El Paso Community College
Syllabus
Part I
Instructor’s Course Requirements
Fall 2015
I. Course Number and Instructor Information
English 1301 Expository English Composition
CRN: 14316 (6thperiod) El Paso High
Instructor: Ms. Lourdes Ramirez, M.Ed.
Office hours: Contact me for an appointment to be here during lunch or afterschool.
Location: El Paso High room 217
E-mail: MissLRamirez@gmail.com
II. Texts and Materials
Required Texts
Bullock, Richard, & Goggin, Maureen D. The Norton Field Guide to Writing with
Readings. Second Edition. New York: Norton, 2010. Print.
Hacker, Diana, & Sommers, Nancy. A Writer’s Reference. 7th Edition. Boston:
Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2009. Print.
Materials
Always bring the required book for the readings and paper and pen. All of your class
work will be done in ink. (Please do not use a pencil)
III. Course Requirements
A. Grading Scale and Course Grade
Average Grade
90 – 100
80 – 89
70 – 79
60 – 69
0 - 59
Letter Grade
A
B
C
D (Keep in mind that a D may be passing at the college level, but not in high school.)
F
Essay Papers
In Class Worksheets, quizzes, peer edits, and in-class essays.
200 pts
100 pts
Please keep in mind that we will have several of these types of assignments.
It is crucial that you are present so that you don’t fall behind. If you are
going to be out due to school events then please let me know ahead of time.
Journal Notebook
Argumentative Final Essay
Peer edit argumentative essay
Classroom Participation (class discussions and attendance)
200 pts
300 pts
100 pts
100 pts
B. Essay Papers
The four essay papers will be based on the readings assigned for that particular
unit. The first three essays will be at least two pages long, but not less than two.
The Profile Essay will be three to four pages long. All essays will have a single
spaced heading with your name, date, class period, and essay assignment on the
upper left hand side of your paper. The rest of your paper should be doublespaced 12 size Times New Roman font.
Your essays must be ready for the class work involved for that week. The due
dates below for the peer edit paper are for the day your class meets that week.
Only the peer edit papers may be turned in one day late (the very next day your
class meets) with a 30 point deduction. The final essays MUST be turned in on
time.
Narrative
Descriptive
Brochure
Profile
(100 points)
peer edit due Sept. 15
peer edit due Oct. 5
peer edit due Oct. 20
peer edit due Nov. 5
(200 points)
final Sept. 21
final Oct. 9
final Oct. 26
final Nov. 20
C. Argumentative Essay
You will write a position paper following the classical scheme to present your
claim and defend the position you have taken. You must use MLA format for
this paper and it should be 5 pages long with at least 4 sources. You must include
a cover page and a works cited page (not included as part of the 5 pages). No late
work allowed for this assignment.
Argumentative
(100 points)
peer edit due Dec. 3
(300 points)
final Dec. 11
D. Journal
You will keep a journal for all of your readings. There is more to reading and
understanding than just reading your assigned material. You need to think about
it, write what you think, and make notes about what you are wondering about the
reading, and be prepared to discuss in class. This is what you need to enter in
your journal. These are reader responses that you will be writing. Make sure you
date every entry and title it with the reading assignment. Your entries should be
almost a page long. You will write in your journal every time you come to class.
Please bring a composition notebook to leave here in class. You are not allowed
to take these journals with you. They must remain in the classroom at all times. I
will check journals periodically and give a grade. Please keep up with your
writing and do not waste time.
Final journal due Monday Dec. 7, 2015 (200 points)
E. Class Worksheets, Quizzes, and Short In-class Essays
You will work on class assignments regarding the essay topic. These
assignments are done in class and you must be in class to work on them. You
will have quizzes regarding the readings for that week. You will be writing a
short essay every week on different impromptu topics.
All classwork assignments, quizzes, short in class essays, and peer edit essays
(except for the Argumentative peer edit) are 100 points.
E. Week Readings, Classroom Participation, and Attendance
Reading homework is a key element to participation and understanding of
lectures. You must always be prepared for class discussions because you will be
called on to participate. You are to read the week’s readings BEFORE you come
to class at the beginning of the week. If you are not present in class you cannot
participate with class discussions.
Class participation and discussions (100 points)
IV. Instructor’s Policies
A. Attendance
A critical element of learning in this course is the interaction between student, instructor,
and classmates. Absences prevent the effective implementation of this process.
Assignments are due on the date assigned regardless of whether you are in attendance on
that date. You are still held responsible for your own work when you do not attend. You
are allowed three absences for the class (school sponsored events do not count).
B. Late Work
Assignments are due on their due date even if you are absent. Make plans ahead of
time so that you get your assignments done.
The four Essay Papers for peer editing may be turned in only ONE class day late (this
means the next time your class meets) with a 30 point deduction. The Final Essays
cannot be turned in late. They must be turned in on the due date.
Final Argumentative Paper must be turned in on the due date. No late work on this one.
