Syllabus
English 101, Composition
Winter Quarter 2006
9-9:50am: Monday – Friday, BE4149
Instructor: Cathy Ruiz
SCCC Office: BE3190
Phone: 206-587-6908
Office Hours: 10:00-10:50am, Monday through Friday.
E-mail: cruiz@sccd.ctc.edu
Required Texts:
75 Readings. An Anthology. Buscemi & Smith, 9th Ed.
A Pocketful of Prose, Vol II, David Madden
Rules for Writers, 5th Ed. Diana Hacker
Course Description and Goals: This class will help you further develop your writing skills.
This is mainly in terms of composing the college-level essay. But you will also learn what it is to
be a writer in general. The bulk of this class involves writing and reading. But you will spend a
fair amount of time in discussion. For the generation of ideas, which can evolve from discussion,
feeds all good writing.
You will be asked to be creative in your work and you will be asked to be original, based upon
your honest admissions. This is the backbone of all good writing, whether it is essay paper
writing or poetry. You will also be expected to follow correct English language usage.
Overall, you will be offered the opportunity to develop your skills in preparation for future
writing, whether this is within an academic, professional or community-oriented sphere.
Assignments:
1. Essay papers: There will be five essay papers due. One essay will be written in class as your
Final Exam at the end of the quarter.
You’ll have the opportunity to rewrite your essays once except for the final in-class essay.
All essay papers should be 3-5 pages in length.
Follow the essay format guidelines included with this Syllabus.
Essays must be submitted to me in paper copy on Fridays of the week they are due.
2. Responses to questions on reading. Respond in writing (most weeks) to the set of questions
handed out on the essays and stories.
3. Preparation for Class Discussions on Reading. This means you have answered the questions
on the readings and are prepared to discuss them if called upon in class.
4. In-Class Peer Critique Workshops. You must attend class with 4 copies of your essay on the
days the class is involved in critique workshops. You will lose 20 points off your total essay
score of 100 points if you do not attend these workshops.
5. Journaling: See information on journaling at the end of this syllabus. This is a requirement
and will earn you a total of 150 points for five submitted checks.
English 101, Composition-Ruiz
Course Syllabus, Page 2
6. In-class writing: In-class writing assignments (which will be given randomly throughout the
quarter) will not be graded but will be checked off as done or not done.
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Point Breakdown:
Essay Papers:
Journal (5 checks at 30 points each)
Assignments (150) & Mid-Term Quiz (50):
Class Participation:
Total:
500 (at 100 points each x 5)
150
200 points
150 points
1000 points
Class Participation: This includes being prepared for class and participating in discussions and
workshops. Bring relevant texts to all classes. Have all assignments done on time and in good
form.
I am here to help so don’t hesitate to drop by my office after class to meet with me and talk.
You may also email me with questions. At Week 6, I will hold conferences with each of you to
discuss your work in the class.
Class Policies:
1.
Begin class with the understanding that you are responsible for your own learning. If you
attend all classes and do the online work, turn in all the essays on time and write them to
the best of your capability, participate in discussions, and exhibit sincere effort, you will
do fine in this class.
2.
All essays and assignments are due on the assigned date. Late essays and assignments
will be deducted five points per class period they are overdue. There will be no late
papers accepted one week following their due date. The Mid-Term quiz and the Final
Essay paper can only be written on the date it is scheduled in class.
3.
Make every effort to attend all classes. You will receive the best learning experience
from being in class every session. Remember: To simply stop attending class does not
mean you are officially withdrawn from the class. It is your responsibility to follow
through with the appropriate paperwork within the college’s withdrawal deadlines. If you
do not officially withdraw, your grade at the end of the quarter will be based upon the
work you did up to the time you stopped attending class.
4.
If you are late for class, it is your responsibility to inform me of your presence or you
may be marked absent.
5.
Once you have arrived in class, please be courteous and remain for the entire class
period. If you need to leave early, inform me before class begins or you will be marked
absent for walking out of class early.
English 101, Composition-Ruiz
Course Syllabus, Page 3
Plagiarism: College policy on plagiarism is outlined in the SCCC catalogue. This basically says
that if you are found to have used someone else’s writing anywhere in your work, you will fail
the class.
Special needs: If you need classroom accommodations based on a documented disability, have
emergency medical information, or you need assistance in case of building evacuation, please
see me as soon as possible.
[Use this Format for Essays]
English 101-Ruiz
Your Name
Current Email Address
Date
Essay #
TITLE
Work should be double-spaced with one-inch margins on all sides. Use a 12-point Font
in either Times Roman or Courier. Center the title of the work, then double space and begin
with the manuscript text. Follow standard rules for grammar. Use the MLA guide for quote
references and add a Bibliography on a separate sheet at the end of your paper to list source
information if you use quotes.
For each full page of text, your last name, and the page number should go in the upper
right corner. Example: Last Name - 2. The manuscript would start again one double-space
down. You should end with approximately 25 lines to each full page of text.
_________________________________
English 101, Composition-Ruiz
Course Syllabus, Page 2
English101-Ruiz
On Journaling
A Journal is a place where you record your thoughts in writing. It is normally a place that is
private and where your thoughts can run free.
For the purposes of this class, your Journal will specifically be used to record your thoughts
about the essays and stories you read for class. It can also be a place where you respond to class
discussions from your personal perspective.
It will overall be a place where you can work with ideas from all of the above to ready yourself
for upcoming essays.
