Syllabus

English 101-19 Maj. Roger Thompson

Mallory 237 207C Lejeune Hall

TTH 14:30 Office Hours: MW 10-12

T 10:30-12

TH 9:30-12

Or by appointment

Common Goals for General Education Courses: Mastering the Tools of Learning

The work of the fourth class year is designed to help the student master the fundamental tools for learning: language (needed for learning in all disciplines, but especially in the humanities and social sciences) and mathematics (the tool most needed for learning in the scientific and technical disciplines). The use of these tools during the first year at VMI will lay the foundation for proficiency in such areas as

1. Critical thinking and reading

2. Precision in oral and written communication

3. Academic and professional ethics

4. Commitment to lifelong learning and physical health

Attainment of these four objectives not only should help the student see interconnections among the various academic disciplines but also should lead him or her to an expertise in the major field of study.

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

--To develop the ability to edit for grammatical/mechanical correctness.

Common Course Requirements:

--Students must write 4-7 essays totaling at least 5000 words submitted for a

grade

--Students must receive a written assignment for each essay

--Students must attend at least three individual conferences with the instructor

--At least 90% of the course grade must be based on grades assigned to essays

Course Results:

Students who have passed EN 101 will be able to write an essay designed to clarify and communicate ideas, to present and argue an informed opinion, and to convince readers of the merit of that opinion. The essay will

--have a clear, logical, and thoughtful thesis that reveals the writer’s sense of

purpose, occasion, and audience;

--have an appropriate structure, including clearly focused, well-organized

paragraphs;

--offer thorough and compelling support for assertions;

--use precise, idiomatic, appropriate diction; and

--be free of spelling errors and major errors of grammar.

EN 101-16 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.

Goshgarian, Gary. Exploring Language. 8^th edition. New York, Longman, 1998.

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

Handbook for Writers. 2^nd edition. VMI Custom Edition. Mountain

View, CA: Mayfield Publishing Co., 1999.

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, and attendance is a necessary component of a passing grade. Missing more than 6 classes constitutes failure of the course. No exceptions. Tardiness will not be tolerated.

Essays: 4 one page papers worth 100 pts each, and 1 three and 1 five page paper worth 200 pts each. We will have extended class discussions on the expectations for your papers. One short paper may be rewritten for a higher grade.

Quizzes: 4 pop quizzes, given only on a Thursday, will be based on the given week's reading and will be purely factual. 10 pts each.

Daily work: we will write a tremendous amount in class, and the class writing assignments will be graded. You may earn up to 60 pts. for the semester.

NO LATE WORK ACCEPTED. No exceptions.

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.

2. Blue or Black pen

3. Photocopy of something—anything—to be handed in on the 2^nd day of class. Please keep in mind copyright laws and my extremely sensitive and naïve mind.

Grade Breakdown:

800 pts---essays

40 pts---quizzes

60 pts---daily work

100 pts---final exam

No extra credit will be offered or awarded

1000-900=A

800-899=B

700-799=C

600-699=D

599 below=F

Other Information:

1. Plagiarism—see departmental policy and the Honor Code. If you are ever unsure as to what constitutes plagiarism, please ask me. I will deal with any plagiarized work severely.

2. Medical Information: If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, if you have emergency medical information to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please let me know immediately.

3. I will make every effort to create an atmosphere free of discrimination or harassment of any kind, and I will do my best to ensure that each individual has an equal voice in class discussion. If you have any concerns or suggestions on how to create an atmosphere conducive to the exchange of ideas, please speak with me.

4. I expect all cadets to adhere to the Honor Code and the regulations of the Blue Book.

5. No food or drink is permitted in the classroom.

6. Section Marcher will position him/herself close to the door at the beginning of class so that role may be taken promptly.

7. Conferences—EN 101 requires three conferences with your instructor. Occasionally, I will cancel class so that I may meet with each of you individually, or in a small group. Even so, you will probably need to schedule some conference time outside of class to meet the 3-conference requirement. Please come to these sessions prepared with any material I have asked you to bring. Missing a conference session for which class has been canceled counts as two absences.

8. I am available for you. Please contact me if you have any professional questions, concerns, or celebrations.

 

Tentative Schedule

August 24 Introduction

26 Read Syllabus and VMI Section of EA

Photocopy due

ethos—awareness of writing self

31 audience—awareness for whom you are writing

Paper #1 assigned—narrative language and self-awareness—my writing process

description

Begin your paper today!

In class work on thesis-making

September 2 Paragraph Due—ethos and architecture

Read EA 3-20

7 Read EA 21-44, EL 519-530

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

9 Read EA 43-50, EL 532-541

Draft of Paper #1 Due—bring to class

14 Paper #1 Due

Paper #2 Assigned—good English compare/contrast language of cadet vs. civilian

Begin work on paper in class

16 Read EA 87-89, 108-116, EL 543-550

In Class work on comparison and contrast

21 Read EL 556-558, 560-565

In Class work on Documentation

23 Read EL 568-570

In Class work on peer-review

28 Peer Review of Paper #2—Bring Paper #2 to class

30 Paper #2 Due

Paper #3 Assigned—defining one’s own writing style or voice

October 5 EL 375-378, 491-500

7 EL 176-178, 161-172

12 EL 115-121, 99-101

14 E:103-108, 110-113

Paper #4 Assigned—your choice of topic, but must center of the writing process

19 Paper #3 Due

21 EL 123-127

In class work on effective proofing

26-28 Small group meetings—bring paper # 4 with you

Paper #5 Assigned—research definition on media or advertising rhetoric

November 2 Paper #4 Due

4 EL 129-132, 135-139

9 EL141-144, 173-175

11 Founders Day—no class

16 In class peer review—bring paper 5 to class

18 Paper #5 Due

Paper #6 Assigned--Argument

Re-Write Due

In class—understanding argument

23-25 Thanksgiving Furlough—no classes

30 Review argument

Work on paper in class

December 2 Work with partner on paper #6

Understanding the final exam—response to your partner’s argument

7 Peer Review for paper 6—bring paper 6 to class—it must be completed by today!!!

9 Reading Day

10-17 Finals Paper #6 Due