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Texas College Readiness Course

Sponsored by El Paso Community College

Syllabus, Part I

Instructor’s Course Requirements

Fall Semester 2015

I.Course Number and Instructor Information

Texas College & Readiness Course

5th Period: 12:05 P.M. – 12:50P.M.

Instructor: Cheryl Lea Becknell Patterson, MA English American Literature and MA Humanities (Interdisciplinary)

Campus and Office Hours: MontwoodHigh School, C-214 Phone: 937-2400/2584

Office Hours/Tutoring: 8:00 -8:45 A.M. (Mon/Wed)

Lunch, Before and After School by appointment

Conference Period: 8th Period and contact me via Email:

II.Texts and Materials

You must use the assigned textbooks listed below and other supplemental materiallisted below:

Rosa, Alfred and Paul Eschholz. Models for Writers, Short Essays for Compositions, 11theds. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2012. Print.

Supplemental Reading:

Hacker, Diana. A. and Nancy Sommers. AWriter's Reference with Writing about Literature, 7th Ed.New York: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2011. Print.

Esquivel, Laura. Like Water for Chocolate. USA: Anchor Books, 1992. Print.

Shakespeare, William. Othello.New York: Washington Square Press, 1993. Print

Student Choice - Novel from library or may purchase a fiction/non-fiction selection.

Materials: 3-Ring Binder, College ruled paper, Post-it strips, highlighters, flash drive, pocket portfolio/notebook, blue and black pens, and white out (optional).

Textbooks will be issued to students during the first week of the semester and turned in after the final exam. Since the textbooks are furnished by the school, students will not be allowed to write in them. You are encouraged to “Mark the Text” using Post-it Notes and Flags

III.Course Requirements:

  1. Daily/Journal Writing and Reading - Assignments/Quizzes30 %

Short quizzes and one Midterm exam will be administered throughout the semester. This will cover course material covered from essay assignments, grammar exercises, and content on reading assignments.

  1. Test, Major Projects/Writing Portfolio50%
  1. Nine-Week Exam, Benchmark20%

IV.Grading Scale and Course Grades:

Average GradeLetter Grade

90 - 100%A

80 - 89%B

70 - 79%C

60 - 69%D

0 - 59%F

V.Late Work - Daily assignments and Exams/Essays

Check the calendar for assignment due dates. If you know you will be absent, make arrangements to turn-in the work early or by email. You may only make-up scheduled exams/essays if you have an excused absence and must coordinate with the instructor (this is your responsibility). Arrangements for any make-up work must be made priorto the scheduled assignment and it is your responsibility to notify me. All students must be present for the midterm and final exam.

VI.MLA Writing Assignments. Writing is a developmental process that you will go through every time you write a composition. For each writing assignment there will be readings from the textbooks, lectures, and supplemental assignments. You will learn about this page in the first unit of instruction. All assignments will be either written or typed using MLA format. A Writer’s Reference and The Norton Field Guide to Writing with Readings, the MLA Handbook, 7th edition, and Owlpurdue.edu will each provide excellent sources of information on how to format writing assignments in MLA:

1.A Writer’s Reference - Section: MLA Papers pages 371-440 with a MLA Sample Paper on pages 436-440.

2.MLA Handbook, 7theds-

3.Owlpurdue.edu

VII.Requirements for Writing Assignments - Compositions/Essays –

All assignments must follow MLA guidelines using an MS-Word processing program. Font size will be 12 point, Times New Roman. If you have permission to send your assignment via email it must be submitted as a docx or rich text document. Assignments not completed in the correct format will be returned only one time and be subject to a late work deduction of 20 points.

1.Please refer to the following sources and internet sites for MLA format for your essays: Review – A Writer’s Reference, Diana Hacker. See Student Resources below.

2.All papers must be typed (12 pt., Times New Roman font, double spaced) as a docx or rich text document.

3.The format will be MLA style (1” margin right/left and top bottom margins). Pagination will begin on the second page. This is easily accomplished by:

Step 1: Selecting Insert from your top menu buttons and selecting Page # (third option)

Step 2: From the selected page numberings, choose the third option with just the page number

Step 3: After doing this in the same menu box where you selected Page #'s you will now see an option to select: Different First Page - select this box. This will leave the first page header blank.

Step 4: Now you can to page 2 and place your header information, which is you last name. Make sure this is in front of the page number (Ex: Patterson 2 in the upper right hand corner)

4.Heading (goes on first line of document/not in header & footer)

Your Name

Mrs. Patterson

English IV DC Period____

Current date (28 August 2015)

5.Title of Assignment (Centered)

  1. Some On-line Student Resources (Click on the link or copy and paste to your browser):

1. Hacker:

2.

