San Bernardino Valley College Syllabus & Schedule - Fall 2016

Course: English 015-52; Ref. 4108 Days: Sat 1:00 pm - 4:50 pm Room: B213 Units: 4 Instructor: Jeff Partain Phone: 909-384-8634 E-Mail: jpartain@valleycollege.edu Office Hours: by appointment

jeffpartain@msn.com

Prep. For College Writing (Basic English Composition)

Course Description:This is a writing course designed to prepare students for ENGL 101. The primary focus is on the development of the paragraph and short essay. The course includes an intensive review of grammar, sentence structure, and punctuation.

Textbooks required: 1. Anker, Susan. Real Essays Interactive. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2014 – Required

2. Langan, John and Janet M. Goldstein. English Brushup, 6th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Education, 2015 –Required

3. Green, John. The Fault in Our Stars. New York: Penguin, 2012 – Required 4. Krakauer, Jon. Into the Wild. New York: Anchor Books, 199. - Required 5. New American Webster’s College Dictionary –Optional/Recommended

Course Objectives:Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to do the following:

Course Objectives (from course outline of record)Upon completion of this course a student will be able to Identify the major parts of a sentence; Compose simple, compound, and complex sentences that use a variety of subordinate elements; Compose sentence using parallelism; Employ prewriting strategies to generate ideas for writing; Construct an effective thesis statement for a short multi-paragraph essay; Create a short expository essay that supports the thesis with sufficient specific support; Compose a short expository essay that is unified and coherent; Construct complete sentences relatively free of major grammatical, spelling and punctuation errors; Select words that are reasonably precise and appropriate for the writing task; Recognize main ideas and supporting evidence in written texts; Infer meaning from a text.

Student Learning Outcomes1) Students will compose clear and effective sentences within the context of paragraph and essays, relatively free of

major grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors. 2) Students will compose coherent and unified expository essays that sufficiently support a thesis statement.3) Students will accurately identify main ideas and supporting evidence in written texts and infer meaning from those

texts.

Core Competencies (for full list of core competencies, see Core Skill Sets in Schedule of Classes)The relevant core competencies identified for this course are:

1. Communication 1.1 Read and retain information1.2 Write clearly

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2. Information Competency 2.1 Find and interpret informationPre-requisite: Since English 914 is a prerequisite for this course, the assumption is that you are familiar with constructing basic sentences and paragraph as well as parts of speech structures. Reading 950 or Reading 015 are also recommended whether you took the placement test or prerequisite class.

Grading: Your final grade is determined by percentage of total points possible, using the following standard scale:90 - 100% = A*80 - 89% = B70 - 79% = C60 - 69% = D 59 - below = F

You can figure out your overall grade by dividing the number of points earned by the total number of points possible. As a rule, I do not issue progress reports. If you are concerned about your grade, it is up to YOU to contact me and arrange a conference or to seek a tutor for help. Do not wait until the last few weeks of the semester to begin worrying about your grade. It’s too late by then. It is important to keep current on your assignments, as I do not offer extra credit. * 100% of major assignments must be completed on time to earn an A.

Attendance:

Absences: You will be dropped from the class if you miss more than three class sessions before the last day to withdraw. Please take responsibility and drop yourself if you know you cannot continue with the class. DO NOT wait for the instructor to drop you. If you miss more than 20 minutes of class you will be marked absent for that class period. This includes leaving early or arriving late. Missing classroom instruction will show in your assignments and total course points, and could make a letter grade difference in your overall course grade. If you “stop in” and complete the day’s quickwrite and leave after that, you receive no credit for that quickwrite and will be marked absent for that class session. Leaving early or arriving late three times equals one absence.

There is no such thing as an excused absence. All students will get three absences regardless of excuse.

Tardiness: When you sign up for my class, I assume you understand that our designated classroom hours are reserved for this class and not for doctors’ or dentists’ appointments, for family outings, or for part of your shift at work. Please do not schedule appointments that overlap our class time. I do keep track of each time you are late or each time you leave class early unexcused. If you miss more than 15 minutes of class you will be marked absent for that class period. This includes coming in and out of the classroom during class, which is disruptive and not acceptable. If you leave the classroom during an exam or an in-class writing assignment, your exam/writing assignment will be collected as is, and you will not be allowed to return to the classroom. Tardies will affect your participation grade.

Missing Class: If you miss class, YOU are responsible for finding out what you missed and for returning to class prepared. Being absent does not excuse you from turning in assignments that were due the day you missed . Contact a peer whom you have confidence in to find out what you missed and what is expected of you next class. Any assignment turned in after its assigned due date either will not be accepted or will be assessed the late penalty, regardless of your being absent. A person with poor attendance cannot earn a passing grade in this class.

This course is student-centered and depends upon everyone coming to class and turning his/her work in on time.For each class day that an essay is late, the grade for the assignment will be lowered by a full letter. Essays may be turned in up to one week late. After this time, they will not be accepted, and you will receive a zero for the assignment. No other material will be accepted late.

ParticipationParticipation is not limited to class attendance, promptness, short and in-class writing assignments, peer reviews and grammar exercises; it is equally important that you engage in each class discussion in an earnest, respectful, and well-prepared manner.

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Standards of Conduct / Behvaior:In the classroom: Students are expected to take responsibility for helping to create a quality classroom environment. Students are expected to show:

1. Respect for the instructor: This would include arriving on time, staying for the entire class period, brining assignments, textbooks and other appropriate materials to class, refraining from talking while the instructor or classmates are making a presentation, leaving cell phones and other electronic devices off during class periods, and using a moderate, mature and respectful tone when participating in group discussions.

2. Respect for other students: This would include using appropriate language in public areas and refraining from physically or verbally harassing others in any way. An instructor has the right to remove a student from class any time he or she considers the student’s actions to be interfering with a proper collegiate environment. The instructor may also refer the incident to the administration for disciplinary action as warranted. (SBVC 2004-2005 Catalog p. 28) The following is my policy on cell phone use and headphones in the classroom:

If your cell phone, iPod, iPad, Nook, Kindle or any other electronic device is out where you can see it or I can see it at all during class, this counts as an interruption, and you will be asked to leave class and counted as absent for the day. This includes texting and listening to music. If I have to stop class to ask you to stop texting or to put your phone away, it is an automatic absence, and you will be asked to leave the classroom. If you earn an absence due to a cell phone violation, you may not turn in any in-class work scheduled for that day. No headphones, please.

There will be no exceptions to this policy, so please plan to turn off and put away out of sight and reach all electronic devices and headphones during our class period.

Please take care of any needs you may have BEFORE class begins. Students should not be coming in and out of the classroom during class. This is disruptive and will result in an absence. Any student who leaves during in-class writings, discussions, and exams may not return. Your work will be collected when you leave the room regardless of whether you have finished the assignment or not. Any behavior which upsets the teaching/learning atmosphere of this class is not acceptable.

Plagiarism: Plagiarism will not be tolerated! Students who plagiarize will automatically fail the assignment and possibly the class and could possibly be expelled from the college. Plagiarism includes using undocumented information, articles, ideas, essays taken from the Internet or other on-line service as your own work as well as using friends, classmates, spouses, siblings’ writing as your own. All information or ideas taken from such services and others must include proper MLA documentation and format.

Essays:All out-of-class essays are to be typed (or word-processed), all pages numbered, and all pages stapled together prior to turning in your paper. Each final draft must also include the outline, first draft with cover sheet and comments, and the peer review sheet. If the 1st draft is not turned in with your final draft, 10 points will automatically be deducted from your final draft grade, and 5 point deductions each for missing outlines and peer review sheets. If no first draft, or an incomplete draft is turned in on the day we have peer reviews, you will receive no points or partial points for that draft.

You are responsible for having your essays stapled together before I receive them. Essays & assignments not stapled will be returned unread.

I recommend that you take advantage of the SBVC Writing Center, located in LA201, for help with writing or revising your essays.

MLA Format:

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All essays must follow MLA format rules including those for proper headings, margins, line spacing and font size. All margins should be one inch: top, bottom, and sides. Lines should be double-spaced and paragraphs properly indented. All typed work must use Times New Roman 12 font. No handwritten essays will be accepted. There are a number of computer labs on campus as well as the Library where you may type your essays.

QUICKWRITES: We will begin each class with a one-page written response to a prompt or question stemming from our readings, discussions, the novel, or current events. These in-class writings will only be accepted if written in the Green Book and may be given half credit if they are not a full page in length. For the first 8 weeks of the semester, I will not necessarily “grade” the grammar, punctuation, or usage, but halfway through the semester, I will begin grading the quickwrites in this area in preparation for the final exam . All quickwrites must be written in pen, and short quickwrites or those that do not address the prompt will receive no credit. If you “stop in” and complete the day’s quickwrite and leave after that, you receive no credit for that quickwrite and will be marked absent for that class session.

No quickwrites can be made up regardless of circumstances.

