English 101 E

Autumn 2004

Scott Bessho

 

Office: R 230-P                        Phone: 425-564-2425                E-mail: sbessho@bcc.ctc.edu

Office Hours: 8:30-9:20 and 10:30-12:20 daily                            Campus Mail: R 230

 

Required Texts:              Walsh and Asch: Just War

                             Bishop: Acts of Revision

                             Otsuka: When the Emperor Was Divine

                             Any good dictionary (e.g. Longman).

 

Objectives of the course:

 

·         To learn a variety of approaches to essay writing on weekly papers.

 

·         To learn to work in groups to give and receive feedback.

 

·         To learn revising and composing strategies and techniques.

 

·         To learn to create strong arguments on a substantive topic and avoid fallacies.

 

Class policies:

 

1.      Please refer to the web site on Arts and Humanities Policies (http://www.bcc.ctc.edu/artshum/policy.html), all of which apply in my classes. Pay special attention to the section on academic dishonesty. Plagiarism, which we will discuss in class, will not be tolerated. Be warned that BCC subscribes to a plagiarism detection service that can easily find papers that are taken, in whole or in part, from the internet or have been turned in elsewhere.

 

2.      The grading for papers in this course will be based on a single standard: portfolio ready. The meaning of this term is somewhat abstract, but essentially it means the best that your paper can be in terms of readability, organization, content, and style. When a paper reaches that standard, as determined by me, it is considered finished and put into your portfolio. You are allowed three drafts or rewrites of each paper. Your grade on the writing assignments is determined by the number of your papers that attain the portfolio-ready standard. You will choose four papers for your portfolio. If all four of your papers have reached that standard by the due date, you get an A for the paper portion of your grade. If three of them do, you get a B. If two of them do, you get a C, and if one, a D. If none of your papers reach portfolio-ready status, you fail the class, even if you attend every class and do all the assignments. Any more than two absences will affect your grade. A grade of F will result if you miss more than nine classes. Excessive lateness will count as an absence if I take roll before you arrive.

 

3.      Much of your work will be done in groups, so your participation is essential to others in the class, whose participation grade depends on your preparation. Beyond the writing assignments, participation in groups, quizzes and class activities determines the remainder of your grade, and is evaluated on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. You can ensure a good participation grade if you ask questions and try answering questions in class. Unsatisfactory participation will lower your paper grade by one letter.

 

4.      Your lab fee entitles this class to use the Writing Lab computers. We may meet in the Writing Lab occasionally and use the computers for various assignments. You should use a computer for all of your outside writing. The Lab also provides free tutorial help and instruction in editing.

 

5.             Be sure to ask about any of our campus services: Writing Lab, Reading Lab, Multicultural Services, Women's Center, Disability Support Services, etc. We have many resources for our students, and we all want to help you succeed. See me if you would like to know more about available help.

 

6.      If you require accommodation based on a documented disability, emergency medical information to share, or need special arrangements in case of emergency evacuation, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible. If you would like to inquire about becoming a DSS student you may call 564-2498 or go in person to the DSS (Disability Support Services) reception area in the Student Services Building.

 

 

 

 

Reading Assignments

 

Readings will be assigned in class, beginning with the first week. Assignments will also be posted on a class web site that you can view on MyBCC later in the quarter.

 

Writing Assignments

 

All papers will begin as seminar papers: short (up to two pages), informal writing on a particular issue or topic.  One seminar paper will be due each week, nine in total. From these nine, you will choose four to revise into final papers. Final papers are to be no more than 1250 words (a limit of roughly 5 pages, typed in 12 point font, double-spaced). Papers that exceed the assigned length will be returned unread to the writer for revision. Handwritten papers are not acceptable. If you are aware that you have some difficulty in grammar or mechanics, you should plan to make a visit to the Writing Lab with each paper before you turn it in so that a tutor can help you with editing.

 

The class schedule requires that you spend time on weekends writing your weekly papers so that they are ready for your seminar or writing group. When I receive your revisions, I will comment on them and give you advice for further revision. Papers may be submitted to me a maximum of three times. You may continue to revise your papers throughout the quarter until they reach portfolio-ready status. This may mean that you are revising one paper and drafting another at the same time. It is important to plan your time. It may not be possible to put off revisions until the end of the quarter and bring all of your work up to the portfolio-ready standard. If you run out of time at the end, your grade will suffer.

 

NOTE: All of the writing and reading assignments will be clarified and explained in class in greater detail as they are assigned. All papers should use the MLA documentation style. Check the Writing Lab web site to review the guidelines for making MLA citations. (www.bcc.ctc.edu/writinglab.MLA.html)

 

English 101 Autumn Class Schedule

 

Be sure to look ahead so that deadlines will not surprise you.

 

Week One: Read the introductions and prefaces of the textbooks and "Is There Such a Thing as a Just War?". Introduction to class and just war theory. First seminar paper assigned.

 

Week Two: First seminar. Read Chapter 1, pp. 5-28, in Just War; Chapter 1 in Acts of Revision.

Week Three: Second seminar. Finish reading WTEWD and Chapter 2, in Just War and in Acts of Revision

Week Four: Third seminar. Reading assignments given in class.

Good Luck in 101 this quarter!  Let’s make it fun and productive. 

Always remember that I want you to succeed but that you are responsible for your own success.