3. MLA (Modern Language Association of America) Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 7th Edition, 2009.

4. Norton MLA site:

5. EPCC Online and Onsite Tutoring:

Students are encouraged to use EPCC’s and Montwood High School Writing Centers. EPCC’s has Writing Centers at each of their campuses. Students are also encouraged to meet with me during my office hours for questions or assistance with assignments.

  1. Standard of Conduct/Cellular Phones:

Students must be familiar with the EPCC Standards of Conduct published in the College Catalog, Student Handbook, and Dual Credit Handbook. Cellular phones must be turned off during class.

VIII.No late work is accepted. Make sure that you turn-in your assignments by the due dates. It is your responsibility to be familiar with the syllabus and calendar for this course.

IX.Units of Instruction:

  1. Each unit of Instruction—Assignments will consist of specific instruction, readings, lectures, and supplemental material. It is critical that you complete the assignments by the designated turn-in date. Failure to meet these deadlines will result in a zero for the assignments.
  1. Weekly Annotation/Writing and Daily Journaling

Reading, Annotating, and Understanding the text

  1. Writing a Paragraph/Short Answers

D. Description of Essays Assignments – Highlighted Area 1st Semester Goals:

  1. Diagnostic Essay (Writing Sample)

--The Writing Process

--The Five Sentence Short Answer

  1. The Writing Process (7-38)
  2. From Reading to Writing (43-80)
  3. The Elements of an Essay (Chapter 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10)
  1. Thesis (81-98)
  2. Unity (99-118)
  3. Organization (119-144)
  4. Beginnings and Endings (145-171)
  5. Paragraphs (172-192)
  6. Transitions (193-216)
  7. Effective Sentences (217-237)
  8. Writing with Sources (238-283)
  1. The Language of the Essay
  1. Diction and Tone (283-313)
  2. Figurative Language (314 – 338)
  1. Types of Essays:

A. Illustration (339-371)

B. Narration (372-399)

C. Description (400-422)

D. Process Analysis (423-443)

E. Definition (447-460)

  1. Comparison & Contrast (483-516)
  2. Cause & Effect (517-538)
  3. Argument (539-640)
  4. A Brief Guide to Writing a Research Paper (642-677)
  • (Norton, Part 5 Doing Research 419-532)
  • Proposal (Abstract (Norton: 150-54, Hacker: 489)
  • Annotated Bibliography (Norton, 155-163, Hacker R3a, 358-365 )

Final Essay

  1. Essays must contain a word count on the final page of each essay submitted. The required length for Essays(1-4 = 300-500) and Essays (5-9 = 700-1000) words. All essays must contain a Word Count, Proofreading, Peer Editing and Revision Worksheets and a Work Cited page, which is the last page of your composition. Spell and grammar check all your work and proofread every assignment you write for this course.
  1. Communication/Rewrites/Late Work: Assignment due dates will posted on the calendar and also in the Weekly Assignments; therefore, I expect all students to meet the deadlines. There is no reason to turn in late papers; consequently, I do not accept late work, unless you and I have discussed the matter in advance, and I have given you written permission to do so. Do not expect to get an exception to policy the day before the assignment is due—plan in advance unless it is an actual emergency.
  1. Remediation: This course is designed to prepare you for English 1301. Each unit of instruction will prepare you for the lesson/essay you are required to write. I will give you feedback on your writing and helpful tips to improve your writing. Models for Writers, Short Essays for Composition by Alfred Rosa and Diana Hacker’s, A Writer's Reference with Writing about Literature, 7th Edition will be your guides for developing your academic voice/writing as well as the handout, "Tips for Writing." Please make insure that you follow these rules throughout the course. After the first writing assignment I will discuss the most common writing errors and give you specific sections to study. It is critical that you always do your own work because each lesson will build on one another and help to perfect your writing.

X.Instructor’s Policies

A. Attendance

Essays and most Daily Assignments are graded. Students are responsible for their own work. This course is intended to prepare you for college freshman courses, so attendance is very important. Please make sure that if you are absent that it is an excused absence.

B. Plagiarism:

Plagiarism is the use of another person’s work or original idea without giving credit to that person. Plagiarism also includes unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing an assignment. Examples of plagiarism include, but are not limited to:

1)Copying word for word out of a book, magazine, or the internet and not giving credit to the original source.

