English 1A: Critical Reading and Composition
“Art, Social Change and the Global Community”
Section: 015
Instructor: Carmen Johnston
Email:cjohnston@chabotcollege.edu
Voicemail: (510) 723-6809
Office Hours: Mon 12:00 p.m.-1:30 p.m., Tues/TH 9:30 a.m.-10:20 a.m., Wed
12:30-2:00 p.m.
Monday and Wednesday office hours will be held in EOPS, building 400
Teaching Assistant: Marvin Acerbos
Email: marvincarlsays@yahoo.com
Course Overview: English 1A is a college level English course. The main
purpose of this class is to further your growth as a competent, and critical
reader and writer. You will strengthen your analytical and composition skills
through class discussion and the writing of several papers, including a
research paper.
In this class we will continue examining issues of social justice. Our
journey will begin looking at the role art can play in social change. How are
we affected by the music, visual art and poetry in our lives? Does it move us
to make a difference in the society? Historically, social movements have
used art to spread their messages of liberation and solidarity. Anna
Deaveare Smith uses art in her play Twilight Los Angeles to explore the
different issues that led to the 1992 Los Angeles riots. After we delve deep
into our society issues in America, we will look at how those issues connect
globally and how we might use art to educate.
The structure of this class is very experiential. Meaning, we will have
a lot of games, group work, excursions, presentations and discussions. Your
complete participation in all class activities will further your understanding
of the concepts we explore and will enable you to pass the class.
Furthermore, we will also be discussing sensitive issues such as race, class,
gender and sexuality. We will spend a lot of time creating a safe environment
where everyone’s voice can be heard and respected.
Course Work:
 Readings (three books, and several essays)
 Class Discussion
 Group Work
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Weekly assignments including journals and quizzes
4 essays, including a midterm
Class presentations
Group projects
Required Texts and Materials:
Twilight Los Angeles:1992, Anna Deaveare Smith
Catfish and Mandala, Andrew Pham
OYO Book Project On Your Own
Grading Policy:
70% Written Assignments (Journals, Discussion Papers, Essays, Midterm)
30% Class Participation (Homework, Group Projects, Quizzes)
Grades will be given in the “A”, “B”, “C” format. Remember your final grade is
based on your collective points. If you want to get a good grade in the class,
make sure you complete all of your assignments!
Class Policies
o Your consistent attendance is crucial. If you miss 6 classes or 4
consecutively without checking in with me, you will be dropped from
the class.
o We will be using Blackboard in this class, so you can keep up with
missed assignments by utilizing the Blackboard site. It is your
responsibility to keep up with your assignments.
o There are no make-up quizzes, or exams.
o Late papers will be accepted up to one week after the paper’s due
date.
o All Late papers will be taken down one full grade.
o If you receive a “D” grade or lower on your 1st two papers you may
write them over if you meet with me immediately. You have one week
to turn in the rewrite.
Blackboard
“Blackboard is a password-protected, web-based course management
system.” We will be using Blackboard to assist our learning environment. Our
site will contain the syllabus, assignments used in class, a discussion board,
as well as external links. You must be enrolled in the class to access
Blackboard. Only enrolled students will have the password needed to enter
our Blackboard site within the semester. We will be using Blackboard
extensively in this course. If you are not familiar with Blackboard visit this
link for more assistance: http://www.chabotcollege.edu/Blackboard/
Plagiarism:
Within the world of academia, plagiarism is a serious offense. It will not be
tolerated in this class. If you plagiarize any assignment, you may receive and
“F” on the assignment or fail the class. Depending on the depth of the
offense, you may also experience further disciplinary actions from the
college.
Plagiarism can include:
 Passing off something written by another person as your own writing
 Not giving credit to your sources for their ideas, information and
words you have borrowed from them
 Not quoting when you use an author’s exact words
 Not changing the wording when paraphrasing
Tentative Course Schedule (subject to change)
Week
Assignment
Jan 18
The Art of Protest, “The Poetical is
Political”
Jan 24
The Art of Protest “Act Up Against
AIDS”
Jan 31
Finish The Art of Protest, “We Are
Not the World”
Feb 7
Essay #1/ Twilight LA
Feb 14
Twilight LA
Feb 21
Twilight LA Introduce Group
Project/ Research Paper
Feb 28
Twilight LA
Mar 7
Midterm (#2) /Library Visit
Mar 14
Research Paper /Begin OYO Book
Project
Mar 21
Research Paper
Other Info
Feb 18-21 holiday
March 3rd Flex Day
Mar 28
April 4
Apr 11
Apr 18
Apr 25
May 2
May 9
May 16
May 21-27
Research Paper 1st Draft
Research Paper Final Draft (#3)
Begin Catfish and Mandala
Catfish and Mandala ,
Catfish and Mandala, OYO Book
Project Due
Catfish and Mandala
Essay #4 due
Group Presentations
Group Presentations
Apr 1st Flex Day
April 18-23 Spring Break