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offered Spring and Fall semesters, 4 credits |
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offered Spring and Fall semesters, 4 credits |
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| English 1 introduces students to a variety of expository and academic forms of writing. The emphasis is on academic writing skills, of which general writing skills are an important component. Students refine their ability to write summaries, syntheses, analyses, comparisons, and definitions, and practice combining those forms into academic papers. The course presents various methods of pre-writing, organizing, developing, drafting, revising, and editing academic papers, in addition to introducing students to college-level internet and library research skills. English 1 is run as a writer's workshop where students discuss essays (both professional and those written by their peers), explore writing and critical thinking strategies, and practice the skills they have learned. Individual conferences with the instructors, meetings with writing tutors, and comments on papers and drafts are all designed to help students acquire greater control over their writing, develop a more fluid writing style, and master the art of academic writing. Many sections of English 1 are taught in a net-worked classroom using the students' own computers connected to the Drew computer network. This increases the students' computer literacy skills at the same time as they are increasing their academic and general literacy skills. |
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| Grades for English 1
60% of the grade for English 1 is determined by two portfolios (the first worth 20%, and the second worth 40%) evaluated holistically by the instructor and the other instructors of English 1. The final 40% of the course grade is awarded by the course instructor based on each student's overall effort and contribution to the class. The first portfolio (click here to see a description of the contents of the first portfolio) is handed in the friday before spring break, and the second portfolio is handed in the first day of reading days at the end of the semester (click here to see a description of the contents of the second portfolio). |