C. Remediation
If you receive a low grade on one of your essay papers, you may redo the paper for a
higher grade of up to a 70. You cannot redo work for a paper you never turned in. Please
see your instructor.
Please understand that you are given a chance to make your four final essay papers
better by working on the peer reviews with each other. Your final papers will be graded
on a higher standard because you should have already made the corrections needed.
D. Cheating/Plagiarism
Plagiarism is absolutely never allowed. You will receive an automatic zero for the
assignment. If it happens a second time your name will be referred to the assistant
principal for further action and I will report you to EPCC. Cheating consists of copying
and/or submitting someone else’s work under your name (plagiarism). You must cite the
source for any information you have written on your paper, even if it is just one small
sentence. Forgetting to cite the source is not an excuse!
E. Written Assignments
All papers must be typed with 12 pt. Times New Roman font, double spaced.
The format will be MLA style for anything regarding the Final Argumentative Essay.
The first three essay papers must be at least two pages long with a single-spaced heading
in the upper left hand corner with your name, date, class period, and essay assignment.
The fourth essay (Profile) is three to four pages long with the same heading as stated
here for the other essays. The argumentative essay will be five pages long with a
separate cover page and works cited page.
F. Electronic Submission of Assignments
You will be e-mailing your assignments to your instructor on the due date. All
assignments must be saved as a Microsoft Word Document and sent as an attachment.
Please do not write your paper within the body of the e-mail, you must send it as an
attachment. If you submit your paper through a different program and it cannot be
opened, you will have to face the consequences regarding late assignments.
E-mail to: misslramirez@gmail.com
G. Other Policies
You will be required to abide by high school policies regarding the dress code, cell
phone use, and behavior. Please do not use your cell phone or other electronic device
during class because it will be confiscated and turned in.
Class time is important. There is no such thing as a “free period” since you have plenty
of reading to do and assignments to work on. Therefore, do not request to go work on
something else or to go help another teacher unless you can prove that you have
completed the entire semester’s work required.
While this is a college class and should be treated like one, you are still high school
students and still need to learn the norms of college classes. Please adhere to the syllabus
and be responsible about due dates and class work. Please leave childish remarks and
play out of the classroom.
Remember, your grade is going to be on your record for college transcripts. Please do
not mess up by not caring about this grade. It is very important that you keep up with
your work.
English 1301 Calendar – Ramirez
Calendar is subject to change due to unforeseen school events.
Week One (Aug. 24 to Aug. 28)
Check student schedules and online enrollment for EPCC. Have students check
books out from bookroom.
Go over syllabus with students and have them take a copy home for parents to
read and sign.
Week Two (Aug. 31 to Sept. 4)
Readings:
Activity:
Discussion:
Norton Ch. 39 “Narrating” pp. 343-351; Ch. 37 “Dialogue” pp. 333-337; Ch. 54
“Literacy Narratives”, Amy Tan “Mother Tongue” pp. 564-570; Ch. 6 “Writing
a Literacy Narrative”, Marjorie Agosin “Always Living in
Spanish: Recovering the Familiar, through Language”, pp. 21-24; Richard
Bullock “How I learned about the Power of Writing”, pp. 24-26, Shannon
Nichols “Proficiency”, pp. 26-27, A Guide to Writing Literacy Narratives, pp.
29-37.
Assignment sheet and Thinking About Your Narrative sheet
Readings and Planning your Narrative essay
Week Three (Sept. 8 to Sept. 11) (Monday, Sept. 7 is a holiday)
Readings:
Activity:
Discussion:
Norton: Ch 54 “Literacy Narratives”, Tanya Barrientos “Se Habla
Espanol”, pp. 560-563; Ch. 60 “Memoirs”, Henry Louis Gates, Jr. “A
Giant Step”, pp. 832-836.
Designing your Narrative sheet, Executing your Narrative sheet.
Readings and Organizational Approaches handout
**Narrative Essay should be ready for peer editing on Tuesday Sept. 15.
Week Four (Sept. 14 to Sept. 18)
Readings:
Activity:
Discussion:
Norton: Ch. 63 “Reflections”, Geeta Kothari “If You Are What You Eat, Then
What Am I?”, pp. 910-915; Zora Neale Hurston “How It Feels to Be Colored
Me”, pp. 916-921.
Peer Review Sheet and Revisiting your Narrative Essay sheet.
Readings and How helpful are peer reviews?
**Final Narrative Essay due on Monday Sept. 21, 2015 by 10:00 p.m.
Week Five (Sept. 21 to Sept. 25)
Readings:
Activity:
Discussion:
Norton: Ch. 36 “Describing”, pp. 324-332; Ch. 60 “Memoirs”, Alberto
Alvaro Rios “The March of the Altar Boy Army”, pp. 810-818; Valerie
Steiker “Our Mother’s Face”, pp. 826-831; Ch. 63 “Reflections”, Joan Didion
“Grief”, pp. 929-932.
Assignment sheet and Thinking About Your Descriptive Paper sheet
Readings and What is a descriptive essay?
