ENGL 1101/Fall 2024/Requirements

From Gerald R. Lucas
Requirement %[1]
Essays 60%[2]
Exam 20%[2]
Participation 20%

This course is composed of three general requirements: daily work, four formal essays, and a final exam. Four formal essays will constitute the bulk of your grade. Daily work will require regular participation in class activities, and may be comprised of various assignments, like library and writing center visits. Since this is a writing course, daily practice is crucial to your success and will be calculated into your grade. A final exam will address the course reading and test the students’ ability to write about these texts.

Notebook-writing.jpeg

Essays

Students will complete four, in-class essays on various subjects. Essays will be written with blue or black ink in blue books. Since this is a writing class, essays will be count for over half of your final grade.

Final Exam

The final examination[2] is a two-hour essay written in response to class readings. This exam will be a comparative essay that asks students to analyze similar elements, like a theme or style, in at least two essays that were assigned this semester. Students will be given a choice of at least two topics based on these readings. Students will write on one of these options. The final exam essay should reflect knowledge of the readings, but mere summary of the readings will be unacceptable.

Participation

Active participation in the classroom is required. Your daily work and attendance represents your participation, e.g.: reading, discussions, training, exercises, library tasks, reading quizzes, peer editing, the viewing of a film, and similar activities. Your participation in group activities and your preparation for class will be weighed heavily in evaluation: participation, effort, and attitude count significantly. You should not sit in class like you’re watching TV: learning requires active participation and enthusiasm (see Behavior). Participation grades cannot be made up.

Required Materials

Our introduction to college writing this semester requires:

  • Lucas, Gerald R. (2023). From Reading to Writing: An ENGL 1101 Coursebook. GRLucas.net. (Available free.)
  • Robinson, Michelle Bachelor; Jerskey, Maria (2021). Writing Guide with Handbook. OpenStax. (Available free.)
  • PDF essays. Each essay must be printed on dead trees and accompany you to class the day we will discuss it. See Schedule.
  • Five blue books.
  • Any writing implement and paper for in-class note-taking.

Your course book(s) or readings should always accompany you to class, as we will make heavy use of them in our daily discussions. Please do not come to class without it: we need the texts for class activities, in-class writing, and all aspects of our study. PDFs must be printed if they are used in class—this includes exams. Failure to do so will earn you an absence (see Attendance).

You should also bring an ink interface of some sort, as well as dead trees on which to take notes. Notes should not only reflect good listening skills, but individual interest in every topic discussed in class.



notes

  1. This is the general percentage breakdown for these requirements. As I use a point system for evaluation, the percentages are just an estimate.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Required by departmental policy.
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