Maui Community College
Expository Writing
ENG 100 Syllabus
David Van Hammen, Lecturer
Office: CO1B
Phone: 984-3442
e-mail
PREREQUISITES: CTBS score of 42 or higher, or grade of C or higher in one of ENG. 22, 55 or JOURN. 100.
COURSE GOALS
Expository writing explains something, as compared to writing that simply describes something, or just tells a story, without explaining itself. Expository writing is what we find in newspapers, magazines, text books, and also in student essays! It normally follows a particular format, which we'll explore and practice in ENG 100.
English 100 is designed to help you gain confidence as you become a more effective writer and a more creative thinker. The skills ENG 100 offers are intended to be useful in all your writing tasks, whether in other college classes or on the job. In this class you can learn more about yourself and the world around you, find a writing process you can depend upon, overcome writing blocks, and build analytic and critical thinking skills. We'll explore and practice the ways most writers of expository prose organize and express their ideas, then venture out to look at some of the alternatives more experienced writers work with as well. ENG 100 offers you the opportunity to improve your fluency at the sentence-level, to gain word processing skills, to build a solid basis for doing research with both print and computer resources, and to learn how to produce credible writing under time-pressure conditions.
NEED TO TALK?
My office is CO1. You may meet me in my office during my office hours or call me at 984-3442, to make an appointment for another time. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns about the course, homework assignments, grading system, etc. I look forward to meeting with you on an individual basis.
David Van Hammen's home (maui.net) e-mail
COURSE POLICIES
Required Texts and Materials:
- Reinking, Hart, Von Der Osten, Strategies for Successful Writing
- Hacker, A Writer’s Reference
- A good paperback dictionary.
- Two highlighting pens (contrasting colors)
- A stapler.
- Two double-sided, double-density or high-density floppy disks, formatted for IBM compatible computers (either 3 1/2" or 5 1/4" size). Don’t forget to write your name, class and time on the disk in case you forget and leave it in a machine some day! It happens!!
- Three-ring binder with dividers. If you use a three-hole punch, you can keep your semester's work organized very easily. There is presently a punch in our classroom. Do save all, and I emphasize ALL, of your semester’s work. This may help you in two ways. First, at the end of the term you will have a portfolio of your work, your notes and my handouts. This will hopefully serve as a useful reference. Second, bookkeeping is my worst nightmare. I sometimes forget to register grades. By saving your work you will be your own record-keeper.
Grading Policy:
- 10% Attendance and Participation
- 70% Graded Writing Assignments
- 10% Ungraded Writing Assignments
- 10% Final Examination
Class Attendance:
- This is a skills development course, so you must attend class to learn and then apply the skills. Each student is authorized to miss one class per number of days the class meets per week. In other words, if the class meets two days/week, you can have two class periods of sick (or other) leave, during the semester, etc. During your authorized absence, you may windsurf, sleep in, or whatever. Merely call my office phone, or send an e-mail and say that you are taking one of your authorized cuts--no reason need be given.
- If you miss more than what you are authorized, it will affect your grade significantly. Students cannot help each other when they are absent. If you have a family emergency, or illness, please let me know. There are often agencies and counselors who can provide help on a confidential basis; I will help you make those arrangements.
- If you do miss a class, get notes from a colleague. I will not be able to go over a whole class lecture; however, I will be happy to clarify or expand upon any idea which may be confusing you.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT IN YOUR ENGLISH CLASS:
new discoveries, about the world and about yourself; some hard work, some new skills to master (and lots of practice in doing so!), some new friends and (yes, really!) some fun doing it all! You can expect a course that is geared, when possible, to meet your individual needs, and you can expect group work as well.
WRITING ASSIGNMENTS:
Writing is a skill. The way to get really good at any skill is to practice it a lot. “Practice makes perfect”, ya? Some writing assignments will be informal (no worries about spelling, punctuation or structure), while with others you will be held accountable for such things.
