Course Syllabus

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ENG 090 04 Basic Composition

Spring semester 2025

T/Th 11:00a – 12:15p   

3 Credits

 

Course Syllabus

Instructor Name:  Dr. Lee Kathryn Hodge

Office Location: English Department

Office Hours: Tuesdays 12:30- 2:30pm

Instructor Email:  lee.hodge@quincycollege.edu

Mailbox Location: Faculty suite, 4th floor

Dean’s Office Phone: Liberal Arts & Professional Programs: 617-405-5920

Course Description

This course is for the student who needs improvement in writing skills as determined by placement testing.  Specific attention is directed toward sentence structure, diction, and mechanics of writing.  Extensive practice in a range of paragraph writing will be provided.

Prerequisites and Co-requisites: placement testing

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the course, each student will demonstrate competency to

  1. write cohesive sentences (CLO 1).
  2. develop and write unified paragraphs (CLO 2).
  3. develop an original main idea (CLO 3).
  4. present a logical explanation of a main idea (CLO 4).
  5. respond successfully to an academic assignment (CLO 5).
  6. maintain focus on a sentence level (CLO 6).
  7. maintain focus on a paragraph level (CLO 7).
  8. write with a reasonable degree of clarity and accuracy (CLO 8).

(CLO = Course Learning Outcome)

Course Materials and Resources

Cooley, Thomas, Ed. The Norton Sampler. Short Essays for Composition, 11th ed. W. W. Norton & Company, 2024. ISBN print 9781324060437; or, ebook 9781324060505

 Also note: a print copy of the textbook is also available for use in the QC Library only.

Course Delivery Format

On Campus (C): This course meets on campus according to the schedule posted above. Most of the course content will be delivered through lectures and other activities conducted during class meetings. Additional course resources are available via the Canvas Learning Management System to supplement the textbook or provide interaction with the content and/or assessment.  A notebook-journal, portfolio folder/binder/file, and dictionary source are suggested for on campus organization of assignments.

Communication and Feedback

The best means of communication on matters of writing is by email. You must use your college-issued email only.  It is important for you to keep up to date with all College communications, including announcements, notices of concern, and course evaluations.  Please refer to the Student Handbook for information about using your QC email.

Attendance/Participation

Attendance and participation will affect academic performance.  Participation in the course, including engagement for the respective lesson, is key to success.  Upon enrollment in the course, students are expected to have computer access and to be pro-active and timely toward the course expectations.

QC Attendance Guidelines for On-Campus Classes: On-campus course policies on attendance for this on-campus course include the following:

  • There are no excused absences.
  • All work is due as indicated on the syllabus.
  • Students are expected to be fully present and participatory, including reader response notes in a material notebook-journal for sharing, as assigned. Please place away technology unless allowed in a workshop setting.

Class Cancellation Policy

Any course class cancellation will be posted by the College.  The instructor will inform you on any subsequent syllabus revision, as appropriate.

Grading Policy

Please refer to the syllabus and full attention in class for instructions and learning.  Please save and retain all paper submissions.  All assignments are due according to the manuscript guidelines provided in class on the date indicated on the syllabus; and engagement in all class lessons is crucial to synthesizing your understanding, meeting learning outcomes, and completing the course requirements.  Responsive participation may include sentence assessment, reading and discussion, paragraph drafting, and/or peer review.

The course work is weighted, as follows:

In-class participation*               20% (1 point each)

Paragraph rev and assess (2)      20%

Essay assessments (3)                30%

Reflection                                 20%

Final portfolio/conference         10%                 

 

Letter Grade

Percentage (%)

Grade Point Average (GPA)

A

93 and above

4.0

A-

90-92

3.7

B+

87-89

3.3

B

83-86

3.0

B-

80-82

2.7

C+

77-79

2.3

C

73-76

2.0

C-

70-72

1.7

D

60-69

1.0

F

59 and below

0.0

I

Incomplete

0.0

W

Withdrawal

0.0

AUD

Audit

0.0

Make-Up Policy

All on campus work is due as assigned on the syllabus for the class period.  Please reference the Policy Manual for information about make-up work and exams.

Additional Information

Canvas Learning Management System (LMS):

If you have questions about Canvas login, please submit a help desk ticket to IT support.

Quincy College recommends you use the Firefox or Google Chrome web browser to access and participate in its online and hybrid courses. Internet Explorer is not recommended.

