English 135 Chadron State College
Dual Credit Syllabus
This course will emphasize the development of writing skills through a variety of writing experiences based both on personal knowledge and formal research. Students taking the course will be expected to type all formal assignments in MLA style and to complete a ten page research paper.
I. General Objectives
A. To become aware of the steps of the writing process:prewriting, writing, editing.
B. To learn the basic structure of a unit of writing: introduction, body, conclusion.
C. To recognize and be able to use effectively the four general types of writing: narrative, descriptive, expository, persuasive.
D. To understand the fundamental research skills and techniques.
II. Specific Goals
A. To use conventional syntax, spelling, punctuation, form
B. To write examples of various types of composition
C. To construct a specific topic sentence (paragraph) or thesis statement (essay).
D. To organize paragraphs into longer units of writing beginning with the five paragraph essay
E. To develop logically major points or arguments using the following step:
1. Prewriting (brainstorming)
2. Restricting a topic and formulating a thesis
3. Outlining
4. Reasoning through induction and/or deduction
5. Using transitions
6. Drawing conclusions
F. To write a formal research paper using an accepted style (MLA)
III. Course Outline
A. Outlining
B. Paragraphs and/or essays: personal narrative, descriptive, examples, compare and contrast, definition, division and classification, cause and effect, persuasion.
IV. Method of Presentation
A. Lecture
B. Class discussion
C. In class writing
D. Handout
V. Evaluation:
A. District grading policy
B. Basis of Grade
1. Daily assignments
2. Written essays
3. Class attendance and participation
4. Research paper
(Any type of academic dishonesty will result in automatic failure of the class.)
VI. Materials
A. Laptop
B. Writing with a Purpose by Joseph F. Trimmer
C. The Language Instinct by Steven Pinker
