Syllabus ENGL 252A/B

Integrated Reading and Writing

MerrittCollege Summer 2010

M-Th 10:00 – 12:50 Instructor: Georgie Ovenden

Phone: 510-649-7982 email:

D - 137

"Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessarysentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessaryparts. This requires not that the writer make all his sentences short, or that he avoid all detail and treat hissubjects only in outline, but that every word tell. " William Strunk, Jr.

Course Description: 4 units. Not open for credit to students who have completed or are currently enrolled in English 250A-D/267A-B or 251A-D/268A-B. Non-degree applicable. Preparation in combined reading and writing instruction to ensure success in college: Integrated reading, writing, and critical thinking, using materials representing points of view and perspectives across the curriculum.

Student Learning Outcomes:

(1)Apply strategies that improve reading efficiency and effectiveness when reading college-level expository writing;

(2)Develop an appreciation for how reading can enrich one’s life.

(3)Write college essays that have a controlling thesis, that are developed using readings and the ideas of others, and that are clearly organized.

(4)Use a writing process that includes revision and proofreading.

(5)Develop skills, attitudes and abilities that enable self-directed learning including the ability to diagnose learning needs and to design learning plans.

Required Texts/Materials:

• On Course by Skip Downing ISBN 0-618-74156-95th edition

- available online at a number of retailers

 Lined paper for in-class writing

  • One inch binder for journal writing

Email and Internet Requirements:

You will be using email, accessing websites for articles, interactive quizzes, writing exercises and issues. You will be printing out documents so youmust have reliable access to a computer and a printer in order to pass the course.

Course Web page:The class syllabus, schedules, essay information and assignments will be posted on my website: You will be downloading and printing out course materials and handouts.

Cell phones: Turn off or silence your phones while in class. Do not text message or make personal phone calls during class. In case of emergencies, please leave the classroom for cell phone use.

Essays:

There will be four essays assigned this quarter.

You will write multiple drafts of each essay. The drafts will be peer-reviewed in class. I also encourage you to take your work to the LearningCenter and work with a tutor. You will prepare the final draft based on the feedback you receive and this draft will be graded. All previous drafts, exploratory notes and other feedback must be attached to the final draft during submission. In addition, there must be noticeable difference between the three drafts as a result of constant revision and editing.

Essay Format Guidelines:

* MLA formatting

  • typed
  • double spaced
  • one inch margins
  • size 12 standard fonts
  • your name in the upper left corner of your first page
  • page numbers in the upper right corner.

Group Grammar/Writing Presentations:

In groups, you will select and research a grammar/writing issue thoroughly using the class textbooks and outside sources. Topics must be approved by me. Each group will then prepare and teach a 20 minute mini-lesson on the issue: the theory will be explained with the help of visuals (a poster or a powerpoint) and the class will be assigned to do an exercise/quiz or a game. You will receive more detailed instructions on group presentations in a separate handout.

Journal – get a flexible 3 ring loose leaf binder to keep your journal entries in. I will collect them periodically. Your entries will be in response to specific questions, dialogic note-taking, and in-class writing exercises that you do.During the quarter, you will be responsible for keeping track of all your work, including homework, reading journals, and in-class work.

Grading in this course:

* Four Essays are worth 50% of your grade.

* Homework will count for 10% of your grade.

* The Class Presentation will count for 5% of your grade.

* Your Journal will count for 25% of your grade. Your reading journal will contain all of your writing exercises and journal entries from each chapter.

* Class participation and attendance will count for10% of your grade.

Grading Contract:

You will receive a guaranteed C in the course if you submit all the work.

To receive a B or an A in this course requires you to do more than show up and turn work in. You must display effort, enthusiasm, and improvement.

Attendance and Participation

Consistent attendance is very important, as the work we do in class is directly related to your success in this class. Students arriving more than 20 minutes late will be considered absent for the entire class. Students leaving early will be considered absent. After four consecutive absences or six total absences, I reserve the right to drop you from the course or fail you. Too many tardies (two late arrivals or early departures count as one absence) may also result in a drop. Your homework/participation grade may also suffer. If you decide not to attend the class, you are responsible for dropping or withdrawing from the class at the Admission and Records office promptly.

There will be assigned computer lab days when you will have the opportunity to work on your drafts online. You must bring your drafts on a flash drive or have them available online. Students either arriving at the computer lab without drafts or failing to attend the assigned lab date will have their essay grade reduced by one peer review.

In-Class Etiquette

In this class, there will be a lot of discussion. We will all be attempting to answer questions, voice opinions, agree and/or disagree with each other, and present findings. None of this is possible unless we create a comfortable environment. To do this, a few rules apply:

  1. Keep cell phones/beepers on vibrate or silent.
  2. Do not text during class – you need to pay attention to the work.
  3. Be on time!
  4. Show respect for your classmates and their ideas. During discussions, many different opinions will be expressed. All are welcomed and none are to be ridiculed.
  5. Use appropriate language during discussion.
  6. Refrain from expressing disgruntlement during class. See me outside of class about any concerns.

Academic honesty and plagiarism policy:

Cheating or plagiarism will not be tolerated and will result in severe disciplinary action. Students are required to attend the class on plagiarism and pass the plagiarism quiz.

Cheating is defined as possessing unauthorized sources of information during an exam; copying the work of another student during an exam; completing an assignment for another student; submitting out-of-class work for an in-class assignment; retaining exams or other materials after they were supposed to be returned to the instructor; submitting the same paper for two different classes without approval of both instructors; and inventing data or falsifying an account of data collection.

Plagiarism is taking the words of another and either copying or paraphrasing those words without giving credit to the source (through parenthetical citations, quotation marks, reference citations, all of which we will go over in class). This includes using material from the Internet without citing correctly. I am required to file a report of academic dishonesty with the Department of Academic Affairs should an act of plagiarism occur. The first incidence of plagiarism will result in an “F” on the assignment and you will be reported to the Dean of the College. If plagiarism occurs a second time, you will fail the course.

Grievance Policy

English Department Grievance Policy: All student grievances concerning grading or other areas are to be brought to the attention of the course instructor before any other action can be. If you cannot find a resolution to your grievance, then you and your instructor will meet with the head of the composition program or the Dean of the English Department.

Disability Accommodations

If you have a documented disability and wish to discuss academic accommodations, or if you would need assistance in the event of an emergency, please contact me as soon as possible.

Final notes:

This syllabus is subject to change as needed. I may also assign individualized homework to help you improve particular skills.

  • “So please, oh PLEASE, we beg, we pray, Go throw your TV set away, And in its place you can install, A lovely bookshelf on the wall.”—Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
  • “Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.”—Frederick Douglass (Author and Orator)
  • “I write because I don't know what I think until I read what I say.”—Flannery O'Connor (Author)
  • “Writing is nature’s way of letting you know how sloppy your thinking is.”—Guindon cartoon (Satirist)