Course Description and Objectives: 

As the only required writing course at Centenary College, "English 101:  Rhetoric and Culture" serves as an introduction both to college-level writing and to disciplined intellectual inquiry. Readings from a wide range of texts will help students practice analyzing and producing sophisticated arguments. Students will also attend and write critically about a series of coordinated cultural events, including lectures, concerts, debates, theatrical performances, art exhibits, and films. English 101 should, ideally, be taken in the student's first year, and certainly no later than the fall of their second year.    

During this semester you will be introduced to a variety of genres from the ancient world to the contemporary -- including drama, poetry, fiction, and various types of non-fiction prose -- which will address issues such as the nature of knowledge and the function of knowledge in creating a self.   Through the study and practice of the principles of rhetoric  you will become a better reader, thinker, writer, and communicator.     

Apply yourself conscientiously to the work of the course and by the end of the semester you should be better able to analyze a text and to recognize how its rhetorical techniques convey a stance toward the subject matter;  draw connections among our various texts and between them and other cultural documents;  discover and develop arguments of your own;  present those arguments in convincing written form; and demonstrate control of basic grammar, mechanics, and usage.

During this course you will also learn 1) to use computer and internet technology (word processing, email, and web research) for writing, research, and critical thinking, 2) to find and evaluate web and library sources, 3) to cite sources, paraphrase, and use quotations, and 4) to understand and avoid plagiarism as defined by the Centenary Honor Code. 



Grading:

• Essays 1-3                   30%   (10% each)
• blog-journal                 10%
• Reviews 2-4                15%    (5% each)              
  
• Work Ethic/Quizzes     20%
• Mid-term exam            10%
• Final Exam                  15%

  

Essays:

    All written work should follow the MLA style sheet. In citing World Wide Web resources, refer to MLA guidelines for print and online sources.  See my Resources for Writers page for online documentation sites.   All requirements, written or presented, must be on time.  Late papers are marked down one letter grade for every day late.  All essays must be submitted to pass the course.

    Your signature on all work indicates understanding of and compliance with the Honor Code.   Suspected violations of the Honor Code will be referred to the Honor Court; conviction of a violation will result in at least a grade of F for the course.

 
 

Work Ethic -- Class Attendance, Participation, and Attitude:

    This class emphasizes discussion. Therefore, you need to be in class every time prepared to talk intelligently and passionately. Absences and arriving late to class will hurt your final grade.  English Department policy states that anyone missing more than six (6) classes automatically fails the course.  Up until your seventh (7th) absence you may make up for absences by writing a 250-300 word review to be posted on your blog on an approved out-of-class cultural event (be sure to indicate the review is is make-up).  You may also obtain extra credit by writing 250-300 word reviews of approved out-of-class cultural events (above and beyond your weekly blog requirements; make sure you indicate these are for extra credit).

    To prevent distractions, food, drink (except water), cell phones, etc. are not allowed in class.

    The work we do in class is important and everything presented in class should be considered a possible subject for quizzes and exams.
 
 

Exams and Quizzes:

    Quizzes will be given periodically to check your close reading skills.  This quizzes will be short answer questions on the texts being read at that time.  Exams will be comprised of short answer and essay questions.  Everything we talk about in class is "fair game" for exams and all exams are cumulative, though the emphasis on the final tends to be on the most recent material studied in class.