Course: R1A (Section5)
Time: M/W/F 10-12
Location: Wheeler Hall 205
Instructor: Ben Spanbock
Email: spanbock@berkeley.edu
Office Wheeler Hall M20
Office Hours: M 12:15-1:15/W 1-2
College Writing R1A: Accelerated Reading and Composition
“California History and Culture”
Course description:
The state of California encompasses a tremendous amount of social, cultural, environmental,
and regional diversity. Operating under the premise that our diverse community stands to benefit
from intellectually informed ideas and opinions, the purpose of this class is to introduce practical
methods for reading historical and cultural “texts” (print, visual, auditory, etc.) and activating the
writing process as a method for engaging with the dynamic issues they raise. Together we will
examine a number of short and long texts that draw from and speak to a variety of academic
discourses, including film, journalism, environmental studies, literature, social sciences, history,
and cultural studies. Beginning with an overview of the place of California in writing, we will
work together to define the limits of the “California imaginary” that will serve as our common
grounds while students identify and pursue issues relevant to their own interests. Students will be
asked to read deeply and carefully, and to practice both formal and informal writing with the
goal of forming their own perspectives on relevant issues through acts of writing.
Course Website:
http://www.benspanbock.net/course-page.html
List of Texts (all texts are available at the Cal Student Store and online):
Bacon, Nora. The Well Crafted Sentence (second edition)
Jackson, H.H. Ramona (any edition)
Michaels, Reid, and Scherr. West of the West: Imagining California
Rodriguez, Louis J. Always Running
Varkin, Deborah. Poseurs
Tomine, Adrian. Summer Blonde
Other short texts and videos available on the course website
**(You will also need a spiral notebook for journaling, drafting, and taking notes)**
Accelerated Reading and Composition:
R1A is a six credit defined as an “intensive, accelerated course satisfies concurrently the
University of California Entry Level Writing Requirement and the first half of the Reading and
Composition Requirement. It is designed to offer students structured, sustained, and highly
articulated practice in the recursive processes entailed in reading, critical analysis, and
composing.” Since this course fulfills two Reading and Composition (R&C) requirements, the
reading as well as the writing load is heavy. Expect to spend about twenty hours a week on this
course, because it is the equivalent of two regular courses.
Course Requirements:
1. Your writing this semester will include four shorter essays (2-3 pages) and four longer essays
(4-6 pages), along with a variety of other formal and informal writing activities totaling 40+
pages. Papers will go through a series of drafts and revisions prepared both in and out of class.
2. Class time will regularly be devoted to discussion of daily readings and assignments, as well
as topics like mechanics, analysis, structure, and style as they relate to your essays. Students will
frequently be asked to work together in revision groups, which will meet during class, and in
some cases before, after, or between classes.
3. Over the course of the quarter you will be expected to keep a writing journal and complete
several informal and/or exploratory writing assignments in addition to formal assignments.
4. Students will be responsible for coming to class ready to discuss all readings assigned to them
for that meeting. This means bring all books and materials necessary for the day’s class. You
will be expected to engage in informed discussions pertaining to a text’s content, its formal
features, its cultural context, or other relevant aspects as deemed necessary. You are also
required to check your email daily for messages related to this course.
5. Students must compile a portfolio of their best work from the course as a final project at the
end of the semester. YOU MUST KEEP ALL FORMAL AND INFORMAL MATERIAL
YOU CREATE DURING THE SEMESTER IN PREPARATION FOR THIS FINAL
ASSIGNMENT.
Course Policies:
 Be respectful of the rights, opinions, and differences of others.
 Please take advantage of my office hours and/or email whenever you have a question, or
if you just want to talk about something related to the course.
 Academic integrity and scholarship are core values that should guide our conduct and
decisions as members of the UC Berkeley community. Plagiarism and cheating
contradict these values, and can be very serious academic offenses. With consequences
that range from a failing grade on an assignment to suspension from the University. This
quarter we will address research and citation methods that will help you avoid plagiarism,
however you should also review the university's Rules of Conduct regarding this matter
to help inform your study at: http://uga.berkeley.edu/sas/rtf/guide_student.rtf.
Paper Submissions:
All papers should be brought to class on the day that they are due. They should include a heading
with your name, the date, and the course time and title (ie. R1A M/W/F 10-12). Papers should be
typed using Times New Roman 12pt. font with margins set to 1inch.
Late and incomplete assignments:
All work is expected to be handed in ON TIME unless an extension is arranged in advance with
the instructor. Last minute extensions will generally not be awarded. Keep in mind that any
incomplete assignments will be marked down accordingly, negatively impacting your final
grade and your ability to successfully complete the end of semester portfolio assignment.
Attendance and participation:
Attendance and participation are critical to successful completion of this course. You do not get
credit for simply attending class, but absences count against you. That said, participation
does have the potential to lift your grade. Your first absence will be excused, your second
absence marked against your participation, and your third will result in a lowering of your grade.
More than three absences will be considered as grounds for failing the course. Regardless of your
reason for missing class, you will want to keep up with your work. Punctuality is also important.
Chronically arriving to class late or leaving early is disruptive to your classmates and will
damage your final grade.
Breakdown of Grade:
Class discussion, Journaling, and Peer-editing:
Response Papers (5):
Short Essays (5):
Long Essays (4):
Portfolio:
15%
5%
25%
40%
15%
If you are ever concerned about your grade, come speak with me ASAP. It is always best to
address these issues earlier rather than later!
Student Learning Center:
The SLC offers a variety of peer based programs to help students write academic papers. The
center also offers drop-in sessions with tutors for all students and workshops for non-native
speakers of English. They are located in the Chavez Student Center across from Sproul Hall.
Their number is 642-7332 and their web address is http://slc.berkeley.edu.
Essay Checklist:
(Please consult the daily schedule for due dates for these papers)
Short papers:
#1 “Origins of CA” (~3pags)
#2 “News Article Summary” (~2 pages)
#3 “Ramona “(~4 pages)
#4 “Journal Article Revision” (~2pages)
#5 “Graphic Novel Sequence Analysis” (~3pages)
Long papers:
#2 “Close Reading” (~4 pages)
#3 “Social Movements” (~4 pages)
#4 “Always Running Essay Packet” (~5 pages)
#5 “Contemporary CA” (~5 pages)
Single Page Response Papers:
#1 “Reader/Writer”
#2 “Paradise videos”
#3 “Water Wars”
#4 “Gangs and the Media”
#5 “Film Review”
(Note: In class journaling is generally not collected but counts for 5% of your grade. These
exercises in personal reflection are critical to the course and count towards your 40pg
minimum writing requirement).