Fall 2004
Professor Decker
(909) 941-2412
cathy@citrus.ucr.edu
Section #30025
http://hal.ucr.edu/~cathy
Office LA-7C
Office hours: Monday and Wednesday, 2 -3 p.m.;
Tuesday and Thursday, 1:30-3 p.m.
Classroom LA-1
Class hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 4:30-6
p.m.
Composition involves the careful study and
practice of expository and argumentative writing techniques and the frequent
writing of compositions, with the ultimate goal of writing an original research
project. Students are required to spend eight hours doing tutorial work
designed to complement the class material at the Writing Center (located in the
main campus library; the writing center phone number is 477-8544). This class
is designed to prepare students for satisfactory college writing.
To enter this course, students need to pass the English Assessment Test at the 1A level. Another acceptable way to prepare for the class is to have earned a C or better in English 450 or ESL 450.
The textbook for the class is Stephen Reid's
The Prentice Hall Guide for College Writers, 6th edition (2003).
Plagiarism, the misrepresentation of the
ideas or words of another as one's own ideas or words, is not acceptable.
Plagiarized compositions will receive a grade of 0, and may result in a grade
of F for the course.
Obey the official college policies regarding food, smoking, discrimination, disruptive behavior, phone use, cheating, etc. If you have questions, please see me.
The services of the DPS office (941-2379) are available to all students with a documented disability. This office can also help you with testing and documenting disabilities. Please be sure to allow adequate time to make appropriate accommodations.
Prior to November 19, 2004, students may be dropped from the course for missing 4 classes or for not completing an assignment. Students still enrolled after November 19, 2004, who miss 4 or more classes will receive a grade between 0 and 50 for class participation. Students who fail to turn in 1 or more assignments will receive a grade between F and D+.
Assignments are due at the beginning of
class on the day noted. Assignments turned in on a class or school-day prior to
due date will received 5 bonus points; assignments turned in after the class
they are due will lose 5 points. No assignment will be accepted more than a
week early or a week late (see the exact dates on each assignment sheet).
Please note that missing an assignment can result in a lowered grade or being
dropped from the course.
Students are required to use the Chaffey
College Writing Center in the main campus library (477-8544). Students
are also encourage to use the other Chaffey College Success Centers, including
the Math Center in PS-12 (941-2370); the Reading/ESL Center in SL-17 (941-2657);
the Main Campus Center in VSS-105 (466-2812); the Fontana Center in Room 107
(477-2908); the Ontario Center in Room 203 (477-2935); or the Chino Center
in Room 200 (477-8591). See www.chaffey.edu
for more details.
The four essays
and rewrite must be typed in MLA format and follow
the assignment directions. A draft, a peer evaluation form, a tutoring slip from the writing
center, a "Works Cited" page (if required), copies of sources or
questionnaires used that are not in the textbook, and the postscript exercise
(this may be typed or handwritten) must be turned in with each essay. The
rewrite need only have the graded original essay attached to it. A penalty
of 5 points (out of 100) will be deducted for each missing part. See the paper assignment sheets for a
complete list of everything that must be turned in with the final version
and for full details of all bonuses and/or penalties.
The research paper is
argumentative and consists of six-pages
of text including parenthetical citations. In addition to the six-pages of
text, student must prepare an outline and an MLA-style "Works Cited"
page documenting at least six sources.
An assignment sheet will be handed out with full details of all required
parts of the project; 5 points (out of 100) will be deducted for each missing
part. All research paper topics must be approved in writing by me prior to
11/10/04.
A+ 100
A 96
A- 93
B+ 89
B 86
B- 83
C+ 79
C 76
D+ 69
D 66
D- 63
F 59
Four 3-page essays (including all required parts, see assignment sheet) 40%
One rewrite (attach
original graded essay to revision) 10%
One 6-page researched argument
(including all required) 5%
Revision of the 6-page researched argument (including all required parts) 15%
Class participation (including journal work)
and attendance 10%
Writing Center
Tutorials, Workshops, and Internet Activities 10%
Final Exam, a 3-page analysis of your class experience, 10%
Schedule
Please note that
this schedule is subject to change. Read the pages to be discussed prior to the
class period in which they will be discussed. All page numbers refer to the
textbook.
A Final Word
Welcome
to the class! English 1A is a
challenging course that offers you the opportunity to research and write on
topics you enjoy. Anytime you learn a new skill or gain new knowledge, you are
likely to feel some sense of anxiety or risk. I encourage you to take this risk
and seize this rare opportunity to spend time reading and writing about
something that interests you! In 2014, what do you want to remember from this
class? What skills do you want to learn and still be using in 2014?
Now is the time to make those memories and learn those skills! My best wishes go to you as you start you educational journey to the future,
Cathy Decker, Ph.D.