Freshman Composition 111

Course Starter Guide

with Syllabus

Dr. Donna Porche, Instructor

Fall 2016

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STARTER GUIDE WELCOME!

I provide here a few documents to help you get started with my English composition course. This document,

the Freshman Composition Starter Guide, is designed to help both new and experienced student writers

prepare for the opening days and weeks of a rigorous semester of college-level writing.

Like other college courses, the first days of Freshman Composition are dedicated to introductions, acquiring

required course materials, establishing a class attendance rhythm, and establishing a positive and respectful

community of learning. Much of the information related to accomplishing these objectives is captured in the

course syllabus. Other important documents include a table with homework assignments for the first three

weeks, an academic honesty policy statement, and group assignment chart. These will be made available to

you on my website, professorporche.com. With these documents, you have an excellent opportunity to

become prepared and well-informed, and, perhaps, make the best decision about whether or not this is the

course for you.

Go ahead and get started.

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Freshman Composition 111 ENGL111 🌿 Fall Semester 2016

Course Description

1 15 8

1

Midterm Final

Wk Wk

English 110 is a freshman-level course designed to teach students to write the five-paragraph essay utilizing standard American English. Emphasis on writing as a learning, thinking process. Discussion of and practice in strategies used in prewriting, writing, and revising expressive, informative, analytical, and argumentative essays. Special sections designated for Honors students (ENGL 110 Honors). (Credit, 3 Hours )

Instructor Emphasis

The instructor will introduce students to the steps of the writing process and give extended practice in the development of each stage with special emphasis on revising and editing. To achieve this end, the instructor will assign essays following designated methods of development. Writing topics will revolve around class readings, food and dining, as well as social media, social justice and literacy.

Student Responsibilities Students will report to class twice weekly during the semester, and for a final exam offered during exam week. They will participate in diverse learning activities offered in various modes of instruction that utilize assigned readings and other homework. These include cooperative learning groups and class presentations. All work must be completed by the student without outside help unless explicitly authorized by the instructor (such as group work or peer evaluations).

Dr. D. Porche Room 2026, T. H. Harris Hall Email: donna_porche@subr.edu Twitter: @JagWriters, YouTube Professor Porche Web:Professorporche.com

Class Rules->

Requ i red Mater i a ls Two Large Blue Books (16pg) The Longman Writer (9th) Composition Notebook

Standard: 9 ¾ x7 ½ Plain folder with pockets

labeled with Name/Class/Section

1” Plain Binder for Portfolio Hand-held College Dictionary

Highlighter, Blue Ink Pen, Colored Pencils for Marking papers

Basic Moodle Training

Twitter/Pinterest accounts

Poetry is a matter of life, not just a matter

of language.

---Lucille Clifton

3

Graded Work

Major Essay Projects (70% of final grade)

Essay 1-Classification

Twitter Account

Discovery/Invention

Prewriting Journal

Draft Peer Review

Final Draft

Essay 2-Comp/Contrast

Two Restaurants

Discovery/Invention

Prewriting Journal

Draft Peer Review

Final Draft

Essay 3 Cause-Effect

Or Persuasion on Hamilton

Discovery/Invention

Prewriting Journal

Draft Peer Review

Final Draft

Essay 4-WPE

To Be Determined

Discovery/Invention

Prewriting Journal

Draft Peer Review

Final Draft

Average

Essay

Score

Deductions ____

Score ___ /100 pts

________

Score ___ /100 pts

_______

Score ___ 125/0 pts

________

(Counts Separately)

Late Work Policy

Late work receives a 10% penalty per day (see chart). Late work is defined as an

assignment that has not been turned in by the correct time or manner. On time

work is submitted at the start of class. Late work is submitted after the tardy period

or later that day. Work that is more than 24 hours late must be submitted with a

completed Late Work Form. If the work is late due to an official event or illness that

can be documented by officials or doctors, students have one week to produce the

excuse letter.

