COURSE SYLLABUS

RCC Course # / Wr 121
RCC Course Credits / 4
Date / 2015- 2016
Course Title: / English Composition 1
Institution: / Rogue Community College
High School Location: / Prospect High School
Instructor: / Janet Yakopatz
Contact Information:
Email: /
Phone: / 541-560-3653
Length of RCC Course: / A minimum of forty (40) lecture hours per one term
Length of HS Course: / 1 Semester – 19 Weeks
Name/s of HS Course/s: / College English: College Composition
Prerequisites: / RD30 or designated placement test score or successful completion of WR 115
Department Assignment: / Humanities/English
Course Description: / The main objective of WR121 is to strengthen students’ proficiency in writing clear, detailed, and organized expository prose. Students will have frequent practice in drafting a thesis and in organizing, developing, and expressing their ideas. They will use the writing process to explore the relationship between audience, purpose, and content. They will also be encouraged to expand their reading and interpretative skills. Students will draw upon and develop facility in using the following approaches to writing: narration, description, exemplification, definition, process, compare/contrast, cause/effect, and persuasion.

Intended Course Outcomes andkey ISLO (Institutional Student Learning Outcomes) indicators: On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

Course Outcomes, Skills, and Assessment: On successful completion of this course

Expected Outcomes: / Assessment Methods:
1. Students will be familiar with various writing strategies through reading and discussion of effective models, and will learn to apply those techniques appropriately to their own writing.
ILO: COM 2 - Express ideas clearly in oral, written, and visual work; AK 2 - Integrate previous and new learning, along with practical skills, to solve problems / 1. Students will write essays that demonstrate facility with language and an awareness of a range of rhetorical modes.
Narrative
Description
Cause & Effect
Comparison / Contrast
Argument
Various short writing assignments
2. Students will have learned a variety of techniques to generate ideas for writing of all kinds: personal, academic, and career-related.
ILO: COM 2 - Express ideas clearly in oral, written, and visual work; AK 1 - Demonstrate ability to transfer learning in familiar and unfamiliar contexts in order to complete tasks. / 2. Students will demonstrate an ability to use creating techniques such as free writing, looping, cubing, brainstorming, listing, and clustering.
3. Students will have performed effectively in collaborative writing situations.
ILO: COM 2 - Express ideas clearly in oral, written, and visual work; COM 3 - Collaborate effectively to achieve course/learning goals. / 3. Students will participate in student writing and editing groups which produce clear and well-organized documents, resulting from thoughtful peer feedback.
4. Students will be able to synthesize material from outside readings, and then use and cite references to those sources in their own writing.
ILO: COM 2 - Express ideas clearly in oral, written, and visual work; AL 5 - Use technological tools to research new information, solve problems, and communicate effectively; CT 3 - Locate, organize, analyze, and interpret data. / 5. Students will write an end-of-term argumentative research paper, using MLA format.
Required Text(s): / Course Texts: Provided in class
The Prentice Hall Reader
From Critical Thinking to Argument: A Portable Guide
To Receive College NOW Credit / You must have completed the RCC Registration Form
You must place into the class based on the RCC placement exam
Ms. Yakopatz will arrange to have this done at Prospect
You may take the placement exam twice
  • If you do not place in to Wr 121 you are not eligible for RCC Credit
Submit a Portfolio of your writing to the teacher at the end of the term
Includes all essays, assessments, and written homework assignments
Complete and pass RCC essay assignments and have them scored by the RCC scoring staff – You will have two chances to take this exam however the dates of these are to be determined by RCC
you must pass in order to earn RCC Credit
RCC Grade: Whatever grade you earn in the class is what will appear on your RCC Transcript
If you earn a D in the class, that is what would appear on your transcript
It is possible to withdraw from the RCC class and not earn credit
  • RCC sets the withdrawal dates

