English 1
Spring 2006
Email: zehr_david@smc.edu
David M. Zehr
Office: Drescher Hall 311U
Office Hours: MW: 9:30-11:30;
MW 1:00-2:00; T/Th 1:00-2:00
Voicemail: 310-434-4098
Homepage: http://homepage.smc.edu/zehr_david
TEXTS:
The Blair Reader, 5th ed. Kirszner & Mandell
Bodega Dreams, Ernesto Quinonez
The Pocket Handbook, Kirszner & Mandell (3rd edition)
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
English 1 develops your critical thinking, reading comprehension,
writing, and research skills.
By the end of this course you will be able to:
 Demonstrate reading skills that enable you to identify the
thesis and evaluate the supporting evidence of an essay you
have read.
 Write a well-developed, analytical essay with a clear thesis
that unfies and organizes your essay, with strong evidence
and examples to support your thesis.
 Analyze and evaluate research sources, and synthesize
information from different sources.
 Provide documentation of your research, using internal
citations and a Works Cited page, employing MLA
guidelines.
ESSAYS:
We will write 4-6 essays during the semester, some short (2
pages) and some longer (3-5 pages), plus we will write in class
almost every week. An 8-10 page research paper will be due at the
end of the semester, which is worth 30% of your final grade. This
will be discussed further in class. All papers have to be typed and
stapled. Essays that are turned in late will be marked down one full
grade, and may not eligible for a rewrite.
Rewrites: All graded papers may be rewritten once. Rewrites are
due one week after papers are returned to class. This will be
further discussed.
ATTENDANCE: Regular attendance is expected. More than 3 absences will
lower your grade by one full grade (for each 3 absences). Being
tardy 3 times will equal one absence.
PREPARATION & PARTICIPATION: When a reading is assigned, you are
expected to have read the essay carefully before class, and to be
prepared to discuss it. Participation in class discussion is expected
and can be a factor in your grade.
IN-CLASS ESSAYS & QUIZZES: There will be regular in-class writings and
quizzes, many on the assigned readings, and these count 10% of
your grade. In general, these are not announced.
GRADING:
Final Exam: 10%
Research Paper: 30% (25% of this grade is based on required
work prior to the completed research paper)
In-Class Essays & Quizzes: 10%
Essays written outside of class: 50%
PLAGIARISM: Plagiarism is the use of another’s ideas, words, or entire papers
as if they were your own, and is a serious offense. An essay that is
plagiarized will receive an F for the assignment (with no possibility of a
rewrite), and may result in an F for the course. If you borrow the ideas or
words of others, you must express them in language that is thoroughly
your own and acknowledge the borrowing through documentation of the
source. We will examine the proper MLA procedures for quoting,
summarizing, and paraphrasing sources, and how to document them and
create a Works Cited page.
FIRST WRITING ASSIGNMENT: Due Wednesday, February 22, 2006.
Three pages of writing (to be discussed in class). This may include
responses to SMC, movies, books, the Olympics, terrorism, the war in
Iraq, sports, earthquakes, floods, visitations by extraterrestials, etc. This
is not graded, but it is required. Do not turn in work from a previous class.
And don’t forget: typed and stapled.
FIRST READING ASSIGNMENT: For Wednesday, February 15, 2006:
Read the essay, “Just Walk On By,” by Brent Staples, in The Blair
Reader, p. 497
SCHEDULE FOR ENGLISH 1, Spring 2006 (subject to revision)
February
March
April
May
13
15
Introduction
Read: Brent Staples, “Just Walk On By,” The Blair Reader,
p.497
20
Presidents’ Day
22
First essay due: three pages of writing as discussed in class.
Read: George Orwell, “Shooting an Elephant”
27
Due: Summaries of 3 essays from the Harvard Writing
Center:
“How to Read an Assignment,” “Moving from Assignment to
Topic,” and “Overview of the Academic Essay: Thesis,
Argument and Counterargument.”
Read: Judith Ortiz Cofer: “The Myth of the Latin Woman”
1
Read: Martin Luther King, “Letter from Birmingham Jail”
6
Bring 3 advertisements to class
Essay on George Orwell due
8
Continue discussion of advertisements
13
Read: Malcolm X: “A Homemade Education”
Due: Summaries of next 3 essays from Harvard Writing
Center:
“Essay Structure,” “Developing a Thesis,” “Beginning the
Academic Essay”
15
In-Class discussion of your thesis for the advertising essay
20
Advertisement essay due.
Bodega Dreams: have read up to p.107 (quiz)
22
Bodega Dreams discussion
27
Bodega Dreams: have read up to p.171
29
Read: Bharati Mukherjee: “American Dreamer” (web page)
3
Complete discussion of Bodega Dreams.
First essay on Bodega Dreams due
5
Discussion of Research Paper
10-15 SPRING BREAK (Don’t forget your SPF-15)
17
TBA
19
Turn in topics for Research Essay
Read: Stanley Milgram, “The Perils of Obedience”
24
Read Garret Hardin’s “Lifeboat Ethics”
Due: Second essay on Bodega Dreams
26
First three summaries due for research paper
1
In-class discussion of research topics
3
Second set of three summaries due
8
Read Desmond Morris, “Territorial Behavior”
10
Third set of three summaries due
15
In-class discussion of topics
17
TBA
22
Due: Outline for research paper
24
29
31
June
5
Class presentations
Monday: Memorial Day
Due: First 2 pages of research essay
Class presentations
Monday: Last Class Meeting. Research Paper Due
Continuing Class presentations
FINAL EXAM: Wednesday, June 7, 8-11 a.m. Bring a blue book