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Introduction to English Comp 101What is English Composition I?
COURSE TEXTS AND MATERIALS
PURPOSE OF THE COURSE
Knowing how to write is a necessary skill that each student must master in order to prepare for any academic or occupational field. This course is designed to transfer to other colleges and to prepare the student for the types of writing that will be required in many other courses.
English Composition I is designed to help students develop their ability to think, to organize, and to express their ideas clearly and objectively. Course units are arranged by the instructor to facilitate student success and to meet the course goals.
Upon completion of ENGL 101, students should have the competencies listed below:
· Write a well-organized essay with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion.
· Establish a firm thesis in the introduction.
· Understand the importance of pre-writing activities, including narrowing a topic, generating ideas, determining the audience and the relationship between audience and content, and determining an appropriate tone.
· Develop an order and logic in the presentation of the essay appropriate to different rhetorical modes, including argumentation, analysis, and an essay test mode.
· Support the thesis statement with specific examples and details.
· Support the thesis with valid reasons and evidence.
· Use effective sentence structure and avoid fragments, run-ons, and comma splices.
· Follow the standards of written English especially in regard to punctuation, agreement, and spelling.
· Understand the value of the revision process for the development of ideas and for achieving the quality expected of the completed writing assignments.
· Find and select appropriate outside sources, identifying information relevant to a thesis, use sources to support a thesis, and document the outside sources correctly.
PLACEMENT AND ASSESSMENT
Students are not permitted to enroll in English Composition I without the necessary placement scores or successful completion of developmental writing courses. Students who are placed in READ 009, Fundamentals of Reading, Level I, are not permitted to enroll in ENGL 101.
To ensure correct placement, all students in the first week of the semester must complete a diagnostic/assessment essay that follows departmental guidelines. Placement may be changed the first week based on evaluation of the writing sample.
During the last two weeks of the semester, an in-class assessment essay is assigned. The second essay counts 5% of the final grade and is assigned a letter grade.
For the assessment of the course, samples of the pre and post essays taken from all Composition I sections are compared using an assessment rubric.
METHODOLOGIES
With each writing assignment, students will practice the concept of writing as a process of prewriting, organizing, drafting, and revising. Along with short lectures and discussions of sample essays, instructors will guide students through the writing process and provide feedback on student writing through a variety of methods, including checking outlines and drafts, conducting conferences, and organizing peer editing sessions. Much class time will be spent writing under the guidance of the instructor. Students are expected to complete all reading assignments and to come to class each day prepared to write and participate in discussion.
REVISION POLICY
Each paper will receive a letter grade. Individual instructors will determine whether essays may be revised for grade improvement. However, students should not expect improvement of their grade without completing a true revision, one that reflects improvement in content and style as well as corrections in grammar and spelling errors. No revisions will be permitted for papers that are late, plagiarized, or written on unapproved topics.
CONTENT
A. Basic Skills
A portion of the semester will be devoted to reviewing the following basic skills: subject -verb agreement, sentence structure, pronoun-antecedent agreement, and punctuation. Other aspects of basic grammar may be individually assigned as needed. More importantly, basic skills will continue to be evaluated with each student essay. Without adequate control of basic skills in grammar, students will not meet the minimum standards for their assignments.
B. Short Writings
Besides the six required essays in Composition I, students will be doing some short writings. Individual instructors may assign work for this unit in a variety of ways including paragraph writing, reader responses, journal writing, research reporting, and writing from sources. Since all students will need to learn to write from sources, paraphrasing and summarizing will be part of this unit.
C. Essays
In addition to the assessment essays and short writings, students will write at least six essays for evaluation. Students will write a minimum of 5,000 words excluding rough drafts during the semester. These essays will include an essay test, an analysis essay, and an argumentation essay. In order to develop multiple modes of thinking, instructors will assign at least three additional essays based on different rhetorical modes from the following categories: description, comparison-contrast, narration, exemplification, classification, process, cause-effect, and definition. Instructors will require that in at least one paper students will incorporate outside sources into their writing and use MLA or APA style documentation.