**Descriptive Essay should be ready for peer editing by Monday Oct. 5.
Week Six (Sept. 28 to Oct. 2)
Readings:
No readings this week.
Activity:
Discussion:
Designing your Descriptive Paper and Executing your Descriptive Paper.
Peer Review and Revisiting your Descriptive Paper
Designing the descriptive paper.
**Final Descriptive Essay due on Friday Oct. 9, 2015 by 10:00 p.m.
Week Seven (Oct. 5 to Oct.9)
Readings:
Activity:
Discussion:
Norton: Ch. 51 “Print Texts”, pp. 523-533; Ch. 5 “Media/Design”, pp. 15-17;
Ch. 38 “Explaining Processes”, pp. 338-342.
Assignment sheet and Thinking About Your Brochure Paper
Readings and Making a brochure using colors and visuals.
**Brochure should be ready for peer editing by Tuesday Oct. 20.
Week Eight (Oct. 12 to Oct. 15) (Friday, Oct. 16, Teacher prep day, no students)
Readings:
Activity:
Discussion:
No readings this week.
Designing your Brochure and Executing your Brochure class work.
Peer Review and Revisiting your Brochure sheets.
What makes a brochure or flyer stand out?
**Final brochure due on Monday Oct. 26, 2015 by 8:30 a.m. (to print during class)
Week Nine (Oct. 19 to Oct. 23)
Readings:
Activity:
Discussion:
Norton: Ch. 1 “Rhetorical Situations”, pp. 3-14; Ch. 29 “Beginning and
Ending”, pp. 261-271; Ch. 30 “Guiding Your Reader”, pp. 272-277.
Assignment sheet and Thinking About your Profile Paper
Readings, Planning your Profile essay, Sample Essay
Week Ten (Oct. 26 to Oct. 30) (Early release on Wed. Oct. 28)
Readings:
Activity:
Discussion:
Norton: Ch. 16 “Profiles”, pp. 161-170; Rob Baker “Jimmy Santiago
Baca: Poetry as Lifesaver”, pp. 838; Samuel G. Freedman “Camp Leads a
Drumbeat for a Marching Band’s Style”, pp. 842.
Answer questions 1-5 pp. 841; questions 1-5 pp. 846.
Writing a Profile Paper
**Profile essay should be ready for peer editing by Thursday Nov. 5.
Week Eleven (Nov. 2 to Nov. 6)
Readings:
Activity:
Discussion:
Norton: Joan Didion “Georgia O’Keeffe”, pp. 853; Sean Smith “Johnny Depp:
Unlikely Superstar”, pp. 860.
Answer questions 1-5 pp. 858; questions 1-4 pp. 867
Readings, go over any questions on Profile essays.
Week Twelve (Nov. 9 to Nov. 13) (Wednesday, Nov. 11 is a holiday)
Readings:
Norton: Ch. 9 “Arguing a Position”, Lawrence Lessig “Some Like It Hot”, pp.
88-92; Ch. 8 “Reporting Information”, Susan Stellin “The Inevitability of
Bumps”, pp. 59-62.
Activity:
Discussion:
Hacker: “Conducting Research”, pp. 332-346; “Constructing Reasonable
Arguments”, pp. 78-91;
Assignment sheet and Thinking About Your Argumentation with Research and
Documentation Paper. Designing your Argumentation Paper and Executing Your
Argumentation Paper.
Readings and discussion on What is an Argumentation essay? What is a position
paper? What is plagiarism?
**Final Profile essay due Friday Nov. 20, 2015 by 10:00 p.m.
Week Thirteen (Nov. 16 to Nov. 20)
Readings:
Activity:
Discussion:
Norton: Ch. 9 “Arguing a Position”, pp. 97-110; Ch. 46 “Quoting, Paraphrasing,
and Summarizing”, pp. 408-419; Ch. 47 “Acknowledging Sources, Avoiding
Plagiarism”, pp. 420-424; Ch. 48 “Documentation”, pp. 425-427; Ch. 49 “MLA
Style”, pp. 428-476; Ch. 57 “Arguments”, Amy Goldwasser “What’s the Matter
with Kids Today?”, pp. 666-670.
Discussion of argumentation paper.
Readings
(Nov. 23 to Nov. 27 is Thanksgiving break)
**Argumentative Paper should be ready for peer editing by Thursday Dec. 3
Week Fourteen (Nov. 30 to Dec. 4)
Readings:
Activity:
Discussion:
Norton: Ch. 9 “Arguing a Position”, Joanna MacKay “Organ Sales Will Save
Lives”, pp. 92-96
Peer Review and Revisiting Your Argumentation Paper
Readings
**Final Journal due Monday Dec. 7, 2015 during class
Week Fifteen (Dec. 7 to Dec. 11)
Readings:
Activity:
Discussion:
No readings this week. Students will be working on their argumentative paper
and finalizing it for the peer editing.
Peer review and editing
**Final Argumentation Paper is due on Friday Dec. 11, 2015 by 8:30 a.m.
Week Sixteen (Dec. 14 to Dec. 18)
Final Exam week