Missing Work Policy

Missing work will decrease the final score of an essay project. Ten points will be deducted from the final score of the essay project grade if the associated work (Prewriting Journal, Draft, or Peer work) is not completed on time and in the proper manner.

Notes:

A B C 100-90 89.9-80

79.9-70 D F

69.9-60 59.9-0

Grading Scale

65%10%

5%

20%

Grading System

Essays-65%

Quiz/Tests - 10%

Participation - 5%

WPE Exam-20%

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Classroom Behavior

Participation Policy

To earn five (5) daily participation points, students must, first and foremost, be active participants.

Moreover, students must be:

Honest Respectful Punctual Responsive Responsible

Equally, students are required to dress appropriately, as a college student or young professional.

Underwear go under what you wear and should not be visible. Come to class alert, sober, and

unaffected by illicit drugs. Sleeping or mentally-absent students do not earn points. They must avoid

using profanity—unless profanity is the topic of discussion. Violation of these or any other class

management rules will result is a loss of participation points.

Technology Use Policy

Come to class undistracted by technology. A successful learning experience depends on students'

willingness to reserve use of smart phones or laptops to only when directed to do so by the instructor.

Do not send or check text messages or use social media during the class for personal purposes if you

want to earn full credit. Repeated instances will cause a student to be excused from class.

Keep Calm and

Show R E S P E C T

Clear and consistent

observance of class rules

are the proper foundation

for a productive and

positive learning

experience. Students will

lose participation points

for breaking classroom

rules, Code of Student

Conduct rules, or creating

a disturbance of any kind.

Smart

Phone

5

Attendance Policy

Regular and timely attendance is required and vital to your academic success. Each student should prepare a

backup plan for transportation to class. Frequently late or frequently absent students are often unintentionally

disruptive and confused. These students often miss daily announcements and are unable to participate fully;

further, they often burden their peers and instructor with unnecessary questions, and can disrupt progress on

ongoing class activities. Therefore, the final course grade in this class could be impacted by an attendance

score.

NUMBER OF

ABSENCES

DEDUCTION FROM MIDTERM

(%)

DEDUCTION FROM FINAL SCORE

2 0 0

3 5% 0

4 10% 0

5* 15% 5%

6 20% 10%

7 30% 15%

8 40% 20%

9 50% 35%

10 - 40%

11 - 45%

12+ - 50%

Excused Absences Do not schedule non-emergency appointments during class time; such absences are not

excused. Excused absences must be documented by an official (e.g., doctor or college official). Athletic,

military, approved academic events, or medical/dental events that conflict with class require prior notification

and must be documented; printed paperwork or email from the official must be provided within one week if an

absence is to be converted into an excused absence.

Excessive Absences When a student has been marked for five absences, excused or not, she or he is required to

make an appointment to meet with the instructor. The conference should occur within a week. Information

about excessive absences may be shared with your academic advisor without notice.

Attendance Scores Students must attend a minimum of 75% of classes to earn a passing grade in Freshman Composition. If classes convene for fourteen weeks, to pass the course a student must attend at least 21 classes. After three unexcused absences, a student earns a 5% deduction. Deduction increase with each additional absence. See Absence Scores table. If a student is more than five minutes late for class, they will be marked tardy. Repeated tardies will translate into lost participation points and will contribute to the count of absences (4 Tardies= 1 Absence). N O T E : The attendance score is only

applied as a deduction against the final score

of students who are excessively absent.

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Student Support

Students with Disabilities

It is the policy of Southern University to afford equal opportunity in education to all qualified students. If any

student in this class has a need for accommodations because of a documented disability, contact the Office of

Disability Services. Professionals there will guide, counsel, and assist you.

Tutoring

Tutoring is offered on campus and all students should make themselves familiar with the various opportunities

on campus. Professionals there will guide, counsel, and assist you. Two approved tutoring sessions can be used

to make up an absence. Documentation must be supplied before the WPE exam period begins.

