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English A: Writing the College Essay TTH LINKED
NOTE: This class is linked with Prof. Isaac’s English 84 Section 6114. You MUST enroll in
both classes.
Instructor: Dr. Suzanne Gates
Office: H321L
Email: sgates@elcamino.edu
You do not need to contact me if you’re going to miss class.
Office hours: Mondays and Wednesdays, 6:50-7:50am
This course will provide a complete introduction to essay writing based upon selected prose
readings. A review of sentence skills and paragraph structure will be included.
That’s the basic definition of English A. How we arrive at an introduction to essay writing,
however, can be different in each class. In this class, we will be discovering college essaywriting and reading while investigating some of the darker mysteries of Los Angeles’s past.
Welcome to…
L.A. Noir
In this course you will be working in investigative teams to uncover clues through your readings
and research and arrive at solutions to some of Los Angeles’s most notorious unsolved crimes
and mysteries. The essays you write in this class will be in the form of reports, both individual
and team, on your investigative findings. For those of you who enjoy mystery or crime programs
on television (CSI, Cold Case, Bones, etc.), you will feel right at home. If this topic is a new
area for you, then you might be surprised to learn that many of the research and writing
techniques used in college are the same skills that investigators use when they are faced with
puzzling crimes. You will be learning writing and research skills in an interesting way, and if
you fulfill the expectations of this course and your investigative team, you will be well-prepared
to enter English 1A after you finish this course.
A FEW NOTES, AND A WARNING
1. This is the warning. This class is not rated, but if it were a movie, it would be rated “R.”
Some of the cases we’ll be exploring are gruesome. We may see explicit crime scene
photos in class; when this happens, I’ll let you know beforehand so you can avert your
eyes. If you would like to research further on your own to obtain some of these photos or
other research materials, I will be glad to help you. However, I want you to solve
mysteries while learning to write—not have bad dreams!
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2. We will be exploring cases that involve real people. Although these cases are now in
past Los Angeles history, these people and their lives were very real. It will be important
for all of us to remember that we are dealing with people whose lives may have been torn
apart or at least drastically changed by these events, and to have compassion for their
situations.
3. We also will be looking at the issues surrounding noir crimes and mysteries, the time in
which they took place, and the role of the media. Often during the 1930s-50s, a crime
that may not have received much attention was given a catchy “title” to attract reader
attention on a slow news day. Your investigative team will be looking at how these
media manipulations may have impacted the original investigation.
4. You will be reading one fiction novel in this course. The novel, Farewell, My Lovely, is
set in L.A. and is about a detective investigating a murder.
REQUIRED TEXTS
Farewell, My Lovely, Raymond Chandler.
Shrinkwrapped packet: Personal Crime Scene; A Troubleshooting Guide for Writers,
Barbara Fine Clouse; Access code, Connect: Writing.
You must get all texts immediately, including the course code, which we will use to access an
online website used in this class.
There will be other readings for this course, primarily in the form of websites and handouts.
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS
1. 3-ring binder. I’ll have many, many handouts for this class. You will need to keep them
organized.
2. Highlighter, in any color.
ATTENDANCE
Class attendance is required. If you have more than three absences, you will be dropped
from English A.
I count three tardies as one absence, and if you leave class early, I’ll count it as either a tardy or
an absence, depending upon how early you leave. In this class I watch tardies and absences
closely, and I advise you to do the same. (NOTE: Any movies or videos we watch in this class
are important to the cases; they are not opportunities to leave class early.)
CLASS REQUIREMENTS
You will be required to write two paragraphs and five formal essays (in this class, we’ll call them
“reports”). Two of the written reports and one of the paragraphs will be team-written, so you
will have to work with your investigative team to produce the report. Three of the reports will be
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written on your own. You must complete all reports in order to pass this class! They are all
required components.
You also will be taking several online tests and practice exercises over the course of the
semester, dealing with writing strategies, grammar, sentencing, etc.
