Textbook: Great Essays

Materials:  Two "blue books" for journal writing.  These can be purchased at the PSU bookstore.

Class Objectives:

1. Write a well developed and clearly organized cause/effect and argumentative essay of at least two pages
2. Write effective introductions and conclusions for essays
3. Use transitions and coordinating and subordinating words to produce cohesive and coherent essays
4. Demonstrate an ability to accurately use the rules of punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and formatting expected in academic writing
5. Use level 3 grammar structures in your writing
6. Use correction suggestions from peers and instructor to revise essays
7. Cooperate with your classmates and instructor in generating ideas for writing and editing in peer groups and in conferences

Attendance: Attendance is part of your grade.  If you must miss a class, please call or e-mail me before the class. Also remember that you are responsible for any information you miss if you are absent. If you miss an in-class writing, you cannot make it up, so please make sure to be in class on those days.  Some homework assignments cannot be made up.  Other late homework assignments will receive only partial credit.  Late writing assignments will be lowered one letter grade per day.

Participation: Active participation in all class activities is required. If you participate actively, you will learn more in this class. Please try your best!

Other:  No student can pass this course without getting 70% or better on both organization and grammatical issues appropriate to level 3, on in-class writing assignments.