2)Turning in another person’s work with your name on it.

3)Paraphrasing too closely or changing only a few words in a sentence or paragraph.

C. Cheating:

Cheating is copying another student’s work and includes: homework, class-work, or test answers. This applies whether copying is done with or without the other person’s knowledge. This policy will apply to Discussion/Journal postings. Please do not copy and paste another student’s response and post it as your own. Each posting is date and time stamped.

D. Penalties for plagiarism and cheating:

These penalties apply to all assignments, essays and the final research essay. Any student who is caught cheating or plagiarizing in any way while enrolled in Dual Credit classes will be required to meet with me and their parent to discuss the outcome for the violation. The Academic Dean and Vice President for Student Services, EPCC will also be advised of the incident.

Any incident of cheating or plagiarism will become a permanent part of your school record and may affect future admission to colleges. Please refer to EPCC Dual Credit Handbook located on the EPCC website.

E. Classroom and On-line (email) Etiquette –In the classroom and on-line students will conduct themselves in an appropriate manner, keeping cognizant of voice, tone, and proper decorum and etiquette.

XI.Course Calendar - [Calendar is subject to change at the instructor’s discretion].

Texas College Readiness Course

Fall Semester 2015-16 Calendar

EPCC First day of Class 28 July 2015

EPCC Final Exam Days: 7-11 December2015

28-31 July 2015

  1. Lecture.

Class introductions, planning, and expectations for Texas College Readiness Course.

Requirements and Objectives

  1. Review Student Responsibilities and helpful online resources

Review – A Writer’s Reference, Diana Hacker

(Use this URL for 2009 Updates to MLA Handbook, 7th Edition and for MLA sample essay formats). I recommend you print a copy of a Sample MLA Paper (Undergraduate). Discuss Plagiarism and read Pitts article and read and sign MHS/EPCC Policies.

  1. Analyze essay/speech: Timed Writing Sample/Diagnostic Essay - "Rose"
  2. Listen to a narrative essay, take notes, write a reflective paragraph and discuss in Kagan Teams/author’s point of view. What questions would you like to ask the author?

3-7 August 2015

  1. Lecture–The Writing Process from Short Answers to Essays
  2. Paraphrasing and Plagiarism Syllabus (Section VI A-C pages 5-6)
  3. Reading Assignments:
  • Read an article from the El Paso Times, What is the State of Texas Doing to Help College Readiness” Annotate the text, find the thesis and key points that support the thesis. Write a paragraph/reflecting on the key points of the article.
  • Discuss the short answers.
  • MLA format for a source citation from a newspaper article.
  1. Classroom Activity- Respective review of English IV

Writing –How important is point of view to a story? In the epic poem Beowulf, Grendel is the antagonist, analyze why Gardner offers this alternate view of Grendel.

  1. Grammar Lesson for the Week: Subject and Verb agreement.

10-14 August 2015

  1. Weekly reading, annotating, and writing assignment – Wall Street Journal (WSL)

Writing a Short Answer on #1

  1. Introduction to Library and On-line Databases, Selecting a Topic and Writing a Research Project Proposal (Handout)
  2. Library: 13-14 August 2015

.

17-21 August 2015

  1. Weekly reading, annotating, and writing assignment
  2. Writing Assignment:

View Star Trek Voyager – television episode and Compare and Contrast to the epic Poem

Write a Movie Review (Standardized/Structured Essay)

2015 Week 1: 24-28 August 2015 (26 August Early Release)

  1. Weekly reading, annotating, and writing assignment (WSJ)
  2. Lecture: Writing Skills SA to Essay
  3. Begin – Group Creative Story

Week 2: 31 August -1-4 September 2015

  1. Weekly reading, annotating, and writing assignment
  2. Continue with Group Creative Story

CA/SA Week 6

  1. Narrative Essay – Review a model essay: “The Strong Arm of a Sixth Grade Teacher” by Lisa B. Driver (9th eds. 57-59)

Week 3: 8-11 September 2015 (7 September Holiday/Labor Day)

****9 September 2015 Census Date***

  1. Weekly reading, annotating, and writing assignment
  2. Narrative media,

Analyze and view film 9-11

Recommended DVD 9/11, A Film by Jules and GedeonNaudet and James Hanlon--ISBN 0792185676- partial video clip/film: View the clip from the 9/11 link below and discuss how this may or may not change your view point of the events of September 11, 2001. This project was originally a way through his first fire. Although this does happen the first fire ends up being the Twin Towers on September 11. The two Naudet brothers not only complete the documentarybut also record the events in New York City as they unfolded that day.Recommended viewing: DVD 9/11, A Film by Jules and GedeonNaudet and James Hanlon--ISBN 0792185676- or partial video clip below:

  1. Lecture – Proposal/Annotated Bibliography (AB)
  • Review of Abstract/Proposal - Hacker text (489) and What is a Proposal? (handout)
  • Annotated Bibliography (AB) - Source Citations and AB format - TheNortonFieldGuidetoWriting, 3rd eds., Bullock, Goggin and Weinberg (155-163)

Week 4: 14-18 September 2015

. 1. Lecture: Narrative Essay

2. Reading Assignments:

  • What’s in a Name?
  • “My Name” Sandra Cisneros (109)
  • Respond to Questions 1-7

Writing Assignment: Analyze the meaning of your family name? What is in a name and why is this part of who we are and our heritage?

3. Maintenance for Personal Writing Portfolio - Review SA/Essays - Complete a Reflection Sheet/draft and final copies, Hacker C3e, 28-31.

5. Library, 16-18 September 2015 (Research Essay: Proposal Due: 16 September 2015/AB with one source- Due: 18 September 2015.

Week 5: 21-25 September 2015 (24 September Early Release)

  1. Weekly reading, annotating, and writing assignment
  2. Continue Narrative Essay: What is in a Name? Henry L. Gates (376-380 and 379 Questions 1-4)

Week 6 & 7: 28-30 September 2015, 1-9 October 2015 (Intercession Break)

  1. Independent Research – Research Project
  2. Read student selected novel and write a Reflective Essay (see handout)

Week 8: 12-16 October 2015

  1. Weekly reading, annotating, and writing assignment:"Black Friday: Consumerism Minus Civilization" by Andrew Leonard

Writing Assignment, Analyze how Andrew Leonard’s article, “Black Friday: Consumerism Minus Civilization” describes a shift in how retail stores are changing the rules for holiday shopping.

  1. Library – 15-16 October 2015, Independent Research - Controversial Topic

This essay must have a minimum of three sources all from Library Databases (EPCC). For your source citation please do this as an attachment file in the form of a Work Cited page format. Use the Information Tool/MLA Sample Paper or your Hacker text (372/index, 415, 412-13). Information on MLA Format is also available at: owlpurdue.edu.

  1. Outlining and Using Bubble Maps: Selecting Reliable Sources, Research Topic Selection/Proposal, Outline/Bubble Maps, Planning your Research Paper/See handouts
  • Write a preliminary thesis…(Use proposal, outline, and AB) (Hacker 373-376)
  • “Doing Research: Developing a Research Plan, Finding Sources, Evaluating Sources, Synthesizing Ideas” Norton (419-431, 432-452, 453-456, 457-461)
  • Researching: “Planning, Clustering, Free-writing, Conducting Research and Evaluating Sources” Hacker (2-10, 332-357)
  1. Outline – Due: 15 October 2015
  2. AB – Due: 16 October 2015 (minimum of 3 sources)

Peer Review: 16 October 2014

Instructor Review: 19 October 2015

Week 9: 19-23 October 2015

  1. Weekly reading, annotating, and writing assignment
  2. Research Project: Peer Edit - 22 October 2015, using hard copies or via email have two (2) classmates Peer Edit your Persuasive Essay. Add their names to the final page with your word count.

Week 11: 2-6 November 2015

  1. Weekly reading, annotating, and writing assignment "Just One More Game...:Angry birds, Farmville, and Other Hyper-addictive Stupid Games" by Sam Anderson (64-69)

Writing Activity: In the essay: "Just One More Game...: Angry birds, Farmville, and Other Hyper-addictive Stupid Games" (64-69), what does Anderson imply by the use of the terms: "stupid games" and "gamification"?

  1. Lecture – Compare and Contrast (C&C), MLA Format
  2. Proofread, Revise & Edit, Peer/Instructor Reviews.
  3. Library – Type Essay #3

Week 12: 9-13 November 2015 (Holiday, Veterans Day - 11 November 2015)

Reading Assignments:

  1. Weekly reading, annotating, and writing assignment: "Should Gamers Be Prosecuted for Virtual Stealing" by Alex Weiss (727-729)
  2. Writing Activity:

Read the article at the link below and compare and contrast with the article by Alex Weiss, "Should Gamers Be Prosecuted for Virtual Stealing?"