Syllabus: The Essentials

English 101 - College Reading and Composition I

Course Syllabus

Instructor: Tommy Amano-Tompkins                                     Term: Fall 2016

Section: 3182 – Th 6:45 pm - 9:55 pm                                                Location: NEA 205    

Office hours: Th 6:15-6:45 pm in NEA 205

Email: jhtompkins99@gmail.com (best way to communicate with me outside of class!)

Course Web site: http://eng101hf16.blogspot.com

English 101 is a course in critical reading and prose writing designed to refine the student’s skills in thinking logically, reading carefully, and writing effectively. Stress is placed on the organization and composition of objective expository essays, including the research paper.

Prerequisite: Completion of English 28 or 31 with a “C” or better or appropriate score on assessment test.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Students who successfully complete English 101 should be able to

·      Apply critical reading/thinking/writing skills analyzing and writing, both in and out-of-class essays, about various freshman composition level readings including essays and the novel.

·      Demonstrate the ability to follow academic conventions by formatting expository essays, including page-layout, parenthetical citations and Works Cited entries, in the current standard MLA format.

·      Write freshman-level essays that follow the various stages of essay writing, including pre-writing, thesis development, illustration and support of the thesis using concrete, specific evidence/examples, editing, proofreading and which are free of most errors in syntax, grammar, punctuation, diction, and spelling.

·      Demonstrate understanding of effective college-level argumentation by producing logically supported arguments and by recognizing and avoiding common logical fallacies.

·      Produce a research paper, which utilizes the various elements of research production, such as designing a research plan, compiling research notes, producing an outline, developing a draft, producing a finished paper that utilizes at least five sources and has a complete MLA-formatted Works Cited page.

ADA Statement:

Students with disabilities, whether physical, learning, or psychological, who believe that they may need accommodations in this class, are encouraged to contact Special Programs & Services as soon as possible to ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely manner. Their phone number is 310-233-4620, and they are located in Cafeteria 108.

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 #: 978-1457666520

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah – ISBN 978-0312577223

Who We Be by Jeff Chang – ISBN 978-1-250-07489-8

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 101 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.
• 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 his or her own work. They do not plagiarize; they do not cheat. (See box on plagiarism on next page.)

• 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 not likely 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.

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 for more than the hours than a class meets per week, or if there is irregular attendance or a pattern of absences, the instructor has sufficient cause to drop a student from the class. For example, if a course meets 3 hours a week, then a student is allowed a maximum of 3 absences. Students who enter the class after the official starting time will be marked for ½ an absence for that particular day.

If a student is absent from the first and/or second class meeting of the semester, then he or she will be dropped, because there are people who want to enroll. If you miss three classes during the semester, you will be dropped from the class.

Electronic Communication Devices Policy

According to Communications Division policy, electronic communication devices must remain off during class time. Exceptions may be considered by faculty consultation (i.e. family emergency). A first offense may result in the student being suspended from the class for one meeting. Repeated offenses may result in up to a 2-day suspension from the class pending a conference with the Vice President of Student Services.

Grading:

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

Essays (3)                                                      25%                            

Research Paper                                                23%                                                                              

Reading Analysis Presentations (5)                 15%

Journal                                                                        10%

Midterm                                                            7%                                        

Final                                                                  8%                  

Quizzes                                                             6%                

Participation                                                      6%                

Total                                                                100%              

A = 90%   900-1000 points          B = 80%   800-899                             C = 70%   700-799

            D = 60%   600-699                     F = 50%    0-599

English 101 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.

Missing assignments can significantly impact your grade and prevent you from passing the course. For example, if you fail to turn in one essay (worth 150 points) and one Reading Analysis Presentation (40 points), you will need to complete every other assignment with an average score of more than 87% in order to pass the class with a C (70%).

No late assignments will be accepted, unless an extension has been arranged with the instructor in advance.

Quizzes will be given at the beginning of the class session; students who are absent or arrive late may not make up quizzes, even if they have really good excuses. There will be other quizzes during the semester at random intervals.

Reading Analysis Presentation assignments: You are required to present your analysis of one of the assigned readings every few weeks for 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 before the class. Your written analysis is due the day you discuss discuss it in class, 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). Papers must be written using Microsoft Word or Pages software. They must be submitted by email, unless another arrangement has been made. 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: 13354121                            Enrollment password: 3182

Revising: You may revise one or both of the two take-home essays (not the research paper) and resubmit your work for a new grade. To improve your grade, you will need to do more than correct grammatical errors and reword or reorder a few phrases. Revision means a new vision; it means looking at your work with fresh eyes and reconsidering the content, focus, and organization of your essay. It may involve rethinking, as well as rewriting. You are strongly advised to consult with your instructor and/or the Writing Lab before you begin revising. Revised essays are due within one week of receiving your original essay back and must be accompanied by your original essay. Please do not revise and resubmit essays that receive a score of 90% or higher.

Los Angeles Harbor College Mission Statement

Los Angeles Harbor College promotes access and student success through associate and transfer degrees, certificates, economic and workforce development, and basic skills instruction. Our educational programs and support services meet the needs of diverse communities as measured by campus institutional learning outcomes.

