Class Schedule

Southwestern College
Spring 2007
English 114-60
Instructor: Swan Ashby
Class Time: 4:30-6:20 T, 4:30-5:20 Th.
Class Room: 413
Lab Time: 5:30-6:20 Th
Lab Room: 423
Instructor email: sashby@swccd.edu
Instructor mailbox: 430J
Office Room: 400K
Office Hours: Th, 6:30-7:50 p.m.


Week 1

1/18: Introduction, discuss writing process, signal phrase, quote, parenthetical citation
LAB: Create MLA template, write introductory paragraph
HW: Read Skills 3-30, From p. 20 in Skills, choose a point from the example journal entry in Activity 2. Using that point, write a 1½ pages (double-spaced) to support that point. Within your writing, make sure you include the point from the journal entry in quotation marks with a signal phrase.

Journal Assignment: Write one page explaining what your goals are for the semester. What do you plan to accomplish? What challenges do you expect to face? How will you overcome these challenges? By the end of the semester, how will your writing have changed?

Week 2

1/23: Discuss writing process, elements of an essay
HW: Read Skills 31-35, 411-426

1/25: Discuss drafting, fragments
LAB: Skills Activities p. 26, 27
HW: Read Skills 48-61, 207-213, 641-646, complete Writing Assignment 1, 2, or 3 p. 649-650

Journal Assignment: Write one page to support one of the following statements, filling in the blank with the name of someone you know: “My friend _____________ is the sloppiest person I know,” “____________ is the most jealous person I know,” “______________ has been the most supportive person in my life,” “My friend ______________ is the most generous person I know.”

Week 3

1/30: Quiz one readings, begin discussing Example essay, revising, thesis statements, specific evidence
HW: Read Skills 62-75, 214-226, 430-440, choose topic for Example essay, and do two prewriting activities (questioning, listing, clustering, outlining)

2/1: Continue Example essay, discuss supporting evidence, discuss run-ons
LAB: Begin drafting Example essay, Skills Activities p. 55-56, 58, 61-62

HW: Read Skills 76-100, 592-595 complete Writing Assignment 1, 2, or 3 p. 597-599 (Remember to use a quote from your reading in quotation marks and signal phrase), continue drafting Example essay

Journal Assignment: Skills Writing Assignment 1, p. 220.

Week 4

2/6: Quiz, continue Example essay, discuss transitions
HW: Read Skills 101-116, 463-467, finish drafting Example essay—you need at least introduction, thesis, and three body paragraphs for 2/8.

2/8: Workshop, discuss pronoun agreement
LAB: Work on Example draft
HW: Revise/finish Example draft—need FULL draft for 2/13, read Skills 650-653, complete Writing Assignment 1, 2, or 3 p. 656-657, read Skills 469-474

Journal Assignment: Skills Writing Assignment 4 p. 226

Week 5

2/13: Workshop, quiz discuss readings, pronouns
HW: Revise Example draft, Read Skills 264-276, 117-123

2/15: EXAMPLE ESSAY DUE, begin discussing Comparison/Contrast
LAB: Prewriting for Comparision/Contrast
HW: Read Skills 277-285, 480-487, 599-602, complete Writing Assignment 1, 2, or 3 p. 604-605 (Remember to choose a relevant quote from the text and incorporate it into your writing with a signal phrase and parenthetical citation.)

Journal Assignment: Skills Writing Assignment 1 p. 279

Week 6

2/20: Quiz, discuss readings, continue comparison/contrast—discuss drafting, organization, discuss misplaced/dangling modifiers
HW: Create thesis and outline of Comparison/Contrast essay, read Skills 515-521, 135-146

2/22: Workshop outline of comparison/contrast essay, discuss comma use
LAB: Begin drafting C/C essay, Skills Review Tests 1 and 2 p. 522-523
HW: Finish draft of C/C essay—need FULL draft to workshop 2/27, read Skills 606-607, Writing Assignment 1, 2, or 3 p. 610-612, read Skills 508-513

Journal Assignment: Write a page about at least three different styles of dressing that you see on Southwestern College campus. What do the styles of dressing say about the people wearing them? Remember to use specific details that show what makes one style differ from another.

