English 101A: READING AND WRITTEN COMPOSITION
Instructor: Mr. Brosamer
Office: Building 8, Room 8309
Phone: (510) 659-6249
email: mbrosamer@ohlone.edu
COURSE OVERVIEW:
English 101A, which is the first of the two-semester, college-level
sequence
of composition courses, deals with critical thinking skills in the
context
of communication, including reading, writing, listening and speaking.
Students
are required to read expository and argumentative works and to write
about
8000 words, including a documented paper, short, polished, expository
and
argumentative essays, and in-class essays.
MATERIALS REQUIRED FOR CLASS:
1. Class textbooks (see above).
2. A lightweight, looseleaf notebook.
3. Pen and standard-sized, wide-lined paper (for in-class exercises).
4. A standard English dictionary.
5. A folder in which to keep all essays written for class.
****Be sure to bring items 1-4 to each class meeting.
ESSAYS:
You will produce a series of polished essays, at least two of which you will share with the whole class. These essays will be the culmination of a process:
Prewriting--This will include a series of in-class activities such as freewriting, listing, clustering, brainstorming, and discussing, as well as ideas developed from your journal.
Drafting--This involves getting your ideas down quickly in a rough but readable form. You will, however, have to make sure that your first draft is legible (word-processed or typed) with double spacing and wide margins. On days when first drafts are due, bring four copies of your draft (be sure to allow plenty of time and change for photocopying or making printouts) because you will be...
Sharing drafts with your response group.--Your response group will consist of two or three additional people who will comment on the content and organization of your essay, applaud your efforts, help you wrestle with the problems you face, and sympathize with you when your instructor seems insensitive and unappreciative.
Revising--Bearing in mind the reactions of the members of your response group (and your reactions to their reactions), you will rewrite your essay, clarifying ambiguities and tightening up your organization. On days when second drafts are due, you will need two copies for you response group to take a closer look at.
Editing and Proofreading--This means polishing up your sentences,
improving
word choices and coherence, and making sure there are no spelling,
punctuation
or other mechanical errors.
ESSAY FORMAT:
1. Final drafts should be word processed or typed (see me if you think this will be a problem).
2. Be sure each essay is double-spaced, numbered, and has a title and your name. See Allyn & Bacon Appendix for further details about format.
3. When you hand in the final draft of an essay, attach your
prewriting
notes, one of your first draft with comments and one copy of the second
draft.
DEADLINES:
All assignments are due at the beginning of the class period on the
date
assigned. (If you must leave an assignment in my box, you are
responsible
for making sure I received it). Late essays will not be accepted.
ESSAY FOLDERS:
Keep all your essays for this class together in a folder. If you
want
to confer with me, bring your complete essay folder so we can discuss
your
progress. Keep a running list of ideas about possible essay topics
attached
to the inside cover of your essay folder. If you feel that I have made
a
mistake in recording a grade, you should be able to produce the paper.
WRITING LAB:
The work you do in the writing lab is an important adjunct to
in-class
work, and will comprise a whopping 25% of your final grade for the
course!
It is your responsibility to keep track of lab deadlines. Your lab
grade
will be based primarily on your scores on the lab tests.
READINGS:
The list of readings on the attached course schedule is subject to
change
according to the interests of students and the needs of the class. You
will
work together with several other students in the class to select and
become
an expert on one of the essays in Writing and Reading Across the
Curriculum
and parts of Savages. Your group will be in charge of presenting these
works
and leading a class discussion on them. Periodic surprise quizes may be
given if it appears that students are coming to class without having
done
the reading.
PLAGIARISM:
Essays must contain only the student's original work or else be
thoroughly
documented. Any student who hands in an essay which is copied, even in
part,
from an undocumented source, or which has been written or corrected by
anyone
other than that student may be dropped from the course or receive an
"F"
grade. For more information, see the attached "Ohlone College Policy
on Academic Integrity."
ATTENDANCE:
Registering for this course means that you are committed to
attending
class sessions and participating in class activities as well as to
completing
all assignments. Much of the preparatory work for your assignments will
be done in class, so your presence and active participation are
essential.
GRADES:
Your final grade for the course will be based on the following percentages:
|
Essays 30% In-Class Essay Exams 20% Final Exam 15% Homework/presentation/quizes 5% Class participation 5% Lab Work (including final documented essay) 25% 100% |
Please contact mbrosamer@ohlone.edu
with your questions, comments, and suggestions.
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