English 151A: FUNDAMENTALS OF COMPOSITION
Instructor: Mr. Brosamer
Office: Building 8, Room 8309
Phone: 510-659-6249
email: mbrosamer@ohlone.edu
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
ìEnglish 151A is an introductory composition course in which students write sentences, paragraphs (8-10 sentences), and short, informal essays (1-2 pages) totaling about 3500-4500 words, including at least 3 in-class writingsî (from the English Department 151A course outline).
COURSE CONTENT:
Our main reader (Visions Across the Americas) is a good one and will provide us with a challenging and diverse group of essays. You will respond to these readings in a variety of ways, including journal assignments, quizzes, group work, and discussions. 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.
Please come to class prepared and ready to participate in what's going on. The success of this course is dependent on your readiness to voice your opinions, responses, concerns, etc. both in oral and written form. Remember that learning is a process based on inquiry, trial and error. Listen closely, get involved, work hard, and expect results. This done, you'll have no trouble doing well in and enjoying this class.
MATERIALS REQUIRED:
1. Class textbooks (see above).
2. A lightweight, loose-leaf notebook to be used
as
a journal.
3. Pen and standard-sized, wide-lined paper (for
in-class
exercises).
4. A standard English dictionary and thesaurus
5. A folder in which to keep all essays
written
for class.
****Be sure to bring items 1-4 to each
class.
PARAGRAPH/ESSAY FORMAT:
1. Final drafts should be word-processed or
typed
(journals and class work may be done in pencil or pen).
2. Be sure each paragraph/essay is titled,
double-spaced,
numbered, and contains your name.
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). No late homework/papers will be accepted. No make-up quizzes or exams will be given.
FOLDERS:
Keep all your paragraphs and essays for this class together in a folder. If you want to confer with me, bring your folder so we can discuss your progress. Keep a running list of ideas about possible writing topics attached to the inside cover of your 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; remember, the lab does not accept late work and I will only sign ONE late slip for each student during the semester. Lab work will build and sharpen vocabulary, grammar, and paragraph writing skills; lab grades will be based primarily on your scores on the lab tests.
PLAGIARISM:
All writing must contain only the student's original work. Any student who hands in a piece of writing 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 ìOhlone College Policy on Academic Integrity.î
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, as I said before, your
presence
and active participation are essential. After the sixth absence you may
be dropped from the class; this is in accordance with Ohlone College
policy.
Coming to class late is not appreciated.
GRADES:
Your final grade for the course will be based
on
the following percentages:
|
Writing Lab 25% Paragraphs/Essays (out of class) 20% In-class writing exams (2) 20% Homework/journals/quizzes 15% Final examination 15% Class participation 5% Total 100% |
SAMPLE CLASS SCHEDULE
(This is just a sample and should not be used as a reference if you've lost your syllabus.)
Week 1
Wed: Introduction to course
Diagnostic writing
Fri: Writing Lab tour
Week 2
Mon: TBA
Wed: Subjects and Verbs
Fri: Discuss Simple Sentence
Week 3
Mon: Test#1: Simple Sentence
Wed: Discuss Compound Sentence
Fri: Response Journal #1due:
ìFreewriting,î
Elbow
Week 4
Mon: Discuss Compound Sentence
Wed: Compound Sentence Exercise due
Fri: Test#2: Compound Sentence
Week 5
Mon: Complex Sentence
Wed: Response Journal #2 due: ìMy
Motherís
English,î Tan
Fri: TBA
Week 6
Mon: TBA
Wed: Complex Sentence
Fri: Test #3: Complex Sentence
Week 7
Mon: Compound-Complex Sentence
Wed: Response Journal #3 due: ìWhy I Am a
Writer,î
Mora
Fri: Compound-Complex Sentence Exercise due
Week 8
Mon: Review of four sentence types
Wed: Prepare for in-class writing exam
Fri: In-class writing exam (#1)
Week 9
Mon: Paragraph Writing/Paragraph Structure
Wed: Response Journal #4 due: ìJourney to
Nine
Miles,î Walker
Outline Personal Paragraph
Fri: Personal Paragraph due (typed)
Week 10
Mon: Discuss Narrative Paragraph
Wed: Response Journal #5 due:
ìGhosts,î
Kingston
Fri: Narrative Paragraph due (typed)
Week 11
Mon: Discuss Illustration Paragraph
Wed: Response Journal #6 due: ìThe Ways We
Lie,î Ericsson
Fri: Illustration Paragraph due (typed)
Week 12
Mon: Discuss Description Paragraph
Wed: Response Journal #7 due: ìConfessions
of a Quit Addict,î Graham
Fri: Descriptive Paragraph due (typed)
Writing Informal Essays
Week 13
Mon: Discuss Essay #1
Wed: Response Journal #8 due: ìHow to
Write
a Personal Letter,î Keillor
Fri: In-class writing exam (#2)
Week 14
Mon: TBA
Wed: Essay #1 due (typed)
Fri: Response Journal #9 due: ìThe Ways of
Meeting Oppression,î King
Week 15
Mon: Discuss Essay #2
Wed: Outline Essay #2
Fri: TBA
Week16
Mon: Essay #2 due (typed)
Wed: Discuss Essay #3
Fri: Response Journal #10 due: ìGrowing Up
with Two Moms,î McGuire
Week 17
Mon: Discuss Final Exam
Wed: Essay #3 due (typed)
Fri: Practice for Final Exam
Final Exam Date: ___________________
*If you want your final exam returned, bring a
self-addressed,
stamped envelope and turn it in with your completed exam.
Please contact mbrosamer@ohlone.edu
with your questions, comments, and suggestions.
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