ENG 101: Effective Writing I
Fall 2007

Weeks 1-4

During the first few weeks of the course, we will establish some expectations for college-level writing, and I'll ask you to formulate some specific goals. We'll read 1984 together, as a model for "reading as a writer." You'll do some writing in class and out of class, start your writer's notebook, give and get some peer response, and analyze your own writing behaviors. You will also select at least one of the three books you'll be reading as a basis for your writing in this class.

Week 1

 

 

Activities, Assignments, Resources

Overview of Schedule:

Weeks 1-3--Writer's notebook, reflective writing and goal-setting, time management, reading as a writer, selecting readings
Weeks 4-6--Reading and writing in the humanities
Weeks 7-9--Reading and writing in the sciences
Weeks 10-12--Reading and writing in the social sciences
Weeks 13-14--Revising, developing portfolio

Selecting Texts and Recommended Books

Writer's Notebook

ENG 101 Writing Workshop

Reading as a Writer

Essay Assignments

Prewriting Activities

MLA Format

Is It Ever Okay to Use First or Second Person?
9/4 (T)
 Introduction to class: the syllabus. Overview of reading and writing expectations and resources. Key terms: literacy, process, workshop, academic disciplines. What's special about this section of ENG 101:  the link with PDP 150. Meeting in a computer lab; classroom courtesies. Planning to write in class on Thursday. Getting started on 1984 (time permitting).
Assignment for 9/6: Read selection and give some thought to the topic for Thursday's In-Class Essay for Workshop Placement.
9/6 (R)
 In-class Essay.  CHANGE, due to delay in getting started with writing.  Please write a little bit on this topic before you start reading:  What do we know about Orwell? Starting to read 1984.
Assignment for 9/11: Begin reading 1984. Add your comments on what you know already about Orwell to your writer's notebook. You may hand-write this or type it. Remember that your reflections for PDP are part of the overall page count, too, for your writer's notebook. You can also write a writer's notebook entry between now and Tuesday's class on one of the following topics: Consider writing about writing you've done in the past or about 1984, or make a list of texts you're interested in reading for this course, consulting my book list, adding some brief notes about your impressions of each one.
Week 2
9/11 (T)
Sharing reading responses. Reflecting on your reading and writing experiences. Personal goal setting. Key terms: reflection.
Assignment for 9/7: Continue reading 1984. (You should be about halfway through it or further by 9/18.)
9/13 (R)
MEET IN ALEXANDER MACK MEMORIAL LIBRARY.  Presentation on library services, with a focus on finding the books you need for this course. Managing your reading and writing time. Notebook check over the weekend: Bateman, Bay, Bradley, Burton, Clemons, Denisar.
Assignment for 9/18: Continue reading 1984. Keep a record of the time you spend in reading and writing between this class and Tuesday's class. Be sure to continue keeping your Writer's Notebook.
Week 3
9/18 (T)
 Revisiting the academic disciplines; rhetoric. Reading and writing in the humanities.  Reading as a writer. Orwell on language: What's good about a large vocabulary? Clichés, jargon, slang. Key terms: academic disciplines, rhetoric; cliché, jargon, slang. (Writing opportunity: The Wikipedia article on jargon states, as of this update of the syllabus, "This article may need to be rewritten.")
9/20 (R)
 Continued discussion of clichés, jargon, slang. "Translating" texts. Notebook check over the weekend: Fenwick, Giles, Hayes, Howell, Keffer, Limbrick.
Assignment for 9/25: Continue reading 1984, finishing it if possible. Begin reading the book you've selected for the humanities   
Week 4
9/25 (T)
Change in plans: Group work on the topic, "Is Orwell Relevant?"  Presentations 10/2.
Moving from response to essay, using 1984 as example. Prewriting activities. Kinds of writing in the humanities. Selecting and integrating quotations and paraphrases. MLA format. Key terms: prewriting, quotation, paraphrase, MLA.
Assignment for 9/27:  Continue reading your humanities book. 
9/27 (R)
Shaping your humanities essay topic. Point of view; pronouns. Mechanics of quoting. Key terms: point of view, personal pronoun, first person, second person, third person. Notebook check over the weekend: Madison, Morton, Richards, Rowe, Savage, Whisman-Dietz.
Assignment for 10/2:  Continue reading your humanities book. Brainstorm writing topic.

Go to Weeks 5-9

Updated by Dr. Trupe Aug. 29, 2007