Fundamentals of Composition, English 450

section #8073 taught by Dr. Cathy Decker

Text Books

    1. John Langan's English Skills with Readings, 4th ed.
    2. Peter Elbow's Writing with Power
    3. A good dictionary that is at least one and one-half inch thick and gives the pronunciation for every word entry
Contact Information for Cathy
Grade Scale


F  D-  D  D+  C  C+  B-  B  B+  A-  A  A+
0-54 55-62 63-67 68-73 74-77 78-80 81-83 84-86 87-89 90-92 93-95 96-99

 

Tentative Schedule

T=Tues.; R=Thurs.; p.=page; pp.=pages; ES=English Skills; WP=Writing with Power

T 1/9 Introduction to the class
Discussion of how, where, and with who to do homework
R 1/11 Have read ES, pp. 2-10 and completed the exercises on those pages, including the paragraph on your best or worst job 
Have read WP, "Introduction: A Map of the Book" and Part I.3. "Sharing"
Discussion/Lecture/Workshop on Paragraph Writing
"Sharing" Activity and Homework Sign-off
Discussion of Class to date and next week's schedule
T 1/16 Have read WP, Parts I.1 and I.2 and Part IV.20
Have read ES, pp. 11-26 and completed the exercises including the two freewrites, the journal entry, etc. Don't forget to write answers to the questions in the questioning exercise.
"Sharing" Activity and Homework Sign-off
"Jeopardy" on all of ES and WP covered to date
R 1/18 Have read and done all activities, ES, pp. 27-34
Have read WP, Part I.4
Discussion of Composition Process: Outlines vs. Freewrites AND Our Mental Health 
Introduction to Argument and work on Argument exercises, ES, pp. 208-211
Outlining Arguments Exercise, ES, p. 212 and Homework Sign-off
T 1/23 Have read and completed exercise on ES, pp. 35-49 and pp. 208-211, including your four outlines on the list on p. 212
Peer grading of ES, pp. 47-49; peer discussion of outlines; and Homework Sign-off
Discussion/Workshop on Quiz and Formal Argument Paper
R 1/25 Have read WP, Part I.5, I.6, and Part III.13, III.16
Have writing four brief reaction journals to the four parts of WP read (make each journal about 125 words). 
Quiz on ES, "Important Factors in Writing" and Homework Sign-off
Peer Grading of Quiz and discussion of Homework
T 1/30 Have draft of Formal Argument Paper with writing center stamp OR Cathy's comments from an office visit
Have read WP, all of Part V
Feedback Workshop and Discussion of Class Progress and Our Mental Health
R 2/1  Jan. office visit must be done before this class or bring evidence of Jan. writing center visits to class
Have read handout "Let's Get Specific"
Have read ES and done all exercises on pp. 50-69
Peer Grading of Homework/Homework Sign-off
Exercises on Specific Details
T 2/6 Have read and completed all exercises, ES, pp. 70-85; Type your answers to pp. 81-2 on separate paper and be prepared to turn them in along with a writing center stamp on your draft OR Cathy's comments on the draft form
Peer Grading of pp. 79-80 and Quiz on Identifying Adequate Supporting Evidence
Lecture/Workshop on ES, "The Third and Fourth Steps in Writing"
R 2/8 Formal Argument Due along with other material required on assignment sheet
Have read WP, Part II.10
Have read and completed all exercises, ES, pp. 86-94, 97-104
Quiz on ES, "The First and Second Steps in Writing" and Homework Sign-off 
Peer Grading of Quiz and some homework
Lecture/Workshop on ES, "Four Bases for Evaluating Writing"
T 2/13 Have read and completed all exercises, ES, pp. 105-130
Quiz on ES, "The Third and Fourth Steps in Writing" and "Providing Transitions"
Peer Grading of Quiz and some homework/Homework Sign-off
Introduction/Workshop on ES, "Mechanics," pp. 347-364
R 2/15 Have read and completed all exercises in ES, pp. 347-364; Do Review Test 2 p. 361 on separate paper, typed (this will be collected)
Have read WP, Part II.9 
Quiz on "The Four Bases for Evaluating Writing" and "Mechanics" 
Peer Grading of Quiz and some homework/Homework Sign-Off
Discussion of Class Progress and Our Mental Health
T 2/20 Have skimmed entire Part II of ES, pp. 131-216 and be prepared to sign-up for an oral report/service learning activity on a method of development
Review for Test 1
