English 101 Syllabus, Course Structure, and Academic Writing Requirements

Course Logistics and Contact Information

• Course Identification: English 101 (Writing Composition).

• Instructor Name: Chris.

• Instructor Office Hours:

  • Time: $11:00\text{ AM} - 12:15\text{ PM}$ on class days.

  • Monday Availability: Available briefly after class.

  • Wednesday Availability: Departs shortly after class to travel to another school campus.

  • Location: Cafeteria seating area (students should message the instructor if not visible, as location may shift to run errands or print materials).

  • Alternative Meeting Options: Appointments can be scheduled for alternate times. Meetings can take place in person, via Zoom, or over the phone for students with scheduling conflicts.

Course Structure and Syllabus Overview

• Course Focus: Reading, analyzing, and writing composition essays.

• Core Assignments: Three major formal essays written across the semester:

  • Essay 1 (Personal Essay): Worth $400\text{ points}$.

  • Essay 2 (Observational Essay): Worth $400\text{ points}$.

  • Essay 3 (Argumentative/Persuasive Essay): Includes research elements; worth $800\text{ points}$.

• Textbook Requirement: No textbook purchase is required for this course.

• Course Readings: Four primary essay readings provided digitally via D2L or as printed paper copies.

• Audio Companions: Digital text releases include accompanying audio versions. Audio serves as a companion tool to aid comprehension, retention, and focus for longer texts, though it is not considered a direct equivalent to reading.

Assigned Literary Works and Authors

• E.B. White (Personal Essay Unit):

  • Renowned children's author (Charlotte's Web, featuring Wilbur the pig, and Stuart Little).

  • Historically prominent as an editor and essayist during his lifetime.

  • Co-author of The Elements of Style, an influential grammar and writing guide still utilized in professional writing courses.

• David Sedaris (Personal Essay Unit):

  • Living contemporary author and humorist focusing on personal and family memoirs.

  • Brother of comedian Amy Sedaris.

  • Assigned Reading: "Us and Them," a Halloween-themed narrative exploring childhood and social observation.

• Donald Hall (Observational Essay Unit):

  • Deceased former Poet Laureate.

  • Assigned Reading: Written at age $82$ while mobility-impaired on the second floor of his home. The essay observes external surroundings from a window while internally reflecting on life, home, and historical generations.

• David Foster Wallace (Argumentative/Persuasive Essay Unit):

  • Author who passed away at age $47$ in the year $2008$.

  • Author of Infinite Jest, a landmark novel examining mental illness and modern life.

  • Assigned Reading: "Consider the Lobster," originally commissioned as a travelogue food essay on the Maine Lobster Festival. The text transitions into a philosophical examination of morality, consumer ethics, and personal decision-making equations.

Course Philosophy and the Role of Writing

• Universal Relevance: Writing skills are critical across all educational and professional disciplines.

• Modern Reading Demands: Information consumption is at an all-time high through social media, email, and digital text, requiring sharp analytical reading skills.

• Practical Workplace Applications:

  • Nursing: Requires precise, unambiguous notes and instructions vital to patient care where verbal clarification is impossible.

  • Remote/Software Work: Relies heavily on asynchronous email communication and written documentation across distributed teams.

• Composition Objectives: Focus on concise, clear, and impactful communication ensuring reader comprehension rather than complex, stylistic ornamentation.

• Revision Framework: Writing is evaluated through drafting, peer/instructor feedback, and substantial revision. Suggestions are open to student discretion, whereas grammatical corrections must be implemented.

Attendance, Punctuality, and Grading Policy

• Class Meeting Start Time: $12:30\text{ PM}$.

• Attendance Valuation: $25\text{ points}$ awarded per attended class session ($50\text{ points}$ total per week).

• Absence Threshold: Accumulating more than $4\text{ absences}$ prior to the course midpoint triggers a mandatory conference with the instructor.