Remember to:
1. Date your journal entries.
2. Place your name at the top of the first page, or on the cover of your Journal.
You must turn in your Journals every two weeks for me to check. You will earn a total of
30 points for each of five journal checks (total 150 points).
You must have at least two pages of journal writing at the time of each check for a total of 10+
pages of Journal writing at the end of the course.
Requirements for Journal - Use either of the two below writing tools:
1) Paper – At least the size of a Blue Book (see Instructor example) or 8 ½ X 11. Write
legibly using pen or hard pencil.
2) Computer file titled, “Journal-Your Name” that you send to me by email as an MSWord
document or a Rich Text Attachment for my checks.
English 101, Composition-Ruiz
Course Syllabus, Page 3
Class Schedule: English 101, 9am Daily, Winter06, Ruiz
75 Readings. An Anthology = 75
A Pocketful of Prose = PP
Rules for Writers = RW
This class schedule is subject to revisions as the quarter progresses. Revisions will be
announced in class.
READ THE CHAPTERS LISTED FOR EACH WEEK.
YOU WILL ALSO COMPLETE QUESTIONS ON ESSAYS and STORIES LISTED FOR
EACH WEEK. DUE DATES ANNOUNCED IN CLASS.
______________________
Week One: Jan. 4th-6th
INTRODUCTION to the Essay; Narration & Description
READ: “Salvation,” Langston Hughes. Be prepared to discuss it Friday, Jan. 5th
______________________
Week Two: Jan 10th-13th
CLASS DOES NOT MEET ON MONDAY, JANUARY 9TH
READ:
75: Chapter 1, Narration AND Chapter 2, Description.
RW: The Writing Process, P. 1-59
PP: “A Clean Well-lighted Place,” Ernest Hemingway. We will also view a video on this
story in class. ALSO: “The Tell-Tale Heart,” Edgar Allan Poe; “The Handsomest
Drowned Man in the World,” Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
______________________
Week Three: Jan 16th-20th
HOLIDAY: MONDAY, JANUARY 16TH - CLASS DOES NOT MEET.
READ:
75: Chapter 6, Comparison and Contrast
PP: “A Jury of Her Peers,” Susan Glaspell, AND “Everyday Use,” Alice Walker
DUE:
Friday:
Essay #1 FINAL (Narration-Description)
Journal Check #1
VOCABULARY: 1-2 words with definitions and a sentence using EACH
word. THIS IS AN ONGOING ASSIGNMENT FOR EVERY FRIDAY OF
THE QUARTER UNLESS NOTED OTHERWISE IN CLASS.
English 101, Composition-Ruiz
Course Syllabus, Page 4
_____________________
Week Four: Jan 23rd-27th
RW: Clarity, P. 83-154 (Especially Important: Sections 8, 13, 17 & 18)
DUE:
Friday: Essay #2 DRAFT (Comparison-Contrast) with 4 copies for Peer Workshop.
________________________
Week Five: Jan 30th -Feb 3rd
CHAPTER 3 AND 8 STORIES FROM LAST WEEK
75: Chapter 9, Analogy AND Chapter 7, Example and Illustration
PP: “The Catbird Seat,” James Thurber, AND “A Small Good Thing,” Raymond Carver .
RW: Review all of Grammar and Punctuation Sections.
DUE:
Friday:
FINAL Essay #2
Journal #2
_______________________
Week Six: Feb 6th-10th
75: Chapter 10, Argument and Persuasion
PP: “Rape Fantasies,” Margaret Atwood AND “The Jilting of Granny Weatherall,”
Katherine Anne Porter
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Week Seven: Feb 13th-17th
CLASS DOES NOT MEET OVER MONDAY-WEDNESDAY THIS WEEK. ON
THOSE DAYS: MEET ME IN THE CLASSROOM AT YOUR ASSIGNED TIME
FOR STUDENT-INSTRUCTOR CONFERENCES.
THURS: LIBRARY WORKSHOP
75: Chapter 10, Argument and Persuasion, Continued
PP: “Gimpel the Fool,” Issac Bashevis Singer AND “First Confession,” Frank O’Connor
FRIDAY: MIDTERM QUIZ
DUE:
Friday:
FINAL Essay #3 (Example and Illustration/Analogy)
Journal #3
________________________
Week Eight: Feb 20nd-24th
HOLIDAY: MONDAY, FEB 20TH - CLASS DOES NOT MEET.
CHAPTER 9 AND 10 + RAPE FANTASIS
REWRITE: ESSAY #3
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
THURS AND FRI: GROUP PRESENTATION OF CH10-ARGUMENT TOPICS
English 101, Composition-Ruiz
Course Syllabus, Page 5
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Week Nine: Feb 27th-March 3rd
READ: CHAPTER 11: MIXED STRATS AND ALL THE STORIES NOT COVERED
SO FAR: THURBER, PORTER, SINGER, O’CONNER, PERKINS-GILMAN,
CRANE
DUE:
Mon:
Fri:
Draft of Essay #4 with 4 copies for Peer Workshop.
Journal #4
Essay #4 Final
FINAL VOCABULARY
________________________
Week Ten: March 6th-10th
STUDENT PRESENTATIONS OF ESSAY #4
________________________
Week Eleven: March 13th – 17th
Monday & Tuesday: Film: TBA
DUE: Wednesday: Reflection on Film should be in Journal #5 (Last one)
FINAL EXAM Thursday OR Friday. Essay #5 written in class.
_________________________
Week Twelve: CLASS DOES NOT MEET-ENJOY THE SPRING BREAK!