English 1A: English Composition
“In problem-posing education, people develop their power to perceive critically the way they exist in the
world with which and in which they find themselves; they come to see the world not as a static reality,
but as a reality in process, in transformation”Freire Pedagogy of the Oppressed
Professor: Yolanda Santiago Venegas
Office Hours: Tu & Th 1:30-3:00 p.m.
Office: Enlace Office RF 134 in Roble building courtyard
Email: yvenegas2@gmail.com (the best way to reach me)
Course Website: http://evcenglish1a.wordpress.com/
Course Description
Prerequisite: Prerequisite: Continuing students must complete ((ENGL 104 or ENGL 092) and (ENGL
102 or READ 101)) or ESL 091; all with C or better. New students will be placed based on the results
of assessment.
English 1A is the first course in a transfer level sequence (English 001A, 001B) designed to equip
students with the skills necessary for writing college level compositions. The course emphasizes
expository writing, critical reading, and research techniques. Students are required to produce a series of
academic essays including a documented research paper in conventional format. Analysis of readings
and the practice of writing processes create the bases for student essays. All English 001A students will
take a Department Final which will be holistically scored by at least two faculty members and will
represent 20% of their course grade. This course may be taken for a letter grade only with no plus or
minus grades.
What we will do in this course and why
In this course we will focus not only on the process and practice of writing, but also on the ways that
reading, thinking, and writing interact and complement each other. A premise guiding our approach is
that writing, reading, and thinking are all interconnected and you become better at these by learning
how to use one to improve on the otheras you become a better writer, you become a better reader and
a more a more careful and critical thinker.
In addition to the assigned course readings, the second type of primary text will be your writing and the
writing of your classmates. This is a class where your writingand how you can continue to develop
and hone your writing skillswill be taken seriously. We will therefore make use of a writing
workshop on a regular basis. Each week I will ask you to bring your writing or replicate your essays
and/or excerpts from your writing to allow us to focus on issues of writing. This is an essential part of
learning to return to your writing and beginning to create a language for talking about writing. You will
also, throughout the term, be responsible for responding to the work of your peers in written format,
and thus helping each other to write more engaging, complex, precise, and reflective essays. This
class’s success depends above all on the learning community we are able to build as writers who
respect and are interested in the work that individual writers are doing.
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A Few Tips to Succeed: You will have reading or writing homework to do after each class. You can
expect to write regularly, at least one draft or essay per week. If you are not writing, you can expect to
be reading. You will need to develop the habits and the discipline of a writer/reader. You will need a
regular schedule, a regular place and time for reading and writing. There is nothing fancy about this.
You need to learn to organize your time so that there is time for writing/readingso that it becomes
part of a routine. Make sure once you schedule your writing/reading time that you do nothing else
during these sessions. You need to develop the discipline (or kind of physical training) to focus on the
writing/reading task at hand only, turn off the phone, internet, etc. These are writing times, when you
will be working closely with your words and the words of your peers. If you begin to have a hard time
with the routine of our course, you will have to work on your time management and develop a time
management plan. You can do this in one of three ways: with the help of a counselor/EOPS advisor;
with me during office hours; or on your own by selecting the “Time Management” link on our course
website.
Required Materials
1. Book: Bartholomae and Petrosky Ways of Reading (available at the bookstore)
2. Access to a computer, school email account, and a working printer
3. Add $20.00 to your student ID card for printing your essays and additional course readings
4. A flash drive to save your work when you are working in a lab and back up your work if using your
own computer
5. A dictionary of the English language (small paperback college dictionary)
6. A 1 ½ -inch black or white binder (to keep your work organized in)
Accessing the Course Website
All the course materials including a copy of this syllabus is on our course website at:
www.evcegnlish1a.wordpress.com. To gain access to the website visit the website and select the
“Follow Blog” button. A screen will appear prompting you for an email. Once you sign on to follow
the blog via email, you will receive an email each time I add something to the course website.
