English 49: Basic Composition

Spring 2011

Section 42326, Room I-108

Mondays & Wednesdays 11:10am-12:35pm

Professor: Katherine (Katie) Ness SantanaEmail:

Office Hours: before/after class and by appt. Website:

Required Materials:

  • One 8 1/2 x 11” blue book
  • One FOLDER with brads & pockets (Note: This is NOT a binder.)
  • One set of notebook dividers (5)
  • The Little Seagull Handbook, 11th edition, by Richard Bullock & Francine Weinberg
  • Please include print & copy costs in your semester calculations.You will be using Miramar Library’s SIRS database and other electronic resources to find and print articles and handouts. SIRS can be accessed from the campus computer lab or from home.

Course Description: This course is designed to prepare students to write successfully at the transfer level. In this course students practice the writing process in the production and editing of essays. Students also review grammatical and mechanical structures as needed to support the successful expression of meaning. In addition, students read and think critically using a variety of texts which are the basis for writing and class discussion. A District-wide, timed-writing examination, holistically graded by English instructors, is part of the final course grade.

Student Learning Objectives: Upon successful completion of the course the student will be able to do the following:

  1. Read and analyze expository prose as a basis for writing, class discussion, and reading skill enhancement.
  2. Use appropriate writing strategies, including pre-writing, composing, revising, editing, and considering audience and purpose.
  3. Plan, write, and revise essays and other assignments comprising a total of 4,000 graded words (16 pages) in compositions that are unified, developed, purposeful, and appropriate in tone for the intended audience.
  4. Produce in-class essays that demonstrate organizing, composing, revising, editing, and time-management skills.
  5. Apply an intermediate knowledge of appropriate mechanical and grammatical structures to support essay development and successful expression of meaning.
  6. Apply critical thinking skills to reading, writing, and class discussion on current topics.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Student learning will be measured by the student’s ability to write a multi-paragraph essay with appropriate organization and development. By the end of this semester, students should be able to demonstrate the ability to write a multi-paragraph essay with appropriate 1) organization, 2) development, 3) thesis, and 4) sentence skills.

Course Objectives:

  1. To give students facility in each writing step, from pre-writing through drafting, revising, and editing.
  2. To enable students to write clear, coherent, well-developed paragraphs and short essays.
  3. To enable students to develop correct, varied, effective sentences.
  4. To give students practice writing a clear, well-organized, persuasive essay in response to texts under timed conditions. (This part of the course is designed to help you pass the English department writing sample exam, which is given before finals.)

Methods of Instruction:We will be reading, analyzing, and writing about hot topics in English 49.

  • Class discussions help you show your understanding and critical thinking about assigned readings, and give you pointers on how to organize your ideas.
  • Timed in-class essays help you practice critical thinking, organization, writing, and time management for the end-of-semester timed writing exam.
  • Consults and workshops give you feedback on your essays as your ideas develop.
  • Revision essays help you rethink and re-see your writing. You learn by doing.
  • The mid-semester writing exam and final portfolio give you feedback from writing teachers at this campus about whether you’re ready to go on to our more advanced writing courses.

Course Policies

● Participation:Attending this class is very important and will greatly elevate your chances of performing well. Simply showing up for class, however, will not be enough. I expect the class to be the site of lively intellectual activity, as you challenge your own beliefs, encounter new ideas, question our texts, welcome new points of view, and—always—contribute respectfully and thoughtfully. Regular participation during class will positively affect our collective classroom experience (and probably raise your final grade). Failing to contribute your unique voice will strip the class of its diversity (and probably lower your final grade).

● Attendance: The final grade in this class will be affected by active participation, including attendance, as follows:Since regular attendance is an important part of learning, to do well in this class, you must attend every class session. You will be marked absent after 5 minutes tardiness or if you leave early.

