|
Faculty Resources - English:
Course Outline - WR 115
COURSE TITLE: |
Introduction to College Writing |
COURSE HOURS PER WEEK: |
4 |
COURSE NUMBER: |
WR 115 |
Lecture: |
4 |
COURSE CREDITS: |
|
Lec/Lab: |
|
COURSE PREREQUISITES: |
Appropriate scores on Lane's Writing Placement Test or a passing grade (C- or better) in WR 95 |
Lab: |
|
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
WR 115 emphasizes the writing process of pre-drafting, composing, revising, and editing to help students express ideas clearly in logical and meaningful essays. WR 115 also helps students develop analytical skills so that they can become better critical thinkers, readers, and writers. Assignments and class discussions affirm the relevance of writing skills to students’ academic, occupational, public, and/or personal lives. Because this course serves as an introduction to college writing, skills essential for success in WR 121 will be introduced in WR 115. The course also fulfills some Lane programs' writing requirements.
GENERAL COURSE OUTCOMES:
Upon completion of this course, the successful student will be able to: |
These outcomes will be verified by the following assessments: |
A. Engage in and value a respectful and free exchange of ideas.
|
- Three to five papers per term in both draft and final form for 8-10 pages of final draft copy (2000-2500 words). At least one essay develops an assertive/argumentative thesis, and at least one essay incorporates source material and uses MLA citing conventions.
And
- One or more of the following: peer critiques, instructor conferences, journals, in-class writing, class discussions of papers, class discussions of assigned essays and stories for critical reading, small group work, quizzes, and presentations.
|
B. Think, read, and write critically:
- Use reading and writing for college-level inquiry, learning, thinking, and communicating;
- Balance openness to the ideas of others with a healthy skepticism and questioning attitude;
- Objectively summarize source material;
- Identify the thesis/purpose, sub-points, and means of support;
- Recognize how other writers and speakers adapt language for audience, situation, and purpose.
|
Same |
C. Assess and meet different writing situations:
- Recognize and use academic writing strategies appropriate to specific audiences and purposes;
- Select appropriate methods for developing ideas in paragraphs and essays, such as analysis, facts, explanations, examples, descriptions, quotations, and/or narratives;
- Adopt appropriate voice, tone, and level of formality.
|
Same |
D. Develop essays through a flexible writing process that proceeds through discovering ideas, planning, drafting, revising, and editing:
- Base each essay on a clearly stated or understood controlling idea or thesis;
- Write a well-focused and logically organized essay, one having an introduction, discussion, and conclusion in which the relationship of ideas to one another is clear;
- Weave a relevant quotation from source material into an essay;
- Support sub-points with examples and specifics;
- Work effectively with other writers to evaluate and revise essays constructively;
- Identify strengths and address weaknesses of one’s own and others’ work.
|
Same |
E. Observe most of the conventions of Edited Standard Written English (ESWE) and make effective stylistic choices as a writer:
- Express ideas carefully and coherently so that errors and problems of style do not obscure or detract from the writer's meaning;
- Demonstrate basic competence with the standards of grammar, usage, and mechanics that is compatible with success in WR 121;
- Use MLA quoting conventions.
|
Same |
Course outline by major topic: (See course calendars for other examples)
- Readings that explore self, society, and/or the natural world.
- Critical thinking and reading.
- Rhetorical assessment and strategies: effectively addressing audiences.
- Writing from experience and observation.
|
|