GNED 1401081 course outline 1

MOUNT ROYAL UNIVERSITY

Department of English
Course Outline
GENERAL EDUCATION 1401: Critical Writing and Reading
dually designated with
ENGLISH 1101: Critical Writing and Reading
Instructor: Karen Overbye
Phone: 403 440-5927 (shared phone)
E-mail: koverbye@mtroyal.ca
Office: EA 3158
Office Hours: MW 4:15-5:45 p.m. and by
appt.

Semester: Winter 2015

Section: 081
Classrooms: M-EA2059, W-EA2015
Meeting Times: MW 6:00-7:50 p.m.

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION
(3 credits) 4 hours lecture
This foundational composition course offered by the Department of English focuses on effective writing
styles for academic and wider social contexts. Students will respond to texts pertaining to a variety of
disciplines and develop critical reading and thinking skills. Students will also refine their understanding
and practice of the structures of writing.
PREREQUISITES
The minimum entrance requirement is a grade of C or higher in English 0212 (formerly ENGL
1112), or a minimum mark of 60% in ELA 30-1 (or ENGL 0130).
LEARNING AIMS
GNED 1401/ENGL 1101 focuses on the university-wide learning aims as identified in the current Mount
Royal University Calendar. Students exiting GNED 1401/ENGL 1101 should be able to
respond to and engage critically with a wide range of texts;
identify a readings central message, distinguishing between key points and
supporting details;
use correct grammatical form;
write effective and well-organized essays;
identify and analyze the logical and persuasive strategies used in a variety of media
(with a primary focus on written texts);
reason ethically by considering the social, cultural, and personal effects of their own
arguments on others;
synthesize research in order to create and support a clear and well-constructed
argument;
demonstrate information literacy competencies, including the ability to
research information effectively using available technologies (e.g., the
library catalogue, articles databases, and the web);
evaluate sources of information for credibility and scholarliness;
select information sources appropriate to the information need (e.g.,
reference works, monographs, articles, government documents);
document sources correctly using a recognized citation style.
All outcomes will be assessed using a variety of in-class and take-home writing assignments and a final
exam. Instructors will require students to document sources correctly.

GNED 1401081 course outline 2

NOTE: GNED 1401/ENGL 1101 is a multi-section course taught differently by each of its instructors
who use different textbooks and methods to achieve the same course objectives. Such variety serves is the
best means to enhance the learning outcomes of a diverse student population and to allow for innovations
in teaching. Assessment strategies for English courses are established by individual faculty based on their
subject expertise and teaching methodologies, with the full support of the Chair and the Department of
English.
REQUIRED TEXT AND OTHER RESOURCES
Lunsford, Andrea A. Writing in Action. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2014. Print (or electronic version).
Course Blackboard site (includes required course material and links)
STANDARD OF CORRECTNESS
The Department of English no longer uses the Minimum Standard of Correctness as part of a departmentwide grading scheme; instead, instructors may choose to use it, modify it, or create their own standard. A
modified version used in this course is available on Blackboard under Course Documents.
STANDARD OF REFERENCING
Students taking GNED 1401/ENGL 1101 will be evaluated for correctness in referencing. Although the
Department of English no longer uses the Standard of Referencing as part of a department-wide grading
scheme, we will use it as a guideline to draw attention to potential problems. See the copy available on
Blackboard under Course Documents.
MLA FORMAT FOR PAPERS
http://www.mtroyal.ca/library/files/citation/mla_research.pdf
APA FORMAT FOR PAPERS
http://www.mtroyal.ca/library/files/citation/apa.pdf
DISTRIBUTION OF MARKS
The following guidelines regarding the distribution of marks will be applied to all sections of GNED
1401/ENGL 1101:
1.

Fifty to seventy-five percent of the final grade will be based on written assignments, chiefly
persuasive.
At least one of these assignments, worth from ten to fifteen percent of the final grade, will be
written in class.
At least two of these assignments will require critical evaluation of one or more sources; this
evaluation will take the form of at least one researched paper and either a rhetorical analysis or a
literary analysis.
2.
Twenty-five percent of the final grade will be based on a final examination designed to assess
students' analytical response to and effective practice of persuasive writing.
NOTE: The approximate amount of writing in GNED 1401/ENGL 1101 ranges between 4000-5000
words, including in-class, ungraded work and the final exam.

