ENG.

100 Composition I
CRN: 34173/34174
TR 10:45-12:00; Iliahi 105
Spring 2015

Dr. Penny Hirata-Knight

Kalia 208; Ph. 734-9372
Office Hours: TRs
12:30-2:30 and by appt.
Email: phirata@hawaii.edu

REQUIRED TEXT:

Seyler, Dorothy U. Read, Reason, Write: An Argument Text and Reader. 11th edition.
McGraw-Hill, 2015.

Course Description (Catalog): Eng. 100 students will develop strategies for effective college
writing, with an emphasis on critical reading and thinking. This course includes instruction in the
composing process and practice in various kinds of writing, including analysis, interpretation, and
research writing from sources. By the end of the course, students will complete a minimum of
5000 words of finished prose, roughly equivalent to 20 typewritten pages.
ABOUT THIS SECTION:
This course will concentrate on developing and improving students' skills in writing various forms
of clear, academic, university-level prose. The approach in this course will emphasize the notion
of writing as a working process. While working on both informal exercises and developing more
formal essay assignments, we will explore a number of essential stages involved in the writing
process which includes generating ideas, planning and outlining, drafting, peer reviewing, revising
and editing, and proofreading your final project. We will also examine the significant connection
between reading and writing where the development of better critical/analytical thinking skills
produces more self-reflective writers. Course reading will serve as a basis for exploring writing
possibilities and critically thinking through the most effective writing strategies and approaches.
The focus of our major writing assignments will be helping you understand the rhetorical situation
in which you write--that is, writing with a purpose; understanding how to write for an identifiable
audience, situations/contexts, learning how to devise and state a clear and precise stance in order
to achieve a specific purpose, and understanding how to employ specific writing and research
strategies and approaches in order to communicate your ideas as clearly and convincingly as
possible. Students will also be learning how to conduct college-level research effectively for
paper assignments. Students will be required to include current research source material that is
relevant and credible, which will be integrated into writing assignments in accordance with MLA
style citation and documentation guidelines.
Eng. 100 Course Competencies/Student Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of Eng. 100, students should be able to:
1. Employ a writing process which includes gathering information and exploring ideas, developing
and supporting a point of view or thesis, organizing, revising, editing, and proofreading.
2. Produce different forms of college-level writing, such as narrative, analytical, and persuasive
essays whose content, organization, diction, and style are effectively adapted to various writing
situations, purposes, audiences, and subjects.

3. Analyze and evaluate the logic, evidence, and strategies of an argument (written and/or
presented in a visual or digital medium).
4. Analyze and interpret a literary work (non-fiction, fiction, poetry, or drama) or other textual
material.
5. Find and evaluate information from a library, the internet, or from other sources; synthesize
relevant findings in his/her own writing without plagiarizing.
6. Work effectively with fellow students and the instructor in providing and receiving written and
verbal feedback on assigned work.
7. Write a coherent in-class response to an assigned question or topic.
The focus of this course is on practice and improvement in writing. You will do a lot of writing
both in and out of class; in-class exercises will involve a workshop atmosphere where we will
have class discussions, informal writing sessions, work in smaller groups analyzing reading
assignments and reviewing/workshopping drafts of peer work. Interaction regarding student
writing will vary and may include in-class collaborative group work, online grammar and writing
mechanics exercises, instructor/student conferencing (in person and/or online), student/student
peer review, and tutorial feedback and assistance when available. During the semester, the
classroom is your collaborative workroom where you will discuss and improve your work in
different stages of the writing process with myself as well as with peer group members. We will
be sharing and commenting on each other's work with "the recognition that writers work
collaboratively in communities and draw on help from others who are working in the same
community" (Professor Joy Marsella).
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND POLICIES:
Papers:
There will be four formal paper assignments, which total at least 5,000 words of finished prose
equivalent to approximately 20 typewritten/printed pages of graded/evaluated written work. How
to get the best grade on your papers:

All four paper assignments must be turned in by the assignment deadline in order to
receive a passing grade for the course (any missed paper assignment will result in an
automatic failing grade for the course).
Due dates are absolute; no late papers will be accepted without an excused absence.
Exceptions are made only through documented excused absences and/or instructor
permission.
I will lower a half grade for each day your paper is late, even if I decide to accept a late
paper.
You are required to have an individual conference with me to discuss drafts for Paper #4.
You are welcome to schedule additional conferences for other papers, if you so desire;
individual conferences for assistance on all paper assignments are encouraged.
Writing mechanics (i.e., grammar, spelling, punctuation, and formatting) count as part of
your grade, so make sure you proofread for mechanical errors carefully before turning in
your paper.
Multiple drafts of each formal paper assignment are required; drafts are part of
your overall grade for each paper assignment and must be workshopped in class

during all scheduled workshop sessions to receive full credit for the assignment (one
full letter grade will be deducted if draft is not workshopped in class for all
scheduled sessions).
Brainfuse tutor feedback on drafts of major papers also count as required workshop
credit (extra credit if done more than once for each paper assignment). Paper
assignments will not be read or evaluated without Brainfuse feedback submitted
with the final draft.
Any assigned in-class writing, unannounced reading quizzes, or other activities cannot be
made up if you are absent that day.
All papers (including drafts) must be typed/computer printed, double-spaced, on one side
of an 8 1/2" by 11" sheet of white paper, using MLA format. A title and page numbers are
also required for each major writing assignment.

Revisions of Major Writing Assignments:

You may have one opportunity to revise papers #1-3 for a higher grade, under the following
conditions:
1) Revision must be turned in no later than two weeks after I return your graded paper to
you.
2) It must be a substantial revision. This means more than correcting editing errors. This
means a thorough rethinking and reworking of the ideas, organization, clarification, use of
research sources, etc. of the paper.
3) You must conference with me prior to turning in a revision.
4) You must resubmit the original graded paper with your revision.
5) Your grade for the revision will be your final recorded grade for the assignment.
Writing Logs:
Each student is required to keep a writing log in preparation for the final paper. Writing logs will
be collected three times during the semester and will be worth a maximum of 55 points.
(I will discuss this in greater detail as we go over a more detailed description handout.)
Writing Support Assistance:
Students who may be identified as having significant and/or persistent writing issues (i.e.,
grammar and/or punctuation problems, sentence clarity/fluency problems, awkward syntax or
wording, etc.), which may be getting in the way of clear and coherent meaning of ideas in their
papers, may be directed to work with a writing support peer mentor who is available in the
Kahikoluamea Center (Iliahi 231, second floor above Subway) and in Lama Library (first floor).
There are also online tutoring services available at Brainfuse (log in through your myuh account,
click on My Tools, and then click on the Brainfuse selection) which may be used as an option.
Extra credit will be awarded to students who meet with a tutor at least one time for each major
paper assignment; students must meet with the tutor no fewer than four times throughout the
semester outside of class in order to receive full extra credit points.
Attendance and Participation:
Since this is not a lecture-based format, attendance and class participation are important required

elements of this class. Attendance is recorded, and after three absences or late attendance, I will
begin to deduct semester points. On your third unexcused absence I will email a reminder;
four or more unexcused absences will reduce your semester grade by one full letter (e.g., B
to C); subsequent unexcused absences will result in a one letter grade reduction for each
missed class. Neither work nor social events such as family vacations, campus tours, weddings,
etc., count as excused absences. Class participation includes contributing to class and small
group activities and discussions and actively helping your classmates during workshop sessions.
If you are absent or late frequently, it will affect your overall grade; if you are ten or more
minutes late to class, it will be counted as an unexcused absenceexcessive late attendance
will result in a full letter grade deduction in class participation (five or more late attendance
days). Leaving class early is not permitted, and coming to class without the textbook, or
reading/writing assignment required for that day will also lower your participation grade. See
Participation Handout for specific criteria. If you miss a class, you are responsible for getting any
of the missed course information and/or material (handouts, class announcements, etc.) which
may be held by the instructor or posted on Laulima. Failure to attend class in the first week of the
semester without informing the instructor may result in you being disenrolled.
Plagiarism:
Stealing words or ideas from a fellow student or any other source (printed or from the internet) is
comparable to stealing propertyintellectual property. Plagiarism also includes submitting a
paper for more than one class without instructor permission. Plagiarism is a violation of
university regulations and those who plagiarize can be called to formal hearings of the KCC
Student Conduct Committee (please refer to the KCC Student Conduct Code in the course
catalog). The first incident of plagiarism will result in an F for the assignment. The second
incident will result in an F for the course, and may be addressed through broader university
policies and reported to the Office of Judicial Affairs for adjudication.
GRADING/EVALUATION IS BASED ON:
1) Consistent and prompt attendance and active class participation.
2) Completion and preparation of all reading assignments.
3) Performance on unannounced quizzes (no make-up quizzes), chapter or online homework,
writing logs, and all formal written assignments.
4) Presentation of assigned reading selection.
5) Oral presentation on the final Paper #4, which will be part of the overall grade.
6) In-class response essay
GRADES:
Your final course grade will be based on an accumulation of a maximum of 455 points. Semester
grades will use a standard scale: 90-100%= A; 80-89%= B; 70-79%= C; 60-69%= D; below
60%= F.
Papers (35, 45, 55, 65)

