English N60 Syllabus

Santa Ana College’s Mission Statement

Santa Ana College inspires, transforms, and empowers a diverse community of learners.

 

ENGLISH N60: BASICS OF EFFECTIVE WRITING                            Fall 2018    

 

Instructor:       Isaac Lomeli

Section #:        53846

Days / Time:   Tuesday and Thursday 1:15 P.M.-3:20 P.M.

Location:         D-305

Email:              Lomeli_Isaac@sac.edu

Office Hours:    By appointment only        

 

English Department’s Mission Statement

The Santa Ana College English Department provides numerous opportunities for our students to develop and improve the reading, critical thinking, and writing skills required to succeed at their chosen careers, to meet the rigors of the writing demands at four-year transfer institutions, and to foster lifelong learning and an appreciation of literature.

 

Required Texts

The Little Red Writing Book (Deluxe Edition) by Brandon Royal

A Saint in the City (2nd ed.) by Scott Glabb

 

Course Objectives

English N60 is designed to help you write effectively and to read and think critically. It will emphasize the sentence, the outline, the summary, the paragraph, and introduce you to the essay. Because this course is based on the premise that reading, writing, and thinking are inseparable activities, the paragraphs will require that you respond to a variety of texts and to class discussion of these texts. Assignments will emphasize the skills and concepts central to expository writing: rhetoric, analysis, inference, critique, and argumentation, among others. This course will also emphasize the development of strong prewriting, revision, and editing skills.

 

Course Requirements

Three Paragraphs.…………………………………………………………...            10 points each

Three Essays…………………………………………………………............           10 points each

Participation/Attendance/DLA....….……………………………..…………             15 points

Reading and Writing Journal …………………………………………..……           15 points

Final ……………………..………..………………………………………...               10 points

 

Final Grades: 100%-90%: A; 89%-80%: B; 79%-70%: C; 69%-60%: D; 59%-0%: F.

You must submit the three paragraphs and the three essays and take the final in order to be eligible to pass the class. All papers are due on the dates indicated on the syllabus.

All written assignments completed out of class must conform to the MLA style guidelines discussed in class. Late writing assignments and homework will not be accepted.

 

English N60 Student Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to read critically for literal meaning and identify the main idea of a reading and the author’s writing strategies.

Students will use the writing process to write, in proper MLA format, well-organized, supported paragraphs or short essays using appropriately chosen details, sentence variety, and sufficiently correct grammar and punctuation.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is a serious offense. A plagiarized paper automatically fails and could result in an F for the course. 

What is plagiarism? Plagiarism is a direct violation of intellectual and academic honesty. Although it exists in many forms, all plagiarism refers to the same act: representing somebody else's words or ideas as one's own. The most extreme forms of plagiarism are the use of material authored by another person or obtained from a commercial source, or the use of passages copied word for word without acknowledgment.

Paraphrasing an author's idea or quoting even limited portions of his or her text without proper citation is also an act of plagiarism. Even putting someone else's ideas into one's own words without acknowledgment may be plagiarism. In none of its forms can plagiarism be tolerated in an academic community. It may constitute grounds for a failing grade, probation, suspension, or expulsion.

 

Class Attendance and Participation

Class attendance and participation have a bearing on your grade. Because much of what you write will depend on class discussion and workshops, you will find it difficult to make up for a missed class. Make sure that you have the name and phone number of at least one other member of class whom you can contact if you need to miss. You will be dropped if you miss four class sessions, but it is your responsibility to complete drop procedures if you cannot continue with the class. If you are not attending this class and have not dropped it by the final drop date, you will receive a grade commensurate with your work.

Please be on time and do not leave class early; these things disturb your fellow classmates. Students who are late to class and/or leave class before class is over will have five points deducted for each occurrence. Two super tardies and/or leaving early two times (ten or more minutes) will be equal to one absence. Also, please turn off pagers and phones while in class. Anyone caught talking on a cell phone, text messaging, or tweeting during class will be asked to leave the classroom for the remainder of the class, and that will count as one absence.

 

Canvas

Information about this class can also be found on Canvas. Information about how to access Canvas will be discussed on the first day of class. For the purposes of this class, Canvas will be used as a posting site for a brief synopsis of each class and any homework that was assigned. Also, other relevant information (the syllabus, paragraph and essay assignment sheets, homework handouts, etc.) will be posted on Canvas. Therefore, if you have to miss a class, you can check out Canvas, find out what we did in class, and see the homework that was assigned. If you lose a copy of the syllabus or other documents that were handed out in class, you can go to Canvas and print out what you are missing.

If you are unable to access Santa Ana College’s Canvas site, please contact the Distance Education Office at (714) 564-6725. Currently, Santa Ana College does not have technical support on the weekends, holidays, or evenings; as a result, please be patient as the situation will be rectified as soon as possible.

 

Disabled Student Programs & Services Statement

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.

