SYLLABUS FOR ENGLISH 101 007
English Composition I
Fall 2003, T-Th 11 a.m. - 12:15 p.m., PA 205

Instructor: Todd M. Bunnell
Phone: 241-6235
Office/Hours: 411 Reneau, MWF 10 a.m. - Noon
E-mail address: tbunnell@muw.edu

TEXTS AND MATERIALS:
*Little, Brown Handbook
*A college dictionary
*Pocket folder

COURSE OBJECTIVE:
EN 101 stresses the elementary principles of logic and rhetoric that govern effective organization and presentation of ideas in writings. Minimal instruction in grammar and mechanics will be included, but the main emphasis is on appropriate limitation of topic and the development of a thesis in a unified, coherent piece of writing.

GOALS:
To develop stronger grammatical and mechanical skills
To help students limit topics and to create limited, coherent essays
To help students organize and structure thoughts in writing
To familiarize students with the process of writing
To familiarize students with the standard essay format
To develop critical thinking skills
To give students a broad knowledge of rhetorical patterns
To help students be prepared for written work that might be encountered in future college courses

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Each student will be required to write four papers consisting of 500-600 words each and one documented research paper (four-source minimum, 600 words). The final exam will be a 500 word, in-class essay. Students will also be expected to complete various in-class activities, homework, and unannounced quizzes which CANNOT be made-up. Each essay must be typed and double-spaced and submitted in a pocket folder. Late papers will be docked one letter grade for EACH DAY I have not received them. NO EXCEPTIONS!

METHOD OF EVALUATION:
The final grade will be determined by the following:

*Four essays -- 50%
*Research paper -- 20%
*Final -- 25%
*In-class activities and quizzes -- 5%

NOTE: There are no D or F grades in EN 101. If the student's writing is below a "C" standard, a grade of "NC" (No Credit) will be given for the course. This will not affect the student's QPA.

ATTENDANCE: Attendance is very important. Each student will be allowed to miss four (4) classes without penalty. On the fifth absence, the student's final grade will be lowered five percentage points, and on the sixth absence, the student's final grade will be lowered ten percentage points. On the seventh absence, the student will automatically receive a grade of NC for the course. Note: There is no difference between an excused absence and an unexcused absence. Also, please come to class on time and prepared. Excessive tardies will add up to an absence.

PROCEDURES AND POLICIES:
1. Each theme must be typed and double-spaced.
2. No title page is needed. The front page should have, in the top left-hand corner, the following:

Student's name
Bunnell
EN 101
Date

3. Any essay submitted must have a TITLE or it will be lowered one letter grade. Do not underline, bold, or put titles within quotation marks or in all caps. Also, try to be creative with your titles.
4. Always submit each essay in your collective class pocket folder. Any essay not submitted in a folder will be lowered one letter grade.
5. Before taking the exam, you must have, and present to me, your class pocket folder complete with ALL OF YOUR GRADED ESSAYS OR YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO TAKE THE FINAL!
6. Please turn off all cell phones before entering the classroom. If there is a special circumstance, notify me in advance.
7. You MUST submit photocopies of all sources used in your research paper. Failure to do so will result in the final draft being lowered one letter grade.

PLAGIARISM:
Plagiarism is using someone else's ideas or writing as your own without giving credit to that individual or source. A plagiarized composition will receive a zero, and under extreme cases, you may even receive a grade of NC for the course. Documentation (parenthetical documentation and a Works Cited) must be used when quoting an outside source. When in doubt, ask me!

DISABILITIES:
It is the responsibility of students who have professionally diagnosed disabilities to notify the instructor so that necessary and appropriate modifications can be made to meet any special learning needs.

IMPORTANT DATES:
September 12 -- Last day to drop a course without receiving a grade of WP/WF
October 20 -- Last day a course may be dropped
November 17 -- Last day to withdraw from the university

WEEK 1 (August 19-21) -- Introduction to course. Diagnostic. Description and Narration.

WEEK 2 (August 26-28) -- Finish description and narration exercises. The Writing Process. Pre-Writing. Thesis discussion.

WEEK 3 (September 2-4) -- Thesis discussion continued. Exemplification.

WEEK 4 (September 9-11) -- Exemplification continued. Exemplification rough draft due.

WEEK 5 (September 16-18) -- EXEMPLIFICATION ESSAY DUE. Grammar discussion. Begin Comparison and Contrast.

WEEK 6 (September 23-25) -- Comparison and Contrast discussion continued. Grammar quiz.

WEEK 7 (September 30-October 2) -- Comparison and Contrast rough draft due. COMPARISON AND CONTRAST ESSAY DUE. Begin Cause and Effect.

WEEK 8 (October 7-9) -- Cause and Effect discussion continued.

WEEK 9 (October 14-16) -- Cause and Effect rough draft due. CAUSE AND EFFECT ESSAY DUE. Begin Literature discussion.

WEEK 10 (October 21-23) -- Literature paper discussion.

WEEK 11 (October 28-30) -- Literature paper discussion continued. Literature rough draft due.

WEEK 12 (November 4-6) -- LITERATURE PAPER DUE. Begin research paper discussion.

WEEK 13 (November 11-13) -- Research paper discussion.

WEEK 14 (November 18-20) -- Research paper discussion continued.

WEEK 15 (November 25) -- Conferences.

WEEK 16 (December 2-4) -- Oral presentation. Annotated Bibliography due. RESEARCH PAPER DUE. Review.