CIS University Writing
Course Description
University Writing is taught in the high school and carries high school English credit, but it is not a high school class. It is a four-credit college course offered through the University of Minnesota’s College in the Schools program, and as such it is governed by the rules and expectations of the University of Minnesota. Students in the top 20 percent of their high school class may earn these college credits, thereby fulfilling the freshman composition requirement. The focus of this course is on the process of writing: forming strategies for inventing, focusing, drafting, conferencing, revising, and editing. Active participation in the writing community of this class is essential.
Additional course information
1. Literacy Narrative Write about your personal experiences with reading and/or writing. Choose an event or experience that had an impact on your current feelings toward literacy
Emphasis: invention strategies, voice, tone, and concrete detail.
Suggested length: 3-5 typed pages.
Quarter 3
2. Exploratory Research Assignment This assignment offers an opportunity to analyze a cultural artifact, engage in academic research, and practice academic writing in exploration of scholarly questions and conversations related to this artifact.
Emphasis: scholarly writing, database research, organization and reflective writing
Suggested length: 8-10 pages
Quarter 3
3. *Ethnography: Observe and analyze a subculture and write about it. You must observe this subculture first hand. Consider the meaning of subculture. Select an observable group, but foreign to you.
Emphasis: careful and conscious observation, interviewing, discovery, conveying that sense of discovery and scene to your reader through concrete detail, use of primary sources, and organization.
Suggested length: 8-10 typed pages.
*Modified for pandemic as needed
Quarter 4
4. Review/Evaluation: Establish criteria and use it to analyze a work of art.
Emphasis: audience, making critical judgments, description, style, and tone.
Suggested length: 3-5 typed pages.
Quarter 4
Completing this course with a C or better will earn the scholar 4 college credits on their permanent college transcript. These credits are transferable to most colleges/universities.