English 101.23: Composition 1
Fall 2011
MWF 10:00 – 10:50 SOEB 226
Instructor: Stefanie SilvaOffice: McIver 115
Email: ffice hours: MW 9:30-10:00 am
Dept. Mailbox: MHRA 3114 & 1:00-2:00 pm, or by appt.
This course aims to utilize your critical thinking and writing skills as you engage in aspects of contemporary cultureand argue how it influences our society. You will become more aware of the rhetorical strategies formed around you as we analyze and interpret the arguments presented. Furthermore, this awareness, brought upon by lots of writing, reading, peer review, and revision, will help develop and refine your own views on culture and reality as you use modes of rhetoric to contribute your voice to public discussion.
English 101 satisfies three of the six hours of the Reasoning and Discourse (GRD) requirement at UNCG,which asserts that students “gain skills in intellectual discourse, including constructing cogent arguments,locating, synthesizing and analyzing documents, and writing and speaking clearly, coherently, and effectively”
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In addition, English 101 is designed to meet Learning Goal #1 (LG1) in the UNCG General Education Program. This is the ability to “think critically, communicate effectively, and develop appropriate fundamental skills inquantitative and information literacies.” (
The following are English 101 Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs), each of which correspond to both the GRD goals and to LG1:
A. English 101 Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs):
At the completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Analyze the content and structure of complex texts (written, oral, and/or visual in nature);
- Compose cogent, evidence-based, argumentative texts;
- Identify and employ the rhetorical triangle, the canons, and the appeals in both formal and informal discourse;
- Summarize, quote, paraphrase, and synthesize source material in support of an argument;
- Employ drafting, peer review, and revision techniques in order to improve content, style, and structure of their own writing;
- Appraise their own composing abilities and composing processes through critical reflection.
B. English 101 Course Requirements:
1. Writing
Students write 20 pages of polished (revised) prose, completed across four formal assignments, each of which engages with outside sources (primary and/or secondary). All of these assignments focus on developingargumentative and/or analytical discourse using the principles of rhetoric, and employ peer review as part of thedrafting and revising process.
Students will also complete in-class or other assignments that may not be formally evaluated. These may include prewriting, brainstorming, journaling, participation in asynchronous discussion threads, or other writingcompleted individually or in small groups, in class, out of class, or online (e.g., on Blackboard).
The culminating assignment for the course is a portfolio of the student’s work, worth 40% of the finalgrade. In this portfolio, students further revise 3 formal essays, totaling at least 15 pages, as well as anyother informal writing they choose to include. The portfolio also includes previous drafts and revisions of theformal essays, as well as any other material the instructor requires. The portfolio opens with an argument-based,rationale essay, which analyzes the student’s progress in English 101 and articulates, for the portfolio reader(s),the reasoning behind the choices made/selections included and the strengths and weaknesses of the portfolio. The rationale essay is not included in the 15 pages of polished prose required for the portfolio or the 20 pages ofpolished prose required for the course.
2. Reading/Textual Analysis:
Students read, on average, 25-50 pages per week from either a course reader/anthology, other course readings posted on Blackboard, internet-based texts, or a book-length text or texts. Texts may also be read multiple times,for different rhetorical purposes, and instructors may allow multiple, comparable texts to be under discussion atany given time.
Course readings are primarily non-fiction prose, including argument-based essays and other examples of scholarly, socio-cultural/media/communications, or journalistic-based writing. English 101 is a course inrhetoric and writing; therefore, if course texts include literature or film(s), student work on these texts (includingessay assignments) will be explicitly rooted in rhetorical analysis.
3. Conferences:
Students will have at least one conference during the semester with their instructors, preferably at or near midterm. The conference time is outlined in the syllabus, and accounted for via the cancellation of classes.Typically, one week of class is cancelled in order to accommodate conferences with 22 students.
4. Final Exam sessions:
Per university policy, all English 101 classes will meet during their regularly scheduled final exam slot at the end of the semester. The final exam session will take the form of a final exam or engagement in a teaching andlearning-related activity during this time slot. Examples of such activities include presentations, conferences, orreturn or receipt of course portfolios.
5. Attendance Policy:
Students in MWF classes are allowed a maximum of three absences without a grade penalty. I do not distinguish between excused and unexcused absences. You are responsible for catching up on all assigned readings and assignments. After the third absence, you will be penalized one-half letter grade per absence. Students who miss six classes automatically fail the course. Also, show up to class on time. Your tardiness may result in an absence. Attendance at thefinal exam session (see above) is required.
Students are by state law allowed two excused absences due to religious holidays. These absences do not count toward the total maximums allowed above. If a student plans to miss class due to a religious holiday, he or shemust notify the instructor at least 48 hours prior to the absence.
