How does the mastery gate work?

Score 85% or higher on your first attempt inside a 24-hour window and the gate opens. Retakes inside the same window are practice and do not count. A new first attempt is available after 24 hours.

Is this the official gradebook?

No. Canvas is the official record. This is a study application that enhances the PGCC curriculum; it does not replace it. It recommends, it does not guarantee.

What information is collected?

Last name and class year only. No first names, emails, student IDs, audio, or biometrics. Flashcards run on your device and store nothing.

EGL-1010, mapped before it happens.

Comp I: Expository Writing · Fall 2026. Every week, every reading, every one of the 100 points — visible from day one. Study with Meerk, open the gate, walk into class ready.

Take this week's quiz — Week 8 Baseline exam See the whole course Add the calendar

Coming up

Week-close dates come from the syllabus. Exact due times for each item are in Canvas.

Annotated Bibliography (Week 9) — due in Canvas · 15 ptsFri, Oct 16
Annotated Bibliography · 15 ptsFri, Oct 16
Argumentative Research Essay (Week 12) — due in Canvas · 25 ptsFri, Nov 6
Argumentative Research Essay · 25 ptsFri, Nov 6
Reflection Project · 15 ptsMon, Nov 23
Week 15 closes — Reflection Project · 15 ptsTue, Nov 24

Subscribe to the EGL-1010 calendar — every due date on your phone, no account needed.

This companion runs one week ahead of the course, so you walk into each week already prepared. Canvas due dates do not change.

My readiness score

Study tools

FlashcardsTerms and ideas, every week ExercisesHands-on tasks Midterm Exam PracticeW1–W8: Rhetoric through annotation Final Exam PracticeW1–W16: Full semester cumulative Baseline examDiagnostic across every week in the syllabus Contest modeLightning rounds in class, by table

The whole course

Tap a week for the readings, what to know, and Meerk's quiz. Week of = the Monday it opens.

Mon, Aug 17Week 0: Welcome and Course Overview
in Canvas
Mon, Aug 17Week 1: The Rhetorical Situation and Critical Reading
Flashcards Meerk's quiz →in Canvas
Mon, Aug 24Week 2: Summary Writing
Flashcards Meerk's quiz →in Canvas
Mon, Aug 31Week 3: Using Sources Ethically; Three Forms of Integration; Summary Peer Review
Summary/Response Essay
Flashcards Meerk's quiz →10 pts
Mon, Sep 7Week 4: Synthesis; MEA(L) Paragraphs and Quote Sandwiches; Signal Phrases
Flashcards Meerk's quiz →in Canvas
Mon, Sep 14Week 5: MLA Style Documentation and Formatting
Flashcards Meerk's quiz →in Canvas
Mon, Sep 21Week 6: Synthesis Peer Review; Inquiry and Research Questions
Synthesis Essay
Flashcards Meerk's quiz →15 pts
Mon, Sep 28Week 7: Annotated Bibliography; Evaluating Sources; Library Database Orientation
Flashcards Meerk's quiz →in Canvas
Mon, Oct 5Week 8: Annotated Bibliography — Samples and Student Example
Flashcards Meerk's quiz →in Canvas
Mon, Oct 12Week 9: SIFT Model; Database Literacy; Annotated Bibliography Peer Review
Annotated Bibliography
Flashcards Meerk's quiz →15 pts
Mon, Oct 19Week 10: Thesis Statements and Elements of Argumentation
Flashcards Meerk's quiz →in Canvas
Mon, Oct 26Week 11: Writing Persuasive Essays; Sources and Information Needs
Flashcards Meerk's quiz →in Canvas
Mon, Nov 2Week 12: Studying Student Research Essays; Peer Review
Argumentative Research Essay
Flashcards Meerk's quiz →25 pts
Mon, Nov 9Week 13: Drop-In Conferencing
Flashcards Meerk's quiz →in Canvas
Mon, Nov 16Week 14: Drafting the Reflection
Flashcards Meerk's quiz →in Canvas
Mon, Nov 23Week 15: Drafting Research Paper Slide Presentation
Reflection Project
Flashcards Meerk's quiz →15 pts
Mon, Nov 30Week 16: Finals Week — Research Paper Slide Presentations
Research Paper Slide Presentation
Flashcards Meerk's quiz →in Canvas
Fri, Sep 4Summary/Response Essay
Summarize your chosen source (novel excerpt, article, or video) in your own words, then respond analytically. Submit by 11:59 PM via Canvas.
10 pts
Fri, Sep 25Synthesis Essay
Synthesize multiple sources around a common theme using MEA(L) paragraphs, signal phrases, and MLA documentation. Submit by 11:59 PM via Canvas.
15 pts
Fri, Oct 16Annotated Bibliography
Compile 5–7 MLA-formatted sources, each with a three-part annotation (summary, evaluation, use). Submit by 11:59 PM via Canvas.
15 pts
Fri, Nov 6Argumentative Research Essay
Present an arguable thesis supported by library-database sources with counterargument and MLA documentation. Submit by 11:59 PM via Canvas.
25 pts
Mon, Nov 23Reflection Project
Week 15 per the syllabus; exact due time in Canvas.
15 pts
Mon, Nov 30Research Paper Slide Presentation
Finals week per the syllabus; exact time in Canvas.
in Canvas

How the 100 points break down

Summary/Response Essay10 pts
Synthesis Essay15 pts
Annotated Bibliography15 pts
Argumentative Research Essay25 pts
Reflection Project15 pts
Process Work20 pts
Total100 pts

A grade of C or better is required to proceed to EGL 1020 Composition II. Essays are MLA-formatted (12pt Times New Roman, double-spaced, 1-inch margins, indented paragraphs). Submit via Canvas/Copyleaks.

Where do I stand? (nothing leaves this page)

Type the points you have earned so far. This runs on your device only — nothing is sent or saved.

Points earned so farPoints possible so far

Course facts

Gail Upchurch · upchurgl@pgcc.edu · dept English

Text: Write What Matters (free)
Grading: A 90–100 · B 80–89 · C 70–79 · D 60–69. Late out-of-class assignments accepted up to one week past the original due date. In-class process work and Discussion Board assignments cannot be made up.

Open Canvas (my.pgcc.edu) · Register for Owl Alert

For families — the Dinner Table Question

Every week ends with one question to ask at home. No answer key, no grade — just a conversation.

Week 8: What is the most surprising or counterintuitive thing you have found in your research so far — something that challenged your assumption about the topic?

En español: ¿Cuál es la cosa más sorprendente o contraria a la intuición que has encontrado en tu investigación hasta ahora?

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