• emphasize the basics of the writing process and build upon the skills you have already developed.

• improve your ability to organize information and ideas through reading, writing, and discussion.

• help you to produce writing which demonstrates appropriate grammar, sentence structure, and usage, reflecting the mature thinking of a college student.

• help you to understand the impact of language use in a multi-cultural society and to recognize the effects of biased language on readers and writers.

• develop your ability to analyze, assess and contribute to online sources.

This course focuses on all aspects of the reading / writing process: pre-reading, pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing and publishing. Much of class time will be spent discussing, writing, and working in small groups, both offline and online. Students are strongly encouraged to use the resources of Oviatt Library and the Learning Resource Center. We will be using CSUN's Canvas and Mahara: The Writing Study electronic portfolio system.

• Three sets of "progressions," leading to academic papers (30%):
  • Literacy Narrative

  • Rhetorical Analysis

  • Textual Analysis

• E-Portfolio (10%) Includes revised paper collections, annotated bibliography, and literacy portfolio.

• Journal:
  • (25%)
    • Summaries and Responses for EACH text discussed in Canvas forums
    • 5 Progress reports.

  • (25%)
    • Reading Log: a short summary of each chapter of Ender's Shadow.
    • in-class writing assignments.

• Annotated Bibliography (5%)

• Class Participation: Students are required to fully participate in all learning activities, class discussions, and writing workshops. Other activities include timed writing essays, short writes, composition book, preparation for discussion, assigned readings and various other writing assignments. Negative points will be deducted from total class grade. Scheduled conferences are mandatory.

• Bullock, Goggin and Weinberg. The Norton Field Guide to Writing with Readings and Handbook. 4th ed. Norton, 2016.
• Card, Orson Scott. Ender's Shadow. New York: Tor, 1999.
• College level dictionary.

Required Materials:

A personal computer. While information can be accessed with a variety of devices, papers and online work cannot be completed on smart phones or tablets. Emails from smart phones are discouraged as they are rarely thoughtfully processed or clearly written.

• Composition Notebook (journal)
• Pocket Folder for class handouts
• Memory device: all work must be saved (backed-up) in a safe, stable environment until final grade is recorded.

• colored hi-liters
• post-it notes or small colored tabs