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EWRT 1A
English Composition and Reading
5 Units
Theme:
It’s a Family Affair:
Critical deconstruction of the myth of the American “ideal” family
through literature, non-fiction, and media texts.
Green Sheet (Syllabus)
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Tentative Outline
Course Description:
EWRT 1A is a course in college-level reading, critical thinking, and expository and argumentative forms of writing. This course is structured to help you generate and develop insights regarding multi-cultural, socioeconomic, and interpersonal issues, and express these ideas in written form. The thematic structure of the class will be centered on social and cultural constructs and conditions of the American family. Through the representations of American families in an assortment of texts, including novels, short stories, nonfiction prose, film, television and the media, historical and literary criticism, we will explore how such societal and cultural forces as race, class, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, and gender have shaped and allowed Americans to establish the boundaries of the
American family, and our nation overall.
Course Goals:
English 1A is a transfer level course in reading and composition that prepares students to analyze college texts and to write college papers. In particular, you should learn to:
- Generate ideas and topics for your essays.
- Organize, focus, and develop your ideas.
- Write to engage different audiences.
- Develop style and grace in your prose.
- Read for comprehension and with a critical perspective.
- Edit your own papers and those of others.
- Turn your personal interests into academic papers.
Required Texts/Materials:
- Course Reader, Available at Kwik Kopy
- My Year of Meats by Ruth L. Ozeki
- How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez
- Writing With Style by John Trimble
- A Journal (a spiral notebook or anything you like)
- A dictionary or use www.m-w.com
Evaluation & Assignments:
Your grade for the course will be based on the following points:
(possible 500 points)
Assignments:
- Essay #1 (definition, 1-3 pages): 20 points
- Essay #2 (analytical comparison, 4-6 pages): 35 points
- Essay #3 (argumentation, in-class): 45 points
- Essay #4 (ethnography, 4-6 pages): 55 points
- Essay #5 (persuasive textual analysis, 4-6 pages): 65 points
- Reading Quizzes: 20 points total
- Participation (attendance, small group work, class discussion, and weekly on-line contributions): 100 points
- Journal: 100 points
- Final Group Project: 60 points
Assignment Guidelines:
- All final drafts of all take home essays must be typed, size 12 font, double-spaced, stapled, and have an interesting title.
- Hand in all drafts and related materials stapled or clipped behind the final draft.
- Missing in class small group workshopping or peer editing for drafts will drop your final paper grade one full grade.
- You may re-write one of class assignment; however, it is due no later than 1 week after it is returned to you.
Journal:
The process of developing a keen awareness and understanding of readings, themes, and critical thinking is introspective and cumulative; therefore, you will keep an analytical and personal journal throughout the quarter. For each reading or viewing assignment you will be asked to write a response (approximately ½-1 page per entry) that offers your interpretation/understanding, poses questions, makes connections to other readings, and your own experiences, and generally addresses the theme of the class in relation to the texts. You may also be creative in your journal with drawings, conceptual maps, photographs, and popular culture materials that connect to the readings. Because some of the readings will influence you more than others, some journal entries may be elaborate, creative, long, and detailed, while others may be simple responses or questions. It is important to bring your journal to class because most classes will begin by sharing the journal entry due for that day in small groups. Also, in-class free writing will be done in your journal. Although the journal is not collected until the last day of class, there will be several graded journal checks throughout the quarter.
Attendance:
Attendance every day is required. If you have four unexcused absences, I will assume that you have Withdrawn, and give you a W. If there is a legitimate reason for your absence, you must call or e-mail to excuse yourself on that day. You are not permitted to make up any in-class assignments (quizzes, in-class writing, and group work) if you have an unexcused absence. If you are forced to miss a class, it is your responsibility to obtain any handout, assignment, or information I gave out in class. I suggest getting the phone numbers of a few classmates so you won’t miss any assignments.
Participation:
EWRT 1A is a discussion-based course, and your class “presence” will be public and is graded regularly. Plan on being prepared and involved in both small group and class discussion because you will be expected to participate. If you remain passive, you will do poorly.
Honesty:
I am interested in your ideas as well as how clearly you can discuss the ideas of others. Plagiarized work, even a key word in a sentence or someone else’s published idea, which is not properly documented, will result in a failing grade for the assignment. A case of extensive plagiarism (full paragraphs lifted from someone else’s work), repeated plagiarism, or “recycling” a paper will result in a failing grade for the class. If you are uncertain about the rules for using a source, come and see me before you turn in the assignment. If you fail a class due to plagiarism it will appear on your academic record.
Note: This is an adult level course; therefore the subject matter of readings, films, and discussions will contain adult material and will not be censored.
If you have any special circumstances which you feel will affect your performance in this class (a diagnosed learning ability, a physical disability, or anything at all that might interfere with your learning), please come speak to me as soon as possible—we will create a learning environment that works for you.
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