English 100

Required Textbooks

Student Guide to English 100, 101, and 102/102i, 2009-2010
Ruszkiewicz, John How to Write Anything - Customized UNC Edition
You instructor may also require additional texts, including: They Say, I Say, by Gerald Graff; and/or Sharing and Responding, by Peter Elbow.

Please note that the Student Guide and How to Write Anything are also required for English 101 and 102 (or 102i), so you should keep the textbook for future classes. You instructor may also require the Carolina Summer Reading Program book.

An Overview of English 100

Like English 101, 102 and 102i (a variant of 102), English 100 is a writing/composition course. You will write frequently all semester long, but you will have time to plan, draft, and rewrite each paper before you turn it in. 

English 100 consists of three units focusing on writing in increasingly broader contexts. Each unit consists of a sequence of short writing assignments culminating in a larger written project. English 100 is a workshop course, which means that you will participate in a small writing group. You will also be expected to share your work in progress with your classmates and will be responsible for reading and responding critically to the work of your group members. The suggestions and advice of the other members of your group will help you reconsider and ultimately improve your writing. Some instructors also may require a journal or reading notebook.

Because reading skills are crucial for success in all courses at UNC, but especially helpful both when writing your own papers and responding to your peers' papers, you may find it helpful to meet with staff and tutors from UNC’s Learning Center. Your teacher will discuss the Learning Center with you early in the semester, and a percentage of your final grade in English 100 may depend on your participation in the program. You may also choose to visit the Writing Center at any time. Writing tutors are trained to work together with you to help develop your writing skills, and they can work with you both in person and online.