Saint Paul’s College: Department of Humanities & Behavioral Sciences
Composition I
Course Information: Instructor Information:
English 161-3 Associate Professor of Comparative Literature
Fall semester 2009 Instructor:
Dr. Comprone
Class Time: Office:
T R 1-2:15 PM RH 136
Classroom: Office Hours:
RH Language Lab M W F 12-1 PM RH 136 T R 2:15-4:15 PM
Office Phone: Credit Hours:
contact by email only 3
Email: raphaeljohncomprone@gmail.com
Website: www.comprone.info
Endorsement Competencies for Education Majors:
Understanding of the knowledge, skills, and processes of English as defined in the Virginia Standards of Learning.
Skills necessary to teach the writing process and the different forms of writing (narrative, descriptive, expository, persuasive, and informational) and to employ available technology.
Knowledge of grammar, usage, and mechanics and their integration in writing.
Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in the Honors Program and must maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average. Also, students must have completed Honors Composition I.
Required Texts: Print out The Reading the News Project on this website. We will read essays and think critically about the news from this project. Please bring this project to class.
Selection of Texts: TBA
Course Description: The purpose of this course is to provide college students with the ability to express themselves in a professional context. Students will be encouraged to think and write critically, and they will also learn the basic rules of the English language. There will be four tests on grammar and numerous essays on various subjects.
Course Rationale: The purpose of this course is to develop each student’s proficiency in the English language.
Course Goals, Objectives, and Corresponding Program Outcomes: The goals of this course are the following:
1 To help students develop as writers and critical thinkers
2 To develop a passion for self-expression in students
3 To provide students with all of the grammatical skills necessary to write successfully in an academic and professional context
4 To develop in students a passion for reading critically
Expectations for Student Behavior as Related to Course Objectives and Their Corresponding Program Outcomes:
Please arrange for meeting with me during my office hours. Students must behave appropriately by: 1) avoiding talking when the professor is speaking, 2) being punctual (students will lose points for tardiness and excessive absences), 3) always bringing their textbooks to class, 4) actively participating in class, 5) not plagiarizing, 6) avoiding the use of foul language and abusive behavior, and 8) being polite to other students.
The attendance policy is as follows:
Students missing more than 9 times (EXCUSED or UNEXCUSED) must WITHDRAW or receive a
failing grade of F.
This policy will be strictly enforced.
Students with 2 or less absences will receive an additional 10% for their final grade. Excused absences will not be factored into this calculation, e.g. a student who has three excused absences and no unexcused absences will not receive an additional 10% added to his or her final grade.
Students cannot obtain excuses for absences after the semester is over.
Class Format, Process, and Methods of Instruction:
This semester, we will be completing a series of assignments based on reading and thinking critically about the news.
Students can only receive incompletes upon permission by the instructor (an incomplete can only be filed for during the semester) and only if they are experiencing financial difficulties or a grave personal matter (I must be notified in person by the student or by a relative before the end of the semester). Excuses will only be accepted from the Provost's office. I will only accept assignments in person (do not slip any assignments under my office door--I am not responsible if any of these assignments should end up missing). It is the student's responsibility to make up any missing work and to check on his or her grade during the semester. Absolutely no excuses for absences can be issued after the semester is completed (if you do not show me the excuse during the semester--you have to show me the excuse in person, do not put it under my door--I will not give you an excuse--this applies to athletes as well). Athletes must personally give me a copy of their game schedule and indicate to me the days they will be absent. They must also make up any work and or missed instruction the day after their absence. ABSOLUTELY no grade changes are possible after the semester. Please check with me before the end of the semester to see if you have any outstanding work to complete.
In this class, we will discuss selected passages from the texts assigned in class:
In-class essays: 50%
Tests: 40%
Attendance and Participation: 10%
Total: 100%
Course Outline and Assignment Due Dates:
TBA
List of Assigned Readings and Assignments:
TBA
For the grammar tests, students will be responsible for the following terms: noun, demonstrative pronoun, reflexive pronoun, personal pronoun, reciprocal pronoun, indefinite pronoun, possessive pronoun, independent clause, dependent/subordinate clause, compound sentence, simple sentence, complex sentence, compound-complex sentence, prepositional phrase, subordinating conjunction, coordinating conjunction, adjective, adverb, preposition, correlative conjunction, linking verb, transitive verb, intransitive verb, direct object, indirect object, object complement, relative pronoun, interrogative pronoun, conjunctive adverb, predicate, subject, gerund phrase, infinitive phrase, absolute phrase, adjective/relative clause, participial phrase, appositive phrase, adverb clause, noun clause, declarative sentence, imperative sentence, interrogative sentence, exclamatory sentence
Recommended Internet Sites: www.comprone.info for updates on assignments, syllabi, poetry club submissions (extra credit)
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