Encouraging you to look beneath the surface to engage

encouraging you to look beneath the surface, to engage complexity and to entertain multiple
perspectives, as well as to identify and acknowledge biases and assumptions.
Required Assignments

Individual Writing: In addition to the diagnostic essay assigned in the first week of class, students
will produce one major writing assignment during each of the three units. Each piece of writing will be
taken through a process of drafting, revision, and/or reflection, which may include preliminary drafts,
guided revision, peer review, and critical self-assessment. Major writing assignments in each unit
should grow out of and evidence the critical thinking and reading that occurs during the unit.
Secondary research should be fully documented with in-text citations and a works cited page. In
addition to the major writing assignments, students will also be expected to practice writing through
various class activities; these may include discussion boards, written responses inside and outside of
class, peer review, and other class activities.
o
Unit I: An argumentative writing diagnostic essay during Week 1 ( due August 30 via
Assignment Box), and a reflective and/or experiential narrative that may incorporate
observational evidence (3 pages or 750-1000 words), due September 18 .
o
Unit II: A piece of writing that puts textual materials (at least one of which is a written text) in
conversation and engages in summary, evaluation, and analysis (4-5 pages or 1000-1250
words ), due October 30 .
o
Unit III: A piece of writing that makes a claim and that incorporates multiple outside texts (4-6
pages or 1000-1500 words), due November 27 .

Oral Communication: Each student will complete one formal collaborative oral presentation (during
Unit I) and one individual formal oral presentation (during Unit III). Students will also frequently be
asked to share ideas, writing, summaries of group discussions, and responses to assignments or
class activities with the rest of the class.

Class Participation and Collaborative Work: Students will work collaboratively with their
classmates throughout the semester on a variety of activities both in and out of class which may
include oral presentations, peer review, discussion board topics, and other unit assignments.

End of course portfolio: Students will be asked to compile at least three pieces of writing that
demonstrate student learning and compose a text that reflects on the student’s process of thinking,
writing, and learning over the course of the semester. These components will be submitted via
Blackboard’s Content System in the Portfolio section and will be shared with the instructor. This
portfolio will be evaluated as an integral part of the student’s final grade. Students cannot exit UNIV
111 without successful completion of a portfolio.