English 101 Fall 2015 Syllabus

College Reading and Composition I

Los Angeles Valley College
Basic Information
Class #: 1212
Fridays 8:00-11:10 am
Class Room: HUM 104

Professor Jackie Hymes

Email profjackieh@gmail.com
Office Hours: Fridays 11:25-12
or by appointment
Office Location: HUM 121

Course Description
Lecture, 3 hours, Prerequisites: English 28 or English 363.
This course teaches students the basic principles of writing college-level essays,
reading non-fiction essays, and writing research-based essays.
In this class we will be focusing on different types of writing, especially in terms of
form, content, process, and genre. We will be looking specifically at how
organization, structure, logical thinking, expression, development and flow of ideas,
finding and using evidence, etc. all contribute to the style and effectiveness of
writing. The three main writing styles we will be discussing this semester are
narratives, analytical essays, and argumentative or persuasive essays.

Course Objectives

Analyze college-level texts, including comparing, contrasting, and evaluating a variety

of opinions on the same issue or topic
Compose college-level essays in response to college-level texts
Demonstrate logical thinking and reasoning
Locate and evaluate information in the library and on the internet to support a
research topic
Analyze and synthesize information and ideas into a substantial research paper
Demonstrate the ability to avoid plagiarism by citing sources according to MLA style
documentation
Assess early drafts and revise them to improve organization, coherence, support,
focus, and word choices
Proofread to improve sentence structure, punctuation, grammar; capitalization,
spelling, and usage
Demonstrate an understanding of multicultural values through reading culturally
diverse texts

Student Learning Objectives

Write focused, coherently organized, well-developed texts, appropriate to the

transfer level, that effectively integrate, synthesize, and document sources
Demonstrate critical reading, thinking, and research skills through analysis,
synthesis, and evaluation of important ideas encompassing multiple points of
view

Plagiarism

While we will be going into more depth about what constitutes plagiarism and how to
avoid it through proper citations and documentation of sources, I do want to define it
here. Plagiarism is when you dont credit a source after you use it; in other words, it
is when you take someone elses words and/or ideas and use them as your own
despite it being intentional or unintentional. Failure to cite or document sources
properly will result in a zero on the assignment and a referral to the Dean of
Students, where harsher punishment could possibly occur.

Course Materials

readings that will be posted on Weebly

How to Write Anything: A Guide and Reference by John J. Ruskiewicz and Jay
T. Dolmage
Angry Black White Boy by Adam Mansbach
daily access to your LAVC email (or have it set to forward to your preferred
email) and Internet
your own Weebly page
a composition notebook where you will keep a Word Journal and Grammar Log

Course Requirements

Consider these course requirements tips for passing the class:

Come to class. You are allowed a total of 3 absences (excused or unexcused). Any
absences that exceed this number will result in a lower grade in the class or you being
dropped. This class meets once a week; therefore attendance is crucial.
Be on time. Three tardies are the equivalent of one absence.
Bring all of the necessary materials to class every day.
Completion of weekly assignments, all three progressions, and the final essay.

Participation
One of the goals of this class is to generate a writing community. Through working
together in pairs, groups, or as a whole, we will be establishing a community of peers.
Therefore, participation is extremely important whether you contribute to a class
discussion, engage in group work, or even simply ask questions. In other words,
physically being in class is not good enough. You need to be present mentally as well.
Lack of participation will negatively affect your grade in this class. A good tip for
participation is to try to contribute at least one thing per class session.

Technology Policy and Weebly

Because this class will utilize technology in the form of Weebly and other online
resources, I will allow the use of cellphones, tablets, and laptops in class. However,
do not abuse this policy. I can easily change the class to be handwriting intensive. If
you do not have a device to use in class, please see me in order for other
arrangements to be made.
At the beginning of the semester, each student enrolled in this class will set up a
Weebly page and learn how to use it. This page will serve as the place where you post
all of your assignments, reading responses, essays, etc. This page will become your
personal page and portfolio of your writing. You will get the chance to make it reflect
who you are as a writer.

Disability Protocol

Please see me if you have a documented disability and need further accommodations
within the classroom. Please feel free to tell me if you have any mental or other
issues that you need me to be aware of. I am more than happy to work with you. If
you have not contacted SSD about classroom accommodations, please do so by visiting
them in the Student Services Annex Room 175 or by calling (818) 947-2681 or TTD
(818) 947-2690.