For each essay assignment, instructors will give specific guidelines and work with students as they prepare to submit a final draft. Individual instructors may use a variety of methods to help students with the drafting process. A final draft of each assigned essay will be submitted by the student and receive a grade from the instructor.
Each assignment will have specific criteria determined by the instructor, but all essays are evaluated to determine how well the student does the following:
1. Write a well-organized essay with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion.
2. Establish a firm thesis in the introduction.
3. Support the thesis statement with specific examples and details.
4. Use effective sentence structure and avoid fragments, run-ons, and comma splices.
5. Follow the standards of written English, especially in regard to punctuation, agreement, and spelling.
D. Basic Research
Students will learn how to conduct basic research using library facilities including learning how to use the electronic databases such as Inspire, FirstSearch, and NewsBank, and how to use other source material from the Internet. Learning how to evaluate the reliability of all source material is a necessary skill for conducting any form of research. As part of this unit, students will learn how to properly document all source material, including those derived from electronic sources, according to MLA or APA standards.
COURSE POLICIES
A. Attendance
Attendance is required. Attendance will be taken every class meeting and students are expected to arrive on time . A late arrival will be counted as absent. The university attendance policy will be followed, and students with excessive absences will be withdrawn from the course. A student may receive a grade of "WF" if he is not passing at the time he is withdrawn from the course.
B. Preparation of Manuscripts
· All papers written outside of the classroom must be written on a word processor.
· 12-point size Times New Roman font must be used.
· Any variations must be approved by the instructor.
C. Deadlines
It is the student's responsibility to hand in work on time and to be sure each essay meets the Minimum Writing Standards required for the assignment. Each essay will receive a letter grade. If any essay is not completed, the final grade for the course will be dropped one letter grade.
Late papers will receive a lower grade. A paper that is late will be lowered one letter grade for each day that it is late. NO late papers will be accepted one week after the due date. NO paper will be accepted after the last day of class.
D. Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the act of using another person’s words or ideas as if they were one’s own.
Professors may take the following actions against plagiarism, as explained in the Vincennes University Catalog , “Student Conduct”:
“The alternatives for action by the professor may include, but not be limited to, failing grade of the assignment, or the course, or the withdrawal from the course. The student will also be referred to the Dean of Students, who will determine appropriate disciplinary action in keeping with procedures used in the handling of other types of student conduct situations.”
Any student who is found to plagiarize on a paper or who permits his or her own work to be copied will automatically receive zero points for that paper. The student may also receive a failing grade for the course.
E. Disabilities Statement
Students who need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, who have emergency medical information to share with the instructor, or who need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated should contact their instructor as soon as possible.
F. Conduct
English Composition I faculty are obliged to conduct classes in a professional manner. According to the Vincennes University Manual , faculty will require students to exhibit appropriate behavior for college work. “Students not showing proper cooperation and respect should be warned and then ordered from the classroom” ( Vincennes University Manual G-9). Faculty will enforce this policy in order to ensure a positive environment for Composition I students.
EVALUATION
A. Grading Criteria for Essays
An “A” Essay:
· Explores the subject in depth.
· Provides a clear thesis that is well supported by specific examples and concrete details.
· Has an effective pattern of organization.
· Has fully developed paragraphs and well constructed sentences.
· Contains no fragments or major errors in grammar and contains few if any minor errors in grammar.
· Meets the Minimum Writing Standards and all requirements of the assignment.
A “B” Essay:
· Examines the subject in some depth but not in as much complexity as the “A” essay.
· Supports a clear thesis with examples and details but may need additional support.
· Has a clear, effective organization.
· Employs generally well constructed paragraphs and sentences.
· Contains no major errors in grammar but may contain a few minor errors.
· Meets the Minimum Writing Standards and all requirements of the assignment.
A “C” Essay:
· Examines the subject acceptably but lacks depth.