Week 7
2/27: Workshop, quiz, discuss readings, quotation marks
HW: Revise C/C essay, read Skills 147-155

3/1: Workshop
LAB: Proofread and edit C/C essay.
HW: Final proofread and edit of C/C essay, read Skills 612-616, Writing Assignment 1, 2, or 3 p. 619-620 (Remember to include a relevant quote from your reading); read Skills 245-252

Journal Assignment: Discuss three causes of stress—make sure you clearly explain HOW a cause leads to stress. For example, do not simply state “work causes stress.” Explain what happens at work to cause stress.

Week 8

3/6: COMPARISON/CONTRAST ESSAYS DUE, quiz, discuss readings, begin Cause and Effect
HW: Read Skills 253-263, 156-160 choose topic for C/E essay and do two prewriting activities (one should be clustering)—make sure you identify at least three causes OR effects of your topic.

3/8: Continue C/E—discuss organization, avoiding faulty logic
LAB: Develop outline of C/E essay
HW: Begin drafting C/E essay—you need introduction, thesis, and three body paragraphs for 3/15, read Skills 628-632, Writing Assignment 1, 2, or 3 p. 634-635
Journal Assignment: Skills Writing Assignment 2 p. 260-261

Week 9
3/13: MID TERM
HW: Read Skills 525-528

3/15: JOURNALS DUE, workshop, discuss readings
LAB: Work on draft of C/E, Skills Activities p. 525-528, Review Test 528-529
HW: Finish draft of C/E essay, Read Skills 657-659, Writing Assignment 1, 2, or 3 p. 661-662.
No Journal Assignment

Week 10
3/20: Workshop, quiz, discuss readings
HW: Revise C/E essay, read Skills 546-551

3/22: Workshop, discuss cliché, word choice
LAB: Proofread and edit C/E essays, Skills Activities 547-551, Review Test 551-552
HW: Final proofread and edit of C/E essay, read Skills 319-326, 663-667, Writing Assignment 1, 2, or 3.

Journal Assignment: Reading Comprehension, Structure and Technique, Critical Reading and Discussion questions p. 668-670

Week 11

3/27: CAUSE AND EFFECT ESSAYS DUE, begin Argumentation
HW: Choose topic for Argumentation essay, do two prewriting activities (one should be listing), read Skills 327-338.

3/29: Continue Argumentation, discuss organization, audience, thesis
LAB: Choose organization of Argumentation essay and create outline, Skills Writing Assignment 3 p. 338
HW: Begin drafting Argumentation essay—you need at least introduction, thesis, and two body paragraphs for 4/10, read Skills 672-675, Writing Assignment 1, 2, or 3 677-679 (remember to include a relevant quote in quotation marks with signal phrase and parenthetical citation).

Journal Assignment: Writing Assignment 4 p. 338

Week 12
NO CLASS—SPRING BREAK

Week 13

4/10: Workshop, quiz, discuss readings
HW: Finish drafting Argumentation essay—you need FULL draft for 4/12, read Skills 535-545

4/12: Workshop, discuss confused words
LAB: Revise Argumentation essay
HW: Revise Argumentation essay, Read Skills 679-681, Writing Assignment 1, 2, or 3 p. 684

Journal Assignment: Reading Comprehension, Structure and Technique, Critical Reading and Discussion questions p. 681-683

Week 14

4/17: Workshop, quiz, discuss readings
HW: Proofread and edit Argumentation essay, read Skills 384-393

4/19: ARGUMENTATION ESSAYS DUE, begin discussing research essay
LAB: Choose topic for Research essay, and conduct preliminary research online in library catalog, .
HW: Choose definite topic for Research essay, and do two prewriting activities, read Skills 394-408, 717-720, Writing Assignment 1, 2, or 3 p. 723-724

Journal Assignment: Summarize reading from p. 717-720, Complete Critical Reading and Discussion questions p. 722-723.

