Composition I - COM101/1 Fall 2025
Course
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Lessons
Here is the course outline:
1. Introduction
Sep 1
Unit 1: September 1 Icebreaking. Syllabus overview. Description of course purposes, structure, assessment, and expectations ▪ Course Key Terms and FAQs Assignments/deadlines: Review course reading material (NEO) |
2. Origins of Academic Writing
Sep 8
Unit 2: September 3, 8 Rhetoric, purpose, importance and modern applications. Reading: Corbett, pp. 29 – 33 & Booth, pp. 9 – 15. |
3. Analytical Reading
Sep 15
Unit 3: September 10, 15 Text analysis. Reading methods. Team Work 1: Assignment 1 Peer Reviewing. Reading: Kirszner pp. 13 – 20 + Exercise 1, Ruszkiewicz, pp. 317 – 324 and Booth, pp 106 – 107. |
4. Critical Thinking
Sep 22
Unit 4: September 17, 22 Definition. Importance. Methods. Application in writing. Debate 1. Reading: Ruszkiewicz, pp. 420 – 423, Open University, pp. 7 – 11, Bailey, pp. 27 – 29. Booth, pp. 56 – 70. Screening and debate: https://youtu.be/LgVzm_3I-pM Is cancel culture real? | Steven Pinker | Penguin Big Questions |
5. Writing Techniques
Sep 29
Unit 5: September 24, 29 Outlining. Summarizing. Paraphrasing. Citations… and a Grammar reminder. Reading: Kirszner pp. 81 – 88, Ruszkiewicz, pp. 324 – 353, Bailey, pp. 44 – 69. Assignments/deadlines: Final Essay Draft #1: In one (1) page, describe your topic proposal and create an outline. Given: 29. Sep Printed for Oct. 6 |
6. The Structure
Oct 6
Unit 6: October 1, 6 Sentence. Paragraph. Introduction. Conclusion. Reading: Bailey, pp. 77 - 81. Ruszkiewicz, pp. 354 – 361. Screening 2 (To be announced) |
7. Arguments
Oct 13
Unit 7: October 8, 13 Principles of argument. Reasoning. Evidence. Reading: Ramage, pp. 17 – 21, & 32 – 41, Booth, pp. 114 – 123. Bailey, pp. 101 – 117. Open University, pp. 12 – 18. |
8. References
Oct 20
Unit 8: October 15, 20 Description: Finding sources. Bibliography. Online sources. Reading: Ruszkiewicz, pp. 435 – 473, Bailey, pp. 15 – 17, & 62 – 71 + Exercise. In-class writing exercise: In one (2) pages summarise the key ideas of Scott F. Crider, The Soul of Rhetoric in the Age of Amazon. Renovatio Journal, Spring 2019, pp. 35 – 42, and make clear whether you‘re agreeing or disagreeing with what he says. https://renovatio.zaytuna.edu/article/the-soul-of-rhetoric-in-the-age-ofamazon |
9. A Sense of Style
Oct 22
Unit 9: October 22 Description: Conventional VS Creative. Voice. Stylistic choices… but with Grammar and Vocabulary! Reading: Kirszner , pp.89 - 90, Birkenstein, 117 – 130. Assignments/deadlines: Final Essay Draft #2: Extend your draft (topic proposal) to 5-7 pages including: - Past readings on your topic - Paragraphs including arguments and citations - List of new sources - MLA 9th ed. format Given: 22 Oct. Printed. For Nov.5 |
10. Plagiarism
Nov 5
Unit 10: November 3, 5 Description: Definition. Types (and syllabus overview). Ethical or Legal? Alternatives. Reading: Booth, pp. 201 – 207. Bailey, pp. 30 – 35. Screening (To be announced) |
11. Editing and Formatting
Nov 12
Unit 11: November 10, 12 Description: Revising the frame. Coherence check. Grammar reminder. Arguments revision. Citations and sources check. Reading: Kirszner, p.168. Booth, pp. 208 – 2018. Birkenstein, pp. 309 – 327. In-class test |
12. Ethics of Research
Nov 24
Unit 12: November 19, 24 Description: Honesty. Objectivity. Humbleness… and again, Plagiarism. Reading: Corbett, pp. 277 – 282, & 302 – 312, Booth, pp. 285 – 288. Assignments/deadlines: Draft#3: Prepare the last version of your paper (7 pages minimum, 10 pages maximum): - Apply the studied rules of editing and formatting to your draft - Write your introduction and conclusion - The list of references MLA 9th ed. format Given: Nov. 26 Due Dec. 3, 23:00, NEO |
13. Final Draft and Peer Review
Dec 1
Unit 13: Nov. 26, Dec. 1 Description: Share your essay draft, read a peer’s work, give feedback, receive comments, revise your writing. Assignments/deadlines: Draft#3: Prepare the last version of your paper (7 pages minimum, 10 pages maximum): - Apply the studied rules of editing and formatting to your Draft - Write your introduction and conclusion - The list of references MLA 9th ed. format Given: Nov. 26 Due Dec. 8, 23:00, NEO Peer Review |
14. Presenting and Defending
Dec 15
Unit 14: December 3, 8, 10 and 15 3-8 Dec: Class discussion and preparation for presentations. 10-15 Dec: Presentation and Defense of Research Papers. Assignments/deadlines: Prepare a PP presentation of your final paper. |