Course Syllabus
English 101 Syllabus
Course Description:
In this class you will be doing weekly in-class writing assignments, other classroom assignments, completing three reading quizzes, and participating in peer reviews. You should be prepared to discuss assigned readings in class. Also you need to be prepared to do personal research based upon assignments. Most importantly, you will be responsible for five essays, two of which will be completed in class, and one multi-task project due at the end of the semester.
Textbook Information:
- The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Little Seagull Handbook, both available at the Book Store
Additional Course Information:
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
Communication Skills
- Reading and Writing
- Use the writing process with a focus on prewriting, planning, drafting, and revision strategies, which lead to a final product that is organized, formatted correctly, and substantive in content with correct grammar and mechanics.
- Summarize and paraphrase effectively.
- Demonstrate knowledge and competency of various rhetorical and logical principles related to development of significant expository content in intelligently organized essays, paragraphs, and sentences.
- Read critically for literal comprehension and interpretive and evaluative analyses. Students will learn to recognize text structures.
- Listening and Speaking
- Utilize interactive listening strategies for note-taking and appropriate questioning.
- Determine purpose and goals for listening.
- Use speaking as a tool for idea generation and utilize prior knowledge through small group and large group discussion.
- Summarize and paraphrase effectively.
Thinking and Reasoning
- Creative Thinking
- Use narrative and descriptive skills in composing paragraphs and essays, including incorporating metaphors, similes, images, and other appropriate poetic devices.
- Generate ideas using prewriting strategies.
- Critical Thinking
- Write expository/argumentative paragraphs and essays that are supported by evidence and logically organized using deductive and inductive reasoning.
- Synthesize information to produce a research paper incorporating research, using documentation and MLA format.
Information Management
- Evaluate primary and secondary sources, including Internet sources.
- Use library’s on-line catalogue and resources.
- Distinguish between professional journals and magazines and other periodicals.
- Demonstrate awareness of breadth of sources.
- Use sources ethically.
Diversity
- Cultural—Read, understand, and demonstrate an appreciation of literary and expository works from diverse historical and cultural backgrounds.
- Social—Read, understand, and demonstrate an appreciation of literary and expository works from diverse socio-economic backgrounds.
Civic Responsibility
- Ethical
- Discuss moral dilemmas that are present in the readings.
- Examine both historical and contemporary social issues that present the readings. `
Grading: You will receive a regular grade option in this course, based on a point system of 1000 pts.
1000-900 A
899-800 B
799-700 C
699-600 D 599 and below is an F
Your grade will be based on regular attendance, participation in classroom discussions and workshops, the completion of reading assignments, and the grades you receive on the essays as follows:
Class Participation & Attendance: 10%
Various Assignments & Quizzes: 15%
Out of Class Essays: 30%
In-Class Essays: 15%
Grammar Quizzes and final 10%
Final (Research) Project: 20%
Revision: Because I believe that we should all learn from our mistakes, I will allow you to revise either essay 1 or 2 for a better final grade. These revisions will be due as noted in the course outline. Revisions are not mandatory. These revisions will be due by the first class period of the month of April.
Peer Review Workshops: Prior to turning in each final draft, you will have the opportunity to receive valuable feedback on and revise your essays. Peer response groups are designed as a tool for students to help each other become better writers and readers, so be honest and respectful when giving feedback to others. On workshop days, you must bring four typed copies of your completed draft to be shared with the other members of your group. The point value of any final paper that does not undergo peer review will be reduced by 10%, or one full grade. Also, absences on peer review days will negatively impact your participation grade.
Attendance: The administration designates English 101 as an "Activity Course."
To participate in class activities and projects, your physical presence is necessary. Success demands your regular attendance and timely arrival: more than three absences may jeopardize your final grade. Excessive absences (more than 2) or consistent late arrivals will result in a failing grade. Please remember, this is a time you chose. Excuses for tardiness will not be kindly received. Four tardies will constitute one absence, so I would advise you to be here on time.