· Has a thesis but does not support the thesis with sufficient examples and details, depending heavily on unsupported generalizations.
· Shows a skeletal overall organization.
· Contains inadequately developed paragraphs and occasionally awkward sentences and may lack necessary transitions.
· May contain one major error in grammar and several minor errors.
· Meets the Minimum Writing Standards and all requirements of the assignment.
A “D” Essay:
· Does not examine the subject in any depth.
· Lacks a clear thesis.
· Demonstrates major problems in organization.
· Contains poorly developed paragraphs and awkward sentence structure that create problems for the reader.
· Contains major and minor errors in grammar.
· Does not meet the Minimum Writing Standards or the requirements of the assignment.
An “F” Essay:
· Fails to examine the subject in any depth.
· Lacks thesis, supporting details, or examples.
· Lacks any coherent organization.
· Contains undeveloped paragraphs and faulty sentence structure that make the essay incoherent.
· Contains major errors in grammar and repeated minor errors.
· Does not meet the Minimum Writing Standards or the requirements of the assignment.
B. Minimum Writing Standards
All papers must meet the Minimum Writing Standards. Failure to meet these standards will result in grade reductions, as described below.
Standards Addressing Major Errors
A failure to meet any one of the following standards will result in failure of the paper.
1. The essay must be the original work of the student whose name appears on the paper. Additionally, all uses of outside sources must be documented or the paper will not be recognized as the work of the student.
2. The essay must complete the assignment as defined by the instructor.
3. The essay must have a clearly stated thesis and a definite organization.
Standards Addressing Additional Errors
A failure to meet any one of the following standards will result in a below average grade, i.e., below “C.” Failure to meet more than one could result in failure of the paper.
1. The thesis must be supported by examples and illustrations.
2. The essay must not have more than one incomplete sentence.
3. The essay must not have more than three comma splices and/or fused sentences.
4. The essay must not have more than three misspelled words.
5. The essay must not contain more than three errors in agreement.
6. The essay must not included repeated errors in grammar.
7. The essay must not include errors in documentation.
8. The essay must be legible and neat. Word processed papers must be properly formatted.
C. Grades
Letter grades will be assigned for each writing unit.
Grade Points
A+ = 100 A = 95 A- = 92 B+ = 88 B = 85 B- = 82 C+ = 78 C = 75 C- = 72 D+ = 68 D = 65 D- = 62 F = 50 (if paper is completed) F = 0 (if paper is not completed)
FINAL GRADES
The final grades will be determined by the average of the grade received on the following units:
Quizzes and Basic Skills review 10% Short writings 10% Essay Test 10% Analysis Essay 15% Argumentation Essay 15% Expository Essay 10% Expository Essay 10% Expository Essay 10% Library/Documentation Activities* 5% (*This percent could be included as part of a research writing project.)
Assessment Essay 5%
V.U. Grading Scale for Final Course Grades
A = 93 - 100 A- = 90 - 92 B+ = 87 - 89 B = 83 - 86 B- = 80 - 82 C+ = 77 - 79 C = 70 - 76 D = 60 - 69 F = 59 and below |
- Johnson appointed VU Provost and Vice President of Instructional Services/Dean of Faculty
- VU moves forward with $15.6 million in campus projects
- Student creations are a real “glass” act
- Community leader honored with VU award for service
- Vincennes University Commencement features New York Times best-selling author Ira Wagler
Johnson appointed VU Provost and Vice President of Instructional Services/Dean of Faculty
May 14, 2012
VINCENNES, Ind. - Charles R. Johnson has been appointed as Vincennes
University Provost and Vice President of Instructional Services/Dean of
Faculty, according to an announcement by VU President Dick Helton.
Johnson’s appointment follows a six-month national search following the
resignation of Dr. Ronald Davis to become vice president and chief academic
officer at John Wood Community College in Quincy, Ill., last October.
Johnson will replace Robert A. Slayton, former dean of the Learning
Resources Center, who has served as interim provost.
