Course Syllabus

Dept: Languages and Literature

Course Title: College Writing I

Course Number: GLL 121

Credit Hours: 4

Class Meets:  M, T Neptune and Kings Highway

Instructor:  Mr. O’Reilly

Email:  billoreilly@live.com

Course Description:

 Practice in writing and rewriting five-paragraph reports and critical essays enabling students to more effectively communicate ideas through the written word.

Course Objectives:    Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be expected to

    1.  Read and write effectively and to think critically

    2.  Communicate skillfully and think critically

    3.  Better succeed academically and professionally

Course Content: 

                        Draw upon imagination and experience in essay writing

                         Use observation and analysis of the world

                        Write Expositorily in a five-paragraph essay

Utilize/recognize these:

                        Prewriting                                             Revision

                        Editing                                                  Organization

                        Audience                                              Plagiarism

                        Purpose                                                Introduction to plagiarism

                        Voice                                                   Standard Written English

                        Drafting                                                            Topic Selection

                        Strategies for paragraph development

Class Schedule—Class Focus

1   First Meeting

2  General Course Expectations; freewriting;  autobiographical presentations

3  Writing Workshop on multi-paragraph autobiographical essays; journaling

4   Literary Discussion: symbolism in “The Necklace;” essay assigned

5     Writing Workshop, peer editing of essay: 

 6   “Necklace” discussion of characterization of Mme Loisel; journaling

 7  Midterm Essay: 5-Paragraph Essay on Characterization 

 8       Discussion of Effective Practice in Characterization essays; journaling

9    “The Open Boat” analysis for irony and characterization; essay assigned

10     Writing Workshop/Peer Edit of assigned “Open Boat” essay; journaling

11     Pre-Read of “Everyday Use” ; discussion of racial/social context for “Everyday Use”

 12Analysis of Irony, Characterization in “Everyday Use”; assignment of essay

13      Writing Workshop/Peer Edit of assigned “Everyday Use” essay; journaling

 14   Peer Edit of Student Portfolios in prep for Final

 15   Review of Sample Essays Modeled on Final Exam

16 Final Exam

Assessments:

Attendance: Students are expected to attend class regularly and communicate responsibly about any anticipated absences. Being late three times is the equivalent of being absent once.

 Essay Writing: Students will complete a minimum of ten written assignments;  five will be three-paragraph essays; and five essays will be five paragraphs long. Students will rewrite and submit work as well. Final portfolios will contain at least four essays.

Participation: Students are expected to demonstrate learning in class by offering their verbal responses to questions posed, as well as working collaboratively with their fellow students.

Readings:

Maupassant, “The Necklace”

Crane, “The Open Boat”

Walker, “Everyday Use”

Final Grading:

Essays---50%

Midterm-20%

Other class tests and quizzes-20%

Participation-10%

Course Texts:

Writing:  A College Handbook—(5^th Edition)

J. Heffernan and J. Lincoln

2000

W.W. Norton & Company

ISBN 039397426X

40 Short Stories: A Portable Anthology

Beverly Lawn

2000

Bedford/St. Martin’s Press

ISBN 0312259123

Merriam-Webster Pocket Dictionary

1995

Merriam-Webster Incorporated

ISBN 0877795002