ENG 101:  The first year writing course helps students become clear and effective writers in the university setting.  It focuses on basic elements of writing— purpose, audience, and self-presentation—to develop strategies for dealing with a variety of writing situations.  Students can expect to write frequently, read their own and others’ works critically, and revise, revise, revise.

Textbooks:  Hacker, A Writer’s Reference, 5^th ed.

Axelrod and Cooper’s Concise Guide to Writing, 4^th ed.

No used copies of the Concise Guide will be available in Fall 05 as this is a new edition.  You will begin using this book right away, although for Wednesday’s class you may be able to use an older edition on reserve at Steely Library.

Assignments for the First Week:

Homework due Wednesday:  Read Chapter 1 of Axelrod and Cooper. 

Do exercises 1.3 and 1.4. 

Classwork on Wednesday:  Do exercise 1.6 but preview only Chapter 3.

(If you have not purchased the textbook yet, look for the 3^rd edition of Axelrod and Cooper's Concise Guide at the Steely Library circulation desk on reserve.  The first chapter changes very little.  You will need the current textbook by Friday of the first week.)

Homework due Friday:  Read Chapter 3 of Axelrod and Cooper.

Write one page, typed, single spaced, in response to the three sample essays.  Describe the topic of each essay and what the author aims to show is interesting about the subject.  Tell what you learn about profile essays from these examples.

Assignments for the Second Week:

Homework due Monday: Read “Finding a Subject” in Axelrod and Cooper, ch. 3.  Make a list of possible subjects that you could profile.  These subjects must be accessible to you (i.e. a place you could visit, an event you can attend, a person you can observe and interview).