Syllabus

Composition 1 Syllabus

Course Objective: The goal of this class is to make you a better writer and thinker. You will compose six essays over the course of the trimester. Each one will offer you the chance to plan, to review your essay with the teacher and your classmates, and then to submit a final version of your essay. In addition to working on the mechanical aspects of writing, we will work on organization and clarity of thought.

Assignments: Six major essays (personal/remembered event essay, profile essay, concept essay, position essay, solution essay, evaluative essay) Shorter essay reflecting on good writing Prewriting for each major essay (outline, rough draft, post-essay journal) Group presentation on a grammar point of your choice

Grading: Each of the major essays will be worth 100 points. The prewriting and post-writing (I find it moderately bothersome that prewriting is a word but postwriting is not. I suppose that the term postwriting is not really used/in vogue, but still) for each essay will also be worth 100 points. The work that you do as you prepare and critique your essay is just as important (this concept is one we could debate) as the essay itself. The more work you put in before the final draft, the easier it will be to write. There will be another 100 points from your initial essay and your group presentation, followed by a final exam essay evaluating your experience in the class.

Structure of class: You will have a significant about of time in class to work on your writing. You will have time to prewrite (choose a topic, prepare an outline, begin composing a rough draft) in class, followed by time to revise in class by sharing your writing with classmates and through an individual conference. It would behoove you to make good use of said time.