English 1A—
Spring 2008
Instructor: R.
Rivera
Times: MW 9:40am-11:05am
Classroom:
Office
location: Cedar 3
Office hours:
MW 11:05am-1:35pm and by appointment
Office phone:
588.5093
Email:
Texts
and Materials
Required:
Axelrod,
Rise B. and Charles R. Cooper. The
A manila
folder (provided by instructor)
Recommended:
A
current college-level dictionary
A
current writer’s handbook
Budget
approximately $5 for copy costs
Course
Description
English 1A is
a university-transferable course. The prerequisite for this course is
recommendation of the English Skills Assessment Test or satisfactory completion
of English 151. English 1A satisfies part of the English requirement for
graduation.
Course
Objectives
Through a
variety of writing and reading assignments, you will become familiar with the
styles, approaches, strategies, and techniques used in effective college
writing and learn to organize and develop your ideas with close consideration
of audience, purpose, and voice. You will develop writing skills by composing
expository and argumentative essays and shorter papers that require you to write
in various modes. Critical reading is also an important component of this
course; analyzing what other writers say about a topic and how they say it
requires that you become a close and active reader, attentive to the devices,
techniques, and nuances used in academic and professional writing. You will
also learn about the meaning, importance, and purpose of revision as you work
towards a final draft in each essay assignment. You will develop research
skills by using the library and its resources and incorporating other material
into your own work. You will practice collaborative learning by working in
groups for many writing and discussion activities.
Course
Procedures
The emphasis
of this course will be on reading, writing, and revising. In class, we will
discuss writing assignments and strategies for completing them. You will
develop some of your work within a workshop format. That is, peers assigned to
your group will review your essays and comment on them in writing. You will be
required to provide copies of draft
work for every member of your group during workshop days. You will also be
required to meet with me during the semester for individual conferences to
discuss your writing, your progress, and other related issues.
This course
also requires that you come to class prepared.
All essays
and other writing assignments submitted for evaluation must have a professional
appearance. Please type or word process your final drafts on standard white
paper, using one-inch margins all the way around. Double-space, and please use
only a 12-point font and either Times New Roman or Arial. I will not accept
essays or other out-of-class writing assignments that are not word-processed.
Essays in this course are approximately 1000 words or four to five double-spaced
pages. Essays must have at least six paragraphs. Except for the final exam,
avoid using the five-paragraph format. Response papers will be approximately 500
edited words.
When you
submit essays and response papers for evaluation, I will read and comment on
them, grading them with a traditional letter grade. Once a grade has been
assigned to your work, you will not
have the opportunity to revise it for a better grade. You will have the
opportunity to revise when you write first drafts that you will share with
others in the class. If you wish to discuss a graded assignment with me, you
must wait at least 24 hours before doing so. When we do discuss a graded
assignment, it is for the purpose of understanding and further clarification,
not to change a grade.
If you would
like me to look at a draft of your work before it is due, please do not expect
me to read the entire draft. Have specific questions about your work. I do not
read working drafts for the purpose of proofreading them for you.
Evaluation
Your
evaluated work will reflect how well you have understood and completed the
assignments, and my comments will suggest what to consider when writing
subsequent papers. If you are concerned with your progress or confused by what
we are working on, please consult with me at any time during the semester. You
will receive a mid-term evaluation concerning your progress in the course up to
that point. I will also ask that you meet with me if it appears that you may be
struggling with the content and workload.
In
order to complete the course successfully you must:
complete all required writing assignments, in-
and out-of-class exercises and take the final exam.
attend
and participate.
show
an ability and willingness to work with others.
Please
understand that when you do not turn in an assignment it will have a negative
effect on your final grade. Failure to
turn in a research paper or to take the final exam will result in failing the
course, regardless of what your overall average and grade are. There are no
extra credit assignments, make-ups, or do-overs. Your final grade for the
course is based on consistent performance throughout the semester, and it is
calculated in the same way as your grade point average.
In class, we
will discuss the evaluation criteria for individual assignments as we approach
them. Assignments are weighted as follows:
3 Essays 30%
2 Research Essays 30%
6 Reading Responses 30%
Peer Responses 5%
Final Exam 5%
To earn an A in the course, you must finish the
semester with at least a 90 per cent average. A B is 80-89 per cent. A C is
70-79 per cent, and a D is 60-69 per
cent.
A letter
grade on the essays and response papers indicates the overall effectiveness of each
assignment as written communication from writer to reader, its formal
application of and adherence to development, organization, expression, and
mechanics, and its success in fulfilling a specific writing assignment. The
following criteria reflect my grading scale.
An A essay is strong in all areas of
composition. The viewpoint is mature, sophisticated, and original with a
thoughtful thesis. Paragraphs develop the thesis with clear and relevant
support. The organization is clear and well planned, with a fully developed
introduction that leads the reader to the writer’s thesis and a
well-constructed conclusion that brings the essay to its logical end.
