Course
Description
English 1A is
a four-unit course designed to satisfy El Camino College’s general writing
requirement and serves as the primary transfer-level composition course for the
college. This class will introduce
students to college-level writing, focusing primarily on the analytical reading
and writing skills necessary for academic success.
Course Objectives
English 1A is designed to help students
communicate effectively on the college level.
To accomplish these objectives, we will stress the importance of
analytical reading and writing. We
will emphasize in particular the concepts of writing as a process, the classroom
as a rhetorical community of scholars, and the importance of the library in
academic discourse.
Course Materials
Hacker,
Diana. Rules for Writers. 5th ed. for El Camino College.
Madden,
David. A Pocketful of Poems. Vol. 1.
Boston: Thomson, 2006.
---.
A Pocketful of Poems. Vol. 2. Boston: Thomson, 2006.
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A Pocketful of Prose: Vintage Short Fiction.
Vol. 1. Boston: Thomson,
2006.
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A Pocketful of Prose: Vintage Short Fiction.
Vol. 2. Boston: Thomson,
2006.
Course Requirements/Grading
Four Writing Projects, each
worth one letter grade
One Research Project, worth
three letter grades
Two Midterm Socratic Exams, each worth
one letter grade
One Final Socratic Exam, worth
one letter grade
Participation,
worth one letter grade
Participation
Consistent and faithful attendance and participation in this class is a
must. Regular exams and frequent quizzes
on readings shall be administered to ensure consistent in-class
participation. I will try to vary class
activities so that everyone will be able to actively participate.
It is crucial that you read all assignments
by the dates given to you so that you will be able to fully participate.
We may not always be able to cover everything assigned for
reading in our class discussions, but you will still be responsible for all of
them.
Late
Work
Essays handed in late shall be marked down
one letter graded per class that they are late—no exceptions.
If you know that you are going to miss class when an essay is due, make
sure that you hand it in early. There
will be no exceptions to this policy. Midterm
and Final exams must be taken on the day that they are given, as classroom
participation is an integral part of these examinations. Again, if you know that
you are going to be absent on the date of an exam, schedule an appointment to take the
test ahead of time. All quizzes
must be taken in class and on the time and date that they are assigned.
There are no make up quizzes.
Sharing Writing
By now, many of you have possibly taken
composition classes in which you have shared your writing with peer group
members and/or the entire class. However,
some of you may have reservations about sharing your writing with others.
I strongly believe, and I think you will find, that a key to developing
your writing skills is interaction with your peers.
As editors of each other’s work, you will learn to critique and improve
the texts of others, thus internalizing skills necessary for strengthening your own
writing effectiveness. From time to
time, I may choose to read one of your papers aloud to class, or—better still—to
have you read your paper aloud to the class.
This is not meant to embarrass you; rather, I choose papers that
demonstrate the landmarks of good college-level writing.
I will ask permission before I read from a paper, and you will not be
penalized for choosing not to have your paper read.
Special
Needs
Unless
I am provided with a signed note from DSS dated for this semester, I will assume
that you have no special instruction/testing needs for this class. I
expect any such note to be provided at the beginning of the semester, or at the
earliest possible opportunity. I am
not required to consider any such information not delivered to me in a timely
fashion. Please note: the day of the exam is not timely. I am more
than willing to accommodate students with special needs; however, you need to
identify your needs up front so that I can plan for them in my
instruction.
Attendance
In
order for you to maximize your understanding and appreciation of English 1A, you
must attend class faithfully. According
the El Camino College Catalog, an instructor has recourse to drop a student
after four (4) hours of instruction for a four (4) unit class.
Keeping this in mind, a total of two (2) absences—excused or
otherwise—are allowable without penalty; however, exceeding this limit may
result in your being dropped from the course.
This is meant as an incentive to keep you coming to class.
Do not expect me—under any circumstances—to automatically drop you
just because you quit coming to class. That
is not the intent of this rule. If
you wish to drop this course, you must be responsible for it yourself.
I will not be responsible for dropping you from this course.
If you have not withdrawn from class before the final drop deadline
requiring the Dean’s signature for withdrawal from this course, you will
receive a grade for this course—no exceptions.
Whether you come to class every day is your business; however, you should
remain aware that there are consequences to your actions.
Academic Dishonesty
Cheating on exams or
quizzes is considered academic dishonesty, and it is unacceptable. The use of someone else’s words or
ideas without acknowledging the source is plagiarism, another form of academic
dishonesty; it is likewise unacceptable. Because you will be working with many readings in your writing
assignments, you must be careful to cite other people’s words and ideas that
you incorporate—by way of quotation, paraphrase, and summary—into your
essays. If you fail to do this, it is
plagiarism. If you plagiarize on one of your assignments, you will receive
an "F" grade on that assignment. If you plagiarize on your
Research Project, you will receive an "F" grade for the course.
If I find you committing Academic Dishonesty (e.g., cheating on a test, turning
in someone else's work, or plagiarizing), I will immediately report you to the
Director of Student Development, and I will ask for the harshest sanction
possible, which may include: a notation of Academic Dishonesty on your
transcripts, removal from my class, or even expulsion from the college. I
have zero tolerance for cheating and plagiarism.
Cellular Phones
In an era of
increasingly prevalent mobile technology, cellular phones and other electronic
devices (laptop computers, PDAs, IPODs, MP3 players, etc.) have become an interruptive nuisance in
the classroom. As such, these devices are not allowed to be turned on or
used on in
our classroom unless you have cleared it with me first. Here are some
examples of inappropriate electronic activity (this list is not exhaustive):
your cell phone rings or vibrates in class; you answer your cell phone or leave
to make a call on it; you are text messaging in class; or you listen to your
IPOD or MP3 player in class. The first time
your electronic device interrupts the class, I will give you a verbal warning.
Upon the second interruption, I will remove you from the class for the day, give
you a written reprimand, and report you the Director of Student Development for
the appropriate disciplinary procedures. Upon the third interruption, I
will suspend you from class for two class periods (including the current one),
and I will file another report with the Director of Student Development.
Any subsequent interruptions, and I will seek your immediate and permanent
removal from my class. Depending on other Code of Conduct violations, this
may further result in your expulsion from the college. Please reference
the El Camino College Student Code of Conduct and Discipline for further
information. The bottom line is that I am attempting to create an
atmosphere in the classroom that is conducive to learning. If you cannot
discipline yourself, I will do it for you.
Code
of Conduct
We shall
adhere to the following rules in order to maintain a positive and productive
classroom environment:
