McMahon Fall 2008 Syllabus English 1C; e-mail: jmcmahon@elcamino.edu
Website for students: http://herculodge.typepad.com/breakthrough_writer/
Sections 6524 and 6529 meet in H109
Only One Text This Semester: Writing and Reading Across the Curriculum Brief Second Edition by Laurence Behrens
This course focuses on the development of critical thinking skills and on the application of these skills to written argumentation. Students will examine logical reasoning and apply its principles when reading and writing analytic and evaluative essays about argumentative, persuasive, narrative and expressive works and topics.
Student Learning Outcomes:
At the end of English 1C, students should be able to:
1. Employ proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling in writing.
2. Employ standard MLA guidelines for formatting assignments and citation.
3. Identify the major components of an effective argument.
4. Write with clarity to communicate effectively.
5. Adapt writing for different styles or forms, including argumentative essays, web pages, and blogs, to name a few.
6. Respond critically to course material, using synthesis and analysis
7. Create effective argumentative texts using a variety of models such as refutation, concession, and critique.
8. Develop methods and strategies for analyzing and interpreting texts.
9. Utilize proper MLA citation and bibliographic form.
10. Identify and locate a variety of sources relevant to a research topic.
11. Utilize research materials to make and present an analytical argument.
12. Compose an argumentative essay supporting a claim about issues, argumentative prose, or literary interpretation. The essay will show the student’s ability to support a thesis using analysis, elements of argumentation, and integration of materials and ideas. The essay will be well organized, will follow proper MLA format, and will be technically correct in paragraph composition, sentence structure, grammar, spelling, and usage.
Required Text: Writing and Reading Across the Curriculum Brief Edition, Second Edition by Laurence Behrens
Grading:
Four Research Papers 240 maximum points, 960
Four Thesis and Works Cited, 10 each, 40 total.
Grand Total: 1,000 points.
Late Papers: Reduce one full grade ; no late papers accepted once new set of essays is due.
Research Papers should be approximately 1,200 words, 12 font, Times New Roman, page numbers, name, and essay title in upper right hand corner (headers in Microsoft View) and Works Cited should have minimum 3 sources and spacing using MLA format.
Revisions: You may revise ONE paper for 10-30 pts. depending on the quality of the rewrite. Revision must be turned in ONE WEEK after original due date.
Plagiarism Policy: If you plagiarize, steal previously written material and attempt to make it appear as if you wrote it, you will get ZERO points on the essay. For a rewrite, the HIGHEST POSSIBLE GRADE WILL BE A C MINUS, based on an A-level paper. A B paper will be a D, a C paper an F.
Attendance Policy: For 16-week semesters, students may be dropped after missing 6 classes for ANY REASON, including medical. For Summer and Winter sessions, students may be dropped after missing 4 classes for whatever reason, including medical.
Riding Policy: You cannot “ride” my class. A “rider” is a student who does nothing and tries to turn in papers all at once during the end of the semester. If by the third essay due date, you have turned in only one essay or none, I will drop you. I will be dropping “riders” on November 12 of this semester.
Etiquette Policy: If you’re text-messaging, receiving phone calls, privately conversing or studying for other courses during my class, you will be asked to leave the class.
Reading and Writing Schedule
8-26 Introduction
8-28 137-144 (Cyberspace and Identity Unit)
9-2 145-153, 126-128
9-4 154-158, 129-131
9-9 159-164
9-11 132-136
9-16 Essay 1 Due
9-18 Essay 1 Due
9-23 172-175, 176-182 (Obedience Unit)
9-25 183-195
9-30 214-225
10-2 226-231
10-7 232-233
10-9 234-237
10-14 Essay 2 Due
10-16 Essay 2 Due
10-21 248-254 (Shopping Mall Unit)
10-23 255-266
10-28 267-272; 273-278
10-30 279-285; 286-294
11-4 311-322
11-6 323-326
11-11 Essay 3 Due
11-13 Essay 3 Due
11-18 336-341; 343-349 (Obesity Unit)
11-20 355-357; 358-361; 362-367
11-25 367-378
11-27 Holiday
12-2 380-387; 388-389
12-4 Consultations
12-9 Essay 4 Due
12-11 Essay 4 Due
Essay Guidelines (points deducted for not following these instructions):
1. Essays should be typed, double-spaced, 5 pages, and use 12 font Times New Roman.
2. Essays should have headers in the upper right hand corner on every page.
3. Essays should have a minimum of 3 sources on an MLA Works Cited Page.
4. Essays should have a thesis paragraph with a STRONG THESIS 4 or 5 MAPPING STATEMENTS OR MAPPING COMPONENTS.
5. When you list your mapping statements or components, be sure to use CORRECT PARALLEL STRUCTURE.
5. Essays should be stapled in the upper left hand corner and should be free of food stains and such.
6. Ribbon should be fresh.
7. All your essays are research papers, which means about 80% is your writing and about 20% is quoted, paraphrased, or summarized from your research sources.
8. Paragraphs should be "meaty," a good 130-150 words.
9. You must use a variety of EFFECTIVE TRANSITIONS between paragraphs.
10. You must attribute your sources in order to AVOID PLAGIARISM.
11. You must turn in your paper on time to avoid losing 30 points.
12. You cannot "rewrite" a paper if you're simply incorporating my corrections. So be sure to proofread your essay.
13. Essays are worth a maximum of 240 points. The preliminary assignment, thesis with Works Cited, is 10 points. The grand total point in the class is 1,000.
14. The 5-page essay outlines below are merely suggestions. You can structure your essay however you see fit.
Essay 1: Choose one of the Synthesis Activities on pages 165,166: 2-6
Essay 2: Choose one of the Synthesis Activities on pages 238-241: 1, 2, 4, 12, 13
Essay 3: Choose one of the Synthesis Activities on pages 327-329: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10
Essay 4: Choose one of the Synthesis Activities on pages 404-405: 1, 2, 4, 8
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