Henry Ford
Community College

 

 

 

English 093

COURSE SYLLABUS

(Fundamentals of Writing II)

                                        

 

 

 

Instructor:

 

   Pete Kearly

 

Section 01:

 

   Phone Code #383108

 

Meeting Days/Times:

 

   MWF: 7:08AM-8:00AM

 

Classroom:

 

   L-216

 

Instructor’s Office:

 

   L-148

 

Instructor’s Office Hours

 

M-Th: 12-3PM & By Appt.

 

Instructor’s Phone:

  

(313) 317-6682

 

Instructor’s E-mail:

 

pkearly@hfcc.net

 

Philosophy:

 

Each individual brings to writing her /his own abilities to think and express.  ENG 093 should facilitate such already learned abilities, nurture them and make possible their adaptation to the conventions of academic and professional language.  Think of me as a coach and of reading and writing as skills that require teamwork and practice, practice, practice.

 

 

Required Materials:

 

Blue or Black Pen and #2 Pencil for Scantron tests

 

50-60 sheets of loose-leaf paper (to be stored in your binder)

 

1 two-pocket folder to store handouts and submit Term Paper

 

1 three-ring binder with (at least 5) dividers

 

Required Texts:

 

Troyka, Lynn Quitman.  Steps in Composition, 7th ed.

        Prentice Hall, Inc., 1999.

 

The American Heritage Dictionary, 3rd. Ed. (Paperback)

 

Practices of Highly Successful College Students

 

Course Description:

 

A developmental course to prepare students for success in English 131.  It is required of students who intend to enroll in English 131 but whose scores on the English Placement Test indicate weaknesses in English.  Individual conferences are held, and supplemental laboratory work in reading and writing skills may be required.  Students must earn a grade of “S” (Satisfactory) before enrolling in English 131.

 

Pre-Requirements:

 

Students whose ASSET or COMPASS scores place them in ENG 088 must pass that course before taking ENG 093.  Students whose ASSET or COMPASS scores place them in ENG 081 must pass that course before taking ENG 093 or take those courses concurrently.

 

Course Objectives:

 

1.     Show awareness of diverse audiences.

2.     Present controlling ideas in clear thesis statements.

3.     Have appropriate introductions, bodies, and conclusions.

4.     Contain clear topic sentences that are supported logically by details, examples, reasons, facts and data.

5.     Demonstrate thinking skills such as the ability to quote, interpret, analyze, criticize, compare, argue, define, classify, and/or summarize texts of other writers.

6.         Write compositions that are relatively free of mechanical errors, including run-on sentences, fragments, and agreement errors.

7.         Demonstrate ability to revise and learn from mistakes.

 

 

 

 

Student Responsibilities: 

 

1.      You are required to attend all class meetings.  If you cannot attend a class due to extenuating circumstances, you must notify me well in advance by telephone or by email (see Attendance).

2.      Each student is responsible for reading any assigned text and handouts and not relying entirely on the instructor presenting every detail.  Your primary goal is to become an independent learner!

3.      Any dishonesty involved with homework or exams will result in a grade of zero.  One act of dishonesty is plagiarism.  Plagiarism is the act of submitting work that is not the result of your own labor and thought, including quotation, paraphrasing, and summarizing the work of others without citation, submitting work that has been written by a friend, family member, or anyone other than you.

4.      I will not accept any late assignments.  If you do not submit an assignment when it is due you will receive a zero on that assignment and miss the opportunity to receive feedback from me.

5.      You are responsible for keeping your work well organized in a binder with dividers.  Divide your work in order in the following sections: 1) Syllabus and Grade Sheet, 2) Writing Journal, 3) Grammar/ Vocabulary Dictionary, 4) Textbook Assignments, 5) Learning Lab (handouts + report), 6) Notes.

6.      You must record your own grades on assignments on the grade sheet attached to this syllabus.  If you need another grade sheet, request one from me.

