Class Time: M/W/F 9:30 am – 10:35 am
Class Location: Building 1600, Room 1630
Instructor email: mbeuttel@napavalley.edu
Office Location:
Office Hours:
Napa Valley College
English 90
Section #: 55984
Instructor: Michelle Beuttel
Fall 2013 – Aug. 19th to Dec. 20th
Welcome to English 90!
Course Description
This course emphasizes the relationship of reading, thinking, and writing, providing instruction
in college-level critical reading skills and college-level essay development, including critical
analysis, evaluation of college-level texts, the concepts of coherence, clarity, and unity, and the
correct use of grammar. A minimum of 5,000-6,000 words of writing is required.
Student Learning Outcomes and Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

Think, read, and write critically.

Write a unified, coherent, well supported, and grammatically correct document that is
reasonably free from errors. Demonstrate a clear and thoughtful thesis as well as the
ability to move from general statement to specific support.

Read, comprehend, and analyze college-level texts of varying lengths, styles, and
subjects and representing a variety of cultures and perspectives.

Demonstrate an awareness of the writing process, specifically the ability to plan, draft,
revise, and edit.

Achieve a minimum writing standard on the departmental assessment essay by
summarizing a reading and preparing a response essay that generates and supports a
thesis.

Demonstrate the ability to incorporate summary and quotations, to evaluate text and
online sources, and to present and cite references to outside sources correctly according
to MLA in-text citation guidelines.
Required Texts
 Gerald Graff, Cathy Birkenstein, and Russel Durst. They Say/I Say with Readings. 2nd
ed. New York: Norton, 2012. Print.
 Diana Hacker, and Nancy Sommers. A Writer’s Reference. 7th ed. Boston: Bedford/St.
Martin’s, 2011. Print.
 Toni Morrison. Sula. New York: Vintage, 2004. Print.
 A paperback dictionary
Beuttel ENGL 90- pg. 2
Supplies and Other Necessities
 College ruled 8.5 x 11 inch paper. (If using a spiral-bound notebook, please use
perforated paper.)
 Pens, pencils, and highlighters for taking notes, writing, and annotating.
 Pocket folders for handouts and assignment sheets.
 All required texts.
 A computer with word processor and a printer or access to these on campus.
 A flash drive.
Course Requirements and Expectations
ATTENDANCE
A student who misses more than 3 class sessions, or the number of times class meets in one
week, may be dropped by the instructor. Missing half of a class will count as half of an absence;
thus, missing two halves equals a whole. While I retain the right to drop a student for
excessive absences, if you no longer wish to take this class, it is your responsibility as the
student to drop the course. Failure to do so may result in a penalized grade that will appear on
your official transcript. In other words, do not assume I will drop you if you stop attending. To
protect the integrity of your official transcript, be cognizant of deadlines for dropping and
withdrawing.
If you miss a class, it is your responsibility as the student to find out what lecture material,
assignments, or other work was missed. Ask fellow students who were in class for notes and
information about the missed class. Once you have taken this step, you may see me for
additional information. Work performed in class or assignments given may not be eligible for
make-up.
READING
Reading assignments must be completed by the dates provided. In other words, finish the
reading before class begins on the assigned date. Failing to complete reading assignments in a
timely manner will negatively impact your grade.
WRITING
Writing assignments, including drafts, must be completed by the dates provided. Failing to
complete writing assignments in a timely manner will negatively impact your grade. Missing a
draft on workshop day will result in a half to full grade penalty on the final paper. Drafts
must be at least half the length of the final paper to avoid the deduction. Late papers will
be reduced by a full grade and must be submitted no later than one week past the due date.
Final papers must be turned in on time. Papers are considered on time when a hard copy is
