COURSE SYLLABUS:  ENGLISH 271/272

 

Winter 2006                                                                 Instructor:  Clay Cooper

12:30-2:40 T/TH                                                          Office:  R230L

R305                                                                            Tel (425) 564-4185

                                                                                    Email:  ccooper@bcc.ctc.edu

                                                                                    Office Hours:  MW 5:30-7:30

Class website:  bcc.ctc.edu/ArtsHum/studentinfo.asp     

 

 

Required Textbooks:   

 

Writing Analytically, Rosenwasser/Stephen

and

Orphans, D’Ambrosio

 

Recommended:

Good standard or college dictionary

(Oxford American or Merriam Webster’s, e.g.)

Roget’s Thesaurus (print edition)

 

Course Description

This course is designed to further your adjustment to college level writing.  To that end, you will learn the conventions of expository writing, how to use the appropriate style, tone, and format to the best suit your purpose, how to address an audience outside the college classroom, and how to evaluate and become objective about your own writing.  Most writing you do in college after English 101 requires an objective, critical outlook on your subject.  Most often your subject is a text (or multiple texts) provided by your instructor.  Your source material could also be comprised of service learning, focused outside research, group projects or surveys, or other forms of media.  In this class, you will write essays based on objective perceptions on cultural and physical environments in addition to essays centered on textual analysis.       

Primary Learning Goals

--Promote critical thinking

--Become familiar with rhetorical conventions and terminology

--Understand the requirements of an analytical approach to writing

--Develop competency in objective, third person point-of-view

--Become adept at interpreting complex textual material using various methods of inquiry and organization

--Expand ability to develop and qualify original ideas in response to external stimuli 

 

 

Course Requirements

  1. There will be four graded essays and additional writing assignments.   All four essays must be turned in to receive credit for the course. 
  2. We will read extensively from the required text.  Most of your additional assignments will come from the “Try This” shaded areas in the text.  These must be typed and follow the format specified for essays if they appear in bold print on the schedule.  If not in bold print, it is expected that you will complete the assignments and come to class prepared to discuss them, nonetheless. 
  3. Peer review and collaborative exercises.  This is not a lecture class, where you come in when you feel like it, maybe take some notes, and study for the test.  Lively participation in class discussions and group exercises is required to receive a participation grade. 
  4. Regular attendance.  (Complete guidelines below).
  5. There will be an unspecified number of unannounced quizzes on reading from both texts.  More about this in class.
  6. Read the Arts & Humanities expectations found at the class website.  

 

 

Class Policies and Guidelines

 

Attendance:   As attendance is directly connected to performance, particularly in group-oriented, intense classes such as English 271, you are expected to attend every class and attend on time.  Attendance is taken at the beginning of the period:  persistent late arrival will affect your participation and attendance grades for the course.  Showing up for a group session without your paper or peer sheet will be counted against your participation grade.    If you come in after I have taken attendance, it is your responsibility to come up after class and make sure you have been marked late, rather than absent.

 

Your attendance will comprise 10% of your grade.  Your participation grade will comprise an additional 10%.  Participation includes oral participation in class discussions and homework assignments, contributions to group exercises and peer review, and the attitude, demeanor, and sensitivity you display towards me and other students. 

 

Attendance grade grid:

0-1 A

2  B

3 C

4-5  D

6+    F  (And you will fail the class)

 

The remaining 80% of your grade will be determined by your effort and performance in the following manner:

 

4 Graded Essays                                              60%(15/15/15/15)

Written Assignments                                         10%                                        

Reading Quizzes                                               10%

 

I will give you a more detailed breakdown of how I grade the essays when I post the assignments on the class web site.  Because of budget reductions imposed by the department, Xerox copies are at a premium, and all essay assignments, as well as a schedule for the course, will be posted on the website where class materials can be found.  URL is:  bcc.ctc.edu/ArtsHum/studentinfo.asp     Click on “Course Materials”.  Click on Winter Quarter.  Click on English.  Scroll down till you get to your class section.  Click on my name. 

 

Ground Rules

 

Out of respect for everyone in the classroom, I ask that you follow these ground rules.

1.                  Turn off pagers and cell-phones.  Anyone whose phone or other device makes any sound in class will lose two participation points toward their final grade upon each occurrence. 

2.                  Do not talk or whisper while I am talking, or when another student is talking.  It is discourteous and disrespectful, and will not be tolerated.

3.                  Be constructive in your comments and respect the opinions of your classmates.

All papers and outlines for this class should be typed or word-processed.  Please make yourself familiar with the various computer labs on campus (A232, NWCET) if you are not already.  Free tutoring is available at the Writing Lab.

 

Effective group time management:

 

On discussion and rough draft group days:  Be prepared and come on time.  Do not consider yourself responsible for people who are not prepared.  For discussions, talk with those who have read the assignment.  For outlines and writing groups, work with people who are fully prepared first.   Each group is responsible for managing class time effectively, and meeting out of class if necessary to complete assignments.

 

13.       Students With Special Needs:

 

Students with disabilities who have accommodation needs are required to meet with the Disability Support Services (DSS) office, room B233-G (telephone 425.564.2498 or TTY 425.564.4110), to establish their eligibility for accommodation.  The DSS office will provide each eligible student with an accommodation letter. Students who require accommodation in class must review the DSS 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, or review those needs with the instructor as well.

 

A Final Note:  I am here to serve as your guide and then ultimately to evaluate your work.  I am interested in helping you do as well as you want in this class.  My schedule permitting, I’ll assist you in any way I can.  If you’re having difficulty, speak to me about it, and I’ll see what I can do to help.  If life interferes with school, as it has a habit of doing, let me know.  I am not judgmental, and if you show me that you’re concerned with doing good work in this class, I’ll do what I can to help you around the obstacles.