Assignments:

 

·   You must complete a four-page (approximately 1000 words) term paper.

·   Your Writing Journal will amount to various one-page assignments due by the end of the given class period for comments/suggestions and a grade.  These Journal assignments are intended to help you draft portions of your term paper.  You will be responsible for choosing your 10 best Journal assignments to count toward your final grade.  Possible Journal topics include: Emotions such as being guilt-ridden vs. guilt-free, feeling shame, overcoming anger, understanding fear; Social Conflicts such as racial hatred and prejudice, date-rape, gender discrimination, youth violence, abuse of the elderly, religious wars, personal goals, personal memories.

·   You must create a Grammar/Vocabulary Dictionary defining grammar terms and skills that you need to review and words you look up in the dictionary to expand your vocabulary.  Every class period I will write a common mistake in grammar and add five words to your vocabulary.  You must write that mistake and the new words in your Grammar/Useful Terms Dictionary, defining what the mistake is and giving an example proving you learned how to correct the mistake as well as defining the new words and using them correctly in sentences.  (Each Grammar term as well as each vocabulary word will earn you a point.  You must have at least 100 points by the end of the semester.)

·   You must complete Textbook grammar and reading response Assignments as assigned.  You will receive full credit (100/100 points) for completing all textbook assignments at the end of the semester when you submit your Portfolio.  Do not throw away any assignments I return, even if they are not marked.  Keep up to date with each assigned textbook activity.  I subtract five points for each missing assignment.

·   For the 1st part of your Learning Lab section, you must complete a Learning Lab Log (worth 50/50 points) documenting completion of all handouts from the Learning Lab as required by your diagnostic exam.  You must have me initialize the log to indicate my approval of each handout you did.  I subtract ten points for each incomplete handout.

·   For the 2nd part of your Learning Lab section, you must write a two-page report on the HFCC Study Skills Booklet (worth 50/50 points).  Add the report to the Textbook section of your Binder.

·   Two in-class diagnostic multiple choice and essay exams will be given.  The first diagnostic exam will show what writing skills you need to improve.  The second diagnostic exam will show what improvement you made and will determine if you pass the class.  You will be allowed to see your results, but I must keep the exams on file to assess your progress over the semester.

·   Class Notes should be kept in a separate section of your Portfolio (Binder) for credit at the end of the course.  Should you be on the border between grades, quality notes will award you the better grade.

Revisions:

I allow unlimited revisions of all writing assignments until April 25, 2000.  I will attach an evaluation sheet with each Journal assignment and draft of your term paper to help you with revisions in addition to the comments and suggested corrections I write on the papers.  You should conference with me in my office during my office hours to make sure you understand each revision instruction.  Remember that the basic philosophy for this course is learning from mistakes.

Additional Resources:

 

    Students may receive a Writing Lab Referral instructing them to work in the Learning Lab with writing tutors on particular reading and writing areas identified by the instructor.

 

 Two weeks into the semester, I will assign Writing Teams.  Team members are expected to help each other keep up on class assignments and to provide objective feedback on written work. Once I assign them, exchange phone numbers and/or e-mail with the two other students who will serve as co-members in your Writing Team.  Writing Teams may change over the course of the semester.

 

                                          Name                                     Phone Number                       e-mail

 

                                                                                                                                                     _______

 

                                                                                                                                                     _______

 

Attendance Policy:

 

  Attendance is taken daily.  Consistent and punctual class attendance is necessary to successfully complete this course.  Do not arrive late or leave the class early.  Remember that the instructor indicates the time to leave.  The only valid reasons you have for absence or leaving early are your own serious illness, childcare emergency, the serious/emergency illness of a family member, or a death in the immediate family. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

  A student will be asked to drop the course if s/he receives six or more unexcused absences. 

 

  The instructor will notify students if the class will be cancelled for any reason.

