_______NORTH SEATTLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE___________________________
Arts, Humanities, and Adult Basic Education Division
English Department
Spring 2010
COURSE SYLLABUS
ENG 99.01 (the bookstore has this class listed as section 1260)
11:00 – 11:50 Mon. – Fri.
Classroom CC 3460
INSTRUCTOR:
Marcie Leek
Phone: 528-4573
E-Mail: mleek@sccd.ctc.edu
Office: IB 3411A
Office hours: by appointment
Website: http://facweb.northseattle.edu/mleek/
NOTE: I will maintain a web page for this class (it’s linked to my website,
above). On the web page, you will find our weekly schedules
(including homework assignments and revisions), copies of
assignment sheets, helpful links, and materials from class. Please
check this web page frequently – it will be of great use to you!
REQUIRED TEXTS:
o
o
o
o
o
The Writer’s Options: Lessons in Style and Arrangement, 8th Ed., by
Morenberg and Sommers
Patterns of Reflection: A Reader, 7th Ed., by Seyler
a 3-ring binder or other method of keeping handouts, notes and
homework organized
a folder with pockets for your formal writing assignments (essays)
a good, paper dictionary you can bring to class regularly
NOTE: Electronics (dictionaries, translators, cell phones, etc.) may not
be used in class or during tests. You can use your paper
dictionary or you can use your human dictionary (me!).)
Welcome to class! We have a common goal this quarter: to prepare you for English 101. In this class,
we’ll work on improving your writing skills. We’ll be doing a lot of writing, which will range from the
sentence level to formal essays. You’ll be doing exercises both in and out of class, and we’ll talk about
writing a lot. You will also have quite a bit of reading to do: you’ll read essays that will serve as models
for you and stimulate your thinking; you’ll read passages and exercises that will help you understand
writing in different ways; and you’ll read your peers’ writing in order to support (and learn from) your
classmates. All of the tasks that we do in this class are designed to help you become a more skilled and
prepared college student.
Some things you need to know about me: I have high expectations of you, as college students, and
myself, as your instructor. I will work very hard to help you achieve your goals, and I will expect the
same of you. I love to talk about your writing and to find ways to help you improve. I encourage
questions in class and visits to my office. My door is open to you! I also check email frequently.
Communication between us is essential. I believe this so strongly that we will have individual
conferences at least once this quarter. During those days, class will be canceled and I will meet with
you to discuss your progress in the class. In addition to communication, I greatly value community in
the classroom. We all share one goal, and even though each of you will have a different path toward
that goal, I firmly believe you can get there more easily if we all work together and support each other.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Students gain greater control of sentence level grammar.
Students improve ability to write cohesive, developed paragraphs.
Students learn to write longer, more fully developed essays.
Students learn to control the focus of an entire essay.
Students learn to revise, edit, and proofread their own writing.
Students begin to recognize their voice as a writer.
Students learn to work effectively in groups.
Students improve critical thinking skills.
PREREQUISITE:
You must present a copy of the placement test evaluation form or the recommendation that you
received from your previous English teacher that directed you to English 99.
REQUIREMENTS, HINTS AND SUGGESTIONS:
--Daily attendance is crucial. Each class will be packed with a lot of information and practice. I will
take attendance every day of the quarter. More than three absences (and the work that you miss
during these absences) will affect your final course grade and/or your ability to pass the course.
You are responsible for keeping up with any work you might have missed while absent. I can’t
stress how important it is that you attend class, participate, and keep up with the reading and
writing assignments for this class.
 We will not have class on the following dates: Thursday and Friday April 22 & 23 (you
will have work to do, however!); May 31 (Memorial Day)
-- Be prompt! You need to be awake and ready to think, talk, read, and write at the beginning of class.
Please arrive on time (or, even better, arrive early). Tardiness is disrespectful and distracting.
Regular late arrivals will affect your final course grade and, again, your ability to pass the course.
-- Talk to me. I realize that issues come up during the quarter that may require you to miss a class or be
late to a class, but please do your best to be here, on time, every day. If you know that you are going
to miss a class or after you return after missing a class, please talk to me or contact me in some
way. If you don’t contact me, your lack of action implies that you are ambivalent about your
success in this course. My phone number and e-mail address are listed above. I will try to respond
to you as quickly as I can.
--In-class exercises cannot be made up. If you are absent on a day when homework is due, you may
not turn it in the next day. You may, in that situation, email it to me before 12:00 on the day it is due.
Late work will not be accepted.
--Writing assignments (rough and final drafts) of essays must be typed, double-spaced. I won’t read and
comment on drafts that aren’t typed. If you don’t have a computer (or a printer), there are computers
on campus that you can use. Talk to me about where these are and how to do this.
--All reading and writing assignments (including essays) must be completed on time. You will
automatically lose 10% from your grade if you don’t turn in homework or essay folders at the
beginning of class on the day they are due.
