Course Syllabus
Course Outline with Weekly Syllabus - Read me!
ENG 101 COURSE OUTLINE & SYLLABUS, section #17363 – SPRING 2021
Instructor: Prof. Judith Dancoff, MA, MFA
On-line, Saturday, 9:35-12:45 pm
EMAIL: dancofj@lacitycollege.edu
Office Hrs: On-line Tuesday, 11:10-11:45am; Saturday, 1:00-1:35pm.
Embedded Tutor: America Camacho,
The Writers' Block, writersblock.lacitycollege.edu
CamachA4@lacitycollege.edu
Books - All are available in the LACC Bookstore under this class and section #17363:
1) Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler, either hard-copy or digital.
2) Rules For Writers by Diana Hacker - LA City College edition, either hard-copy or digital. Page numbers will be given for the 2018 edition, though other editions will have very similar content. This is the edition written for LA City College.
3) Other readings and videos to be assigned on-line.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Eng 101 teaches critical thinking, reading, and writing, and the use of Modern Language Association (MLA) techniques to support a research paper, to prepare students for writing at the college level and for transfer to the university. This semester will be different from past semesters in important ways, however. The continuing COVID crisis has put us entirely on-line and the Black Lives Matter movement has raised awareness across the country and the world about social and racial injustice. Some of the reading material I’ve chosen will touch on these issues, but this will not be a class in current events; all of the material I’ve chosen will first and foremost support your growth as critical thinkers and writers. Rest assured that there is always freedom of expression in my class. Whatever your opinion, it is welcome so long as it is well-expressed.
Another big difference is that while in past years there were classes to prepare students for English 101, the State of California has directed that all students may enroll directly in English 101 without preparation, and most preparation classes have been eliminated. This means that some of you will find this class difficult. You may stay, but if you believe you are one of those students, I strongly recommend that you transfer out of this class and enroll in LACC's special 6 unit English 101 that offers an additional 104 class for extra help.
Finally, because we are entirely on-line, it is up to you to stay current with each week’s assignments, lectures, and readings in our textbook. Canvas will record the time you spend per week that I can track. Expect to spend 10 hours a week or more. If you are between grades, I will always give the benefit of the doubt to those students who have at least met this minimum. For any questions, there will be a discussion link for at the end of each week’s module. Post your questions there for me and other students to answer. If your question is not answered, please message or email me immediately, and know that I am always available for an on-line conference. Finally, be sure to make connections in the class with others. One of the best ways to succeed in college is with a study partner or group.
Like any high-level ability (think of music/dance/sports), strong writing cannot be learned without a lot of disciplined practice. People who like to write, write a lot and therefore become good at it. People who don't like to write, don't write a lot and therefore it's hard for them. It's as simple as that. If you haven't written in a while, expect to feel a little rusty at it, but I guarantee, that your writing will improve in direct proportion to how much time and energy you commit to this course.
The 3 most important words for this or any college class are:
FAITH COURAGE PERSISTENCE
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES: (1) The student’s essay writing will follow MLA guidelines, will include a clearly stated thesis or argument, and will develop support in well-organized and unified paragraphs. (2) The student’s writing will demonstrate a clear understanding of the requirements of clear exposition for college-level written communication such as analysis of evidence, appropriate inferences from the evidence, and coherent focus on the argument.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS - This a GRADED COURSE. Your grade will be determined by completion of the following. Note that the number or type of assignments may change. It is your responsibility to keep up with all changes. In order to pass this class, all your work MUST equal a “C”. I allow my students to rewrite all outside essays since the more you write, the more you will improve.
HERE IS A SUMMARY OF THE SEMESTER’S WORK. THIS MAY CHANGE. BE ALERT TO ALL CHANGES:
700 points total
3 short essays (50 pts each) 150 points
1 Research Paper 150
5 Worksheets (20 pts each) 100
5 Discussion posts (10 pts each) 50
1 Reading test 100
1 On-Line Writing Final 150
Your grades will be based on the points you have at the end of the semester. Note that the totals may change based on any changes:
700-630=A 629-560=B 559-490=C 489-420=D 419 or below=F
ALL HOMEWORK AND OUTSIDE ESSAYS MUST BE TYPED IN THE STANDARD FORM. No handwritten assignments will be accepted. The only exceptions are in-class essays and tests. We will be using CANVAS. If you don’t know how to use CANVAS, there are tutorials in the Tech Office.
GENERAL COURSE POLICIES:
Attendance/Participation
Surviving a college-level class without attending it is virtually impossible. Therefore, attendance at all class meetings is mandatory. Students are expected to log into the Zoom meeting on time and to be present throughout the period (technological issues aside). While you are not required to have your camera enabled, I encourage you to do so, as it increases student engagement with the class, which is vital to your success in it.
