English 140 Instructor Resources

Introduction

The goal of 140 is to transition students from their high school writing practices to college level writing, specifically the academic argumentative writing they will be required to do at Rollins. The course fulfills the W(riting) general education requirement as published in the General Education Requirements, Goals and Means of Assessments by the Dean of Faculty:

The communication of ideas, information, poetry, stories, intent, and even culture itself has been dependent on the ability of humans effectively to store facts and convert thoughts to written language. The ability to communicate ideas and information in writing is at the core of a liberal arts education and is essential for active citizenship. In covering both academic and (to a lesser degree) familiar writing, the W course focuses on understanding rhetorical strategies. Students will read the texts of others and learn to shape their own meanings by writing and editing a variety of forms.

• Goal: Upon completion of this requirement, students will be able to write essays developing complex ideas on academic subjects, characterized by unity, order, coherence, completeness, clarity, and mechanical correctness.
• Standard: Individual faculty will design course-specific methods for assessing how a particular section meets the goals established in the guidelines of the general education curriculum. Each time they teach the W, faculty will document assessment procedures and results for the goal through the General Education Assessment Matrix.

There is a general course description for all sections of 140 in the Rollins College Catalog:

ENG 140. Composition: Writing about Selected Topics. Develops students’ ability to write college-level essays by practicing strategies of argumentation and by refining skills of invention, completeness, clarity, and mechanical correctness. In order to satisfy the College’s general education requirement for ‘W’riting, students must receive a grade of ‘C’ or better in the course. Students may take E140 a second time for credit, so long as a different topic is selected. Section topics are designated by individual instructors.

Be sure to read our course policies for more details.

Course Design

While instructors choose their own course topic and readings, there is a general design for the course that revolves around a sequence of three major papers: rhetorical analysis, synthesis analysis, and research-based argument. The papers build upon one another, asking the students to demonstrate more sophisticated rhetorical skills as they move through the sequence. See the course organizational chart for more detail.

Also be sure to look over the index of sample assignments if you would like to see model syllabi, descriptions of assignments, etc.

Targeted Concepts and Skills

Argumentation

• rhetorical situation of an argument, that is the exigence or problem being addressed (purpose or goal), the audience, and constraints
• parts of an argument: claims, evidence, warrants and how they are related means of persuasion
  • ethos: the credibility, moral authority or voice of the author
  • logos: the logical reasoning of the argument
  • pathos: appeals to the emotions of the audience
• how the rhetorical situation informs specific argumentative strategies in the text
• reading critically with an understanding of the rhetorical strategies used in a text
• inductive and deductive reasoning
• logical fallacies
• inventional strategies for argument development (brainstorming, mapping, etc.)

• global organization and coherence revealing a clear line of argument
• local coherence and cohesion
• signaling argument structure to reader through forecasting and transitions
• concise, active prose
• writing as an iterative process; revising and editing

Mechanics

• grammatical correctness
• use and citation of sources (MLA or APA)
• academic formatting of assignments (MLA or APA)

Research

• using library and web for research
• distinguishing quality of sources

• Textbooks & Handbooks
• Useful Links
• Sample Syllabi, Assignments, Grade Sheets