English 100: Reading and Writing Skills
Fall 2010: 0810, T/Th: 7:45 pm to 9:50 pm
Instructor: Renee Willers
Mailbox: C245
E-mail: reneewillers@yahoo.com
Alternate E-mail: rxwillers@pasadena.edu
Catalog Description and Course Objectives:
English 100: This course focuses on writing expository, analytical, and argumentative essays,
developing critical reading and research skills, and reviewing sentence structure and grammar. Students
who complete this course will be able to:
1.
Read Critically As Demonstrated By:
a. Identifying the main and supporting ideas in works of non-fiction and fiction.
b. Recognizing the assumptions, stated and implied, in an argument.
2.
Write Clearly As Demonstrated By:
a. Writing coherent, developed and clearly constructed expository, analytical and
argumentative essays of 500-700 words that support thesis statements adequately. This
should include the ability to write complete essays in class.
b. Forming grammatical sentences free of major errors in mechanics, punctuation, and
spelling.
The Student Learning Outcomes for this course are to:
1. Write coherent, developed, and clearly constructed thesis-driven in-class and out-of-class
essays using a variety of rhetorical approaches.
2. Use effective strategies for pre-writing, composing, and revising of essays, both in and out of
class.
3. Read, summarize, analyze, and evaluate a variety of texts.
4. Compose grammatical sentences free of major errors in mechanics, punctuation, and spelling;
5. Select credible academic resources from the library to research a topic; and
6. Document sources (print, electronic, and other) in MLA format.
Writing Center (Located in C341 & C345):
Corequisite: English 901 is a co-requisite class for all students enrolled in English 100. The English
Division policy states that any student who is not already enrolled in one section of English 901, the
Writing Center, by Monday of the third week of the semester will be dropped from English 100. There
will be no exceptions. This means you might need to enroll in a section of the Writing Center that is not
convenient for your schedule.
Required Texts and Materials:
Flachmann, Kim & Michael Flachmann. The Prose Reader: Essays for Thinking, Reading, and Writing,
9th edition, ISBN: 9780205708437
Hacker, Diana. A Writer’s Reference, PCC custom edition
Orwell, George. 1984, Centennial edition, paperback, ISBN: 9780452284234
An English language college dictionary
Computer disk or thumb drive to save ALL work until grades have been issued
Course Requirements:
Essays (80%)
Essay 1: 10%,
Essay 2: 15%
Essay 3(in-class): 15%
Essay 4: 20%
Essay 5(in-class): 20%
Other: 20%
Assignment
Essay 1
Essay 2
Essay 3 (in-class)
Essay 4 (documented essay)
Essay 5 (in-class)
Attendance and Participation (including drafts and workshops)
Reader Responses
Grammar Presentations
1984 Presentations
Total Points Possible in Course
Points
100
150
150
200
200
50
100
25
25
Final Draft Due Date
September 22
November 1
November 17
December 13
December 13
Throughout
Throughout
Throughout
Throughout
Grading Scale:
A
90%–100%
B
80%–89.99%
C
70%–79.99%
D
60%–69.99%
F
Less than 60%
Students must receive a satisfactory grade by the time of midterms (meaning a C or higher) to be able to
register for English 1A.
Academic Integrity:
Academic dishonesty is a serious crime and includes: collusion or lending work to another to submit as
his/her own, and plagiarism or the presentation of another person’s work as your own, whether
intentional or not. The College has a zero tolerance policy for plagiarism. If you are suspected of
academic dishonesty, you will be subject to disciplinary sanctions, ranging from a lowered grade to
failure in the course, and you WILL be reported to the Dean of English.
Attendance and Participation:
Attend class. Students who miss nine (9) class hours may be dropped from the class. If you arrive late or
leave early, you are considered tardy. According to college policy, three tardies count as one absence.
Students who accumulate more than 9 hours of absence after the last date to drop will receive an “F” for
attendance and participation, and may receive an “F” in the course. Students who miss the first or second
day of class may be dropped. In addition to attending class, participation is determined by your
involvement in class activities and by your completion of drafts. We will have three process essays. For
each essay, you will complete two drafts. These drafts are graded credit/no credit and count toward your
attendance and participation grade. Drafts must be typed and complete. Students must be present with
drafts for workshops. Missed drafts cannot be made up and will not be accepted for credit late.
Reader Responses:
You should be prepared to respond to all readings in class on the day scheduled for discussion. You
may be asked to write a summary, a personal reaction, or respond to a prompt. You will have between
ten to fifteen minutes to respond. I suggest annotating your readings before coming to class in
preparation for reader responses and class discussions. Reader responses cannot be made up and are
graded credit/no credit.
Presentations:
You will participate in two group presentations for this class. Detailed instructions will be provided in
advance. You must be present on the day of your presentation. Both presentations must include visual
elements (i.e., PowerPoint, handouts, artwork, etc.). It is the group’s responsibility to arrange any
technology needed prior to the presentation. All students receive the same grade. Presentations will be
graded credit/no credit.
Special Requests and Needs
Any students with a special request (e.g., sitting in front of the class) due to a hearing, visual, or other
need, please let me know, so I may accommodate you. If you have a learning disability and are registered
with the Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS), please inform me, so I may aid in your
success.
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Bring all materials to every class.
2. Prepare assignments in advance; participate in group activities.
3. Use computers as required; attend Writing Center weekly and complete all assignments.
4. Attend class. Students who miss nine (9) class hours may be dropped from the class. If you arrive late
or leave early, you are considered tardy. According to college policy, three tardies count as one
absence. Students who accumulate more than 9 hours of absence after the last date to drop will receive
an “F” for Attendance and Participation, and may receive an “F” in the course. Students who miss the
first or second day of class may be dropped.
5. To create a productive learning environment, cell phones and similar devices must be turned off during
class meetings.
6. It is equally important that we all respect and listen to differing viewpoints.
7. Hand in all work on time. Unless arrangements are made with the instructor in advance, late
assignments will not be accepted. Assignments that are accepted late may be graded down one full
grade for every calendar day late. There will be no make-ups on quizzes or other in-class assignments
that are collected for grading.
First Day Writing Diagnostic Prompt: “Critical thinking is one of the most important resources a society could
develop. This is because bad things do not emanate only from bad people. Bad things can also occur because of
mistaken thinking of decent people.”—Howard Gabennesch.
In a complete essay with an introduction, body, and conclusion, explain the quote above and develop an argument in
which you demonstrate the extent to which you agree or disagree with Gabennesch’s statement. Support your
argument with specific examples from your own life, observation, or readings.