Class meeting times and place:

section ID T Th 9:35-11:00
Parkhouse Hall 314

Dr. Mark Amdahl, Instructor of English,
Parkhouse 445; 215-619-7437;
mamdahl@acad.mc3.edu

T Th 8:30-9:25 and by appointment. You may meet with me before or after class to arrange a more convenient time. You may also call my office number to leave a message.

ENG 101 is based on the premise that clear thinking generates clear writing. The student learns how to use the tools of effective writing and how to develop ideas through such expository patterns as narration, description, illustration and example, analogy, definition, comparison and contrast, cause and effect, process analysis and classification. A grade of "C" or better in ENG 101 is required for admission into ENG 102 and ENG 115. (from 1994-96 Montgomery County Community College Catalog)

The goals of English 101 should enable students

• to read and think critically;
• to locate sources in a library;
• to use technological resources effectively;
• to use sources effectively;
• to document sources following established conventions;
• to compose focused, developed, organized expository essays, composed of clear and varied sentences that follow the conventions of standard English;
• to write for various audiences;
• to collaborate with others both in the class and in group settings; and
• to develop awareness of our culturally diverse nation.

In-class activities will include writing, reading, and discussing, sometimes in small groups or pairs, in addition to some lecturing. Students will read and comment upon each others’ documents. The resources available in the library, the Learning Assistance Laboratory, and campus computer centers may be used.

Although I try to work with small groups and even individuals during class time, I encourage you to come in during my regular office hours to talk more about your writing. If that time is not convenient, we may be able to schedule a more appropriate meeting.

• Harris, Jeanette and Donald H. Cunningham. The Simon & Schuster Guide to Writing, second ed. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1997, 1994.
• Lunsford, Andrea and Robert Connors. The Everyday Writer: A Brief Reference. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1997.
• Index folder for current work; pocket folder for portfolio.

Final grades will be based on the following:
 
 

Paper 1	10%
Paper 2	10%
Paper 3	10%
Paper 4	10%
Paper 5	10%
Journal	10%
Daily	15%
Portfolio	25%
Total	100%

Please note that all out of class papers must be word-processed or typed.

Five papers are required. All assignments plus the portfolio letter must be submitted for you to pass the class. I will grade each of the papers ,"excellent," "good," "satisfactory, " "marginal," or "failing." I will tell you how to improve "good," "satisfactory," "marginal," or "failing" papers, and you may revise them by the revision deadline to try to achieve "excellent." The day of the scheduled final you will submit your portfolio, which will contain a reflective letter about your growth as a writer during the course of the semester and your five papers with all drafts and any revisions. You will pick one of the five to revise.

To be considered excellent, papers must be focused, well developed and organized. Sentences will be clear; some will even be graceful. There will be few, if any, mechanical problems. They will be typed and follow MLA manuscript conventions.

Turning in work that is not your own will not be tolerated. Whenever you use the words or ideas of another person, you must acknowledge that source. The source of any quoted, paraphrased, or summarized material must be provided. Plagiarism is a serious offense that could result in an F in the class and may result in expulsion from the college and the filing of civil charges. Sound scary?

It is difficult to do well if you do not attend class. If you must miss class, please write me a memo when you return explaining why you were absent, or the absence will be unexcused. Three unexcused absences is considered to be excessive, or six absences for any reason. I may require additional written documentation corroborating the seriousness of the absence. Part of your semester grade is determined by class participation. You cannot participate if you do not attend! This is not a correspondence course!

If you give me a note explaining why you were gone, you can make up the work we did or turn in any assignments that may have been due the day you missed. However, it is your responsibility to contact other students to discover what you missed. Please do not bother the secretary; she will not know. (It would be a good idea to get the phone numbers of at least three of your classmates.)

Assignments are due on the days I set, whether or not you are present. If you can’t meet a deadline, please give me a written explanation. Please recognize that your explanation is not an automatic excuse. If you miss a deadline for turning in one of the papers and you haven’t told me in advance that you’ll miss the deadline, you lose the chance to rewrite it for a better grade and I’ll subject you to a tedious lecture about why meeting deadlines is so important.

Course Content, Assignments, and Calendar :

Schedule is tentative, based on class progress.

Back to Courses.
Back to Index.