FINAL EXAM: In the overall points of this class, the final exam is approximately 30% of your total grade, which means that it weights more than all the other assignments in terms of the overall points for the course. There is a department final exam for all English 015 classes. In cases where a student’s grade is bordering between passing and not passing, the score of the final exam could determine the final grade for the course. For example, if your course work throughout the semester is in the C- or D range, receiving a no pass score on the final exam could result in a D in the course. Conversely, passing the department final while not attending class, not turning in assignments, or receiving low scores on assignments does not ensure passing the course. We will have at least one practice final exam that will give you the opportunity to practice and improve your skills. Please note your overall class standing BEFORE taking the final exam.

LATE PAPERS AND MISSED ASSIGNMENTS:

LATE HOMEWORK: Any assignment turned in after class has been dismissed is considered late. Late essays, homework, and other work must be turned in no later than one week after the original due date and will be assessed a 50% late penalty. All late assignments will go into a file until I have a chance to get to them. If an assignment is not completed, or missed altogether, you will be given zero points and an F for that assignment. Essays and other homework may be submitted early if an absence is anticipated. The last out of class essay may not be late. No in-class assignments may be made up, including quickwrites, quizzes, tests, and group exercises.

MY E-MAIL: I try to check my e-mail at least once daily. If I miss your e-mail on any particular day, I will most likely read it the following morning. In the event an assignment is sent by e-mail as a last resort, it is also subject to the same due date and format requirements as hard copy assignments. Ask before emailing. All e-mailed assignments should be sent as Microsoft Word document attachments (.doc, .docx, or .rtf), written in the correct MLA format. If I am unable to open your e-mail or attachment, the assignment will be subject to late penalties. Whenever sending e-mail, be sure to put your name, course ID, and section number in the subject field. E-mail is not a substitute for attending class, and you must make prior arrangements before sending assignments by e-mail, or you may not receive credit for the assignment.

Disability Statement: (American with/Disabilities Act [ADA]):4

The DSPS program at SBVC offers a variety of services to persons with documented sensory, mental, physical, or temporary disabling conditions to promote success in classes. If you have a disability, and believe you may need services, you are encouraged to contact the DSPS Center to discuss your needs with a counselor. All discussions and documentation are kept confidential.

Location: Administration/Student Services Building Room 105Fall Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pmPhone: (909) 384-4443 Fax: (909) 889-7821Email: dsps@valleycollege.edu

Notes"A" papers have almost no editorial mistakes, are well organized, and demonstrate clear critical thinking and logic; "B" papers have few errors and only one gap in logic; "C" papers have many editorial mistakes and contain little critical thinking and logic; and "D" and "F" papers are not at the college level. All written work is graded for (1) content quality and organization and (2) editorial skills (i.e., style, grammar, punctuation, format).

A goal in this course is to improve your critical thinking and writing skills. If you are struggling, please see me immediately. If you have any concerns about me or the course, please follow protocol and use common courtesy by discussing those concerns with me first.

This is an arduous and intensive course. Please do not fall behind in your assignments; it will be very difficult to catch up.

I keep accurate records; nonetheless, it is important that you save a copy of all written work.

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WEEK 1: 1/17 -Course introduction-Go over syllabus-QW1

WEEK 2: 1/24 BRING LARGE SIZE GREENBOOK AND A PEN FOR QWQW2--Discuss ch. 1 in Real Essays-Work on critical/active reading, finding main point-Hand out Diagnostic grammarGROUP WORK: finding main point and support

*DUE: DIAGNOSTIC GRAMMAR TEST-QW3-Discuss ch. 1 Brushup (S/V ID)-Continue ch. 1 in Real Essays-Work on summary, analysis, evaluation (p. 11-15)-Demonstrate Reader Sheet (RS)-Discuss MLA format-Assign summary Practice 3 p. 15 Real Essays

WEEK 3: 1/31 *DUE: Test 6 p. 26 Brushup S/V IDTYPED SUMMARY DUE Practice 3 p. 15 Real EssaysIN-CLASS ESSAY RESPONSE (practice final)Bring a NEW large greenbook, pen, and dictionary

The last day to drop 18 week classes with no “W” is 9/ 5 /1 4 Any drop or withdraw after this point will count on your record as one attempt at taking

ENGL 015.Students may attempt this class no more than 3 times.

