English 1A Deborah Pollack Fall 2008
M-F 9:30-10:20
Voice Mail: 654-6400, ext. 3272 E-mail: Dpollack@vcccd.edu
LRC 309 Office Hours: M 8:30-9:20, TuTh 11:30-1:30
Pollack, Deborah, ed., Chicken Soup for the VC Student’s Soul
Schlosser, Eric, Fast Food Nation
Two-pocket folder to collect and turn in your work for
each essay
Recommended: Recent college-level dictionary
Copy card to use in the LRC
Flash drive to save your LRC work
Course Description: This course is designed to develop and expand your college level writing skills. It is intended to improve your ability to read critically, think analytically and respond effectively.
Prerequisite: English 2 or placement by assessment test. IF YOU DID NOT PASS ENGLISH 2 WITH AT LEAST A GRADE OF C, YOU WILL BE DROPPED FROM THIS CLASS BY THE SECOND WEEK OF THE SEMESTER.
Requirements/Grading:
--Three revisable essays (15 pts. per draft, 10 pts.
per peer review, 100 pts. for final revision) 375 points
--One non-revisable in-class writing portfolio 100
--Reading quizzes 75
--Timed writings (midterm, final exam) 200
You must earn a C or better on timed writings to pass the class.
--Research paper (30, 20, 200) 250
--Reading responses to Fast Food Nation 100
--Attendance and participation 100 TOTAL 1200 points
Essays: You will be writing three formal essays of three to four pages, a portfolio of in-class writings, and a researched essay. When you turn in your final drafts, they will include all of the stages of their development and a cover letter to me reflecting on your writing process.
Format: All papers are to be typed in standard manuscript form: double spaced with 1” margins and a 12 point font. Rough drafts and notes may be handwritten.
English 1A—Syllabus pg. 2
Due Dates: All assignments are due at the beginning of class. If you must miss class the day a paper is due, put it in my box in the Administration Building or on the third floor of the LRC before class.
Late Papers: You will have the opportunity to write drafts of each essay and they will be worth points. I will not accept late drafts at all. I will accept final revisions up to one week past their due date; they will, of course, have points deducted. YOU MUST TURN IN ALL HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS IN ORDER TO PASS THE CLASS.
Reading Responses: You will also be writing responses to reading for both the class reader and Fast Food Nation for my review.
Student Learning Outcomes: Students will learn to 1) Write passable essays which contain a thesis, supporting body paragraphs, and a conclusion amounting to a total of 8,000 words, using a variety of rhetorical modes and culminating in a researched paper with a prescribed documentation style. 2) Process fifty-minute in-class writings of at least two pages in response to assigned readings. These should include a focusing thesis statement, coherent supporting body paragraphs, and an acceptable conclusion in addition to showing evidence of careful proofreading. 3) Recognize and avoid logical fallacies in writing.
Attendance: Much of our work takes place in class and cannot be made up outside of class. Attendance, including being ON TIME, is crucial. Excessive absences (more than 10 will result in a failing grade despite academic performance; two tardies or early departures equal one absence.
You are responsible (i.e. YOU MUST CONTACT A PEER) for the material you may have missed in your absence. Write down the name and phone number of several “contact peers” in this space:
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is the act of knowingly representing the words, ideas, or work of another as one’s own. Students who commit plagiarism
will receive an F on the plagiarized work and may be dropped from the class.
English 1A—Syllabus, pg. 3
Dropping the Class: September 12 is the last day to drop this class with no entry (no “W”) on your transcript. November 21 is the last day to drop this class with a “W” on your transcript.
Campus Support Services: The Ventura College Library’s hours are Monday-Thursday, 7:30 a.m. -9 p.m., Friday, 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. & Saturday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Students may access the library’s catalog & databases online.
The Beach is full of computers for use on a drop-in basis. Its hours are Monday-Thursday, 7:30 a.m.-9 p.m. & Friday, 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
The Tutoring Center offers free tutoring with instructor’s referral for VC students in the LRC building Monday-Thursday, 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m. & Friday 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, please speak to me as soon as possible.
Writing assessment
Rules for Writers, “The Writing Process”
Meet the Beach
Week 2 Rules for Writers, “The Writing Process”
Wed. on the Beach Introduction to Inspiration
Week 3 Rules for Writers
9/1 No school Grammar presentation assignment & demonstration
Drafting of Essay #1 (addiction)
Week 4 Peer review of Essay #1
Wed. on the Beach Read & discuss Chicken Soup essays “How We See Ourselves”
In-class writing on body image
Revision & expansion of Essay #1
Week 5 Essay #1 revision due
Grammar presentations begin Wednesday
Continue with essays on body image
Drafting of Essay #2 (body image)
Week 6 Peer review of Essay #2
Wed. on the Beach Read & discuss Chicken Soup essays “The Price of
Reproduction”
In-class writing on fertility
Revision & expansion of Essay #2
Week 7 Essay #2 revision due
9/30 No class Read & discuss Chicken Soup essays “Deathly Decisions”
In-class writing on end of life issues
Week 8 Read & discuss Chicken Soup essays “What is Normal?”
Wed. on the Beach In-class writing on mental health
10/9 No class Timed writing mid-term exam
Introduction to the Researched Position essay
Week 9 Continue with essays on mental health
Library orientation/Research Position questions due
English 1A Schedule-Page 2
Week 10 Read & discuss Chicken Soup essays “Becoming a Doctor”
Wed. on the Beach In-class writing on preparation for your career
In-class writing on your research progress
Tentative thesis + working bibliography due
Week 11 Prepare Fast Food Nation reading responses, ch. 1 & 2
Week 12 Researched Position peer review
Wed. on the Beach Fast Food Nation ch. 3 & 4 reading responses
In-class research & writing on presidential candidates
11/10 No school Researched position drafts returned
Week 14 Researched position revision due
Wed. on the Beach Fast Food Nation ch. 7 & 8 reading responses
In-class writing on fast food Drafting of Essay #3 (extended definition)
Week 15 Essay #3 peer review
11/27-28 No school Grammar presentations conclude
Fast Food Nation ch. 9 & 10 reading responses
Screening of Supersize Me
Week 17 Writing about Literature
Final exam in the computer lab Wednesday 12/17, 9-11
This is a tentative schedule and will be modified as necessary.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
I have read, understood, and accepted the terms of the syllabus for Deborah Pollack’s English 1A class.
___________________________________________ _________________
Name Date