 

Determination of Final Grade:

 

The grade you receive on your report card is calculated by your point total divided by the total possible points for each individual student.  Point totals may vary between students, depending on effort.  Nonetheless, percentages align with the following letter grades: 100-90% (A), 89-80% (B), 79-70% (C), 69-60% (D), and 59-50% (E).  You will receive a point tally sheet to help keep track of your own progress.  YOU MUST COMPLETE THE GRADE SHEET.  Failure to complete the Grade Sheet means that I will not grade your portfolio.  To pass ENG 093, you must earn 80% (B) or higher. 

 

Section 1: Writing Journal Assignments: 8 + 10 + 8 + 9 + 10 + 10 + 10 + 7 + 8 + 10 = 90/100 (pick your ten best)

Section 2: Self-evaluations of Writing Skills (total of at least ten): 90/100

Section 3: Grammar/Vocabulary Dictionary: 100/100 (score may vary; you earn 1/1 point for each grammar/vocabulary term)

Section 4: Textbook Assignments: 100/100 (Remember, I subtract five points for each missing assignment)

Section 5: Learning Lab Log: 100/100 (score is determined by completion of all handouts)

Section 6: Class Notes (quality notes will allow me to round your grade up if you are bordering between two grades)

In two-pocket folder: Term Paper: 320/500 (score is determined by adding scores on all five drafts)

In two-pocket folder: Final Diagnostic Exam: 60/100 (score is based on average of multiple choice and essay exams)

Not in Binder or Folder: Attendance: 100/100 (You lose five points for each unexcused absence)

Total: (final exam) 188 + (term paper) 305+ (writing journal) 90 + (grammar dictionary) 100 + (textbook) 100  + (learning lab log) 100  + (attendance) 100 =960/1200=80%=B=”S”

 

·         Grading: For each assignment and essay, points are taken off to tell you to work on one of the following: punctuation and spelling (-1), comma use (-1), pronoun use (-1), singular-plural agreement (-1), paper format (-1), quotation marks (-1), sentence construction (-2), transition (-2), organization of idea (-2), mixed metaphor (-2), missing definition of a concept (-2), MLA citation guidelines (-2), logic of idea (-3), valid use of source (-3), valid observation and detailed description (-3), missing supporting evidence (-4), logic of overall argument (-5), valid conclusion (-5).  I calculate these point subtractions based on the average number of times a student tends to need to learn the given skill (see Guide for Revision attached to this syllabus).

·         Students will automatically earn at least half the points possible for an assignment merely for seriously attempting to do the assignment.

 

Class Schedule

 

Important Dates:             Late Registration/Schedule Adjustments           Jan 8 - 13

                                          Last day for 100% refund by 12:30PM                  Jan 13

                                          Martin Luther King, Jr. Day—College Closed     Jan 15

                                          Last day for no-record drop by 7PM                       Jan 22

                                          Last day for 50% refund by 7PM                           Jan 22

                                          Spring Break                                                        Mar 4 - 11

                                          Last day to drop classes in Registrar’s Office      Mar 23

                                          Class Ends (Teacher Evaluations)                       Apr 30

                                          Complete Diagnostic B Essay Exam!                    Apr 30 & May 4

 

Sequence of Instruction: The following schedule is tentative and may be subject to change.

           

      Date          Day                                                                  Class Work

 

      Jan 8         Mon           Introduction, discussion of syllabus, and completion of personal ID cards.  Relationship to Writing exercise: describe your own writing process (what works for you and what hasn’t worked for you?).  Homework: Purchase Class Supplies: Binder & Dividers, Books, etc.  Begin Grammar/Vocabulary Dictionary by defining Grammar and Vocabulary Terms I had written on the board.

 

      Jan 10       Wed           Discuss Stereotypes about school and teachers.  Write one paragraph on how teachers and students think of each other.  Homework: Read Chapters 1-4, HFCC Study Skills Booklet: write one-page report summarizing chapters.

