Course Syllabus
English 104 • Section 1334 • Spring 2016
Glendale Community College
Instructor: J. T. Allen.
Class Meeting Time: Wednesday, 6:55 p.m. to 10:05 p.m.
Class Location: San Gabriel Building, room 139.
Office Hours: after class until 10:45 p.m. or by appointment.
E-mail: jallen@glendale.edu
Web page: http://english104allen.wikispaces.com/
Office Location: SG 139.
Phone: 213-718-7573.
Course Description
English 104 will enable students to critically read and evaluate expository and persuasive
texts that address current issues. This course is designed to be a continuation of English
101. The primary focus is instruction in writing. Students will work toward writing
sophisticated, well-structured expository and persuasive essays using appropriate primary
and secondary research materials. Students will be able to evaluate written arguments,
recognize fallacious reasoning, and appreciate the role of language in argument. The
ability to think critically is vital to a successful academic career, but it is also
indispensable in the workplace and in personal life. We will work toward evaluating
complex and even contradictory evidence to arrive at conclusions that are informed,
educated, and intelligent.
Required Texts
1. Diane Hacker, A Writer’s Reference, Eighth Edition.
2. Sylvan Barnet & Hugo Bedau, Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing, Eighth Edition.
3. Mirriam-Websters Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition.
4. Naomi Oreskeys & Erik M. Conway, Merchants of Doubt, Bloomsbury Press editon.
5. Printed version of all assignments from the class website or library digital resources.
Course Policies
Attendance:
 We will meet only fourteen times before taking the final.
 There are no excused absences.
 If you miss more than two classes you are dropped from the class.
 Class participation is essential. If you don’t participate or if you come unprepared,
it counts as an absence.
 If I ask you to leave class (for any of the offenses mentioned below) it counts as
an absence.
 Leaving class early is the same as being absent.
 If you arrive late repeatedly, you will be counted absent.
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
If you are absent, it is your responsibility to track assignments you have missed.
Late Work:
 Late assignments are marked down a full grade for each class past the due date.
 Late writing assignments will be graded but may not be critically marked.
 Repeated late submissions will not be accepted.
 Quizzes cannot be made up and are due when collected during class.
Plagiarism:
Don’t put yourself in the position of being suspected of plagiarism. I cannot
emphasize this enough. Plagiarism is considered theft. It will be reported to the
administration and dealt with in accordance with division and college policy.
That policy can be reviewed at the following link:
http://gcc.glendale.edu/policies&regulations/BPweb/BP6133.htm
Turn-it-in-dot-com:
Each student in this class is required to enroll at turnitin.com. All out-of-class
assignments, must be submitted to turnitin.com in order to receive a grade. This
is in addition to handing in a printed copy to the instructor. There are no
exceptions. Follow the instructions at turnitin.com to enroll. The website accepts
papers in MS Word, WordPerfect, RTF, PDF, PostScript, HTML, and plain text
(.txt). There are three things you must know to enroll:
The class name: English 104 Section 1334.
The class ID number assigned by turn-it-in: 12183873.
The class password:
Electronic Devices:
Lap-tops, cell phones, iPads, iPhones, Androids—keep them off, keep them
hidden. You are allowed to use certain devices as instructor-approved electronic
dictionaries. If there is some exception you think warranted, come speak to me
about it before using the device. All use of electronic devices in class is subject
to instructor approval and may be revoked at any time.
Class Participation:
Speaking and writing are inextricably linked, especially in this class where
discussions will be used to test ideas. However, off subject comments,
inappropriate language, being disrespectful of your classmates or instructor, and
conscious insensitivity to the outlooks, opinions, orientations and backgrounds of
others, will have grave consequences.
Document Standards:
All papers for this class, with the exception of papers written in class, are to be
turned in type-written, in Times New Roman 12 point font, and according to
MLA format as described in A Writer’s Reference. E-mail submissions are
never acceptable. Non-standard formatting is also not acceptable. In-class
essays are to be written double-spaced on one-side of college-ruled paper (without
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edge perforations) and are to conform to MLA standards in all other ways.
Changes to the syllabus:
It is not possible to keep to the syllabus at all times. According to the pace and
focus of the class, I will change, delete, extend and add reading material,
assignments and deadlines. If there are major changes, I will put out a revised
syllabus, but be advised that the only way to keep up with day-to-day changes is to
attend class. Making class-buddies who can fill you in if you miss something is a
good idea; repeatedly asking the instructor what you missed or assuming the
syllabus has remained the same in your absence is not.
