Linguistics 100: English Composition for International Students
Fall 2015 – MWF 11:00-11:50 – Life Sciences South LSS 246
Instructor: Ian Baecht
Office: Storm Hall West 224
Office Hours: Mondays 1:00-2:00 and by appointment
Email: ianbaecht@gmail.com
Prerequisites:
● Credit in RWS 94 or 92
● Satisfaction of the EPT or
● Satisfaction of the Writing Competency requirements as listed in the Graduation Requirements in the SDSU
general catalogue or
Required Texts:
● Writing in the Disciplines by Mary Lynch Kennedy and William J. Kennedy, (Seventh Edition)
● Keys for Writers with Exercise Book by Ann Raimes (7th Edition—Special Edition for SDSU)
Recommended Text:
A good English dictionary (e.g. The American Heritage English as a Second Language Dictionary)
Communication and Critical Thinking:
This course is one of three courses that you will take in the General Education area of Communication and
Critical Thinking. Upon completing this area of our General Education program, you will be able to: 1) craft
well-reasoned arguments for specific audiences; 2) analyze a variety of texts commonly encountered in the
academic setting; 3) situate discourse within social, generic, cultural, and historic contexts; and 4) assess
the relative strengths of arguments and supporting evidence.
Course Description and Learning Outcomes:
Linguistics 100 is an English composition course designed for students who have a first language other than English.
Successful students in Linguistics 100 will develop the ability to: 1. Read, analyze and respond appropriately to college-level reading selections. 2. Demonstrate awareness of audience, purpose and genre in reading and writing. 3. Understand and communicate the connections between and among reading selections. 4. Competently integrate multiple text sources with one another for the purpose of developing a written argument,
analysis, or interpretation. 5. Incorporate summary, paraphrase and quotations appropriately. 6. Use language of an appropriate academic tone or register for the college level. 7. Illustrate an ability to move beyond simplistic or overly general statements, showing an ability to develop and
explore an idea logically and coherently. 8. Move beyond formulaic types of writing (especially the five paragraph essay). 9. Use appropriate citation conventions. 10. Use conventions of standard written English at the sentence level. Course Requirements:
In this class you will be required to submit at least four major writing assignments, each to include first drafts and
revisions. Additional pieces of writing including summaries and précis will be assigned. Assigned readings must be
completed prior to class. Homework and in-class work will also be assigned throughout the semester, and reading or
vocabulary quizzes will be given. Therefore, attendance and participation is crucial and will be included in your grade.
There will also be an in-class midterm and final exam. These will both be based on the WPA (Written Proficiency
Assessment), which you will need to take upon completion of 60 units at SDSU. In helping you prepare for the WPA,
these timed writings will give you additional experience in the analysis of written texts.
Grade Breakdown:
Major Writing Assignments:
First Drafts:
Final Drafts:
Assignments:
(homework, in-class assignments, quizzes, & peer editing):
Midterm:
Final:
Attendance & participation:
Total:
550 pts
(50 pts x 3) 150 pts
(100 pts x 4) 400 pts
150 pts
50 pts
150 pts
100 pts
1,000 pts
Tentative Reading and Writing Schedule:
Below is a tentative schedule of the readings and essays that will be due in this class. This schedule may change and
readings may be added or taken away throughout the semester. This schedule does not include homework or in-class
assignments or additional shorter essays that may be assigned.
Topics
Readings
Major Writing
Assignments
Human/Robot ● Chapter 1: Active Critical Reading- prereading and close Paper #1: Written
Weeks 1-3
Interaction
reading
response to a single
● Chapter 2: Active Critical Reading- postreading
article
● Outside Reading
- "The Ethical Frontiers of Robotics" by Noel Sharkey
(pp. 357)
Privacy
and
●
Chapter
4: Literary Analysis and Comparative Analysis
Weeks 4-7
Paper #2: Comparative
Technology:
Analysis
Balancing
● Chapter 11:
Public Safety
- "Trading Liberty for Illusions" by Wendy Kaminer (pp.