WEEK 4: 2/7 In class quiz on S/V ID-QW4-Review practice final article-Discuss ch. 2 Real Essays-Work on elements of a paragraph & prewriting strategies-Assign ch. 2 in Brushup (verbs)-Discuss ch. 1 of The Tame Cactus

*DUE: Test 6 p. 38 Brushup (verbs)-Quiz ch. 1 The Tame Cactus-QW5-Assign paragraph (do prewriting in class 5 pts.)-Hand out paragraph plan -Discuss ch. 3 Brushup

WEEK 5: 2/14 *DUE: PARAGRAPH PLAN (include prewriting)-QW6

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-Discuss ch. 2 The Tame Cactus-Review paragraph plans in class-Discuss ch. 3 Real Essays (time permitting)

-DUE: Typed paragraph (include prewriting and paragraph plan)-DUE: Test 6 p. 48 Brushup (S/V Agr)-QW7-Continue/finish ch. 3 Real Essays-Work on what a thesis is and is not-Discuss ch. 4 Brushup (“Sentence Types”)GROUP WORK: thesis PR1 p. 35 Real Essays

WEEK 6: 2/21 -DUE: THESIS HANDOUT-DUE: PR 1 P. 35 Real Essays-In-Class Quiz S/V Agr-QW8-Review ch. 4 Real Essays-Assign essay one-DescriptionGROUP WORK: GROUP WORK: Pr. Ch. 3 8,9,10,11,12 Real Essays

*DUE: Test 6 p. 58 Brushup (sentence types)In-class quiz on sentence types-QW9 -Discuss ch. 7 Real Essays (“Description)-Work on formal outline for essay

WEEK 7: 2/28 *DUE: THESIS AND OUTLINE FOR ESSAY #1-Quiz The Tame Cactus (ch. 2)-QW 10-Continue discussion ch 7 “Description” Real Essays-Review expectations for reader sheet responses-Discuss ch. 3 The Tame Cactus

*DUE: RS 1 “From Still Water Saints” p. 99 Real EssaysRS 2 “Rattlesnake Canyon: A Place of Peace . . . p. 101-QW11-discuss readings-Continue ch. 3 The Tame Cactus (if needed)-Discuss ch. 4 Brushup (“Fragments”)

WEEK 8: 3/7 *DUE: 1st DRAFT ESSAY 1 Description-Peer review -In-class quiz The Tame Cactus (ch. 3)-QW 12-Questions on fragments

*DUE: Test 6 p. 70 (fragments)-In-class quiz fragments-QW 13-Assign Essay 2 Illustration by Example-Discuss Ch. 6 Real Essays “Illustration”-Work on outline for essay 2

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-Discuss ch. 4 The Tame Cactus pp. 109-136 (if time)Group work: grading essays

WEEK 9: 3/14 *DUE: FINAL DRAFT ESSAY 1(include outline, 1st draft, & peer review)-DUE: THESIS AND OUTLINE ESSAY 2 Illustration by Example-QW14-Continue discussion ch. 6 Real Essays-Discuss ch. 6 Brushup (“Run-ons”)-Discuss ch. 4 The Tame CactusGROUP WORK: Examples

*DUE: Test 6 p. 80 Brushup (“Run-ons”) *DUE: RS 3 “Complete Learning” p. 86RS4 “Stuck on You” p. 89 (Real Essays)-QW 15-Discuss readings-Prepare for midterm-Continue Discussion Illustration by example-Quiz TheTame Cactus (ch4)

SPRING BREAK – NO CLASS ON MARCH 21

WEEK 10: 3/28 *DUE: 1ST DRAFT ESSAY 2 ILLUSTRATION BY EXAMPLE-Peer review-In-class quiz run-ons-Prepare for midterm

3/28 *Midterm* Bring LARGE Greenbook

WEEK 11: 4/4 *DUE: FINAL DRAFT ESSAY 2 Illustration by Example(include outline, 1st draft, & peer review)-Discuss Midterm-Assign essay 3 Comparison and Contrast-Discuss ch. 11 Real Essays-Discuss ch. 7 “Pronouns” Brushup

*DUE: Reading Journal (8 pgs. One full page per question, two questions per chapter) up through chapter 4, page 161 of the novel

QW16-Continue discussion ch. 11 “Comparison & Contrast” Real Essays-Work on outline for essay 3

The last day to drop 18 week classes with a “W” is 10 / 31 /14(A “W” will appear on your record to indicate one attempt at ENGL 015)

WEEK 12: 4/11 *DUE: Thesis and outline essay 3 Comparison & Contrast*DUE: Test 6 p. 90 Brushup Pronouns-QW 17-Continue discussion ch. 11 Real Essays-Discuss ch. 8 “Commas” Brushup

