English 28
Intermediate Reading and Composition
Instructor: Karen Amano-Tompkins
Fall 2014
Sections 0197 - MW 9:35-11:00 am, 0198– MW 8:00-9:25 am
Location: NEA 105
Office hours: M 12:45-2:15 pm, T 9:30-10:30 am, W 11-12:30 pm, T 9:30-10:30 am in NEA 254
Voicemail: (310) 233-4698, mailbox #4850
Email: ms.tompkins@earthlink.net (best way to communicate with me outside of class!)
English 28 is designed to help students develop the critical thinking and effective reading and
writing skills necessary for success at the college level. Focus will be placed on composing wellorganized essays based on class readings and library resources. The course will include a review of
grammar and mechanics, an introduction to research techniques, and an introduction to literary
analysis.
Prerequisite: Completion of English 21 or 73 with a grade of CR or an appropriate placement test
score.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Students who successfully complete English 28 will be able to
1. Write a response to various modes of pre-collegiate level reading with logically constructed,
well-supported, and edited essays that exhibit a critical analysis of those readings;
2. Apply critical reading skills to recognize thesis, audience, purpose and evidence in advanced precollegiate texts;
3. Demonstrate awareness of the writing process and an ability to critique one’s own work and the
work of others with basic to intermediate skill;
4. Produce sentences that are relatively free from grammatical errors and display standard
American English and an academic style;
5. Employ parenthetical citations, secondary source documentation, and MLA conventions at a
basic skill level.
Students with Disabilities
Students with disabilities, whether physical, learning, or psychological, who believe that they may
need accommodations in this class, are encouraged to contact the staff at Special Programs &
Services as soon as possible to ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely
manner. Their phone number is 310-233-4620, and they are located in Cafeteria 108.
Required texts:
(available at the campus bookstore)
The Compact Reader: Short Essays by Method and Theme by Jane E. Aaron
– ISBN 0-312-60960-3
Rules for Writers (seventh edition) by Diana Hacker – ISBN 0-312-64736-0
Ten Little Indians by Sherman Alexie – ISBN 0-8021-4117-0
You will need all of the above books to pass this class!
Bring your books, a notebook (or notebook paper), and a pen to every class meeting. You
will also need to purchase three blue books for the two in-class essays and the final exam.
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Students who succeed in English 28 usually choose to
**Read carefully!**
 Make a serious commitment to succeeding in this class.
 Come to class on time and prepared.
 Get the required texts as soon as possible.
 Do all the assignments, including readings, and keep up with the class schedule.
 Participate in class discussions and activities.
 Refrain from using their cell phones during class.
 Let me know immediately if they experience a problem with the class or if other areas of
their lives seriously interfere with their ability to do their class work.
 Seek out all legitimate help with their course work, if you need it, including the Writing Lab,
tutoring, campus librarians, your textbook, and me.
 Maintain academic integrity by doing their own work. They do not plagiarize; they do not
cheat. (See box on plagiarism below.)
 Treat classmates and instructor with respect and consideration.
 Recognize that real learning is difficult – it involves making mistakes and taking risks.
If you are not willing to make these choices, you are not likely to pass this class!
I will be happy to meet with you to discuss your work in this course. I encourage you to visit me
during office hours, but if that is not convenient for you, we can make an appointment to meet at
another time.
Plagiarism can mean copying, word for word, all or part of something someone else has written and
turning it in with your name on it. Plagiarism also includes using your own words to express
someone else’s ideas without crediting the source of those ideas and reusing your own papers written
for another class.
Plagiarism is a very serious form of academic misconduct. It’s both lying and stealing, and it’s a
waste of time for students and teachers. College and departmental policy on plagiarism will be
strictly enforced: Any student caught plagiarizing will automatically receive a zero for that
assignment, with no possibility of making it up, and may be subject to up to a formal reprimand
and/or suspension.
Cite your sources! Please retain all notes and drafts of your papers until grading for the course is
completed.
Email: All email communications from the college (including those from your instructors) will be
directed to your LACCD student email account, so you are strongly urged to check it regularly.
Course site: http://mstompkinsblog.wordpress.com/
A reference Web site for this course is available at the URL above. The site primarily contains
information that we cover in class, such as due dates and requirements for specific assignments.
Occasionally, I will post links to online readings or other resources that may be useful to the class.
Downloadable handouts will be available on the Downloadable Documents page, so if you miss or
lose a class handout, you’ll be able to find it here.
Attendance/Tardiness
Attendance in class is mandatory. This is the college policy. If a student is absent for more than the
hours that a class meets per week, or if there is irregular attendance or a pattern of absences, the
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instructor has sufficient cause to drop a student from the class. For example, if a course meets 3
hours a week, then a student is allowed a maximum of 3 absences. Students who enter the class
after the official starting time will be marked absent for that particular day.
If a student is absent the first and/or second class meeting of the first week of the semester, then the
student will be dropped from the class. If you are absent three classes in a row, I will assume you
intend to drop the class.
