Course
Description and Objectives
This course develops critical thinking, reading, and writing skills through the formal study of critical thinking and literature. Composition totaling a minimum of 10,000 words serves to correlate writing with reading. Classroom activities integrate with Reading and Writing Center activities. 72 hours lecture and 18 hours laboratory. These lab hours are a required component of the course and can be fulfilled at the writing center of any one of our three campuses. Specific to this section of English 1B: We will begin with a critical thinking text designed to continue the critical thinking that you were introduced to in English 1A. You will continue your development of these skills through the analysis of literature. This course will introduce you to the literary essay, poetry, short story, drama, and the novel, and addresses various thematic issues and images specific to California literature. This class will also used a portfolio based system of evaluating writing that will make up the biggest portion of your final grade.
See a paper copy of your syllabus for a complete list of the course objectives.
Required
Books and Materials
- Writing About Literature: A Portable Guide - Janet Gardner
- Beyond Feelings: A Guide to Critical
Thinking, 8th Edition- Ruggiero
- Many Californias: Literature from the Golden State, 2nd Edition - Ed. Gerald Haslam
- Woman Warrior - Maxine Hong KingstonTrue West - Sam Shepard
- Real Women Have Curves - Josefina Lopez
- Access to the web for online reading
assignments (available in the WRC)
- An activated email account that you will check regularly
Recommended
Materials
- A good college level dictionary
- A flash drive or CD-Rom for storing work. You must have a copy of final drafts of all papers in case of errors with email submissions. (Always have more than one back-up! Computer disasters will not be an acceptable excuse for late work.)
Writing
Assignments & Grading Scale
More detailed descriptions and instructions
for each writing assignment will be provided throughout the semester
in class and/or on the course website. The fundamental goal of
these assignments is to make you a better, more organized and
analytical writer and thinker.
| Assignments |
% |
Study Skills Grade (WRC hours and assignments, grammar assignments, homework assignments)
|
5% |
| Class Participation (Discussion presentation (4%), discussion participation, and in-class writing (includes diagnostics)) |
10% |
| Mini-paper (750 words) |
5% |
| Poetry
paper and revision (1200 words) |
10%
total
|
| Mid term exam (Study Guide) |
7% |
| Short
Story paper (1400 words) |
10% |
| Novel
paper w/secondary sources (1750 words) |
10% |
| Final Exam (which includes drama analysis essay) (Study Guide) |
10% |
Final
Writing Portfolio (3 essays and a self-analysis/cover letter)
(Directions here) |
33% |
See the detailed
rubric of grading guidelines and expectations, and make
sure you understand how your work is being evaluated before
the first paper is due. You can also view it on the website.
This rubric will be used to evaluate all literary analysis papers and the final portfolio.
Miscellaneous information and policies for our 1B class (a complete list is on your paper syllabus):
Final Writing Portfolio:
Throughout the semester, we will be working on revising and rethinking your papers – even after you have turned them in for an initial grade. The idea is that though a grade deadline has passed, your ability (and hopefully motivation) to write the best paper you are capable of and to learn from comments, reflections, and even grades on your papers doesn’t end. At the end of the semester you will turn in a writing portfolio of your best work that is worth 33% of your grade – this is a major project that you will work on all semester. It will be made up of any three formal papers that you have written all semester that you think represent your best work. You will select your best three as we go along and revise (even after they have been first turned in) and extensively rewrite them on your own (but with help from me in the WRC and office hours and in classtime revision workshops) to submit. They should be the best work you are capable of; your best writing, your best ideas, your best analysis. You will also include a cover letter or self-analysis essay. All of these materials will be evaluated by a committee of RCC 1B faculty using a rubric to determine if you have met the minimum qualifications for each grade level before I evaluate them – so they really do need to be objectively your best work; this committee will not see any of your drafts or the progress you have made or know anything about your overall contributions to the class. I will discuss the rubric and this ongoing project in greater detail once the semester is under way.