Expression is fluent with few errors in usage and mechanics. The arrangement
and presentation of the essay is neat and adheres to the essay format. An A essay is distinguished by its
maturity and completeness of thought.
A B essay is competent in all areas of
composition. It is characterized by a fully developed thesis and clear and
logical organization. There are no serious deviations from standard mechanics
or usage. This essay is usually less mature and sophisticated in its
presentation of ideas than an A
paper and is marked by relative simplicity and lack of originality of content.
A C essay is a sound composition but may
still have some weaknesses. The thesis is given sufficient treatment to support
it, and the body paragraphs are presented in a logical arrangement, but often
the lack of development can keep readers guessing. The introduction and
conclusion are generally formulaic. There may be some language and mechanical
errors but not serious enough to impede the reader’s understanding of the
paper.
A D essay is weak in one or more areas of
composition. It is often difficult to understand because of poor organization,
inadequate or irrelevant development, vague thesis, errors in mechanics, and
frequent misuse of language.
While I feel
it is important to consider the substance of your ideas, I must also consider
the number of usage errors in a paper. A well-thought out and effectively
developed paper loses its credibility and force when there are many grammar,
punctuation, and word usage errors. Final drafts that have five or more usage
errors in reading responses and ten or more errors in essays will not receive
more than a C grade.
Attendance
Regular
attendance is required and essential for success in this course. You are
allowed four (4) absences without penalty. I will advise you to withdraw from
the course when you have accrued six (6) absences. However, I will not drop you
from the course; withdrawing from a course is your responsibility. There are no
excused absences. Your work schedule and personal life should not interfere
with your ability to attend class in a regular and timely fashion. When you do
miss a class, it is your responsibility to find out from a peer what you
missed. I will not repeat information or explanation of assignments I have
already discussed in class, and I do not send out assignments or other
information relating to class lecture and discussion via email. The final exam
will be given only on the scheduled day during finals week, and it is mandatory
that you attend. Please consult the
Punctuality
Please arrive
for class on time. Arriving to class late is discourteous to both students and
instructor, and it disrupts the progress and flow of the class. Make sure there
is not a scheduling conflict that interferes with this course. I cannot make
exceptions. I will keep track of those who arrive late, leave during class and
return, and leave early. Once you have established a pattern of arriving late,
leaving and returning during class, or leaving early, I will dismiss you from
the class for one class meeting, and I will refer you to the dean of student
services.
Assignment
Deadlines
Failure to
turn in assigned work when it is due disrupts my work schedule and course
planning. If you are unable to submit an assignment on time or if you miss
class on a day when your work is due, try to turn your work in at my office or
at my mailbox in the Administrative Services building. Do not email an essay or
response paper to me. An assignment is marked late any time after I have
collected papers at the beginning of class on the day the assignment is due.
Late work will be lowered one full letter grade, and I will not accept work
that is submitted more than one school day after the due date. In addition,
work that is submitted late will not receive comments. Please understand that I
am not required to accept or evaluate late work.
Office
Hours
My office
hours are posted at the beginning of this syllabus and on my office window. I
will be in my office during these times, and if you should find that you need
to discuss an assignment or clear up a confusion, please feel free to come by.
When you do come to my office, and so that we don't waste each other's time,
please be prepared with specific and clear questions, comments, or other
concerns you wish to discuss. With that in mind, think carefully and clearly
about what it is we need to work on or talk about. Please do not come to my
office with the expectation that I will read an entire draft for the purpose of
proofreading it or for any other reasons. I will, however, read specific
passages that you want me to comment on.
Americans
with Disabilities Act
If you have a
disability that affects you as a student in this class, notify me and/or the
Visitors
Visitors
are not allowed in the classroom. If someone is waiting for you, he or she must
wait somewhere else.
Plagiarism
It is
academically dishonest, and often illegal, to present someone else's ideas,
thoughts, or writing as your own. You cannot use even short phrases or parts of
sentences obtained from other sources unless you properly document those
sources. We will discuss this issue in class to ensure greater understanding of
what constitutes plagiarism, why students do it, and how to avoid it.
You will be
held responsible for furnishing upon request all the sources and preliminary
work (invention activity, notes, first drafts, peer responses) that you use in
preparing written assignments. If you cannot produce these materials upon
request, the assignment may not be accepted or evaluated. The St. Martin's Guide to Writing contains a brief and useful
discussion of plagiarism.
And
Finally
My
expectation of you as students and writers is that you behave and work in a
manner that is mature, professional, and serious. If I feel that you are
disruptive, rude, and/or threatening in class, I will discuss that behavior
with you. Continued disruptions such as constant talking, obvious and loud
yawning, playing with things posted on the walls, whistling, and singing while
in class create distractions for me and for students and will not be tolerated.
