Houston Community College—Southwest College Spring 2010 ENGL 0347—Writing and Grammar II (CRN 64866) Days Mon. Wed. Time 7:30-9:30 Instructor: Christian Jioni De Los Santos Telephone: 832-606-1346 Office: 832-606-1346 E-mail: christian904@netzero.com Course Description: English 0347 is a composition class that is designed for non-native speakers of English. We work on the structure of language. We review the elements of a paragraph and learn how to develop essays from 300-500 words. We will learn how to use the computer to word process, access information via the Internet, and reinforce writing skills through grammar software (when possible). In addition to building vocabulary, reading, and writing skills, this course prepares students for ENGL 0349 and the writing assignments for other college-level courses. Course Objectives: Specific course objectives include learning to: read and understand a writing topic write a meaningful thesis for an academic essay support a thesis with a variety of details (specific details, facts, statistics) write 300-500 word essays in a variety of rhetorical structures (narrative, comparison/contrast, cause/effect, argumentative) use research sources; summarizing + giving credit to a source work collaboratively to complete the writing process (for one comp) expand vocabulary use compound and complex sentence structures accurately demonstrate ability to edit an essay for correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation use the computer in the lab to word-process (one comp) Materials: Students must be prepared each day by bringing the following: Destinations 2: Grammar for Academic Success by Herzfeld-Pipkin Destinations 2: Writing for Academic Success by Herzfeld-Pipkin Online site to accompany Destinations 2: http://elt.thomson.com/destinations An English-English dictionary (the Cobuild Dictionary or the Longman Dictionary of American English have been ordered for you, but you may buy another American English dictionary); A bluebook (for journals, available in HCC bookstores) Pens (two colors), highlighters, a pencil, and an eraser, and stapler A green Scantron (for the final exam) A thumb drive A 1” ring binder to be used only for this course containing: Lined paper (standard size-8.5 by 11 inch) All previous handouts All homework assignments All graded work Students must have all of the above materials to participate successfully in this class. College Grading System: Students who have completed English 0347 and show that they are ready for the next level (ENGL 0349) with a final average of 70% or higher will receive a letter grade of A, B, or C. Students who are not ready for English 0349 may receive a grade of IP. The IP grade is not a good or bad grade; however, it means "IN PROGRESS" and requires the student to take English 0347 again because the student will benefit from another semester in 0347 to learn all of the skills that are taught in this course. However, if a student repeats 0347 after receiving one IP, a letter grade must be given (A, B,C, or F upon completing the course for the second time). Students who do not complete the work in the course will receive an F. Students who exceed the number of absences allowed by HCCS policy (up to 8 hours before the last day to withdraw from classes) will be dropped and receive a W. Any student who stops attending classes after the last official day to withdraw will receive either an IP or F. HCC Grading Scale: A= 90-100 B= 80-89 C= 70-79 *IP/F =0-69 *IP=in progress-not passing You must receive at least 70% overall average to pass the course. Notice: Effective Fall 2006, HCC charges a higher tuition rate to students registering for the third or subsequent time for certain courses. Students who enroll for most credit and CEU classes for a third or more time will be charged an additional $50 per semester credit hour and $3.00 per contact hour, except for courses exempted by The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. ***Students are limited to a total of 6 W’s during the course of their academic careers.