Formal Writing Assignments:
You'll have about ten assignments of various kinds, (including the final exam), which will receive number grades. The final will consist of a timed, in-class essay, and perhaps an objective skills test.
Informal Writing:
If you play any sports, you know the importance of warming up before you play. In the same way, free-writing and journal-writing will help you "loosen up" and get ready for the challenges of more structured writing. You'll do some free-writing in class, so that you can get the hang (and the habit) of it, and you'll also be keeping a journal which I'll be checking regularly.
JOURNALS:
Expect to hand in a three-page journal each week. Journals are divided into three sections, each one or more complete pages in length: - one page of free-written discussion of your CURRENT WRITING TOPIC --questions, problems, plans or possible writing strategies and the like;
- one page of your summary and comments on a CURRENT ISSUE of your interest;
- one page of FREE WRITING on any topic that you like.
In your journals, the important thing is to get a lot of practice writing what you think and feel, without any fear of being judged, so I'll comment only on content. I will not correct grammar or spelling in the journals!! The journal is a place for trying new things without stress. Journals don't get letter grades, but you do get credit for writing them. Please staple and then hand in each set of three entries in loose-leaf form. (Don't give me a bulky notebook or binder to carry, please!)
ALL ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE TYPED!!
GRAMMAR, MECHANICS AND EDITING:
This component of the course will make a noticeable and dramatic difference in your fluency level, so we'll take time to practice each of several kinds of sentences. Completed exercises will be given a "check," a "check plus," or a "check minus." If you receive a check minus, you'll need to meet with me and do some revising before you can receive credit for your work. Very basic matters of proofreading and usage won't be a primary focus of this class, since you are expected to have mastered them before entering this class. If you do need a brush-up, however, help is available, on an individual basis.
WRITING CONFERENCES:
Sometimes a writing conference at the right time can make a tremendous difference to a writer. For this reason, I may require you to meet with me from time to time during the semester. A writing conference will be required if a formal assignment needs revision before it can be graded. Attendance at writing conferences is as important as your attendance in class, and will count toward your final grade in the course. In addition to conferences with me, tutors in The Learning Center (TLC) can help you with writing problems. When you see a tutor, be as specific as possible about what you want help with; if you are vague, you will waste your own and your tutor's time.
REVISIONS:
The single most important thing writers can do to improve their writing is to write it again (sometimes several times!!), with a little guidance. Some of you will have made this a part of your writing routine already, while others will be doing it for the first time. To help you make revision of your written work routine if it isn’t already, you will “edit” each other’s papers. This may be done by “partners” or in small groups. I will accept no paper that isn’t at least a second draft. Every paper you submit should be stapled to a least a first draft. The “rough” draft(s) should be proofread and “edited” by someone other than yourself. When you assess your time commitments for the semester, be sure to figure time for revision.
COURSE ASSESSMENT AND GRADES:
Your course grade will be determined by the completion and quality of written work and exercises, along with class involvement and attendance in both class and conferences. Note: all work must be completed in order to pass English 100! In addition, I will only accept one writing assignment at a time. You need to get feedback on one paper before doing another!
Pro is to con as progress is to congress.
The Learning Center (TLC) is an excellent facility with a number of resources which will benefit you. There will be a handout given to you on the specific hours, staffing and services provided by TLC. Keep that handout readily available for reference. For this class, TLC will be especially important for:
Tutorial Assistance:
TLC tutors can help you understand how to correct your grammar and/or writing errors. They will NOT write papers for you, but they will give you suggestions and reasons for change. It is your decision to make any changes. After working with an English tutor, have the tutor sign your paper. I recommend extensive use of tutorial assistance at the beginning of the semester, but very limited use at the end.
Other Resources:
If you wish to improve your spelling skills, increase your reading speed, or enlarge your vocabulary, there are textbooks, reading machines and computer programs which are available to you. See me and I will be happy to get you the help you need.
Go to "Writers' Help"
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Mail to Daud @ maui.net
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