ENGLISH 1D, CRITICAL COMPOSITION, June Gillam, Instructor
Students in this critical composition course follow a cyclical pattern which begins with an investigation of the self,
expands to an exploration of the world beyond personal experience, and concludes with the exercise of written
rhetoric. In each of these stages, students practice the critical thinking skills appropriate to reflective, reactive, and
argumentative writing tasks.
In journal entries and short autobiographical assignments, students employ narration and description as they
analyze the origins of their own belief systems.
In summary and paraphrase written in response to reading assignments, students synthesize and evaluate the
experiences and ideas of others.
In documented essays, students present their own arguments on contemporary issues.
Throughout the writing cycle, the course encourages students to search for the underlying logic and meaning of
their subject matter by applying critical thinking strategies, including the 4-color reflection journals. Growth in the
critical thinking processes of analyzing, exemplifying, evaluating, integrating, and arguing is manifested and
measured in students’ written work throughout the semester.
ASSIGNMENT TYPES, POINTS, and TOTAL MAXIMUM POINTS
--Orientation work: group e-mail (5), online learning tests (10), writing sample (10)--(25 points max., total)
-10 Threaded Discussions, points vary--(775 points max., total)
--5 Journals, points vary--(400 points max., total)
--3 Essay Drafts, 100 each--(300 points max., total)
--6 Peer Reviews, 100 each--(600 points max., total)
--3 Self-Evaluation Letters, 100 each--(300 points max., total)
--1 Final Revised Essay, 200 each--(200 points max., total)
MAXIMUM TOTAL POINTS IN COURSE = 2600
UNIT ASSIGNMENTS SUMMARY--may need to be changed
(individual asgmt. max. points in parentheses)
HOME Orientation unit--25 points total
--Group email (5) (assignment is in Syllabus; all other assignments are in Nav Bar links)
--3 online learning tests (10)
--writing sample (10)
unit 1--50 points total
--Threaded Discussion Topic (TDT) on Critical Thinking (50)
unit 2--75 points total
--TDT on Writing (25)
--Torbert's 4-color Journal (JRNL) (50)
unit 3 --100 points total
--TDT on Description & creating virtual community (100)
unit 4 --150 points total
--TDT on writing process (50)
--Descriptive/Narrative "open" form essay draft #1 (100)
unit 5 --300 points total
--2 Peer Reviews (PR) (100 each = 200 max.) followed by
--Self-eval Letter (SL) (100)
unit 6 --100 points total
--TDT on subject area choice for essay drafts 2 & 3: body, gender, or race (50)
--JRNL reflecting on your Webliography Bias test results (50)
unit 7 --100 points total
--TDT on grammar checkers, etc., (50)
--JRNL on your "grammar gremmies" (50)
unit 8 --100 points total
--TDT for Explore, evaluate research materials; quote, summarize and paraphrase (100)
unit 9 --150 points total
--TDT on writing process (50)
--Exploratory "midrange" form essay draft #2 (100)
unit 10 --300 points total
--2 Peer Reviews (PR) (100 each = 200 max.) followed by
--Self-eval Letter (SL) (100)
unit 11--100 points total
--JRNL midterm reflection
unit12 -- 100 points total
--TDT on principles of Argumentation (100)
unit13-- 100 points total
--Argumentation "closed" form essay draft #3 (100)
unit 14 --300 points total
--2 Peer Reviews (PR) (100 each = 200 max.) followed by
--Self-eval Letter (SL) (100)
unit 15 -- 200 points total
--Final Revision plans & criteria (150)
--Committee input for peer (50)
unit 16 -- 350 points total
--Final revised essay (200)
--Final JRNL (150)
Total maximum points possible = 2600
GRADING POLICY
Grades are based on completion of quality work turned in before the due date/time. Students either have work in
on time to earn some credit points, up to the maximum depending on quality/quantity, or they earn zero points
credit.
In cases of unexpected health or other unforeseen problems, students need to decide if they can handle a lower
grade than they originally hoped for, or if they need to drop the class to enroll again in a later semester when the
problem is resolved.
Because the work assigned is PLENTY for students to do and for me to evaluate, there is no make up or extra credit
work at all, so each and every assignment is important towards the final course grade.
A numeric score for all assignments will be posted in the Gradebook (see top of screen).
Usually, grades will be posted no later than a week after the Tuesday 10:59 p.m. due date. Your Gradebook and
Journals can NOT be seen by other students, just by yourself and jbug. Sometimes I might leave you comments in
the gradebook--to see them, click on the "live link" points score itself. I record all your points in my paper grade
book, too, as backup.
Students need to keep track of their own points. The Gradebook keeps a running total of points, too. Be sure to be
aware of your grade standing in plenty of time to make decisions before the deadline to drop with a W grade.
Your final course grade will be by percentage of points available in the class assignments:
90% and up of maximum points possible = A (really superior, dazzling work, a joy to read)
80-89% of maximum points possible = B (good effort, beyond the call of duty)
70-79% of maximum points possible = C (acceptable, average, a day's work for a day's pay)
60-69% of maximum points possible = D (disappointing, skimpy, hard to make sense of)
59% and below will result in a grade of F (off task assigned, very puzzling, or not done at all)
You should be able to keep track of your grade points as the semester unfolds, by comparing what you earn to the
maximum scores noted below for the assignments scheduled in the syllabus. (I might have to make changes later,
but this is what is planned.) Students should follow instructions in Syllabus and Navigation Bar assignment detailed
directions if maximum points are desired.
PLEASE EMAIL JUNE GILLAM IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS:
jgillam@deltacollege.edu
<--Back to Home