COURSE SYLLABUS

COURSE SYLLABUS

Spring 2005

Course Description

English 1A is an introductory course in college composition designed to enhance your skills in reading, critical thinking, and writing. This particular section of English 1A will focus on the theme of identity, particularly as it relates to popular culture. The articles you read for this class will not only provide you with excellent examples of effective writing, but will encourage new thoughts and ideas useful for class discussion and your own essays. This course will focus on all parts of the writing process—prewriting, drafting, and revising—in order to help you create clear, and perhaps even beautiful, academic prose.

Course Goals

Of course, your main goal in English 1A is to learn to write well in an academic setting. But what does this entail? In order to become a good writer, you must learn to read and think critically. You must be able to thoughtfully consider others’ written and verbal ideas before you can effectively write about them. However, thinking critically does not stop with the ideas of others. In this course, you will use writing as a tool for discovering your own thoughts and ideas on various topics. You will enter into a conversation with your fellow classmates via your writing, creating reading material for them that is useful and thought-provoking. In essence, you will have learned to effectively communicate through writing—considering others’ points of view, while clearly putting forth your own. You will find that these skills are useful not just in this classroom, but in any academic discipline, and in any career.

Required Texts and Materials

Mims, Joan T. Mirror on America. 2^nd Edition.

Lunsford, Andrea A. The Everyday Writer. 3^rd Edition

College-ruled notebook paper (for journal)

½” 3-ring binder or document folder (for portfolio)

Course Requirements

Good Attendance

Journal

Daily Assignments and participation

Workshops and revision responses

3 formal essays

1 research paper

Student-Teacher Conference

Portfolio with cover letter

*Breakdown of Grades

Daily Assignments/Participation 10

Student-Teacher Conference 5

Journal 10

Formal Essays and Research Paper 10

Workshops 5

Portfolio and Cover Letter 60

Total 100

*See note regarding late or missing assignments.

Description of Course Requirements

Daily Assignments/Participation

You will often be assigned informal in-class and homework assignments. These assignments are ungraded, but you will lose points for any assignments you do not turn in. Also, you will frequently be asked to engage in small and large group discussion of class readings. Often, you will be given discussion guides to help keep you focused on a particular topic, and you will be asked to report your ideas/findings to the rest of the class. I realize that some people are more comfortable with participation and discussion than others, but everyone is expected to contribute as best they can. During each discussion session, I will circle the classroom monitoring each group. If I notice that you are completely disengaged from the group, not performing your task, or that you are disrupting the group, you will lose participation points.

Student-Teacher Conference

Each student must participate in a student-teacher conference on 4/28 or 5/3 (I will pass around a conference schedule to determine dates and times). You will be required to come prepared with at least three questions to address regarding your work, or your improvement throughout the course. We will also talk about the portfolio and cover letter. These conferences will last approximately 10-15 minutes, and you will be required to do a one-page write-up of the Student-Teacher Conference.

Journal

In-Class: At the beginning of most class periods, you will be given 5-10 minutes (depending on our schedule for the day) to write on a specific journal prompt. These journal prompts might ask you to record your thoughts on class readings, explore topics and ideas for your writing assignments, or reflect on your writing process. You will be expected to write one to three full paragraphs for each prompt, depending on the time allotted.

Out-of-Class: You will also write one out-of-class journal entry each week. Although there is no specific prompt for out-of-class entries, they must be pertinent to class discussion or activities. You may continue writing on a prompt given in class, explore new ideas about your reading or writing assignments, or reflect on your writing process. Because there is no time limit for these journal entries, you are expected to write at least one page of text.

You must date each entry and label each one either “in-class” or “out-of-class.” Twice during the semester, you will hand in your journals for me to review. I am not concerned about structure or correctness in these journals. If you complete each entry and stay on topic, you will receive full credit. You will not receive credit for any entries that are missing (so be sure not to lose any), not pertinent to class, or that are clearly too short.

Workshops

You will participate in revision workshops for the three formal essays, research paper, and the portfolio cover letter. You will fill out “revision response” forms for each of your group-members’ papers, and will discuss these responses in class. You will be able to take your group members’ response forms home with you to use as you revise. When handing in your second drafts, I will ask you to also turn in your peers’ revision response forms. This way, I can make sure that everyone is doing his or her part in providing appropriate feedback. When I return your essays, I will hand back the revision responses that you filled out for others. They will be graded with a check for a good response (full credit), or a check-minus for an inadequate response (no credit). We will go over good and inadequate responses in class. Please note that if you miss a workshop, you will lose participation points in addition to workshop points.