Other disruptions are caused by those who have pagers, cell phones, and other
electronic devices. Make sure these items are turned off and not in use in the
classroom during class time. Furthermore, do not come into class with the
intent of working on something for another course. Bring your textbook for this
course and any other materials you will need for what we are working on at the
time. Please consult the college catalog or student handbook for issues
relating to student conduct and responsibilities if you do not understand the
policy concerning classroom decorum.
Course Schedule
Please remember that much of our work will be shared in a
collaborative group setting. I expect you to treat each other's work with
respect, yet exhibit an effort to offer critical commentary and suggestions
that are useful to the discussions. The most important rules for this course
are 1) show up on time, 2) pay attention, 3) follow instructions, and 4) work
hard. We will try to stay on the following schedule although I may revise as we
go along. You will receive ample notice concerning changes in due dates and
assignments.
M Jan 7:
Course introduction. Discuss most common usage errors. Start Reading Response 1. Read
W Jan 9:
Personal introductions. Discuss the syllabus. Discuss assigned reading. Read Chs. 11, 14, and 15.
M Jan 14: Reading
Response 1 due. The Writing Process. Discuss assigned reading. The “Do Not List.”
W Jan 16: Continue
with assigned reading. Start Essay 1—Remembering an Event.
M Jan 21: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Holiday.
W Jan 23:
Response/Workshop example and procedures.
M Jan 28: Essay
1 first drafts due. Read
W Jan 30: Discuss
assigned reading. Thesis statements.
M Feb 4: Essay
1 due. Postcards—audience, purpose, and voice. Discuss assigned reading. Start Reading Response
2.
W Feb 6: Continue
with assigned reading. Read Chs. 16, 17, and 18.
M Feb 11: Reading
Response 2 due. Discuss assigned reading. Start Essay 2— Explaining a
Concept.
W Feb 13: Essay
2 first drafts due. Continue with assigned reading. Vote on topics.
M Feb 18:
W Feb 20: Essay
2 due. Start first research essay. Discuss assigned research essay topics. Read Chs. 21 and
22.
M Feb 25: Discuss
assigned reading. Discuss plagiarism. Assign groups. Start Reading Response 3.
W Mar 27: Library
Orientation. Read
M Mar 3: Reading
Response 3 due. Discuss assigned reading. Read
W Mar 5: Discuss
assigned reading.
M Mar 10: Research
Essay first drafts due. Continue with assigned reading.
W Mar 12: Discuss
revision and revising.
M Mar 17: First
Research Essay due. Start second research essay. The Rhetorical Triangle. Mid-term
reports.
W Mar 19: Review
the research essay: problems, confusions, questions. Review common errors.
Review Revision strategies.
M Mar 24: Second
research essay first drafts due. Read Ch. 3—last three readings only.
W Mar 26: Discuss
assigned reading. Start Reading Response 4. Friday, March 28 is the last day
to withdraw from a semester-length course.
M Mar 31: Second
research essay due. Continue with assigned reading. Read Ch. 9— last three readings only.
W Apr 2:
Reading Response 4 due. Discuss assigned reading. Start Reading Response 5.
M Apr 7: Continue
with assigned reading. Read
W Apr 9: Reading
response 5 due. Discuss assigned reading. Start Essay 3— Interpreting
Stories.
M Apr 14: Essay
3 first drafts due.
W Apr 16: Essay
3 due. Start Reading Response 6. Discuss Final Exam—tips and strategies.
W Apr 23: Reading
Response 6 due. Final Exam—8:00am-10:00am.
Agreement
of Student Understanding
Please
read each item carefully and initial it. Print and sign your name in the
appropriate blank and write in the date that you signed this document.
I
have read the syllabus carefully, and I understand what is required for
successful completion of this course, including the attendance policy for all
scheduled class meetings. _______
I
understand that there are standards in this course and that I am responsible for
my own learning. _______
I
understand that I may consult with the instructor if I am unsure about my grade
and that at the mid-term the instructor will provide me with a mid-term report
that tells me what my grade is up to that point. _______
I
understand the due date policy, when an assignment is marked late, and that my
grade for a late assignment will be lowered by one full grade. _______
I
understand that the work in this course requires consistent classroom
attendance and active participation. _______
I
understand that there is no extra credit, do-overs, or make-up work. _______
I
understand that the instructor evaluates and grades my work based on how well I
have completed each assignment and that it meets the standard for this course.
I also understand that the instructor does not evaluate my work based on my
ethnicity, nationality, cultural or social background, or any other aspect of
my identity. _______
I
understand that the class will not be graded on a curve and that my final
semester grade is based on an overall average. _______
I
understand that the instructor has the right to dismiss me from class for
unacceptable behavior and/or an attitude that he feels is disruptive and a
distraction to his teaching and to the learning of my peers. _______
Please
print and sign your name
__________________________________________________
Date:
______________________