Learning Outcomes for English 1A
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
1. Critically analyze primarily academic non-fiction readings with consideration of principles of
coherence, tone, purpose, audience, and social, political, historical, and economic context.
2. Organize information from readings, experiences, and class discussions into an argument with a clear
thesis
3. Organize paragraphs into logical effective, sequence, developing the central idea of the essay towards
a logical , satisfying conclusion
4. Write and revise essays at the thesis, paragraph, and sentence levels, including a research essay using
MLA citation style
5. Find, analyze, interpret, and properly cite print, non-print, and electronic sources using MLA style.
You will understand and avoid plagiarism.
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6. Apply conventional mechanics (punctuation, grammar, spelling) and demonstrate proficiency in
academic written English.
Course Requirements
1. Attend all class meetings, prepared (see attendance policy)
2. Attend a counseling session with Enlace Counselor Dr. Mirella Burton
3. Complete assigned reading or writing homework by the next class
4. Participate in class discussion
5. Participate in in-class writing exercises; participate in draft workshops and group work
6.Complete peer-review written feedback as instructed
7. Draft, write, and revise four essays of various lengths and purposes
8. Complete various short (1-2 pg.) writing assignments and reading quizzes
9. Complete in-class essays in preparation for departmental final exam
New This Semester:
After your third absence (this includes documented illness) your final grade will go down ½ a grade for
every absence. This means if you have a B at the end and you were absent 4 times your grade will be a
C+ and so on. If you miss 5 days, on your 5th absence you will be dropped automatically—this includes
documented illness and emergencies.
If you come to class without having done the reading, or draft due with actual amount of pages due your
final course grade will go down by ½ a grade teach time. In other words—you can’t keep missing class
or showing up without doing work and expect to pass this class.
Assignments
As we move through the semester we will achieve the class goals through the following assignments:
Reading Assignments: Careful reading is crucial to your work in this class. You should plan to read
each assigned reading twice before we begin to discuss it in class. The first time through you should
read it quickly to get a sense of what the writer is doing, what the reading is about. Then you should
read through a second time, this time working more closely and deliberately with the text, focusing on
those sections that seem difficult, puzzling, or mysterious. You should read with a pen or pencil in hand
marking the text in a way that will help you when you go back to it (particularly when you go back to it
as a writer).
Writing Assignments: I have designed several types of writing activities to help foster the learning goals
of our course. They include:
• There will be several informal short (1-2 pages) writing assignments: These are informal in that I read
them and make sure you completed them in a thoughtful manner, yet they are not graded using a letter
grade: their purpose is to help you better understand yourself as a writer, your language use, and your
relationship to writing. The short writing assignments will be graded using a +, , and - system.
These correspond to an excellent thoughtful work, B good completed work, and C incomplete work or
Yolanda Santiago Venegas Spring 2015 EVC English 1A
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work that needs improvement. If you are absent, late or otherwise miss any of these assignments you
will receive a 0. There are no makeups.
• Four major essays of revised prose each one informed by the assigned readings and class discussions.
The sequence of the essays is designed to introduce you to some of the primary tasks you will be asked
to do in college writing.
• Substantial revisions. You will be required to submit substantial revisions of earlier essays. For each
revision assignment I will give you a handout with specific instructions about how to revise and what
the focus of our revision is on each particular revision. By “substantial” revision I mean that you will
integrate at least 2 new pages or rewrite your initial draft completely. The revisions I expect from you
should evidence deep re-thinking and re-seeing of previous drafts, not just surface-level corrections. We
will review the difference between revision and proofreading in class.
• Timed in-class writing assignments and in-class essays. Throughout the semester you will have the
opportunity to hone your in-class writing skills and practice doing the kinds of writing, reading, thinking
tasks the departmental exam will test you for.
