Class information
WR121 Composition I (WR121=121Z)
- CRN: 30028
- Credits: 4
- Locations, days, times, and instructors:
- Online (no scheduled meetings), Available 24/7
From June 24 through August 16, 2025, Karen M Embry - Rock Creek BLDG2 122, TuTuesday, from 6 to 7:50pm
From June 24 through August 12, 2025, Karen M Embry
- Online (no scheduled meetings), Available 24/7
Class materials
Textbooks
No textbooks required
Details about this class
Course Overview
To meet the WR 121 Course Content and Outcomes Guide, in this section we will focus on the process of generating and exploring ideas for writing projects, leading to drafting, receiving feedback, and revising three formal writing assignments: a photo analysis essay, a project on the paradox of choice in a genre of your choosing, and a mini-annotated bibliography drawing on contemporary research.
In addition to these three formal writing projects, the course will include weekly readings, participation in in-class discussions, and written responses to classmates’ drafts in progress.
We will read selections from a variety of genres of writing and watch video content on a range of topics with the goal of reading/viewing as writers and to generate ideas for your writing projects. (Reading topics include photography, works in philosophy, sociology, and psychology on the topic of “the paradox of choice,” as well as works on animal consciousness and evolutionary biology; genres we will read/watch/compose in include academic essays and book chapters, magazine articles, interviews, TED Talks, commencement speeches). Students choose their own topics to focus on for formal writing projects–within the assignment guidelines.
Textbook
No textbook is required. All course readings and materials will be available digitally through the D2L course site.
In-person & Online
This course will meet in-person on Tuesdays from 6:00-7:50 p.m. at PCC Rock Creek. Additional course content and activities will be completed asynchronously via the D2L Brightspace online course website to fulfill the required engagement hours for a 4-unit course.
Teaching Philosophy
My goal for WR 121 is for all students who complete the work to pass the course and achieve the highest grade possible, regardless of background in academic writing in English. With this goal in mind, the development of writing projects and the feedback and revision process are designed to be highly individualized in the course. The grading system is designed to emphasize the value of effort, practice, revision, and completion of work, more so than evaluation based on a standardized final written product.
More Information
Please email me (karen.embry@pcc.edu) if you have more specific questions about course content or requirements prior to the start of the term.
Technology
There is no additional technology required for this class.
No show policy
Your instructor can mark you as a "no show" if you do not participate in your class during the first week. This will remove you from the class. It is important to log in as soon as the class starts to see what the participation requirements are.
Online technical requirements
Please be sure to read the quick guide to Online Learning technical requirements.
Students with disabilities
Students with disabilities should notify their instructor if accommodations are needed to take this class. For information about technologies that help people with disabilities taking Online based classes please visit the Disability Services website.
Prerequisite for online classes
Before you take your first online class at PCC, you must complete the start guide. The start guide will help you decide if these classes are right for you. Once you complete the start guide, you will be able to register for these classes.