Nondiscrimination Policy

We will acknowledge and be aware of the fact that this class is composed of a diverse
group of students. Therefore we will respect everyone regardless of cultural heritage,
gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, ethnicity, national origin, etc.
While I acknowledge that we all have differing opinions, we need to make sure that
we argue from a place of respect. Therefore any behavior, actions, or activities that
promote any disrespect will not be tolerated.
While we may talk about things that can be considered offensive or controversial, we
will not say offensive or controversial things to each other.

Email Policy

I am more than happy to answer questions or help students via email. I will only
respond to emails from an assigned LAVC account with the class and your name in
the subject line. Your body of the email must also follow proper email etiquette
(this means do not just ask a question, you must greet me, state your issue or ask
your question, and sign your email. Additionally, you should not just send a blank
email with an attachment). I usually respond to emails within 24-48 hours. However,
I will not respond to your email past 9 PM or on the weekend. If you do not get a
response from me, try sending the email again.

This being said, I will not answer questions that can be answered by looking at the
class Weebly page or what was discussed in class on a day you missed. I suggest
exchanging contact information with fellow classmates in case you are absent and
need to know what was discussed in class. However, the class schedule should give
you a good idea.

Conferences
For each essay, you will be meeting with me in a one-on-one conference to discuss
your first draft. During this time you will need to bring a copy of your essay to take
notes on and some questions or areas that you specifically need help with or want to
work with me on. This is your time to take advantage of the help I can offer you. Use
it wisely. If you miss your conference, I will not look at your paper until you turn in
your draft for grading.

The Progressions

This class is structured around the completion of three progressions. Each progression
consists of readings, writing exercises, and discussions or activities that lead up to the
completion of a final essay. Each progression should be structured in a way in which
each assignment uses the one before it until you have a good foundation for the final
essay.
The Progressions are modeled like this and will be detailed further on their Weebly
page:
Progression 1: Narratives
Progression 2: Argumentative and Persuasive Essays
Progression 3: Textual Analysis

Word Journals and Grammar Logs

You will be required to keep a composition notebook throughout the semester. In this
journal you will be recording words you come across that are unfamiliar or difficult to
you. When you come across one of these types of words, you must write down the
word, write down the sentence in which you found it, look it up in the Merriam
Webster Dictionary (located at www.merriam-webster.com), and write down the
definitions. This will help you build your vocabulary.
You will also be keeping a grammar log in these notebooks. After each essay, you will
receive color-coded highlights that indicate a grammatical error. You will work
individually to locate these highlights, copy the sentence you need to correct, and
correct it in your journal. You can use your textbook's grammar section to help you.
This will help you locate areas you need to work on and help you with grammatical
and sentence structure issues.

I will be checking these notebooks three times throughout the semester to give you
credit for them. You will know in advance when I will be checking them.

A Note on Revision

This class will be heavily focused on the process of writing. We will be thinking in
terms of drafts and how each draft always has the possibility for revision and change.
No draft will be considered perfect, especially during peer review.
Because you will be revising I suggest you do not delete or throw anything away.

Grading
Every assignment with the exception of the 3 drafts of the essays for grading
and the final will be graded on a credit/no credit basis.
The grade break down is as follows:
Progression 1: 25%
Progression 2: 25%
Progression 3: 25%
Final: 10%
Reading Responses, Journals, and Participation: 15%
When I say progression, I mean all three exercises and the essays are worth
25% of your final grade. This means that if you failed to complete an
assignment and received a no credit or did not meet the standards to receive
credit on an assignment, your grade for the entire progression will be lower.
I will be giving rubrics with each of the prompts for the progression essays
that further detail the breakdown of letter grades.

Late Work
I do not accept late work. However, I understand that sometimes things happen.
Therefore, you are allowed one free pass at turning in an assignment late. You must
email me the assignment with the subject as Free Pass + Your Name + Your Class at
the top of the assignment as well as post it on your Weebly site or turn it in no later
than the next class day after the original due date.

Campus Resources
Financial Aid: Call (818) 947-2412 or go to the Financial Aid Office in the Student
Services Center, first floor. You can also visit them online at:
www.lavc.edu/financialaid/

Writing Center: This is a great resource to help you if youre having trouble with your
essays or your writing. They are located in LARC 229 or online at:
www.lavc.edu/writingcenter/index.html