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English 1B: Composition II
Spring 2009 We ditched this schedule & revised the format for a groovier, New Media version of composition! SEE THE REVISED VERSION HERE IN BLOG FORMAT ALONG WITH A PDF OF THE REVISED POLICIES & SCHEDULE |
Dr. Katherine D.
Harris |
Course Description | Course Objectives | Course Policies | Grading Policy | Grade Distribution | Plagiarism | Late Policy | Questionnaire | Required Books |
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NOTE:
SEE THE REVISED VERSION HERE IN BLOG FORMAT ALONG WITH A PDF OF THE
REVISED POLICIES & SCHEDULE
Prerequisites: Passage of Written
Communication 1A or approved equivalent course and passage of the
English Proficiency Test (EPT), unless exempt. |
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REQUIRED BOOKS & MATERIALS Mauk, John and John Metz. Inventing Arguments. 2nd ed. Boston: Thomson Wadsworth, 2009. Schlosser, Eric. Fast Food Nation. Harper Perennial, 2001. Hacker, Diana. A Writers Reference. 6th ed. Dictionary (Webster�s or equivalent college-level) Notebook (Bound) Exam Booklets (for in-class exams & final exam) Email account & Turnitin.com account |
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COURSE
OBJECTIVES Building on the college-level proficiencies required in English 1A, students shall achieve the ability to write complete essays that demonstrate advanced proficiency in all of the following:
Learning Objective 1: Students shall write complete essays that demonstrate the ability to refine the competencies established in Written Communication 1A. Learning Objective 2: Students shall write complete essays that demonstrate the ability to use (locate, analyze, and evaluate) supporting materials, including independent library research, and identify key concepts and terms that describe the information needed. Learning Objective 3: Students shall write complete essays that demonstrate the ability to synthesize ideas encountered in multiple readings. Content Objectives: This course should emphasize those skills and activities in writing and thinking that produce 1) the persuasive argument, and 2) the critical essay, each of which demands analysis, interpretation, and evaluation.
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GRADE DISTRIBUTION 10% Class Discussion & Participation 10% Writing Exercises 60% Essays 20% Final Exam |
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Class Discussion & Participation English 1A is a reading-intensive course. You will have reading assignments to complete for almost every class period, and each reading will be accompanied by some form of writing. In addition, all or most of the assigned essays will be based on the reading. It is therefore imperative that you complete the readings prior to each class and come with your book prepared to discuss them in class. In addition, a typed writing assignment will be due at almost every class meeting, so prepare your schedules accordingly. Between the assigned essays, revised drafts and writing exercises, you will write more than the 8000 words of formal writing required for this course. The readings will come from Inventing Arguments and other readings that are supplied as handouts. Our work begins immediately. Please have the textbooks by our next class meeting. Bring Inventing Arguments with you to every class meeting unless you are told otherwise. A student�s participation is assessed by his/her contribution throughout the semester. Use the following as guidelines for this portion of your final grade:
If you miss class, contact a classmate for notes, reading assignments and handouts � or check our Course Website. (Please do not email me to ask "Did I miss anything important?")