I will read individual essays carefully and write comments on them. I spend a lot of time on these
comments and I will expect you to take the time to read what I have written. The best way to read my
comments is to start at the beginning of your essay, reread what you have written, and stop to read my
comments along the way. This is how I write the marginal comments, while I am reading. They show
my reactions and suggestions at that moment. The final comment is where I make a summary statement
about your essay. As you read my comments know that my goal is to provide you with comments
designed to help you revise the work into a more effective piece of writing. NOTE: late papers will not
be accepted.
Reading quizzes: Each reading assignment will be followed by a reading quiz. In other words, if there is
a reading assigned on the syllabus, you should expect a reading comprehension quiz at the beginning of
the next class. Be sure to check the syllabus to make sure you know what reading is due when. I will
try to remind you, yet it is your responsibility to know what is due when. The reading quizzes will be
graded using a +, , and - system. These correspond to an excellent thoughtful work, B good
completed work, and C incomplete work or work that needs improvement. If you are absent, late or
otherwise miss any of these assignments you will receive a 0. There are no makeups.
I will assign grades throughout this work. When I assess your writing I will be looking primarily at the
progress from draft to draft. When you turn in your final draft of each essay, I expect you to turn in all
of your drafts and the written feedback you received between the drafts. Be sure to keep all of your
assignments and organize them in your black binder since you will need to submit them for final
grading.
If your work seems thoughtless or quickly done, I will notice. I have taught writing for years and know
when writers are working hard and when they are fooling around. I will tell you if I think you are
fooling around.
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Meaningful participation: Your participation grade will be based on your engagement in class
discussions and on how well you prepare for class. The learning in our class depends on you completing
each reading and writing (homework) assignment on time (usually by the next class). You can expect to
have either a reading or writing homework assignment after each class.
Grading for Enlace English 1A Class
Department Final
Course Compositions and Exercises
Mentor Project
Attendance, Preparedness, and Participation
20%
50 %
10%
20%
Standard Grading Scale
A 90-100
B 80-89
C 70-79
D 60-69
F0
As you can see a large percentage of your grade in this class depends on attendance and doing your
homework. I take attendance each day and I will check to see that you have completed the homework
assigned when I am taking attendance.
HINT: coming to class with the assigned reading in hand, prepared to discuss the assigned reading, or
with the essay due ready for in-class workshop goes a long way in this class.
Department Final Exam: The English Department Final Exam is an essay exam given to all English
1A students. Each student's essay will be read by two professors. Check the Schedule of Classes for the
exam date and time. We will work hard throughout the semester to prepare you for this exam.
Conferences: We will meet individually to discuss drafts and revision. These are required meetings.
Missing a conference with your instructor is like missing a class (and we are not likely to be able to
reschedule your conference). You need to bring to the conference all of the work you have done
thus far. In addition to mandatory conferences, I expect you to stop by my office (during office hours
and/or by appointment) and to seek assistance whenever you need help and especially if you are
receiving C or below grades on your assignments.
Tardiness: I expect you to arrive on time and be prepared. Habitual tardiness is disruptive to the class.
Your third and subsequent late arrivals will be counted as absences. You will be counted absent if you
arrive after I have taken attendance
Attendance and Class Participation: After your third absence (this includes documented illness)
your final grade will go down ½ a grade for every absence. This means if you have a B at the end
and you were absent 3 times your grade will be a C+ and so on. If you miss 5 days, on your 5th
absence you will be dropped automatically—this includes documented illness and emergencies.
Yolanda Santiago Venegas Spring 2015 EVC English 1A
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From what you have already read it should be clear that attendance is crucial to achieve the learning
goals and objectives of the course. You must be here, every day, on time, prepared. We will make the
content of the course together in discussion in this classroom. We cannot reproduce for you the
discussions you miss when you do not attend class. Consequently you cannot pass this class without
attending regularly. You may not make up any in-class work you miss, but you will be responsible for
all assignments made, and all material covered, in your absence. Class will begin on time.
Similarly, all written work must be completed on schedule. Because you will be writing every week,
and because one week's work will lead to the next assignment, you cannot afford to fall behind. Once
again, I will not accept work that is late. If you are not doing the writing, you are not taking the
course.