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-Discuss ch. 5 The Tame CactusGroup work: Compare/contrast

*DUE: RS 5 “Differences Between Dyslexia . . .” p. 147RS 6 “Autism and Education” p. 149-Quiz The Tame Cactus (ch. 5)-Discuss readings-Assign Essay #4 Cause Effect-Begin Discuss ch. 12 “ Cause and Effect” Real Essays (if time)

WEEK 13: 4/18 *DUE: 1st DRAFT ESSAY 3 COMPARISON & CONTRAST -Peer review essay 3 Comparison & Contrast*DUE: test 6 p. 100 Brushup (commas)-Discuss ch. 12 “Cause and Effect” Real Essays

*DUE: TOPIC CHOICE FOR ESSAY 4 Cause and Effect-QW18-Discuss ch 9 “Apostrophe” Brushup-Discuss MLA format, in-text citations, works cited page -Discuss ch. 6 The Tame Cactus-Continue discussion cause/effect and finding acceptable sources (MLA format)

WEEK 14: 4/25 *In-Class Practice Final exam* Bring LARGE Greenbook*DUE: FINAL DRAFT COMPARISON AND CONRAST(include outline, 1st draft, & peer review)

*DUE: THESIS & OUTLINE AND SOURCE COPY FOR ESSAY 4*DUE: TEST 6 P. 112 Brushup (apostrophe)-Discuss practice final-Continue discussion of cause/effect-Discuss ch. 10 “Quotation Marks” Brushup-Discuss ch. 13 “Homonyms” Brushup

WEEK 15: 5/2 *DUE: RS7 “Consequences” p. 159 RS8 “In Praise of Peer Pressure p. 161*DUE: Test 6 p. 10 Brushup-Quotation marks*DUE: Test 6 p. 152 Brushup-Homonyms-QW19-Discuss readings-Complete discussion of novel The Tame Cactus (ch. 7)

*DUE: “Of Crumpled Wings . . .” exercise (handout)*DUE: 1st DRAFT ESSAY 4 CAUSE/EFFECT (Include outline AND source copy)-QW20-Discuss article-Peer review

WEEK 16: 5/9 * In-class practice final exam Bring LARGE Greenbook

DUE: Final reading journal collection of The Tame Cactus9

(newest 7 pages + previous 8 pages total of 15 FULL pages. One page per question, two questions per chapter + one reflection page)*In-class essay test on The Tame Cactus

5/16 *Final Exam* (Room and time to be determined)

This syllabus is tentative, which means it is not etched in stone and may be changed as necessary during the course of the semester. If you are absent when a change is made it is YOUR responsibility to find out what changes were made.

*COURSE REPEAT ALERT!*

If you have already taken ENGL 015 before, please understand that you have 3 attempts to successfully pass this class.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:This course is designed to prepare students for English 101. The primary focus will be on the development of the paragraph and short essay. Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to do the following:

Course Objectives (from course outline of record)

Upon completion of this course a student will be able to Identify the major parts of a sentence; Compose simple, compound, and complex sentences that use a variety of subordinate elements; Compose sentence using parallelism; Employ prewriting strategies to generate ideas for writing; Construct an effective thesis statement for a short multi-paragraph essay; Create a short expository essay that supports the thesis with sufficient specific support; Compose a short expository essay that is unified and coherent; Construct complete sentences relatively free of major grammatical, spelling and punctuation errors; Select words that are reasonably precise and appropriate for the writing task; Recognize main ideas and supporting evidence in written texts; Infer meaning from a text.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES1) Students will compose clear and effective sentences within the context of paragraph and essays, relatively

free of major grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors. 2) Students will compose coherent and unified expository essays that sufficiently support a thesis statement.3) Students will accurately identify main ideas and supporting evidence in written texts and infer meaning

from those texts.

Core Competencies (for full list of core competencies, see Core Skill Sets in Schedule of Classes)The relevant core competencies identified for this course are:

1. Communication 1.1 Read and retain information1.2 Write Clearly

2. Information Competency 2.1 Find and Interpret information

GRADING: Your final grade is determined by percentage of total points possible, using the following standard scale: 90 - 100% = A*80 - 89% = B70 - 79% = C60 - 69% = D 59 - below = F

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You can figure out your overall grade by dividing the number of points earned by the total number of points possible. As a rule, I do not issue progress reports. On the last page of this syllabus is a place for you to keep track of the points you have earned throughout the semester. If you are concerned about your grade, it is up to YOU to contact me and arrange a conference or to seek a tutor for help. Do not wait until the last few weeks of the semester to begin worrying about your grade. It’s too late by then. It is important to keep current on your assignments, as I do not offer extra credit.

