COLLEGE COMPOSITION STUDENT INFORMATION SHEET                       

 

Good writing is essential to success in most of the courses you will take at Kean University.  College Composition is a newly designed composition course, which offers different formats to meet the needs of students with different skill levels.  All students, who attain a grade of “C”, will receive 3 university credits.  Those students, whose placement testing indicated a need for intense instruction, have been placed in sections, which require 6 class hours per week for one semester, or 3 class hours per week over two semesters.  Students who require less intense instruction have been placed in sections, requiring 3 class hours per week for one semester, consistent with the usual 3 hours for 3 credits.  This specialized curriculum is part of the Kean University General Education Learning Assistance Program (GELAP), which is reconfiguring curriculum and educational methods to better prepare Kean University students for the technological environment of the 21st century.  These varied formats will enable all students to exit Composition with the quality of writing necessary for academic success.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

1.                  To learn and practice writing as a reflective practice

2.                  To learn and practice writing as a social process

3.                  To learn and practice the major rhetorical modes, strategies, and patterns for academic writing across the curriculum.

4.                  To develop critical thinking skills

5.                  To develop a personal writing style

6.                  To master technological tools for writing

7.                  To use reading, writing and critical thinking to understand one’s own culture and those of others

8.                  To develop personal perspectives

READING AND WRITING ASSIGNMENTS

You will be writing often in Composition.  Your assignments will range from informal on-line group discussions and journal reactions to reading assignments, to formal academic essays.  Your professor will provide you with a syllabus, which will list the assignments and requirements for your section.

REQUIRED MATERIALS

1.                  Books listed on the syllabus for your section

2.                  Cardstock folder with pockets for all writing assignments (Portfolio)

3.                  Computer diskette formatted for PC’s (not Macintosh)

GRADING POLICIES AND STANDARDS:

You MUST attain a grade of “C” or higher in College Composition, or the course must be repeated.  A student who earns a grade of “D” in 1031/1032 or 1033/1034 must register for 1030 the following term.  A student who earns a grade of “F” must register to repeat the course.

 

Your professor will present his/her standards for each writing assignment.  Generally, written assignments are evaluated according to (a) degree of fluency (b) clarity of purpose (c) appropriateness to audience (d) clarity of focus (e) effectiveness of organization (f) quality of development and (g) correctness of mechanics [grammar, punctuation and spelling].

 

The following list provides some general guidelines appropriate to particular grades:        

            A         =          Original and substantive content/Correct mechanics/

                                    Clear and effective diction, syntax and paragraph structure/

                                    Effective organization and logical development/

                                    Excellent fulfillment of assignment/Fluent presentation

                                    Correct Documentation (when applicable)

            B          =          Correct mechanics/Thorough content/Good organization;  

                                    Good ideas and effective diction/Fluent presentation

            C         =          No major mechanical errors/Some solid content/

Adequate organization

            D         =          Ineffective organization/Major mechanical errors/Vague content

            F          =          Minimal form/Major mechanical errors/Little content/

Does not fulfill assignment

DOCUMENT FORM:

Your professor will provide individual guidelines for title page and document format.

LEARNING SUPPORT:

1.                  If you are enrolled in ENG 1031/1032 or ENG 1033/1034, you will have an opportunity to have your writing reviewed twice a semester by an independent Portfolio Review Professor.  Your classroom instructor will give you additional information about your portfolio review sessions.  Your Portfolio Review Professor will discuss your work with you and give you a Portfolio Review Form (PRF), which will have written comments about your writing and indicate areas of strength and weakness.

2.                  All College Composition students are entitled to tutoring. You are responsible for making your own appointment(s) for tutoring at the Writing Center on the 1st floor of the CAS Building.  The telephone number is (908) 737-0300.  There are tutors available during both day and evening hours Monday through Friday.  The specific times are posted.  If you are enrolled in ENG 1030 take your papers with you; if you are enrolled in 1031/1032 or 1033/1034, take the PRF and your portfolio when you go for tutorial help.

ATTENDANCE:

  1. Class attendance is mandatory.  You must arrive on time and stay until the end of each class meeting.  If you have a problem, which will cause lateness or absence, tell your professor as soon as you can.  If you violate this policy with unexcused absences from class, you will be referred to the General Education, the First Year Center and any other applicable university department to determine if successful completion of the course is possible.
  2. If you are enrolled in ENG 1031/1032 or 1033/1034, you must attend two portfolio review sessions per semester with the Portfolio Review Professor.  Your class professor will advise you of the date and time of each meeting.
  3. ENG 1031/1032 or ENG 1033/1034 students must meet with tutors two or more times per semester unless exempted by both the Professor and the Portfolio Professor.  At least one tutorial session must occur during the first half of the course.

PERSONAL HELP:                                                                                                              

If you have special personal problems, you may contact the Kean University Human Relations and Counseling Center and receive confidential counseling.  The Center is located in Room 127 of Downs Hall (908) 737-4850.

 

PLAGIARISM:

All work you submit in this course must by your own.  All published work, non-print media, including information from the worldwide web, must be cited appropriately.  Your instructor will give you specific information regarding documentation.

 

Students at Kean University are governed by the Kean University Academic Integrity Policy.  Copies of the policy are available at the University Center and at other campus locations.  The policy defines and classifies violations, and states the penalties for each.  All students should obtain a copy of the policy for reference.