Grading Policies:
Mere completion of all assignments and the exams does not guarantee a passing grade. In addition to your grade, most assignments will also include several annotations from me. There are no "plus" or "minus" grades available for your final grade. Your overall grade must be a 70% or better to receive a passing grade in this class.
Late Assignments:
I will accept late assignments ONLY if you contact me within 24 hours or MORE before a paper is due (i.e. by 8:10 a.m. the day before an assignment is due). We will have a conversation about how your paper is going and why it will be late, and in most cases I will accept your late work. However, your first 24 hours period will be “free”, the next 24 hours will cost you 5% each, and every day after that has a penalty of 10% off your grade for the assignment for every day that it is late, after the first 24 hour period which is “free”. Obviously, it is in your interest to never turn work in late. ALL PAPERS ARE DUE AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS.
Academic Honesty/Plagiarism:
Plagiarism, academic dishonesty, and cheating are all taken very seriously in this course. To plagiarize means to represent someone else's work as your own - intentionally or accidentally. If you plagiarize any paper or exam in this course, you will more than likely fail this class. Any ideas, phrases, quotes or work represented as your own when it is not will definitely result in a zero for the assignment, and in most cases, for the course. Please be very clear about this. Consult the course website page on course policies for more detailed information about proper sourcing of material and if you have any questions at all, see me. Also, we will discuss and define plagiarism further in week two
Special Needs:
If you have a physical, psychiatric/emotional, medical, or learning disability that may impact your ability to carry out assigned course work, I urge you to contact the staff in Disabled Student Services in The Administration Building Room 121 (222-8060). DSP&S will review your concerns and determine, with you, what accommodations are necessary and appropriate. All information and documentation are confidential.
English
1B Schedule — Spring 2008
Many of the readings in your textbooks
will have activities and questions that accompany them. Unless
these are specifically assigned as homework on the syllabus or
added to the syllabus in class (and posted on the website) you
are not responsible for these activities. However, you are responsible
for reading and considering the ideas they pose, and often will
be asked to discuss or write in response to the activities as
part of the classroom experience.
Wk. 1 |
|
Monday
April 21 |
Course Introduction
Read and discuss in class "Retrospect" and Joan Didion’s “LA Notebook” (just part 1, pages 187-190) from Many Californias
Do informal diagnostic writing
Assigned: Writing and Reading Center (WRC) assignment #1 and formal diagnostic assignment; provide opening materials packet (OMP) |
Tuesday
April 22 |
OMP: “Why Literature Matters,”
BF: Ch. 1 Who Are You?
In class: Discuss academic language, writing and revision as process, and the portfolio project. |
Wednesday
April 23 |
Writing Center Assignment #1: Course website & WRC resources due
BF: Ch. 2 What is Critical Thinking?
WAL: Introduction and Ch. 1 The Role of Good Reading
OMP: Plagiarism handout
In class: Oral Presentation sign-up and WRC #2 assigned
Email Assignment Due Before Class:
Email a copy of your formal diagnostic (put the text in the body of the email – not in an attachment). If you missed the first day of class (late add students), also include your name, phone number, major, and important info about yourself or your career at RCC that you want me to know.