R 2/22 Test 1 on all of WP and ES covered by 2/15
T 2/27 Oral Reports
Discussion of Test and Service Learning Activity 
R 3/1 Feb. office visit must be done before this class or bring evidence of Feb. writing center visits to class
Discussion of Test and Service Learning Activity
Oral Reports
T 3/6 Oral Reports
Have read and completed in ES, "Method of Development" Readings and Exercises (see handout for detailed list and page numbers)
"Jeopardy" on Methods of Development
R 3/8 Due, typed on separate paper, Writing Assignment 1, ES, pp. 142-3; Writing Assignment 1, ES, pp. 172-3; and Writing Assignment 1, ES, pp. 179-180. Turn in at least two writing-center stamped drafts for any two of these assignments
Discussion of Class Progress/Service Learning/Mental Health
Spring Break Week
T 3/20 Have read all of Parts I-V of WP, except Part II.11 on poetry writing
Reading Journal on WP of about 300 words due
Quiz on Methods of Development
Peer Grading of Quiz
Sharing and/or Feedback Sessions
Self Assessment and Our Grades Discussion
R 3/22 Bring Dictionary to class                    Homework Sheet 4
Due, typed on separate paper, Writing Assignment 1, ES, pp. 188-190; Writing Assignment 1, ES, pp. 195-7; and Writing Assignment 1, pp. 204-5. Turn in at least one draft with a writing center stamp for any one of these assignments.   
Introduction to ES, "Word Use," and Word Use Exercises
T 3/27 Have read and completed all the exercises in ES, pp. 397-416; have exercises on pages 398, 407, 415 done on separate paper for collection.
Quiz on Dictionary Use/Homework Sign-off
More work on "Word Use"
R 3/29 Have read and complete all the exercises in ES, pp. 417-446; have Review Test 2, ES, p. 428, done on separate paper for collection
Quiz on Commonly Confused Words and Effective Word Choice/Homework Sign-off
Introduction to the Essay
T 4/3 Mar. office visit must be done before this class or bring evidence of Mar. writing center visits to class
Have read and complete all the exercises in ES, pp. 218-231
Have skimmed ES, pp. 232-238
Have skimmed or reread WP, Part II.9
Journal entry and report on Service Learning Due (see assignment sheet)
Peer Grading of pp. 228-9
Essay Workshop
R 4/5 Have read ES, pp. 365-396, and have done and graded all of the introductory projects
Have completed all of the exercises on Apostrophes, ES, pp. 366-372
Workshop on Punctuation
T 4/10 Bring draft of essay to class with writing center stamp
Due, typed Review Test 2, p. 373, and Review Test 2, p. 381
Have done all exercises in ES, pp. 372-390
Sharing/Feedback Session and Homework Sign-off
R 4/12 Have completed all exercises, ES, pp. 390-6; do Review Test 3, p. 391 on separate paper for collection
Grammar Workshop and Class Analysis Session/How are We Doing?
T 4/17 No class/Faculty Training Day
R 4/19 Test on all work covered by 4/12 
T 4/24 Have entire WP read, except Part II.11 on Poetry
Journal entry on WP, Part VI due
Have skimmed ES, pp. 247-346 and done and graded all introductory projects so you are prepared to sign up for a grammar oral report
Have completed ES, pp. 253-254
Essay Project and Grammar discussion
R 4/26 Essay Project Due
Grammar and Oral Report Workshop
"Catch Up" Session
T 5/1 Apr. office visit must be done before this class or bring evidence of Apr. writing center visits to class
Oral Reports
Have completed all exercises in ES, pp. 247-286; Do Review Test 4, p. 271, and Review Test 4, p. 286, on separate paper to be collected
Homework Sign-off
R 5/3 Oral Reports
Have completed all exercises in ES, pp. 304-314 and 329-333
Quiz on Subjects and Verbs, Fragments, and Run-ons/Homework Sign-off 
T 5/8 Oral Reports
Have completed all exercises in ES, pp. 315-328
Quiz on Subject-Verb Agreement, Consistent Verb Tense, and Adjectives and Adverbs/Homework Sign-off 
R 5/10 Oral Reports
Have completed all exercises in ES, pp. 334-346; Do Review Test 1, p. 345 on separate paper to be collected
Quiz on Pronoun errors and types/Homework Sign-off 
T 5/15 Last day of office hours
Last day to turn in evidence of May writing center visit 
Last class day, so the last day to turn in anything!
Exam Prep

