Composition+1

Bergen Community College Division of English Composition and Literature Department **__Course Syllabus __** =WRT 101: Composition I = =Fall 2011 = Professor Ellen Feig L230 201 301 1243 Office Hours efeig@bergen.edu

Course Description
 English Composition I is a three-credit, general education course that gives students the opportunity for extensive practice in critical reading and thinking, and in writing expository prose. This course emphasizes the writing process and concentrates on the organization and development of ideas in written form. Correct language usage, research skills, and document presentation are covered. Particular attention is given to writing techniques that will enable the student to communicate successfully in various tasks. The prerequisite in this course is EBS-017, EBS 024, ALP-063, or by placement exam.


 * Student Learning Objectives **

As a result of meeting the requirements in this course, you will be able to:


 * 1) Employ a variety of approaches to analyze and interpret texts. (PLG 1) (Gen Ed Goal 1 a)
 * 2) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">Respond to texts, in discussion and writing assignments, demonstrating an understanding of rhetorical strategies employed in the texts. (PLG 2) (Gen Ed Goal 1a, b; 6 a, b)
 * 3) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;"> Incorporate the fundamentals of academic essay writing such as gathering ideas, developing and clearly stating theses, organizing, drafting, revising, and editing. (PLG 3) (Gen Ed Goal 1 c, d)
 * 4) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;"> Compose essays in several rhetorical modes, such as description, comparison/contrast, and argument. (PLG 3) (Gen Ed Goal 1c, d)
 * 5) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">Move from personal responses to formal academic essays, including appropriate, properly formatted evidence from outside sources. (PLG 4, 5) (Gen Ed Goal 1 c)
 * 6) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">Accurately incorporate the ideas of others using summary, paraphrase, and direct quotation. (PLG 4, 5) (Gen Ed Goal 1 c; 6 b)
 * 7) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">Incorporate the academic requirements, tools, and techniques of research through the resources of contemporary information science. (PLG 6) (Gen Ed Goal 4 a, b, c, d)
 * 8) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;"> Employ current MLA style for text presentation, in-text citations, and Works Cited pages for essays and research papers. (PLG 5, 6) (Gen Ed Goal 4 a, b, c, d)
 * 9) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;"> Write an argumentative research paper accurately incorporating material from outside sources. (PLG 4, 5, 6) (Gen Ed Goal 1 a, b, c, d; 4 a, b, c, d; 6 a, b)


 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Course Requirements **

<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">You will be required to do the following:

<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">(Meets student learning objectives 1-5)
 * 1) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Write at least four multi-paragraph assignments of at least 500 words.

<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> (Meets student learning objectives 2-5)
 * 1) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Write at least one in-class essay.

<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> (Meets student learning objectives 1-6)
 * 1) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Complete other writing exercises such as summaries, journals, reading responses, reading comprehension questions, quizzes on reading assignments, letters, resumes, etc.

<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> (Meets student learning objectives 1, 2)
 * 1) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Read, interpret, and analyze a variety of texts.

<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> (Meets student learning objectives 6-9)
 * 1) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Conduct independent research and write a 5-7 page research paper, using MLA style.

<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> (Meets student learning objectives 1-9)
 * 1) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Submit papers that adhere to MLA manuscript requirements and which demonstrate effective proofreading and editing.

<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> (Meets student learning objectives 2-7)
 * 1) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Participate in class discussions and other in-class (individual or group) activities necessary to produce quality expository prose.

<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 24px;">Course Content
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">As a student in this course, you can expect to do a great deal of reading, writing, and thinking. All three of these tasks should work in tandem and not in isolation from one another. When you read, you should think deeply about the ideas presented in the text you are studying and the ways in which these ideas are organized. Don’t simply see the words on the page. Think about them and the way in which the author put these words together to convey meaning. Write about what you read. This will help you understand the material better. Read what you write and be certain that your words convey the meaning you intend. Don’t think about writing as splashing enough words on a page so that you fill up two or three pages of typewritten text. Take pride in your writing for it represents your unique way of seeing the world.

<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">You can expect to read many fiction and non-fiction texts, written by professional writers, and to write about these texts. In a way, this class prepares you for the work that you will do in this or any other college. Whether you take a math, economics, or philosophy course, you will have to read and understand the course material. Effective reading skills are essential to success in college. In addition, many college professors will require you to write a “term paper” of one sort or another. Composition I will help you develop the skills that you will need in other college courses. Please don’t think about this course in isolation; instead, think about how your experience here can help make you a better student.

<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Your final grade will be computed in the following way: four essays and revisions, 50%; research paper, 20%; commonplace journals/books 20%; and class participation, 10%.

<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Commonplace books/journals are reflective writings based upon the class readings. These are an essential part of your class grade.

<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">BCC Attendance Policy: “All students are expected to attend punctually every scheduled meeting of each course in which they are registered. Attendance and lateness policies and sanctions are to be determined by the instructor for each section of each course. These will be established in writing on the individual course outline. Attendance will be kept by the instructor for administrative and counseling purposes.”