Academic Integrity:

To promote the best environment for learning, the professor may utilize Turnitin, similarity/plagiarism software to maintain integrity of select coursework.  Evidence of plagiarism determines a zero for an assignment.  Turnitin generates a similarity report of your writing by comparing it with a database of journals, books, websites, student papers and other work.  Reporting helps to foster academic integrity and original academic work.

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, via website, app, or any other access, is not permitted in this class. Any attempt to represent AI output inappropriately as your own work will be treated as a breach of academic integrity and thus, a zero for the assignment, respectively.  Please refer to the Student Handbook for more information on our Academic Integrity Policy.

Course Accessibility Statement:

Quincy College is committed to providing access and inclusion for all persons with disabilities. Students with disabilities who need access to course content due to course design limitations should contact Student Accessibility Services (SAS) sas@quincycollege.edu or by phone (617) 984-1682.  Please refer to our Student Handbook for more information about Student Accessibility Services.

Title IX Policy:

Title IX prohibits sex discrimination, including sexual misconduct, sexual violence, sexual harassment, and retaliation. If you or someone you know has been harassed or assaulted, click here for more information about QC’s Title IX Policies and Procedures.

Course Schedule

Part I – the writing process

Th 1/16             Ch. 1 - Reading a writer, Writing as a reader (Cooley 1)

                        Close reading (5); reader response (11), identifying patterns (12); inquiry (18)

                        Writing sample*

T 1/21              Ch. 3 – Process (44) and Ch. 4 – Writing Paragraphs (61)

                        Writing Journal 1 Due in Class- Responsive exercise

Th 1/23             Ch. 5 – Narration

                        Vuong, “Immigrating into English” (110)

In-class discussion*                                           note: add-drop period through 9/13

T 1/28              Drafting workshop*

Th 1/30            Paragraph draft due

                        Peer review*

T 2/4                Ch. 6 – Description

                        Keathley, “Pressing” (151)

                        Chandrasekaran, “Cutting Our Grandmothers’ Saris” (162)

                        In-class discussion*      

Th 2/6              Paragraph revision due

Erdrich, “Two Languages in Mind, but Just one in the Heart” (186)

In-class paragraph assessment

Part II – Essays and Approaches

T 2/11              Ch. 2 – Elements of the Essay (29)

                        Expository patterns

Th 2/13            Ch. 7 – Example

                        Medina, “A Prayer in the Night” (211)

                        Buttigieg, “On Suicide Circle” (228)

                        Writing journal 2 Due in class

T 2/18              Ch. 9 – Cause and effect

                        Sotomayor, “My Beloved World” (319)

                        In-class paragraph writing*

Th 2/20            Ch. 10 – Comparison

                        Gullen, “The Danish Way of Life” (348)

                        Crucet, “Taking My Parents to College” (352)

                        In-class discussion*

T 2/25  Ch. 12 – Definition

                        Orange, “How Native American is Native American” (480)

                        Writing Journal 3 Due in class

   

T 3/4                Essay outlining*

Th 3/6              Drafting workshop*

*******SPRING BREAK 3/10-3/14***********

T 3/11  Essay 1 draft due

                        Peer review*

Th 3/18             Ch. 13 – Argument

                        Addison, “Two Years Are Better Than Four” (509)

                        In-class discussion*

T 3/20              Nguyen, “My Young Mind was Disturbed by a Book” (559)

                        Writing journal 4 due in class

Th 3/27             Essay 1 revision due

T 4/1                Essay 2 – in class essay assessment

                        Sentence and grammar workshop: Editing and Proofreading (57)

                        Editing log*

Th 4/3              Ch. 8 - Analysis

                        “Cawley, “The Veil in Persepolis” (250)

                        In-class discussion*

T 4/8                Ostas, “Emily Dickinson and the Space Within” (275)

                        Groupwork*                                                     

Th 4/10             Ch. 14 – Classic Essays and Speeches

                        King, “The Other America” (597)

                        Writing Journal 5 due in class                              

 Part III – Using [primary] sources in your writing

T 4/15              MLA review: notetaking and incorporating source material (616-624)

Th 4/17             MLA workshop*

T 4/22              Essay 2 –  citation practice

Th 4/24             Portfolio review*

T 4/29              Writing journal 6 due in class      

Th 5/1              Essay 2 final due

T 5/6                Final portfolio conference I

Th 5/8              Final portfolio conference II

5/10- Essay 3/ Final portfolio Due

This syllabus is subject to change at the instructor’s discretion, and students will be notified as appropriate.

Course Summary:

Course Summary
Date Details Due