Composition I - COM101/1 Spring 2026
Course
Lessons
Here is the course outline:
1. Introduction
Feb 2
Unit 1: Feb 2-4 Icebreaking. Syllabus overview. Description of course purposes, structure, assessment, and expectations ▪ Course Key Terms and FAQs Assignments/deadlines: Review course reading material (MyLearning) |
2. Origins of Academic Writing
Feb 9
Unit 2: Feb 9 - 11 Rhetoric, purpose, importance and modern applications. Reading: Corbett, pp. 29 – 33 & Booth, pp. 9 – 15. |
3. Analytical Reading
Feb 16
Unit 3: Feb 16 - 18 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. In-class writing exercise and debate: Read the article: The Rhetorical Education of Isocrates and the Exemplary in Teaching: Overcoming the―Learnification of Education by Lars Petter Storm Torjussen. Nordic Journal of Educational History Vol. 6, no. 2 (2019), pp. 3–21 and prepare a 2-page summary and a 20-word glossary. (Feb 18) |
4. Critical Thinking
Feb 23
Unit 4: Feb 23 - 25 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
Mar 2
Unit 5: Mar 2 - 4 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: Mar 2 Printed for Mar 11 |
6. The Structure
Mar 9
Unit 6: Mar 9 - 11 Sentence. Paragraph. Introduction. Conclusion. Reading: Bailey, pp. 77 - 81. Ruszkiewicz, pp. 354 – 361. Screening and In-class writing exercise: The Future of Fashion – Made from Mushrooms | Dr. Dan Widmaier | TED https://youtu.be/OcdumFcGdfU |
7. Arguments
Mar 16
Unit 7: Mar 16 - 18 Historical overview. Principles of argument. Reasoning. Evidence. Building and discussing arguments in academic writing. Reading: Ramage, pp. 17 – 21, & 32 – 41, Booth, pp. 114 – 123. Bailey, pp. 101 – 117. Open University, pp. 12 – 18. Screening: Monty Python’s Argument https://youtu.be/xpAvcGcEc0k?si=_qW-x3U0hoqlYOWW |
8. References
Mar 23
Unit 8: Mar 23 - 25 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
Apr 8
Unit 9: Apr 8 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: Apr 8 Printed. For Apr 15 |
10. Plagiarism
Apr 13
Unit 10: Apr 13 - 15 Definition. Types (and syllabus overview). Ethical or Legal? Alternatives. Reading: Booth, pp. 201 – 207. Bailey, pp. 30 – 35. Screening and In-class writing exercise: What does the AI revolution mean for our future? https://youtu.be/7JkPWHr7sTY?feature=shared |
11. Editing and Formatting
Apr 20
Unit 11: Apr 20 - 22 Revising the frame. Coherence check. Grammar reminder. Arguments revision. Citations and sources check. Reading: Kirszner, p.168. Booth, pp. 208 – 218. Birkenstein, pp. 309 – 327. |
12. Ethics of Research
Apr 27
Unit 12: Apr 27 - 29 Honesty. Objectivity. Humbleness… and again, Plagiarism. Reading: Corbett, pp. 277 – 282, & 302 – 312, Booth, pp. 285 – 288. In-class test |
13. Final Draft and Peer Review
May 4
Unit 13: May 4 - 6 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: May 4 Due May 15, 23:00, MyLearning Peer Review |
14. Last Preparations
May 11
Unit 14: May 11 - 13 Class discussion and preparation for the next week. Prepare a PP presentation of your final paper. Screening (To be announced) |
15. Presenting and Defending
May 18
Unit 15: May 18 Presentation and Defense of Research Papers. |