Santiago Canyon College: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
English N50: Introduction to Written Communication
Course Syllabus
Spring 2005
Instructor:
Time:
Office Phone:
Email:
Office Hours:
James Isbell
Ticket #: 3305010
Mon/Wed 7:30-8:50
Location: Rm. B-210
714 628-4946
Office: U-130
isbell_james@sccollege.edu
Mon 9:30-10:30 & 2:00-3:00
Tues 3:00-4:00
Wed 2:00-3:00
Thurs 3:00-4:00
and by appointment
Required Texts and Supplies:
The Least You Should Know About Grammar
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
College Dictionary
Three-ring notebook
Course Description:
This class is designed to give you experience writing in a variety of
developmental modes. We will be learning not only specific techniques of prewriting,
essay development, and revision, but general organizational and critical thinking skills as
well. These components will be developed through instructor conferencing, class
discussion, peer evaluations, both in-class and out-of-class reading and writing
assignments, and collaborative projects.
In order to accomplish this general goal, this class has been linked with Reading
Skills review class. It is important that you understand that these classes are intimately
connected—what you do in one class affects your work in the other. The assignments that
you will receive in Carol’s class will be completed in this class. You must be attending
both classes in order to receive credit. Even if you don’t pass both classes, you need to
attend both in order to receive credit in both.
Although this class is designed as a review class, I realize that most of you are not
familiar with academic writing techniques and formats. Please keep in mind that you will
be learning many concepts in this class that will improve your general writing and
thinking skills. However, some of what you will learn is specific to academic writing; as
such, you may want to approach some aspects of this class as you would a second or
foreign language class, remembering that you are reviewing and preparing for academic
writing in a very specific setting.
Course Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
1. generate significant ideas and formulate critical responses to class
assignments;
2. generate and collect information necessary for college level writing
assignments;
3. write a coherent and cohesive multi-paragraph essay; and
4. apply revision and editing techniques to your own writing.
Course Requirements:
Class Preparation: Having read the assignment, always bring your textbook, notebook,
dictionary, pen, and syllabus to class.
Writing Assignments: Writing assignments will include summaries, critical paragraphs, and short
essays. Always place your name, the course name, meeting day and times, the date, and
the assignment type in the top left corner of all outlines, rough drafts, and final drafts.
All final drafts must be submitted with all prewriting notes, outline, rough draft, all peer
evaluations (when applicable).
You will be allowed to rewrite any assignment for a higher grade. Keep in mind that
while you are rewriting a previous assignment you will also be working on your next one.
Late Papers: NO LATE PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Extra Credit: None
Instructor Feedback: The written and verbal comments I make regarding your papers are
designed to strengthen your personal reading and writing processes and, thus, make those
processes more effective; I hold you responsible for adjusting your writing to those
comments. If any comment is unclear, see me for an explanation. If I do not hear from
you, I will assume that you have read my comments, understand them, and will modify
your next assignment accordingly.
Attendance: This course is designed to allow the maximum amount of class time possible for
writing and revision. Time not dedicated to this process will be used to explain
assignments, answer questions, and promote group discussion focusing on current
assignments. This interaction is an essential component of the writing process and makes
regular attendance essential. If you miss six (6) classes, you will not be allowed to return
to the class. Two tardies and/or leaving early two times equals one absence.
In addition, it is your responsibility to drop this class. If you are not attending this
class and have not dropped it by the final drop date, you will receive grade commensurate
with your work.
Grading:
This class is designed so that you have great freedom to learn, practice, and even
experiment. This freedom makes the class easier for some and harder for others. You will
have to develop and exercise time management and study skills in order to pass the class.
Your final grade will be based on completing the following:
Writing Assignments
Grammar Quizzes
Journal Project 64 Entries (4 due each week) (Required for
credit)
Final (Required for credit)
Participation (includes attendance & discussion)
Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is an awful act which is defined as the misrepresentation of the
published or unpublished ideas or words of another as one’s own—whether those words
are actually quoted or not. If you copy anyone else’s work and pass it off as your own,
you will be immediately dropped from the course. If this occurs before the final drop
date, you will receive a “W.” If it occurs after, you will receive a “No Credit.” Of course,
this does not apply to any authorized collaborative project where you will be expected to
work with another person to develop ideas, structure, and even language. If you are not
sure or think you might be plagiarizing, ask me.
Final Note:
May I suggest that you look at this class as a way to “practice” for your
subsequent English classes—not only the level of your writing but also your commitment
to the completion of your assignments. Please remember that in this class, you can make
mistakes to make your writing better: You will not have the same luxury in your English
or other subject-area classes. Your instructors will assume that you have a certain level of
knowledge and ability and will give you little room to practice or make mistakes. Use
your time here wisely, commit to doing the best you can, and I will do everything I can to
help you succeed.
Course Outline
Note: All is due on the date indicated. Supplemental outlines, which include additional readings
and essay assignment sheets, will be passed out on the day each essay is assigned.