Grading: / All Assignments are weighted:
Class Discussion and Participation / 10% of grade
Final Drafts / 50% of grade
Assessments
*RCC Scored Assessments / 40% of grade
A / 90-100 %
B / 80 – 89 %
C / 70 – 79%
D / 60 – 69 %
F / 59 % and below
Class Discussion and Participation: It is required that you participate in class, and in order to do so you must be present. Writing is not built around lecture, it is more of a “coaching” activity and therefore you need to take an active part in the process.
Peer Edit / Response Workshops & Assignments Drafts: On days where we have peer editing working shops you must have a draft in order to participate. Papers will not be edited by the teacher, you will only do peer and self-editing. You can however receive feedback from the teacher before the paper is due.
Final Drafts: When you turn in the final drafts of your papers, you must attach any rough drafts that have been edited, as well as peer feedback and any outlines you may have done or were required for the assignment. Essays are due at the beginning of class on the due date unless otherwise noted by the teacher.
In Class Assessments: Several times you will be asked to do an in-class assessment. You will be given a topic and have a minimum of 50 minutes to write a well developed in-class essay.
RCC Scored Assessments: Twice you will be given an essay topic that will be scored by a group of professors and readers at RCC.
Those essays are scored by readers other than your teacher, and those scores are non-negotiable.
The dates of these assessments are determined by RCC and may fall in the 2nd semester at Prospect
Course Grading: (As per RCC expectations)
A is reserved for the exceptional essay that exceeds the minimum requirements in all areas and stands out as a commanding expression of the author's experience or ideas that flows well, is compelling to read, and is not only thoughtful but insightful.
B is earned by the student who rises above the minimum requirements in several areas and by those essays that are carefully structured and polished so there are no uneven transitions or noticeably weak or flawed areas, and few, if any grammar or structure errors.
C is earned by the student whose work meets the requirements of the assignment, has 5 or fewer grammar errors and represents clear and effective communication.
D paper fails to meet the requirements in significant ways.
F is reserved for work that falls far short of the expectations or is totally off the topic assigned.
Expectations for Students:
Attendance policy: / Prospect High School has specific policies on attendance and tardies, please refer to your student handbook for those policies
If you miss a day you cannot make up the participation points; they are considered excused if it is/was an excused absence noted by the attendance office
Attendance affects your grade – if you miss class, you miss assignments and instruction and will need to speak with Ms. Y on your own time (do NOT interrupt class when you come back) to make up any missing work
Late Assignments
Assignments not turned in for evaluation on their due dates will be counted as late and marked down a full letter grade for each day they are late.
Essays e-mailed to the teacher are acceptable – BUT they must arrive on time. There are too many chances for technology to fail and it allows too convenient of an excused for lying, i.e. “technology failed” is NOT an accepted excused.
Academic Honesty: / RCC Policy: “Cheating, plagiarism, and other acts of academic dishonesty are regarded as serious offenses. Instructors have the right to take action on any suspected acts of academic dishonesty. Depending on the nature of the offense, serious penalties may be imposed, ranging from loss of points to expulsion from the class or college”
Plagiarism and Cheating
Plagiarism and cheating of any sort is taken very seriously and results in an automatic failing grade on an assignment. You will not get a chance to redo the assignment
Cheating:Trying to pass off the work of another as your own
Plagiarism: the unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one's own original work.
Remember, if you can find it on-line so can I. If I find that your essay has been copied from the internet, or bought from an essay site, you automatically receive an F for the assignment and might face other repercussions.

*Please sign and return the last page of your syllabus after review in class and after having reviewed with your parent/guardian