submitted by the due date in class or when an electronic version is submitted to turnitin.com by
the due date and prior to the start of class. Please do not email your papers as these submissions
are often flagged as spam and do not make it through the Outlook email system.
Beuttel ENGL 90- pg. 3
ELECTRONIC DEVICES
Please have the campus alert system programmed to your cell phone. Turn your phone to vibrate
or mute. You may keep the phone on for emergency purposes; however, if it distracts you from
the learning environment, I will ask you to put the phone away. Electronic devices, such as
phones and laptops, should not become distractions in the learning environment.
STUDENT CONDUCT
Students are expected to conduct themselves in a collegiate manner. You are responsible for
understanding campus policies and procedures, including standards of student conduct. For
more information about these policies and procedures, please go to the Napa Valley College
website and the following links: Student Services > Student Rights and Responsibilities >
Standards of Student Conduct. You may also type the following address into your browser:
http://www.napavalley.edu/StudentServices/SRR/Pages/default.aspx
Please be respectful of the learning environment. Students are distracted when others talk out of
turn, engage in social networking, arrive late, leave early, or eat strong smelling foods. If a
student creates a distraction in the classroom, he or she will be asked to stop the behavior.
If a student persists in creating a distraction in the classroom, the student will receive a written
warning from the instructor that identifies the problem and asks the student to desist. If the
student continues to disrupt the learning environment after a written warning has been proffered,
a report will be filed with the proper authorities.
ACCOMODATIONS
Students in need of accommodations in the college learning environment:
Any student who feels s/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a
learning disability should contact Learning Services in the Library and Learning
Resource Center (LLRC), room 1766, phone (707) 256-7442. A Learning
Disability Specialist will review your needs and determine appropriate
accommodations.
If you need accommodations for physical or other types of disabilities, schedule an
appointment with DSPS Counselor, Sheryl Fernandez, in the Counseling
Department located in the 1300 building, phone (707) 256-7220 for appointment.
All information and documentation is confidential.
Please feel encouraged to make an appointment with me privately to discuss your
specific learning needs in my class.
Beuttel ENGL 90- pg. 4
ACADEMIC HONESTY
Turning in work that is not your own may result in a lower or failing grade for the assignment or
exam. This includes copying and pasting elements from on-line sources. Please review Napa
Valley College's policy on Academic Honesty, which can be accessed through the college’s
website and the following links: Student Services > Student Rights and Responsibilities >
Academic Honesty. You may also type the following address into your browser:
http://napavalley.edu/StudentServices/SRR/Pages/AcademicHonesty.aspx
To learn about plagiarism and other aspects of college writing, this class uses www.turnitin.com
for essay submission. Please be advised that plagiarism may result in a lower or failing grade for
the assignment or exam.
Grading
Essay 1
Midterm 1
Essay 2
Midterm 2
Research Paper
Final Exam
Reading Quizzes
In-class writing
Total
10%
10%
15%
15%
20%
10%
10%
10%
100%
A= 90 to 100; B= 80 to 89; C= 70 to 79; D= 60 to 69; F= 0 to 59
To fulfill the minimum-word requirement and pass the class, students must complete all
essays, including the in-class essays and the Research Paper. A minimum grade of D (60%)
or better is necessary to earn credit for the course.
ENGL 90 Special Notes:
 A Departmental Exam will take place midterm. The Departmental Exam is a timed essay
given to every student enrolled in English 90. It is not an exit exam, but it counts toward
your overall grade. The Departmental Exam is listed as “Midterm 2” on the list of graded
items.
 Keep all of your work. You may be asked to turn in prewriting and drafts with your
completed essays.
Beuttel ENGL 90- pg. 5
SCHEDULE
(Subject to change based on class needs and departmental schedules.)