Johnson comes to VU from Purdue University, West Lafayette, where he most
recently served as director of three specialty master’s degree programs,
including Weekend MBA, Master of Science in Finance, and the new Master of
Science in Accounting that will be introduced this fall. He has taught
courses at both the undergraduate and graduate level.
Since 2007 he has served as a consultant to American University of the
Middle East, Kuwait, where he has provided support in the launch of an
evening MBA program, undergraduate business programs, and admissions,
student services, administrative functions, and faculty recruitment. Since
2010 he has served on the University’s Board of Trustees.
Johnson previously served as director of the Purdue Krannert School of
Management’s Executive Education Program, director of its Master’s and
Executive Programs, and director of its Professional Master’s Programs.
Prior to joining Purdue in 1998, Johnson served as manager of Training and
Development for National City Corporation and National City Bank, a Fortune
500 financial services company based in Cleveland, Ohio.
While completing his master’s degree in Business Administration at Bowling
Green State University (1987), Johnson served as a manager and later as the
director of two residence halls and conference housing. In his nearly 11
years at Bowling Green, he also served as director of Undergraduate
Studies/Program Advisement and director of Graduate Studies in Business in
the College of Business Administration.
In addition to his master’s degree, Johnson holds a bachelor’s degree in
Economics from Indiana State University (1984) and is pursuing his
doctorate in Higher Education Administration from Purdue University.
“I am delighted to be joining Vincennes University. As a native of
Southwestern Indiana, I have had many connections with VU in the past,
including dozens of family and friends who are VU alumni, and I have always
had a favorable impression,” Johnson said. “Yet the more I learn about VU,
the more impressive it is. President Helton, along with the faculty,
staff, and students I have met, give me great confidence that VU is
well-positioned to build on its traditions of innovation, academic
excellence, and engagement. It is an interesting time for all of us in
higher education and I look forward to working with the entire VU community
to address the challenges we will face as we strive to continue meeting the
evolving needs of the people of this region and the state of Indiana.”
VU President Dick Helton said that he believes that Johnson has an
excellent background for his new position. “I am delighted that Chuck has
such a wide range of both academic and business experience, including
teaching, curriculum development, and student services. His international
education leadership and his record of achievement at one of the most
respected management schools in the nation make him ideally qualified to
serve in this important position at Vincennes University. I look forward
to working with him,” Helton said.
VINCENNES UNIVERSITY - Indiana’s First College
VU is state-supported with campuses in Vincennes and Jasper and additional
sites such as Indianapolis and the Gibson County Center for Advanced
Manufacturing and Logistics. VU also offers instruction at military sites
throughout the nation.
In addition to offering 200 associate degree and certificate programs, VU
also offers bachelor’s degree programs in technology, homeland security,
nursing, secondary education programs in mathematics and, science, and
special education/elementary education.
VU enrolls students from throughout Indiana, 28 other states, and 30
countries. Tuition and fees are the lowest among Indiana campuses with
residence halls. VU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Founded in 1801, VU is Indiana’s first college and is the only college in
the nation founded by an individual who would later become President of the
United States. William Henry Harrison, the ninth U.S. President, founded
VU while serving as governor of the Indiana Territory. More information is
available at www.vinu.edu.
VU moves forward with $15.6 million in campus projects
May 11, 2012
VINCENNES, Ind. - A campus already cited for its beauty and accessibility
will soon be enhanced as the result of six new projects valued at $15.6
million.
Vincennes University hosted the Indiana Commission for Higher Education
Thursday and Friday. The visit included tours, meetings, and a
presentation by VU President Dick Helton that highlighted VU’s initiatives
on campus and throughout the state. Today the Commission approved $3.8
million for a new VU Art Center, $4.25 million for renovating Morris
Residence Hall, and almost $3.1 million for renovating Vanderburgh
Residence Hall. In addition, the Commission also approved three other
projects that are underway, or are soon to be underway at VU. They include
a $2 million renovation project for the five-story section of the
Technology Center, a $1.6 million renovation project for the Welsh
Administration Building, and a $900,000 project to relocate the Jerry
Blemker Baseball Field to a site near the intersection of Old Terre Haute
Road and Niblack Blvd.