* 100% of major assignments must be completed on time to earn an A.

PREREQUISITE: Since English 914 is a prerequisite for this course, the assumption is that you are familiar with constructing basic sentences and paragraph as well as parts of speech structures. Reading 950 or Reading 015 are also recommended whether you took the placement test or prerequisite class.

STANDARDS OF CONDUCTIn the classroom: Students are expected to take responsibility for helping to create a quality classroom environment. Students are expected to show:

1. Respect for the instructor: This would include arriving on time, staying for the entire class period, brining assignments, textbooks and other appropriate materials to class, refraining from talking while the instructor or classmates are making a presentation, leaving cell phones and other electronic devices off during class periods, and using a moderate, matureand respectful tone when participating in group discussions.

2. Respect for other students: This would include using appropriate language in public areas and refraining from physically or verbally harassing others in any way. An instructor has the right to remove a student from class any time he or she considers the student’s actions to be interfering with a proper collegiate environment. The instructor may also refer the incident to the administration for disciplinary action as warranted. (SBVC 2004-2005 Catalog p. 28) The following is my policy on cell phone use and headphones in the classroom:

If your cell phone, iPod, iPad, Nook, Kindle or any other electronic device is out where you can see it or I can see it at all during class, this counts as an interruption, and you will be asked to leave class and counted as absent for the day. This includes texting and listening to music. If I have to stop class to ask you to stop texting or to put your phone away, it is an automatic absence, and you will be asked to leave the classroom. If you earn an absence due to a cell phone violation, you may not turn in any in-class work scheduled for that day. No headphones, please.

There will be no exceptions to this policy, so plan to turn off and put away out of sight and reach all electronic devices and headphones during our class period.

Please take care of any needs you may have BEFORE class begins. Students should not be coming in and out of the classroom during class. This is disruptive and will result in an absence. Any student who leaves during in-class writings, discussions, and exams may not return. Your work will be collected when you leave the room regardless of whether you have finished the assignment or not.

ATTENDANCE:

ABSENCES: As per my policy, you will be dropped from the class if you miss more than three class sessions before the last day to withdraw. Please take responsibility and drop yourself if you know you cannot continue with the class. DO NOT wait for the instructor to drop you. If you miss more than 20 minutes of class you will be marked absent for that class period. This includes leaving early or arriving late. Missing classroom instruction will show in your assignments and total course points, and could make a letter grade difference in your overall course grade. If you “stop in” and complete the day’s quickwrite and leave after that, you receive no credit for that quickwrite and will be marked absent for that class session. Leaving early or arriving late three times equals one absence.

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There is no such thing as an excused absence. All students will get three absences regardless of excuse.

TARDINESS: When you sign up for my class, I assume you understand that our designated classroom hours are reserved for this class and not for doctors’ or dentists’ appointments, for family outings, or for part of your shift at work. Please do not schedule appointments that overlap our class time. I do keep track of each time you are late or each time you leave class early unexcused. If you miss more than 10 minutes of class you will be marked absent for that class period. This includes coming in and out of the classroom during class, which is disruptive and not acceptable. If you leave the classroom during an exam, your exam will be collected as is, and you will not be allowed to return to the classroom.

MISSING CLASS: If you miss class, YOU are responsible for finding out what you missed and for returning to class prepared. Being absent does not excuse you from turning in assignments that were due the day you missed . Contact a peer whom you have confidence in to find out what you missed and what is expected of you next class. Any assignment turned in after its assigned due date either will not be accepted or will be assessed the late penalty, regardless of your being absent. A person with poor attendance cannot earn a passing grade in this class.

PLAGIARISM: Plagiarism will not be tolerated! Students who plagiarize will automatically fail the assignment and possibly the class and could possibly be expelled from the college. Plagiarism includes using undocumented information, articles, ideas, essays taken from the Internet or other on-line service as your own work as well as using friends, classmates, spouses, siblings’ writing as your own. All information or ideas taken from such services and others must include proper MLA documentation and format.

ESSAYS: All out-of-class essays are to be typed (or word-processed), all pages numbered, and all pages stapled together prior to turning in your paper. Each final draft must also include the outline, first draft with cover sheet and comments, and the peer review sheet. If the 1st draft is not turned in with your final draft, 10 points will automatically be deducted from your final draft grade, and 5 point deductions each for missing outlines and peer review sheets. If no first draft, or an incomplete draft is turned in on the day we have peer reviews, you will receive no points or partial points for that draft.

