Classroom Etiquette A student should always attend class regularly and be on time. be aware of and follow the instructor's attendance and behavior policies. bring the appropriate materials to class: books, paper, pens and pencils, etc. expect to turn in all assignments on time, at the beginning of a class period. respect other peoples' opinions and ideas. only turn in his/her own, original work. Work that is copied without proper citation will be considered plagiarized.

Essay Writing Skills At the beginning of English 96 a student should be able to compose an essay of six to eight well-developed paragraphs (1000-1500 words). be able to create effective introductory and concluding paragraphs that demonstrate design and strategy. show clear skill at writing a focused thesis statement. show control over more complex transitional devices and strategies between sentences and paragraphs. be able to utilize a variety of pre-writing, drafting, editing, and revision techniques. be able to create detail and quote/cite examples that effectively demonstrate a point. be able to use deduction, induction, and tests of validity in building a logical argument. be able to develop an argument with some sophistication and complexity to it. be able to incorporate outside sources and research into an essay. be able to write using an objective thesis and topic sentence structure instead of first person ("I" voice). be able sustain formal tone and diction, especially when creating an argument. be using a variety of sentence patterns in developing a writing style. be able to write a complete essay in a timed (50-75 minute) setting. be comfortable using a dictionary and thesaurus--not just spell-check--on a regular basis during the composition and revision process.

Grammatical and Technical Skills At the beginning of English 96 a student should show consistent control of verb tenses and point of view. show consistent control over and awareness of sentence boundaries, including confident use of the period and comma in avoiding fragments and run-ons. show increasing control over more complex subject-verb agreement and plural/singular patterns. show consistent mastery of coordination and the punctuation patterns that go with coordination. show consistent mastery of subordination and the punctuation patterns that go with subordination. know the differences between independent and dependent clauses and show some skill in using and punctuating each type of clause. show some skill at using more complex punctuation (semicolons, colons, dashes) to create sentence variety.

Reading Skills At the beginning of English 96 a student should have a minimum score of 24 on the RFU 3 Test. be able to consistently identify a writer's thesis, topic sentences, and supporting information. be able to evaluate the logic and lines of reasoning a writer uses in developing an argument. be able to analyze the relationships between different elements of a reading assignment: how a thesis shapes the form of an essay, how sequence and strategy are served by examples and details, etc. not be asking the instructor or peers for definitions and information about a reading; instead, the student shows independence and self-reliance in obtaining that information. be finding and using outside readings and research to bolster argumentation and develop an essay.