conveying ideas and your
sensitivity to the structure and purpose of language. To achieve these goals
we will be working on all levels of writing--from words to sentences to
multi-paragraph pieces.Office Hours: MWF 11-12, And By Appointment
Office: Lytle 104B x34336
email: seiple@kutztown.edu
English 001 is designed to strengthen two aspects of your writing: your
techniques for clearly and effectivy conveying ideas and your
sensitivity to the structure and purpose of language. To achieve these goals
we will be working on all levels of writing--from words to sentences to
multi-paragraph pieces.
Why composition? You have, after all, been using the language successfully for quite a while now. You speak and write, and people generally understand. However, we will go beyond simple communication and study how to communicate more effectively.
You are now entered in a world where most of what you learn and know comes not from first-hand experience: the days of childhood blocks, of falls and of curious wet feet are over. Probably 95% of what you will learn in your adult life will come through some form of verbal experience, either written or oral. You will be making important or expensive decisions based on nothing more than someone else's words. You need, most decidedly, to strengthen your writing and consequently your understanding of how language is used and manipulated.
Language, especially written language, will from now on become more important than it ever has been before. Your writing precedes you on resumes and applications, represents your abilities and work in reports to your superiors or in papers to your professors. Therefore, your writing is becoming a vital part of your life.
Texts:
Gerald Levin, Prose Models,10th Ed. (N.Y.: Harcourt,1999). (required)
Harbrace Handbook. Current Edition. (required)
Any College Level Dictionary (Recommended)
All Assignments are from Prose Models unless noted otherwise. The assignments are made by text section title and essay author's last name. Section discussions are to be read.
Aug. 30 Writing Sample
Sept. 1 Introduction
6 Prewriting; Organizing the Essay: Topic Sentence--Stevenson
8 Main & Subordinate Ideas--Strachey, Carrighar; Order of Ideas--White
11 Beginning, Middle & Ending; Transitions--Mebane
13 Exposition: Description--Momaday; Narration--Welty
15 Example--White; Wolfe
18 Classification & Division--Nevins, Holt
20 Definition--Miller & Swift
22 Comparison & Contrast--Winn, Hall
25 Analogy--Eiseley ("What Makes a Writer")
27 Process--Richards
29 Cause & Effect--Brooks, Harris
Oct. 2 The Sentence: Addition & Modification--Jacobs
4 Emphasis--Twain
6 Loose & Periodic Sentences--Steinbeck, Dillard
10 Climax--Updike
11 Parallelism; Antithesis--King, Jr.; Length
13 In-class Essay
16 Diction: Usage--Least Heat Moon
18 Tone--Finnegan
20 Imagery--Carson; Concreteness--Ross
23 Figurative Language--Cole
25 Euphemism & Jargon--Klass, Baker
27 Argument & Persuasion: Inductive Reasoning
30 Experience & Observation--Zinsser
Nov. 1 Analogy--Newman
3 Cause & Effect--Cousins, Wertheimer
6 Deductive Reasoning
8 Deductive Reasoning--Goodall; Controversy
10 In-class Essay
13 Interpretation of Evidence--Rossi, Rivlin
15 Methods of Persuasion-- DeVries, Anonymous
17 Methods of Persuasion-- Swift
20 Research paper (MLA style in handbook)
22 Research paper discussion: sources
27 Research Paper discussion: Final Topics Due
29 Library
Dec. 1 Library
4 Research Paper Conferences
6 Research Paper Conferences
8 Research Paper Conferences
Handwritten (In-class)--Standard 8 1/2 x 11 inch white, lined paper
No spiral bound notebook paper
One inch margins on top, bottom and sides
Blue or black ink only (no pencil)
Printed (Out of Class)--Standard 8 1/2 x 11 inch unlined, white paper
If using type erasable paper, copy paper and hand in copy
Double space between lines
One inch margins on top, bottom and sides
Format (informal)--Heading in upper left hand corner must contain:
Name
Date Submitted
Paper # (Revision Noted if Applicable)
N.B.
1. After the first graded paper is returned students must schedule a conference with the instructor within 2 1/2 weeks.
2. All students are allowed one revision of each essay due no later than one week after it is returned. These revisions are voluntary. There will be no revision of the final research paper.
No revisions will be allowed on late papers nor will late revisions be accepted.
3. Using a word processor is required: revisions are more easily handled and errors more readily corrected. Students are responsible for keeping a copy of papers, making sure they have supplies for personal printers, assuring software and systems compatibilities, and keeping disks, etc. in working condition.
Grading--
1/2= Essays and Revisions
1/4= Participation
1/4= Exercises
Additionally, all Essays must be completed to receive a passing grade.
Regular class attendance is expected.