=200

In-Class Response Essay

Writing Logs
Presentation of reading selection
Final Paper Oral Report
Quizzes (no make-up quizzes allowed)
Homework Exercises
Participation
Total

15, 20, 20 per collection

20 points
35 points

= 35
= 55
= 20
= 15
= 50
= 25
= 35
=455

Student Responsibility: In the classroom, in seminars, in conferences, or other instructional

setting, all Kapiolani Community College students are expected to adhere to the highest
academic standards of behavior and conduct. Therefore, student responsibilities include, but are
not limited to the following:
Students are responsible for checking their hawaii.edu email account regularly, along with
the Eng. 100 (34173/34174) course homepage on Laulima daily. Any changes to the daily
coursework such as additional homework assignments, course material, and class
announcements will be posted in the Announcements and/or Resources section on Laulima
and/or emailed to students directly. Any missed coursework due to students failure to
check UH email and the Laulima course page on a daily basis (including weekends and
holidays) will result in no credit for the assignment.
All class activities and discussions (including student/instructor and student/tutor conferences)
will be conducted with courtesy and respect for each individual in the course. Any student
conducting him/herself outside of this policy may be in violation of the UH Student Conduct
Code, and thus will be addressed accordingly (please refer to KCCs Student Conduct Code in the
course catalog). In addition, all cell phones and other electronic devices must be turned off during
class sessions; if ringing cell phones, texting, and surfing the net become a problem in class,
bringing such devices to class will be prohibited for the remainder of the semester. Also, the use
of laptop computers/tablets in class is permitted only if it is directly utilized to carry out specific
coursework as directed by the instructor for the class session; any other use of laptops in class is
prohibited and bringing computers to class will be discontinued if there is evidence of student
misuse.

Disability Support Services: If you are a student with a documented disability and have not
voluntarily disclosed the nature of your disability so that we may coordinate the accommodations
you need, you are invited to contact the Disability Support Services Office in Ilima 107, ph. 7349552, or email kapdss@hawaii.edu for assistance. For students whose primary disability is Deaf
or hard of hearing, contact the KCC Deaf Center, Manono 102, ph. 734-9210 (V) or 447-1379
(videophone).
COUNSELING SUPPORT: Kahikoluamea Center

To support your success in college, counselors are available to answer your questions and to help
you make the most of the resources KCC has to offer, plan for the future, and discover the best
ways for you to meet your goals. During the semester, personal situations may develop that
interfere with your academic goals. Kahikoluamea counselors are available to help you resolve
these issues so that you can get back on track with your studies. You can continue to see your
current academic counselor or a Kahikoluamea counselor listed below. Please feel free to phone,
drop by the center, email, or schedule an appointment in advance.
Regina Ewing:
Kristie Malterre:
Ana Bravo:
Sharoh Moore

rewing@hawaii.edu
kristies@hawaii.edu
abravo@hawaii.edu
sharoh@hawaii.edu

734-9506
734-9344
734-9339
734-9450

Iliahi 231
Iliahi 231
Iliahi 231
Iliahi 230

Four Major Paper Due Dates:

Thurs. 2/19
Tues. 10/17
Thurs. 4/16
Tues. 5/5

Paper IValue Argument (Popular Culture Analysis)

Paper IICause and Effect Argument (Humankind and the Planet)
Paper IIIProblem-Solution Argument (Public Policy)
Paper IVResearch-Based Argument on Sustainability (Four Pillars of
Sustainability)

Midterm In-Class Essay (Digital Nation): 3/31 (Tuesday)