This syllabus outlines policies common to all sections of first-year English at Texas State University-San Marcos.  Students are expected to read the syllabus carefully and ask instructors to explain any information that is not easily understood. 

In first-year English, students study the principles of expository writing - the kind of objective, audience-directed prose used in college and beyond to explain and defend ideas.  Because reading, viewing, and writing are inextricably linked, first-year English also emphasizes critical reading and viewing, teaching students to analyze and understand a variety of texts, including visual images and your own writing.

First-year English has long been a cornerstone requirement in the undergraduate curriculum because of its practical value in the classroom and on the job.  At Texas State, the requirement also looks beyond the practical.  It aims to discipline thought and expression, giving you the opportunity to study the art of writing and its intrinsic worth.