intermediate

Dr. Kristi Siegel

Assistant Professor

Mount Mary College

2900 North Menomonee River Parkway

Milwaukee, WI 53222

(414) 258-4810, #461

siegelkr@mtmary.edu

Intermediate Composition - EPW 210sb

Thursdays, 6:00-8:50 pm

NDH 249 (Smart Classroom)

Office Hours: Thursday, 4:30-5:50 pm and by appointment

Office: Fidelis Hall, Rm. 223

Materials:

Writing journal (for your purposes; journal will be not be collected unless necessary)

Dictionary, grammar handbook, and thesaurus

Folder or 3-ring binder to keep handouts

Course Description:

Intermediate Composition is designed for those who have some idea how to write, but want to learn how to write. Knowing how to write well—versus merely writing competently—gives you immense power and influence. A famous expression (paraphrased) stated that to gain control of a country you should first kill the poets. The point is, of course, if you can write well your options are limited only by your imagination.

Although innate talent always helps, writing is a skill. As in any other acquired skill, writers learn to write by developing their skills chunk by chunk, a Lego block at a time. We will do the same.   A good portion of our class time will be devoted to analyzing prose and doing workshops on various elements of writing: e.g., using effective style, developing a writing voice, creating effective sentences, learning how to pace material, incorporating secondary material optimally, and so forth.

The best way to approach writing is to remember this thought: Writing should be written by the living for the living.

Objectives:

to develop or improve your writing “voice”

to develop or enhance your writing “style”

to break down writing into manageable skills that may be practiced

to learn new narrative strategies (comparison/contrast, description, definition,

classification, etc.);

to learn how to effectively edit and revise your writing;

to review the basic mechanics of good writing;

to become confident as a professional writer, i.e., write to be published; don’t write for the expectations you presume your English teacher might have.

to find and incorporate secondary material into your writing seamlessly and ethically; and

to learn how to write compellingly for your target audience.

Grammar and punctuation: While intermediate composition presumes knowledge of grammar, we will review language skills as necessary during the semester. Language mechanics will not be a major focus of the course. If you have difficulties in one or more areas of usage, please take advantage of the computer language skills resources as well as purchasing a good language handbook or basic text in grammar.

Assignments: There will be several shorter skill-based exercises assigned throughout the semester, and I consider these practice exercises as important as many of the final papers you’ll produce. You’ll also be presenting one short (and fairly informal) oral presentation, as this form of communication is as important as your written skills. Topics will be announced. There will be four papers assigned. Each of these papers may be revised, but only two formal revisions will be required. Ideally, I like you all to be developing the skill and confidence to know when a paper is good. However, I will be happy to accept revised papers and will weigh the revised grade higher than the original.

Paper no. 1................Classification/Analysis/Cultural Critique

Paper no. 2............... Researched Essay on a work of literature

Paper no. 3............... Persuasive Argument

Paper no. 4............... To be announced

Portfolio: You will receive detailed information later in the semester.

Attendance: Attendance is expected. More than two absences may result in a “no-credit” for the course.

Reading assignments: Throughout the semester, you will be given assigned readings. The readings give us a chance to look at excellent writing in detail and to provoke discussions that help generate ideas for your own writing. Since our limited class time prevents us from discussing all the essays, you should view the essays as a resource guide providing excellent examples of various writing strategies.

Grading and Evaluation: All papers, with the exception of in-class impromptu or exercises, must be typed. Late papers will not be accepted without prior arrangements, and may be subject to a lower grade.

The grade breakdown for the course will be as follows:

Workshops, short assignments, and participation..........30%

Essays......................................................................45%

Oral Presentation........................................................10%

Final Portfolio.............................................................15%

Syllabus

Aug 30 - Week 1

Introduction to course; introduction to each other. Background information.

Read and discuss the link on my website entitled, “Engfish Handout”

Vocabulary assessment and Short Grammar Assessment

Impromptu

Read the link on my website entitled, "Engfish Handout"

Read Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling"

Discussion of writing. How do you write? What do writers do?