This course will introduce you to the conventions of academic writing and critical thinking. Our goal not just to become better writers, but also to understand writing as a tool that deepens our thoughts and experiences. We will read in order to consider and challenge the ideas of others, and we will write in order to clarify and develop our own ideas.
Keep in mind that the schedule of readings and due dates is subject to change. I will inform you of changes through email and during class discussions. Make sure to keep up with the assignments and check your email!
| Date | Unit | Due |
| 27-Aug | Personal Narrative | |
| 29-Aug | Personal Narrative | Langston Hughes, "Salvation" |
| 3-Sep | Personal Narrative | Ocean Vuong, "A Letter to My Mother…" |
| 5-Sep | NO CLASS | Personal Narrative DRAFT |
| 10-Sep | Personal Narrative | Furgurson, "End of History" |
| 12-Sep | Personal Narrative | Staples, "Confederate Monuments" |
| 17-Sep | Summary & Paraphrase | Personal Narrative FINAL |
| 19-Sep | Summary & Paraphrase | Hari, "Everything You Think You Know…" |
| 26-Sep | Summary & Paraphrase | SUMMARY 1 |
| 28-Sep | Summary & Paraphrase | Harris, "Can We Build AI Without…" |
| 1-Oct | NO CLASS | SUMMARY 2 |
| 3-Oct | Summary & Paraphrase | IN CLASS SUMMARY EXAM |
| 8-Oct | NO CLASS | |
| 10-Oct | Argument | Swift, "A Modest Proposal" |
| 15-Oct | Argument | Gatto, "Against School" |
| 17-Oct | Argument | Argument Introduction/Thesis due |
| 22-Oct | Argument | MLK, "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" |
| 24-Oct | Argument | Sandel, "The Case Against Perfectionism" |
| 29-Oct | Argument | Argument Draft Due for Peer Review |
| 31-Oct | Argument | DFW, "Consider the Lobster" |
| 5-Nov | Compare & Contrast | FINAL ARGUMENT ESSAY DUE |
| 7-Nov | Compare & Contrast | Coates, "The Case for Reparations" |
| 12-Nov | Compare & Contrast | IN CLASS C & C EXAM |
| 14-Nov | Compare & Contrast | Lukianoff and Haidt, "The Coddling…" |
| 19-Nov | Compare & Contrast | Lankford, "A Pragmatic Proposal..." |
| 21-Nov | Compare & Contrast | Peterson, "Message to School Shooters" |
| 26-Nov | Compare & Contrast | C & C Draft Due for Peer Review |
| 28-Nov | NO CLASS | |
| 3-Dec | Exam Practice | TBA |
| 5-Dec | Exam Practice | C & C ESSAY FINAL COPY DUE |
| 10-Dec | Exam Practice | TBA |
| 12-Dec | Exam Practice | TBA |
GRADING BREAKDOWN
Essays & Other Writing: Students will write the following: a personal narrative (1000-1250 words), two summaries (500 words each), an argumentative essay (1000-1250 words), and a compare and contrast essay (1000-1250 words). Students will revise each of these essays. These essays must be typed, double-spaced, in 12-point font, and formatted with one-inch margins; formatting guidelines and instructions will be distributed for each assignment. In addition, students will have one in-class essay exam. Students will be asked to complete other assignments, such as journal entries, in-class writing, and reading responses.
Final Exam: English 1010 students must take a final exam. The exam is based on responses to two pieces of writing: one 5-7 page essay, distributed one week before the end of the term, and a second 1-2 page piece, distributed along with the question on the day of the exam. The date of the Final Exam will be announced later in the semester.
You are allowed three excused absences without penalty. The next three absences will each lower your grade by half a letter: For example, a grade of B will become a B- if you have four absences and a C+ if you have five absences. If you miss more than six classes, you are in danger of failing the class. If you’re not in class on time, you will be marked late. Three late-marks equals one absence. If you’re more than 15 minutes late, you will be marked absent for the day. In some cases, I will give you a chance to make up for missed classes by doing extra work outside of class.
Participation is an essential part of the course. Participation includes completing and commenting on the assigned reading, contributing to class discussion, listening to one another, bringing required materials to class, writing in your notebook, and engaging in peer review and group activities.
You are expected to have read the assigned readings closely before each class meeting. When the assigned readings are taken from online sources, you will bring a printed copy of the assigned reading to class with you. There will be a few unannounced quizzes based on the reading assignments.
No cellphones. No laptops. No screens. Your desk should be clear except for your notebook and a copy of the reading material. If you look at your phone during class, you will be marked absent.
When you knowingly submit someone else’s ideas or words as your own, you commit plagiarism—an act of intentional deception that not only is dishonest, it also robs you of the most important part of education: actual learning. If it is discovered that you have misappropriated another’s ideas without crediting them, you will receive a failing grade for the assignment, you may receive a failing grade for the course, and the incident will be reported.
