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Comp classes and the goals of General Education at Arkansas State

The Goals of General Education
The course you are enrolled in is part of ASU’s general education program. Gen ed courses are intended to assist in providing the fundamental skills you will need in your major, and to acquaint you with the broad areas of knowledge that we make use of as we seek to understand ourselves, our social institutions, and our world. More specifically, the university has identified the following list of goals of the general education program:

communicating effectively
thinking critically
using mathematics
using technology
understanding global issues
developing a life-long appreciation of the arts and humanities
developing a strong foundation in the social sciences
using science to accomplish common goals
providing foundations necessary to achieve health and wellness
understanding interdependence

How the two Comp courses fit into the goals of General Education:

Composition I (ENG 1003) is designed to help you achieve the goals of the general education program, primarily communicating effectively, but also thinking critically, using technology, and (in part, by collaborative work) understanding interdependence.

The Components of communicating effectively in Comp I
You will accomplish this goal by learning to develop a sustained essay which

includes a central thesis (when appropriate)
is organized
develops the thesis with details, examples, and/or fitting evidence
illustrates control standard English

Measuring your achievement of these objectives
Your success in communicating effectively will be measured throughout the course in a variety of written work described in your course schedule. You will write at least the equivalent of six to eight sustained essays. Written comments will be provided indicating the kinds of errors you need to correct, either in future papers or in a revision of the one in which the error was identified. It will also be measured in a nationally normed examination and essay given at the completion of ENG 1013 which will allow you to compare your skills with those of college students around the country. An additional measurement consists of the student's demonstrated ability to collaborate with classmates in the production of knowledge.

Composition II (ENG 1013), like Comp I, is designed to help you achieve the goals of the general education program, primarily communicating effectively. It will also contribute to helping students think critically and use technology.

The Components of Communicating Effectively in Comp II
You will develop the skills necessary to write argumentative essays for a wide variety of academic contexts. Those skills include

understanding the contexts of written argument
identifying and evaluating relevant support for a position
employing outside sources in original written work
properly documenting sources

In addition, you will continue to develop the skills emphasized in ENG 1003 (developing a sustained essay with a central thesis which is organized, develops the thesis with examples and details, and which illustrates control of the conventions of English)

Measuring your achievement of these objectives
Your success in mastering the skills of effective written communication will be measured throughout the course in essays and drafts, each of which will be evaluated in terms of whether it 1) is organized, has a central thesis, is developed sufficiently, and demonstrates control of standard written English. Instructors will provide comments specifying the errors you will need to address in future papers or in a revision of the paper at hand; 2) is written with a good understanding of the rules of argument and rhetorical contexts; and 3) is successful in gathering and evaluating source material, summarizing and paraphrasing. Lastly, a nationally normed examination and essay is given at the end of the course which will allow you to measure your skills in the non-research components of communicating effectively with those of students across the country.

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