– Information for Students –

ENGL 104 – College Writing 1

English

The College of Liberal Arts

Revised 15 December 2006

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. ENGL 104: AN OVERVIEW........................................................................................................... 2

1. Credit Hours............................................................................................................................. 2

2. Prerequisites............................................................................................................................ 2

3. Course Description.................................................................................................................... 2

4. Role of ENGL 104 in the General Education Program............................................................... 2

5. General Education Learning Outcomes Addressed.................................................................... 2

6. Course Objectives..................................................................................................................... 3

7. Instructional Strategies.......................................................................................................... 3

8. Methods of Assessment.............................................................................................................. 3

9. Unit Descriptions...................................................................................................................... 4

10. The Final Exam......................................................................................................................... 5

11. Required Textbooks................................................................................................................. 5

12. Grading.................................................................................................................................... 6

13. Attendance and Late Work...................................................................................................... 7

14. Conferences and Group Work................................................................................................... 7

15. Honor Code.............................................................................................................................. 7

16. Plagiarism and Fair Usage of Sources....................................................................................... 7

17. Students with Special Needs..................................................................................................... 7

II. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS............................................................................................ 7

1. Am I required to take ENGL 104?............................................................................................... 7

2. Will ENGL 104 fulfill a competency requirement?.................................................................... 7

3. Are all sections of ENGL 104 identical?.................................................................................... 8

4. What types of writing are required in ENGL 104?...................................................................... 8

5. Will I be required to write a research paper?............................................................................. 8

6. How much writing is required in ENGL 104?............................................................................... 8

7. How much reading is required in ENGL 104?.............................................................................. 8

8. Is a final exam required in ENGL 104?........................................................................................ 8

The mission of the University of Findlay is to equip our students

for meaningful lives and productive careers.

I. ENGL 104: An Overview

1. Credit Hours—Students who earn a grade of C or higher in ENGL 104 will receive 3 credit hours that will count toward graduation. These hours will count in the “free electives” category—they cannot be counted toward the university’s general-education requirement or toward the requirements within a major.

2. Prerequisites—None.

3. Course Description—A course emphasizing writing processes appropriate for narrative and expository essays. The course helps students to express their own ideas in lively prose that conforms to conventional standards of style and usage. Some of the writing assignments will require responses to assigned readings, but the focus throughout most of the course remains on each student’s expression of his/her own ideas. Students are placed into this course by the English faculty.

4. Role of ENGL 104 in the General Education Program—By providing students with essential writing practice, knowledge, and skills, ENGL 104 prepares students for successful fulfillment of the University of Findlay’s writing competency requirement within the general education program. After passing ENGL 104, students must take ENGL 106 in order to complete the writing competency.

5. General Education Learning Outcomes Addressed—ENGL 104 addresses Goal 3 and Goal 5 of the General Education program:

Goal 3: Students will acquire and practice skills for reading, writing, speaking, listening, abstract inquiry, critical thinking, logical reasoning, and using computers and related technology.

Goal 5: Throughout their general education experience, students will analyze and reflect upon the challenges of facing our global society as well as the importance of being a life-long learner and responsible citizen.

6. Course Objectives—In ENGL 104 you will have numerous opportunities to use writing to convey your own experiences, ideas, and values. In addition, the course will introduce you to some ways in which your writing can become part of an ongoing conversation concerning a particular topic—a conversation in which the expectations of other participants will influence not only the form but also the content of your own contributions.

ENGL 104 will help you to develop an array of skills and knowledge, including the following:

· An understanding that writing can be a pleasurable activity as well as a useful one,

· The ability to use writing for personal expression—that is, to use writing to convey your own experiences, ideas, opinions, and values,

· The ability to use writing to sharpen your own analytic and critical-thinking skills,

· The ability to use flexible composing processes that are well-suited to a variety of occasions for narrative and expository writing,

· The ability to analyze the writing conventions of common genres and to produce texts that conform to those conventions, including the grammar, spelling, and punctuation conventions of standard American English,

· The ability to use effective processes for revising and improving your work,

· The ability to write a well-organized essay that offers a clear thesis and then supports and develops that thesis with explanations and examples,

· An understanding of basic principles for integrating source materials into your writing, including (a) the ability to use quotations and paraphrases without violating basic principles of fair usage and (b) the ability to provide informal in-text documentation and simple MLA works-cited entries.

7. Instructional Strategies—All sections of ENGL 104 will include the following instructional strategies. Your particular section may include other strategies as well.

· Discussion/questioning

· Lecture/mini-lectures

· Practice/drill

· Problem solving

· Reading assignments

8. Methods of Assessment—All sections of ENGL 104 will use the following methods of assessment. Your particular section may include other methods as well.

· Attendance

· Homework assignments

· Participation

· Exam(s)

· Essays and other forms of writing such as summaries, etc.

9. Unit Descriptions— The curriculum for ENGL 104 is divided into three units. [NOTE: In the descriptions below, the lengths given for the units are rough estimates. Any of these units could be made as much as two weeks longer or two weeks shorter, depending on how many writing assignments are included in each of the units. Your instructor will provide more detailed information concerning the units for your section.]