Electronic Communication Devices Policy
According to Communications Division policy, electronic communication devices must remain off
during class time. Exceptions may be considered by faculty consultation (i.e. family emergency). A
first offense may result in the student being suspended from the class for one meeting. Repeated
offenses may result in up to a 2-day suspension from the class pending a conference with the Vice
President of Student Services.
Grading:
Your final grade in this class will be computed as follows.
Essays (3)
36%
English Dept. Exit Exam*
25%
Final & Midterm Exams
14%
In-class Essay & Research Project 8%
Homework & in-class work
6.5%
Quizzes
4%
Reading Analysis Presentation
2.5%
Participation
4%
Total
100%
360 points (120 points each, including draft + outline)
250
140 (70 points each)
A = 90% 900-1000 points
80 (40 points each)
B = 80% 800-899
65
C = 70% 700-799
40
D = 60% 600-699
25
F = 50% 0-599
_40 points
1000 points
*The English Department Exit Exam, an in-class essay written in response to a reading, is an
assessment of students’ writing and critical thinking skills. The exit exam counts for 25% of a
student’s final grade; however, it is not the sole determinant of the student’s final grade.
All assignments are required. In-class essays, quizzes, and in-class work cannot be made up. Missing
assignments can significantly impact your grade and prevent you from passing the course. For
example, if you do not turn in one essay, including outline and draft, (worth 120 points) and miss
one quiz (worth 10 points), you will need to pass the Exit Exam and complete every other
assignment with an average score of at least 83% in order to pass the class with a C (70%).
No late assignments will be accepted, unless an extension has been arranged with the instructor in
advance. Papers may not be submitted by email except by special permission, and when permitted, it
is the student’s responsibility to make sure that the paper is received and readable.
Revising: You may revise one or both of the first two essays and resubmit your work for re-grading.
Your grade may be raised a maximum of 10 percentage points. However, to improve your grade,
you will need to do more than correct grammatical errors and reword or reorder a few phrases.
Revision means a new vision; it means looking at your work with fresh eyes and reconsidering the
content, focus, and organization of your essay. It may involve rethinking, as well as rewriting.
Revised essays are due within one week of receiving your original essay back and must be
accompanied by your original graded essay and a cover letter explaining what changes you made
and why. Please do not revise and resubmit essays that receive a score of 90% or higher.
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Schedule of Topics and Assignments (subject to change)
Date
Lesson
Topic(s)
Homework & class preparation to complete before class
CR = The Compact Reader – R4W = Rules for Writers
***IMPORTANT: For exercises from Rules for Writers,
turn in answers to numbered questions only. Answers to
lettered questions can be found in the back of the book. ***
Week 1
Wed.
9/3
Mon.
9/8
Introduction
Reading
Critically
Quizzes, exams,
and major
assignments
Diagnostic writing
Week 2
Read CR – Chapter 1: Reading, pp. 3-17
TO BE ANNOUNCED
Diagnostic
grammar test
Written homework: One paragraph summary + thesis
Wed.
9/10
Read CR – Chapter 2: Developing an Essay, pp. 19-32
“Sixteen” by Charlie Spence, pp. 338-42
Written homework: CR - Meaning questions 1-3, pp. 342
R4W: Parts of speech, pp. 368-80
Written homework: R4W - Exercises 46-1, pp. 368-9; Ex. 46-2, p. 371; & Ex.
46-3, pp. 373-4
***IMPORTANT: For exercises from Rules for Writers, turn in answers to
numbered questions only. Answers to lettered questions can be found in the back
of the book. ***
*** Last day to drop class with no “W” and no fee owed is Sept. 11 (in-person)
and Sept. 14 (online)
Week 3
Mon.
9/15
Read CR – Chapter 3: Revising, pp. 33-46
“The C Word in the Hallways” by Anna Quindlen, pp. 327-30
Written homework: CR - Meaning questions 1-4, pp. 330
R4W: Sentence fragments, pp. 180-8
Written homework: R4W - Exercises 19-1, p. 187 & Ex. 19-2, pp. 187-8
Wed.
9/17
Description
Mon.
9/22
Example
Wed.
9/24
Read CR – Chapter 6: Description, pp. 91-7
“Desert Dance” by Marta K. Taylor, pp. 98-100
R4W: Run-on sentences, pp. 188-93
Written homework: R4W - Ex. 20-1, pp. 193-4 & Ex. 20-2,
pp. 194-5
Week 4
Read “Darkness at Noon” by Harold Krents (handout)
Written homework: Reading questions
R4W: Subordinate word groups, pp. 389-98
Written homework: Ex. 48-1, p. 391; Ex. 48-2, p. 394; &
Ex. 48-3, pp. 397-8
Read CR – Chapter 7: Example, pp. 115-121
R4W: Subject-verb agreement, pp. 196-205 & Sentence
Types, pp. 398-400
Written homework: Ex. 21-1, p. 206; Ex. 21-2, pp. 206-7;
& Ex. 49-1, p. 400
Outline of
Essay 1
Quiz 1
Draft of Essay 1
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Week 5
Mon.
9/29
Wed.
