English 21 Class Syllabus
English 21 Class Syllabus
Monday/Wednesday 8:45-12:00
Room: CCDS 201
Professor Allyssea Carver
Email:
Drop In Office Hours:TBD
Required Texts:
- Mercury Reader – V. Diaz Cooper
- 50 Essays – Samuel Cohen
- Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing: A Brief Guide to Argument – Barnet, et al.
- A Pocket Style Manual (2016 MLA Updates) – Hacker, et al.
This class is constructed to help each student feel comfortable with reading a text and constructing an essay that is grammatically correct and easy to understand. In the eight weeks, we will be focusing on figuring out ideas from the readings, writing a solid foundation for the topic, and being able to see errors in the text to better write essays for future college classes as well as outside of college life. I want each student to feel comfortable with writing essays and reading the texts by the end of this class.
Participation in class is important to your understanding of the material. The readings must be done before the class that is assigned to it. This way we can discuss it in class at length. Any questions, please feel free to contact me.
*Note: this syllabus is subject to change as needed depending on the flow of class.
October 23:
Introductions about the class and syllabus.
Learn how to take notes in a book.
The importance of MLA format.
Explain discussion questions.
October 25:
READ- “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid (Mercury Reader) & “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (Mercury Reader)
Write 3 Discussion questions.
Outline the theme, give 5 supporting details from the story, and write a paragraph on what you thought of the reading.
October 30:
READ- Letter to The President by Jackie Robinson (Mercury Reader), “The Old Fashion Pitcher” by George E. Phair (Hand Out) & Out Of the Blue by Orel Hershiser (Hand Out)
Write 3 Discussion questions.
Write Paragraph 1 on the reading. Bring in 3 copies for editing.
November 1:
READ- “On Keeping a Notebook” by Joan Didion (50 Essays) & “Reading to Write” by Stephen King (50 Essays)
Write 3 Discussion questions.
Write paragraph 2 on the reading. Bring in 3 copies for editing.
November 6:
READ- “I Just Wanna Be Average” by Mike Rose (50 Essays) & “Me Talk Pretty One Day” by David Sedaris (50 Essays)
Write 3 Discussion questions.
Write paragraph 3 on the reading. Bring in 3 copies for editing.
November 8:
READ- “How to Tame a Wild Tongue” by Gloria Anzaldua (50 Essays) & “The Truth about Invasive Species” by Alan Burdick
Write 3 Discussion questions.
Write paragraph 4 on the reading. Bring in 3 copies for editing.
November 13:
Essay 1 Due. 2-3 pages on any one of the 4 readings we have discussed this semester.
- Surprise reading (you don’t want to miss this!)
November 15:
READ- “Superman and Me” by Sherman Alexie (50 Essays), Speech on the Signing of the Treaty of Port Elliott, 1855 by Chief Seattle (Mercury Reader), & “Indian Boarding Schools: The Runaways” by Louise Erdrich (Mercury Reader)
Write 3 discussion questions.
Write paragraph 5 on the reading. Bring in 3 copies for editing.
November 20:
READ- “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” by Nicholas Carr (50 Essays) & “Small Change: Why the Revolution Will Not Be Tweeted” by Malcolm Gladwell (50 Essays)
Write 3 discussion questions.
Write paragraph 6 on the reading. Bring in 3 copies for editing.
November 22:
READ- “A Rose For Emily” by William Faulkner (Mercury Reader) & “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut (Hand Out)
Write 3 discussion questions.
Write paragraph 7 on the reading. Bring in 3 copies for editing.
November 27:
READ- The Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson (50 Essays)
Write 3 discussion questions.
Write paragraph 8 on the reading. Bring in 3 copies for editing.
November 29:
Bring in an essay from any other class to edit. If you do not have another class that requires an essay, bring in your previous essay from class or I will have an essay for you to edit.
December 4:
Go over topics, thesis statements, and any other questions you have for your final essay.
December 6:
Bring in one page of your rough draft essay to go over. We will take time in class for each student to go over the page with me.
December 11-13 FINALS WEEK:
Turn in final essay. 5-7 pages on any one of the readings this semester, excluding the reading you used for your first essay.
**Plagiarism: Plagiarism is defined as the act of using ideas, words, or work of another person or persons as if they were one’s own, without giving proper credit to the original sources. The following examples are intended to be representative, but not all inclusive: - failing to give credit by proper citations for others ideas and concepts, data and information, statements and phrases, and/or interpretations and conclusions. - failing to use quotation marks when quoting directly from another, whether it be a paragraph, a sentence, or a part thereof - Paraphrasing the expressions or thought by others without appropriate quotation marks or attribution. First offense, you will receive a zero for the assignment in question. Any further offenses may result in expulsion from the class, as determined by the disciplinary action from the Office of Student Services. SO DON”T DO IT!!!