (last day to drop), you will be asked to resign from the course.

 

Late or Missed Assignments--You will be allowed one late formal essay without penalty.  If you turn in a second late essay, the grade will be lowered.

                If you miss an in-class group activity or are unprepared for it, you are still responsible for completing the work.

               

Plagiarism is the unacknowledged use of someone else’s words, ideas, or information.  One plagiarized essay will earn you an F for that assignment.  A second plagiarized essay will earn you an F for the course.  If you are unsure whether you are using someone  else’s words or ideas appropriately in your writing, ask for advice early in the writing process!

 

Incompletes--Only those students who have fulfilled the attendance requirements for this course and completed all but one of the written assignments are eligible for an Incomplete grade.

 

Schedule

PH=Prentice Hall Reference Guide      WP=The Writer’s Presence

 

8/26  introduction

8/28  introduction cont. .  Letter of introduction due (a 1-2 page typed double spaced letter introducing yourself as a person, student & writer.  Include quick description of your last English course and your strengths & weaknesses as a writer).

8/30  Read pp 1-15 in Prentice Hall Guide:  discuss writing process & collaboration

 

9/2  Labor Day—no class

9/4  Read  in Writer’s Presence:  Mamet 173-178, Kincaid 130-137.  Discuss assignment for Essay #1.

9/6  Read in WP Carver 69-76, Cofer 76-84.; in PH pp 16-17 on paragraphs.  Essay #1 cont.

 

9/9  Read in WP Cooper 85-93, Gates 114-122.  Essay #1 cont.

9/11  Draft of Essay #1 due—Peer review—see pp 9-11 & 13-14 in PH for guidelines

9/13  Essay #1 due

 

Fall 2002  English 101 Adam            Schedule Continued                   

WP= Writer’s Presence                 PH= Prentice Hall Reference Guide

 

9/16     NO CLASS

9/18     in WP read Cunningham 342-348, Tisdale 561-572

9/20            Hollander 432-437, Mairs 147-159—Discuss Essay #2

 

9/23     Discuss essay #2 cont.—prewriting due

9/25            Grammar Review—assignment in PH TBA

9/27     Draft of #2 due—peer review

 

9/30     Essay #2 due

10/2            conferences

10/4            conferences

 

10/7            conferences

10/9            Workshop—assignment TBA

10/11            Midterm Portfolio due

 

10/14            Workshop—assignment TBA

10/16   in WP read Carter 328-334,  Dillard 655-663, Orwell 200-207

10/18   Eighner 348-359, Ehrenreich 680-687—Discuss essay #3

 

10/21   Discuss #3 cont.—prewriting due

10/23   Draft of #3 due—peer review

10/25   Essay #3 due—grammar review

 

10/28   in WP read Grisham 691-700, Rapping 517-523—Discuss Essay #4

10/30   Winn 607-609, Early 663-680—Discuss #4 cont.

11/1            Williams 837-844--#4 cont.

 

11/4            Grammar Review—assignment in PH TBA

11/6     Draft of #4 due—peer review

11/8     Essay #4 due

 

11/11   Discuss #5—reading in WP TBA

11/13   #5 cont.—reading TBA

11/15   #5 cont.—reading TBA

 

11/18            Grammar Review—assignment in PH TBA

11/20   Draft of #5 due—peer review     

11/22   Essay #5 due

 

11/25   NO CLASS

11/27 & 11/29   Fall (Thanksgiving) Break—NO CLASS

 

12/2            conferences

12/4            conferences

12/6            conferences

 

12/9     Final Portfolio due