Writing 1 Syllabus
Semester 1 (Fall, 2012)
Tammy Prichard (tamprichard@gmail.com)
Class Blogsite:
www.chatwriting1.blogspot.com
Resources:
·
Animal Farm
(George Orwell) (Note: If you have a copy of this book, the supply
fee will be reduced.)
·
A Christmas Carol (Charles Dickens, Dover
Publications) (Note: the tutor will
purchase this book)
·
various
worksheets and handouts
Objectives:
Literature
In his book, Animal
Farm, George Orwell not only tells an engaging story, but he forces his
readers to think critically about government systems, class, status, and
hypocrisy. While we read this book,
we’ll discuss the historical context, the implied meanings and themes, and the many
literary techniques that have caused this book to become a classic. We’ll read the Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol, at the end of the
term.
Writing
The students will write 4 papers for this class. We’ll focus on developing clear thesis
statements, building strong sentences, selecting the best words, understanding
organizational techniques, and revising and editing strategies. For the first two papers, we’ll use a 2-step
process (rough draft to final copy) because they will be shorter and less
formal. The final two papers will be longer
and will follow a 3-step process (pre-writing to rough draft to final copy).
Grammar
Many of the students have covered the basics of
grammar. As we write and put our grammar
to use, we’ll discover what areas need to be reviewed and worked on. The class will start with some basics and
move into some areas that are more complex. I’ve left open space on the
syllabus so that I can focus on specific areas that appear in their writing.
Initial Draft – Subject to change
Week
|
Literature
|
Writing
|
1
|
Introduction to Animal Farm
|
|
2
|
Preface & Introduction
|
Observation Rough Draft
|
3
|
Chapters I & II
|
|
4
|
Chapters III & IV
|
Observation Final Copy
|
5
|
Chapters V & VI
|
Personal History Rough
Draft
|
6
|
Chapters VII & VIII
|
|
7
|
Chapters IX & X
|
Personal History Final Copy
|
8
|
Character Presentations
|
Biography Pre-Write
|
9
|
Final for Animal Farm
|
Biography Rough Draft
|
10
|
Christmas Carol
Introduction
|
|
11
|
Stave One
|
Biography Final Copy
|
12
|
Stave Two
|
History Pre-Write
|
13
|
Stave Three
|
History Rough Draft
|
14
|
Stave Four
|
|
15
|
Final Exam
|
History Final Copy
|
Writing 1 Syllabus
Semester 2
Tammy Prichard (tamprichard@gmail.com)
Resources:
·
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. (Robert Louis
Stevenson, Dover Publications)
·
The Gift of the Magi and Other Short Stories. (O. Henry, Dover Publications)
·
Great Short Poems (Philip Smith, ed., Dover Publications)
Objectives:
Literature
As we read Stevenson’s classic, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, we will specifically study
the character development and themes of the book. Not only is this book thought-provoking, it
is well-crafted and artful.
Writing
The students will write 3 papers for this class. The essays for this semester will include
some a journalistic-type paper and a literary analysis. The first assignment will be a non-fiction,
thesis-driven narrative essay. The second
paper will be an analytical response to our literature. The third paper will require some
research for a news story. All of these papers will follow the 3-step
process (pre-writing to rough draft to final copy). The final paper will be a re-write of any of
the papers that they’ve written this year.
“There is no such thing as good writing, only good rewriting.”
(Louis D. Brandeis)
Grammar
We will continue to study grammar, paying special
attention to building strong, clear, accurate sentences. Again, the open spaces on the syllabus leave
room to work on weak areas.
Initial Draft – Subject to change
Week
|
Literature
|
Writing
|
1
|
Introduction to The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr.
Hyde
|
|
2
|
Jekyll/Hyde: Ch. 1 - 2
|
Narrative Essay Pre-Write
|
3
|
Jekyll/Hyde: Ch. 3 – 4
|
Narrative Essay Rough Draft
|
4
|
Jekyll/Hyde: Ch. 5 – 6
|
|
5
|
Jekyll/Hyde: Ch. 7 – 8
|
Narrative Essay Final Copy
|
6
|
Jekyll/Hyde: Ch. 9 – 10
|
Theme & Character
Pre-Write
|
7
|
Jekyll/Hyde: Ch. 11 – 12
|
Theme & Character Rough
Draft
|
8
|
Short Stories
|
|
9
|
Short Stories
|
Theme & Character Final Copy
|
10
|
Short Stories
|
News Story Pre-Write
|
11
|
Short Stories
|
News Story Rough Draft
|
12
|
American Poetry
|
|
13
|
American Poetry
|
News Story Final Copy
|
14
|
American Poetry &
Poetry Presentations
|
Re-Write
|
15
|
Poetry Presentations &
Final Exam
|
