ENG 111 Course Intro

1. ENGLISH 111
Writing and Inquiry
Spring 2021
Ms. Lowe

2. 10 Things You
Should Know
About College
Composition

3. Key Terms:
 A TEXT is an idea/message that has
been encoded into a MEDIUM and
sent from AUTHOR to AUDIENCE with
an intended PURPOSE:
• Examples of texts: books, movies,
photographs, songs, advertisements,
games, anime, graphics, and more!
 A MEDIUM is the means by which a
text is communicated.
• Examples of media: printed, written,
spoken, still images, music, dance,
video/film, broadcasted, sung, podcast,
forums, and much more!
 COMPOSITION/WRITING is the act of
encoding an idea into a medium.
 READING is the act of analyzing and
comprehending an idea.

4. 1. Versatility:
Composition is
flexible,
adaptable, and
creative.
 Old way of thinking:
o “writing a paper”
 New way of thinking:
o “composing a text”
Why?
 Composition is a CREATIVE ACT,
not just dragging a pencil across a
sheet of paper.
 TEXT has become a larger, more
inclusive category.
 In this class we will learn how to
read and respond to
nontraditional texts.

5. 2. Process:
Composition Is a
Process—not only
the end-product
 Pre-writing
 Drafting
 Peer Revision
 Editing
 Publishing
• Sharing your work;
delivering a text to its
intended audience
 Reflecting
• What have I learned
from composing this
text? How has it
changed me?

6. 3. Social:
Composition
happens in a
community.
• The myth of the lone-
wolf, genius author,
writing a perfect text on
the first try:
• This isn’t reality!
• Composing is
collaborative and
conversational
• That’s why we do these
things:
• Partner, group, and whole
class activities
• Peer revision
• Participation grade

7. 4. Recursive:
Composition is
Practice
• That’s why we do the
following:
• In-class writing
• Homework grade
• Multiple essays with drafts
and revisions
• It might feel repetitive. It’s
practice! It's recursive:
• Compare it to playing a
sport, learning a music
instrument, or acquiring a
foreign language

8. 5. Conversational:
Composition is
participation and
discourse.
 Discourse: the academic
“conversation” between
texts on a particular topic
 Students are participants of
and contributors to
academic discourse.
 The texts we compose
“talk” to each other.
 This is why we incorporate
outside sources in
academic writing.

9. 6. Experience:
You Already
Compose.
A LOT!
1) You have more experience reading
& composing than you probably
give yourself credit for.
2) It doesn’t have to take place in a
classroom, for a grade, to “count.”
3) As a society, we are composing
more now than ever before.
4) Examples of what composing
looks like in 2021:
 Emails
 Texts
 Social media posts
o Instagram, Facebook, Twitter,
SnapChat, TikTok, etc.
 Telling a story to a friend
 Introducing yourself on the first
day of class
 Writing out your shopping list

10. 7. Feedback:
Composition is
Responding to
Feedback.
• Responding to feedback from
peers
• Responding to feedback from
your instructor
• Sharing work with the outside
world
• Receiving feedback from a real
audience
• Boss/co-worker
• Publisher/editor
• Significant other

11. 8. Teaching:
Composition Can
Be Taught!
1) Breaking down the process
into small yet connected
pieces
2) Analyzing and practicing
different styles of writing
3) Studying examples of
authentic student writing
4) Drafting essays in class with
instructor support
5) Improving via the feedback-
revision cycle
6) Expanding vocabulary via the
reading-writing cycle

12. 9. Empowerment!
Composition Is
Empowering!
 To use our skills to make the
world a better place
 To be understood; to
understand others
 To investigate others’ claims
 To keep track of those in power
 To achieve professional goals

13. 10. Requirement:
Love it or Hate it,
Composition Is
a Requirement for
Almost
Every College Program!
 If you’re going to take the time
to be here, why not do your
best?
 Make connections between
English class and your chosen
career.
 When possible, choose topics of
professional or personal interest.
 Make it count!