Students may be dropped from class for excessive tardiness, for failure to attend class the first day or during the entire first week of the class, or after missing TWO complete classes. I understand that “real life” sometimes prevents you from being in class. In those cases, please communicate with me as soon as possible and be able to provide some kind of “proof” of your situation. (Examples of legitimate reasons include medical and family emergencies with appropriate documentation. Excuses such as “I had to take my mom to the airport,” “I had a computer malfunction,” “I had a doctor/dentist appointment,” “My printer broke,” or “I had a soccer game,” will not be accepted.) It is your responsibility to schedule, within reason, all of your activities that are unrelated to this class outside of our regularly scheduled meeting time.

● Etiquette:I expect each student to arrive to class on time, ready to discuss and write about the assigned readings. I also expect that all cell phones, MP3 players, laptop computers will be turned off and put away before class begins. Please take off your sunglasses and remove your headphones. Please do not text during class. Above all, please respect everyone in the class and allow every voice to be heard.

● Blackboard Vista: You can check your course grade on Blackboard Vista. For instructions on how to access the Blackboard website, go to

● Course Website: I have created a website for all of my classes. This website will be an important device for this class. Go to to access class handouts (syllabus, calendar, prompts, etc.), and refer to upcoming and past assignments. I will also have a page with links that can help you with any grammar and punctuation difficulties.

● Computer Skills Advisory: In most college courses students are expected to have a basic familiarity with computer terms and use, such as word processing, document manipulation, spreadsheets, email, and online services. If you do not have access to a computer at home, make time in your schedule so you can use the on-campus computer lab regularly. Check your email often!

● Academic Integrity (Cheating and Plagiarism):This class will be conducted in accordance with the college student code of conduct and basic standards of academic honesty. Cheating, plagiarism or other forms of academic dishonesty are not acceptable and will not be tolerated. Cheating includes copying answers from other students’ homework, quizzes or exams. Plagiarism involves submitting work (sentences, paragraphs, papers) written by someone else and claiming that you have written it. This includes having someone “fix your grammar” before you turn in a paper. If you plagiarize your paper, you will receive a“0” for that assignment. In addition, I will notify the Department Chair and Dean about the plagiarism. If you plagiarize a second paper, you will receive an “F” in the course.

Course Requirements and Grading

Essay #1 – In-Class / 10%
Essay #2 – Out-of-class (revision of in-class Essay #1 / 15%
Essay #3 – In-Class / 10%
Essay #4 – Out-of-class (revision of Essay #3) / 15%
Essay #5 – In-Class Department Composition / 10%
English 49 Portfolio / 25%
Participation: Attendance, in-class writings, workshops, homework, quizzes, group work, hot topics sessions, extra credit, etc. / 15%

*Assignments subject to change at the professor’s discretion*

A=90-100%B= 80-89%C=70-79%D=60-69%F= less than 60% **

● Papers/Homework AssignmentsAll assigned work completed out of class must be in MLA format: typed in size 12-point, Times New Roman font; double-spaced, with 1" margins at the top, bottom, and sides of each page. Please staple all papers. All assignments must be submitted at the beginning of class on the day they are due and you must be in class to receive credit for your homework.*No late work will be accepted, except by prior arrangement with me. Reading assignments must also be completed before the due dates, as many in-class writing assignments will be based upon the assigned readings, and productive class discussions will depend upon careful readings of each text. Reading a text multiple times WILL be necessary as they are complex pieces of rhetoric. Homework assignments will receive either a “+” for complete and thorough work (full credit), a “√” for work that is not typed or incomplete (half credit), or a “0” for no credit.

* EXCEPTION: If you are unable to come to class on the day an essay is due, you may turn it in to my school mailbox BEFORE the time our class meets. The essay must have a time stamp that reflects the time and date it was turned it.

There will be no make-up tests or in-class essays except under rare circumstances. Please set aside two to three hours per each hour in class a week for assignments. Please come to class prepared and ready to work and participate at each session.