In class: CT mini #1 assigned and annotation instruction |
Thursday
April 24 |
Many Californias: Richard Rodriguez “America’s Wild Child”
OMP: Maxine Hong Kingston "The Laws" & Selections from Anonymous
Chinese Poets at Angel Island |
Wk. 2 |
Saturday, April 26 is the last day to add a class. |
Monday
April 28 |
Mini-paper due
Writing Center Assignment #2: Find your author online due
WAL: Ch. 5 Writing About Poems and Ch. 3 Some Common Types of Writing Assignments (only up to page 50)
Dreams of California:
From Many Californias:
Walt Whitman “Facing West from California’s Shores
Allen Ginsberg “A Supermarket in California”
Student Presentation: Dominic Figueroa
Poetry on the web (bring paper copies to class):
Ina Coolbrith, "Retrospect"
Lawrence Ferlinghetti “Wild Dreams of a New Beginning”
In class: Poetry paper assigned
|
Tuesday
April 29 |
Work and Death:
From Many Californias:
Robert Hass “On the Coast Near Sausalito”
Ernesto Trejo “Today I’ll Sit Still”
From the packet:
Ana Castillo "Napa, California"
Student Presentation: Kevin Hudec
Lawrence Ferlinghetti “Two Scavengers in a Truck […]” |
Wednesday
April 30 |
California: History and Society:
Poetry on the web (bring paper copies to class):
Robinson Jeffers “The Purse-Seine” and “Carmel Point”
Luis Alfaro “Orphan of Aztlan”
From the packet:
Gloria Anzaldúa "To Live in the Borderlands Means You"
Janice Mirikitani "Breaking Tradition"
Student Presentation: Hien Chien
From Many Californias:
Roberta Spear “Graffiti”
Gary Snyder “Marin-An” |
Thursday
May 1 |
Due: Practice Thesis for workshop in class
BF: Ch. 3 What is Truth? and Ch. 4 What Does It Mean to Know?
Homework due: written response to application #3, page 38, and #6, page 51
In class: Conference sign ups for 5/6-5/9 – poetry paper revision conference |
Wk. 3 |
|
Monday
May 5 |
Poetry paper due
BF: Ch. 5 How Good Are Your Opinions
Love and Family:
From Many Californias:
Floyd Salas “Wyoming is an Indian Name”
Gerald Locklin “The Best Year of Her Life”
Student Presentation: Krystal Martinez
Al Young “In Marin Again”
Gary Soto “Magnets”
Al Young “Aunt” |
Tuesday
May 6 |
BF: Ch. 6 What is Evidence?
Fictions of Reality:
Poetry on the web (bring paper copies to class):
Charles Bukowski “the tragedy of the leaves”
From Many Californias:
Gerald Locklin “Happy Hour”
Student Presentation: Karen Ohri
Kate Braverman “10 P.M.”
Student Presentation: Amanda Nunez
Lawrence Ferlinghetti “Dog” |
Wednesday
May 7 |
WAL: Ch. 2 The Writing Process
BF: Ch. 7 What is Argument?
BF: Ch. 8 The Basic Problem: “Mine Is Better”
You must have at least six hours in the WRC by TODAY for grade credit. |
Thursday
May 8 |
BF: Ch. 9 Errors of Perspective
BF: Ch. 10 Errors of Procedure
Homework due: Written response to application #2 on page 84, #4 on page 107, #7 on page 108
In class: Revision Workshop; your poetry paper will be returned if you don’t already have it; you need to bring any notes and ideas you have been working on regarding how you want to improve and add to your paper. |
Wk. 4 |
|
Monday
May 12 |
BF: Ch. 11 Errors of Expression
BF: Ch. 12 Errors of Reaction
BF: Ch. 13 Errors in Combination |
Tuesday
May 13 |
Poetry paper revision due
Packet: Deductive and Inductive Reasoning; WRC Assign #3 assigned
BF: Ch. 18 Forming a Judgment and Ch. 19 Persuading Others
WAL: Writing About Stories , p. 54-57
Packet: Francisco Jiménez “The Circuit”
Homework due: Written response to #1, page 199
Writing Center Assign. #3 on deductive/inductive reasoning assigned |
Wednesday
May 14 |
Packet: Helena Maria Viramontes “The Moths”
Many Californias:
Garci Ordóñez de Montalvo “An Island Called California”
Student Presentation: Merryn Nicholson
Carolyn See “The Opium of the People”
