
First Year Writing Program
Guidelines for ENC1102
All ENC1102 assignments and activities should be directed toward fulfilling the following course objectives.
- Students will shape their "voices" in the public arena with controversial issues
- Students will further develop their research skills
- Students will further develop their critical reading skills
- Students will successfully analyze and evaluate print texts
Four Major Writing Projects
Core 1 - Analysis of an Argument
Students should be able to:
- Read and analyze a text, understanding both the implicit and explicit arguments
- Write an essay or letter which encompasses an understanding of the arguments, the intended audience, and the assumptions/implications of the argument found in a text; the essay will be directed toward a specific argument of its own
Assignment
After reading two texts dealing with a (this can be local or personal) controversial issue, write a short essay (3 pages) in which you respond to the ideas presented in one of those texts. As you respond discuss:
- What the author says and how it affects your understanding of the issue
- What the author assumes (beliefs, values, premises) or what the author implies (warrants) to the intended audience
- Opposing positions, assumptions and audiences
Note: Remember that "texts" can mean film, essays, editorials, speeches, poetry, art.
Core 2 - Inquiry and Discovery
Students should be able to:
- Investigate a problem or issue
- Conduct primary/field research-interviews, planned observations, surveys
- Write a proposal justifying further investigation-why is this topic worthy of research
Assignment
Write a short essay (3-5 pages) in which you respond to the data you have collected. As you respond answer the following questions for your audience (the Orlando community):
- What is the problem? (define the problem, tell how it resembles other problems)
- Why is this a problem? (illustrate facets of the argument)
- Why is this problem worthy of investigation? (why should you continue your investigation?)
Core 3 - Creative Positioning
Students should be able to:
- Continue investigation into topic using secondary sources
- Listen to and acknowledge other view points and experiences that surround the topic
- Articulate others' position(ing)s by analyzing the arguments
Assignment
Create a format to present your understanding of the multiple view points that surround your research problem:
- Skit
- Casebook
- Panel presentation
- Video
- Dialogue
- Scrapbook
- Annotated working bibliography
Choose sources to present, as well as your project's format. Along with your project, submit a 3 page essay that integrates and evaluates other view points and merges your perspective with the sources you have chosen.
Note: Instructors must include workshops that practice paraphrasing, summarizing, direct quoting, as well as documentation formatting in Core 3 classes.
Core 4 - Argue a workable "truth"
Students should be able to:
- Target a specific audience affected by your topic
- Synthesize and integrate the results of your primary and secondary research
- Apply documentation skills (MLA, APA, CSE)
- Eliminate non-workable arguments and focus on viable solutions
Assignment
Write an argument that offers a viable solution, an alternative approach, or a transitional position to the problem your research defines. Your argument should be culturally or socially significant to your audience. Include a minimum of (instructor's choice) different sources in your text. Document all primary and secondary sources.