For a genuine crisis, such as serious illness or a personal/family emergency, notify me as soon as possible and contact the Dean of Students Office (Student Affairs) in order to receive necessary academic support for continued enrollment.
Required Texts
Babb, Jacob, Smits, Sally, Wooten, and Courtney Adams, eds. Technê Rhêtorikê. Plymouth,
MI: Hayden-McNeil, 2011. ISBN: 978-0-7380-4669-3
Graff, Gerald, Birkenstein, Cathy, and Durst, Russel. They Say / I Say: With Readings. New
York: W.W. Norton, 2009. ISBN: 9780393931747
Schlosser, Eric. Fast Food Nation. New York: Harper, 2003. ISBN: 9780060838584
Additional readings posted on Blackboard; you must print them out and bring them to class. Failure to do so will mean that you are unprepared for class, and I will adjust your grade accordingly. Make sure to invest in some printer ink/save money for printing in your SpartanCard. Think of these articles as a required text you have to buy.Please be sure to have access to Blackboard and your UNCG email account.
Also, make sure to arm yourself with a pen and paper for every class and keep a folder with you that contains all your Blackboard print outs!
Course Assignment and Grading
See our Blackboard page for the breakdown of what each letter grade exemplifies.
Final Portfolio - 40%
Your final portfolio is an important component of this course. It exhibits revised, polished work that you have written to the best of your abilities, while showing off all the writing improvements you have made during the course. It will consist of the four major papers and all their drafts. You will also need to include a Rationale Essay that examines how each component of the portfolio, individually and collectively, meets portfolio objectives, as well as the objectives of the overall course. We will talk more about the portfolio throughout the course. To ensure that your portfolio is complete, keep all your work throughout the semester. All drafts of each paper and all peer reviews must be turned in along with the final draft. I cannot stress how important it is to be organized and SAVE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE THROUGHOUT THE SEMESTER!
Drafts of Four Papers - 10% each
The four papers you will be writing over the course of the semester are as follows:
1)Visual Rhetorical Analysis (4 pp)
2) Argument Analysis (4 pp)
3) Fast Food Nation Rhetorical Analysis (5 pp)
4) Proposing Solutions(5 pp)
Each paper will go through three drafts. The first draft will be submitted for peer review. After you revise your essay, based on peer review comments, you will then turn them in to me on the date specified in the course schedule. I will grade Draft #2 of your papers and give you suggestions for further revision for your final portfolio. The essays in your final portfolio will be revised, polished work that is different from your second draft.
Reading Responses/In-Class Writing Assignments/Quizzes 10%
This can include in-class group work or writing assignments, reading notes, or pop quizzes.
Class Participation 10%
Participation is integral to this course. I expect you to be mentally alive and ready to engage in group work, class discussion, and in-class writing. Additionally, turning in first drafts of essays for peer reviews is part of your participation grade so that you can engage in class activities. I expect you to be respectful to your peers’ thoughts and work. Below is the grading rubric for participation – I hope you all aim for an A!
A = Exceptional communicative skills; excellent preparation for class discussion; always volunteers; student exemplifies mastery and intellectual curiosity regarding course readings and concepts; student demonstrates enthusiasm and takes initiative, particularly during group activities.
B = Good communicative skills; solid preparation for class discussion; consistently volunteers; student exemplifies interest and engagement regarding course readings and concepts; student demonstrates positive attitude; makes meaningful contributions during group activities.
C = Satisfactory communicative skills; fair preparation for class discussion; occasionally volunteers; student exemplifies competence regarding course readings and concepts; student demonstrates an inoffensive, but noncommittal attitude; sporadic contributions during group activities.
D = Limited communicative skills, uneven preparation for class; rarely volunteers; demonstrates indifference of irritation when prompted; inattentive during class; rare contributions during group activities; other factors such as consistent tardiness and disruptive behavior.
F = Weak communicative skills; little to no preparation for class; little evidence of reading assignments; never volunteers, or doesn’t respond when prompted; demonstrates potential hostility to discussion; irrelevant, distracting, or no contributions to group activities.
General Course Guidelines
Everyone in the class gets ONE free 24-hour extension for Draft #2 of one of the four papers. You can hand in Draft #2 of one of your papers up to 24 hours after the deadline – this “24-hour free pass” can only be used for Draft #2 of the four major papers – not for any other assignments. You must alert me of your inclination to use your free pass, and you must drop off your paper at my officeby 10am the next morning.If you miss this deadline, your paper is late (see below) and you do not have another chance to use your free extension. You may use this extension only once—so use it wisely! Again, you may not use this extension for rough drafts we are workshopping in class, and you may not use it for the final portfolio.