HOMEWORK GUIDE READINGS, WRITING ASSIGNMENTS AND TEAM ASSIGNMENTS

Writers,

I will regularly ask you to lead the discussion on textbook assignments. Consult the homework table for your

team assignment. Team assignments rotate; as such, some teams will not have an assignment for a particular

week. You are still responsible for the material, but will asked to contribute in other ways to class learning.

—

Section 05

Team One: Miah J., Ashley, Devon, Jason

Team Two: Vaneisha, Tyansley, Danae, Amanda, Taylor

Team Three: Da’Marcus, Johnny, Xavier, Christopher R.

Team Four: Kiera, Sharterrica, Kenon, Robert

Team Five: open slot, open slot, open slot, open slot

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—-

Section 17

Team One: Jordan, Shar Lexus, Joshua, Adagio

Team Two: Bradley, Ashton, Kimberly, Elijah

Team Three: Ariana, Kendell, Simone, Bryanna

Team Four: George, Jasim, Jasmine, Christopher

Team Five: Brian Bruno, Jonah, open spot, open spot

Team Six: open spot, open spot, open spot, open spot

If your name is not listed, claim a spot on a team by contacting me through Moodle.

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HMWK Mo nd ay Re ad ing

As s ig nments

Wednesday

Assigned Readings

Friday Writing Project

Development Grammar Groups

ASSN Read Longman

Writer Chapters

Read Featured

Essay from

Chapter

Selected

Multimedia Texts

Getting

St./Drafting/Editing/

Revision/Submission

Featured Chapter/Topic Activity

Students are

responsible for

reading all the

textbook

assignments

corresponding

to the week's

lectures—even

it we do not

cover it in

class.

(D ue at

s t ar t o f

c l ass . )

Students are

responsible for

reading all

assigned

essays, but

quizzes and in-

class activities

will likely focus

on this featured

selection.

(D ue at s ta r t

o f c las s . )

Students are

responsible for

composing a hand-

written journal

reflection: What

thoughts, feelings

or calls to action

does the text

inspire?

Due at the start of

the Wed. class

meeting of the

week or, if class is

cancelled, the next

period.

Students are

responsible for

taking their major

writing projects

through each stage

of the writing

process as depicted

on the Writing

Process Diagram

Online paper

submissions will be

due Friday at

midnight.

Students are responsible

for mastering key

grammar concepts

through assigned

readings, self-study and

online quizzes. Use

mla.org,

grammarbook.com,

chompchomp.com, and

theyuniversity.net to

explore grammar and

style.

Assigned teams

are responsible

for leading the

discussion.

Week

One

No Longman

chapter

assignment.

Instead:

Read Syllabus

No Textbook

reading.

Instead:

> Acquire your

textbook and

other materials.

> Recall and

Review last

prior work of

literature

> Come to class

on time.

No Journal due.

First Writing Project

Activity:

Create An

Inspiration Collage

Final Writing Project

Activity: Prepare for

your Final

Persuasion Paper

Experience

“Alexander

Hamilton,” the first

act/track from the

Broadway recording

of Hamilton by Lin-

Manuel Miranda et.

al.

Review the Concise

Handbook at the end of

the Longman text.

Review the links

provided above,

especially

https://www.mla.org/MLA-Style

Group Work

Preparations for

Next week

-------

No groups yet.

Instead, prepare for

sharing your

Inspiration Collage

Prepare to share

your notes on

Chapter 2 next

week.

OPTIONAL: View the

YouTube playlist for

Professor Porche

"Freshman Comp.

Ch. 2"

Week

Two

Read Ch. 1 Becoming a Critical reader and Ch. 2 Getting Started Through PreWriting

Review "Family Counterculture" and commentary. See the Table of Contents for the page number. Complete both Questions for Close Reading and Questions about the Writer's Craft for this essay. Record answers in your English composition book.

Listen and Read and respond in writing to “The Crayola-Fiction of the World” by Empirical Zeal blogger, Aatish Bhatia. Search or Click Here. Create Journal entry in your Composition book. Include author’s name and title of the work in your response.

