Dutchess Community College
Dr. Lucia Cherciu
e-mail: cherciu@sunydutchess.edu
Office: Hudson 408 H
Office Phone: 431-8431
Office Hours: M. 11:00-12:00
T. 9:30-10:30 AM
W. 5:30-6:30 PM
Th. 9:30-11:30 AM
and by appointment
ENG.092. Basic Writing
Fall 2005
Required Texts and Supplies:
McDonald, Stephen, and William Salomone. The Writer’s Response: A Reading-Based
Approach to College Writing.3rd ed. Boston: Wadsworth, 2004.
- one pocket dictionary
- one notebook
- one folder for the portfolio
- loose-leaf college-rule paper
- two disks
Course Description: The course offers students a review of writing and grammar. The
course is designed to build the students’ ability to construct clearly written and
grammatically correct essays. English 092 will emphasize developing a thesis, using
topic sentences, developing ideas in detail, and organizing supporting evidence. This
course is required of some students on the basis of placement examination and open to
other students who want a review course. This course is also a requirement for those
students receiving a grade less than an A in English 091.
Course Objectives:
Through the progress of this course, students will learn how to:
- become aware of the various stages of the writing process: brainstorming,
clustering, freewriting, drafting, revising, and editing;
- write coherent and persuasive critical essays with a narrow thesis, unified
paragraphs, and convincing supportive details;
- recognize and follow the rules of Standard Academic English regarding
mechanics, punctuation, grammar, and sentence structure;
- write error-free sentences;
- make the distinction between formal and casual style in their writing;
- identify and eliminate eye/ear/pen coordination errors.
- develop essential computer skills for writing; and
- write in-class timed essays.
REQUIREMENTS
1. Four short essays. All essays will start through in-class writing and will undergo
several stages of peer revision and editing. Make sure to collect all the process
work for each paper, including freewriting, clustering, brainstorming, drafts, peer
responses, and revisions. Each essay will be at least two pages long, and will be
evaluated according to focus, organization, clarity, and creativity. All papers will
be double-spaced, MLA style.
2. Quizzes. There will be short unannounced quizzes consisting of a question on the
assigned reading for the day. They are a means of encouraging critical reading
and a way of rewarding good attendance. Quizzes cannot be made up, but the
lowest score will be dropped. In-class grammar exercises and the writing done on
Blackboard will be graded under this rubric as well.
3. Both the mid-term and the final exam will be written in class and will consist
of a two-page essay written on a topic you will select out of several options.
4. The Portfolio showcases your best work for the class and includes the following
materials:
- a reflective letter;
- three of your best revised essays together with their drafts;
- the mid-term exam.
COURSE POLICIES
Attendance and Participation. Your success in this class depends on regular attendance
and active participation. Faithful attendance in class is expected by the English and
Humanities Department and by this instructor. Students with excessive absences (one
week’s worth of classes or more) will miss so much work that they risk failing the course.
You are responsible for any missed reading and writing. Being late to class three times
counts as one absence.
Note: All the students have the civil right to learn. Any behavior that disrupts our class,
such as speaking out of turn and interruptions will be documented and will affect your
participation grade.
Late work penalty. Papers not handed in by the beginning of the class specified in the
schedule lose 20% of the grade for that project. Any exceptions from this rule should be
documented and negotiated with the professor in advance.
The Writing Center offers support on a walk-in basis. Students will be referred to the
Writing Center according to individual essay results. Please ask the tutor to fill out a form
for you and attach it to your paper when you hand it in.
Plagiarism refers to presenting someone else’s ideas and words as your own, both
intentionally and accidentally. Using someone else’s papers is equally punished. You
may not submit any papers or parts of projects you have written for some other class.
Having someone else make corrections on your paper, except your peers, your instructor,
and the Writing Center tutor, constitutes plagiarism as well. The consequences of
plagiarism range from failing the course to disciplinary probation and expulsion.
Conferences. We will schedule at least one out-of-class conference during my office
hours or by appointment. Always bring with you the essay you need to work on and be
prepared to discuss it.
Grading. Use the following table to compute your grade:
Assignment
Portfolio
Quizzes and
Exercises
Participation
Final Exam
TOTAL
A
930-1,000
A- 900-929
B+ 870-899
B 830-869
B- 800-829
C+ 770-799
C 700-769
D
600-699
F 0 -599
Due Day
Total Points
500
200
100
200
1000
Your Points