ENG 111: Principles of Effective Writing I
Lehman College, CUNY, Fall 2021
Tim Dalton, Graduate Teaching Fellow | [email protected]
Class #57962 (3 credits), Online | “Live” Hours: M/W 9:00a-10:40a (class)
Zoom link: https://ccny.zoom.us/j/4537798403 (Yes, that’s a City College Zoom link. Long story.)
Student Hours: M/W 10:45a-11:30 and by app’t on Zoom.
Course Description
From the college catalog: ENG 111: Principles of Effective Writing I. 3 hours, 3 credits. Focus on all aspects of reading and writing, with particular attention to summary, critical responses to short texts, argumentative development in paragraphs and essays, and the rewriting process. Emphasis on organization, language, accuracy, grammar, and mechanics. Classroom instruction supplemented by individual conferences on drafts with instructor, library resources sessions, and appropriate use of available technology. Note: All students, unless exempted, must pass this course in fulfillment of the Common Core Requirement in English Composition. Students who take but do not pass this course should repeat it the following semester. Students who pass ENG 111 proceed to ENG 121 the following semester.
Section Description
In this section of ENG 111, we turn our reading, writing, and thinking skills on the book group. We’ll examine this cultural phenomenon using a range of academic tools, including research, observation, and interviews. We’ll be writing, editing, and discussing topics related to identity. The memoirs you’ll choose from this semester explore various aspects of identity: race, gender, sexuality, and place. In “book clubs” you’ll read either Heavy by Kiese Laymon (2018), Ordinary Girls by Jaquira Diaz (2019), or Fairest by Meredith Talusan (2020). At the end of the semester, you’ll draw on reflections conducted throughout to advise a future group of ENG 111 students about this very process.
Course Learning Objectives
Goals
- Write analytically and creatively—express ideas clearly and incisively in writing in ways required both inside and outside of the academy.
- Effectively use a range of writing, reading, and research strategies applicable to multiple disciplines.
Objectives
- Students will be Introduced to the skills of the discipline and be able to:
- Compose a well-constructed essay that develops a clearly defined claim of interpretation which is supported by close textual reading.
- Employ effective rhetorical strategies in order to persuasively present ideas and perspectives.
- Utilize literary terminology, critical methods, and various lenses of interpretation in their writing.
- Adhere to the formatting and documenting conventions of our discipline.
- Locate and critically evaluate print and electronic sources.
- Students will have the following skills Introduced and/or Reinforced in the coursework and they will be able to:
- Integrate primary and secondary sources into their writing.
- Employ methods of active reading, including annotating, summarizing, questioning and synthesizing.
- Utilize current technologies to assist in the research and presentation of critical and creative writing.
- Students are Expected to have knowledge of the following skills which will be Reinforced in the coursework and they will be able to:
- Apply the rules of English grammar.
3: Required Texts
Heavy by Kiese Laymon [Powell’s | Bookshop.Org] OR
Ordinary Girls by Jaquira Diaz (in English) [Powell’s | Bookshop.Org] OR
Muchachas Ordinarias by Jaquira Diaz (in Spanish) [Powell’s | Bookshop.Org] OR
Fairest by Meredith Talusan [Powell’s | Bookshop.Org]
Note that these books were ordered to the Lehman bookstore earlier this summer. Because they were listed earlier this week as “Out of Stock,” I have provided links to Powell’s City of Books and Bookshop.Org. Any means of acquiring your chosen text in any format is OK.
Content Note: These books at times describe lived experiences sometimes directly shaped by racism, sexism, violence, poverty, mental illness, and addiction. Each book is a beautifully written, important work by an exciting, living American writer. That said, I recognize that some passages may be hard for some readers. We can adjust as needed.
College Resources
COVID-19 has made college a different place. Below are a few college resources with remote services available. I’m hopeful this information helps you navigate this semester more smoothly. For many of these transactions, you’ll need to know your EMPL / CUNY ID. You might also need to use your Lehman email address.
- For online tutoring, fill out this form
- For virtual counseling services, email the Counseling Center or call them at 718-960-8761.
- For a list of the advising and student support resources available to first-year Lehman students, go here.
- For general information on COVID-related resources and information at Lehman, go here.
- For ways to use the Lehman library services remotely, go here. Check your Lehman email for updates on the library’s reopening plan.
- For tech support, contact IT. There’s a Lehman app for Apple and Android devices.
