English Composition 1
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Unit 4: Persuasive Essay on a Controversial Topic (March 23 to April 12)
Click assignment links below to access the assignments.
Below is a summary of the assignments and due dates for this unit. See below for assignment descriptions.
- Monday, March 27: Reading Assignment and Quiz due
- Friday, March 31: Reading Assignment 2 and Exercise due
- Monday, April 3: Discussion Assignment due
- Tuesday, April 4: Essay Draft for Peer Critique due
- Friday, April 7: Peer Critiques of Essays due
- Wednesday, April 12: Revised Draft of Essay 4 due
Important: You will need to use, cite, and document sources for Essay 4 and will need to include a "Works Cited" page with your essay. Please read the information carefully on and linked to the Essay Assignment 4 page, especially the information on researching your topic and using, citing, and documenting material from sources, and make sure to ask in WebBoard if you have any questions!
Please review the assignments listed below to help ensure that you complete all assignments on time (and you might print this page to help you keep track of assignments). You may submit an assignment earlier than the due date, but the due date is the latest that an assignment may be submitted.
As indicated elsewhere, you should expect to spend 6 to 9 hours a week on the course. This unit spans about three weeks, so you should plan to spend about 18 to 27 hours on the assignments below. Essay Assignment 4 is the major assignment for this unit.
Unless indicated otherwise, assignments are due by 10:00 p.m. on the due dates.
1. Reading Assignment 1 and Quiz
Due Date: Monday, March 27
- Selection from Ch. 12: Persuading (243-269)
- Unit 4 Quiz (Click the link to access the quiz.)
This quiz is over material in the reading assignment above. Of course, use your textbook as you are completing the quiz. There is no limit to the number of times you may access the quiz, but you may submit your responses only once. Access the quiz with your seven-digit IVCC student ID number, which is posted in your private conference area of WebBoard.
2. Reading Assignment 2 and Exercise
Due Date: Friday, March 31
- Using Sources Effectively (the practice quiz linked on this page is similar to the Unit 4 exercise)
- Citing Sources
- Understanding and Avoiding Plagiarism
- Unit 4 Exercise (Click the link to access the exercise.)
The exercise presents several sentences that use and cite material from a source. For each sentence, you need to identify the error or weakness in the use or citation of the material. The information covered by on the web pages linked above will help you with this assignment.
Read the instructions at the top of the exercise carefully. There is no limit to the number of times you may access the exercise, but you may submit your responses only once. Access the exercise with your seven-digit IVCC student ID number, which is posted in your private conference area of WebBoard.
3. Discussion Assignment
Due Date: Monday, April 3
- Discussion Assignment (Click the link to access WebBoard.)
You will need to post at least four messages in WebBoard:
- at least one message explaining your topic, your position on that topic, and some of the reasons for your position; and
- at least three messages responding to the topics and positions on those topics posted by other members of the class.
Make sure to post your first message on your own topic early in the discussion period so that other members of the class will have time to respond to your topic.
Four messages is just the minimum requirement: posting more messages will help you earn a higher grade. You should enter WebBoard and begin posting comments as early as possible. The discussion assignment requires interaction with other students, so please do not wait until the last day or two to post all or most of your messages to the discussion. (Read the instructions in WebBoard carefully.)
4. Draft of Essay 4 for Peer Critique
Due Date: Tuesday, April 4
- Essay Assignment 4 (Click the link to access the Essay 4 assignment.)
You will need to post a draft of your Essay 4 in WebBoard. The draft needs to be at least 500 words. This draft will not be graded, but you will receive feedback on your draft from other students in the class, helping you strengthen your essay as you continue to revise it. Post your draft as an attachment to a message in the "Drafts for Peer Critique" area of the Unit 4 conference in WebBoard.
5. Peer Critiques of Essay 4
Due Date: Friday, April 7
- Peer Critiques of Essay 4 (Click the link to access WebBoard.)
You will be assigned two essays written by other students to critique. Your comments should help other students identify the strengths of their drafts and identify ways that the essays could be stronger. (The peer critiques are graded. Offer as many constructive comments as you can.)
6. Revised Draft of Essay 4
Due Date: Wednesday, April 12
- Revised Draft of Essay 4 (Click the link to access the Essay 4 assignment.)
This is the version of your essay that will be collected and graded. The minimum required length for the essay is 700 words. Post your essay as an attachment to a message in the "Revised Drafts" area of the Unit 4 conference in WebBoard.
Questions?
Of course, just ask if you have any questions about the assignments on this page.