You will be expected to bring your texts with you to class. Your assigned reading must be
completed before the class meeting for which it’s assigned. All formal writing assignments must
be typed, in MLA style (I’ll explain what this is). I do not accept late essays without prior
notice. Please let me know beforehand if you cannot meet a deadline, and I will work with you.
EVALUATION
This class is offered for credit/no credit only. In order to pass the course, you must have at least
a C average (70% of all points offered). The course grade will be configured as follows:
Quizzes/lab tasks:
Paragraph 1:
Paragraph 2:
Report 1:
Report 2:
Report 3:
Report 4:
Report 5:
Personal Crime Scene:
(10 quizzes/lab tasks at 10 pts each ) 100
100
(team-written)
100
100
(team-written)
100
100
(team-written)
100
100
200
Total:
1,000 points
You must get at least 700 points (70%) to pass the class.
Connect: Writing
Connect: Writing is the website we’ll be using throughout the semester. You must buy our class
packet A Troubleshooting Guide for Writers to get an authorization code to access the website.
Once you have the authorization code and have signed up on the website, you may access it
anytime from any Internet-connected computer. This website is part of the required course
materials. You’ll be using it for the following:
 To write and submit your formal paragraphs and essays;
 To write team essays;
 To view tutorials;
 To do online exercises; and
 To view your grades in the class
Use Your ECC Email Address
In this class we also will use your El Camino College email address. If you do not know your
ECC email address, go to www.elcamino.edu and click on “MyECC.”
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the representation of another person’s ideas or writing as your own. We will go
over this in class and if you have any questions or concerns, please ask me. For instance, when
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you are writing about a case, you must use your own words. You may not copy the text of
any article you’ve read! Plagiarized writing assignments will result in a failing grade on that
assignment. If I see that the problem is continual, you will fail the course.
Lab
One day a week we’ll have a traditional class; the other day we’ll have a lab session where you’ll
receive one-on-one help with your writing. The lab session will also give you time to work on
tasks assigned by me and available on our Connect: English website. Each Lab session will give
you the opportunity to write and to revise essays. You’ll also be using lab time to research your
cases.
Student Learning Outcomes
 1. Write a 500-word multi-paragraph expository essay that responds to a text discussed in
class. The essay should include an introductory paragraph with a thesis, 2-4 body paragraphs
with topic sentences and supporting details, and a concluding paragraph. Supporting details
should include at least one direct quotation from an outside source. The essay should use basic
rules of grammar, spelling, usage, and punctuation so that the writer’s ideas are clear. Essays
should follow the rules of MLA style for heading, title, running header, indentation, in-text
citation, and Works Cited page.
 2. Write a 200-350 word descriptive, reflective, or narrative paragraph(s) that has gone
through multiple revisions and responds to a text discussed in class. Paragraphs should include a
clear topic sentence and provide supporting details. Paragraphs should be logically organized and
focused. Paragraphs should use basic rules of grammar, spelling, and punctuation so that a reader
can understand the writer’s ideas; they should also be double spaced and follow MLA style for
indentation, heading, title, and font.
 3. Write a 150-200 word paragraph using personal narrative or description with a topic
sentence, supporting details, and a concluding sentence. The paragraph should use basic rules of
grammar, usage, spelling, and punctuation so that a reader can understand the writer’s ideas; it
should also be double spaced and have an MLA style heading and title.
Course Objectives
1. Read and apply critical thinking skills to college-level expository prose for the purposes
of writing and discussion.
2. Apply appropriate strategies in the writing process including prewriting, composing,
revising, and editing techniques.
3. Demonstrate ability to incorporate into draft revision information received in peer review
and one-on-one tutorials.
4. Plan, write, and revise 500-word multi-paragraph expository essays including an
introduction and conclusion, exhibiting coherence and unity, avoiding major grammatical
and mechanical errors that interfere with meaning, and demonstrating awareness of
audience, purpose, and language choice.
5. Utilize MLA guidelines to format a document, to cite sources in the text of an essay, and
to compile a Works Cited list.
