WINTER 2014

ENGL& 101 - ENGLISH COMPOSITION I

SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: PATRICIA MESCH

e-mail: pat.mesch@bellevuecollege.edu

phone: 425/462-6780 | Office R230

OFFICE HOURS by appointment only T TH 9-9:30 and 11-11:30

TEXT BOOKS:

40 ESSAYS A Portable Anthology, Second Edition Ed. Aaron and Repetto

A POCKET SYLE MANUAL, Hacker, Fifth Edition OR

A WRITER'S REFERENCE, Hacker, ANY Edition

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course will guide you through the writing process and will focus on written expression emphasizing critical reading, writing, and thinking. This is an intensive course dealing with the organization and development of ideas in coherent, interesting, effective essays. We will examine a variety of essays by analyzing the writing methods of the authors. We will focus on writing as a process (invention, composition, revision) and address the larger elements of writing (structuring essays and paragraphs and using sources) as well as the smaller elements of writing (spelling, grammar, syntax). English 101 is a course designed to help you begin to develop and practice analytical, critical and reflective habits that will assist you with your work in college and the world. My objective is to help you identify ideas in written texts and develop your own responses that are appropriate to context, audience and purpose. At the end of this quarter you will have the ability to meet the English 101 outcomes as required by BCC.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

To understand that writing is a process and to identify the stages in the process.

To use the writing process in writing all papers.

To understand different types of writing assignments and to focus the writing for varying assignments.

To strengthen reading, thinking and writing skills and apply to one’s own style.

To effectively and correctly use mechanics, grammar, punctuation according to the standard of English for the purpose of writing and editing one’s own paper as well as others.

ATTENDANCE:

We will be meeting in class for one-third of the class time and two thirds online. I Attendance is mandatory in this class and only emergencies and or illness will be excused.

GRADING:

Essays = 70% of grade (essays 1,2,3 = 15% each; essay 4 = 25% of grade)

Discussions = 15% of grade

HW, in class assignments = 10% of grade

Self Evaluation = 5% of grade

A 94-100 A- 90-93

B+ 87-90 B 84-86 B- 80-83

C+ 77-79 C 74-76 C- 70-73

D+ 67-69 D 60-67

F 59 and below

Each essay will have a rubric by which students will be graded. Each essay can be revised for an averaged grade. The original graded essay as well as the revised must be handed in when turning in a revision.

READINGS: It is expected that you will come to class having completed the reading assignment for that day. Note-taking in the text (underlining, circling, annotating) is encouraged as it makes you read more carefully and remember more accurately.

CONFERENCES: You may request a time to meet with me before or after class as needed. You are required to visit the Writing Center/Lab at least one time during the quarter. Specific information will be given in class for this visit.

ACADEMIC HONESTY: This is probably the most important aspect of the course. Honesty and integrity are essential in any learning environment and it is especially so in writing. Using another person’s ideas, words or works without giving credit to that person is unforgiveable and has a name: Plagiarism. This not only involves using another person’s ideas or paper but also involves failure to cite quotations, paraphrases, or ideas from another source without citing in the paper. A good rule to follow: if you are not sure, cite it.

SPECIAL NEEDS: Students with disabilities who have accommodation needs are required to meet with the Disability Resource Center (DRC) room D126 (telephone: 425/564-2498 or: http://bellevuecollege.edu/drc/contact.html)

Students with disabilities who have accommodation needs are required to meet to establish their eligibility for accommodation. The DRC office will provide each eligible student with an accommodation letter. Students who require accommodation in class must review the DRS accommodation letter with each instructor during the first week of the quarter. Students with mobility challenges who may need assistance in case of an emergency situation or evacuation should register with Disability Support Services, and review those needs with the instructor as well.

Websites for support:

http://bellevuecollege.edu/ArtsHum/policy.html

For the Arts and Humanities Commitment to Student Growth and Development
http://bellevuecollege.edu/ArtsHum/AHGdlns-StdntGrwth.htm

Reading and Writing labs

http://bellevuecollege.edu/asc/reading/

http://bellevuecollege.edu/asc/writing/

PROCEDURES FOR PAPERS:

The key to good writing is revision. In a collaborative group setting you and your peers will have the opportunity to see how others write and learn; how each person has his/her own process. On feedback day you will bring one copy of your essay for my files and one for each of the members of your writing group. This class is MANDATORY. You are expected to help other students improve their writing as well as improve your own. This is the purpose of feedback.

AFTER FEEDBACK you will write a revision/final copy of your paper for me to grade. With the final copy you will be expected to type a one to two page MEMO to me, critically evaluating your writing. You will discuss your writing process and what worked well and what was problematic. You will discuss your feedback group and the effectiveness of the experience. You will be expected to refer to your paper regarding writing issues such as your thesis, conclusion, audience, and any other concerns regarding your writing. This is a place to understand your own writing and to ask questions so I can address your concerns in my comments. YOU WILL TURN IN FINAL PAPERS WITH YOUR MEMO ON TOP (YOU WILL NOT WRITE A MEMO FOR ESSAY #4). DO NOT STAPLE. NO LATE PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED. PAPERS ARE DUE ON THE DATE POSTED. You will have the option to revise your paper one more time AFTER I grade it IF you had a copy at FB. The new grade will be averaged with the old for the final grade for the paper.

If you do not understand any part of the assignment, it is your responsibility to ask me for clarification BEFORE the assignment is due. If you are absent from class it is your responsibility to check online re: what occurred in class.

You will type your papers according to the MLA manuscript format .

Specific readings and paper assignments will be posted for each essay.

You will receive class assignment sheets indicating due dates regarding the readings and homework. This will be updated throughout the course. BC English 101 Course Outcomes will be posted online in the section Getting Started.