*** Grading Formula : Compositions 1,2 10% Compositions 3,4 30% Homework 20% Quizzes 10% Final Composition 20% Final Grammar Exam 10% Dropping Courses and absences: It is the responsibility of the student to officially drop or withdraw from a course. Failure to officially withdraw will result in the student receiving a grade of “F” in the course. In addition, after three absences (or excessive tardies), I will inform "Early Alert". This means you are in jeopardy of losing your F1 status. Course Work: Compositions: Because this is primarily a writing course, the bulk of your grade will be based on your compositions. You will write a minimum of 5 compositions this semester (including the final essay). These essays will be written in class. All essays must be at least 300 words in length, and the argument essay must be 500 words. You will keep all of your drafts and comp. assignment sheets in your notebook. The final draft will be typed and must be submitted with the first draft(s) in order to receive a grade for the composition. Summaries: To improve your writing and demonstrate your understanding of what you have read, you will write summaries of our readings. You will receive a completion grade as part of the homework for this class. Quizzes: I will periodically test you on grammar we have studied in class to measure how well you understand the material, but grammar tests are not a large percentage of your final grade. The grammar is taught to support your writing. You will also have online vocabulary quizzes. NOTE: If you are absent when we have a quiz, there is no make-up quiz. However, at the end of the semester, I will drop the lowest quiz grade for every student. In other words, if you miss a quiz, you will get a “0” grade, but I will drop it—not use it—when I calculate your semester quiz average. Journals: To improve your fluency in English, you will occasionally write journal assignments. Students will practice expressing ideas in English regularly, usually once per week. Students should write freely, without fear of penalty. The journal is not graded like a composition. It is part of homework. The grade at the end of the semester is based on the total number of entries that you write. The journal assignments are listed on the course calendar. The journal may not be handed in late. The journal will be collected at random, so you must keep journal writing in the binder and bring it to class every day. Homework: Homework consists of grammar and writing assignments, reading of texts, some online research, and comprehension and vocabulary exercises. You will receive a completion grade rather than a letter or number grade for homework. An average homework load in ENGL 0347 is 1-2 hours for every hour in class. If you are taking too many classes or working long hours, you will not have time to complete the homework. Please do not remain in this class if you do not have time to complete the work, for it will result in a failing grade. Course Requirements: 1) Regular and punctual attendance is mandatory. You may miss one class without penalty. Beginning with your second absence, you will lose one point from your final grade. After 4 absences, you may be dropped. Two tardies (entering after the class has started, leaving early, or leaving during class) count as an absence. If you are absent, you are still responsible for the class work. Therefore, get the phone number or email of 2 classmates so that you can find out about the work that you have missed: _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ If you are absent on the day of a composition or test, it is your responsibility to notify me and to make arrangements for doing the work after an absence. There are no make-up quizzes, but I will drop the lowest quiz grade for every student. 2) Students are expected to participate in all class discussions and take notes in class and annotate (mark up) readings. 3) Both textbooks and a notebook for all class work must be brought to class each day. 4) Please double-space all compositions and write neatly, on one side only, in blue/black pen. If you type any work, please double space and use a size 12 font. 5) Written assignments, exercises, and all readings are to be completed before the class meeting for which they were assigned. Late homework is not accepted. Homework is due before class begins. Homework is not always collected. Rather it will be checked randomly, and missing assignments will be counted against the final grade. 6) Anyone caught cheating on a test or composition will immediately be given a “0” on that assignment. Anyone caught cheating twice will be dropped from the class. Cheating takes many forms. One form is plagiarism, using another person’s words or ideas without giving them credit. In American schools, plagiarism is considered dishonest, like stealing or cheating. Plagiarism can be “borrowing” a friend’s paper or downloading papers from the Internet. We will learn language skills to avoid plagiarism and develop our understanding of it throughout the semester, but if you think you might be plagiarizing, stop and don’t do it. 7) You are responsible for all the information on this syllabus. Put it in your notebook and bring it to class with you. Read it over when you have a question about the course. 