Course Schedule

*Subject to change as needs be

Quarter 1

DateIn class AssignmentsHomework

Mon Aug 31 / Go Over Syllabus
 Answer any questions
Go over RCC Paperwork
Check out Textbooks / Have required RCC paperwork signed by parents / guardians
Have parents sign Syllabus
Reading: Prentice Hall “How to Read an Essay” & “How to Write and Essay – Pg 1-31
Tues Sept 1 / Turn in RCC Paperwork
Turn Syllabus for check
50 Minute In-class writing assessment / Reading: “How to Revise an Essay” & “Writers at Work” – Pg 32 - 57
Wed Sept 2 / Discussion of past reading assignments
What strategies work for you
How to think for writing an essay “on the spot” / Reading: Chap 1 “Gathering and Using Examples” 62 - 79
Thurs Sept 3 / Discussion of Chap 1
“Looking for love”
“Night”
“The Language Instinct” / Reading: Chap 1 Examples:
“The Name is Mine”
“Cut”
“Westbury Court”
“Ready for Some Fútbol?”
“Can Wikipedia Ever Make the Grade?”
Mon Sept 7 / No School – Labor Day
Tues Sept 8 / Discussion of Examples
What kind of writing are they? / Reading: Chap 2 “Narration” Pg 112 - 131
Wed Sept 9 / Discussion of Reading
“My New Shoes” / “The Ruby Slippers”
“Waiting” / Reading: Chap 2 Examples
“Salvation”
“Sister Monroe”
“Facing Famine”
Thurs Sept 10 / Discussion of Reading
Narrative Assignment: Starting on outline / Working on Narrative outline
Mon Sept 14 / Peer Response Groups
Bouncing ideas off of peers
Some time for drafting / Finish Draft over weekend
Tues Sept 15 / Peer Response Groups
Peer editing and feedback sheets / Work on editing
Wed Sept 16 / Peer Response Groups
Peer editing and feedback sheets / Work on editing
Thurs Sept 17 / Individual Teacher meetings over essays
Peer editing and feedback sheets / Finishing essay
Reading: Chap 3 “Description” Pg 161 - 180
Mon Sept 21 / Narrative Essay Due
Narrative In Class Writing Assessment / Reading” Chap 3 Examples
“A Pen By the Phone”
“The Way to Rainy Mountain”
“The Village Watchman”
“The Inheritance of Tools”
Tues Sept 22 / Discussion of Homework
Description is very similar to Narrative
“Pretty in Pink” / “Natalie”
“Traveling to Town”
Free Write assignment / None
Review Descriptive writing to prep for essay
Wed Sept 23 / Descriptive Essay Assignment
Brainstorm ideas
Start outline / Finish outline
Thurs Sept 24 / Peer Response Group – ideas Feed Back
Start drafting / Drafting Essay
Need a “working draft” for Monday

DateIn class AssignmentsHomework

Mon Sept 28 / Peer Response Groups – Essay Feedback
Personal Drafting / Rewriting / Working on essay
Tues Sept 29 / Peer editing and feedback sheets / Working on Essay
Wed Sept 30 / Individual Teacher meetings over essays
Peer editing and feedback sheets / Finishing Essay
reading: Chap 8 “Definition” 428 - 445
Thurs Oct 1 / Description Essay Due
Descriptive In Class Assessment / Reading: Chap 8 Examples
“I Want a Wife”
“Mother Tongue”
“You Can’t Say That”
Mon Oct 5 / Discussion of Reading
In what situations would this kind of writing be useful? / Review for short in-class writing assignment
Tues Oct 6 / “Democracy” assignment / Drafting
Wed Oct 7 / Class sharing and discussion
Democracy assignment due / Reading: Chap 7 “Cause and Effect” 376 - 397
Thurs Oct 8 / Definition In Class assessment / Reading: Chap 7 Examples
“The Origins of Anorexia Nervosa”
“Drugs, Sports, Body Image and G.I. Joe”
“Black Men and Public Space”
“Dreadlocked”
Mon Oct 12 / Discussion of Reading
Discussion of Examples
What kind of “Cause of Effect” essays are you interested in? / Brainstorming
Tues Oct 13 / Cause and Effect – Essay Questions / Finish Questions
Weds Oct 14 / Peer Response Group – Suggestions
Starting “reading/research” / Continue “reading/research”
Bring “reading/research” to class on Monday
Thurs Oct 15 / How to take annotated notes
Reading – Taking notes / Continue taking annotated notes
Finish annotated notes
Mon Oct 19 / Writing a Thesis
Outlining an essay / Continue working on outline
Tues Oct 20 / Finishing Outline
Start drafting
Outline and Annotated Notes check / Drafting
Bring a working draft to class on Monday
Weds Oct 21 / Drafting / Finish drafting
Thurs Oct 22 / Peer response / edit / Finish editing
Mon Oct 26 / Cause and Effect Paper Due
Cause / Effect In Class Assessment / Midterm article
Tues Oct 27 / Review of in-class assessments
How to make writing stronger
How to focus on topic
Discussion of article / Review article
Wed Oct 28 / Mid Term in-class RCC writing exam OR Practice RCC exam / Reading: Chap 4 “Division and Classification” Pg 213 - 231
Thurs Oct 29 / Discussion of Reading
When would this kind of writing be helpful? / Reading: Chap 4 Examples
“This is who I am when no one is looking”
“The Myth of the Latin Woman”
“But What Do You Mean?”