● Evaluation:You must pass both the English 49 course AND complete and pass the English 49 Portfolio in order to go onto the next level. PLEASE KEEP ALL OF THE WORK DONE IN THIS CLASS. Many of your assignments will go into your portfolio. Test grades, consistent attendance, participation, and completion of all writing assignments are the criteria for evaluation.

● Portfolio Component: This section of English 49 will use portfolios of student writing as a way to evaluate the progression of writing skills over the semester. All 49 students at MiramarCollege will submit a portfolio. The portfolio—to be put together by each student and submitted at the end of the semester—will contain both revised and unrevised student writing. There will be categories for each type of writing represented in the portfolio: Prologue, Writer’s Choice, Timed Unrevised Essay, Revised Argumentative Essay, and a Writer’s Reflection. It must be completed and turned in on time to be considered for grading. You must complete the portfolio in order to pass the course regardless of what grade you might have earned during the semester. No late portfolios will be accepted.

Student portfolios should be in simple three-brad folders. No three ring binders or sheet protectors please. Portfolios should include (in this order):

  1. Prologue: This section will serve as an introduction to the portfolio. With the prologue, you will be asked to provide some information on you past writing experience. This will be done in class and will serve as a benchmark and help the reader gain an understanding of your background and history with writing. The prologue is not graded. It will be kept by your instructor until the day portfolios are submitted.
  1. A Revised Argumentative Essay:

Include both your original copy and your final, revised copy. Choose an essay that argues a point of view. The paper should be 2-3 pages in length.

*** This will be a re-revised version of Essay 2. You need to include three different versions of this essay: 1) the graded, in-class version (Essay #1); 2) the graded revision (Essay #2); and 3) the thoroughly revised Portfolio version (with highlighted changes). The final revision (with highlighted changes) will be evaluated by comparing it to the two previous versions.

  1. Writer’s Choice:
    Choose a piece of writing that you did this semester that you feel good about and are proud of. You may revise it as many times as you like. Include both your original copy and your final, revised copy.

*** This will be a re-revised version of Essay 4. You need to include three different versions of this essay: 1) the graded, in-class version (Essay #3); 2) the graded revision (Essay #4); and 3) the thoroughly revised Portfolio version (with highlighted changes). The final revision (with highlighted changes) will be evaluated by comparing it to the two previous versions.

  1. An Unrevised Timed Essay:
    This section of the portfolio will contain an unrevised timed in-class essay in response to readings and a prompt pre-selected. Each student enrolled in English 49 at MiramarCollege will respond to the same pre-selected readings and prompt. Students should complete the process in 75 minutes.
  1. A Writing Reflection: This section of the portfolio will contain a reflective essay that should explain the contents of the portfolio. Students should refer to their own writing when discussing their progress this semester. Be sure to include a clear explanation of your choices and an evaluation of your strengths and weaknesses as a writer. The final piece of writing should be revised, typed, and a minimum of 3 pages.

● Campus Resources:
Starting the THIRD week of class (Monday, February 6th), the English/ESOL lab will be open Monday to Thursday in I-122 (Hours TBA)

  • Instructional Assistants (IAs) will be holding office hours in the lab
  • Some professors will be holding shared office hours in the lab
  • IAs will be holding weekly workshops in the lab

Students who go to the English/ESOL lab three or more times per semester tend to do better in their classes and have higher overall GPAs.

For more information and some great resources, please see:

The PLACe!

The Personal Learning Assistance Center (The PLACe), located in D-106, is open Monday-Thursday from 8:30 – 6:00 p.m. PLACe tutors offer composition advice, grammar help, group instruction, and workshops by appointment. The Writing Lab is an open lab (no appointment needed). Please contact The PLACE for lab hours or a tutor appointment: (619) 388-7852 or (858) 536-7852.

You may also use the English/ESOL Lab or the PLACe as way of receiving extra credit in this class. Every time you work with a tutor, you can receive one extra credit participation point; just remember to bring me a note from the tutor you worked with! 

Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS): Students with disabilities who may need academic accommodations should discuss options with me and also consult DSPS in room C-304, tel. 619-388-7312.

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