<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Class Attendance Policy: Poor attendance will affect your grade. If your absences exceed twice the number of weekly meetings, your grade will be lowered. If you are absent excessively, you can expect to fail the course. Arriving late to class can affect your grade, too. If you arrive to class late twice, I will count that as one absence.

<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Active participation is a requirement in this class. My classroom is a forum for the free exchange of ideas. Therefore, students are encouraged to challenge one another’s ideas. What’s more, you shouldn’t be afraid to disagree with me, your instructor. That said, if you have problems with how I’m running my class, you are welcome to discuss said issue with me. However, this may not be done during class time. Such problems are to be addressed after class or during my office hours.
 * __<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">CONDUCT __**


 * __<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">NETIQUETTE POLICY __**

<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“Netiquette” or “network etiquette” defines appropriate communication in the online environment. The online environment includes any communication that occurs via technology such as email, discussion boards, chat rooms, websites, blogs, wikis text messages and instant messaging. <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The Community Colleges encourage students, faculty and staff to use common courtesy and respect in all forms of communication to promote effective and positive interactions. //<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Netiquette Policies: // <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">For more information: <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">www.library.yale.edu/training/netiquette/ <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The principles of academic integrity encompass simple standards of honesty and truth. Each member of the College community has a responsibility to uphold the standards of the community and to take action when others violate them. Faculty members have an obligation to educate students about the standards of academic integrity and to report violations of these standards to the Office of Student Development and Campus Life. Students are responsible for knowing what the standards are and for adhering to them. Students also should bring any violations of which they are aware to the attention of their instructors. Any breach of academic integrity is a serious offense that may result in disciplinary consequences. Plagiarism is a violation of the integrity of the academic community. Representing someone else's work as one's own is a serious academic offense and may result in failure, suspension, or dismissal. <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Week One and Two: What is writing? How do we read in order to become better writers?
 * 1) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Avoid offensive language of any kind. Offensive or derogatory language in an email, discussion board or other form of communication technology intended to harass others in a sexual, racial or other prejudicial manner violates civil rights laws.
 * 2) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Avoid threatening language or repeated harmful attacks on other students or faculty. It is against the law.
 * 3) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Avoid “**<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">outing **” which is where someone posts personal information about another student or faculty in an online environment, without their permission.
 * 4) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Avoid “**<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">flaming” ** which is the expression of extreme emotion or opinion in an email or online discussion board communication.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Misinterpretation of an email followed by an impulsive email response increases the probability your recipient will also respond emotionally making the situation worse. "Act in haste, repent at your leisure."
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Emotionally charged email can be printed out, forwarded to many people instantly and may acquire a level of importance that was never intended.
 * 1) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Do not forward an email message, file attachment or photo without the author's permission. Asking for permission demonstrates your integrity in personal and business communications.
 * 2) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">If you are concerned that someone is harassing, demeaning, or abusive, please follow the policy procedures outlined in the course syllabus.
 * 3) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The use of **<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">bold fonts ** and the color <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">red <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">often convey a tone of anger to your reader.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Try to use dark colors in communications, lighter colors do not photocopy well and may not appear on printed documents if the color ink cartridge is old.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The colors red or light green often cannot be seen by people with color blindness.
 * 1) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Use a clear email or discussion board posting subject line that relates directly to your message. Consider it to be the headline of a news article.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Use an inverted pyramid form of writing with the most important statements in the first paragraph. Follow up with supporting details.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Keep paragraphs short for easy reading. Use blank lines between paragraphs. State your recommendations for resolving a problem.
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Be clear, concise and considerate.
 * 1) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Avoid acronyms or abbreviations unless the entire class is familiar with them.
 * 2) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When communicating online or in an email, avoid instant messaging shorthand such as “u” for you. Communicate intelligently.
 * 3) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Use spell check and take time to proof read your communication. Electronic communication may be the only impression someone has of you.
 * 4) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Be cautious - email and online course postings stand on their own merit, often without context, and may be instantly forwarded to many people. It is impossible to rescind a written communication when it becomes available for all to see.
 * 5) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Be considerate of mistakes. If you decide to inform someone of a mistake or correct factual information, be polite and inform them by private email rather than group email of discussion board posting.
 * __<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">ACADEMIC INTEGRITY STATEMENT __**
 * 1) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Review syllabus
 * 2) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Discuss expectations
 * 3) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Diagnostic in-class essay
 * 4) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Critical Reading and Analysis:
 * 5) **<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Read “Disability” by Nancy Mairs, p. 13 **
 * 6) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Meaning
 * 7) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Strategy
 * 8) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Language
 * 9) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Writing Process:
 * 10) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Brainstorming
 * 11) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Thesis
 * 12) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Drafting
 * 13) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Revising
 * 14) **<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Read “Aria” and “Richard Rodriguez on Writing,” p. 681 **

