College Reading and Composition I
Ralph La Rosa, Ph.D.
English
101 (0128), Summer 2000 Liberal
Studies Dept.
T
Th 9:00-12:10
T Th 12:00-1:00/appt.
Inst.
1012 Ext.
7694
Course Description: English 101 is a course in reading and
writing to improve the student's skills in thinking clearly, reading carefully,
and writing effectively; the organization and composition of expository
material, including the research paper, are emphasized.
Course Objectives: To
refine the writing process, including activities and strategies for invention,
drafting, and revision--and to use them comfortably and confidently. To sharpen analytic reading skills that will
help you discover ideas and think critically in courses throughout the diverse
college curriculum.
Course Texts and Materials:
Samuel
Clemens, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Norton Critical Edition (= HF)
Fowler,
Aaron, Brittenham, The Little Brown Handbook, Seventh Edition (Longman)
(= Handbook)
Viktor
E. Frankl, Man’s Search For Meaning (Washington Square) (= MS)
Robert
K. Miller, The Informed Argument, Fifth Edition (Harcourt-Brace) (= IA)
A
paperback and/or hardback college dictionary (recommended: Webster's Tenth
New Collegiate Dictionary or American Heritage)
Two
(2) two-pocket folders (1 for essays; 1 for dialectic journal)
Blue
books for in-class essays and examinations
Course Requirements: The reading and writing requirements are
interactive, so your success depends on completing all assignments and actively
participating in class discussions of the material.
Class
Attendance: Attendance is
required. One absence = 50 minutes.
Three unexcused absences are permitted; students may be dropped or given a
failing grade after three unexcused absences.
Three late arrivals or early departures are the equivalent of one
absence.
Class
Participation: You are expected to
be prepared for daily oral and written discussion of all materials assigned in
the texts or handouts. Participation in
Peer Workshops and Teaching Groups allows every student to give and receive
constructive and supportive comments on ideas and early drafts of essays.
Reading: A variety of reading will serve as the basis
for journal entries, discussions, and analytic essays. In the course of your reading and in class
discussions, certain concepts and terms related to the writing process and
critical thinking will be introduced.
You will be responsible for noting, understanding, and employing the
concepts and terms.
Journals: When instructed, you will keep a
"dialectic journal" that analytically responds to passages in
material assigned for each class period.
These entries should be written on 8 1/2" x 11" loose-leaf
paper and kept in a two-pocket folder.
Journal pages for specific texts will be due at the beginning of the
class for which the material is assigned; at times they will serve as the
basis of our discussion.
Essays: You will write 7000 to 8500 words in at
least 7 essays of 500-1000 words (in and out of class); two essays on the
assigned books (by Frankl and Twain) of 1000 words each; a research paper of
2000-3000 words; and a final examination essay.
Essay writing assignments noted on
the Course Calendar will be based on readings, your journal responses, and
class discussions of the assigned material.
These will be annotated by the instructor to point out strengths and
weaknesses of organization, style, clarity, and overall effectiveness (see the
distinctions under Grading Policy, below).
Periodically, you will bring copies of rough drafts to class for peer
and instructor review. These need not
be final copies but should be readable.
Research
Process and Paper: A formal argumentative research paper (2000-3000 words,
or 8-12 pages of text) will be based on reference sources (at least 10 articles
and portions of books) available in libraries.
You will turn in all research materials with the final paper, including
bibliography and note cards and various drafts of your thesis statement,
outline, text, and Works Consulted list.
SKIPPING ANY STEPS OF THE PROCESS for writing this paper will result in
an F for the paper and course.
Formats: All out-of-class essays should be typed and double-spaced on standard bond paper and secured by a staple in the
upper left-hand corner, just above the block identifying you, the course, the
date, and the assignment. Do not
use plastic or other kinds of covers.
Every essay requires a title
and numbered pages (see samples in Handbook,
764-5). In word-processing programs,
the default margins are usually standard, but instruct your program to print
with only the left margin "justified" (so the right one will be
uneven, "ragged," LIKE THIS PARAGRAPH).
Write in-class essays in large
"blue books" (examination booklets available at the bookstore) with a
dark, sharp No. 2 pencil or a pen, and skip every other line.
Portfolios: All essays (rough and final drafts) and
related writing assignments must be kept in an 8 1/2" x 11" portfolio
(two-pocket folder) that you will hand in with each new assignment. DO
NOT use this folder for the journal, class notes, or other materials.
Special Note: Keep a copy of all work submitted. Turn in all papers to me personally, or to
the department secretary. DO NOT leave
essays or any other assignment on my desk or chair. I will not take responsibility for them if you do.
Grading Policy
Final
drafts of essays will be evaluated on the following criteria:
* Content and development. Controlling idea, specific support,
coherence
* Expression: Sentence structure and variety, word choices
* Organization: Thesis, transitions, coherence, unity
* Grammar, mechanics, and usage. Standard written English, punctuation,
spelling
A (excellent) This paper demonstrates strength in all of the
evaluation criteria listed above. It
has a compelling, original, and thoughtful main point that is supported by
accurate details, examples, and explanations.
The paper is easy to follow because it is clearly organized and has
transitional markers. In addition,
precise and lively word choices are combined into balanced, clear
sentences. There are very few, if any,
deviations from standard usage, grammar, and mechanics.
B (good) This paper is strong in all of the evaluation criteria,
but is weaker than the A paper in the quality of the main point, diction, or
sentence variety. It has few, if any,
errors in usage, grammar, and mechanics.