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Students with Disabilities
If you have a documented disability and wish to discuss academic accommodations, please let
me know. You may speak to me after class, during my office hours, or by phone or email. Your
privacy will be protected. You are also encouraged to contact the Special Resource Center on
campus (310-660-3295) to discuss what accommodations and services are available.
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The
Time
Week 1
Tues
H311
Thurs
H315
The Case
The Clues
Class Orientation/syllabus
information
The Report
Writing Sample
What is noir? Why LA?
Week 2
Tues
H311
Thurs
H315
[Fri, 2/22
Week 3
Tues
H311
Thurs
H315
Week 4
Tues
H311
Thurs
H315
Week 5
Lab orientation: MLA Format Bring Connect:
and Connect: Writing
Writing Access Code
to Lab
Add period ends today. You
MUST add class by end of
today.]
[Last day to drop without W
on transcript]
Teams are assigned
Lab
DUE: Paragraph 1
Lab
DUE: Paragraph 2
Tues
H311
Your First Unsolved Case:
Thelma Todd
Presentation on Thelma
Todd’s Mysterious Death
Thurs
H315
Week 6
Tues
H311
Lab
Thurs
H315
Week 7
Tues
H311
Thurs
H315
Case File: Thelma
Todd
Film: White Hot
DUE: Report 1
Case File: George
Reeves
Lab
7
Week 8
Tues
H311
Thurs
H315
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Lab
Spring Break April 8-12
Week 9
Tues
H311
Thurs
H315
Week 10
Tues
H311
Film: Hollywoodland
Lab
Your Third Unsolved Case:
Marilyn Monroe
Presentation on Marilyn
Monroe’s mysterious death
Thurs
H315
Week 11
Tues
H311
Lab
Thurs
H315
Week 12
Tues
H311
Lab
Thurs
H315
[Fri 5/10
Week 13
Lab
Tues
H311
Thurs
H315
Week 14
Tues
H311
Thurs
H315
Week 15
Tues H311
Thurs H315
Week 16
Tues H311
Thurs H315
Your Fourth Unsolved Case:
The Black Dahlia
Presentation on Black Dahlia
unsolved murder
DUE: Report 2
Case File: Marilyn
Monroe
DUE: Report 3
Case File: The Black
Dahlia
Last day to drop with a W]
Farewell, My Lovely
Lab
DUE: Report 4
Farewell, My Lovely
Lab
Farewell, My Lovely
Movie: Farewell, My Lovely
Lab
Farewell, My Lovely
DUE: Report 5
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Grading Rubric:
A = 100
Wonderful! Well organized, insightful, sentence variety, very few errors
A- = 95
Very good! Well organized, sentence variety, a few errors
B+ = 90
Very good! Too many errors for A.
B = 85
Good! Minor problem in organization or argument. Pattern of errors.
B- = 80
On your way up! Problem in organization or argument. Pattern of errors.
C+ = 75
Doing okay but you need to spend more time on essays!
Average but shows potential. Simple sentences. Patterns of errors.
C = 70
Average! Are you spending enough time on your writing?
Patterns of errors in putting sentences or paragraphs together.
C- = 65
Average but argument lacks thought! How could you think more deeply
about your ideas? Patterns of errors.
D+ = 60
Below average! What help do you need to become a stronger writer?
Major problems with argument, organization, sentences.
D = 55
Below average! What help do you need to become a stronger writer?
Major problems, hard to read, but you tried.
D- = 50
Below average! Are you serious about being a college student? If so, what
help do you need to become a stronger writer? Major problems, hard to
read, not organized.
F = 45 or below Are you ready to do the work of a college student? You didn’t follow
assignment or plagiarized.
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Shopping List for
English A Section 6211 Gates
All required materials are available at ECC Bookstore

Farewell, My Lovely, Raymond Chandler.

Packet: Personal Crime Scene; A Troubleshooting Guide for Writers, Barbara Fine
Clouse; Access Code for Connect:Writing

3-ring binder.

Highlighter, any color