Contact information for a few reliable classmates

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

Date	Readings to be completed before class	Quizzes, exams, and major assignments
	Week 1
Thurs. 9/1	Review Syllabus, etc. Handout: “The Myth of ‘Practice Makes Perfect’” Homework: Read http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/17405859/colin-kaepernick-did-controversial-was-not-un-american-nfl (summarize) Optional: https://twitter.com/Kaepernick7 Patterns for College Writing: Ch. 1 – Reading to Write: Becoming a Critical Reader, pp. 13-27 Ch. 8 – Exemplification, pp. 207-221 “The Myth of the Latin Woman: I Just Met a Girl Named Maria” by Judith Ortiz Cofer, pp. 230-235 (summarize) “Just Walk On By: A Black Man Ponders His Power to Alter Public Space” by Brent Staples, pp. 238-241 (summarize) **Anytime you see this: (summarize), you must write a one-paragraph summary of the reading that precedes it and turn it in at the next class as homework	Writing diagnostic
	Week 2
Thurs. 9/8	Quiz In-class: discuss homework Homework: Patterns for College Writing: Ch. 2 – Invention, pp. 29-49 Ch. 14 – Argumentation pp. 523-542 – Important for essay 1 “Mother Tongue, ” by Amy Tan, pp. 463-469 (summarize) “The Ways We Lie” by Stephanie Ericsson, pp.  471-478 (summarize) **Last day to drop classes without a fee or a “W” is Sept. 8 (in-person) and Sept. 11 (online)	Quiz 1 (Reading Analysis)
	Week 3
Thurs. 9/15	Quiz In-class: Homework: Patterns for College Writing: Ch. 3 – Arrangement, pp. 51-64  Debate: Should American Citizenship be a Birthright? pp. 591-592 “The Case for Birthright Citizenship” by Linda Chavez, pp. 593-595 (summarize) “An Argument to Be Made about Immigrant Babies and Citizenship” by George F. Will, pp. 598-600 (summarize) Prompt: Essay 1 -Prepare for prewriting and outline	Quiz 2 (Reading Analysis)
	Week 4
Thurs. 9/22	Quiz In-class: discuss prompt for essay 1 Homework: Patterns for College Writing: Ch. 4 – Drafting and Revising, pp. 65-79 “The ‘Black Table’ Is Still There” by Lawrence Otis Graham, pp. 348-350 (summarize) “A Peaceful Woman Explains Why She Carries a Gun” by Linda M. Hasselstrom, pp. 353-357 (summarize) -Prepare for Draft 1 Workshop	Quiz 3 Prewriting/Outline for Essay 1 (Reading Analysis )
	Week 5
Thurs. 9/29	Quiz In-class: Peer review draft essay 1 Homework: The Nightingale: Chapters 1-7, pp. 1-64	Quiz 4 Peer Review: Draft of Essay 1 (Reading Analysis)
	Week 6
Thurs. 10/6	Quiz In-class: Discuss The Nightingale – Why wouldn’t people believe what was actually happening? Homework: The Nightingale: Chapters 8-13, pp. 65-142 Chapters 14-19, pp. 143-218 Read prompt critical essay 2	Quiz 5 Essay 1 due (Reading Analysis)
	Week 7
Thurs. 10/13	Quiz In-class: What is a critical essay? Homework: The Nightingale: Chapters 20-25, pp. 219-295 Chapters 26-33, pp. 296-370 -Outline Essay 2	Quiz 6 (Reading Analysis 3)

	Week 8
Thurs. 10/20	Quiz In-class: Prewriting/Outline 2 Workshop Homework: The Nightingale: Chapters 34-39, pp. 371-438 Draft 2 Peer review workshop -distribute questions for peer review	Quiz 7 (Reading Analysis) Outline Essay 2
	Week 9
Thurs. 10/27	Quiz In-class: Discuss Who We Be to prepare for first reading Peer review rough draft essay 2 Homework: Who We Be: Introduction, pp. 3-12 (mandatory summarize)	Quiz 8 (Reading Analysis) Rough Draft of Essay 2
	Week 10
Thurs. 11/3	Quiz In-class: Homework: Patterns for College Writing: Ch. 16 – Finding and Evaluating Sources, pp. 713-718 Who We Be: Chapters 1-2, pp. 17-53 (Comics; activism, politics, & art) LIBRARY ORIENTATION	Quiz 9 Essay 2 due (Reading Analysis)
	Week 11
Thurs. 11/10	Quiz In-class: Homework: MLA Cheat Sheet Patterns for College Writing: Ch. 14 – Argumentation, pp. 523-530 Who We Be: Chapter 3, pp. 55-64, & Chapter 9, pp. 169-189 (Advertising) Chapter 6, pp.  101-122 & Chapter 12, pp. 241-253 (Political campaigns)	Quiz 10  (Reading Analysis)
	Week 12
Thurs. 11/17	Quiz In-class: Homework: Patterns for College Writing: Ch. 14 – Argumentation, pp. 531-547 Who We Be: Chapter 10, pp.  191-208 & beginning of Chapter 11, pp. 213-217 (TV) Chapter 13, pp. 255-271 & Chapter 14, pp. 273-288 (Obama image, economic inequality) **Last day to drop classes with a “W” is Nov. 17 (in-person) and Nov. 20 (online)	Quiz 11 Research Proposal Handout: MLA  (Reading Analysis)
	Week 13
Thurs. 11/24	THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY – NO CLASS
	Week 14
Thurs. 12/1	Quiz In-class: Homework: Patterns for College Writing: Ch. 17 – Integrating Sources and Avoiding Plagiarism, pp. 719-728 Who We Be: Chapter 15, pp. 291-313 (Occupy Movement, Trayvon Martin)	Quiz 12 Research paper outline (Reading Analysis)

	Week 15
Thurs. 12/8	Quiz In-class: Homework: Who We Be: Epilogue, pp. 323-341 (DREAM Act protests, coming out as undocumented) Research Paper Draft Workshop	Quiz 13 Research paper draft (Reading Analysis)
	Finals Week
Thurs. 12/15	Present research papers	Research paper due