FINAL EXAMINATION
All GNED 1401/ENGL 1101 students must write the supervised two-hour final examination
scheduled during the exam period. The policy on deferred examinations is found in the Mount Royal
University Calendar. Exam design and topic creation rests with the instructor, with the full support
of the Chair and the Department of English. A dictionary, a thesaurus, and a grammar text are
allowed as exam aids. Depending on instructors pedagogical approaches and expectations for essay
examinations, other aids may be allowed. In the case of accommodated final examinations,
Accessibility Services, in consultation with the instructors involved, will determine the appropriate
aids for students on a case-by-case basis.
GRADE ASSESSMENT
In-class work group/individual (includes participation)
Essay #1
in-class essay
Essay #2
rhetorical analysis
Essay #3
researched argument
Visual Analysis presentation
Final exam

10
10
15
30
10
25
100

GRADING SCHEME
The Department of English follows the grading system described in the MRU Calendar. For those
assignments for which the grade is expressed as a percentage, the following table of equivalents will
apply:
95 - 100
85 -94
80 - 84
77 - 79
73 - 76
70 - 72
67 - 69
63 - 66
60 - 62
55 - 59
50 - 54

A+
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D

4.00
4.00
3.70
3.30
3.00
2.70
2.30
2.00
1.70
1.30
1.00

Excellent. Superior performance, showing comprehensive understanding

of subject matter.

0 - 49

0.00

a) who do not meet the academic requirements of the course, or

Good. Clearly above average performance with knowledge of subject

matter generally complete.
Satisfactory. Basic understanding of subject matter.
Marginal performance. (Generally insufficient preparation for
subsequent courses.)
Fail. Assigned to students

b) who cease to continue in the course, but do not withdraw as per

Mount Royal University policy.
FOIP
Students should be aware that Mount Royal University operates under the Freedom of Information and
Protection of Privacy Act. Please consult the Academic Calendar for further details.

COURSE POLICIES
ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION
Students are expected to attend all classes and are responsible for all information and instruction
provided in them. Marks may be deducted for absences. My hope is that you will want to come to
every class your presence enriches everyone elses experience (i.e., you are an important part of
the classs success).
Students are expected to arrive on time for all classes, to have all the assigned
readings done beforehand, and to be prepared to participate fully in class activities.
This is essential for a good experience (and, obviously, a good participation mark).
Attendance is taken for each class.
Students are responsible for all information and assignments given during class (i.e.,
if you are absent from a class, it is up to you to find out what you missed from a
classmate).
Students who use computers or other electronic devices (including phones), in
the lab or the classroom, for anything other than class activities (including MRUrelated activities not specifically for this class, such as registering for classes,
checking other Blackboard sites, or doing other course assignments) will be
considered absent unless they have been given time specifically to use the
devices. Text-messaging activities are much more obvious than you think. I
consider you absent if you are reading messages and/or text messaging or doing
unnecessary searches during class. Using electronic devices unnecessarily in class
is disruptive to the people around you as well as sending me a message that you are
unconcerned about your performance or others (or even your grade) in this course.
Cell phones should be turned to Airplane mode rather than to vibrate so that you
arent interrupted during class (unless you have been given permission to access data
via your phone). Electronic devices are allowed for note-taking only for students
who have been granted accommodation by Accessibilities Services.
SUBMISSIONS
Essays #2 and #3 are due at the beginning of class time in electronic copy (via
Blackboard dropbox).
MISSED OR LATE ASSIGNMENTS
In-class assignments (other than the in-class essay, if documentation is provided)
cannot be made up at another time.
Students who not bring a draft of Essay # 2 or #3 to class on the date specified will
not receive a mark reduction on the paper, but they will not receive any feedback on
drafts outside of class.
Essays #2 and #3 must be accompanied by the full sources used (unless
otherwise advised) with the specific passages quoted or paraphrased highlighted
or underlined. Essays not accompanied by source material will be assigned a
grade of zero if material is not made available within the time allotted for late
assignments.
Written assignments may be submitted up to one week late without any grade
penalty, but they will receive minimal feedback and no comments on the papers
themselves. Keep in mind that feedback not only explains students grades, but also
(more importantly) provides advice for improvement. Work submitted more than a
week late will not be accepted.
No term work will be accepted after the last day of class.

