Course Description

English 550 is designed to prepare the inexperienced writer for college-level academic writing by focusing on the critical thinking, reading, writing, and study skills necessary to succeed in degree-applicable and transfer-level courses.

Textbook and Supplies

You will need Along These Lines: Writing Paragraphs and Essays, written by John Sheridan Biays and Carol Wershoven. We will be using the 3^rd edition, published in 2004. You will need 2 Scantron forms (881-E or 882-E) for the grammar quizzes and final exam (the back of the first two quizzes will be used for the rest). You will need two small blue books: one for the timed-writing paragraph and one for the final exam.

Class Policies

1. Plagiarism, the misrepresentation of the ideas or words of another as one’s own ideas or words, is not acceptable. Plagiarized compositions copy the words or ideas of other people and are presented as the words or ideas of the author. Plagiarism can range from stealing one unique, original word to copying entire paragraphs and pages. Plagiarized compositions will receive a grade of 0, and may result in a grade of F for the course.

2. Obey the official college policies regarding food, smoking, discrimination, disruptive behavior, phone use, cheating, etc. If you have questions, please see me.

3. 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 for the quizzes, timed-writing paragraph (done during a class session), and the final exam.

4. Prior to November 19, 2004, you may be dropped from the course for missing 4 classes or for not completing a paragraph. Students who are still enrolled after November 19, 2004, and who miss 4 or more classes or who fail to turn in 1 or more paragraphs will receive a grade of “No Credit.”

Class Policies, Continued

5. Your paragraphs are due at the beginning of class on the day noted. Peer-evaluations will occur on the days that draft paragraphs are due; these peer-evaluations cannot be done early, late, or outside of class. The peer-evaluation form must be turned in with the revised paragraph or 10 points (out of 100) will be deducted from the revised paragraph’s grade.

6. Any of the 5 revised paragraphs that are turned in on a class or school day prior to the due date will received 5 bonus points; paragraphs turned in after the class they are due will lose 5 points. No paragraph will be accepted more than a week early or a week late. Please note that missing a paragraph can result in a “no credit” grade or being dropped from the course.

7. You are required to use the Chaffey College Writing Center in the main campus library (477-8544) for 5 hours. You may use these five hours to consult writing tutors about your paragraphs or to work on improving grammar skills. You must sign-in and out each time you work at the writing center to get credit for this tutoring time.

8. 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.

9. Reading assignments should be completed prior to the class in which they will be discussed. You should look up unfamiliar words in the readings before coming to class. Do your best to complete any exercises on the pages assigned to be read. Skip any exercise that requires a partner or group. Identify any exercise that you are confused about or are having trouble completing, so I can help you in class with it.

10. All paragraphs, regular or revised, must be typed or word-processed. All paragraphs should be double-spaced, a minimum of 150 words, and include an original title. Five points (out of 100) will be deducted if the spacing is incorrect, the paragraph is too short, and/or the paragraph is missing an original title. The five revised paragraphs must be submitted with a peer-evaluation sheet and a writing-center tutorial sheet. Ten points (out of a 100) will be deducted if these parts are missing.

11. Students with a reasonable explanation and adequate written documentation of a known time conflict or unexpected emergency may arrange to take the quizzes or do the timed-writing paragraph at an earlier (up to one week) or later (up to one week) time.

12. The final exam will require you to complete some grammar exercises and to write a paragraph. Please note that final examinations cannot be rescheduled without the written permission of the dean. You may use a dictionary during the final exam.

Grade Scale

“Credit” is earned by a numerical grade of 70 to 100 (on a scale of 100) or a letter grade of C to A+.

“No Credit” means you have a numerical grade of 0 to 69 (on a scale of 100) or a letter grade of F to D+.

Grade Formula

5 paragraphs (5%--each 1 is worth 1 point of the final grade—multiply by .05)

5 revised paragraphs with peer-evaluation forms and tutoring slips

(50%--each 1 is worth 10 points of the final grade—multiply by .1)

1 timed-writing paragraph (5%--worth 5 points of the final grade—multiply by .05)

5 hours of writing-center work (10%--each hour is worth 2 points of the final grade)

3 grammar quizzes (15%--each is worth 5 points of the final grade—multiply by .05)

1 final exam (15%--this is worth 15 points of the final grade—multiply by .15)

Schedule

Please note this schedule is subject to change; I will inform you ahead of time in class if there is to be a change. Please see the class policies above for details about any bonuses (for early work) or penalties (for late work).