Hand Outs:
Throughout the term I will hand out additional material. Usually these are single
pages. You are responsible for keeping the handouts in a folder, in good order,
being familiar the information on each one, and bringing them to class with you.
ADA Accommodations:
All students with disabilities requiring accommodations are responsible for
making arrangements in a timely manner through the Center for Students with
Disabilities. Please discuss these requirement with me during office hours.
Things you Need to Bring to Every Class:
 The text books, your dictionary, printed copies of assigned reading.
 Black ink pens for writing in-class essays.
 Pencils and highlighter markers for annotating your texts and taking notes.
 A supply of college rule paper for in-class essays and quizzes.
 A folder for keeping handouts, essays, and class-work.
 A notebook for taking class notes.
Course Work
(approximate point values)
(100 points)
Essay One and Two, out-of-class, 500 to 750 words, 25 points each.
(200 points)
Essay Three and Four, out-of-class, 500 to 750 words, 50 points each.
(100 points)
Essay Five (revision), out-of-class, 500 to 750 words, 100 points.
(400 points)
One MLA documented research paper of no less than 2000 words. (50
for Proposal, 50 for Library Workshop, 50 for Annotated Bibliography,
50 for Outline, 100 for 1st draft, 100 for Final draft.)
(20 points)
Attendance at one Learning Center Workshop and one tutoring session.
(100 points*)
Class participation and attendance, approximately 10 points per session.
(100 points*)
Miscellaneous quizzes and exercises, 10 points each. (*On average.)
(100 points)
Final in-class essay.
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Grading
90% and above = A. 80% and above = B. 70% and above = C. 60% and above = D.
Keeping track of your grade is your responsibility and easy to do since the point value for
each assignment is standard and the assignments are all listed above. When I give a
grade I always give it as a fraction, for example: 40/50 or 78/100 or 10/10. In this
example there are 160 points possible and the student has earned 128 points. Thus, by
cross-multiplying, we find they have 80% of the total points, or a B. I suggest you keep a
running count of your own grade as we progress.
Research Paper
Research Papers must be thesis-based arguments of no less than 2000 words, typed in
accordance with MLA standards. Sources must be documented according to MLA
specifications. In order to receive a grade for the final paper, all the other initial steps
must be satisfactorily completed: library workshop, thesis proposal, annotated
bibliography, outline, and 1st draft. The instructor must approve your thesis proposal in
advance from a list of prompts to be provided.
Course Objectives
Upon completion of the required coursework, the student will be able to:
A. Critically read and evaluate expository and persuasive texts to:
1. Identify thesis or unifying theme.
2. Identify traditional reasoning and logic (including induction and
deduction, denotation and connotation).
3. Identify and evaluate supporting evidence (relevance, accuracy).
4. Distinguish fact from opinion, recognize assumptions and fallacies.
5. Evaluate text in terms of diction, tone and unity.
6. Identify the ways in which expository pieces and arguments are
shaped by an author’s social, historical, moral and psychological,
and philosophical assumptions.
B. Write logical, coherently structured and mechanically sound, thesis
based expository and persuasive essays which demonstrate use of primary and secondary
research materials.
1. Select topic and adjust it in terms of breadth and complexity.
2. Clearly establish a thesis.
3. Demonstrate appropriate use of supporting evidence for: a) accuracy, b)
relevance, c) freedom from faulty assumptions and fallacies.
4. Demonstrate ability to refute counter-argument.
5. Maintain unity and coherence between paragraphs.
6. Maintain college-level prose standards (mechanics).
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Class Schedule: English 104, Section 1334, Spring, 2016
Day/Date
Assignments & Agenda (reading assignments are due for the day listed.)
1. W 2/17
FOCUS: Introduction. Class goals & policies. Texts. MLA paper form.
Editing symbols. Review: Academic writing. Course subject matter.
2. W 2/24
READ: Barnet & Bedau: Chapter 1, Critical Thinking (3-19). Also read,
from website: Al Gore, The Climate Emergency AND Oreskes & Conway,
Smoke, Mirrors and Climate Doubt.