OTHER

Student Learning Services (T123) provides tutoring services, free workshops, and other forms of
academic assistance to interested students. Students may book 30-minute appointments or take
advantage of 15-minute drop-in sessions. Accessibility Services (Y201) offers accommodations
and adaptive technology to eligible students. Students using Accessibility Services are
responsible for making their arrangements in a timely manner.
PLAGIARISM
Students are advised that plagiarism is a serious academic offense and are urged to refer to the
section "Academic Status - Integrity of Student Work" in the Mount Royal University Calendar
and to The Code of Student Conduct at http://mtroyal.ca/codeofstudentconduct/index.htm.
COURSE SCHEDULE
We will aim to follow the schedule for readings and due dates as closely as possible, but some
changes are inevitable (we may need to take more or less time on a particular essay or exercise,
for example). Watch for announcements on Blackboard for reminders and changes. You are
expected to look over the textbook pages and Blackboard material scheduled for each class
and read all specified essays carefully before class. Its a good idea to download the essays to
be read for class at the beginning of term in case any of them disappear from the web. ***I
have indicated section numbers rather than chapters our text has 52 sections in 10 chapters***
DAY
12

MONTH
Jan.

CLASS ACTIVITY AND ASSIGNMENTS DUE

Intro. to GNED 1401, textbook, and academic writing (sec.1 and 2, not necessary to read these
before class); brief writing assignment, take home grammar quiz and dept survey

14

Jan.

19
21

Jan.
Jan.

26
28

Jan.
Jan.

2
4

Feb.
Feb.

9
11

Feb.
Feb.

16, 18
23

Feb.
Feb.

25

Feb.

Mar.

Audience, purpose, and writing situation (sec. 4); thesis statements, paragraphing, basic
argument/academic essay structure (sec. 5); bring completed dept survey to class
Constructing arguments (sec. 11); comparison essay format and practice for in-class essay
Grammar and punctuation review; bring completed grammar quiz to class; final tips for essay
(including review of parallelism)
Essay #1 (in-class essay); topics will not be given out ahead of time
Language, sentence style and word choice (sec. 17-21); looking at Rockmores The Case for
Banning Laptops in the Classroom, paying particular attention to his use of language
Analyzing texts (sec. 9 and 10); rhetorical analysis of Moskos, In Defense of Flogging
Documentation and the Standard of Referencing (sec. 8b, 14, and 15); rhetorical analysis of
Saunders, In most places around the globe, violence has stopped making sense; sample essays;
practice in quoting and paraphrasing if time
Rhetorical analysis of King, Letter from Birmingham Jail
Rhetorical analysis of Wilkerson, Mike Browns shooting and Jim Crow lynchings have too
much in common. Its time for America to own up; referencing tips and practice
Reading Week no classes
Logic and logical fallacies (sec. 10e); rhetorical analysis of Sinek, How great leaders inspire
action
More on developing an argument that convinces audiences (sec. 11 again); using research
effectively; analyzing Elazaris Hackers: the Internets immune system
Draft of your Essay #2 is due (in hard copy and/or available electronically) for directed
self-editing
Mar.
Essay #2 and source material due;
looking at the research supporting

Mar.

Greenspan and Doobs Stephen

Harpers Scary Crime Bluster;
developing a research topic (sec. 12,
13, 14 (again), and 16 do not need
to read these sections ahead of time,
but you do need to have Greenspan
and Doobs article read)
Research session on finding good source material on your specific Essay #3 topic. Please
bring a printout or handwritten brief description of your topic. Your topic must be
approved before class begins. Because your paper will be judged partly on the quality of

11

Mar.

16

Mar.

18

Mar.

23

Mar.

25
30

Mar.
Mar.

Apr.

Apr.

your sources, make sure you come to this class.

Making the argument your own while keeping it within academic conventions; sample
essays; imagine revising Tirados This Is Why Poor People's Bad Decisions Make Perfect
Sense as an academic researched argument
Analyzing the use of research in argument (when is it necessary? How much is too much?
etc.); Pinker and Mack, The World is Not Falling Apart (skim before class); more work on
paraphrasing, quoting, and referencing (review sec. 14 and 15)
Appealing to the audience through satire; make sure you have read and are prepared to
analyze Swift, A Modest Proposal; other examples (given in class)
Analyzing visuals; sec. 4g, 8a, 8d, 9d, 10c, and 10d; more examples of satire (TBA); more
work on referencing if necessary
More practice in analyzing satiric visuals
The electronic and a hard copy of your Essay #3 draft are due for self and peer editing.
Have all your source material available.
Essay #3 due at the beginning of class; sec. 6b, creating effective presentations (including
practice)
Easter Monday (no class)

Apr.

Presentations and written responses

13
15

Apr.
Apr.

Presentations and written responses

Presentations and written responses; preparation for the final exam.