 

      Jan 12       Fri             Organize Binder.  Name-calling exercise: Go over common cliché descriptions of people who act in certain ways and how to better describe them.  Interviewing-classmates observation exercise: noticing not-so-obvious detail about people.  Writing Teams write on fashion.  Homework: Read Chapters 5-8, HFCC Study Skills Booklet: Practical Guide to Becoming a Successful College Student: write a two-page report summarizing the book and its usefulness.

 

      Jan 15       Mon           No Class!  Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

                                               

      Jan 17       Wed           Study Book Report Due!  Multiple Choice Part of In-class Diagnostic A examination.  Homework: Complete Reading Survey (p. 5) from Chapter One of Steps in Composition so I can see your reading comprehension skills.

 

      Jan 19       Fri             Essay Part of Diagnostic A examination.  Homework: Complete vocabulary

                                          exercises from Chapter One (pgs.5-9) in Steps in Composition.

                                         

      Jan 22       Mon           Meet in the Learning Lab and complete Learning Lab handouts and/or the

Skills Bank drills according to your scores on the Diagnostic Exam.  5-minute individual conferences with me to decide possible topics for the Term Paper while other students complete handouts.  Homework: Complete exercises 1H and 1K from Chapter One in Steps (pgs. 44-48).

                                                                                   

      Jan 24       Wed           Meet in the Learning Lab and complete Learning Lab handouts.  5-minute individual conferences with me to decide possible topics for the Term Paper while other students complete handouts.  Homework: Add Sound-Alikes (p. 68-69) to Grammar/Vocabulary Dictionary.  Complete exercises 2 I, 2K, and 2M from Chapter Two in Steps in Composition (pgs. 75-78).

 

      Jan 26       Fri             Lecture on using words other than “society” to explain why we dress the way we do.  Writing Teams write 10 statements using words other than "society" or “media” to explain why various people dress the way they do.  Homework: Complete Draft #1 of Term Paper (1-page description or personal narrative). 

           

      Jan 29       Mon           Draft #1 of Term Paper Due! Using dictionary, write descriptive words to practice describing various human behaviors; Write 1 page observing one “odd” human behavior (e.g., nose-picking).  Homework: Complete exercises 3D and 3E from Chapter Three in Steps in Composition (pgs. 109-122).

 

      Jan 31       Wed           Debate on judging people by their looks (appearance vs. personality).  Practice observation exercises:  detail not-so-obvious aspects of how people look in advertisements (supplied by me). 

 

      Feb 2         Fri             Go over "Words and Phrases to Avoid."  Writing Teams write real-life examples other than the examples I provide for each of the Words and Phrases to Avoid and, using the definitions, write explanations of the false thinking behind each example.  Homework: Complete exercises 3F, 3G, and 3H from Chapter Three in Steps in Composition.

 

      Feb 5         Mon           Discuss popular assumptions about how men are supposed to act and how women are supposed to act, and write descriptive details about gender roles. 

 

      Feb 7         Wed           Read “Hips” and “Penis” and complete writing exercise.  Write a one-page comparison/contrast of gender roles.  Homework: Complete Reading Survey from Chapter Four in Steps (p. 131).   

 

      Feb 9         Fri             Exchange ads depicting beauty ideals for men and women and write detailed observations.  Read Kasey Bryant's "Talk Shows . . "  Discuss talk shows and what they promote.  Homework: Complete Draft #2 of Term Paper (2-page narrative + interpretive summary of a source). 

 

      Feb 12       Mon           Draft #2 of Term Paper Due!  Go over “Logical Fallacies” to avoid.  Write examples of each kind of logical fallacy (think of talk shows and the ads we examined) and, using definitions, explain the false thinking behind each example.  Add the twenty-four “Words and Phrases to Avoid” and “Logical Fallacies” and your examples to the Grammar/Vocabulary Dictionary section of your binder.  Homework: Complete exercises 4C and 4D from Chapter Four of Steps (pgs 137-139).