C (adequate) This paper is clearly organized around a main idea
but may not be as fully developed as an A or B essay. Typically, expression is clear and sentences are correct but may
lack variety. Errors in grammar, usage,
and mechanics are infrequent.
D (inadequate) This essay does not meet the criteria listed for
the assignment. Usually no
organizational pattern is evident, or the main point of development is too
general to be effective. Sentence-level
problems, incorrect word choices, or serious punctuation, usage, spelling, or
mechanical errors lower the grade.
F (failing) This paper is
unacceptable. It is off the topic,
plagiarized, or unintelligible.
Daily Work and Journals
Check
plus ( /+ ): work completed thoroughly
and thoughtfully
Check
( / ): work completed although sketchy
in places
Check
minus ( /- ): work attempted but not completed
Minus
( - ): work not attempted
Rewrites: You may rewrite two (2) out-of-class essays
to improve your skills and grade. A
rewrite must be more than a correction of mechanical and stylistic errors noted
by the instructor on your first version.
Rethink your thesis, organization, and argumentative strategy. Submit
a rewrite and the original WITHIN ONE WEEK of the day an essay is returned to
you.
Late
Papers and Missed Assignments: One
(1) late essay and one missed in-class or out-of-class writing assignment
(including journal pages) may be handed in WITHIN ONE WEEK of the due date
without penalty. Papers and assignments
not completed within this time limit will be graded F or Minus.
Calculating the Final Grade
To a
degree, your final grade will depend on the quality of analysis and writing you
can produce at the end of the term.
Therefore, grades earned for assignments in the second half of the
semester will be more important than those earned for earlier work. Grades on the research process and paper and
the final examination essay will weigh quite heavily. In general, the formula for arriving at the final grade is as
follows:
Out-of-class and in-class essays (40%)
Daily assignments, journals, class
participation, other short assignments
(20%)
Research process and paper (20%)
Final examination essay(s) (20%)
Plagiarism: The serious ethical violation of presenting other people's words
or ideas as your own--see Handbook for definitions of plagiarism
and the proper documentation of
sources. Plagiarism or any other from
of cheating can result in a failing grade for the paper or, in some instances
(notably, the research paper), a failing grade for the course.
A Final Word (or two)
All of
this may sound distant and intimidating right now, but I wanted to lay out the
rules so we won't have any misunderstandings later. Please come to my office hours or make an appointment if you have
questions or want to check on your progress.
Always bring the portfolio of your assignments. I hope we will have an enjoyable and
worthwhile term together.
Finally
(!), this syllabus and the attached Course Calendar may be modified, depending
on circumstances.
RL
English 101 Calendar
A
starred (*) work is for detailed class discussion and, when noted, requires a
"dialectic journal" page or more that you will hand in at the beginning of the period for which the work is assigned.
For
all essays assigned in IA, read the introductions, annotate the essays,
and think out answers to the study questions (if any) following each essay.
Urgently Recommended:
Begin reading MS and HF as soon as possible to allow for
re-readings in preparation for discussions and writing assignments.
If you
have special problems with any aspect of your writing, consult with me and/or a
tutor at the Learning Assistance Center (LAC)--where there are several
interactive software programs available to you. Also note the English class listing for the open-entrance and
open-exit courses 64 A B C, which also provide computer-aided instruction.
Refer
to the Handbook when assigned, recommended, and as needed.
Week 1
T: Enrollment business; overview; assignment of
Reading, IA, Preface for Students, An Introduction to Argument and
Working With Sources, 1-78, and organizing a bibliography, 80-85, 91
Th: Discussion of in-class essay and prompt and
above reading assignment
Week 2
T: Reading, IA, A Guide to Research,
93-120, Appendix, 681-690; assignment of Writing 2, a summary of IA,
“The NRA is Right,” 185-190 (as an example, read Tonso and the student summary,
204-211); see Handbook on formal outlines
Th:
Workshop on summaries (bring to class an outline and readable first draft);
Library orientation for research project
Week 3
T: Reading, review IA, A Guide to
Research, 93-120; turn in Writing 2,
summary; Reading, IA, Gun Control; assignment of Writing 3, summary
Th: Turn in Writing
3, summary
Week 4
T: Reading,
IA, Sexual Harassment; assignment of Writing 4, an argument on gun
control OR sexual harassment
Th: Reading, IA, Sexual Harassment
Week 5
T:
Reading, IA, Machiavelli; instruction on dialectic journal; workshop on
Writing 4 (bring a formal outline and readable first draft)
Th: Turn in Writing
4; Reading, IA, *Plato, Jefferson, *Marx; assign Writing 5,
comparison and contrast
Week 6
T: Reading, IA, *King, Hitler, *Swift,
Marvell; workshop on Writing 5
Th: Turn in Writing
5; reading, Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning; MS; assignment
of Writing 6 on Frankl
Week 7
T: *HF
as assigned; assignment of
Study/Teaching groups on HF (and two written reports comprising Writing
7)
Th: *HF;
turn in Writing 6 on Frankl
Week 8
T: *HF
Th: *HF
Week 9
T: *HF; turn in Writing 8, reports on HF
Th: *HF;
Final Exam, Writing 9, on HF; hand in final draft of research essay and ALL
requested preparatory materials.
Note 1:
The minimum requirement for earning a "C" in the course is
completion of all assigned work and writing of the final examination.
Note 2: The calendar may be modified, depending on
circumstances. RL