Week One
Jan 19
 introduction to course and syllabus (lecture)
 diagnostic writing exercise
To Do: 1. purchase books
2. bring all books to each class meeting
3. write in journal four times a week
4.
Week Two
Jan 24 & 26
 Paper #1 discussed: Writing from Recall & Observation
 Remember to write in journal
 what is a narrative?
To Do:
1. Write in journal each day
2. Read and understand pages 4-24
Note: Friday, Jan 28 is the last day to withdraw without a “W”
Week Three
Jan 31 & Feb 2
 Rough Draft for Paper #1 (Typed)
 Keep writing in your Journals
To Do:
1. Read and understand pages 25-50
Week Four
Feb 7 & 9
 Paper #1 due: peer editing
 discuss “Greasy Lake” by T.C. Boyle
 Keep up with your journals
 Paper #2 assignment discussed: Creative Writing
To Do:
1. read and understand pages 51-99
2.
Week Five
Feb 14 & 16
 In-Class writing
 Summarizing
 Be sure to write in your journals
To Do:
1. read and understand pages 100-174
2.
Week Six
Feb 23
 No Class on Feb 21—Presidents’ Day
 discuss in-class writing strategies
 Paper #2: In-class essay
To Do:
1. Read and understand pages 175-210
2.
Week Seven
Feb 28 & Mar 2
 Critical Responses
 Write Journals
To Do:
1. read and understand 212-224
2.
Week Eight
Mar 7 & 9
 Making sense of your text books
 Let’s read Frankenstein
 What did you say in your journals this week?
To Do:
1. read and understand 224-227
Spring Break
Mar 14-19
No Classes
Week Nine
Mar 21 & 23
 Rough Draft for Paper #3 (typed)
 Are you keeping up with your journals?
 Learning how to respond to prompts
To Do:
1. Read and understand 227-231
2.
Week Ten
Mar 28 & 30
 Final Draft Paper #3 due
 How many journals did you write this week?
 More Frankenstein
To Do:
1. read and understand 231-234
Week Eleven
Apr 4 & 6
 Rough Draft for Paper #4 due (typed)
 What is your favorite journal topic so far?
To Do:
1. read and understand 235-239
2.
Week Twelve
Apr 11 & 13
 Paper #4 due: Writing about Literature
 Did you finish all of your journals?
 Are we still reading Frankenstein?

To Do:
1. read and understand page 239
Note: Friday, April 15 is the last day to withdraw.
Week Thirteen
Apr 18 & 20
 Paper #5: In-Class Essay
 How many journals did you write this week?
To Do:
1. read and understand pages 240-248
Week Fourteen
Apr 25 & 27
 Paper #6: In-Class Essay
 How many journals can you turn in?
Week Fifteen
May 2 & 4
 In-class writing
 Just eight more journals to go.
Week Sixteen
May 9 & 11
 In-class writing
 Can you believe it? Just four more journals to left to write.
Week Seventeen
May 16
 Final Exam (8:00-9:00)
 In-class essay
To Do: 1. Bring all books, one or more blue books, and a
dictionary (no electronic dictionaries,
please)
Specifications for Formal Essays: Checklist
___1. Formal papers should be typed or computer-printed (12-pt. font, Times New Roman,
please—not too small and not too
paper (no other color but white).
big) on one side only of white, 8-1/2 x 11-inch non-erasable
___2. Essays should be double-spaced and should observe standard margins (one inch on all
sides). There should be no extra spaces between paragraphs. Please do not justify the right
margin.
___3. Essays should be carefully revised and edited—both on the screen and after they are
printed. The instructor should not be the first person to read the essay in its final form.
___ If you have Spelling and Grammar Check programs, use them, but don't rely on them to be
100% thorough or reliable. Read your essay aloud to someone else; have someone read your
essay to you. Note and correct errors of all kinds with black ink.
___ Spelling and typing errors should be corrected with black ink after typing or printing.
You may also take this opportunity to revise words, sentences, and even paragraphs. You may
insert or delete portions of the text.
___4. Pages should be joined with a single staple in the upper left-hand corner—it is your
responsibility to provide the staple. No cover sheets or binders, please.
___5. Your name, the name of the course, the date, and the instructor's name should be typed in
the upper left-hand corner of page one only.
___6. Your last name and the page number should be typed in the upper right-hand corner of all
pages.
___7. Every paper must have an interesting, concise title (which is different from the title of the
story, film, or other text); this title should be centered (in upper and lower case type) with no
extra spaces separating it from the body of the text. Please do not type the title in all caps,
underline it, or put it in quotation marks or boldface (see title above).
___8. When you consult secondary/critical materials, you must document your use of these
materials by using full, double quotation marks and referencing the source in parentheses. The
current practice is to put the page number in parentheses without using P., p., or Page No.;
the number in parentheses indicates that it is to be understood to be the page number. If you have
any questions, refer to the MLA format in A Writer’s Reference.
___9. Remember that your paper represents you: your ideas, your personality, and your
intellectual integrity.
Your essay will not be accepted or points will be deducted if it does not
conform to these standards.