“Members of the Commission for Higher Education were very complimentary
about our campus and facilities. With these additional investments, I am
confident that VU will continue its leadership in offering students some of
the best higher education assets in Indiana. I appreciate the Commission’s
continued support for Vincennes University,” said Helton.
Phil Rath, vice president of Financial Services and Government Relations,
said he was pleased with the Commission’s visit to VU and that that members
spoke highly of VU during their visit to campus. “One of the new
commission members, Eileen O’Neil Odum, told me that she thought that VU
was one of the best-maintained campuses she has visited. Another new
member, Chris LaMothe, told me he was very impressed with the technology
offered to our students,” Rath said.
The $3.8 million Art Center will be located on College Avenue between Third
and Fourth streets, across the street from the Dayson Foundation and Alumni
Center. The new 15,224 square-foot facility will include new equipment and
technology for art instruction as well as a small gallery for exhibiting
student works. It will replace the current Art Annex Building at the
corner of Third and Scott streets.
The renovations to both Morris and Vanderburgh Halls total just over $7
million. Both projects include energy efficiency and electrical system
upgrades as well as complete upgrades of HVAC systems to improve air
quality, control, and comfort. Vanderburgh Hall will have all exterior
windows replaced and Morris Hall will have an upgrade to the exterior skin
of the building. Both projects are funded by revenue bonds supported by
housing operation revenue.
Vanderburgh Hall currently houses 432 students in 216 rooms and Morris Hall
houses 378 students in 189 rooms.
The $1.6 million Welsh Administration Building renovation will include a
new entry and a canopy that will connect the building to Governor’s Hall.
An elevator will also be added to the three-story section of the building.
The $2 million renovation of the five-story section of the Technology
Building will include upgrading restrooms, fire sprinkler system, and the
internal structure. It is the first phase of modernizing the building that
originally was an industrial facility.
“Taken together, these projects are a major step forward for the campus.
In addition to changing the face of the campus, these projects will improve
quality of instruction and residence life, enhancing the total student
experience. They will make VU more attractive to prospective students and
that is important in this competitive market,” Rath said.
Student creations are a real “glass” act
April 27, 2012
Vincennes University students demonstrated glass working techniques and
exhibited their creations during an open house on April 27 at the McCormick
Science Center.
Janesa Henry, Wheatland, is one of about 20 students enrolled in the
Scientific and Decorative Glass Working class. She is a Physical Therapist
Assistant major at VU and said that she chose to take the science class
because it sounded like fun and didn’t require any previous experience. “I
thought it would be a nice diversion from my health studies.” The daughter
of J.R. and Tracy Henry, Henry is a 2009 graduate of South Knox High
School.
Chemistry Professor Jay Bardole has taught the course for more than 40
years and his impending retirement was another reason that Henry cited for
taking the class. “I’ve always heard such good things about Professor
Bardole and I knew that this would be my last opportunity to take one of
his classes,” she said.
The Scientific and Decorative Glass Working class focuses on the
fundamentals of working with glass tubing and rods. The techniques covered
in the class introduce students to the “feel” of handling glass; shaping
glass tubing, and crocheting glass rods. Throughout the class, students
produce a scientific project, an art project, and a project of their
choice.
Community leader honored with VU award for service
April 27, 2012
VINCENNES, Ind. - Rowe D. Sargent was cited as a “servant leader” as he
received Vincennes University’s 2012 Walter A. Davis Memorial Citation for
Service at a banquet on April 26 at the Green Activities Center. The
Citation was presented by the VU Alumni Association.
Rob McLin, CEO and president of Good Samaritan Hospital, said he grew up
near the Sargent farm. “His devotion to being a really good human being
and helping others, through all his mission trips throughout the world, is
a testament to his values as a person,” McLin said. Citing his service on
the boards of the North Knox School Corporation and Good Samaritan
Hospital, McLin said that Sargent’s “insight and common sense approach to
leadership has really been helpful and appreciated.”
