English Writing 50 Class

Image of Graffiti Face "If you don't think for yourself, others will think for you--to their advantage."; -- Harold Gordon

Course Description

Welcome to the English Writing 50 website. This course is designed to help you improve your ability to communicate effectively in writing. You will be writing different kinds of paragraphs and several short essays as well as completing reading quizzes and journal responses for a minimum of 2,500 words. You must also be enrolled in Engwr59 to receive credit for this class unless you have passed ENGWR59 with a C or better.

To take this course you must have completed Engwr40 (Eng255) with a "C" or better or a qualifying score on the assessment test. You will be dropped from this course unless, by the third class meeting, I have one of the following papers showing that you are eligible for (ENGWR50):

A copy of your assessment scores
A grade report
A counselor’s formal recommendation

Download the latest syllabus here.

Required Texts

Bring the following book or copies of assigned pages with you to every class meeting.

Writing First: Practice in Context with Readings (4th Edition), Laurie G. Kirszner and Stephen R. Mandell (copies on reserve in Library)
One 3.5 double-sided, high-density computer disk or alternative method of storing data, such as a flash drive.
An ID card with at least $1.00 available for printing (machine for adding value to student ID is in Learning Resource Center (Library).
A standard college dictionary such as Webster’s New World Dictionary or the American Heritage Dictionary

Syllabus

Course Objectives:

To study significant world masterpieces in a seminar setting that allows free exchange of information and ideas.
To learn the background of these works in order to understand them and the cultures that created them more thoroughly.
To explore ways in which these works comment on or clarify our age and our own lives.
To develop critical thinking and analytical writing skills through research, class discussion, presentations, and the writing of essays.
To develop research skills involving the analysis and synthesis of information from secondary sources.

Class Format:

I ask you to read works from each of the eras and submit responses most Mondays for the works we'll be studying that week.
This class has a seminar format (open discussion with instructor and/or students leading discussion). Each member of this class is an important part of our discussion, so plan to attend every class unless you have an emergency. If you must miss a class, be sure to get notes from a fellow classmate.
Computer Classroom: We may be meeting in the computer classroom this semester so you can take advantage of the search engines, software, and word processing available on campus. Please be aware that no food or drink is allowed in the classroom in order to protect the equipment.

Grading: To receive at least a passing grade of "C" or higher, you must

Earn at least a 70% (C-) on the combined grade for all In-class writing assignments for this class.
Earn at least 70% (C-) on the combined grade for homework and response quizzes.
Receive credit in English Writing 59. This is a 2 unit sentence structure and grammar class. Be sure to enroll in ENGWR 59 by the second week of the semester unless you have already completed the class with a CREDIT notation.

Behavior:

Turn off cell phones, CD players, ipods, pagers, etc. before you come into the classroom. If your cell phone sounds during class, I will ask you to leave for the day, and you will receive an absence.
Do not read the newspaper, prepare work for other classes, or sleep through class. You will receive an absence for classes in which you do not participate in class activities.
Show respect to everyone in the classroom. If you become rude or disruptive, I may suspend you for two class meetings. If the behavior continues, you may be suspended for the rest of the semester.

Plagarism:

Plagiarism means "kidnapping" someone else's writing and turning it in as your own. That means not only copying someone's paper but also "borrowing" ideas or sentences from a source without giving that source acknowledgment. In your research paper especially, you will look for support in outside sources to back up your ideas, but the reasoning and the sentences must be yours. If you plagiarize any part of a paper intentionally, I will drop you, and if the offense is serious, I will send your name to the Dean of Students for disciplinary action.

Accommodations:

If you have a learning disability, a physical disability, or other special needs, please let me know as soon as you can so we can arrange special accommodations. This kind of confidential discussion is best handled during my office hours. You can expect confidentially and cooperation regarding any circumstances and needs that have been verified through the disability centers on campus.

Extra Help:

Please feel free to drop by my office or call or email me if you have questions or would like individual help. I really want you to succeed in this class, and I'll work with you to help you accomplish your goals. Remember, you're in this class to learn, and my job is to help you do so. If you run into problems keeping up with the work, have an emergency that will keep you from participating for an extended time, or simply are confused about an assignment, then contact me, and I'll work with you to help you succeed. If you are feeling discouraged or overwhelmed and are thinking about dropping the class, please email me before reaching your decision, I may be able to offer some help that will keep you in the class.
I look forward to teaching this class.

Important Dates: Los Rios Academic Calendar

Assignments

Written Homework: Must be finished by the beginning of class to be counted for credit. Homework is designed to help you learn to focus, develop, and organize your writing, skills that are important in communicating ideas effectively. Be sure to come to class with questions about the homework if you had any difficulty with the assignment.

Late Papers: I do not accept homework assignments from students who are absent or more than 10 minutes late to class. If for some reason you must e-mail an assignment, I must receive it by the beginning of class on the day it is due. Otherwise, it will count as a late assignment. Keep in mind that assignments may get lost in cyberspace. Most of your writing this semester will be in the classroom, so you will not usually be emailing assignments to me. Do email me with questions about any writing or homework assignment. Missed Writing Assignments: You may make up one missed writing assignment (50-200 point assignments) during the last week of class.

Reader-Responses/quizzes (20 points each): Response quizzes are worth 20 points and cannot be made up for credit. If you must miss class on a day when a quiz is assigned, you will receive a 0 for that quiz. However, you will have an opportunity to write a critical response for lectures, discussions, plays, or films scheduled on campus that you attend.

In-class writing: Assignments are worth 50 to 200 points. Paragraphs are worth 50 points, essays 100 points, and the midterm 200 points. The final exam is worth 300 points. These writing assignments are the most important work you will do this semester and comprise 80% of your grade in this class. I will allow you to rewrite/revise one class writing assignment, which I will average with the original grade. Choose this revision wisely; it’s due the last day of class. I will also ask you to correct several writing assignments for sentence and grammar errors. These corrected papers count for 5 homework points.

Attendance (50 points): Regular class attendance is mandatory. I award 50 points, equal to one in-class paragraph assignment, for class participation. To earn 50 points, you must have perfect attendance and participate in class. That means your homework is always completed and you participate actively in group and individual class assignments. Absences, tardies, leaving class early, and missing assignments will lower the points you earn for class participation. I will drop you on the day you receive your fourth absence or the 3rd class you miss in a row unless you notify me that you have a personal or family emergency. Even under extraordinary circumstances I will extend the limit on absences by only one day. You cannot learn the skills you need if you miss two weeks of class or three straight days of class. Come to class on time and stay the entire 50 minutes. Arriving late to class (5 minutes to 10 minutes) or leaving early three times counts as an absence. Missing more than 10 minutes or more of class also constitutes an absence.

SCC website of English Writing 50

Course Description

Required Texts

Syllabus

Assignments

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