Unit One: AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL NARRATIVES Weeks 1-5

A. Overview

The initial unit for ENGL 104 asks you to write about your own experiences while reading works that bring you into contact with the experiences of others. The writing and reading assignments will encourage you to explore new perspectives from which you can consider your own experiences.

B. Required Assignments

i. Reading Assignments

At least one reading assignment (and probably more) that you can use to reflect on your own experiences.

ii. Writing Assignments

The unit will include at least two writing assignments (including at least one major paper). These assignments will allow you to report on your own experiences while considering those experiences from a new perspective.

Unit Two: SUMMARY, ANALYSIS, AND RESPONSE WRITING Weeks 6-10

A. Overview

This unit asks you to respond to the ideas of others. The unit introduces techniques for summarizing expository essays (and in so doing acquaints you with fair-usage and documentation conventions), and it provides opportunities for you to draw on your own experiences and knowledge to offer informed analyses and reactions to the arguments offered in the readings.

B. Required Assignments

i. Reading Assignments

At least one reading assignment (and probably more) expressing opinions to which you are likely to have strong reactions.

ii. Writing Assignments

This unit will include at least two writing assignments (with at least one being a major paper). These assignments will allow you to polish your skill in summary, analysis, and response writing.

Unit 3: EXPOSITORY ESSAYS Weeks 11-15

A. Overview

For this unit you will read and write essays that offer a clear thesis and then support and develop that thesis with explanations and examples. In doing so you will hone your ability to express your own ideas within expository forms appropriate for educated audiences. [NOTE: The writing assignments for this unit will not require extensive research or formal documentation. You may draw on your reading for occasional quotations and paraphrases requiring informal in-text citations, but your own experiences should serve as the primary source for the ideas expressed in your writing.]

B. Required Assignments

i. Reading Assignments

At least two (and probably more) reading assignments that offer clear theses and support.

ii. Writing Assignments

One or more expository thesis/illustration essays in which you offer a clear thesis and then support it with explanations and examples drawn from your own experiences or the experiences of others. At least one major assignment of this type is required in all sections of ENGL 104. In addition, some sections may also require other assignments that allow you to offer your own insights concerning a topic about which you are knowledgeable.

10. The Final Exam—The English faculty and Writing Director will prepare a single final examination for use in all sections of ENGL 104. You will receive the examination question in advance, and you will be allowed to bring a few notes (but not drafts) to the examination session. The exam session will be 110 minutes long. Your instructor will provide more information concerning the exam no later than the last week of the semester.

11. Required Textbooks

· The UF English and Writing Program’s special edition of Keys for Writers. This handbook is also used for ENGL 106 and upper-level writing courses such as ENGL 202, 272, 302, 305, and 306, so plan on keeping it.

· A college dictionary. (Your instructor might recommend or require a particular dictionary.)

· Any other books that your instructor requires. (Your instructor will give you a list during the first week of classes.)

12. Grading You will receive one of the following grades: A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, NC, D, or F. In order to pass ENGL 104, you must earn a C or higher and you must submit all major assignments. If you pass ENGL 104, you will receive three credits and be eligible to take ENGL 106.

For a precise grading breakdown for your section of ENGL 104, please refer to the syllabus for your specific section. The grading in all sections of ENGL 104, however, will follow the guidelines described below:

A. Distribution of Points

· Major Papers (3 to 5 papers totaling approximately 4,000 to 60-70 points

6,000 words of polished writing). Points distributed as follows:

Unit 1 (1-2 major papers) 10-25 points

Unit 2 (1-2 major papers) 10-25 points

Unit 3 (1-2 major papers) 10-25 points

· Minor Assignments (a total of 1,500 to 4,000 words in journal 20-30 points

entries, in-class assignments, homework exercises, letters and

memos, quizzes, and/or other types of assignments).

· Final Examination (a thesis/support essay on a topic common 10 points

to all sections).

_____________________________________________________________________

TOTAL 100 points

B. Grade Ranges (Your instructor will provide you with a detailed scale for determining plus and minus grades.)

Passing Grades

A, A- 100-90 points

B+, B, B- 89-80 points

C+, C 79-73 points

Non-Passing Grades

NC Below 73 points (but the student has submitted all assignments and has not incurred any penalty points for missed classes or late work).—NC stands for "no credit." This grade is given to students who attend class regularly and complete all assignments but still aren't ready to take ENGL 106. If you earn this grade you will not receive credit for ENGL 104; however, the NC grade will not damage your grade point average. Furthermore, the NC qualifies you for ENGL 105, an alternative version of ENGL 104. If you do earn an NC, you should register for ENGL 104 or 105 next semester. In ENGL 105 you will receive more individualized instruction to prepare you for ENGL 106.

D Same as NC: below 73 points (but the student has submitted all assignments and has not incurred any penalty points for missed classes or late work).—D is an alternative version of the NC grade. Students who earn an NC have the option of replacing this grade with a D. The NC is the best option in most cases because the NC doesn’t count against a student’s GPA. However, with an NC a student receives no credit hours for the course. If the credit hours are important, the student who earns the NC can elect to have the D assigned instead. With a D, a student will receive 3 credit hours, but the D will affect the student’s GPA. IMPORTANT: Students who receive a D in ENGL 104 must still retake the course (or take ENGL 105, an alternative version of ENGL 104).

F Below 73 points (and the student has missed one or more assignments or has incurred penalty points for missed classes or late work).—F is an unsatisfactory grade. You will receive an F if you do not complete assignments, if you submit work very late, or if you miss numerous classes. Your grade point average will suffer if you receive an F, and you will need to take ENGL 104 again before registering for ENGL 106.

13. Attendance and Late Work—Each ENGL 104 instructor will establish policies concerning attendance and deadlines. If your instructor will impose penalties for missing classes, arriving late, failing to do assignments, or submitting work after deadlines, s/he will list those penalties in the specific syllabus for your section.

14. Conferences and Group Work—Your instructor may ask you to attend individual conferences or small-group sessions in addition to your regular class sessions. These additional sessions will allow the instructor to provide specialized instruction to address problems and issues that might not be discussed in class. If you fail to attend a conference or group-work session, your instructor can deduct the same number of points as s/he would for a regular class absence.

15. Honor Code—Students in this course agree to abide by the university’s honor code: “I will not knowingly engage in any dishonorable behavior, cheat, steal, lie, or commit any act of plagiarism during my academic work, course, or endeavor. If I observe an act which I believe violates the University’s Honor Code, I may, in my discretion, report it to the appropriate personnel.”

16. Plagiarism and Fair Usage of Sources—Any student who turns in the work of another writer as his or her own work may receive an F in ENGL 104, or a “0” on the paper, or s/he may be allowed to rework the paper for a grade of F. Penalties for plagiarism will be assigned by the instructor after consultation with the writing director. In the case of severe or recurring plagiarism, an instructor can recommend a student's suspension from The University of Findlay.

17. Students with Special Needs—If you are a student with a disability, it is your responsibility to register with the Office of Disability Services and to notify your instructor at least one week prior to any needed service so that reasonable accommodations can be made.

II. Frequently Asked Questions

1. Am I required to take ENGL 104?—All UF students are required to take ENGL 104 unless they have done one of the following: (1) placed into ENGL 106 based on a combined ACT English and Reading score of 50 or more, or an SAT Verbal score of 590 or more—note: in cases where scores conflict from two or more ACT and/or SAT exams, placement is determined by the UF English faculty’s review of those conflicting scores; (2) earned a “C” or higher in ENGL 104 or 105 (or earned equivalent transfer credit); or (3) earned a score of 3 or 4 on the AP English Language and Composition Exam. Students who have met one of these requirements should register for ENGL 106.

2. Will ENGL 104 fulfill a competency requirement?—No. ENGL 104 helps you develop the skills you will need to fulfill the writing competency, but to complete the requirement you will need to earn a passing grade in ENGL 106.

3. Are all sections of ENGL 104 identical?—No, but they are all similar. All sections of ENGL 104 will require roughly the same amounts and types of writing and reading, but specific assignments will vary from one section to another. Your instructor will give you detailed information concerning the assignments for your section.

4. What types of writing are required in ENGL 104?—In ENGL 104 you will have opportunities to express your thoughts in lively writing that conforms to conventional standards of style and usage. Some of the writing assignments will require responses to assigned readings, but the focus throughout most of the course remains on your expression of your own experiences, ideas, and values.

5. Will I be required to write a research paper?—You will not be required to write a major “research paper,” but you will need to use sources to complete some of the writing assignments. Your instructor will introduce MLA techniques for documenting several common types of sources, and some of your writing assignments will require that you use quotations or paraphrases from the assigned readings. Also, you might be required to do some research, especially for your Unit 3 essay, but you will not be required to conduct extensive and intensive library or internet research.

6. How much writing is required in ENGL 104?—Each section of ENGL 104 will require three to five major papers, and the polished final versions of these papers will total approximately 4,000 to 6,000 words (not including the final exam essay). In addition to the final drafts, you will need to prepare one or more rough drafts for each major paper. In addition to the major papers, each section of ENGL 104 will include other writing assignments that total between 1,500 and 4,000 words. These assignments could include journal entries, in-class assignments, homework exercises, letters and memos, quizzes, and other types of work. Since the final exam for ENGL 104 is a timed assignment, you will do some timed writing during the semester. However, most of your assignments will be completed outside of class.

7. How much reading is required in ENGL 104?—Each section of ENGL 104 will require reading assignments that total between 150 and 500 pages (that is, the equivalent of no less than one and no more than three full-length books). The assignments may include essays from an anthology or from periodicals, full-length books, or a combination of essays and full-length books. Some poetry and fictional prose may be included in the readings, but the majority of the reading assignments will be nonfiction prose.

8. Is a final exam required in ENGL 104?—Yes, all students in all sections will take the same final exam. Your instructor will provide detailed information concerning the exam no later than the last week of classes. IMPORTANT: Students must take the final exam in order to have an opportunity to pass the course.