Late Work: To put it simply, late work will not be accepted. Assignments are due within 15 minutes of the beginning of the class period. On one occasion per semester, you may email your work to me by noon of the day after class. Any other late essays cannot be accepted. If you are having real difficulty with an assignment, contact me before the essay is due.
In-Class Writing: On a weekly basis, you will be given in-class topics, usually drawn from our assigned readings, which will be completed individually or in groups during the class hour. As this is an in-class activity, missed classes will result in missed assignments.
Academic Dishonesty: Please familiarize yourself with SAC’s definition of academic dishonesty: “plagiarism is defined as the act of taking the specific substance of another and offering it as one’s own without giving credit to the source”. If the idea is not completely your own, or if the information is not common knowledge, then you must acknowledge your source. Paraphrasing without giving credit to the source also constitutes plagiarism. Rephrasing, directly quoting, summarizing, or synthesizing any material drawn from another source must be properly attributed to that source. When you are not sure if something is or is not plagiarism, ask me, another instructor, or a Writing Center Tutor for help. Any use of uncited sources, using someone else’s work or work from another class will result in an “F” for the assignment. All cases of plagiarism will be reported to the Dean of Students without exception.
Essay Format: All essays (except the in-class work) must be submitted in MLA style: typed, double-spaced, in a standard Times New Roman 12-point font, using standardized 1" margins, following the length requirement of the specific assignment. In-class essay entries must be written in blue or black ink. If you are unfamiliar with this format, consult your handbook. Any deviation standard MLA format will result in a reduction in the paper’s final grade. Turning in a paper with less than the prompt’s length requirement (and I use a ruler to assess this) will result in a 0.
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 U-103, and their phone number is
714-564-6264. 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.
Course Outline This schedule is subject to change with notice.
Week One
M: Course Outline, Diagnostic Writing
Class introductions.
W: Audience Awareness—Active Reading.
HW: Buy books and begin reading as assigned.
Week Two
M: No Class Labor Day
HW: As assigned in your handbook. Read the accompanying book ILHL
Week Three
Lecture & Discussion of First Writing Assignment.
Drafting, Revising and Editing your first essay - What is it all about?
Sentence variety and creating Paragraphs, coherent writing
Description activity
HW: Write a rough draft of Essay #1.
Week Four
Peer Response. Bring 4 Copies to Class. Turn in Description Group Paper
Complete peer response questionaire
The research project--Choosing the semester’s project topic.
HW: Reread your essay and do final revision.
Week Five
Essay #1 Due. Introduction of Essay #2
Group Activity—Introductions and Conclusions
Creating your interview questions.
HW: Conduct your interview. Continue reading.
Week Six
Description, Detail and Dialogue: Support and Example.
ILHL Reading Quiz #1
Group Discussion and Activity on HW Assignment.
Correct use of Dialogue. Group Lists due.
HW: Complete your interview and write a rough draft of Essay #2.
Week Seven
Peer Response for Essay #2. Four copies!
Write a response to your partner, working on vocabulary improvement
Return your peer review to your partner
Review Conference procedures,
Discuss the in-class essay #3
Week Eight
Conferences—please bring 2 copies of your draft
Grammar Quiz
HW: Finish Reading for Essay #3 &4.
Week Nine
Essay #2 Due. Please bring an 8 ½ x 11 exam book.
Complete Essay #3 in class.
.
Week Ten
Discussion for Essay 4—Reading Quiz #2
Eliminating “To Be” Verbs
HW: Complete Essay #4 as assigned.
Week Eleven
Essay #4 due. Lecture: MLA Documentation. Please bring your handbook
Completing a “Works Cited Page.”
HW: Finish the works cited assignment
Week Twelve
Essay #5- in class.
Reading Quiz #3
HW: Research for Final project.
Week Thirteen 5-15
Research Day for Final Research All Revisions Due
HW: Finish your research paper
Week Fourteen
Peer review of your research paper
HW: Revise your research paper
Week Fifteen
Research Paper is due
Finals Week
M: Grammar Final, Return Research Paper
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