 

Rewrites and Extra Credit

There are no rewrites in this class, and there is no extra credit in this class.  You may be asked to complete DLA's to improve grade.

 

The Learning Center

The Learning Center is located in D-307 and offers assistance with Communication Studies, English, EMLS, Modern Languages, and Reading classes. Therefore, you will be able to go to the Learning Center to get assistance with your English homework and writing assignments. There is computer-assisted instruction, directed learning activities (DLAs) language acquisition practice, and one-on-one conferencing available for all students. You will be required to complete three DLAs in the Learning Center this semester.

 

Strong Recommendations

Writing courses are difficult and time-consuming. For each assignment, you will need to do a certain amount of reading and reviewing of appropriate sections in the text, go through a lengthy (and often painful) process of drafting and revising, edit for final mechanical problems, and then prepare a final draft. Be realistic about what you can handle this semester, and figure out right now how you will schedule the regular study and writing time you will need. Figure at least 8-12 hours per week outside of class.

Most importantly, study all my comments on papers returned to you, and refer to all appropriate sections of the textbook for further explanation of specific problems. You will probably have many problems in your first papers; what is important is that you study them and work towards developing more effective skills as the semester progresses. 

 

Course Outline

Note: Supplemental outlines may be assigned on a daily basis and will include readings from the textbook and from handouts. A paragraph assignment sheet will be passed out in class on the day each paragraph is assigned. All assignments are due on the dates indicated on Canvas.

 

What is writing? (Technical stuff)

 

Week One: Aug 28^th & 30^th  

Day one: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”

In class: Journal Entry #1:  What is your life’s blueprint?

- Homework: Get journal, books.

 

Day two: Why are we here? 

 

Week Two: Sept 4^th & 6^th

Day 1:  “If you can’t be inspired you can’t be anything.”

In Class: Journal Entry #2: What inspires you?

- Homework: read The Little Red Writing Book, p. 13-38 by next Thursday.

 

Day 2:  Instruction on peer review.  Peer review of your 2 previous journal entries. 

 

Week Three: 11^th & 13^th   

Day 1: The Paragraph.

 

Day 2:  5 groups for 5 principles. 

In Class: each group comes up with a paragraph explaining in their own words the principle. 

- Homework: read The Little Red Writing Book, p. 41-72 by next Tuesday; paragraph 1, first draft due by next class meeting.

 

Week Four: 18^th & 20^th

Day 1: 5 groups for 5 principles. 

In Class: each group comes up with a paragraph explaining in their own words the principle.

Peer review of paragraph 1. 

- Homework:  read The Little…, p. 73-94 by next Tuesday; paragraph 1 Final Draft due next Thursday.

 

Day 2:

-Due: paragraph 1 

 

Why do we write? (Expression)

 

Week Five: 25^th & 27^th

Day 1:  5 groups for 5 principles.

-In Class: each group comes up with a paragraph explaining in their own words the principle.

- Homework:  read The Little…, p. 95-125 by next Tuesday;  Paragraph 2 first draft due for peer review Day 2.

 

Day 2:  Peer review of paragraph 2. 

-Homework:  Paragraph 2 final draft due next Tuesday.

 

Week Six: Oct 2^nd & 4^th  

Day 1:  5 groups for 5 principles. 

-In Class: each group comes up with a paragraph explaining in their own words the principle.  Discuss Essay assignment

- Homework:  read The Little…, p. 177-215; Paragraph 3 due for peer review on Day 2, final draft due next Tuesday.

-Due: Paragraph 2

 

Day 2: Peer review Paragraph 3. 

-Homework: Paragraph 3 final draft due next Tuesday.

 

Week Seven:  9th & 11^th   

Day 1: 5 groups for grammar rules. 

In Class: each group comes up with a paragraph explaining in their own words 6 of the rules.

- Homework:  Read The Little Red…, p. 307-325 by Week Eight, Day 1.

Due: Paragraph 3

 

Day 2:  Discuss Essay 1 assignment.

-Homework: Paragraph 3 first draft due for peer review next Tuesday.                                                  

 

 Week Eight: 16^th & 18^th

Day 1: 5 groups for punctuation. 

In Class: each group comes up with a paragraph explaining in their own words the principle. (Commas, Listing, Bracket Commas, Joining/Omission Commas, Semicolons). Peer Review of Essay 1. 

- Homework: Scott Glabb’s A Saint In The City, Introduction, Ch. 1 & 15; begin reading journal, due 1^st day week 9. Essay 1 Final draft due Thursday.

 

Day 2:

Peer Review

 

What are we writing for? (Purpose/Product)

 

Week Nine: 23rd & 25th

Day 1: Ch. 1 & 15

-Homework: read Ch. 2-3, reading journal, due next Tuesday; 

-Due: reading journal

-Due: Essay 1

 

Day 2:  Discuss Essay 2   

-Homework: bring rough draft of Essay 2 Tuesday for peer review. 