Week 15

4/24: Quiz, discuss readings, continue discussing research essay—summary, paraphrase, direct quote, sources, research plan
HW: Outline research essay, Skills Activity p. 390-392

4/26: Discuss documentation, works cited
LAB: Begin research and drafting Research essay
HW: Create a Works Cited page with one entry, read Skills 701-707, Writing Assignment 1, 2, or 3 p. 710-711.

Journal Assignment: Summarize the Skills Reading 701-707, choose one passage to paraphrase, and introduce paraphrase with a signal phrase, and follow with a parenthetical citation.

Week 16

5/1: Quiz, discuss readings, audience
HW: Write introduction, thesis, and three body paragraphs of Research essay


5/3: Workshop, continue Research essay
LAB: Continue drafting Research essay, Skills Activity p. 397
HW: Revise and add two more paragraphs to Research essay, read Skills 711-713, Writing Assignment 1, 2, or 3 p. 716-717.

Journal Assignment: Reading Comprehension, Structure and Technique, Critical Reading and Discussion questions p. 713-716

Week 17

5/8: Quiz, workshop, discuss readings
HW: Create a complete Works Cited for Research essay, revise Research essay

5/10: Continue discussing Research essay
LAB: Work on Research essay, Review Test 1-2 p. 427-428
HW: Finish drafting Research essay—you need FULL draft for 5/15
Journal Assignment: Write one page on how your writing has changed throughout the semester. What things do you still need to work on? In what areas of your writing have you seen improvement? Are there things that are still not clear to you?


Week 18

5/15: JOURNALS DUE, Workshop
HW: Proofread and edit Research essay

5/17: RESEARCH ESSAY DUE, review for final
LAB: Review for final

Final Exam: 5/22 4:30-6:30

Course Requirements

Southwestern College
English 114-60, Introduction to Composition
Instructor: Swan Ashby
Class Time: T 4:30-6:20, Th 4:30-5:20
Room: 413
Lab Time: Th 4:30-5:20
Lab Room: 423
Units: 4
Instructor email: sashby@swccd.edu
Instructor mailbox: 430J
Instructor Office: 400K
Office Hours: Th, 6:30-7:50


Class Description: The Introduction to Composition emphasizes following the writing process in order to complete at least six graded essays, the longest of which being three pages. Various readings are required to use as models for writing and bases for critical thinking.

Required Text: Langan, John. College Writing Skills with Readings. 6th ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2005.

Course Objectives:

• You will write at least six short essays, two of which will be in class. Two of these essays will be at least three pages long.
• You will use methods of organization (modes) to plan, organize, and develop essays such as comparison/contrast, cause/effect, division/classification, exemplification, and argumentation.
• You will develop and write effective and appropriate introductory, concluding and body paragraphs for each of the types of essays.
• You will use appropriate transitional words and sentences in between sentences and paragraphs to improve unity of essays.
• You will incorporate other writers’ material into your essays in the form of paraphrase, summary, and direct quotes.
• You will conduct research and incorporate research into your writing using MLA format.
• You will read and critically analyze essays in your textbook in order to make connections between readings and your own writing.
• You will read other students’ essays and identify and correct grammatical and structural problems.
• You will identify and correct grammatical and structural problems in your own writing.

Grade Breakdown:

Four formal essays……………..40%
Research Essay…………………15%
Essay Mid Term…………………5%
Essay Final……………………....5%
Writing Journal………………….10%
Homework………………………10%
Class Participation………………..5%
Quizzes………………………….10%



Course Policies:
Attendance:
In-class activities depend on your presence. Please come every day on time. You will be permitted 2 absences per semester; your grade may be compromised if there are more. It is not necessary for you to contact me if you are not in class. Do not continually leave early or come late; I will count these occurrences as partial absences.

Homework Length/Content:
Homework is based on your readings from the Skills text and must be typed, double-spaced, and unless otherwise specified, 1 ½ pages long. You are required to use relevant quoted material from your reading in each of your homework assignments. Once you learn MLA format, all homework must be in MLA format.