College policy allows me to remove students from a Zoom session (and mark them absent for the day) if they don’t answer when I call on them, so if you need to step away for a second, just send me a private message in Chat so that I know. Los Angeles City College’s official policy allows me to exclude students with one week’s worth of absences. While I won’t take attendance during individual class meetings, I will check students’ Zoom attendance and Canvas participation weekly. Students who have not been active in the class for the previous ten days will be excluded from the class.
Students who fail to attend either class meeting during the first week will be dropped from the course so as to accommodate students who have been present.
Students who miss class for religious holidays can be excused if they make arrangements with me in advance.
If you miss a class meeting, you are still responsible for turning in any missed assignments (both those due and assigned on the missed day) by their respective due dates.
According to official college policy, three tardies will add up to one absence. It is the student’s responsibility to drop the course officially.
Class (N)Etiquette
Students are encouraged to speak up honestly in all class-related writing (whether with me or each other), and as such I don’t want to limit your use of language. However, because we are learning in a community environment, we must be aware of those around us. We are a diverse academic community, representing different faiths, lifestyles, ethnicities, sexualities, and cultures. Therefore, I ask that you think about your fellow classmates and be tolerant, respectful, and considerate of your colleagues during any discussions, even (especially?) at times when you may disagree with an opinion that someone else has expressed. This is particularly important in an online setting where certain gestures, facial expressions, or intonations don’t come across the way they would in a face-to-face setting.
Bear in mind that while some of our class readings will contain adult topics and images, the point of the class is to study and write about their larger implications. Remember that this is first and foremost an academic/professional environment.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT:
Embedded Tutors
Embedded Tutors help students gain the writing skills needed to be successful in English 101 through participation in classroom activities and individual writing consultations in The Writers' Block. Students can find more information or schedule an appointment on The Writers’ Block website. (Links to an external site.)
NetTutor
The district has subscribed to this online tutoring service, which is available in Canvas.
Office Hours
I will be holding office hours via Zoom at the times listed at the top of this syllabus. The link will be posted on Canvas. Be advised that the Waiting Room will be enabled, so you might need to hold tight if I happen to be working with another student when you log in.
A Note on Scheduling/Time Management
While I don’t want to scare anyone away, students should be advised that this course will require 2-3 hours of out-of-class work for every hour that is spent in class. Expecting to pass this course without having that much time available is unrealistic.
COLLEGE POLICIES:
Drop Deadline
The deadline to drop withouta “W” is the last day of Week 2. Dropping afterWeek 2 will result in a “W” on your transcript. Effective July 1, 2012 students will only have 3 attempts to pass a class. If a student gets a “W,” “D,” “F,” or “NP” in a class, that will count as an attempt. A student’s past record of course attempts district-wide will also be considered. Therefore, before the end of Week 2 you should carefully consider if you can reasonably manage this course with the other factors in your life (e.g. work, family, course load). If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to talk to me. You may also see an academic counselor.
Academic Integrity
Academic Dishonesty, e.g. plagiarism, in any form will be punished severely. Violations of Academic Integrity include, but are not limited to, the following actions: cheating on an exam, plagiarism, working together on an assignment, paper or project when the instructor has specifically stated students should not do so, submitting the same term paper to more than one instructor, or allowing another individual to assume one's identity for the purpose of enhancing one's grade. More information on plagiarism is available in section 54 of Rules for Writers.
Cheating is a violation of academic integrity and Board Rule 9803.28. Penalties for cheating may include a grade of zero or "F" on an exam or paper, or even suspension from the college.
Note
Students with a verifiable disability who believe they need academic adjustments or accommodations for this class are encouraged to notify the instructor and to contact the Office for Special Services (SSB 1F; 323-943-4000, ext. 2270; oss@lacitycollege.edu; or on their website (Links to an external site.)) at least two weeks before any scheduled exam or as soon as possible. OSS will determine if you are eligible for academic adjustments or accommodations and give you a form to present to the instructor authorizing your reasonable accommodations. Your information will remain confidential.
Financial Aid
Ifyouneedhelppayingforbooksandothercollegeexpenses,calltheFinancialAidOfficeat(323)953-4000,ext.2010,or email finaid@lacitycollege.edu (Links to an external site.).
DO YOU THINK YOU WILL NEED EXTRA HELP WITH ENGLISH 101? The paired English 101/104 classes are available to give you extra help. To take a paired 101/104, you will need to drop this class and transfer. Or, you can stay in this class but take advantage of help through our Embedded Tutor as well as the Writing Center that is available on-line. I will give you information about how to do this virtually in the next few weeks.
At the Writing Center, you will receive individualized tutoring assistance with essay assignments, assigned readings, critical thinking, grammar and usage, quoting and citing, MLA documentation, library research, formatting, and more. (Note: To get the most out of each tutoring session, students should bring with them—as appropriate—a written assignment and specific questions they hope to have answered. Moreover, you may request that your students bring back a completed Tutoring Verification Form detailing what was covered during each tutoring session.) In addition to its tutoring services, the Writing Center offers students privileged access both to Macmillan Educations’s online learning tool LaunchPad Solo for Readers and Writers and to newly offered faculty-led workshops that will cover material relevant to English 101 and more advanced English courses. Computers, printers, textbooks, worksheets, and other physical resources are also available to English 108 students.
