Freshman English A and B Goals and Objectives

The information that follows comes directly from the English 1463 and English 1473 Common Syllabus (Spring 2013):

FRESHMAN A and B: GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Students will

• Develop logical and thoughtful arguments in clear, effective, grammatically correct prose, using credible evidence. Students will demonstrate the ability to
  1. write in standard academic English;
  2. identify major grammatical, stylistic, mechanical, and punctuation errors;
  3. vary style according to the needs of various audiences, purposes, and topics.
• Comprehend the importance of rhetoric as a means of communication, persuasion, and problem-solving. Students will demonstrate the ability to
  1. identify and analyze a rhetorical situation;
  2. identify audience, purpose, persona, argument, etc.;
  3. write for audiences at appropriate levels and with appropriate purposes;
  4. vary style according to the needs of various audiences, purposes, and topics.
• Understand that researching and writing about an issue is a way to contribute to a larger conversation about that issue. Students will demonstrate the ability to
  1. conduct research – library, web, field;
  2. identify critical/academic/peer-reviewed sources as opposed to the alternatives;
  3. write a researched argument;
  4. avoid logical fallacies and other kinds of faulty reasoning;
  5. evaluate evidence for credibility and relevance;
  6. cite/document sources according to MLA format.
• Critically analyze and interpret nonfiction texts by discovering purposes behind the writings and understanding the different types of rhetorical devices used to carry out these purposes. Students will demonstrate the ability to
  1. summarize and analyze texts;
  2. evaluate a given text using set criteria.
• Engage critically, logically, and coherently with a variety of perspectives, cultures, and worldviews. Students will demonstrate the ability to
  1. recognize cultural differences;
  2. evaluate the quality of an argument and counter argument.

Additionally, consider the following “Criteria” provided to teachers. This information also comes directly from the English 1463 and English 1473 Common Syllabus (Spring 2013):

CRITERIA

Students completing Freshman English A and B with a grade of C or above will have demonstrated the ability to

• identify the thesis and main points of a given text;
• identify the writer’s purpose and rhetorical devices used to carry out purpose in a given text;
• write debatable, provocative, original thesis statements;
• write fully developed paragraphs with topic sentences and supporting evidence;
• organize points logically to demonstrate clear thinking and prove a thesis;
• provide clear transitions between ideas;
• write in a clear, readable style with diction and sentence structure appropriate to the audience, purpose and topic;
• write clear and sufficient introductions and conclusions;
• write papers that contain a minimum of grammatical, stylistic, mechanical, and punctuation errors;
• differentiate between summary and analysis in writing;
• write clear arguments supported by evidence and organized, logical thinking;
• smoothly incorporate critical/academic/peer-reviewed sources to support arguments;
• appropriately tag and cite source material;
• identify logical fallacies and other forms of faulty reasoning in order to avoid them.