Week 1
M 8/19
 Introduction to ENGL 90
W 8/21
 Introductory Letter
 Prewriting Technique: Listing & Blocking
 Paragraphs and Topic Sentences
F 8/23
 Critical Reading for College
 “Even for Cashiers, College Pays Off” by David Leonhardt
Week 2
M 8/26
 Basic Essay Structure & the Process of Writing
 College Papers in Particular
 Graff: Introduction and Part 1—Chapter 1: “They Say” Starting with What Others Are
Saying
W 8/28
 Graff: Part 1—Chapter 2: “Her Point Is” The Art of Summarizing
 “What Is College For?” by Gary Gutting
F 8/30
 Anatomy of a Thesis Statement
 Prewriting Technique: Freewriting
 Prewriting Technique: Clustering
 Introduction to Paper 1—Education (take home)
Week 3
M 9/2
 Holiday-campus closed
W 9/4
 Graff: Part 1—Chapter 3: “As He Himself Puts It” The Art of Quoting
 Bring your draft to date
 Graff: “Kenyon Commencement Speech” by David Foster Wallace, pg. 198-21
F 9/6
 Graff: “Blue Collar Brilliance” by Mike Rose, pg. 243-255
 Draft Paper 1: Due (Bring 2 copies of your draft for workshop.)
 Process: HOCs & LOCs
Week 4
M 9/16
 Graff: Part 2—Chapter 4: “Yes/No/ Okay/But” Three Ways to Respond
Beuttel ENGL 90- pg. 6
W 9/18
 Graff: Part 2—Chapter 5: “And Yet” Distinguishing What You Say from What They Say
 More on Framing Sources
F 9/20
 Rhetorical Strategies
 Plagiarism & www.turnitin.com
Week 5
M 9/23
 Paper 1: Due
 Graff: “Small Change: Why the Revolution Will Not Be Tweeted” by Malcolm Gladwell,
pg. 312-328
W 9/25
 Graff: “Reforming Egypt in 140 Characters?” by Dennis Baron, pg. 329-334
F 9/27
 More Rhetorical Strategies
Week 6
M 9/30
 Graff: Part 2—Chapter 6: “Skeptics May Object” Planting a Naysayer in Your Text
 Graff: “Watching TV Makes You Smarter” by Steven Johnson, pg. 277-294
W 10/2
 Graff: “Thinking Outside the Idiot Box” by Dana Stevens, pg. 295-298
F 10/4
 Preparation for in-class Midterm 1
Week 7
M 10/7
 In-class Midterm 1
W 10/9
 Graff: “Remarks to the NAACP” by Michelle Obama, pg. 417-433
F 10/11
 Graff: Part 2—Chapter 7: “So What? Who Cares?” Saying Why It Matters
Week 8
M 10/14
 Graff: “What You Eat Is Your Business” by Radley Balko, pg. 395-39
W 10/16
 Graff: Part 3—Chapter 8: “As A Result” Connecting the Part
F 10/18
 Introduction to Paper 2—Health (take home)
 Introduction to Research—Part I
Beuttel ENGL 90- pg. 7
Week 9
M 10/21
 Graff: “Cheating and CHEATING” by Joe Posnanski, pg. 553-559
W 10/23
 MLA Documentation & Formatting
 Bring your draft to date
F 10/25
 Draft Paper 2: Due (Bring 2 copies of your draft for workshop.)
Week 10
M 10/28
 Graff: “We, the Public, Place the Best Athletes on Pedestals” by William Moller, pg.
545-552
W 10/30
 Graff: Part 3—Chapter 9: “Ain’t So/Is Not” Academic Writing Doesn’t mean Setting
Aside Your Own Voice
 Graff: Part 3—Chapter 10: “But Don’t Get Me Wrong” The Art of Metacommentary
F 11/1
 Sample Departmental Exam Packet
 Introduction to Paper 3—Cheating (take-home)
 Introduction to Research—Part II
Week 11
M 11/4
 Conferences
W 11/6
 Conferences
F 11/8
 Paper 2: Due
 Discussion Sessions for Departmental Exams
Week 12
M 11//11: Holiday-campus closed
W 11/13
 Research Proposal for Essay 3
F 11/15
 In-class: Midterm 2 (Departmental)
Week 13
M 11//18
 Working Thesis Statement & Scratch Outline for Paper 3
 Evaluating and Integrating Sources
W 11/20
 A Brief Introduction to Literature
 Sula p. 1-48
Beuttel ENGL 90- pg. 8
F 11/22
 Annotated Bibliography #1
Week 14
M 11/25
 Annotated Bibliography #2
W 11/27
 Annotated Bibliography #3
 Sula p. 49-85
F 11/29
 Holiday-campus closed
Week 15
M 12/2
 Annotated Bibliography #4
 First Draft Paper 3: Due (Bring 2 copies of your draft for workshop.)
W 12/4
 Sula p. 86-137
F 12/6
 In-class writing for Sula
Week 16
M 12/9
 Second Draft Paper 3: Due (Bring 2 copies of your draft for workshop.)
W 12/11
 Sula p. 138-174
F 12/13
 In-class writing for Sula
Week 17
M 12/16—W 12/18—F 12/20
FINAL EXAM WEEK & Paper 3 Due: Date TBA: ________________________________
Note:
 Reading assignments from A Writer’s Reference will be announced throughout the
semester.
 The NVC Writing Center offers assistance to students with writing assignments. The
Writing Center is located in Room 832, Catacula Hall (the 800 Building).
 Last day to drop class without a “W” grade is September 6, 2013.
 Last day to drop class with a “W” grade is November 15, 2013.