 

Week Ten: 30^th & Nov 1^st  

Day 1: Peer review. Class discussion of Ch. 2 & 3.

- Homework: read Ch. 5-6, reading journal. Due next Tuesday. Essay 2 final draft due next Tuesday.

-Due: Reading journal.           

 

Day 2: Conferencing            

 

Week Eleven: Nov 6^th & 8^th

Day 1: Class discussion of Ch. 5 & 6.

- Homework: read Ch. 7 & 9, reading journal.  Due next Tuesday.

-Due: reading journal.  Final Draft Essay 2.

 

Day 2: Conferencing

 

Week Twelve: 13^th & 15^th   

Day 1: Class discussion of Ch. 7 & 9; discuss Essay 3.  Bring rough draft on Thursday for peer review.

-Homework: read Ch. 10-11, reading journal.  Due next Tuesday.

 

Day 2: Peer review of Essay 3. 

-Homework: final draft of Essay 3 due next Tuesday

 

How do we write? (Voice)

          

Week Thirteen: 20^th & 22^nd  

Day 1: Class discussion of Ch. 10 & 11.

- Homework: read Ch.12 & 13, reading journal.  Due next Tuesday.

-Due: Essay 3

 

Day 2: NO CLASS.

                                                      

Week Fourteen: 27^th & 29^th

Day 1: Class discussion of Ch. 12 & 13.

- Homework: read Ch. 14, reading journal.  Due next Tuesday.

 

Day 2: Conferencing

                                                      

Week Fifteen: Dec 4^th & 5th  

Day 1: Class discussion of Ch. 14

- Homework: read Ch. 16 (P. 182-197), reading journal.  Due next Tuesday.

 

Day 2: Conferencing

 

Week Sixteen: Finals Week

 

General Rubric for All Writing Assignments

 

Clarity: Your reader needs to be able to understand the ideas you are expressing.  Your thoughts and ideas must be clear enough for your reader to get your point.  You may be clever; yet avoid being vague.  Leave enough clues for your reader to follow your points and support throughout your paper.

 

Coherence: Some grammatical errors such as punctuation and spelling usually do not take away from getting your point across (and they are easy to fix); however, avoid making careless errors or using sentences that need to be read over and over again to make sense out of what you are saying.  Avoid common sentence skill errors such as fragments and run-ons.  Self-editing and Peer Editing are helpful tools to avoid coherence issues in your writing.

 

Conciseness:  Wording is important.  Use vocabulary you are comfortable with and that convey exactly what you mean.  Don’t try to sound too fancy; less is always more.  Also, stick to your point.  Avoid tangents and over explanations.

 

Creativity:  This is probably the most important: do not bore your reader!  Feel free to use your own form of creative expression to express your critical thinking skills.

 

(All four criteria are equally weighted in the grading process.)

SANTA ANA COLLEGE

Departmental Course Objectives and Some Comments for Proceeding to English 061

English N60

                                                         

TO ALL STUDENTS ENROLLED IN ENGLISH N60: To increase your chances of doing well in English N60 and to understand how to become eligible to preceded to English 061, please read the following carefully.

 

English N60’s objective, briefly stated, is to teach simple paragraph writing and basic English sentence grammar. To do this, instructors will require that you do the following:

 

1. Write paragraphs with

 

1. Effective topic sentence
2. Unified development
3. Logically organized ideas
4. Sufficient information
5. Consistent point of view

 

1. Write paragraphs that

 

1. Show general-to-specific expository development
2. Summarize model paragraphs, capturing their main ideas

 

• Edit or revise

 

1. Previously graded paragraphs to correct identified errors
2. Completed paragraphs to improve unity and development

 

1. Read assigned essays and

 

1. Identify their main ideas
2. Prepare outlines, properly organizing the author’s plan
3. Differentiate between explicit and implicit meanings
4. Respond critically to issues raised in the essays

 

1. Study grammar and

 

1. Write complete sentences free of fragments, fusions, and splices
2. Show ability to mix a simple, compound, and complex sentences in effective fashion
3. Develop increased skill by doing grammatical exercises
4. Use correct punctuation

 

After you have passed English N60, you qualify to enroll in English 061;however, English 061 instructors strongly advise that, in addition, your reading placement test score be at the 20^th percentile or above before enrolling in English 061 in order to maximize your chances for success in that course.

 

If you do not know your reading test score, you should get your test results from the counseling office during the first semester or see a counselor. If your test score is below the 20^th percentile, the English Department recommends that you register for a reading class during the add-drop period.

 

The 20^th percentile is approximately 8^th grade reading level.  This is the minimum reading proficiency level required for high school graduation in California. Short newspaper articles with common vocabulary are often about the 8^th grade level in reading.  Students with this level of reading may have difficulty with material containing complex ideas and new vocabulary.

 

 

 

Course Syllabus: Click to Download