Composition and Rhetoric
ENGL-101

Reading and writing are essential for success in college and in life. In English 101, the student will further develop his/her skills in analyzing texts, processing that information in the context of his/her worldview, and articulating his/her conclusions clearly to a particular audience.

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Understand and practice reading, writing, and rhetoric within the context of a biblical worldview.
2. Apply methods of sound reasoning (induction and deduction) and argumentation in writing.
3. Proceed independently though the various stages of research and to integrate sources accurately and effectively.
4. Apply the process approach (especially writing effective thesis, outlining, drafting, revising, and editing) to write competent essays.

Foundational Skills Learning Outcomes (FSLO): Communication and Information Literacy Outcomes (CIL)

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. CIL 1: Discover and evaluate information to accomplish a specific purpose.
2. CIL 2: Communicate information effectively in the English language, orally and/or through writing, for a variety of purposes, using technology when appropriate.
3. CIL 3: Analyze and assess various forms of information and expression to determine their meaning, employing technology when relevant.
4. CIL 4: Demonstrate a basic understanding of the role of research and scholarship in order to apply it to various contexts.
5. CIL 5: Relate communication and information literacy to participation in God’s redemptive work.

Foundational Skills Learning Outcomes (FSLO): Critical Thinking (CT)

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. CT 1: Determine the validity and logical consistency of claims and/or positions, using reading comprehension strategies when relevant.
2. CT 2: Structure an argument or position using credible evidence and valid reasoning.
3. CT 4: Plan evidence-based courses of action to resolve problems.

Click on the following link to view the required resource(s) for the term in which you are registered: Liberty University Online Bookstore.

Additional Materials for Learning

1. 1. Computer with basic audio/video output equipment
   2. Internet access (broadband recommended)
   3. Canvas recommended browsers
   4. Creating and submitting files in Microsoft Word
   5. College dictionary such as The American Heritage College Dictionary or Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary
   6. Access to a current writing style guide (APA, MLA, or Turabian)

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in Course Overview.

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, for each Discussion, the student will address the instructor’s given topic with a thread of 250-300 words and 3 citations from the original source. Then, the student will create one reply to a classmate’s thread of 150-200 words and 2 citations from the original source. (CLO: A, B, C; FSLO: CIL 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; CT 1)

In preparation for writing each essay, the student will complete a Thesis/Outline for each essay demonstrating understanding of credible research and correct documentation style usage. (CLO: A, B, C, D; FSLO: CIL 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; CT 1, 2, 3)

The student will write 3 essays throughout the course. The first will be a proposal argument of 1,000–1,200 words. The second will be an ethical argument of 1,000–1,200 words. The third will be a cause and effect argument of 1,200–1,500 words. (CLO: A, B, C, D; FSLO: CIL 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; CT 1, 2, 3)

The student will complete 8 Composition Assignments. Each Composition Practice Assignment is an interactive resource that provides the student with information about the topics related to argumentative essay development while accessing his/her knowledge. MindTap is built around the concept of "test to learn" in which the student is given immediate feedback. The student is allowed to do each question 3 times within each assignment with the highest counting for a grade. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F, G)

The student will complete 6 Grammar Practice Assignments to prepare for the 2 Grammar Quizzes. (CLO: F, G)

The student will complete 2 open-notes quizzes covering the grammar concepts in each module. Each quiz consists of 25 true/false and multiple-choice questions and can be taken up to 3 times with the highest score counting for the grade. (CLO: F, G)

Writing and Formatting Policy

The student will be permitted to use the writing style that corresponds with his/her degree program (current APA, MLA, or Turabian) for all of his/her written work. All written assignments must be formatted correctly and consistently according to the style being used.

Instructor Feedback and Response Time

Responses to student emails will be provided within 36 hours and assignment feedback will be given within 5 days from the assignment due date.

Course Assignments, including discussions, exams, and other graded assignments, should be submitted on time.

If the student is unable to complete an assignment on time, then he or she must contact the instructor immediately by email.

Assignments that are submitted after the due date without prior approval from the instructor will receive the following deductions:

1. Late assignments submitted within one week after the due date will receive up to a 10% deduction.
2. Assignments submitted more than one week and less than 2 weeks late will receive up to a 20% deduction.
3. Assignments submitted two weeks late or after the final date of the course will not be accepted outside of special circumstances (e.g. death in the family, significant personal health issues), which will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the instructor.
4. Group projects, including group discussion threads and/or replies, and assignments will not be accepted after the due date outside of special circumstances (e.g. death in the family, significant personal health issues), which will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the instructor.

Students with a disability and those with medical conditions associated with pregnancy may contact Liberty University’s Online Office of Disability Accommodation Support (ODAS) at [email protected] for accommodations.  Such accommodations require appropriate documentation of your condition.   For more information about ODAS and the accommodations process, including how to request an accommodation, please visit https://www.liberty.edu/online/online-disability-accommodation-support/. Requests for accommodations not related to disabilities or pregnancy must be directed to the Registrar’s Office, which generally handles medical needs support.

If you have a complaint related to disability discrimination or an accommodation that was not provided, you may contact ODAS or the Office of Equity and Compliance by phone at (434) 592-4999 or by email at [email protected].  Click to see a full copy of Liberty’s Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct Policy or the Student Disability Grievance Policy and Procedures.

In an effort to comply with U.S. Department of Education policies, attendance is measured by physical class attendance or any submission of a required assignment within the enrollment dates of the course (such as examinations, written papers or projects, any discussion posts, etc.) or initiating any communication with one’s professor regarding an academic subject. More information regarding the attendance policy can be found in the Academic Course Catalogs. Regular attendance in online courses is expected throughout the length of the term. Students who do not attend within the first week of a sub-term by submitting a required academic assignment (such as the Course Requirements Checklist, an examination, written paper or project, discussion post, or other academic activity) will be dropped from the course. Students who wish to re-engage in the course are encouraged to contact Academic Advising to discuss their enrollment options. Students who begin an online course, but at some point in the semester cease attending, and do not provide official notification to withdraw, will be assigned a grade of “FN” (Failure for Non-Attendance). Students wishing to withdraw from courses after the official start date should familiarize themselves with the withdrawal policy.

For courses with a Pass/NP final grade, please refer to the Course Grading section of this syllabus for the assignment requirements and/or point value required to earn a Passing final grade.

The full policy statement and procedures are published in the Policy Directory.

Liberty University comprises a network of students, alumni, faculty, staff and supporters that together form a Christian community based upon the truth of the Bible. This truth defines our foundational principles, from our Doctrinal Statement to the Code of Honor. These principles irrevocably align Liberty University’s operational procedures with the long tradition of university culture, which remains distinctively Christian, designed to preserve and advance truth. Our desire is to create a safe, comfortable environment within our community of learning, and we extend our academic and spiritual resources to all of our students with the goal of fostering academic maturity, spiritual growth and character development.

Communities are predicated on shared values and goals. The Code of Honor, an expression of the values from which our Doctrinal Statement was born, defines the fundamental principles by which our community exists. At the core of this code lie two essential concepts: a belief in the significance of all individuals, and a reliance on the existence of objective truth.

While we acknowledge that some may disagree with various elements of the Code of Honor, we maintain the expectation that our students will commit to respect and uphold the Code while enrolled at Liberty University.

Adherence to the principles and concepts established within facilitates the success of our students and strengthens the Liberty community.

The Code of Honor can be viewed in its entirety at https://www.liberty.edu/students/honor-code/.