Spokane Community College
Department of English Course Description
ENGLISH 101—ENGLISH COMPOSITION
Rationale
English 101 is a course designed to develop proficiency in college level writing.
Assuming a basic mastery of the standard English sentence and a basic under
standing of a
clearly written paragraph, the course focuses on the ability to write
well developed,
clearly organized, and mechanically sound essays in response
to various readings and
assignments, both in and out of class.
Objectives
By the end of the course, students in English 101 will demonstrate an ability to:
- Use a writing process that involves strategies of prewriting, drafting, revising,
editing, and proofreading. - Apply various rhetorical elements and strategies to particular writing assignments.
- Write well developed and clearly organized college level essays using standard
English sentences. - Respond, thoughtfully and critically in writing, to substantive, college level readings.
- Use correct methods of documentation when required by the assignment.
Content
- Students will review, refine, and use a writing process that is appropriate for
writing college level essays. - Students will study a variety of rhetorical strategies (e.g. exposition,
compare/
contrast, cause/effect, process analysis, persuasion) and rhetorical elements
(e.g. audience, tone) and use knowledge of these strategies and elements to
inform and shape their writing. - Students will write a series of at least five college level essays, both in and out
of class, in response to specific readings or other assignments. These essays
will allow the students to improve their ability to incorporate the following elements
in their writing: clear organization (e.g. thesis statements, focused body paragraphs, effective introductions and conclusions, smooth transitions), effective development (coherent development of central ideas, specific details, examples, and support),
and clear expression (standard conventions of English grammar, spelling, and mechanics, as well as elements of style). These essays will be peer edited
frequently and assessed by the instructor regularly. - Students will regularly read, summarize, and discuss college level readings
(essays, literature, articles, etc.). Writing assignments will be based on these
readings, and these essays will require students to document correctly, using
Modern Language Association (MLA) documentation style. - Students will, near the end of the quarter, demonstrate their mastery of the
objectives of the course by successfully completing the form of assessment
agreed upon by the department, the this case, the English 101 Writing Portfolio.