• Punctuality: Late arrival is preferred over complete absence. Students entering late should join quietly without formal announcement.

• Weekly Grading Breakdown ($150\text{ points}$ total per assignment cycle):

  • Class Attendance: $50\text{ points}$ ($25\text{ points}$ per class).

  • Tuesday Discussion Draft: $35\text{ points}$.

  • Discussion Peer Response: $15\text{ points}$.

  • Friday Revised Draft: $100\text{ points}$.

  • Major Essays: Essay 1 ($400\text{ points}$), Essay 2 ($400\text{ points}$), Essay 3 ($800\text{ points}$).

Classroom Technology and Device Policies

• Permitted Devices: Laptops and tablets comfortable for long-form typing are welcome during class writing sessions.

• Prohibited Devices: Mobile phones are prohibited for composition and class work as they signal active disengagement.

• Urgent Phone Use: Students needing to send texts or take calls must step out into the hallway without asking for permission.

• Paper Alternatives: Handwriting on printed worksheets provided in class is fully acceptable. In-class writing exercises are not collected for direct grades but serve to generate essay ideas.

• Bathroom Usage: Adults may step out as needed without formal permission.

Modern Language Association (MLA) Formatting Standards

• Standard Humanities Format: MLA is required for English and humanities; structured similarly to APA used in social sciences.

• Running Header: Placed in the top-right header field (above the main body line) containing the student's Last Name and automated Page Number ($\text{LastName } 1$). Page numbers must be inserted using software header functions rather than manually typed.

• Left-Hand Identification Block:

  • Student Full Name

  • Class Section

  • Instructor Name

  • Assignment Title

  • Date

• Document Rules:

  • Double-spaced text throughout.

  • $12\text{-point}$ Times New Roman font.

  • Standard indented paragraphs using the Tab key.

  • Specific, descriptive assignment titles required (e.g., avoiding generic labels like "Essay 1").

File Management and Digital Submission Protocols

• Accepted File Formats: Microsoft Word (.docx) files only. Google Docs files must be exported and saved as .docx prior to upload. PDFs, .pages, and live web link submissions are strictly prohibited.

• Naming Conventions: Files must use unique, specific file names including the student's name and draft status to avoid accidental overwriting or incorrect submission to D2L.

• D2L Platform Distinction:

  • Discussions Board: Public to the entire class; used for peer review and initial draft sharing.

  • Assignments Folder: Private digital dropbox viewed only by the instructor; used for final graded draft submissions.

Instructor Background and Academic History

• Teaching Experience: $10\text{ years}$ teaching at Oakton Community College; prior instruction at Columbia College Chicago, tutoring centers, and graduate dissertation assistance.

• Undergraduate Education: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) — Major in English and Rhetoric (Creative Writing/Poetry) with a minor in Special Education.

• Graduate Education: School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) — Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Writing (focusing on performance and creative writing).

• Specialized Background: Extensive experience in English as an Additional Language (EAL/ESL) instruction and writing center tutoring.

Peer Review and Discussion Board Protocols

• Substantive Peer Response Requirement: Students must post at least one substantive response ($2 - 3\text{ sentences}$) to a classmate's draft by the deadline to earn the full $15\text{ points}$.

• Tone and Content Guidelines:

  • Focus on constructive critique, specific questions, and authentic engagement.

  • Avoid mean-spirited criticism or unhelpful, inflated praise.

  • Point out specific details or ask expanding questions to help the author elaborate on their ideas.

Week 1 Introductory Assignment Requirements

• Submission Deadline: Initial draft due Tuesday night on D2L discussion board; revised version due Friday night in the D2L Assignments folder.

• Document Requirements: Written in Microsoft Word format using MLA guidelines and attached directly to the discussion post.

• Paragraph Structure:

  • Paragraph 1: Preferred name, background, personal interests, and hobbies.

  • Paragraph 2: Academic background, current educational goals, self-assessment of writing comfort, and speculation on the role writing will play in future professional careers.