Outside of your free one-day extension, I will not accept late workwithout penalty. If you anticipate missing a class the day a written assignment is due, make arrangements to get the work to me ahead of time. You have 24 hours to get your work to me for 50% credit. After 24 hours, you will get a zero for the assignment.
“Academic integrity is founded upon and encompasses the following five values: honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility. Violations include cheating, plagiarism, misuse of academic resources, falsification, and facilitating academic dishonesty. If knowledge is to be gained and properly evaluated, it must be pursued under conditions free from dishonesty. Deceit and misrepresentations are incompatible with the fundamental activity of this academic institution and shall not be tolerated” (from UNCG’s Academic Integrity Policy).
To ensure that you understand the university’s policy on academic integrity, review the guidelines and list of violations at < I expect you to abide by the Academic Integrity Policy.
The penalty for failing to abide by the integrity policy, and specifically the penalty for plagiarism, will be at best a failure of the assignment, and at worst failure of the course. I will judge these situations individually, and alert appropriate members of English Department and University Administration.
Accommodations for students with disabilities
Students with documentation of special needs should arrange to see me about accommodations as soon as possible. If you believe you could benefit from such accommodations, you must first register with the Office of Disability Services on campus before such accommodations can be made. The office is located on the second floor of the Elliott University Center (EUC) in Suite 215, and the office is open 8am to 5pm, Monday - Friday. Telephone: 334-5440; e-mail: .
Be Prepared!
In this course, I aim to challenge you academically and emphasize that your writing is important as a public and community-based process, and if you accept this challenge, you must be fully prepared for class. Show up with paper and a writing apparatus, and be ready to discuss the material that you have diligently read. If you don’t accept this challenge and fall asleep instead, your participation grade will suffer and I reserve the right to mark you absent.
I will assume that everybody will respect each others’ comments and contributions to class discussions. I have little toleration for disrespect – it is not cool. I respect each and every one of you and have great faith in your abilities, and I plan on treating you all like adults.
I will make every effort to respond to your e-mail message within 48 hours. If I have not replied to your message after that time frame, then please re-send the message.
Electronic equipment
Keep your cell phone turned off and out of sight. Don’t text. Just say no to texting for 50 minutes. Not only are they a distraction in the classroom, they also send a signal that you don’t care about my class. I can guarantee you it will ruin your participation grade if I continually see you texting/checking your phone/surfing the net/playing games, etc. I also reserve the right to kick you out of class. However, remember that the fact that I didn’t tell you to put your phone away does not mean that I didn’t catch you.
Laptops may be used in class only by students having a special need for purposes of note-taking or other classroom activities. Students with such a need should make specific arrangements with me. No student may use a laptop in class without a prior arrangement with me.
Paper Format
All papers you turn in this semester must
- have one inch margins on all sides;
- be double-spaced;
- STAPLED;
- include your name, date, and class (101-23) on the top left side.
Any outside sources you incorporate should be documented according to MLA style. For information about MLA style, refer to Techne Rhetorike, consult the online resources posted on our course page, visit the University Writing Center, check out Owl: The Purdue Writing Lab ask me.
Additional Resources
The purpose of the Writing Center is to enhance the confidence and competence of student writers by providing free, individual assistance at any stage of any writing project. Staff consultants are experienced writers and alert readers, prepared to offer feedback and suggestions on drafts of papers, help students find answers to their questions about writing, and provide one-on-one instruction as needed. Located in MHRA 3211.
The Learning Assistance Center offers free services to the entire UNCG undergraduate community and is located in McIver Hall, rooms 101-104, and 150. For help with study skills, contact Erin Farrior, Academic Skills specialist: 336-3878;
Course Schedule
I reserve the right to alter this schedule with written notice
TR=Techne Rhetorike
TS/IS=They Say/I Say
FFN = Fast Food Nation
BB=PDF on BlackBoard
Week One
(M) August 22: Introduction to the course.
READ:“Understanding the Rhetorical Appeals”TR
READ:“Introduction” TS/IS
(W) August 24: Discuss TR; TS/IS; Song Analysis
Bring a Song of your Choice for Group Exercise
(F) August 26: Present Paper #1; Group Exercise
READ: Rockler-Gladen “Me Against the Media” TS/IS
Week Two
(M) August 29: Discuss Rockler-Gladen
READ: Thoman, “Rise of the Image Culture” BB
(W) August 30: Discuss Thoman
Bring Ad in for Group Work
(F) September 2: Ad Analysis Group Work
Work On First Draft of Paper #1
Week Three
(M) September 5: Labor Day – No Class
(W) September 7: Peer Review
(F) September 9: Paper #1 Due; Present Paper 2
READ: “The Canons of Rhetoric as Phases for Composition” TR
READ: Alexie, “Superman and Me” BB