Week 1

1. 8/16 Introduction

2. 8/18 Discussion of pages (pp.) 1-10, 12-16, 20-24 (Chapter 1)

Week 2

3. 8/23 Discussion of pp. 1-32, 39-40 (Chapter 1)

4. 8/25 Paragraph #1Due, Peer-Evaluation Session (A paragraph based on any one topic from pp. 32-37 or 39-41)

Week 3

5. 8/30 Discussion of pp. 539-541 (Chapter 27)

6. 9/1 Discussion of pp. 580-584, 586-590 (Chapter 33)

Week 4

(Please note that 9/6/04 is Labor Day; there will be no class)

7. 9/8 Revised Paragraph #1 Due, Discussion of pp. 42-52 (Chapter 2)

Week 5

8. 9/13 Discussion of pp. 52-64 (Chapter 2)

9. 9/15 Paragraph #2 Due, Peer-Evaluation Session (Illustration paragraph based on one topic from pp. 58-60 or 64)

Week 6

10. 9/20 Discussion of pp. 399-410 (Chapter 14)

11. 9/22 Discussion of pp. 414-420 (Chapter 15)

Week 7

12. 9/27 Revised Paragraph #2 Due; Review of Chapters 27, 33, 14, and 15

13. 9/29 Grammar Quiz #1 (bring Scantron form)

Week 8

14. 10/4 Discussion of pp. 90-5, 98-106, 113-6 (Chapter 4)

15. 10/6 Paragraph #3 Due, Peer-Evaluation Session (Narrative paragraph based on one topic from pp. 109-111 or 116-7)

Week 9

16. 10/11 Discussion of pp. 424-429 (Chapter 16)

17. 10/13 Discussion of pp. 432-438 (Chapter 17)

Week 10

18. 10/18 Revised Paragraph #3 Due, Discussion of pp. 142-160 (Chapter 6)

19. 10/20 Discussion of pp. 142-166, 170-171(Chapter 6)

Week 11

20. 10/25 Paragraph #4 Due, Peer-Evaluation Session (Comparison or Contrast Paragraph based on one topic from pp. 166-8 or 171)

21. 10/27 Discussion of pp. 443-450 (Chapter 18)

Week 12

22. 11/1 Discussion of pp. 542-549 (Chapter 28)

23. 11/3 Revised Paragraph #4 Due, Review of Chapters 16, 17, 18, and 28

Week 13

24. 11/8 Grammar Quiz #2 (Bring Scantron form)

25. 11/10 Discussion of pp. 217-230, 240-2 (Chapter 9)

Week 14

26. 11/15 Paragraph #5 Due, Peer-Evaluation Session (Cause or Effect Paragraph based on one topic from pp. 235-238 or 242-3)

27. 11/17 Discussion of pp.550-552 (Chapter 29) and 554-557 (Chapter 30)

Week 15

28. 11/22 Discussion of pp. 367-376, 381-385 (Chapter 13)

29. 11/24 Revised Paragraph #5 Due, Review of Chapters 29-30 and 13

Week 16

30. 11/29 Grammar Quiz #3 (Bring Scantron form)

31. 12/1 Timed-writing paragraph based on either “My Daughter Smokes” (pp. 389-392) or “Parental Discretion” (pp. 393-395), bring a small blue book and a dictionary

Week 17

32. 12/6 Review of all material covered

33. 12/8 Review of all material covered

Final Exam: December 13, 1:30-4 p.m. (Bring a Scantron, a small blue book, and a dictionary)

A Final Note

Welcome to English 550! Learning something new can produce some anxiety, but that is because you are trying something new, something “outside” your safety zone. It is perfectly normal to feel some stress as you try to master new skills and knowledge. Try to welcome the challenge and embrace this chance to learn. Remember with practice, writing gets easier and the anxiety diminishes! Best wishes for a successful semester!

Cathy Decker, Ph.d.