Rowe’s daughter Susan Brocksmith, professor of business management at VU,
said her father “is a shining example of how to make a difference in both
our community and our country - he is a true example of what it means to be
a servant leader.” She concluded her remarks by noting that “our community
would not be the place it is today without you.”
In presenting the citation, VU President Dick Helton said that Sargent is
an example of a leader who “has a passion for what he does and a compassion
for those he serves.”
The Walter A. Davis Memorial Citation for Service is awarded annually to a
VU alumnus or to a resident of the greater VU community and recognizes not
only the recipient’s professional achievements, but also civic leadership
and contributions. Recipients are selected from nominees submitted by
alumni and the public.
In offering his gratitude for the Davis Citation, Sargent said he has been
blessed to live in Knox County with his family, neighbors, and friends.
“My father-in-law taught me a lot. One of the things he always said was
that public service is the price we pay for occupying space on Earth. We
do have a responsibility to try to make our surroundings better for the
next generation,” Sargent said.
ROWE D. SARGENT
Sargent’s Christian faith is demonstrated in his mission trips to Albania,
Romania, Jamaica, Honduras, Nicaragua, Russia, and Mexico. On a trip to
China, he and his wife Maridell delivered Bibles from Beijing to Urumji,
and inland cities. Sargent has been active on the Mission Committee at
Bethel Church in Freelandville and currently serves as deacon. He loans
cargo trailers for church groups and individuals who are going on mission
trips, or hauling food and supplies for North Knox Social Ministries. He
also has participated in the Emmaus Walk.
Sargent has served 15 years on the North Knox School Board. His interest
and concern for young people and the 4-H program has led him to continue
his service on the Knox County Fair Board. He also has been active in the
Bicknell Kiwanis and helps with the annual Labor Day Parade. Sargent has
been affiliated with the Knox County Chamber of Commerce for numerous years
and has spent several years on the VU Community Services Committee. This
past year he ran for County Commissioner with the aim to help make Knox
County a stronger and better place in which to live and work. As a result
of being a Commissioner, he serves on the Good Samaritan Hospital Board of
Governors, the Knox County Development Commission, and the Knox County
Drainage Board.
Sargent started farming near Bicknell - hogs and cattle, plus corn, and
later soybeans. He is a former president of the Knox County Swine
Committee and he assisted in establishing the Knox County Corn Growers
organization, of which he was president for two years. Sargent also has
served on the National Growers Board for nine years where he has served as
vice president of the National Corn Growers Field Services Committee as
well as chairing the National Corn Growers Yield Contest. He also made
yearly trips to Washington, D.C., to lobby for the National Corn Growers.
Sargent has served on the Sheriff’s Merit Board as well as the Knox County
Health Board. He has sold Pioneer seed corn and soybeans to local farmers,
winning some awards for his sales volume. He currently works with Craig
Williams of Oaktown as a Pioneer Seed representative.
Sargent just completed his term as the national president of the Fellowship
of Christian Farmers International which is based in Lexington, Illinois.
This organization sponsors many mission trips and organizes humanitarian
projects to help farmers in the United States who have sustained damage and
loss due to tornadoes, floods, and hurricanes. The group builds fences,
distributes hay, repairs buildings, rounds up livestock, and performs other
acts of assistance. FCFI also was active in Haiti after the earthquake.
This organization has projects in Albania, Mexico, Greece, Russia, and
Jamaica, as well as special outreach assignments at various agricultural
fairs, machinery shows, and the Future Farmers of America Annual
Convention.
Sargent is a graduate of Sandborn High School. He enlisted in the Navy,
spent time in an electronics school, and served two years aboard the
aircraft carrier USS Lexington. He traveled to the Far East, making stops
in Hawaii, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Guam, Okinawa, and Japan. He was
also stationed in Iwakuni, Japan, for two years as a radar technician in a
flight crew that flew missions along the Chinese and Russian coasts. He
married Maridell (Miller) Sargent in 1958 between deployments. Mrs.