--Homework and essay drafts are due in class in paper copy. Turning in work via email is reserved
only for emergencies. It would be useful to locate alternate printers on campus so that you may
print out your work even if your home printer is not working. Please do this well before class! If
you walk in late because you were printing your paper, you will lose points (see above).
-- Food, drinks, and breaks: While a contained beverage (with a lid) is OK to bring into class, food is
not okay. Having food in the classroom can be very distracting.
-- Cell phones and laptops: Please silence your cell phones while in class. Please do not make or take
calls or send or receive text messages while class is in session. Please don’t use laptop computers
during class unless you have been given specific permission to do so. Again, electronic dictionaries
are not to be used in this class.
-- Handouts: Most handouts will be posted on the website after they are used in class. You are
responsible for obtaining copies of any handouts you might have missed due to absence.
GRADES
You will write four essays in this class, as well as a midterm essay. Each of these is worth 100 points. In
addition, you will have quite a bit of homework, writing exercises (including summaries), and an
occasionally quiz. These will be worth 10 – 100 points. Here is how your final grade will be determined:
1. Essays
75 %
2. Daily in-class work, quizzes and homework
15 %
3. Active class participation
10 %
100%
At the end of the course, I will figure out a percentage based on the total points you have earned in this
class. This percentage will then be converted to a decimal grade (see attached Grading Chart).
You must also satisfactorily complete the Exit Exam (see description below). You must earn a
minimum grade of 2.0 (75%) and demonstrate the necessary skills in order to move on to
English 101.
DESCRIPTION OF CLASS ASSIGNMENTS:
Summary assignments: For most essays assigned in Patterns of Reflection, you will write a
summary assignment that includes a one-paragraph summary (5-7 sentences) and a oneparagraph (minimum of 5-7 sentences) response to the reading. These assignments will be
worth twenty points each.
Sentence combining assignments: You will have homework assignments related to the
sentence-level work you’ll do in The Writer’s Options. These assignments will be worth ten
points each.
Other assignments: We will occasionally do in-class writings, out-of class/computer exercises,
pop quizzes, or announced quizzes. These assignments will be worth 10 - 100 points each.
Essays: You will write four essays in this class. Each will require a rough draft, participation in
peer review, and a final revised draft. Any essay that is missing a rough draft or peer review
will be considered incomplete and points will be deducted. Each essay is worth 100 points.
Midterm Essay Exam: You will complete an in-class essay in response to a reading from
Patterns of Reflection. You will be notified ahead of time what the reading is, but you will not
know the question being asked in the exam. You will have 50 minutes to write the essay. This
exam is worth 100 points.
Exit Exam: The Exit Exam is an in-class summary based on an article that you have not
previously read. You will be given two class periods to write your exam. We will do a practice
exam first to prepare you. This Exit Exam is an important part of your final evaluation in this
class.
DISABILITIES: If you have a disability that affects you as a student in this class, please let me
know. The Disabilities Services Center on campus also exists to help you (527-3697, CC 2346A).
Contact them so that proper accommodations can be made.
THE LOFT WRITING CENTER PLUS: The Loft is located on the top floor of the library. Some
of you may have already visited the Loft; for others, it may be new. We will have someone
from the Loft visit our class to tell us more about it. I want to emphasize now, however, how
important and valuable the Loft can be for you as long as you are a student at North. The Loft
has tutors who can work with you one-on-one on your reading, writing, and language skills. It
also has computers full of great language programs. It is a very helpful resource!
PLAGIARISM is the taking of someone else’s words or ideas (from other students, from books,
from the Internet, etc.) and calling them your own. Sometimes it is done accidentally, but more
often it is done deliberately. You need to know that I have zero tolerance for plagiarism. It
doesn’t matter to me if it’s a sentence or a whole essay: cheating is cheating. If I find that a
student has committed plagiarism, he or she will receive a “0” for the assignment and his or her
name will be forwarded to the Vice President for Student Services.
GROUND RULES: Out of respect for each other, please follow these ground rules:
1. Turn off all cell phones and other personal electronics before entering the classroom.
It is not acceptable to text message, listen to music, etc. during class.
2. Do not do homework from another class during this class.
3. Do not carry on private conversations when other people are talking.
4. Listen to and respect your classmates’ comments.
I look forward to working with you all this quarter. I encourage you to visit my office hours if
you want to ask questions about the course, go over assignments with me, or just talk about any
related concerns. I’m here to help you as much as I can.
GRADING CHART
Percentage
Decimal Grade
Letter Grade
96 - 100
94-95
4.0
3.9
A
93
92
91
90
3.8
3.7
3.6
3.5
A-
89
88
87
3.4
3.3
3.2
B+
86
85
84
3.1
3.0
2.9
B
83
82
81
80
2.8
2.7
2.6
2.5
B-
79
78
77
2.4
2.3
2.2
C+
76
75
74
2.1
2.0
1.9
C
73
72
71
70
1.8
1.7
1.6
1.5
C-
69
68
67
1.4
1.3
1.2
D+
66
65
64
1.1
1.0
0.9
D
63
62
0.8
0.7
D-
61
0.0
F