College Composition

This course is designed to help you polish skills you have already developed. 

Being a college preparatory course, emphasis will be placed on the essay form,

focusing on the length and detailed support needed for the type of writing expected at

the college level.  Instruction will also be given on the thesis statement, the selection of

vocabulary, sentence structure, and editing skills.  Some reading will be required for

material for certain types of essays. The goal of this class is for you to become

thoughtful, critical and creative writers.
 

Textbook: Sabranek. Patrick, et. al. Write For College: A Student Handbook.

Writer's Inc. Wilmington, MA: Great Source Ed., 1997.

 
Material to be covered during the semester:

First Quarter

Review of sentence structure, thesis statement, punctuation,

editing symbols, introductions and conclusions

Personal writing

Report writing

Second Quarter

Analytical writing

Persuasive writing
 

Supplies needed for class:
paper (white, lined paper/computer paper)
ballpoint pens (standard blue or black ink and colored for editing, NOT GEL)
highlighters
folder 
access to a computer with word processing program
disk to store work on from computer lab (optional)
 
Grading: For each assignment and/or composition assigned points will be assessed. 

The first grade given for a composition will count for 75% of the total grade. 

After corrections and rewrites, the composition will be graded again with

that grade counting for 25% of the total grade.  Quarter – your total

points possible divided by the total points possible for grading period.
 
Semester – 1st  quarter = 40%; 2nd quarter = 40%; Exam = 20%
             ***If an exam is not given, each quarter will count as 50% of the grade.
 

Expectations
A)  You are expected to do your best at all times and work to improve your level of writing.

B)   Accept all suggestions/corrections as constructive criticism.

They are intended to help you improve.

C)   Be prepared for class with all required materials.

D)  Write legibly, or if typing, make sure you use the word processing program
                  correctly.  Always DOUBLE SPACE.

E)  It is the student’s responsibility to check handbooks or ask for help with rules
concerning mechanics.

F)  Always proofread or have someone, other than the

teacher, proofread your work.

G) Hand in assignments on time. One day late -- drop one letter grade.

You will have due dates, so don't wait until the last minute or use and

absences as an excuse for not having the work completed.

H)  Obtain and show an excused absence to the teacher. No grade will be

counted for an assignment due on the day of an absence until it is excused.

It is the student's responsibility to make sure that the excused absence is

shown to the teacher, that any assigned work due during the absence is

handed into the teacher, and that any work assigned during the absence is

obtained from the teacher.

I)   Keep all of your work until the end of each grading period in case of error.