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HOLIDAYS AND DEADLINES |
DATE |
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Spring Semester Begins |
Monday, February 8, 2021 |
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Presidents' Holiday |
Friday, February 12, 2021 |
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Non-Instruction Day |
Saturday, February 13 - Sunday, February 14, 2021 |
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Presidents' Holiday |
Monday, February 15, 2021 |
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Last Day to Drop for a Refund |
Sunday, February 21, 2021* |
|
Last Day to Drop Without an W |
Sunday, February 21, 2021* |
|
Last Day to Add Classes |
Sunday, February 21, 2021* |
|
Census Date |
Monday, February 22, 2021 |
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Spring Break |
Saturday, April 3 - Friday, April 9, 2021 |
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Cesar Chavez Holiday |
Wednesday, March 31, 2021 |
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Non-Instructional Day |
Friday, April 2, 2021 |
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Spring 2021 Graduation Petition Deadline |
Thursday, April 15, 2021 |
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Last Day to Drop with a "W" |
Sunday, May 9, 2021* |
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Memorial Day Holiday |
Monday, May 31, 2021 |
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Final Exam Schedule |
Tuesday, June 1, 2021 - Monday, June 7, 2021 |
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Spring Semester Ends |
Monday, June 7, 2021 |
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Commencement Ceremony |
Tuesday, June 8, 2021 |
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Grades Due |
Monday, June 14, 2021 |
ENG 101 COURSE SYLLABUS, section #17363 – Spring 2021
Note that this schedule is subject to change. It is the student’s responsibility to keep up with all changes. Pages from Rules for Writers will be assignedthroughout the semester. The links to all the articles will be given in the modules.
RFW=Rules for Writers
Week 1: Speaking the Truth
February 20
Course Introduction
On-Line Writing Diagnostic
Sojourner Truth’s “Ain’t I A Woman” & Worksheet #1.
Week 2:
February 27
Discuss Sojourner Truth and Worksheet #1
Worksheet #2: Summary/Annotation assignment on “The Terrible Cost of Presidential Racism”
Reading & Writing Critically, Rules for Writers,pages 56-66.
Week 3
March 6
Discuss “The Terrible Cost of Presidential Racism" and share annotations.
Formal Essay #1 Assigned, due Week 5.
The Writing Process in Rules for Writers (RFW), pages 1 - 20.
Week 4
March 13
Outline and Introduction for Essay #1 due.
More on organization and structure.
Group and class critique of outlines and introductions.
Rules for Writers (RFW), pages 21-27.
Week 5:
March 20
Peer Edit Essay #1 (points given.)
Revising for a Final Draft, RFW pages 28-39.
Essay #1 due.
Week 6:
March 27
How to read a novel
Introduction to Parable of the Sower: Octavia E. Butler’s Parable of the Sower (Links to an external site.)
Begin Parable of the Sower - Complete by week 7.
Worksheets #3 and4 on the first three themes in the discussion guide and Butler’s biography.
The discussion guide and themes to Parable of the Sower:
http://parableofthesoweratunc.web.unc.edu (Links to an external site.)
Self Study in Rules for Writers, pages to be given.
NO CLASS APRIL 3 - SPRING BREAK
Week 7:
April 10
Discuss Worksheets #3 and 4
Worksheet #5 on the final three themes.
Self Study in Rules for Writers, pages to be given.
Week 8:
April 17
Discussion of Worksheet #5 Parable of the Sower
Self Study in Rules for Writers, pages to be given.
In-Class Short Essay #2 on the themes in Parable of the Sower.
Week 9:
April 24
Short Essay #3 on Langston Hughes poem assigned.
Introduction of the MLA Citation Method.
Week 10:
May 1
Outline and Introduction for Essay #3 due.
More on the MLA Citation Method.
Week 11:
May 8
Short Essay #3 due.
Remember: Sunday, May 9th, Last day to drop with a 'W'.
Week 12:
May 15
Research Essay #4 Assigned, due 6/12 or before.
Readings TBA
Writing the Compare/Contrast Essay, RFW, pages to be assigned.
Week 13:
May 22
On-Line Reading Midterm based on everything read to date.
Additional readings TBA.
How to conduct research, RFW pages 357-369.
Week 14:
May 29
Additional information on the MLA Citation Method and writing the research essay.
Outline and introduction of Essay #4 due.
Week 15:
June 5
Peer Editing Research Essay #4.
Week 16: - FINAL!!
June 12 Research Essay #4 due June 12 or before.
Our On-Line Writing Final will also be June 12. It will be based on a question taken from the readings to date.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
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