ENGL 1110 Common Syllabi
University of Toledo
Syllabus for Composition I (ENGL 1110)
General Education Statement:
This course fulfills a General Education and Core Curriculum requirement at theUniversityofToledo.
Course Prerequisite:
ENGL 1110 is a mainstreamed course; all students are required to register for and complete this course before attempting a Composition II course.
Course Description:
We will spend the semester engaging in multiple writing tasks associated with our lives in various communities. Our focus will be on responding effectively to texts that we read, situations that we encounter, and ongoing public arguments. We will also participate in fulfilling the mission of a major research university—contributing new knowledge that our democracy can use to better the lives of its citizens.
Course Requirements:
Students will produce a minimum of 5,000 words in final draft form over the course of the semester. This will mean roughly 18 to 20 finished pages. At least one paper will be a documented essay using MLA format and incorporating a number of sources with a sustained discussion that results in a paper of at least 5 pages.
Composition I and Composition I with Workshop Learning Outcomes (mapped to state TAG Learning Outcomes)
Students who successfully complete ENGL 1100/1110 will be able to:
- Establish a purpose and create a thesis in their own writing and be able to identify purpose and thesis in the writing of others (TAG: 1) Rhetorical Knowledge);
- Demonstrate the knowledge of how genres influence reading and writing by producing writing in multiple genres and by incorporating various tools of arrangement, including the successful use of organizational patterns, transitional and topic sentences, and audience awareness (TAG: 1) Rhetorical Knowledge);
- Develop arguments and perspectives through the successful incorporation of research, examples, details, rhetorical appeals, and counter-arguments (TAG: 1) Rhetorical Knowledge and 2) Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing);
- Demonstrate effective revision skills (global revision, editing, and proofreading) that leads to clear, concise and error-free prose (TAG: 3) Knowledge of the Composing Process and 5) Knowledge of Conventions);
- Develop critical reading skills, including the ability to locate rhetorical features in a text, identify the audience for a given text, and identify strengths and weaknesses in an author’s arguments and reasoning; (TAG: 1) Rhetorical Knowledge and 2) Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing)
- Locate credible scholarly sources, evaluate the reliability of those sources, and effectively use those sources within a text, including the ability to cite sources in-text and develop a works cited page (TAG: 1) Rhetorical Knowledge and 5) Knowledge of Conventions);
- Use electronic environments for the drafting, reviewing, revising, editing, and submitting of texts (TAG: 3) Knowledge of the Composing Process and 6) Composing in Electronic Environments); and
- Demonstrate the ability to critique their own and peers’ writing by understanding the collaborative and social aspects of the writing process (TAG: 3) Knowledge of the Composing Process and 4) Collaboration).
Texts: The instructor of your section will provide you with a list of required materials.
Attendance (Also see the attached University of Toledo Missed Class Policy):
Your active participation in this writing class will help you to achieve the goals of this course and accomplish your personal academic goals. Therefore, your regular attendance and informed and active participation are expected. We will be writing in this class frequently and in-class writing activities may not be made up outside of class unless you have an excused absence. Missing these assignments may lower your class evaluation and course grade.
In the event that you must miss class, you are to notify the instructor by voice mail or in writing. However, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed and to complete all work.
Plagiarism:
Representing the work of another as your own, whether through direct copying, unattributed paraphrasing, or inadequate citation practices constitutes plagiarism. If you do not know how to give credit where credit is due—and that is a legitimate concern—see me and we will review the process. A paper that is plagiarized in whole or in part will receive an F, the student producing it will receive an F, and the paper will be turned over to the administrative supervisors to determine further action. Plagiarism is grounds for dismissal from the University. The policy on plagiarism can be found in detail on pages 25 and 26 of The University of Toledo catalog.
Submission of Work:
Unless otherwise noted, it is expected that all student work submitted for a grade will be typed in a standard 12-point font, double spaced, and with one-inch margins.
Evaluation:
Your writing this semester will be evaluated primarily for its rhetorical effectiveness. Does it adequately consider the audience to whom it is addressed? Is it convincing, captivating, inventive? It will also be evaluated for classroom values that demonstrate your preparation for the tasks at hand, your participation in class conversation and collaboration, and engagement in the common texts and tasks. A third measure will be made of the academic value of your text. Does it speak, when it is supposed to, to an audience of scholars? Does it contribute to the production and dissemination of new knowledge? Your will be given the chance to revise your work for inclusion in a final portfolio.
Grading:
In order to pass this course, your final grade must be a C or above. Grades below a C are recorded as No Credit (NC). Although an NC will not affect your GPA, Composition I will have to be repeated until a grade of C or better is achieved.
For more information on ENGL 1110 and Composition Program:
http://www.utoledo.edu/al/english/programs/composition/index.html
- Click on Faculty Resources to access:
- Faculty Handbook
- UT Call to Write Handbook