Sargent was named the recipient of the Walter A. Davis Memorial Citation
for Service in 2000.
Rowe and his wife, Maridell, are the parents of two children, Mark Sargent
(Deanna), and Susan Brocksmith (Mike). They have four grandchildren,
Patrick and Chris Sargent, and Victoria and Casandra Brocksmith.
Vincennes University Commencement features New York Times best-selling author Ira Wagler
April 23, 2012
VINCENNES, Ind.—New York Times best-selling author Ira Wagler will return
home to receive an Honorary Doctorate of Letters during Vincennes
University’s 206th Commencement on April 28. Both Wagler and VU President
Dick Helton will address the Class of 2012.
The author of the book “Growing Up Amish: A Memoir” (Tyndale House
Publishers, 2011), Wagler is a 1991 VU alumnus who holds a bachelor’s
degree in English from Bob Jones University (1993) and a law degree from
Dickinson School of Law (1997).
Wagler practiced law with the firm of Clymer & Musser, Lancaster, PA from
1997 to 2001 before beginning a career as general manager of Graber Supply,
LLC, Pole Building Supplier and Builder, Atglen, PA. Speaking of his
co-career as a writer, Wagler says on his website, “This I will do or die
trying. Actually, it’s just now all coming down, unfolding as you read
this. It’s been a wild, wild ride, far beyond anything I could have
imagined.“
Wagler describes his memoir as a “journey at its core no different than
many coming of age journeys.” Inspired by his favorite writer, Thomas
Wolfe, Wagler’s book is a true story of self-discovery and seeking where he
belongs. The epilogue to his book concludes, “I have no regrets for the
road I chose. And I rarely wonder how life would have been on the road not
taken.”
Born in 1961 in the small Old Order Amish community of Aylmer, Ontario,
Wagler’s book creates a vivid portrait of Amish life from childhood to his
decision to leave the Amish community for good at age 26. In between,
beginning at age 17, Ira left and then returned to the community numerous
times over five years, torn between his heritage and the freedom and
possibilities of the outside world. The book describes a difficult path
with “years of turmoil, rage, and anguish.” The 9th child out of 11
children, Wagler dedicated his book to his mother, Ida Mae, who “never
wavered in her deep love for all her children, even—and maybe
especially—for her wayward sons.”
Prior to enrolling at VU, Wagler received his GED from Washington High
School in 1989, having only completed the 8th grade in an Amish one-room
school in Aylmer, Ontario.
An avid hiker along the Tacquon Trail, completing as much as 12 miles in a
day, Wagler is also a big fan of football, especially the New York Jets
since 1981, as well as Nascar and baseball. Wagler also enjoys reading,
writing and describes himself as a “charcoal grill purist.“ Wagler
continues to work in “tidbits on the Great American Novel.“
VU’s Commencement will be televised live on WVUT-TV beginning at 2 p.m. EDT
on April 28.
VINCENNES UNIVERSITY - Indiana’s First College
VU is state-supported with campuses in Vincennes and Jasper and additional
sites such as Indianapolis and the Gibson County Center for Advanced
Manufacturing and Logistics. VU also offers instruction at military sites
throughout the nation.
In addition to offering 200 associate degree and certificate programs, VU
also offers bachelor’s degree programs in technology, homeland security,
nursing, secondary education programs in mathematics and, science, and
special education/elementary education.
VU enrolls students from throughout Indiana, 28 other states, and 30
countries. Tuition and fees are the lowest among Indiana campuses with
residence halls. VU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Founded in 1801, VU is Indiana’s first college and is the only college in
the nation founded by an individual who would later become President of the
United States. William Henry Harrison, the ninth U.S. President, founded
VU while serving as governor of the Indiana Territory. More information is
available at www.vinu.edu.
