I.          Course Description 

This course focuses on the basic process of writing and revising an essay.  Emphasis is placed on thesis writing, clarity, organization, audience awareness, self-editing, mechanics, and grammar.   

II.        Text

            Patterns for College Writing by Laurie G. Kirszner is the text for this course.  It is available at the university bookstore.  

III.       Classroom procedures

Absences: You are allowed two unexcused absences.  Attendance affects your performance, and you are expected to attend and participate in the group conferences. You are also responsible for all the assignments.  More than two absences will constitute failure in this course. 

Peer Editing: The revision process is integral to the success of a well-developed paper.  For the last paper, the final copy MUST be typed, stapled, and double-spaced using a 12-point font.

IV.       Grading

Your final grade is based on your essays and peer editing sessions.  All assignments must be turned in on the due date.  Late papers will be lowered one letter grade.  All assignments will be graded based on the following scale:

90-100%        A                                 Essay #1                                  15%

80-90%          B                                 Essay #2                                  15%

70-80%          C                                 Essay #3                                  15%

60-70%          D                                 Essay #4                                  15%

Below 60%     F                                  Peer editing                              20%

Final Essay                               20%      

                                             100%

V.        Students with disabilities

            If you need to have special arrangements made due to a physical or learning disability, please notify me as soon as possible. 

VI.       Plagiarism

Copying, inaccurately documenting, or misrepresenting any source as your own will constitute FAILURE in this course.

VIII.    Tentative Schedule 

Week 1:          Wed     6/29      Introduction, Reading Strategies

                       Thurs.   6/30      Diagnostic Essay; Parts of the Essay pp. 38-47

Week 2:          Family Relationships: Narration and Definition 

     Mon     7/4        Holiday- University Closed

                        Tues.    7/5        Narration pp. 71-74; Cisneros p. 84

                        Wed.    7/6        Description pp. 135-140; Cohen p. 153

                        Thurs.   7/7        Brainstorming pp. 23-29; In-Class Essay #1

Week 3:          Gender:  Comparison and Contrast/ Definition 

     Mon     7/11      Thesis Statements pp. 30-33; Definition pp. 491-96; Smith p.521

                        Tues.    7/12      Smith p. 521 cont…, Comparison-Contrast p. 363, 365-368; Tannen pp. 407

                        Wed.    7/13      Tannen pp. 407 cont…, In-Class Essay #2

                        Thurs.   7/14      Revision due in class; Peer editing

Week 4:          Ethics: Process Analysis and Exemplification 

     Mon.    7/18      Analysis vs. Summary (Handout); Exemplification pp. 191-95; Kozol pp. 229

                        Tues.    7/19      Kozol cont…, Process Analysis pp. 245-248; Jackson pp. 292

                        Wed.    7/20      Jackson pp. 292; In-Class Essay #3

                        Thurs.   7/21      Revision due in class; peer editing

Week 5:          Media and Society:  Cause and Effect/ Classification and Division 

     Mon.    7/25      Cause and Effect pp. 303-311; Winn pp. 325

                        Tues     7/26      Winn cont…, Classification and Division pp. 431-36; Stone p. 607

                        Wed.    7/27       Stone cont…, In-Class Essay #4

                        Thurs.   7/28      Revision due; peer editing

Week 6:          Race and Culture- The Argumentative Essay 

     Mon.    8/1        What is argumentation? P. 529-36; Chavez p. 642-44

                        Tues.    8/2        4 Argument types; Williams p. 632-634

                        Wed.    8/3        Argument Types and Fallacies p. 537-540; Adkins p. 596

                        Thurs.   8/4        Argument Types and Fallacies p. 541-44; Birtha pp. 601-603

Week 7:          The Argumentative Essay 

     Mon.    8/8        Typed Draft #1; Peer Editing

                        Tues.    8/9        Typed Draft #2; Peer Editing

                        Wed.    8/10      Typed Draft #3; Peer Editing

                        Thurs.   8/11      Typed Draft #4; Peer Editing

                        Fri.       8/12      Final Draft Due