10/1
Division or
Analysis
Comparison
& Contrast
Read CR – Chapter 8: Division or Analysis, pp. 141-8
R4W: Pronoun-antecedent agreement, pp. 207-16
Written homework: Ex. 22-1, pp. 211-2 & 23-1, p. 216
Essay 1 due
Read CR – Chapter 11: Comparison & Contrast, pp. 220-9
R4W: Comma, sections 32a-d, pp. 292-7
Written homework: Ex. 32-1, p. 294, Ex. 32-2, pp. 2945; & Ex. 32-3, p. 297
Week 6
Mon.
10/6
R4W: Comma, sections 32-e-j, pp. 302-7
Unnecessary commas, pp. 308-13
Written homework: Ex. 32-5, pp. 302; Ex. 32-6, p. 307;
& Ex. 33-1, p. 313
Outline of
Essay 2
Read CR – Chapter 13: Cause & Effect Analysis, pp. 276-86
Rules for Writers: Semicolon, pp. 314-7; Colon, pp. 319-20
Written homework: Ex. 34-1, pp. 317-8; Ex. 34-2, p. 318;
& Ex. 35-1, pp. 320-1
Week 7
Quiz 2
Cause &
Effect
Read CR – “The Fake Trade,” pp. 292-297
R4W: Apostrophe, pp. 321-4; Quotation marks, pp. 326-31;
End punctuation, pp. 333-5
Written homework: Ex. 36-1, p. 325; Ex. 37-1, pp. 331-2
Draft of Essay 2
Grammar
Review
R4W: Numbers, pp. 345-7; Italics, pp. 347-9; Capital letters,
pp. 362-6
Written homework: Ex. 41-1, pp. 346-7; Ex 42-1. pp.
349-50; & Ex. 45-1, pp. 365-6
Week 8
Essay 2
Mon.
10/20
Midterm
Study for midterm!
Midterm
Wed.
10/22
Research
Read CR –Working with Sources, pp. 362-369
Research
Project Part 1
Comparison
& Contrast
Wed.
10/8
Mon.
10/13
Wed.
10/15
Week 9
Mon.
10/27
Wed.
10/29
Mon.
11/3
Research &
Documenting
Sources
Documenting
Sources
LIBRARY ORIENTATION
Skim CR - Documenting Sources (MLA Style), pp. 369-385
R4W: Other punctuation marks, pp. 335-9; Parallelism, pp.
116-8; Needed words, pp. 119-23
Written homework: Ex. 39-1; pp. 339-40; Ex. 9-1, p. 119
& Ex. 10-1, p. 123
Week 10
Research Project
Part 2 & Quiz 3
Page 6 of 6
Wed.
11/5
Literary
Analysis
Read Ten Little Indians: “Do Not Go Gentle,” pp. 96-101
Written homework: Reading questions (handout)
Read “Writing Essays for Exams” (online)
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/737/1
Week 11
Mon.
11/10
Wed.
11/12
Essay
Exams
In-class essay reading – to be announced
In-class Essay
Week 12
Mon.
11/17
Wed.
11/19
English
Dept. Exit
Exam
Wed.
11/26
Literary
Analysis
Wed.
12/3
Mon.
12/8
Wed.
12/10
Quiz 4
(Take-Home)
English Departmental Exit Exam
*** Last day to drop classes with a “W” is Nov. 20 (in-person),
Nov. 23 (online)
Mon.
11/24
Mon.
12/1
Exit Exam reading – handout
Week 13
Read Ten Little Indians: “The Search Engine,” pp. 1-27
(Part 1)
Written homework: Reading questions (handout)
R4W: Misplaced & dangling modifiers, pp. 127-34
Written homework: Ex. 12-1, pp. 130-1 & 12-2, p. 134
Read Ten Little Indians: “The Search Engine,” pp. 28-53
(Part 2)
Written homework: Reading questions (handout)
R4W: Active verbs, pp. 112-5 & Mixed constructions, pp.
123-6
Written homework: Ex. 8-1, p. 115; Ex. 11-1, pp. 126-7
Week 14
Read Ten Little Indians: “Flight Patterns,” pp. 102-23
Written homework: Reading questions (handout)
R4W: Shifts, pp. 135-9
Written homework: Ex. 13-3, pp. 139-40 & Ex. 13-4, pp.
140-1
Literary
Analysis
Read Ten Little Indians: “What You Pawn I Will Redeem,”
pp. 169-94
Written homework: Reading questions (handout)
Week 15
Read Ten Little Indians: “Whatever Happened to Frank
Snake Church,” pp. 195-222 (Part 1) & pp. 222-43 (Part 2)
Written homework: Reading questions (handout)
Final Review
Review for Final Exam
(Reading Analysis
Presentation)
(Reading Analysis
Presentation)
(Reading Analysis
Presentation)
Outline of Essay 3
(Reading Analysis
Presentation)
(Reading
Analysis
Presentation)
Draft of Essay 3
Finals Week
Mon.
12/15
Section 0197 ONLY
Final Exam 10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Essay 3 due
Wed.
12/17
Section 0198 ONLY
Final Exam 8:00 am - 10:00 am
Essay 3 due
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