Since this isn't really a writing-intensive course, your writing sample here is actually more of an informational piece.  It'll give me a brief sense of your writing abilities while also letting me know some about your English history.

I'd like you to draft two paragraphs for me and either bring them to class on Thursday or e-mail them to me (here) by Thursday.  In the first paragraph I'd like you to give me a brief history of what you've read in the past, and where.  This can include English 110 and other English courses you've taken in college, but it can also reach back to high school if necessary.  What I'm really looking for is both how much you've been asked to read before and what you really enjoyed reading.

In the second paragraph, I want you to look over the syllabus and the reading list and tell me what you expect from this course -- and why you wanted to take it in the first place.  If you can develop these thoughts in a bit more than one-sentence detail it'll help me know where to pitch my writing instruction when the time comes.

Look forward to seeing these!