This a sample syllabus for a text-book free introductory writing course which I developed as part of the Open Educational Resources Fellowship at Lane Community College. It is fairly closely based on a course that I have taught, while replacing the textbooks and a number of the readings with open access websites such as Purdue OWL, articles available online and through LCC's library databases.
The course emphasizes information literacy and encourages a rhetorical approach to the readings. It is organized around three themed units: "Writing and Literacy," "Media and Technology," and "Work, Economic Equality, and Opportunity." The readings selected for each unit are intended to introduce the students to the topic and serve as a starting point for discussion and the students' own research. Within each unit, some course time is reserved for students to present and evaluate their research, develop essay topics, and review drafts.
If you are planning a text-book free introductory writing course, or would like to replace some of your textbooks with online materials, this syllabus may serve as a good starting point.