In-Class Writing:
and Privacy
397-399)
practice WPA (midterm)
- "If Looks Could Kill" in The Economist (pp. 401-402)
● Chapter 6: Synthesis
Weeks 7-11 Social Class
Paper #3: Explanatory
& Inequality
Synthesis developed
● Chapter 13:
from multiple text
- "Born Poor and Smart" by Angela Locke (pp. 450-451)
sources
- "Middle of the Class” from The Economist (pp. 482-485)
- "A Great Time to Be Alive" by Matt Yglesias (pp. 464466)
Weeks 12-15
Human/Robot
Interaction
●
Chapter 7: Argument
●
Chapter 10:
- "Alone Together: The Robotic Movement" by Sherry
Turkle (pp. 322-330)
- "The Ethical Frontiers of Robotics" by Noel Sharkey
(p. 357)
- "To Siri with Love” by Judith Newman
- "A Swiveling Proxy That Will Even Wear a Tutu" by
Robbie Brown
Monday,
December
14th, 10:3012:30
Final Exam:
In-class
writing
●
Final Exam: Text analysis of reading from Chapter 10
using WPA prompt
Paper #4: Argument
Synthesis developed
from multiple text
sources
Final Exam
Class Policies:
● Specific readings and written assignments and due dates will be assigned in class.

Attendance & Participation: Each student begins the semester with an attendance & participation grade of 100
points (100%). After your first three absences, 10 points will be deducted from your attendance grade for each
additional absence. The participation portion of this grade is based on:
o active and willing participation in all class activities such as group work;
o your being physically present in class throughout the class period without leaving in the middle of class,
which is very disruptive (Note: please take restroom breaks before or after class);
o keeping phones silent and out of sight during class (not on your desk);
●
Tardiness: If you are late to class you will be marked tardy; 5 points will be deducted, which can affect your
grade. If you are 15 minutes (or more) late to class you will be marked absent and this can affect your grade.
●
Assignments must be turned in at the beginning of class. You may not submit assignments at the end of class.
●
You are allowed one late writing assignment for full credit. After that, late work is not accepted except in the case
of illness or emergency (if supported by appropriate documentation) and approved by the instructor. If you need
to turn in an assignment late, you must email or discuss it with the professor as soon as possible. There will also
be time constraints on late work that will be determined by the instructor. For example, you may not submit an
assignment that was due a month prior.
●
Homework, quizzes, and in-class writing assignments cannot be made up.
●
Plagiarism is a serious academic offense. Suspected cases of plagiarism will be immediately referred to SDSU’s
Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities.
●
If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodations for this class, it is your
responsibility to contact Student Disability Services at (619) 594-6473. To avoid any delay in the receipt of your
accommodations, you should contact Student Disability Services as soon as possible. Please note that
accommodations are not retroactive, and that I cannot provide accommodations based upon disability until I have
received an accommodation letter from Student Disability Services. Your cooperation is appreciated. ●
Class participation includes actively working in small group and whole class activities. You should be asking
questions, offering answers, sharing ideas, and paying attention. Respect for each other and the instructor is
important since you are all here to learn.
●
Please refrain from using your cell phone or other electronic equipment during class for personal use (e.g.
Facebook, text messaging).
Grading: Points earned throughout the semester determine the overall course grade. See chart below for a guide to the point system
used to assign course grades. B+ 87-89%
C+ 77-79%
D+ 67-69%
(870-890 points)
(770-790 points)
(670-690 points)
A 94-100%
B
84-86%
C
74-76%
D
64-66%
F 59% & below
(940-1000 points)
(840-860 points)
(740-760 points)
(640-660 points)
(590-0 points)
A- 90-93%
B- 80-83%
C- 70-73%
D- 60-63%
(900-930 points)
(800-830 points)
(700-730 points)
(600-630 points)
*NOTE: Anything in this syllabus is subject to change.