Composition I

The course’s general
aims are twofold: to strengthen students’ writing and to have them produce it
at a functional level consistent with the university’s expectations.  The writing will primarily take the
form of shorter individual responses to a wide variety of texts.  Core course elements are:

  • an engaged reception of selected works
  • an awareness of the varieties of English, their uses and significance
  • an ability to produce writing appropriate to an academic context and readership.

This class will
emphasize analytical/argumentative writing along with personal/experiential
writing. There will be several
required conferences.

There are weekly
required readings, and students will be expected to respond to them in writing,
primarily in the form of short in-class essays, both argumentative/analytical
and personal/ experiential.

There will be three
longer papers.  In addition, a
selection of  drafts, revisions, and
final papers must be resubmitted in the form of a final portfolio.

This course relies on
a discussion-based format.

Required text:

  • Course Reader

(available at Professional Image, 2633 S. King).