Find a second way to experience “Alexander Hamilton” track. If first you viewed it, then listen to the track, etc. Write down memorable lines and possible topics for a persuasion paper. See professorporche.com and the link General Resources for more sources on the topic.

Self-Study: What is grammar? Why do we study grammar? What are the parts of speech? Write a one or two page response in your composition book.

For Next Week: Teams 1 and 2 will

lead discussion of the Prewriting Strategies in

Ch. 2: Keeping a Journal and

Understanding the Boundaries; Teams 3

and 4 will lead in a focused discussion of the Determining Your Purpose, Audience, Tone, and Point of

View.

-

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HMWK

Mo nd ay Re ad ing

As s ig nments Due at the

S t ar t o f C l ass

Wednesday

Assigned Readings

Due at the Start of

Class

Friday Writing Project

Development Grammar Groups

ASSN Read Longman

Writer Chapters

Read Featured

Essay from

Chapter

Selected

Multimedia Texts

Getting

St./Drafting/Editing/

Revision/Submission

Featured Chapter/Topic Activity

Students are

responsible for

reading all the

textbook

assignments

corresponding

to the week's

lectures—even

it we do not

cover it in

class.

Students are

responsible for

reading all

assigned

essays, but

quizzes and in-

class activities

will likely focus

on this featured

selection.

Students are

responsible for

composing a hand-

written journal

reflection: What

thoughts, feelings

or calls to action

does the text

inspire?

Due at the start of

the Wed. class

meeting of the

week or, if class is

cancelled, the next

period.

Students are

responsible for

taking their major

writing projects

through each stage

of the writing

process as depicted

on the Writing

Process Diagram

Online paper

submissions will be

due Friday at

midnight.

Students are responsible

for mastering key

grammar concepts

through assigned

readings, self-study and

online quizzes. Use

mla.org,

grammarbook.com,

chompchomp.com, and

theyuniversity.net to

explore grammar and

style.

Assigned teams

are responsible

for leading the

discussion.

Week

Three

Read Ch. 1 Becoming a Critical reader and Ch. 2 Getting Started Through PreWriting

Review "Family Counterculture" and commentary. See the Table of Contents for the page number. Complete both Questions for Close Reading and Questions about the Writer's Craft for this essay. Record answers in your English composition book.

Listen and Read and respond in writing to “The Crayola-Fiction of the World” by Empirical Zeal blogger, Aatish Bhatia. Search or Click Here. Create Journal entry in your Composition book. Include author’s name and title of the work in your response.

Find a second way to experience “Alexander Hamilton” track. If first you viewed it, then listen to the track, etc. Write down memorable lines and possible topics for a persuasion paper. See professorporche.com and the link General Resources for more sources on the topic.

Self-Study: What is grammar? Why do we study grammar? What are the parts of speech? Write a one or two page response in your composition book.

For Weekend:

Read Chapter 13. For Next Week:

Teams 1 and 2 will lead discussion of

Prewriting Strategies in Ch. 13; Teams 3 and 4 will lead in discussion of the “Strategies for Using

Classification”

Week

Four

Read Longman Writer Ch. 13

Division-Classification and review ”A Concise

Handbook”

Longman Writer Student Essay: Gail Ormeland

“The Truth About College Teachers”

Read and respond to Kirkman Reader, Classification and

Division essay “Beyond Salty and Sweet: A

Budding Club of Tastes” Answer

Discussion questions 1 & 4

Compose a Pre-Reading Journal Entry for

“Propaganda” found on page 232. Use Prewriting

to begin to develop an essay that classifies

Twitter accounts about writers,

dining/restaurants, or the Voting Rights Act.

Self-Study: What are the major sentence patterns and sentence types? What source

did you use?

For Weekend: Reread Chapter 13. For

Next Week: Teams 5 and 6 will

lead discussion of next week’s featured essay:

“Propaganda Techniques in Today’s

Advertising”

10

11

DISCOVERY/INVENTION GUIDE HOW TO PREPARE YOUR PRE-WRITING WORK

How to Use Your English Composition Book

for

Discovery and Invention Activities

12

13

14

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