Assignments with Grading Values
45% Writing Process Assignments (prewriting, revision plans, peer reviews, writing conferences, reflections, etc.)
This is a writing-process based course. Students will use the steps of the writing process—including prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing—and utilize metacognitive practices to examine their engagement in the writing process for each required essay.
20% Participation (attendance, in-class writing, in-class assignments, weekly discussions)
My classroom becomes a community of learners, where each person supports the learning of their classmates and learns how to ask for the feedback and support that they need as a learner. This means that attendance and participation are a large portion of the graded activity in this class. In-class assignments (which are graded on completion) support the expected learning outcomes for the course. Attendance on our lab days is required.
20% Writing Skills, Readings, and Quizzes
Various small writing and practice assignments (Writing Skills) that are completed outside of class will provide additional support for the expected learning outcomes for the course. Readings from the textbook will be graded through quizzes that can be completed multiple times, keeping the highest score. There will be some writing quizzes that take place in the Writing Center.
15% Essay Drafts (initial and final drafts)
Details for each essay draft assignment will be posted to Canvas at least 2 weeks before the essay draft is due. Three essays will be required this semester:
- Essay 1: Rhetorical Analysis. This essay of 4-5 pages will analyze the rhetorical situation and rhetorical choices of a speech or short piece of writing chosen by the student. 1-2 sources, 80 points.
- Essay 2: Research Paper. This essay of 6-8 pages will synthesize information from multiple sources into a coherent argument about an issue chosen by the student. 5 sources, 120 points.
- Essay 3: Academic Writing Reflection. This essay of 2-3 pages will reflect on what the student has learned about academic writing during the course of the semester. 0 sources, 40 points.
Initial and final drafts of each essay must be submitted to receive a passing course grade.
Grade Scheme
A grade of D- is required to pass this course and enroll in ENGL 2010 (the next required GE Composition course).
While a D- will allow you to move into the next GE Composition course, it will generally not indicate a strong enough mastery of the material to predict a passing grade in ENGL 2010. Additionally, passing many GE courses with the grades of D- will result in low GPA, expulsion or non admittance to the major of your choice, or even being required to withdraw from the University.
The following grading standards will be used in this class:
GradeRangeA | 100% to 94.0%
A- | < 94.0% to 90.0%
B+ | < 90.0% to 87.0%
B | < 87.0% to 84.0%
B- | < 84.0% to 80.0%
C+ | < 80.0% to 77.0%
C | < 77.0% to 74.0%
C- | < 74.0% to 70.0%
D+ | < 70.0% to 67.0%
D | < 67.0% to 64.0%
D- | < 64.0% to 61.0%
F | < 61.0% to 0.0%