Lab:
The weekly lab hour is an integral part of this course, and you are required to attend all sessions. Each lab assignment is listed first next to “LAB” on your course schedule. This is the assignment you MUST be prepared to complete. If you are not prepared to complete the first assignment on the course schedule, a second, alternative assignment is listed. If you have to do the alternative assignment, you will receive no credit for class participation for the day. The same behavior expected in the classroom will be required in the lab. Excessive talking, checking e-mail, or otherwise disruptive/disrespectful behavior will result in your being dismissed and marked absent from lab.

Preparation:
You must come to class having done the reading, homework, and writing that is due that day. Be prepared for reading quizzes, which may be unannounced. Also, all work is due at the beginning of class. No credit will be given for homework that is done in class.

Journals:
Journal responses are based upon the readings from Skills text and from your own experiences. You are required to write 1FULL page per week. After each reading, you will be given questions to choose from the Skills text. Choose a question only if you can write at least 1 page; if you cannot write at least one page but would still like to respond to that question, choose an additional question to equal one or more pages of response. Journals require at least ONE FULL page per assigned reading.

Late Homework:
NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED WITHOUT A MEDICAL/ EMERGENCY EXCUSE. IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND CLASS WHEN AN ASSIGMENT IS DUE, TURN IT IN TO ROOM 430J BY THE END OF THE DAY WITH THE DOCUMENTATION SHOWING YOU HAD AN EMERGENCY. THIS RULE IS NON-NEGOTIABLE.


Essay Revision:
Every essay you turn in will be graded according to content and technical ability. You will receive a grade when I return the essays. If you are not satisfied with your grade, you will have ONE week from the day your essay is returned to revise it. Once you revise it, your grade is final. Your revising your essay does not guarantee to raise your grade; however, revising your essay cannot lower your grade.

Academic Honesty:
If you plagiarize (try to pass off another person’s writing for your own) in any form, you will risk at the least an F in the course and possible referral to the Dean of Student Affairs. There is ZERO TOLERANCE of plagiarism in this course. If I have questions about the authenticity of your work, I will ask you to prove in some way that the work is your own; this may involve my looking at your notes or your completing another task in my presence. If you fail to prove that your work is your own, you will receive an F in the course. Staying in this class indicates your acceptance of this policy.

Professionalism:
Professionalism is crucial to the advancement of your career, both in college and beyond. It includes punctuality, preparation, attitude, participation, and a consistent willingness to assume personal responsibility.

Course Content:
This course will challenge you to analyze subjects about which you may have strong opinions. In addition, some of the materials that we will be reading/viewing may contain “mature content” and represent unconventional viewpoints regarding sexuality, race, politics, etc. If you object to reading about, writing about, and/or discussing such issues, it is recommended that you enroll in a different section of English 114.

Classroom Etiquette:
 Sexist, racist, and/or homophobic comments are offensive and inconsistent with an academic atmosphere; they will not be given a forum in this class.
 Please give your full attention with others are speaking. Also keep in mind that participating in discussions includes taking turns; even if you have a lot to say, give others the space to contribute too.
 Please do not pack up and leave until class is over.
 Please turn or silence all cell phones or other noisemakers.

Special Needs:
If you have special needs (vision or hearing difficulties, a learning difference, physical challenge, etc.), please let me know right away, and I will do my best to accommodate you. Contact your DSS specialist for the Academic Accommodations Form, and give me a copy, so I can make any necessary adjustment/s for you. This syllabus and class schedule are available in alternate format upon request.



Writing Center:
English 114 assumes college-level writing proficiency, including the appropriate grammar and punctuation skills. If any aspect of your writing is not yet at this level, it is your responsibility to improve these skills through the use of campus resources like the Writing Center. The Southwestern College Writing Center (428A) provides free tutoring to writers of all levels of ability on a walk-in basis. The purpose of the Writing Center is to guide and teach students rather than to “fix” papers; tutoring is designed to help you develop and refine skills that you will carry with you beyond a given assignment or course. The tutors will be happy to assist you at any stage of the writing process. You are required to visit the Writing Center at least once for this class.

*The course requirements and class schedule are subject to change according to time constraints or other unforeseen occurrences.