Northland Community and Technical College
College Composition I – College in the High
School
COURSE:
College Composition I
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION:
Instructor Kurt Reynolds
Classroom Room 211
Phone 681-7432 ext. 211
Email kreynolds@trf.k12.mn.us
Web page http://www.trf.k12.mn.us/se3bin/clientgenie.cgi?
statusFlag=goGenie
&schoolname=school394&geniesite=241
TEXT:
Writers Inc: Write for College: A Student Handbook, by Patrick Sebranek, Verne
Meyer, and Dave Kemper
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course will introduce the student to college-level writing through a focus on
descriptive, narrative, expository, and analytical essays. The course will also include one
research paper in which the student must use appropriate documentation. In addition to
writing themes, students will be expected to participate in editing groups as they use the
writing process.
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES:
Write eight themes. All eight must be handed in or you cannot pass the course.
Take all tests and complete all homework assignments.
Participate by being in class and taking part in all editing group sessions and class
discussions.
GRADES:
Students must meet all requirements and hand in all themes in order to pass the course.

The following will be used to figure the final grade:
theme #1–#9 55%
theme #10 (research) 25%
homework/participation 10 %
dailies 10%
ATTENDANCE:
Regular attendance is required and necessary to succeed in this course. If a student must
miss a class, it is the responsibility of that student to get and complete all assignments.
Students cannot receive credit for any work missed due to an unexcused absence.
You will be given a limit of three ‘excused absences.’ Once you exceed those, you will
need to write an essay of no less than B quality, to receive credit for the day’s assignments
that you missed. So if you use your three excused absences up, you will need to write
essays for each and every class period you miss after that.
If you have a CELL PHONE, please turn it off and keep it out of sight during class. If I
see it, you get one warning - good for the entire class. The next time I see it, I confiscate it
for the day. You can pick it up after school. If I see it again, your parent/guardian must
pick it up.
WARNING:
This is a college level class. Your work is expected to be of university level quality. If it is
not, your grade will be affected. I will work with you all I can to get you to write at a
college level; however, the onus is on you to put in the time and effort.
I look forward to working with and learning from you.
Week 1
introduction to course
course syllabus
authors/novels for research paper
30 minute writing assignment
introduce the writing process (003-039 Write for College)
in-class exercise: give sample paper for groups to edit/revise/publish
introduce description (176-180 and 052-054 Write for College)
figurative language (similes/metaphors)
sensory writing
strong, vivid verbs/specific adverbs and adjectives
share sample papers
Brainstorm topic for theme #1 (description)

Week 2
review “A Guide to Prewriting” (017-024 Write for College)
topic due on Monday
brainstorm associated words (focus on sensory details)
10 minute free write using as many of the brainstormed words as possible
introduce the writing process (003-039 Write for College)
outline theme #1 (refer to 116 Write for College) due on Tuesday
rough draft due Wednesday, beginning of class
group editing/revising of theme #1
theme #1 due Friday
Week 3
introduce theme #2 narrative writing (145-161 Write for College)
20 minute free write
theme #1 conferences on Wednesday
brainstorm narrative topics (topic due Thursday)
outline theme #2 due end of class Thursday
rough draft due Friday, beginning of class
group editing/revising of theme #2
Week 4
revision of theme #2 due Monday; group edit
theme #2 due Tuesday
rewrite of theme #1 due Wednesday
introduce theme #3 persuasive writing (222-243 Write for College)
brainstorm persuasive topics (topic due Friday)
20 minute free write
research topic
Week 5
read “Thinking Through and Argument (244-246 Write for College)
outline of theme #3 (personal commentary or position paper) due Tuesday
rough draft due Wednesday, beginning of class; group edit
theme #2 conferences on Thursday
Week 6
revision of theme #3 due Monday; group edit
theme #3 due Tuesday
read “Analytical Writing” (187-192 Write for College)
Introduce theme #4 (how to paper)
brainstorm topics
20 minute free write
rewrite of theme #2 due Thursday
topic/outline theme #4 due Friday

Week 7
rough draft due Monday, beginning of class; group edit
theme #3 conferences on Tuesday
revision of theme #4 due Wednesday; group edit
theme #4 due Thursday
Novel #1 test Friday
Week 8
rewrite of theme #3 due Monday
introduce theme #5 (movie review)
read “Writing a Review” (256-262 Write for College)
watch & discuss movie
Week 9
re-watch parts of movie
theme #4 conferences on Tuesday
outline theme #5 due Wednesday; conference with teacher
rough draft due Thursday, beginning of class; group edit
no school Friday (teacher inservice)
Week 10
rewrite of theme #4 due Monday
revision of theme #5 due Tuesday; group edit
theme #5 due Wednesday
read “Writing About Literature” (263-273 Write for College)
Assign short story for theme #6 (literary analysis)
Week 11
discuss short story (focus on character)
20 minute free write on one character
theme #5 conferences Tuesday
read “Tips for Writing a Thesis Statement” (288 Write for College)
thesis/outline theme #6 due Wednesday; conference with teacher
no school Thursday or Friday (Thanksgiving)
Week 12
rewrite of theme #5 due Monday
read “Writing Responsibly” (294-310 Write for College)
rough draft due Wednesday, beginning of class; group edit
conference with teacher on revisions
read “Works Cited” (311 Write for College) and refer to 310-360 for documentation
examples
revision of theme #6 due Friday; group edit

Week 13
assign short story for theme #7 (literary analysis)
discuss short story (focus on theme)
20 minute free write on themes
theme #6 due Tuesday
thesis/outline theme #7 due Wednesday; conference with teacher
rough draft due Thursday, beginning of class; group edit
conference with teacher on revisions
Week 14
novel #2 test Monday
revision of theme #7 due Tuesday; group edit
theme #6 conferences on Wednesday
Introduce theme #8 research paper
read “Writing the Research Paper” (284-293 Write for College)
discuss note taking
theme #7 due Friday
Week 15
preliminary thesis statement due on Monday
research Tuesday and Wednesday
theme #7 conferences Thursday
no school Friday (holiday break begins)
Week 16
no school Monday and Tuesday
preliminary outline due on Wednesday (hand back on Thursday)
research Thursday and Friday
Week 17
continue researching
final outline due on Tuesday (hand back on Wednesday); conference with teacher
rough draft of theme #6 due (research paper)
introductory paragraph and first body paragraph due Thursday
Week 18
rough draft due Monday (hand back Tuesday)
revisions and group editing Tuesday
works cited due Wednesday
theme #8 due Thursday
course final on Friday