Grade Formula

Policies

    1.The class will deal with adult content and mature issues.
    2. Quizzes, Tests, Oral Reports, Monthly Office Visits, and the Final must be done on/by the required day; there is no late credit for these. The final is at the official time listed in the Spring 2001 schedule.
    3. The fifteen writing center visits must be done in a timely manner. At least two visits must be made in each month. The other five visits are to be done when you think it is most appropriate. At your monthly visit with me, show me your writing center stamps OR print outs of hours worked there. The fifteen visits or hours in the writing center are to be spent doing the textbook activities, the writing that requires evidence of consultation on the draft (see schedule above or homework sheets), and any other writing work on which you feel you could benefit from tutoring.
    4. All official Chaffey policies concerning student behavior, discrimination, cheating, etc. will be enforced. Students who violate these policies will be asked to leave the class, dropped, or subject to a formal charge via the appropriate college procedure.
    5. The Language Arts building food and drink policy will be enforced. Only water is permitted in the classroom.
    6. Students may leave other drinks and food outside the classroom on a chair or the concrete. Students are welcome to go stand in the doorway during class to drink or eat if it is not disturbing a student presentation, etc.
    7. Students should feel free to take care of their health at any time. You may leave for the bathroom, to take medicine, to get tissues, to go home due to illness, during any class at any time. Please, however, attempt to leave at a minimally disruptive time unless your medical condition is extreme (you will vomit or have a seizure in a few seconds, etc.).
    8. I try to avoid calling you or questioning you about your absences or grades, assuming you are a mature, responsible adult. This does not mean that I am not aware of your problem, nor does it mean I will grant you any exception to class policies or homework requirements. I never drop students, so if you stop coming to class or miss enough homework that you will fail the class, you must drop yourself.
    9. I will take a long time--between one to three weeks--with grading your work.10. If you don't pick up your work before you drop or by October 1, 2001, I will throw it out.
    10. All the of the textbook activities can be done with the help of others in a group or with a tutor. This doesn't mean copying (cf. rule 5 above), but it does mean collaboration is OK. Unfinished or wildly wrong exercises will not count although they can be shown to me in my office for 1/2 credit.
    11. I will do my best to avoid offensive language, particularly profanity and obscenity. You are likewise expected to do the same.
    12. Pagers, cell phones, beeping watches, and the sound on electronic devices like dictionaries should be turned off during class.
    13. Try to stay rational and be aware when you are pushing yourself into irrationality due to stress, poor health, etc. If there is a problem, use one of the contact methods given above to get a hold of me. We can probably work something out to solve your problem. TIP: sometimes it is best not to go to class and deal with the results later, such as when you are unable to suppress laughter, inappropriate comments, sleeping, tears, rage, or insults.
    14 . Breathe! Smile! Think of the long-term goals of your life! In ten years, will this matter?