Composition I
English 100: Composition I offers you the opportunity to hone your skills in writing as preparation for your work as a scholar here at UH and as a foundation for your career. This course introduces you to different forms of college-level writing and guides you in writing for different purposes and audiences. Included in those audiences are your peers and instructor, who will help you develop prowess in planning, drafting, critiquing, revising, and editing through oral and written feedback. Expect to compose at least 5000 words of finished prose during the semester, equivalent to approximately 20 typewritten pages.
You will read a variety of texts and make use of a variety of sources in expressing your own ideas, perspectives, and/or opinions in writing. As you do so, you will develop important skills in information literacy by learning search strategies, critical evaluation of information and sources, and appropriate ways to incorporate such information into your writing by acknowledging sources and providing citations. We offer a rich range of courses and approaches to help you achieve these goals, so be sure to check the current course description for each section to choose the one that’s best for you.
Mentors in English 100
In certain sections of English 100, an experienced mentor (usually an MA student in English) works alongside the course instructor to provide additional support for each student in the course. These mentors hold intake meetings with students at the start of the semester to find out more about their writing backgrounds, then they follow up over the semester with individual conferences scheduled out of class and designed to help each student excel. Mentors attend all classes, taking notes on course content to help them help students, and they may also take part in discussions and small-group activities such as peer review. Mentors may also lead occasional class sessions on topics or activities that they are especially knowledgeable about.
Tutors for English 100
In non-mentored sections of English 100, students who would like additional support for their writing can work with a tutor who is an advanced undergraduate with strong writing skills and who has been trained through coursework and practical experience in writing instruction. This, like the services provided by mentors, is free and open to any student in the course. Working with a tutor, students can get assistance with all stages of the writing process, from brainstorming initial ideas, to creating outlines and rough drafts, to developing and revising final projects. The tutors will not be involved directly in these students’ classes, as the mentors are, but they will be available to meet and discuss works in progress from a centralized location–the Writing Center.