 

      Feb 14       Wed           Watch scenes from Jerry Springer Uncensored.  Practice identifying logical fallacies observed in scenes.  Use one fallacy to write a one-page critical response to what Jerry Springer presents.  Homework: Complete exercises 4E and 4F from Chapter Four of Steps in Composition (pgs. 137-142)

 

      Feb 16       Fri             Watch film scene from Thelma & Louise: Discuss Date Rape.  Write a two-

paragraph response to the issue of date rape using observations of film to support your topic sentence and point-of-view (Do Not Blame the Victim or Blame alcohol!).  Homework: Complete exercises 4H, 4K, 4L, and 4N from Chapter Four of Steps in Composition (pgs. 153-157).

 

      Feb 19       Mon           Watch film scene from The Accused.  Go over what a valid argument is.  Use the film to develop a valid argument about what causes rape.  Write five valid arguments around the topic of date rape or around the topic of beauty standards.  Homework: Complete Reading Survey from Chapter Five in Steps in Composition (p. 166).

 

      Feb 21       Wed           Class Notes on methods of writing transitions. Writing Teams work on choosing three film responses to make the body paragraphs for an essay by writing transitions between each paragraph.  Class Notes on methods for writing introductions and conclusions.  Writing Teams write an introduction and conclusion for the essay using the three films.

 

      Feb 23       Fri             Watch film scene from Women of Brewster Place (husband coming home scene).  Write five arguments on male notions of women.  Homework: Complete exercises 5E, 5F, and 5G from Chapter Five in Steps (pgs. 178-187).

 

      Feb 26       Mon           Watch clip from La Bamba:  Discuss "patriarchy" and its myths of male power.  Go over using Pronouns correctly (e.g., subject pronouns, object pronouns, relative pronouns, question words as pronouns).  Write a 2-paragraph response using pronouns correctly. 

 

      Feb 28       Wed           Homework:  Organize Midterm Portfolio:  Due on Friday.

 

      Mar 2         Fri             Midterm Portfolio Due (Late portfolios will be penalized one hundred points).  Write Midterm self-evaluation to include in the Midterm Portfolio.  Go over How and When to use quotations.  Practice basic methods for quoting source material.  Work on citing sources.  Make a "Works Cited" page. 

 

      Mar 4 – 11                   Spring Break!

 

      Mar 12       Mon           Lecture on Black stereotypes:  "Uncle Tom, Mammy, Saphire, Coon, Sambo, Buck, Pickaninny, Mulatto."  Watch clip from Hollywood Shuffle.  Class Notes on comparison/contrast.  Write five comparison/contrasts of racial stereotypes of Blacks.

 

      Mar 14       Wed           Complete William M. O'Barr handout.  Write one-page comparison of two advertisements from O’Barr handout.  Homework: Complete exercises 5H, 5I, and 5O from Chapter Five in Steps (pgs. 194-208).

 

      Mar 16       Fri             Read William Lynch's "A Slave Narrative."  Discuss use of race to "divide and conquer."  Watch clip from School Daze  (jiggaboos vs. wannabes scene): Lecture on "color hierarchy."  Write a one-page critical response to the issue of racial competition using the film scene and quoting from the Lynch speech as support.  Homework: Complete Reading Survey from Chapter Six in Steps (p. 227).

 

      Mar 19       Mon           Read Nellie Wong's "When I Was Growing Up" and Mary Hope Lee's "On Not Bein.”  Discuss the difference between "white supremacy" and minority racism.  Write a one-page response comparing each poem using at least three different quotation styles.  Homework: Complete exercises 6C, 6D, 6E, and 6H from Chapter Six in Steps in Composition (pgs. 236-252).

 

      Mar 21       Wed           Discuss sexual stereotypes revolving around notions of race in the U.S. Watch scene from Imitation of Life (wanting to be white scene): write one-paragraph description of scene.  Homework: Complete exercises 6I, 6J, and 6K from Chapter Six in Steps in Composition (pgs. 253-265).