You are responsible for having your essays stapled together before I receive them. Essays & assignments not stapled will be returned unread.

I recommend that you take advantage of the SBVC Writing Center, located in LA201, for help with writing or revising your essays.

MLA FORMAT: All essays must follow MLA format rules including those for proper headings, margins, line spacing and font size. All margins should be one inch: top, bottom, and sides. Lines should be double-spaced and paragraphs properly indented with only one return between paragraphs. If you use Microsoft Word, 2010 please “remove extra space” before and after paragraphs, and set line spacing at 2. All typed work must use Times New Roman 12 font. No handwritten essays will be accepted. There are a number of computer labs on campus as well as the Library where you may type your essays.

QUICKWRITES: Two of the four large size Green Books from the bookstore will be used for quickwrites. We will begin each class with a one-page written response to a prompt or question stemming from our readings, discussions, the novel, or current events. These in-class writings will only be accepted if written in the Green Book and may be given half credit if they are not a full page in length. For the first 8 weeks of the semester, I will not necessarily “grade” the grammar, punctuation, or usage, but halfway through the semester, I will begin grading the quickwrites in this area in preparation for the final exam . All quickwrites must be written in pen, and short quickwrites or those that do not address the prompt will receive no credit. If you “stop in” and complete the day’s quickwrite and leave after that, you receive no credit for that quickwrite and will be marked absent for that class session.

No quickwrites can be made up regardless of circumstances.

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READER SHEETS: Reader sheets are due at the beginning of class on the days noted on the syllabus. This means that if you are late, your reader sheets are late and will not be accepted unless a coupon is attached. I will not accept reader sheets at the end of class. I will accept one set of 3 late reader sheets with attached coupon only up to one week after the original due date. Under no circumstances may reader sheets be made up without a coupon, even if you have an excused absence. Reader sheets will be awarded 1, 3, or 5 points depending on thoroughness of responses. Section three of the reader sheet must be five or more complete sentences in order to receive full credit, and this section must discuss what you think about the meaning of author’s thesis not re-tell or summarize the article or restate the author’s thesis. If reader sheets are not being completed, or are consistently inaccurate, they will be replaced with quizzes.

READING JOURNAL: Please use standard, college-ruled loose-leaf notebook paper that is secured in a blue 3-pronged folder . I will not accept loose-leaf pages that are stapled together or any other type or size of notebook! NO THREE-RING BINDERS WILL BE ACCEPTED! We will discuss in class the format that you should use for the reading journal. See me if you anticipate using a word processor for your reading journal entries. If you do not respond to each set of journal questions for each chapter, you will not receive complete credit for the journal. A full page response is one that begins on the first line on the top of the page and continues to the last line on the bottom of the page (do not stop at the pink margin line). You will be responsible for responding to each chapter of the novel, The Tame Cactus, for a total of 15 FULL pages college-ruled notebook paper. One page per question, two questions per chapter + one reflection page. As you respond, include why you answered the question the way you did, how you felt about that answer, and why your explanation supports your opinion about the question. Make sure the connection between the quotation (novel) and your reaction is clear, and explain why. If you do not make this connection, you will not receive full credit for that response. What is important is that you are recording your reactions, ideas, feelings, and even questions. Perhaps you will draw a conclusion or make a connection between the characters’ experiences and those in your own life.

In your blue, three-prong folder, include, in this order, the question handout for each chapter followed by your responses to the two questions you have selected. Please clearly label your responses.

NOTE: I AM NOT LOOKING FOR A SUMMARY OF THE NOVEL! Reading journals will be collected twice during the semester, and we will discuss the novel together in class weekly. In addition, we will have periodic quizzes on the novel.

FINAL EXAM: In the overall points of this class, the final exam is approximately 30% of your total grade, which means that it weights more than all the other assignments in terms of the overall points for the course. There is a department final exam for all English 015 classes. In cases where a student’s grade is bordering between passing and not passing, the score of the final exam could determine the final grade for the course. For example, if your course work throughout the semester is in the C- or D range, receiving a no pass score on the final exam could result in a D in the course. Conversely, passing the department final while not attending class, not turning in assignments, or receiving low scores on assignments does not ensure passing the course. We will have two-three practice final exams that will give you the opportunity to practice and improve your skills. If you do not take these practice exams or if you receive no-pass scores on these three exams, you will likely not pass the class. If you do not pass any of the three practice exams and do not pass the final exam, you will not receive a passing grade in the class. Please note your overall class standing BEFORE taking the final exam.

