ENGLISH 1020: Core Composition I

University of Colorado-Denver | Fall 1999 | Section 5 | 9-9:50 MWF

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION
English 1020 is a required course, designed to prepare you for future writing tasks. We will discuss and practice various strategies for writing and revising thoughtful, effective essays. As a result of this course, your ability to read critically and to express your ideas in writing within the rhetorical situation should improve. A grade of "C" or higher in this course is required in order to meet the CU-Denver Core Curriculum requirement.

TEXTS
Reading Critically, Writing Well (Axelrod and Cooper, 5th ed.)
A Writer's Reference (Hacker, 4th ed.)

THE WRITING CENTER
The UCD Writing Center, staffed by English instructors, is a valuable resource for you. The Center operates on a walk-in basis, and the instructors can help you develop or revise your writing assignment (note: the Center is not a proofreading service). If you receive an "R" (revision required) on an essay, we will discuss your paper; then you will need to go to the Writing Center with your revised version before re-submitting the essay (have the tutor sign and date your paper when you go in). The center is located in 206 Central Classroom Building; hours are listed below.
 

Monday 11-3
Tuesday 11-5
Wednesday 11-3
Thursday 11-3

You can also reach the Writing Center by email (writing_center@carbon.cudenver.edu) or by phone (556-4845) if you just have a quick question.
 
 
 

Schedule
 
Date
Topic


Assignments Due

Page numbers below refer to the Reading Critically text unless otherwise noted.
RJ = response journal assignment

Week 1 M 8/23 writing sample  
  W 8/25 introductions/syllabus  
  F 8/27 critical reading

writing process

read: 1-11 

write RJ 1: Write a page describing your previous writing experiences. What types of writing have you done? What are your best and worst experiences?

Week 2 M 8/30 Autobiography/
Telling a Story
read: 12-14
Lorde, "That Summer I Left Childhood Was White" (14-22)
write RJ 2
  W 9/1   read: Dillard, "The Chase" (23-28)
  F 9/3 invention
drafting
detail
read: 51-58 
Baker, "Smooth and Easy" (29-34)
A Writer's Reference 17-23
write RJ 3
Week 3 M 9/6   Labor Day holiday
  W 9/8 dialogue read: Lee, "Uncle Chul Gets Rich" (40-46)
write RJ 4
  F 9/10 revision 

Workshop 1

read: 56-62 
bring 3 copies of your draft in progress
Week 4 M 9/13 characterization read: Benioff, "Rick" (47-51)
write RJ 5
  W 9/15 effective titles Narrative Essay Folder due 
  F 9/17 Observation/
Describing Experience
read: 63-65
New Yorker, "Soup" (65-72)
write RJ 6
Week 5 M 9/20 reader cues read: McPhee, "The New York Pickpocket Academy" (73-79)
  W 9/22 metaphor read: Glickman, "So Wet and Wild…" (80-85)
write RJ 7
  F 9/24 showing versus telling read: Coyne, "The Long Goodbye…" (86-73)
Week 6 M 9/27 interpretation read Elsten, "Dead Air…" (101-107)
write RJ 8
  W 9/29 introductions and conclusions read: 108-116
  F 10/1 Workshop 2 re-read: 112-113
bring 3 copies of your draft in progress
Week 7 M 10/4 introduction workshop Bring a new powerful introduction for your essay in progress (typed); do not put your name on the page. Instead, type your topic, audience, and purpose at the top above your introduction.
  W 10/6   Observation Essay Folder due
  F 10/8 Reflection/Identifying Social Significance read: 117-119
Toussaint, "Hearing the Sweetest Songs" (120-126)
write RJ 9
Week 8 M 10/11 focus read: Staples, "Black Men and Public Space" (127-130)
write RJ 10
  W 10/13 comparison/contrast read: Lee, "Peeling Bananas" (141-145)
  F 10/15 Workshop 3 read: 153-160
bring 3 copies of your draft in progress
Week 9 M 10/18 example read: Haines, "Whose Body Is This?" (146-152)
write RJ 11
  W 10/20   Reflection Essay Folder due
  F 10/22 Definition/Explaining Concepts read: 161-163
Quammen, "Is Sex Necessary?" (163-171)
write RJ 12
Week 10 M 10/25 illustration read: Tannen, "Marked Women" (172-179)
write RJ 13
  W 10/27 the readable plan read: Elmer-DeWitt, "Welcome to Cyberspace" (180-185)
write RJ 14
  F 10/29 summary and paraphrase read: Bailey, "Dating" 
Week 11 M 11/1 integrating sources read: McCool, "Reincarnation" 205-212
write RJ 15
bring A Writer's Reference
  W 11/3 Workshop 4A read: 213-222
bring 3 copies of your draft in progress
  F 11/5 Workshop 4B bring 2 copies of your 90% draft and A Writer's Reference
Week 12 M 11/8   Definition Essay Folder due
  W 11/10 Portfolio Workshop bring all portfolio materials for in-class revision work
  F 11/12 Portfolio Workshop bring all portfolio materials for in-class revision work
Week 13 M 11/15 Portfolio Workshop bring all portfolio materials for in-class revision work
  W 11/17 Portfolio Workshop bring all portfolio materials for in-class revision work
  F 11/19 Portfolio Workshop bring all portfolio materials for in-class revision work
Week 14 M 11/22 Presentations Scheduled readers, bring your excellent essays to share. 
  W 11/24   Response Journal due
  F 11/26   Thanksgiving holiday
Week 15 M 11/29 Presentations Scheduled readers, bring your excellent essays to share. 
  W 12/1 Presentations  
  F 12/3 Presentations  
Week 16 M 12/6 Presentations  
  W 12/8 Presentations  
  F 12/10 In-Class Reflective Essay Portfolios due
Final Exam Meeting TBA Portfolios returned  

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