 

      Mar 23       Fri             Watch scene from Jungle Fever (girl talk on players and trifling black men):  write one-page critical response to issue of racial-sexual stereotypes.  Homework: Complete Draft #3 of Term Paper (3-page analysis of a source).

 

      Mar 26       Mon           Draft #3 of Term Paper Due! Discuss stereotypes of South Asians (i.e., East

Indians, Pakistanis, etc.), especially notions of arranged marriages.  Watch scenes from Mississippi Masala and East is East.  Write a one-page response to the film scenes.  Homework: Complete exercises 7C, 7D, 7F, and 7G from Chapter Seven in Steps (pgs. 279-302).

           

      Mar 28       Wed           Discuss stereotypes of “Arabs” (Middle-Easterners who speak Arabic).  Watch

scenes from Rules of Engagement and The Siege. Write critical response to films.  Homework: Complete Reading Survey from Chapter Eight in Steps (p.332-333).

 

      Mar 30       Fri             Review revision/evaluation sheets I’ve attached to your graded writing

assignments.  Select a non-graded writing assignment to exchange with a member in your Writing Team.  Write a one-page evaluation of each other’s writing using the categories on my revision/evaluation sheet as a guide.  Homework: Complete exercises 8C, 8D, and 8E from Chapter Eight in Steps in Composition (pgs. 339-353).

 

      Apr 2          Mon           Discuss stereotypes of “Asians” (people from the Far East).  Watch scene from

Combination Platter.  Write one-page response.  Homework: Complete exercises 8F and 8G from Chapter Eight in Steps in Composition (pgs. 357-361).

 

      Apr 4          Wed           Watch scene from The Joy Luck Club.  Discuss & write a one-page response.

                                   

      Apr 6          Fri             Writing teams complete revision worksheet for each member’s paper based on

audience feedback to writer as s/he reads her/his paper aloud to the group.  Advise writer how to use better vocabulary, organize ideas better, write a more original conclusion, and make meaningful and smarter insights and observations.  Homework: Complete Draft #4 of Term Paper (4-page persuasive essay + Works Cited page). 

 

      Apr 9          Mon           Draft #4 of Term Paper Due!  Homework: Complete exercises 9E, 9F, and

                                          9K from Chapter Nine in Steps in Composition (pgs. 382-395).

 

Apr 11        Wed           Work on revision of Term Paper in class.  Homework: Add Commonly

                                    Confused Words (pgs. 414-419) to Grammar/Vocabulary Dictionary. 

 

      Apr 13        Fri             Complete exercises 10C and 10G from Chapter Ten in Steps (pgs. 411-434).

 

      Apr 16        Mon           Complete exercises 11D and 11I from Chapter Eleven in Steps (pgs. 454-470).

     

      Apr 18        Wed           Complete exercises 12D and 12F from Chapter Twelve from Steps (pgs. 492-526).

 

      Apr 20        Fri             Complete exercises 12I, and 12J from Chapter Twelve from Steps (pgs. 492-526).

 

      Apr 23        Mon           Revise Term Paper in Class.  Complete any unfinished assignments.  No more

                                          revisions of any assignments will be accepted after Wednesday, April 25!

                                         

      Apr 25        Wed           Draft #5 of Term Paper Due! (Final persuasive essay + Works Cited page).

                                          Review for Diagnostic B Multiple Choice Exam.

Homework: Organize Portfolios.  Grade sheet MUST be completed or Portfolio will NOT be accepted.

 

      Apr 27        Fri             Diagnostic B Multiple Choice Exam. 

                                          Portfolios Due in my office, room L-148 by Noon! 

 

      Apr 30        Mon           Last Day of Class.  Review for Essay Exam.  Complete Teacher Evaluations.

 

May 4        Fri             Meet at 6:00AM-7:45AM to complete the Diagnostic B Essay Exam!

                                    Pick-Up Portfolio from my office, room L-148, by 3pm to find out final grade.