8) No cell phones or other electronic devices are to be used in class unless the teacher has incorporated them into the assignment. If you leave class to answer your cell phone, you will be counted tardy. Turn your phone off before class. Students who are in any way disruptive will be asked to leave and marked absent. Following is a list of behaviors I consider unacceptable for class: Sleeping or daydreaming during class Chronic tardiness. Be here when class starts! Reading or working on materials that are extraneous to this class. Doing homework for this class inside the classroom. Prematurely packing up your books and bags before class has ended. Chatting with your classmates while I am talking or your classmates are asking questions. Checking your cell phones or other electronic devices. All cell phones must be turned off. Students with Special Needs Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Ability Services Office. Your instructor is authorized to provide only the accommodations requested by the office of Ability Support Services. The Disability Services Office number for Southwest College is 713-718-7910. Dr. Becky Hauri is the ADA contact counselor. Tutoring: All students are encouraged to take advantage of the student services on campus. Tutors are available to assist students with any reading/writing assignments. Students may make an appointment in advance or drop in (if no one has an appointment). Prepare yourself before you see a tutor to ask specific questions in order to use your time together well. In addition, online tutoring is available through: www.askonline.net. Reminder: the tutor is not your editor and will not write papers for you nor correct all your mistakes. Supplemental Syllabus: I reserve the right to supplement this syllabus later in the semester with additional guidelines, rules of conduct, etc. and to revise due dates to meet the needs of the class. Course Calendar for ENGL 0347- Spring 2010 WEEK Reading Destinations 1 2 Unit One 3 Unit Two 4 Unit Two 5 Unit Two 6 Unit Three 7 Unit Four 8 Unit Four 9 Unit Four 10 Unit Five Writing Grammar Intro to the AESL program and 0347 course; Diagnostic assessment HW: Read pp. 2-7 Journal #1: p. 8, #4 Due 1/26 Paragraph Structure, pp. 14-24 Sentence Structure – Coordinating Conjunction Review Writing Process Summary writing Journal #2, p. 25, #3 Due 2/16 HW: Read pp. 37-39, Answer Comprehension Check, p. 39 Begin Unit 2: (Narration), Discussion pp. 40-43; Writing sentences with subordinating conjunctions, pp. 43-50 Journal #3, p. 50 #2 Due 3/9 Writing Essays-Narrative, pp. 51-58 Continue Narrative, pp. 59-62; write C1D1 Journal #4, p. 61, #2 Due 2/23 Write C1D2- Narrative Grammar Diagnostic Grammar Test #1- Perfect/Perfect Continuous Writing sentences with transitions, pp. 78-86 Passive /Past modals (D2) pp.172-181 Destinations HW: Read pp. 105-108, Do comp. check, p. 108-109 Journal #5, p.111, #3 Due 3/2 Discuss, pp. 109-111 Writing sentences with connectors showing reasons, results, or conditions, pp. 111-120 Cause or Effect Essay, pp. 120-127 Journal #6, p. 120, #1 Due 3/9 Cause or Effect, pp. 127-134 Grammar Quiz #2- Passive Write C2D1- Cause or Effect Journal #7, p. 126, #2 Due 3/16 C2D2-Cause and Effect HW: Read pp. 136-139, Do comp. check, p.139-141 Journal #8, p. 143, #2 Due 3/30 Discuss pp. 141-143 Writing sentences with relative (adjective clauses), pp. 144-160 The Opinion Essay, pp. 161-162 Fact vs. opinion, pp. 163-164 Destinations 2 : Grammar (D2) Perfect & Perfect Continuous (D2) pp. 51-64 Perfect & Perfect Continuous (D2) pp. 65-76 Past Perfect (D2) pp. 77-90 Passive (D2) PP. 153-171 Adverb Clauses (teacher supplements) Adverb Clauses (teacher supplements) Adjective Clauses (teacher supplements) Journal #9, p. 164, #3 Due 4/6 11 Unit Five Expressing an Opinion, counter-argument pp. 163-171 Write C3D1 Noun Clauses 12 Unit Five Write C3D2- Opinion Grammar Quiz #3- Adverb & Adjective Clauses Writing sentences with connectors of contrast, pp. 182-189 HW: Read pp. 175-177, Do comp. check, pp. 177179 Journal #10, p. 182, #3 Due 4/20 Discuss, pp. 180-182 Writing Essays of Comparison/Contrast, pp. 191-200 Continue comparison/contrast essay, pp. 201-209 Write C4D1 Write C4D2- Comparison/Contrast Grammar Quiz #4-Noun Clauses Noun Clauses Unit Six 13 Unit Six 14 Unit Six 15 16 Write Final Essay on TBA 5/11 Final Grammar Exam on TBA 5/11 (teacher supplements) (teacher supplements) Review