ENG 100 – Introduction to Composition

Credits:  3

Catalog Description:  Improves basic writing skills: grammar, mechanics, style and organization. Students who pass with a C or higher understand the basic nature of informative and persuasive writing and library research. Prerequisite: By placement or grade of C or better, in ENG091 or ESL 091.

Lecture: 3 hrs.

Student Performance Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Maintain a journal representing at least two entries per week to be submitted periodically (at least once every five weeks) for instructor review and response, in order to develop discipline and engagement in the writing process;
2. Write and revise at least one paragraph each week, to increase familiarity with informative and persuasive discourse, and to increase accuracy and vary range of grammatical structures after conferencing with instructor to identify common grammatical errors;
3. Complete a quiz or self-expressive narrative in which the student describes a basic library and Internet search, to demonstrate skills acquired after a library orientation session tailored to ENG 100;
4. Compose a minimum of one composition on a topic approved by the instructor using the word processor to demonstrate basic competency with information literacy skills;
5. Complete orally, or in writing, responses to selected readings that exemplify informative and persuasive writing strategies.
6. *Seventy percent of the ENG 100 students will increase their COMPASS English score by 10% or more on the post-test.

* This course objective has been identified as a student learning outcome that must be formally accessed as part of the College's Comprehensive Assessment Plan. All faculty teaching this course must collect required data (see Accessing Student Learning Outcomes form) and submit the required analysis and documentation at the conclusion of the semester to the Office of Assessment and Special Projects.

Content Outline:
I. Diagnostic essay given the first week of class

II. Daily in-class writing

III. Review of paragraph writing-unity, coherence, topic sentence, and
paragraph development

IV. Essay writing-thesis development, persuasive and informative discourse,
support of topic (examples and details), organization, transitions, diction

V. Ongoing review of writing conventions, including punctuation, spelling,
usage, syntax, grammar, capitalization

VI. Perform basic library research


Grading: 0
A student's final grade is determined on the basis of graded components--attendance, written assignments (at least 70% of final grade), journal and other projects--and a written proficiency exam. Successful completion of the course requires that a student earn a C or better.

Effective Term: As of Spring 2007