Composition

Required Materials
1. the textbook--John Langan's College Writing Skills with Readings, 3rd. ed. (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1993)
2. standard school supplies--notebook, pencil, eraser, pen, folder for your papers, paperclips
3. a dictionary--preferably two, a hardback (unabridged) for home use and a small (abridged) paperback you can take to class
4. typing or computer supplies (you can use the school's typewriters or computers) but will need to provide either typing paper or a disk

Attendance
Students must attend at least 8 of the twelve classes to pass the course. Role will be taken at the start of each class. Students with five absences will be dropped from the class or receive a grade of F.

Drop Policy
If, early in the quarter, you decide you cannot finish the class, please notify me and registration of your decision to drop the class. If you do not properly file for a "drop" or "withdraw" by April 26th, you may receive an F on your college record. After April 26th, you cannot get a "W" for the class.

Class Policy
If you are delayed for any reason and arrive late for class, please enter quietly and sit down. Bring to every class your text book, your homework, lined paper, a pencil, an eraser, a pen, a few paperclips, and a folder containing your syllabi, handouts, and assignments for the class.

Grading Policy

Class Participation 5%
Homework and Classwork 5%
Definition Essay 5% (3 pages/500 words)
Cause and Effect Essay 10% (3 pages/750 words)
Comparison or Contrast Essay 10% (4 pages/1,000 words)
Classification Essay 10% (4 pages/1,000 words)
Argument Essay 10% (4 pages/1,000 words)
Research Paper Assignments 5%
Research Paper 10% (6 pages/1,500 words)
Presentations, Quizzes, and Tests 15%
Grammar Exam 5%
Final Exam 10%

Academic Honesty
The English Department policy on plagiarism will be enforced. This policy is as follows: "Plagiarism, an unlawful act which is defined as the misrepresentation of the published ideas or words of another as one's own, will not be tolerated in Chaffey College English courses. At the discretion of the professor, plagiarism will be punishable by either an F for the assignment or an F in the course" (School of Arts and Humanities, Some Guidelines For Part-Time English Instructors 2).

Non-Discrimination Policy
The Chaffey College non-discrimination policy will be enforced. No discrimination on the basis of "race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age or sexual orientation" is permitted, (Chaffey College Catalog 1994 95) 25).

How to Get Help
Reach out for help if you feel overwhelmed. Ask other students in your class if you can meet to talk about assignments or writing skills. Talk to me about your situation. The school also provides many forms of assistance, including Physically Limited Student Services (941-2380), the Counseling Center (941-2116), the Transfer and Career Center (East Campus Center), and the Job Placement Center (941-2339). The Campus Police also have many helpful brochures available on issues such as preventing rape, dealing with battering, and earthquake procedures.

Late or Missed Assignment Policy
I will only accept late work at the class after the work was due. If you talk to me before the due date of an assignment, we can arrange an extension that may or may not go beyond one week. If you have not made such an arrangement with me and do not turn in the assignment on the date it is due or the following class period, I will give you an F for the assignment.

Class Schedule
Do all exercises on the pages indicated except for the writing assignments.

2/13 Introduction

Have prepared "To the Student," pp. xix-xx; pp. 3-25, 72-78, 113-119; "Definition," pp. 169-177; "Manuscript Form," pp. 297-8; "Subjects and Verbs," pp. 299-302; "On Being a Mess," pp. 500-505

Test on Subjects and Verbs, Sentence Fragments, Introduction to the Essay, and Important Factors in Writing (study pp. 3-33 and pp. 299-317)

Have prepared pp. 34-40; "Cause and Effect," pp. 141-151; "Smash Thy Neighbor," pp. 517-525; "The Plug-In Drug," pp. 639-646

Quiz on Evaluating Thesis Statements (study pp. 34-38)

Have prepared pp. 49-57; 274-278; "Regular and Irregular Verbs," 330 337; "Subject-Verb Agreement," 339-342

Test on Run-ons, Verbs, The First and Second Steps in Essay Writing, Writing a Thesis Statement, and Identifying Adequately Developed Paragraphs (study pp. 34-61 and 318-352)

Have prepared pp. 62-71; "Comparison and Contrast," pp. 152-168; "Thank You," pp. 486-91

Quiz on "Using the Library" and "Writing a Research Paper" (study pp. 258 93)

Have prepared pp. 87-99; "Apostrophe," pp. 392-7

Quiz on "The Third and Fourth Steps in Essay Writing" and "Providing Transitions" (study pp. 62-86)

Have prepared "Division and Classification," pp. 179-190; "Quotation Marks," pp. 398-403; "Advertising Claims," pp. 584-592

Test on "Identifying Transitions and Other Connecting Words," "Identifying Introductions and Conclusions," "Evaluating an Essay for Unity" (study pp. 83-102)

Have prepared "Misplaced Modifiers," pp. 353-354; "Dangling Modifiers," pp. 356-359; "In My Day," pp. 532-539; "The First Step to the Cemetery," pp. 567-571

Test on Evaluating Essays and Outlines (study pp. 100-110)

Have prepared "Pronoun Agreement, Reference, and Point of View," pp. 365-371; "Defense Mechanisms," pp. 560-566

Have prepared "Argument and Persuasion," pp. 211-225; "Effective Word Choice," pp. 447-456; "College Lectures: Is Anybody Listening?" pp. 623-629-

Have prepared "Sentence Variety," pp. 457-465; "Taking Essay Exams," pp. 229-236; "Five Parenting Styles," pp. 593-8; "Seven Ways to Keep the Peace at Home," pp. 629-637

Grammar Exam on all of the "Handbook of Sentence Skills" sections covered in class by this point