Classroom etiquette: The following will not be tolerated, and may result in your being asked to leave
the class and being marked absent for that day:
1. Cell Phones and Laptops. Come to class without headphones or cell phones on. Although
occasionally a phone will ring during class, it isn’t okay to check messages or do anything other than
turn it off and put it out of sight with a brief apology. Try to remember to turn off all devises and
disconnect from you ipods before class begins. I do not allow laptops for note taking unless you have a
note from Student Disability Services.
2. Chattiness when we’re not doing group work and especially during instruction is disruptive and
disrespectful to your Professor, please don’t do it. I will ask you to stop and/or leave the class
3. I expect you to be present and focused during our class. Avoid sleeping, reading/working on
materials not related to class, and other inattentiveness.
4. Repeated tardiness or leaving early
5. Missing class then showing up to my office hours so that I can fill you in on what you missed. Ask a
buddy for their contact information so that you can call them in case you miss.
Academic Integrity: There is a discussion on Academic Integrity in the EVC Catalogue (p. 164); you
should be familiar with that section. As it particularly pertains to your work in English, the policy
covers:




Plagiarism—intentionally or unintentionally representing the words or ideas of another person as
your own; failure to properly cite references; manufacturing references
Working with another person when independent work is required
Submission of the same paper in more than one course without the specific permission of each
instructor
Submitting a paper written by another person or obtained from the internet.
The penalties for violation of the policy may include a failing grade on the assignment, a failing grade in
the course, suspension for a specified time and/or expulsion from college.
Students with Disabilities: The Disabilities Support Program (DSP) provides support services and
instructional programs for students with disabilities who are attending Evergreen Valley College.
A variety of services are available including academic and vocational counseling, interpreting or
captioning services (for students who are deaf), mobility assistance, provision of print materials in
Yolanda Santiago Venegas Spring 2015 EVC English 1A
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alternate formats (for students with visual impairments or learning disabilities), tutorial assistance, and
individual adaptive assistance as needed. If you have a disability for which you are or may be requesting
an accommodation, you are encouraged to contact both your instructor and the Disabled Students
Program in room L-105 as early in the semester as possible
Course Schedule: The course schedule is subject to change to suit the needs of the class. The syllabus,
including the course schedule below, is our contract and you are responsible for knowing what is on it
from week to week. I will post your homework assignment on our course websiteplease be sure to
log in and check the “homework due” page as it will tell you what you need to do before the next class
and what you need to bring to the next class. As a general rule, if there is reading or writing due,
bring it to class.
Week
Day 1 (Tu)
Week 1
1/27
Introductions: overview Complete double
of course
entry journal on
Ways of Reading:
our approach
Week 2
2/3
Introduce PPPC;;
explain working with
difficulty (Baldwin);
Assign Difficulty
Essay;
2/10
Return to Freire
Graphic organizer;
Assign Essay 1
Applying Freire;
Prewriting for Essay 1
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
2/17
Essay 1 Applying
Freire Due; in-class
workshop focus thesis
statements
2/24
Final Essay 1 Due;
Essay 1 Process
Homework
Day 2 (Th)
1/29
Enlace Counselor Visit Complete double
(Orientation); return to entry journal on
course requirements:
Baldwin Reading
discuss/work with
journals and our
approach
2/5
Read Freire
Write “Difficulty Introduce PPPC; Begin
Essay” on Freire work with Freire
Graphic organizer:
Difficulty Essay Due
2/12
Write Essay 1;
What is a thesis
Read Selection
statement? And Topic
from CC Success Sentences/focused
on Mentoring and paragraphs (blog);
Print Mentoring Discuss reading on
Assignment
mentoring. Introduce
Handouts
Mentor Assignment.