Quarter 2

DateIn class AssignmentsHomework

Mon Nov 2 / Discussion of examples / Reading: Chap 5 “Comparison and Contrast” 267 - 287
Tues Nov 3 / Discussion of Reading / Reading: Chap 5 Examples
“The Fakebook Generation”
“The Color of Love”
“Virtual Love”
Weds Nov 4 / Discussion of examples
Comparison Paper Assignment
Brainstorming and outlining / Finish Outlining
Thurs Nov 5 / Reading and Research
Note taking / Continue reading, research and note taking
Mon Nov 9 / Continue reading, research and note taking / Finish reading, research and note taking
Tues Nov 10 / Start Drafting Comparison Essay / Finish Draft over long weekend
Wed Nov 11 / No School – Veterans Day Observed
Thurs Nov 12 / No School - Conferences
Mon Nov 16 / Peer Response / Editing / Finish editing essay
Reading: Chap 9 “Argument and Persuasion” 475 - 501
Tues Nov 17 / Comparison Paper Due
Comparison In Class assessment
Homework handout – your choice
Effective Arguments / Choice of Homework readings:
Is a College Education Worth it? 500 – 510
Impact of Outsourcing Jobs 511 – 521
Water – Public or Private? 522 - 531
Wed Nov 18 / Discussion of reading and homework assignment
Which arguments are the most effective?
“I Have a Dream” – watch speech is possible; otherwise listen
What is affective? / From Critical Thinking to Argument:
Chapter 1 Pg 3 – 24
Chap 4 Pg 89 - 115
Thurs Nov 19 / Discussion of Reading / From Critical Thinking to Argument:
Chapter 2 Pg 25 - 44
Mon Nov 23 / Discussion of Reading
Argument Essay Assignment / From Critical Thinking to Argument:
Chapter 3 Pg 45 - 88
Tue Nov 24 / Discussion of Reading
Brain storming topics / From Critical Thinking to Argument:
Chapter 6 Pg 133 - 174
Wed Nov 25 / No School – Thanksgiving Holiday
Thurs Nov 26
Mon Nov 30 / Discussion of Reading
Choosing a topic
Free write / Start finding information on your topic
Tues Dec 1 / Reading / Research / Annotating / Continue research
Wed Dec 2 / Reading / Research / Annotating / Continue research
Thurs Dec 3 / Reading / Research / Annotating / Finish researching
Mon Dec 7 / Outlining essay / Finish outline
Tues Dec 8 / Start Drafting essay / Drafting
Wed Dec 9 / Drafting / Drafting
Thurs Dec 10 / Preliminary Draft – Response Groups / Evaluating what you might need to research further
Mon Dec 14 / Drafting essay / Drafting
Tues Dec 15 / Drafting / Drafting
Wed Dec 16 / Drafting / Drafting
Thurs Dec 17 / Teacher meeting over essay / Drafting
December 18 – January 3 Winter Break
Mon Jan 4 / Review of Assignment
Final drafting / Drafting
Tues Jan 5 / Peer Response / Editing / Drafting
Wed Jan 6 / Peer Response / Editing / Finish essay
Thurs Jan 7 / Argument Paper Due
Argument In Class Assessment / None over break
Mon Jan 11 / In-class Assessment of progress / Reading – Exam article
Tues Jan 12 / In-class RCC writing Exam / Bring all your graded essays to class tomorrow
Wed Jan 13 / Putting together Writing Portfolio / Finishing Portfolio
Thurs Jan 14 / Writing Portfolio Due
Review and Finalize 121 Paperwork before it is submitted
Prep for English 104 / None
Mon Jan 18 / No School – Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Tues Jan 13
Wed Jan 14 / Starting Eng 104 Intro to Lit a week before semester ends
Thus Jan 15 / End of Semester

Student: Please print your name on the blank below, and sign at the bottom after we have gone over this in class.

I, , have read the College Composition syllabus and understand what is expected of me as a student taking this course.

I understand the requirements to earn credit from RCC.

I understand the attendance policy.

I understand the grading practices and expectations.

I understand the policy regarding late assignments.

I understand the policy regarding plagiarism and cheating.

If at any time I have a question about any expectations, I will ask Ms. Y for clarification.

I will take this syllabus home and share this information with my parents and explain the policies to the best of my abilities. If my parents have any questions, I will let Ms. Y know so she can answer them.

SignatureDate

Parent SignatureDate

* Signatures mean you have gone over the information in this syllabus and understand Ms. Y’s expectations.

Parent Contact Information

If something comes up in class where I need to contact you when is the best time to reach you and how?

Please circle your preferred method of contact.

NamePhone NumberBest times to contact

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