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: [email protected] 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”
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DISCOVERY/INVENTION GUIDE HOW TO PREPARE YOUR PRE-WRITING WORK
How to Use Your English Composition Book
for
Discovery and Invention Activities
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13
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