Composition

Placement in Writing Courses

Each student planning to take English Composition is required to write a multi-paragraph essay before registering. Each essay is read by two readers and scored 1 (lowest) - 6 (highest), corresponding to standards established by the Department of Language & Literature. With a score of 6, a student places out of COMP107 Introduction to Rhetorical Skills into COMP110 English Composition I. To progress through the sequence, a final grade of C or higher is required. Failure to write the placement essay means a student is not permitted to take English Composition*. For more information, including scoring standards and sample essays, contact the Department of Language & Literature in Penn 105 or call 968-8150.

* Students who are registered for writing courses without having taken the placement test will be dropped.

COMP090
Basic Writing

By writing sentences and paragraphs, students improve sentence structure, spelling, punctuation, grammar, and paragraph development and organization. Students read appropriate models for both content and organization. Students also learn appropriate study skills. COMP090 provides students the opportunity to learn skills that must be mastered in order for them to move into higher levels of composition.
Prerequisite: Writing Placement Test score of 2 or permission of the Department of Language and Literature     Corequisite:None
3 credits

COMP107
Introduction to Rhetorical Skills

This course in the English Composition sequence entails extensive expository writing with an emphasis on essential rhetorical skills. Through class discussion and intensive individual conference, instructors will guide student use of evidence to support topic sentences and theses. Transferability of this course is determined transfer institution. A final grade of C or higher in this course is necessary for registration in COMP110.
Prerequisite: Writing Placement Test score of 4 or better or COMP090 (C or better)    Corequisite:None
3 credits

COMP110
English Composition I

English Composition I emphasizes the systematic study of writing effective expository prose and argumentation, stressing development and support of a clear thesis. The focus of the course is to lay the foundation for future academic writing requirements, including the ability to analyze, synthesize, evaluate, summarize, paraphrase, and cite textual sources from required course readings.
Prerequisite: Writing Placement Test score of 6 or better or COMP107 (C or better)    Corequisite:None
3 credits

COMP111
English Composition II

In this continuation of English Composition I, students write several analytical essays assigned in conjunction with classroom study of at least three genres of literature, including drama, poetry, and short fiction. After sequenced instruction in research techniques, students write an argumentative and scholarly research paper.
Prerequisite: COMP110 (C or better) or Permission of the Department of Language and Literature    Corequisite:None
3 credits

COMP114
Technical Writing

This course is designed for students majoring in technical, pre-engineering, and scientific fields. Assignments reflect actual technical writing tasks, with a focus on subject, purpose, and audience. The class examines traditional linear documents (instruction manuals, proposals) and those in an on-line format. Students learn to incorporate electronic formatting into technical documents.
Prerequisite: COMP110 (C or better) or permission of the Department of Language and Literature     Corequisite:None
3 credits

COMP115
Creative Writing I

This course is a seminar-type exploration of creative writing techniques with emphasis on writing and criticism of student writing. Work from literary tradition will be studied as models and inspiration for the students’ own literary efforts. Assignments will enable students to express and develop their creative skills.
Prerequisite: COMP110 (C or better) or permission of the Department of Language and Literature, based on the writing samples    Corequisite:None
3 credits

COMP116
Creative Writing II

This course is a seminar-type exploration of creative writing techniques with emphasis on writing and criticism of student writing. Work from literary tradition will be studied as models and inspiration for the students’ own literary efforts. Assignments will enable students to express and develop their creative skills. COMP116: Creative Writing II is an expansion of the skills listed in COMP115.
Prerequisite: COMP110 (C or better) or permission of the Department of Language and Literature     Corequisite:None
3 credits