Aloha,
Welcome to English 100 (Composition 1). Writing is everywhere. Though our use of it may be taken for granted,
it is a functional element of communication.
Within contemporary society and culture, our understanding of writing
and its processes have dramatically evolved.
Mediums of expression and production are becoming increasingly digital. Nevertheless, to become an accomplished,
conscious, and contributing member of society, a firm grasp of basic writing
skills is necessary. This course will involve various reading, journaling, and essay
writing activities to hone and further develop a student’s preexisting writing skills
and abilities.
This course will allow students to realize the functional
purposes of writing in their lives – that writing is a process through which
meanings of the world are constructed and communicated. The course will begin with an introspective take
on the life of the student via a personal narrative. The course will then gradually shift from
this individual-level investigation and work outward – to family, community, state,
country, and beyond. As each level is surveyed, students will have the opportunity to identify various types of
rhetorical situations, strengthen their sense of awareness concerning audience,
as well as advance their literary knowledge.
Course Objectives and Student Learning Outcomes:
1) To compose college-level writing, including, but not
limited to, academic discourse, that achieves a specific purpose and responds
adeptly to an identifiable audience.
2) Provide evidence of effective strategies for generating,
revising, editing, and proofreading a text in order to produce finished prose.
3) Compose an argument that makes use of source material
that is relevant and credible and that is integrated in accordance with an
appropriate style guide.
Assignments:
There are four (4) major writing assignments including a
personal narrative, an exploratory paper, a critical analysis paper, and a
final research paper. Students will also
be required to complete a creative project requiring them to articulate
arguments made within their research paper.
For the creative project, students can be as inventive as they like in
terms of medium, style, and technique.
Writing is an act that is seldom done in isolation. This course will emphasize collaborative work
during multiple stages of the writing process.
Certain class periods will be designated for peer review. Copies of rough drafts will be required on
these days for distribution to the instructor and a set number of peers.
Requirements:
1) Attendance and participation in discussions/classroom
activities. Attendance is mandatory. More than four (4) unexcused absences will
result in substantial grade deductions.
2) Consistent monitoring of e-mail correspondence and course
section on Laulima website for updates, assignments, and reading materials.
3) Four (4) major papers (about 5-7 pages each), one
creative project, and weekly Laulima “blog” responses.
Course Texts & Required Materials/Supplies:
1) Basic writing materials are necessary for in-class writing
exercises and note-taking.
2) Access to the internet and UH’s Laulima course website.
3) Reading materials for the course will be distributed via
Laulima for download in PDF format. I
anticipate that this course will not require the purchase of any textbook or
reader, but this is a tentative description.
Every effort will be made to keep material costs to an absolute minimum.
Grading:
This course will be graded using a point value system in
which all of the written assignments account for about 92% of a student’s final
grade (including all four major papers, the creative project, and weekly Laulima
responses).
Grades for this course will use pluses/minuses. A strict ZERO TOLERANCE policy for plagiarism,
cheating, or any other form of academic dishonesty is observed.
Disclaimer: This
is a tentative course description. All
contents and details are subject to change.
For the latest information on this course, contact the instructor KAPENA
M. LANDGRAF at KAPENAML@HAWAII.EDU.