Assign report;
2/19
Revise Essay 1; Student Profiles for
review your
Mentor Project DUE!
handouts on
Second Essay 1
thesis statement workshop focus Topic
and paragraphs
Sentences and focused
paragraphs
2/26
Read for Essay 2 Reading QUIZ on
readings for Essay 2;
Yolanda Santiago Venegas Spring 2015 EVC English 1A
Homework
Finish writing
Essay 1
Complete final
revision of Essay
1 and Read
“Shitty First
Drafts” and
Murray Selection
Write Essay 2
Draft 1
7
Journal; Discuss
writing as process;
Discuss Revising vs.
Editing/Proofreading
Week 6
3/3
Finish Work with
reading for Essay 2;
Assign Essay 2;
Prewriting for Essay
3/10
Work with reading for
Essay 2; Assign Essay
2; Prewriting for Essay
2
Write Essay 2
3/5
First Workshop Essay
2
Revise Essay 2
Read Murray on
The Craft of
Revision
3/12
Week 7
Second workshop for
Essay 2
Finish final
1st Library
revision of Essay Orientation:meet at the
2
library in the lobby at
the entrance
3/17
Reading for
Essay 3: Read
how to write
mentor letter;
write mentor
letter for Tuesday
3/17
3/19
Week 8
Final Essay 2 Due
Work with reading for
Essay 3. Assign Essay
3
Re-read and write 2nd Library
Draft 1 of Essay 3 Orientation:meet at the
library entrance
3/24
3/26
Letter Mailed to Your
Mentor by Today
Second Essay 3
workshop: focus
revising; the writing
process; process
journal in class
Week 9
1st Workshop Essay 3:
Focus PIE paragraphs
& The Art of Quoting
3/31
4/2
Week 10
Week 11
Spring Break!:)
Spring Break!:)
4/7
FINAL Essay 3 Due
4/9
Deadline to schedule
mentor meeting &
Work w/students, add
to key words page;
Introduce and assign
Decide on your
topic; on-line
preliminary
research; use
keywords page on
Yolanda Santiago Venegas Spring 2015 EVC English 1A
From topic to research
paper in-class work;
developing a research
question
Find your first 3
scholarly sources
and bring them to
our next class;
also bring your
narrowed topic
8
Essay 4:Research
blog
Essay and assign step 1
and 2 of research essay
Week 12
4/14
Assign Mentor
Response Paper;
Introduce MLA
citation; in-class work
on citing your 3
sources; introduce
research proposal; inclass writing of
research proposal drafts
Week 13
4/16
Write your
Research
Proposal and find
your next 3
sources
Workshop Research
Proposal; Use our Step
by Step Guide Explain
how to do an annotated
bibliography and why
do it;
4/21
4/23
Read Revised Research Write first chunk
Proposals for ½ class; of research Essay
then Explain the parts (at least 4 pages)
of a Research Essay;
and assign first chunk
(4 pg. minimum)
Research Groups will
Signup for conference
next week
4/28
4/30
Deadline to meet with
your mentor
Week 14
Workshop Second
Chunk of your research
essay (6 page
minimum)
Week 15
and research
question
Research Group
Teacher Conferences
Begin—you need to
have at least 6 pages
of your research
Essay done for your
conference
5/5
Yolanda Santiago Venegas Spring 2015 EVC English 1A
Revise Research
Proposal and do
your annotated
bibliography
Workshop first chunk
and assign second
chunk (2. Pg. min.)
No Class
5/7
9
Final Exam: Introduce
Timed Writing Strategy
Finish mentor
response paper
5/12
Final Exam Practice
Work on
Research Essay
Final Exam: Introduce
Scoring Guide and
Samples; how you will
be scored
Research Group
Teacher-Student
Conferences
continued 3-6PM only
Week 16
Mentor Response
Paper Due
5/14
Friday May 15
Finish Research LAST CLASS:
Department Final
Essay and review Final Exam Practice
Exam
Final Exam
Strategy l
Final Research Paper
Due
Yolanda Santiago Venegas Spring 2015 EVC English 1A
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