Course Goals

--To introduce writing as a process, including such essential practices as

invention, arrangement, and revision

--To develop the ability to analyze texts (including essays produced in the course) for their strengths and weaknesses in the presentation of ideas, paying special attention to such rhetorical considerations as audience, occasion, organization, and style

--To develop the ability to write a well-organized, thorough essay that advances a

precise, logical thesis

EN 101 Course Description: This section is designed to help you learn to express yourself through writing and to introduce you to university level academic writing. We will assume throughout the course that writing is a heuristic—a tool for the generation of ideas. Furthermore, we will assume that writing is a skill that requires practice to improve. We will write extensively, therefore, in order to help sharpen cognitive and literacy abilities. My job as an instructor is to help you explore your viewpoints surrounding a given issue or idea and to help you generate and express your own thoughts about that issue.

Texts: Bring all texts to EVERY class.

Hirschberg, Stuart and Terry Hirschberg. Reflections on Language. New York:

Oxford UP, 1999.

Kenne, Michael L. and Katherine H. Adams. Easy Access: The Reference

Handbook for Writers. 3^rd edition. VMI Custom Edition. Mountain

View, CA: Mayfield Publishing Co., 1999.

A Dictionary

Readings and research surrounding the issues we discuss in class are expected. I suggest the MLA Handbook for more complicated issues of citation.

*****I may distribute other pertinent readings in class or may assign a reading from a source other than our texts. Any handouts I distribute should be considered an addendum to the course syllabus and part of the requirements of this course.

Requirements:

Attendance:

I expect you to attend every class. Missing more than 7 classes constitutes failure of the course. No exceptions. Tardiness will not be tolerated.

Essays: Two 1-2 page papers and two 2-3 page papers worth 100 pts each, one 3-5 page paper worth 150 pts, and one 5-7 page paper worth 200 pts. We will have extended class discussions on the expectations for your papers. One short paper may be rewritten for a higher grade.

Revision: Paper 5 revision will be graded, and is expected to be a substantive, frequently complete, re-writing of the 5th paper. Worth 100 pts.

Daily work/Homework: we will write a tremendous amount in class, and the class writing assignments will be for credit. You may earn up to 50 pts. for the semester.

Drafts of Papers: Assigned for select papers. Come to class with a paper ready to hand in; the paper should be complete, typed, and ready to be graded. Drafts will be graded with the Daily work/Homework grade.

NO LATE WORK ACCEPTED. No exceptions.

Grade Breakdown:

900- 810=A

809-720=B

719-630=C

629-540=D

539-below=F

Other Materials:

1. Pocket Folder: you are required to keep ALL course work, including drafts of essays. I may ask for you to show me previous work you have done. Bring all materials for class EVERY DAY; I may ask the class to do some work on a previous paper during a class period.

2. Blue or Black pen

Addendum to EN 101 Syllabus 08/27/01

1. Each cadet must meet with me at least 3 times during the course of the semester in order to pass the course. No exceptions.

Tentative Schedule

August 30--Introductions

Sept. 4 Read Syllabus and VMI Section of EA

ethos—awareness of writing self

Assign Paragraph

6 Assign Paper #1

audience—awareness for whom you are writing

11 Paragraph Due—ethos and architecture

The Writing Process

RL Introduction

EA 3-20

13 RL 1-5, 33-45

EA 21-44

18 Library Introduction--Meet in the Library

Paper #1 Due

Assign Paper #2--Description

20 RL 138-142, 539-542--Description reading

Make an appointment to see me if you have not already met with me outside

of class

25 Examples to build your paper

RL 442-453, 491-493

27 Paper # 2 Due

Assign Paper #3-Compare/Contrast--cadet and civilian

Oct. 2 RL 9-23

4 Draft of Paper #3 Due--in class work

9 RL 64-83

11 RMMLA

Paper #3 Due

Assign Paper #4

16 RL 560-569, 595-600

18 Draft of Paper 4 due--in class work.

23 LAB

25 Paper #4 Due

Assign Paper #5--Research Definition

30 EA 47-79

RL 304-310, 350-359

Summary Work

Nov. 2 SCMLA

LAB

6 EA 80-86

RL 231-254

Research Sources Due

8 EA 87-97

13 LAB

15 Paper #5 Due

Assign Paper #6

20-22 Thanksgiving

27 TBA

29 Re-write of Paper # 5 Due (at the beginning of class)

LAB for Paper #6

Dec. 4 Draft Paper #6 Due -
Work in class

6 LAB

11 Paper #6 Due