<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Week Three and Four: Narration – Methods, Process, Organization <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Week Five: Description – Writing with Your Senses <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Week Six and Seven: Example – Generalizations versus Specifics <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Week Eight: Process Analysis
 * 1) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Details
 * 2) **<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Read “Champion of the World” by Maya Angelou, p. 110 **
 * 3) //<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Commonplace Book 1 //<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">: Reflect the nature of group identity and solidarity described in the essay. What group do you belong to?
 * 4) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Using images
 * 5) **<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Assignment: bring in an image that defines/showcases the group that you belong to; you will be expected to write about it in class. **
 * 6) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Setting
 * 7) **<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Read “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson, p. 139 **
 * 8) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Watch the film, //The Lottery//
 * 9) **//<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Essay 1 //**<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">: How does the setting of the story serve to further the plot? Two pages, MLA style.
 * 1) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Objective versus Subjective
 * 2) **<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Read “The Best Pizza in the World” by Elizabeth Gilbert, p. 181 **
 * 3) //<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Commonplace Book 2: //<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Reflect upon the way that Gilbert describes food; what words does she use? What is the tone of the piece?
 * 4) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Purpose and Audience
 * 5) **<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Read “Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks, 1942” by Joyce Carol Oates, p. 194 **
 * 6) //<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Commonplace Book 3: //<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Take some time to really look at the images on page 195 in the book and describe what you see using at least three of your five senses.
 * 1) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Two Views/ Compare and Contrast
 * 2) **<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Read “On Compassion” by Barbara Lazear Ascher and “Homeless” by Anna Quindlen, p. 211 **
 * 3) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">What is a compare and/or contrast essay?
 * 4) **//<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Essay 2 //**//<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">: Using the two essays above, identify examples of generalizations and examples of specifics in each essay. What is the effect of the use of each type of example? //
 * 5) **<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Read “This is Water” by David Foster Wallace, p. 233 **
 * 6) //<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Commonplace Book 4: //<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Discuss Foster’s use of compare and contrast in paragraphs 9 and 12, 10 and 11. Why is he doing this?
 * 7) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Discuss your final project, the research process and MLA formatting
 * 1) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Method/Process
 * 2) **<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Read “Sweet, Sour and Resentful” by Firoozeh Dumas (p. 320) and “A Naturalist in the Supermarket” by Michael Pollan (p. 337) **
 * 3) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Discuss elements of a process essay
 * 4) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Watch //Food Inc.//
 * 5) **//<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Essay 3: //**<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> //Reflect upon a process that you do often and in a two page essay, define the process and identify the elements involved.//

<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Week Nine: Division or Analysis <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Week Ten: Classification <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Week Eleven: Cause and Effect
 * 1) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Types, Subjects and Theses
 * 2) **<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Read “The Capricious Camera” by Laila Ayad, p. 387 and “Shooting an Elephant” by George Orwell, p. 663 **
 * 3) //<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Commonplace Book 5: //<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Reflect upon the actions, or in-actions of those characters in the stories.
 * 4) //<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Library Research //
 * 1) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Why do we classify?
 * 2) **<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Read “The Ways We Lie” by Stephanie Ericsson, p. 408 and “The World of Doublespeak” by William Lutz, p. 418 **
 * 3) **//<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Essay 4: //**<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">After reading both of the essays above, discuss (using specific examples for support) the similarities or differences between liars and doublespeakers.
 * 1) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">What are causal relations?
 * 2) **<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Read “The Squeeze” by Charles Fishman, p. 487 and “The Rise and Fall of the Hit” by Chris Anderson, p. 494 **
 * 3) //<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Commonplace Book 6: Reflect upon the arguments made in both essays; what are the theses of the authors? //

<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Week Twelve: Definition <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Week Thirteen and Fourteen: Argument and Persuasion <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Week Fifteen: Final Paper Due
 * 1) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Developing the Essay
 * 2) **<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Read “The Meanings of a Word” by Gloria Naylor, p.517 and “Being a Chink” by Christine Leong, p. 523 – these essays will serve as the basis of your final paper **
 * 3) **<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">FINAL PAPER TOPIC: **<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The authors in the essays above discuss how words, especially racist language, can label. Using the essays on the basis for your paper, identify a word or label that has been used to define you and then research its meaning both literally and socially. You will need to have at least four outside sources that will be cited MLA style and the paper must be at least 5 pages, double spaced.
 * 4) **<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Class debate **
 * 1) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Writing the research paper
 * 2) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Facts versus Fiction
 * 3) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">How to research
 * 4) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Summary, paraphrasing and quoting
 * 5) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">MLA formatting
 * 6) <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Creating the outline
 * 7) **<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Assignment: **<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Create an outline of your final paper based upon class discussion.
 * 8) **<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Index Cards: ** <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Research your sources and create four index cards with citation, summary.