Formal Essays and Research Paper

Each of your three formal essays will increase in complexity, building upon skills learned previously:

Essay 1 – Extended Definition – You will define an abstract term using key ideas from various authors. (3-4 pages).

Essay 2 – Compare/Contrast -- You will compare/contrast ideas by various authors in order to take a position on a given topic. (4-5 pages).

Essay 3 – Analysis You will analyze a visual argument (an advertisement) for purpose and effectiveness. (4-5 pages).

Research Paper – This paper incorporates all the skills developed in the three formal essays. You will take a position on a topic related to our class readings (your topic will be cleared by me ahead of time). Instead of relying on in-class readings to help prove your position, you will go to the library and research books and articles that relate to your topic. (5-7 pages).

You will write two drafts of each of the four papers. On the first, you will receive feedback from your peers during the workshop. You will then revise and turn in a second draft for me to read. These second drafts will receive feedback only, and will be graded credit/no credit. All drafts (first and second) must be submission length and must address the topic assigned. If they do not address the assignment, or if they do not meet the minimum page requirement, you will not receive credit. All essays must be typed in 12 point font, double spaced, with one inch margins, using MLA format.

Portfolio and Cover Letter

This course culminates in a portfolio which will showcase all that you have learned throughout English 1A. Your portfolio will include the research paper, and one other essay of your choice. You will not simply hand in the versions already turned in, but you will further revise and polish them, finally handing in examples of your best work. You will also include a 3-4 page cover letter explaining why you chose your two assignments, and highlighting how these pieces of writing changed and improved throughout your writing process. The portfolio is your opportunity to shine—to hand in your best work, and to reflect on how your writing has improved as a result of this course.

Class Policies

Attendance: Because so much of this course centers on discussion and group work, attendance is mandatory. When you do not come to class, you not only hurt yourself, but your classmates. You will not be allowed to make up any in-class assignments missed due to absence (including journals, in-class activities, and revision responses). After two absences (one week of class), your grade will drop 1/3 of a letter grade for each additional absence. So, if you have a B in this course based on the requirements, but have missed 5 classes, you will receive a C.

Tardiness: I will do my best to always be on time to class, and I expect you to do the same. If you know you must be late to class, contact me ahead of time. You will not be given extra time to complete journals or in-class assignments due to tardiness. If you are late, it is your responsibility to make sure I have not counted you absent on the role sheet. Three tardies counts as one absence.

Late or Missing Assignments:

Late: You are expected to turn in all assignments (including drafts, journals, papers, etc.) on time (on the due-date at the beginning of class.) I will not accept late daily assignments or workshop drafts. Late second drafts of the three essays and research paper will receive no credit, but I will read them and give as much feedback as I can. Journals and the Portfolio will be reduced one full letter grade for each day they are late (beginning with the due date).

Missing: In addition to losing workshop and draft points, failure to turn in the first draft of the three essays or the research paper will result in five points off your final grade. Failure to turn in a second draft of any of the three essays or the research paper, or the final version of the portfolio, will result in automatic failure of the course.

Behavior: As your instructor, I will endeavor to treat you with the respect you deserve. I expect you to do the same for me and for your classmates. Please remember to turn off cell phones, pagers, walkie talkies, and any other gadgets that may make irritating noises during class. If you need to leave in the middle of class to use the restroom, get a drink of water, etc., please do so. You do not have to ask, but please cause the least disruption possible, and come back to class as soon as you can.

Office Hours: R 415-500pm in CLV 142. I will also make appointments if this time is inconvenient. If you need to contact me at any other time, email me at SundermanENGL@comcast.net. My phone number is 278-6349. Do not call me unless it is during my office hours. I check my email very regularly, and I guarantee this is the best way to contact me quickly.

The Writing Center: You are encouraged to use this valuable and FREE service. The Writing Center is located in CLV 128. Their hours of operation are posted on their door. Tutors in the Writing Center are well-trained to help you develop and focus your ideas, organize your content, and work on your style. This can be extremely helpful in addition to the feedback you receive from me and from your classmates. Please take advantage of what the Writing Center has to offer!