LATE PAPERS AND MISSED ASSIGNMENTS:

LATE HOMEWORK: Any assignment turned in after class has been dismissed is considered late. Late essays, homework, and other work must be turned in no later than one week after the original due date and will be assessed a 50% late penalty. All late assignments will go into a file until I have a chance to get to them. If an assignment is not completed, or missed altogether, you will be given zero points and an F for that assignment. Essays and other homework may be submitted early if an absence is anticipated. The last out of class essay may not be late. No in-class assignments may be made up, including quickwrites, quizzes, tests, and group exercises.

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MY MAILBOX: I will NOT accept any assignments that are turned into my mailbox or that are placed on or under my office door unless you have made PRIOR arrangements with me. Such assignments will remain where placed, and you will receive a zero for the assignment.

MY E-MAIL: I check my e-mail at least once daily. If I miss your e-mail on any particular day, I will most likely read it the following morning. In the event an assignment is sent by e-mail as a last resort, it is also subject to the same due date and format requirements as hard copy assignments. Ask before emailing. All e-mailed assignments should be sent as Microsoft Word document attachments (.doc, .docx, or .rtf), written in the correct MLA format. If I am unable to open your e-mail or attachment, the assignment will be subject to late penalties. Whenever sending e-mail, be sure to put your name, course ID, and section number in the subject field. E-mail is not a substitute for attending class, and you must make prior arrangements before sending assignments by e-mail, or you may not receive credit for the assignment.

Disability Statement: (American with/Disabilities Act [ADA]):The DSPS program at SBVC offers a variety of services to persons with documented sensory, mental, physical, or temporary disabling conditions to promote success in classes. If you have a disability, and believe you may need services, you are encouraged to contact the DSPS Center to discuss your needs with a counselor. All discussions and documentation are kept confidential.

Location: Administration/Student Services Building Room 105Spring Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pmPhone: (909) 384-4443 Fax: (909) 889-7821Email: dsps@valleycollege.edu

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POINTS POSSIBLE: POINTS RECEIVED:Paragraph:Paragraph prewrite 5 pts.Paragraph Plan: 5pts.Final draft 10pts.Essay #1 Description Thesis & outline: 5 pts.First draft: 15 pts.Peer response: 5 pts.Final draft: 100 pts.Essay #2 Example Thesis & outline: 5 pts.1st draft: 15 pts.Peer response: 5 pts.Final draft: 100 pts.Essay #3 Compare/Contrast Thesis & outline: 5 pts.1st draft: 15 pts.Peer response: 5 pts.Final draft: 100 pts.Essay #4 Cause/Effect ____________ Thesis/outline + source copy: 5 pts.1st draft: 15 pts.Peer response: 5 pts.Final draft: 100 pts. *(520 Essays)Grammar homework 103 pts.Grammar quizzes

50 pts.*(153 grammar)Group work Writing 5 @ 10 ea 50 pts.Homework Diagnostic grammar 20 pts.Typed Summary (Practice p. 15) 10 pts.PR 13-1 p. 197-198 (essay parts) 10 pts.Thesis pr. 1 p . 35 10 pts.Thesis homework (handout) 10 pts. “Of Crumpled Wings . . .” exercise 15 pts.*(125 group + homework)Reading journal Reactions (40 1st collection) 80 pts.

(40 2nd collection)The Tame Cactus quizzes 4 @ 10 pt. each 40 pts.*(120 novel)Reader sheets 8 @ 5 pts. Each: 40 pts.Quickwrites 20 @ 5 pts. Each: 100 pts.*(140 RS + QW)In-class tests Essay response 20 pts.Test on The Tame Cactus novel 50 pts.Midterm exam: 80 pts.Practice final 1 50 pts.Practice final 2 50 pts.Practice final 3 50 pts.Final exam: 600 pts*(900 tests)TOTAL: 1958 Points

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OIF OOPS! I forgot OIFThis coupon entitles bearer to turn in one assignment up to one week late—no questions asked.

May not be used for QW, in-class assignments, tests, or final paper. See syllabus for details.

This coupon entitles bearer to turn in one assignment up to one week late—no questions asked.May not be used for QW, in-class assignments, tests, or final paper. See syllabus for details.

OIF OOPS! I forgot OIF

This coupon entitles bearer to turn in one assignment up to one week late—no questions asked.May not be used for in-class assignments, tests, or research paper. See syllabus for details.

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