Description:

Composition I focuses on writing nonfiction prose suitable in its expression and content to both its occasion and its audience. Students will have an opportunity to improve in all phases of the writing process: discovering ideas, gathering information, planning and organizing, drafting, revising and editing. Each essay written in the course should clearly communicate a central idea or thesis, contain sufficient detail to be lively and convincing, reflect the voice of the writer and use carefully edited standard written English. 3 hrs./wk. Students must take the JCCC writing assessment test or submit an ACT score of 19 or higher before enrolling. For more information, see a JCCC counselor. This course may be offered as a Learning Communities (LCOM) section, see current credit schedule for LCOM details.

Supplies: Refer to the instructor's course syllabus for details about any supplies that may be required.

Textbook(s): For information see - http://bookstore.jccc.net

Course Fees: NONE

Course Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course the student should be able to:

1. Demonstrate mastery over the basic writing process:
2. Begin a writing task by using appropriate methods for discovering ideas and gathering materials.
3. Decide on a suitable controlling idea and arrangement for the supporting ideas.
4. Write an essay that presents an idea and supports it with sufficient detail to be convincing and interesting.
5. Make and assist others to make significant revisions in the organization, development of ideas, stylistics, and mechanics of essays using comments from the instructor and/or other students.
6. Read and think critically about texts:
7. Identify and profile an appropriate audience for texts.
8. Identify controlling ideas and organizational patterns in texts.
9. Evaluate the biases and reliability of sources.

Content Outline & Competencies:

I. The Writing Process
   A. Begin a writing task by using appropriate methods for discovering
ideas and gathering materials.
      1. Demonstrate proficiency with brainstorming techniques.
      2. Locate supporting materials and evidence from personal experience
as well as field/library research.
   B. Decide on a suitable controlling idea and arrangement for the
supporting ideas.
      1. Develop and express a controlling idea for papers of different
lengths and rhetorical aims.
      2. Select a pattern of organization appropriate to the purpose of an
essay.
      3. Demonstrate ability to write with expressive, informative and
persuasive purposes.
   C. Write an essay that presents an idea and supports it with sufficient
detail to be convincing and interesting.
      1. Clearly narrate events or state points of analysis that support
the essay's main idea.
      2. Select and effectively integrate appropriate support into a text
including quotations, examples, and statistics.
      3. Account for other viewpoints, including the opinions of people
who hold different political, religious, or cultural views.
      4. Write introductions that effectively introduce the topic to the
audience and conclusions that reinforce the writer's point and bring
closure to the text.
      5. Paraphrase and summarize written sources effectively.
      6. Document outside sources with appropriate in-text and
parenthetical citations.
   D. Make and assist others to make significant revisions in the
organization, development of ideas, stylistics, and mechanics of essays
using comments from the instructor and/or other students.
      1. Demonstrate proficiency in effectively writing and manipulating
clauses and phrases in accordance with the conventions of written
English.
      2. Use figurative language and sentence variety to add interest and
clarity.
      3. Develop a written voice with appropriate and varied vocabulary.
      4. Write paragraphs where ideas progress logically through coherent
sentences. 
      5. Write essays with transitions that connect paragraphs and major
sections of the text logically.
      6. Critique the work of peers to assist them in improving the focus,
organization, support, clarity, correctness and effectiveness of their
essay.

II. Reading and Thinking Critically About Texts
   A. Profile an appropriate audience for texts.
      1. Identify approximate demographics for ideal audience.
      2. Determine if vocabulary and supporting materials are sufficient
and appropriate.
   B. Identify controlling ideas and organizational patterns in texts.
      1. Summarize content effectively.
      2. Describe the author's intended effect on the reader through the
text.
      3. Identify the organization pattern(s) used in the text to develop
ideas.
   C. Evaluate the biases and reliability of sources.
      1. Identify language that reveals a bias.
      2. Distinguish and identify arguments based in logos, pathos and
ethos.
      3. Locate logical fallacies in texts and in popular culture with
guidance.
      4. Recognize some personal and cultural biases that influence
reading.

Methods of Evaluation of Competencies:

Evaluation of student mastery of course competencies will be accomplished using the following methods:

      5-7 essays                                   70-80%
      Peer review                                   5-10%
      Prewriting and in-class writing assignments  15-25%
               TOTAL                                 100%

   Final Grades:

      A   90 -100%      
      B   80-89.9%   
      C   70-79.9%        
      D   60-69.9% 
      F  under 60%

Caveats: NONE

Disabilities:

If you are a student with a disability, and if you will be requesting accommodations, it is your responsibility to contact Access Services. Access Services will recommend any appropriate accommodations to your professor and his/her director. The professor and director will identify for you which accommodations will be arranged.

JCCC provides a range of services to allow persons with disabilities to participate in educational programs and activities. If you desire support services, contact the office of Access Services for Students With Disabilities (913) 469-8500, ext. 3521 or TDD (913) 469-3885. The Access Services office is located in the Success Center on the second floor of the Student Center.