English 150. Critical Thinking and Communication. (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.SS. Prereq: Concurrent enrollment in Lib 160. Application of critical reading and thinking abilities to topics of civic and cultural importance. Introduction of basic oral, visual, and electronic communication principles to support writing development. Initiation of communication portfolio.
English 250. Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition. (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.SS. Prereq: 150 or exemption from 150; sophomore classification or exemption from 150; credit for or concurrent enrollment in Lib 160. Analyzing, composing, and reflecting on written, oral, visual, and electronic (WOVE) discourse within academic, civic, and cultural contexts. Emphasis on supporting a claim and using primary and secondary sources. Continued development of student portfolio.
English 250H. Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition, Honors. (3-0) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: Exemption from 150 and admission to Freshman Honors Program; credit for or concurrent enrollment in Lib 160. In-depth analysis, composition, and reflection on written, oral, visual, and electronic (WOVE) discourse within academic, civic, and cultural contexts. Emphasis on argumentation: developing claims, generating reasons, providing evidence. Individual sections organized by special topics. Development of student portfolio.
What Will I Learn in English 150?
The purpose of English 150 is to begin preparing you for your academic courses, as well as providing you with communication skills for your future career. While most of the course will be devoted to writing, you will also work in small groups, interview others, analyze and create visual communication, and learn how to compose professional email correspondence. Instructors design their courses to address the following goals in a variety of ways.
Written
- adapt your writing to specific purposes and audiences
- use a variety of organizational strategies
- integrate a variety of informational sources into an essay
- develop strategies to revise your own writing
- reflect upon your communication processes, strengths, goals, and growth
Oral
- interview others, asking effective questions and listening actively
- be an effective team member in small groups as a contributor and as a listener
- give brief oral presentations, usually as a small group member
Visual
- use typography effectively in creating headings and subheadings
- use the appropriate layout format for a brochure, fact sheet, or newsletter
- analyze visual communication, such as art on campus
- use visuals effectively (e.g., imported, scanned, or digital pictures)
Electronic
- use appropriate format, voice, and language in a professional email such as correspondence with an instructor
- use word processing skills, including making attachments, tables, etc.
Types of Assignments in English 150
Below are a few of the typical assignments included in English 150. Learning communities often modify assignments to their specific field.
| Profile | Analyzing Visual Communication | Report | Composing Visual Communication | Proposal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| You will write about a person, place, or situation. This assignment will incorporate observational and/or interview skills. | You will describe and analyze visual communication (e.g., art-on-campus essay) and incorporate an image into the essay. For this assignment, you will work in groups to analyze the piece and then compose individual essays, incorporating quotations from your partners. | Using primary and secondary sources, you will compose a short report on a topic within your field of study. The report will include quotations and documentation of sources. | You will summarize the highlights of your report by composing a form of visual communication, such as a brochure, fact sheet, or newsletter. | From the report, you will select one area in which you propose a change (probably within your field of study). This final project will help prepare you for the transition to English 250, which includes work on argumentation. |
What Will I Learn in English 250?
The goals of English 250 are for you to develop skills in written, oral, visual, and electronic communication. As a result, you should become not only a more perceptive consumer of information, but also a communicator better able to make effective decisions in your own work. Throughout the course, you'll learn to summarize, analyze, and evaluate various types of communication and then use those skills in four kinds of assignments: summaries, rhetorical analyses, argumentative and persuasive texts, and documented research. Individual instructors incorporate both the course goals and specific types of writing assignments listed below into the syllabi they design.
Written
- analyze professional writing to assess its purpose, audience, and rhetorical strategies
- construct arguments that integrate logical, ethical, and emotional appeals
- write source papers analyzing a rhetorical situation and identifying and accurately documenting appropriate source material
- avoid distracting or confusing sentence-level errors
- reflect systematically upon all your communication processes, strengths, goals, and growth
Oral
- give an oral presentation, either individually or as part of a team, using effective invention, organization, language, and delivery strategies
- be an effective team member in small groups as a contributor, listener, and presenter
Visual
- rhetorically analyze visual communication, such as an advertisement, film, etc.
- create a visual argument (e.g., advertisement, bookmark, poster, slide presentation, etc.
Electronic
- rhetorically analyze electronic communication, such as emails or websites
- create an electronic composition (e.g., communication eportfolio)
Types of Assignments in English 250
Below are a few of the typical assignments included in English 250. Learning communities often modify assignments to their specific field.
| Summary | Rhetorical Analysis | Argument and Persuasion | Documented Research |
|---|---|---|---|
| You'll learn how to identify main ideas and recast those ideas in your own words. Your active reading skills will help you notice how writers express, organize, and support their points. You must not only learn the practical skill of accurately translating others' ideas but also learn accountability for treating those ideas with respect. | You'll also analyze readings to see how—and how successfully—the author uses substance, organization, style, and delivery to fit the particular context of purpose and audience. Learning to analyze rhetorically will allow you to become adept at noticing how an author accomplishes his/her purpose. This skill will help you plan your own communication efforts. | You'll explore argument and persuasion by analyzing a variety of texts—essays, editorials, advertising, websites, film, etc. You will then apply this knowledge as you construct your own arguments. For example, you might compose a rebuttal to one or more of the readings, an oral presentation recommending changes on campus, or a slide presentation argumenting your position on a controversial topic. | As you develop your own arguments, you'll learn to support your ideas by interweaving sources into your compositions. In English 250, you'll gain experience with basic research methods, standard documentation forms, and the appropriate uses of summary, paraphrase, and direct quotation—all of which will enhance the integrity of your writing. In addition to a written text, your instructor might ask you to share your research with your classmates through a poster presentation or a group slide presentation. |