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Writing Exercises & Daily Journal All journal writing (informal, ungraded) should be done in a spiral bound notebook that will contain only notes, writings and materials from this course. Bring this journal with you to every class because we will write in it at every meeting. On occasion, I will collect these journals to review your progress (which will be indicated by a check mark in my grade book). If you do not want me to read the contents on a particular page, fold that page. Written Exercises are due at the beginning of each class. These exercises need to be typed in 12pt font and double-spaced with one inch margins. While the writing exercises do not receive a letter grade, the quality of your efforts will be recorded and applied toward your final course grade. Each Writing Exercise receives a check minus, check, check plus, U (unsatisfactory), NC (no credit). If you need a letter grade correlation, think of a = B, which represents that the minimum requirements for that exercise were completed. You can gauge your progress by these writing exercises. Unsatisfactory Writing Exercises will be revised and resubmitted for credit. Please note that I do NOT accept assignments via email. |
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Essays You will be required to write 6 graded essays throughout the semester: 2 written in-class (informal); 4 written outside of class (formal). Each essay varies in purpose and will focus on differing sets of academic writing skills. By the time we reach the last essay, you will have learned about both the major and minor elements of writing. Each essay is based on readings from Inventing Arguments and a series of progressive writing exercises that will help you to create a first draft. Each essay will receive a letter grade based on the Departmental Grading Policy below. Every essay will be submitted to Turnitin.com. Rough drafts of essays should be typed and double-spaced. On due dates for rough drafts, email a copy to me by the deadline and bring a printed copy for your group workshop. Final drafts of essays must be carefully revised, typed and double-spaced on 8 2 x 11" white paper in 12 point font with one inch margins. Keep all notes, writing exercises, drafts and final copies of essays. Some of these materials will be turned in with the final draft of each essay. (Be sure to save drafts on the computer as different documents.) |
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Final Exam A
common essay final exam, graded holistically, will count 20% toward
the course grade. The final will be held on Saturday,
May 9, 10am-12:15pm. The test will consist of an in-class essay on a
specific topic. Please be on time and bring two yellowbooks, pens,
and a (non-electronic) dictionary. |
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GRADING POLICY
The Department of English reaffirms its commitment to the differential grading scale as defined in the official SJSU Catalog ("The Grading System"). Grades issued must represent a full range of student performance: A = excellent; B = above average; C = average; D = below average; F = failure. Courses graded according to the A,B,C,NoCredit system shall follow the same pattern, except that NC, for NoCredit, shall replace D or F. In A,B,C,NoCredit courses NC shall also substitute for W (for Withdrawl) because neither NC nor W affects students� grade point averages. In English Department courses, instructors will comment on and grade the quality of student writing as well as the quality of the ideas being conveyed. All student writing should be distinguished by correct grammar and punctuation, appropriate diction and syntax, and well-organized paragraphs. For your final grades, 100-90 is an A, 89-80 is a B, 79-70 is a C, 69-60 is a D, and below 60 is an F. Pluses and minuses are the middle of each range. In calculating the final grade, a set number will represent each letter grade; for example, B+ is 87.5, B is 85, and B- is 82.5. Note: This is an A, B, C, No Credit course,
but individual essays will be graded on an A to F scale. There
are no C- grades in English 1B. You must earn at least a C in order
to pass. Any student with a final grade below a C will receive
an NC and must repeat the course. |
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COURSE POLICIES
Since this is a workshop course, you need to be prepared at every class meeting with the readings and your written exercise. If you cannot meet a deadline, you must contact me prior to our class meeting to discuss the situation. Otherwise, there are steep consequences for submitting late assignments and essays: |
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SJSU Academic
Integrity Policy Your own commitment to learning, as evidenced by your enrollment at San Jose State University, and the University�s Academic Integrity Policy require you to be honest in all your academic course work. Faculty are required to report all infractions to the office of Judicial Affairs. The policy on academic integrity can be found at http://www.sjsu.edu/senate/S04-12.htm . The SJSU rules against plagiarism are set forth in the SJSU Catalog, which defines plagiarism as the act of representing the work of another as one�s own (without giving appropriate credit) regardless of how that work was obtained, and submitting it to fulfill academic requirements. Plagiarism at SJSU includes, but is not limited to: (1) the act of incorporating the ideas, words, sentences, paragraphs, or parts thereof, or the specific substance of another�s work, without giving appropriate credit, and representing the product as one�s own work. It is the role and obligation of each student to know the rules that preserve academic integrity and abide by them at all times. This includes learning and following the particular rules associated with specific classes, exams, and/or course assignments. Ignorance of these rules is not a defense to the charge of violating the Academic Integrity Policy. Avoiding Plagiarism Plagiarism checks will be performed by asking students to submit various written exercises or essays to Turnitin.com, a service which scans documents for all references to Web sources and other essays. To sign up for Turnitin use the Class ID 2584318 and Password writing. The instructor reserves the right to revise the requirements and to notify students of such revision in a timely manner. |
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Classroom
Environment Respect your fellow students and I: Arrive on time (excessive tardiness will effect your participation grade) and do not partake in disruptive behavior. If you are late, wait for an appropriate moment to enter so you do not disturb the class. Turn off cell phones or put them on silent mode during the class period.
Email Protocols |
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GENERAL INFORMATION Course Website �
http://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/harris/ SJSU Writing Center Library Liaison Peer Mentor Center Student Technology Resources Campus Policy on Compliance
with Americans with Disabilities Act |
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Last updated:
02/24/2009 04:26 PM
http://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/harris/
Eng 1B Course Webpages