English 101 M/W 12:30 p.m. D-107

Course Syllabus:  Syllabus 101 MW Spring 2018.docx

Course Calendar: ENGLISH 101 Calendar M/W

*UPDATED CALENDAR - ENGLISH 101 CALENDAR Monday STUDENT -1.docx

 

Textbook Information:  

Seeing & Writing 4 - McQuade and McQuade

The Little Seagull 3e – Weinberg

One World – A Global Anthology of Short Stories

Course Description: 

Welcome to English 101. This is an intensive writing course in which you will practice and develop your critical thinking, reading, and writing skills. You will learn how to observe, analyze, and evaluate complex ideas and how to communicate clearly and effectively. Throughout the course, we will observe and analyze the images and the language of American culture and society. We will think critically about how these visual and verbal texts confirm and conflict with our own impressions, experiences, and opinions and how they shape our identities.

The essays and images from Seeing and Writing 4 will serve as the foundation for class discussions and homework. The Little Seagull 3e covers major points of composition, the research process, grammar, spelling, and punctuation. We will also devote one segment of the course to Santa Ana College’s Book of the Year, One World – A Global Anthology of Short Stories. Other course materials may range from photographs and advertisements to poetry and film.

English 101 Student Learning Objectives:

(1) Students will use the writing process to write, in MLA format, academic essays, including a documented research paper, using appropriately chosen details, organizational strategies, more complex sentence variety, and sufficiently correct grammar, punctuation, effective word choice, and style. (2) Students will be able to read critically for literal and implied meaning, identify main ideas, organizational strategies and authors’ writing strategies as well as summarize, paraphrase, and analyze written works. (3) Students will evaluate and ethically use primary and secondary academic sources to avoid plagiarism and will use the library’s resources, including online databases.

Meet Your Instructor:

Hello! My name is Stacy Simmerman, and I have been teaching English at SAC for 12 years. I am also a SAC alumni! I earned by bachelor's degree in English from University of California, Irvine, and my master's in English from Claremont Graduate University. When I am not teaching, taking care of my two boys, or trying to train my stubborn English Bulldog Stella, I love to run and spend time with friends and family. 

Participation and Attendance: This course is based largely on group discussions, in-class writings and workshops, and other activities; therefore, your participation and attendance is critical to your success in the course. You are expected to attend class everyday and bring all necessary materials, pay attention and listen carefully, ask and answer questions, participate in class discussions, make use of available student resources (instructor and/or Learning Center instructors), and complete all assigned work on time.

 Be on time and show up: I  also expect you to be on time. Entering a class after it has begun is disruptive and disrespectful to our learning community. At the same time, students may not make up the work they missed because of a tardy.

 Students may be dropped from the course for excessive absences (3 or more absences). Some absences may be excused for documented car accidents, medical emergencies and illnesses, legal duties, family tragedies, etc. However, dentist/doctor appointments, a change in work schedule, transportation problems and other such personal issues are not excused absences. Keep in mind that you are responsible for any assignments or material you miss if you are absent; therefore, I strongly suggest exchanging phone numbers or e-mail addresses with at least two other classmates and checking Canvas regularly.

Learning Center Contact Info:

Location: D-307                     

Phone: 714-564-6569

Please check the Web site for hours: www.sac.edu/learningcenter

 Cell phone/electronic device policy: Electronic devices such as iPods, iPads, laptop computers, electronic dictionaries, and cell phones are not to be used in class. This means no checking messages, receiving and answering calls, or text messaging. Cell phones should be turned off or silenced. If you need to use your phone at any time (including before class and during breaks) please step outside. Laptop computers may be used by permission only. Thank you.

Readings, Quizzes, and Exams: All readings and reading-related assignments should be completed before the date listed on your course outline. Read all assignments carefully and thoughtfully, and get into the habit of annotating your texts as well. Discussion of the reading is vital to our course, so I expect you to be prepared to share ideas, ask and answer questions, and complete exercises and in-class writings related to the readings. You will have unannounced quizzes based on either reading assignments or lectures. Your final and midterm exams will be in-class essays.

Homework, Essays, and Research Project: You will be assigned short homework assignments in addition to two paragraphs, a summary, and three essays. You will also write a 8-10 page research paper.

*All work (unless noted otherwise) must be typed in MLA Format.

*Work should be ready to be turned in at the beginning of class. I expect you to print your work before class, not after class begins or during the break.

*Students may NOT e-mail their work to me, nor may they e-mail me for homework assignments.

*To insure against loss, always backup your work and print a couple of hard copies.

 Portfolio: Students are encouraged to maintain a portfolio of all of their written work for this course. Include informal writing, working drafts, peer editing drafts, final drafts, and in-class essays. .

 Peer-editing Sessions: Writing is a process that requires prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing. In order to practice and refine your skills as critics of your own work as well as your peers' writing, every student is required to participate in peer-editing sessions and schedule one-on-one conferences with me. Failure to bring two typed copies of your essay to class on peer editing days will result in a ten-point deduction from the final essay grade.

 

Late Assignments and Make-up Policy: I will only accept one late assignment, which must be turned in one week from the original due date in order to receive full credit (except research papers). After one week, the assignment will be lowered one letter grade for every day it is late thereafter. No make-ups will be allowed for in-class writings, quizzes, or exams, or the final research paper.

 Student Resources: I encourage you to meet with me if you have any questions or concerns about the course, assignments, or grades. I will be happy to meet with you during office hours or by appointment. For additional help with your writing, you can visit the Learning Center (D-307).

 Drop Policy: All students have the obligation to withdraw from this course through the Admissions Office. Although it is your responsibility to withdraw from this course, I may drop you for excessive absences. The last day to drop this course with a "W" grade is May 6, 2018. Withdrawing from a course after the above deadline requires that the student receive an "F" or other letter grade. Please consult the Admissions Office for answers to any questions regarding this policy.

 Plagiarism/Unethical Conduct: Plagiarism and unethical conduct are not acceptable. Academic dishonesty will result in an "F" on the assignment and a written reprimand will be filled out. Copies of the report will filed with the Humanities & Social Sciences Division Dean and the Dean of Students. Please read the distributed handouts on plagiarism and refer to the college catalogue for a full definition of plagiarism and its consequences.

Special Accommodations:  Your success in this course is important to me. Santa Ana College and I are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for all individuals with disabilities. If you have a disability that may have some impact on your ability to do well in this course, I encourage you to speak with me as soon as possible. Also, please contact Disabled Student Programs & Services so that we can all collaborate on your classroom accommodations in a timely manner. DSP&S is located in VL-203, and their phone number is 714-564-6264. TTY: 714-564-6384. Video Phones: 714-660-3075 or 657-235-2999. The DSP&S office requires documentation of your disability in order to receive reasonable accommodations. If you do not have documentation, they will work with you to acquire it. I look forward to supporting you to meet your learning goals.

 *It is the disabled student’s responsibility to contact the course instructor at the beginning of the semester to discuss potential plans when classroom evacuations are necessary.

 Required Assignments and Grade Distribution:

 

1 Paragraph                                                      (20 points)

3 Essays                                                           (300 points)

1 Summary /Group Project                              (25 points)

1 Research Project                                           (200 points)

Research Assignments                                    (*25 points)

Research Presentation                                   (20 points) *Students must be present for  all presentations

Midterm Essay Exam                                       (100 points)  

Quizzes/Exercises/Homework                           (*50 points)

Final Essay Exam                                             (200 points)    

 *These point totals are estimated and may change.

 

Total points possible:                                        (940)

 

100 – 90% = A     89 – 80% = B     79 – 70% = C     69 – 60% = D     59 – 0 = F