Homework due: Writing Center Assign. #3 on deductive/inductive reasoning
In class: Assign short story paper
In class, if time permits: Mid-term review |
Thursday
May 15 |
Mid-term Exam on all poetry, essay, and critical thinking materials (no short story stuff) |
Wk. 5 |
|
Monday
May 19 |
Many Californias:
Molly Giles “The Planter Box”
Student Presentation: Pete Manyika
Ella Leffland “The Linden Tree”
Due: Practice thesis in class for Short Story Paper |
Tuesday
May 20 |
Many Californias:
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni “Grocery Shopping with Aunt Geeta”
Gina Berriault “Wilderness Fire”
Gerald Haslam “Upstream” |
Wednesday
May 21 |
Short story paper due
Short stories on the web (bring paper copies to class):
Prentice Mulford “Justifiable Fiction”
Student Presentation: Nichole Dotson
Mark Twain “Jack Slade, Desperado” (From Roughing It, chap. 9-11)
Many Californias: Jack London "South of the Slot"
Student Presentation: Jonathan Stalvey
In-class: Preliminary mini-lecture on Woman Warrior |
Thursday
May 22 |
WAL: Writing a Literary Research Paper (27 pages)
Maxine Hong Kingston, Woman Warrior Chapters 1-2
Chapter 2 Student Presentation: Reem Kandela
In class: Assign novel paper
Note: For those who are planning / hoping / expecting to put the novel paper in the portfolio, you will have to make a quick revision turnaround, so make sure that you do a lot of drafting, redrafting, revising, and conferencing with me BEFORE it’s due so there may be less work to do to prepare it for the portfolio. |
Wk. 6 |
|
Monday
May 26 |
Memorial Day Holiday |
Tuesday
May 27 |
Maxine Hong Kingston, Woman Warrior Chapter 3 & 4
Chapter 3 Student Presentation: Sara Salvaggio
In class: Short Story Papers will be returned
You must have at least twelve hours in the WRC by TODAY for grade credit. |
Wednesday
May 28 |
Maxine Hong Kingston, Woman Warrior Chapter 5
Student Presentation: Elvira Ahumada
In class: Writing Workshop on the Novel Paper |
Thursday
May 29 |
Thursday, May 29 is the last day to drop with a “W”
Novel paper with secondary source due
Portfolio Revision Workshop: Bring mini-papers, poetry paper and I will return short story paper so we can discuss the portfolio, and selection and revision strategies. This will be a working, writing, editing, and discussion workshop. |
Wk. 7 |
|
Monday
June 2 |
In class: portfolio discussion and workshop; Novel papers will be returned; portfolio conferences as needed.
THIS IS THE MAJOR PORTFOLIO WORK DAY – IT IS ALL WE WILL WORK ON TO PREPARE FOR PORTFOLIO DUE THURSDAY.
|
Tuesday
June3 |
WAL: Writing About Plays, p. 84-86
Sam Shepard, True West, Act One
In class: portfolio discussion and workshop |
Wednesday
June 4 |
Any outstanding grammar assignments due
Sam Shepard, True West, Act Two
Student Presentation: Colleen Munds
In class: portfolio discussion and workshop |
Thursday
June 5 |
FINAL WRITING PORTFOLIO DUE
Bring a self-addressed 9x12 envelope so I can mail the portfolio in case they are not ready to return on final exam day.
True West film |
Wk. 8 |
|
Monday
June 9 |
Josefina López, Real Women Have Curves
Student Presentation: Charnelle Wickliff
|
Tuesday
June 10 |
Finish discussion of Real Women Have Curves if necessary
From Many Californias:
Luis Omar Salinas “My Fifty-Plus Years Celebrate Spring
WAL: Pages 50-53
In class: Course / Final Review / Self-Evaluation
Come prepared to discuss literary themes, images & metaphor of California; also, discussion about final; essay structure for exams (last day of final review)
Study Guide
|
Wednesday
June 11 |
Final Exam during regular class hours
You must have all eighteen hours in the WRC by TODAY for grade credit.
I will not accept hours posted past TODAY for credit. |
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