Eng. 100 Syllabus, Sp. 2015

English 100 - Freshman Composition

Course Syllabus

Instructor: Tom Amano-Tompkins                                          Term: Spring 2015

Section: 22569 – MW 5:00 pm -9:15 pm                                           Location: LA-103       

Office hours: W 4:20-4:50 pm in LA 239

Email: tomp99@earthlink.net (best way to communicate with me outside of class!)

Class Website: http://caliteacheng100-103.blogspot.com

Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of the English Placement Process or English 52 or equivalent with a grade of “C” or higher.

Course Description:

English 100 stresses the importance of written communication through reading and writing of expository and research essays.  Because this is a course to improve writing skills, you will not only engage extensively in the writing process through prewriting, writing, and revision, but also read extensively in the course textbook.  Furthermore, this particular class is set around the theme of "Identity and the Cultural Experience."  As a result, all readings and writing assignments will be based around this theme.

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Employ the writing process in order to understand and complete the writing task
• Write an essay that has a specific purpose, in response to specific writing prompts and course assignments
• Write a multi-paragraph essay with specific details, examples, and illustrations to fulfill a purpose
• Demonstrate critical engagement with outside sources
• Write in prose style characterized by clarity, complexity, and variety
• Adhere to the conventions of standard written English in accord with MLA style

Required Texts: (available at the campus bookstore)

Patterns for College Writing: A Rhetorical Reader and Guide by Laurie G. Kirszner and Stephen R. Mandell – ISBN #: 0312676840

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini – ISBN #: 1-59448-000-1

The Ethics of What We Eat by Peter Singer & Jim Mason – ISBN #: 1-59486-687-6

You will also need to purchase two blue exam books for in-class essays.

Bring your books, a notebook (or notebook paper), and a pen to every class meeting. To complete some assignments, you will need access to the Internet and to a computer word processor.

Students who succeed in English 100 usually choose to:                        **Read carefully!**

• Make a serious commitment to succeeding in this class.
• Come to class on time and prepared.
• Get the required texts as soon as possible.
• Keep a notebook that will be turned in for a grade at the end of the semester.
• Do all the assignments, including readings, and keep up with the class schedule.
• Participate in class discussions and activities.
• Refrain from using their cell phones during class.
• Let me know immediately if they experience a problem with the class or if other areas of their lives seriously interfere with their ability to do their class work.
• Seek out all legitimate help with their course work, if they need it, including the Writing Lab, Special Programs & Services, campus librarians, their textbooks, and me.
• Maintain academic integrity by doing their own work. They do not plagiarize; they do not cheat. Treat their classmates and instructor with respect and consideration. 
• Recognize that real learning is difficult – it involves making mistakes and taking risks.

If you are not willing to make these choices, you are unlikely to succeed in this class. I will be happy to meet with you to discuss your work in this course. I encourage you to visit me during office hours, but if that is not convenient for you, we can make an appointment to meet at another time.

Students MUST visit the class website (http://caliteacheng100-103.blogspot.com) before each class. You are responsible for any information that has been posted between classes. You must check the online syllabus to make sure that you are aware of any change or additional assignments or quizzes.

Plagiarism can mean copying, word for word, all or part of something someone else has written and turning it in with your name on it. Plagiarism also includes using your own words to express someone else’s ideas without crediting the source of those ideas.

Plagiarism is a very serious form of academic misconduct. It’s both lying and stealing, and it’s a waste of time for students and teachers. College and departmental policy on plagiarism will be strictly enforced: Any student caught plagiarizing will automatically receive a zero for that assignment, with no possibility of making it up, and may be subject to a formal reprimand and/or suspension.

Cite your sources! Please retain all notes and drafts of your papers until grading for the course is completed.

Attendance/Tardiness

Attendance in class is mandatory. This is the college policy. If a student is absent during the add-period OR for more than 10% of the total class hours (two classes), the instructor has sufficient cause to drop that student from the class. Arriving late or leaving early will count as one half of an absence.

Course site:    http://caliteacheng100-103.blogspot.com

Students are REQUIRED to check the class website twice each week. You must check the syllabus to make sure that you know what is expected at each upcoming class (including changes). You must check for messages from your instructor. All handouts will be available to download. 

Grading:

Your final grade in this class will be computed as follows.

Essays (2)                                                      25%                

Research Paper                                              25%                                                 

Reading Analysis Presentations (5)               20%                

Notebook                                                        5%

Midterm                                                          5%                                

Final                                                                8%                  

Quizzes                                                            7%                   

Participation                                                    5%                

A = 90-100%   B = 80-89%  C = 70-79%  D = 60-69%  F = 59% and below

English 100 is a UC-CSU transferable course, so rigorous academic standards must be applied to grading your work. All assignments are required. In-class work, such as reading analysis presentations and quizzes, cannot be made up. Both essays and the research paper are required to pass the class. Missing assignments can significantly impact your grade and prevent you from passing the course. Late papers will receive an automatic 10% point deduction and will not be accepted later than one week after the original due date. An extension must be arranged with the instructor in advance.

Students should expect a quiz at 5:05 pm in each class. Students who are absent or arrive late will not be permitted to take a make-up quiz. Additional quizzes will be given throughout the term. 

Reading Analysis Presentation assignments: You are required to present your analysis of one of the assigned readings four times during  the duration of the class. There will be a sign-up sheet for each set of readings; in some cases, you may be assigned to analyze a specific reading. You must do your analysis on the reading you signed up for (or were assigned) – you may not switch to another reading without clearing it with your instructor. Your written analysis is due the day we discuss it in class (see Schedule), and you will present your findings to the class during our discussion of the reading. Late reading analyses will not be accepted. Guidelines for the reading analyses will be distributed separately.

Essays (including Research Paper) must be typed and formatted according to MLA (Modern Language Association) guidelines. For guidance, see the MLA Formatting and Style Guide at the Web site of the Purdue Online Writing Lab (http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/ - link available on the course site). It is the student’s responsibility to make sure that the paper is received and readable. Late papers will receive an automatic 10% point deduction and will not be accepted later than one week after the original due date. The research paper will not be accepted late!

Turnitin.com: To verify the originality of writing submitted for this class, all essays must be uploaded to Turnitin.com. Turnitin.com will generate an originality report for the instructor identifying any borrowed material in student essays (borrowed material includes correctly documented quotes, as well as plagiarized material). In order to receive full credit, students must upload their essays to Turnitin.com before class on the day the assignment is due. No essay will be graded until it is uploaded to Turnitin.com.

Go to Turnitin.com to create a student profile. Use the following information to upload your essay:

                        Class ID: 9277278                                   Enrollment password: 100103

Schedule of Topics, Readings, and Written Assignments (subject to change)

Date	Readings to be completed before class	Quizzes, exams, and major assignments
	Week 1
Mon. 1/12	Handout: “The Myth of ‘Practice Makes Perfect’”	Writing diagnostic Grammar diagnostic
Wed. 1/14	Patterns for College Writing: Ch. 1 – Reading to Write: Becoming a Critical Reader, pp. 11-27 “The Myth of the Latin Woman: I Just Met a Girl Named Maria” by Judith Ortiz Cofer, pp. 232-237 “Just Walk On By: A Black Man Ponders His Power to Alter Public Space” by Brent Staples, pp. 240-243 Read “How Can We Address the Shortage of Organ Donars?” pp. 605-606 Begin prewriting essay #1: rhetorical analysis (distribute prompt) *** Last day to drop class and get a full refund is Jan. 14	Quiz 1 (Reading Analysis 1)
	Week 2
Mon. 1/19	NO CLASS –MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.’S BIRTHDAY HOLIDAY
Wed. 1/21	Patterns for College Writing: Ch. 2 – Invention, pp. 29-49 Ch. 3 – Arrangement, pp. 51-64 Ch. 14 – Argumentation, pp. 525-552 “Mother Tongue, ” by Amy Tan, pp. 466-71 “The Ways We Lie” by Stephanie Ericsson, pp.  474-81 Prewriting/Outline 1 Workshop *** Last day to drop class without a “W” is Jan. 21	Quiz 2 Outline for Essay 1  (Reading Analysis 1)
	Week 3
Mon. 1/26	Patterns for College Writing: Ch. 4 – Drafting and Revising, pp. 65-79 Kite Runner: Chapters 1-6, pp. 1-58 Draft 1 Workshop	Quiz 3 Draft of Essay 1 (Reading Analysis 2)
Wed. 1/28	Kite Runner: Chapters 7-10, pp. 59-124	Quiz 4 Essay 1 due  (Reading Analysis 2)
	Week 4
Mon. 2/2	Kite Runner: Chapters 11-13, pp. 125-189 Chapters 14-19, pp. 190-242	Quiz 5 (Reading Analysis 2)
Wed. 2/4	Kite Runner: Chapters 20-23, pp. 243-310 Chapters 24-25, pp. 311-372 Prewriting/Outline 2 Workshop	Quiz 6 Prewriting for Essay 2 Midterm Exam (Reading Analysis 2)

	Week 6
Mon. 2/9	The Ethics of What We Eat:   Preface, pp. v-viii & Introduction, pp. 3-12 Ch. 1-3, pp. 15-41  Draft 2 Workshop	Quiz 7 Draft of Essay 2  (Reading Analysis 1)
Wed. 2/11	Patterns for College Writing: Ch. 16 – Finding and Evaluating Sources, pp. 705-710 The Ethics of What We Eat:  Ch. 4-5, pp. 42-80	Quiz 8 (Reading Analysis 1)
	Week 7
Mon. 2/16	NO CLASS – PRESIDENTS’ DAY HOLIDAY
Wed. 2/18	The Ethics of What We Eat: Ch. 6-8, pp. 83-110	Quiz 9 Essay 2 due (Reading Analysis 1) Research proposal due
	Week 8
Mon. 2/23	The Ethics of What We Eat: Ch. 9-10, pp. 111-150 Research Paper Workshop *** Last day to drop class with a “W” is Feb. 24	Quiz 10 (Reading Analysis 1) Research paper Works Cited due
Wed. 2/25	The Ethics of What We Eat: Ch. 11-12, pp. 151-183 Research Paper Workshop	Quiz 11 (Reading Analysis 1) Outline of research due
	Week 9
Mon. 3/2	The Ethics of What We Eat: Ch. 13-15, pp. 187-230 Research Paper Workshop	Quiz 12 (Reading Analysis 1) Outline of research paper due
Wed. 3/4	The Ethics of What We Eat: Ch. 16-17, pp. 231-269 Ch. 18. pp. 270-284 Research Paper Workshop	Quiz 13 (Reading Analysis 1) First draft of research paper due
	Week 10
Mon. 3/9	Research Paper Workshop Review for final exam	Second draft of research paper due
Wed. 3/11	Final Exam 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm	Research paper due