TURN IN: Be prepared for an in-class essay based on the readings.
FOCUS: Critical thinking, assumptions, analysis, evaluation.
3. W 3/2
READ: Barnet & Beadau: Chapter 2, Critical Reading: Getting Started.
(34-53) and the Student Research paper: An Argument for Corporate
Responsibility (319-325). Also read, from class web page: Bruce Bartlett,
How Fox News Changed American Media and Political Dynamics.
TURN IN: Essay Two (600-750).
FOCUS: Looking under the hood of a text.
4. W 3/9
READ: Barnet & Beadau: Chapter 3, Critical Reading, Getting Deeper
into Arguments (74-106). And also, from class web page: Jared Diamond,
Collapse, How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed, Chapter 3, The Last
People Alive: Pitcairn and Henderson Islands
TURN IN: Essay Three (600-750). Analyzing an Argument.
FOCUS: Analyzing an argument for validity.
5. W 3/16
READ: Merchants of Doubt, (1-135).
TURN IN: Essay Four (600-750). Countering an Argument.
FOCUS: Methods, purpose, audience, persona.
6. W 3/23
READ: Barnet & Beadau: Chapter 5, Writing an Analysis of an Argument
(179-196). Also read: Merchants of Doubt, (136-215).
TURN IN: Essay Five, (600-750). Revised Essay.
FOCUS: Tracing an idea from inception to finished essay.
7. W 3/30
READ: Barnet & Beadau: Chapter 6, Developing an Argument of Your
Own (228-251). Also: Merchants of Doubt, (216-274).
TURN IN: Tentative thesis and research proposal.
LIBRARY WORKSHOP DUE.
FOCUS: Collecting and vetting source material for an essay. Widening
the understanding of the context of your argument.
8. W 4/6
READ: Barnet & Beadau: Chapter 7, Using Sources (267-313) Also read
from website: Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner, Freakonomics,
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Chapter 1, What Do Schoolteachers and Sumo Wrestlers Have in
Common?
TURN IN: Revised thesis and research proposal.
FOCUS: Claim, grounds, warrants, deduction, induction, fallacies.
SPRING BREAK • April 11 Through April 15 • NO CLASS
9. W 4/20
READ: Barnet & Beadau: Chapter 9, A Logician’s View: Deduction,
Induction, Fallacies (349-368). Also read from website: Sarah Chayes,
Thieves of State: Why Corruption Threatens Global Security, Chapter 4,
Nonkinetic Targeting, Kabul, 2009.
TURN IN: Annotated Bibliography.
FOCUS: Presentation of useful sources. Recognizing fallacies.
10. W 4/27
READ: Barnet & Beadau: Chapter 6, Developing an Argument of Your
Own (251-266). Also attend: MERCHANTS PANEL
TURN IN: Outline.
FOCUS: The role of argument in a civil society.
11. W 5/4
TURN IN: First Draft Research Paper. (2000)
FOCUS: Peer review of first drafts. Presentation of research topics.
12. W 5/11
READ: Barnet & Beadau: Chapter 8, A Philosopher’s View: The Toulmin
Model. Also read from website: George Orwell, Politics and the English
Language.
FOCUS: Return and review first drafts. Analyzing essays ethically.
13. W 5/18
READ: From website: Jared Diamond, Collapse, Chapter 14, Why Do
Some Societies Make Disastrous Decisions?
TURN IN: Second Draft, Research Paper
FOCUS: Arguing about Literature. Class review. Preparing for and
writing final exam essays.
14. W 5/25
READ: To be announced.
TURN IN: In-class essay to prepare for final.
FOCUS: Preparation for writing final in-class essay.
15. M 6/1
FINAL EXAM: 7:30 p.m to 10:10 p.m.
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Simple Editing Symbols
a
awkward.
ag
agreement.
c
coherence.
ci
citation problem.
d
development.
f
fragment.
g
grammar problem.
i
idiom.
j
jargon.
m
mechanics: caps, lc, style, font.
n
nonstandard usage.
p
punctuation problem.
r
recast.
rd
redundant.
ro
run-on sentence.
sl
slang.
sp
spelling.
su
support needed.
tr
transition needed.
v
vague.
w
wrong word.
x
obvious error.
+
good.
++
great.
–
not good.
See also: A Writer’s Reference, second to last page, Revision Symbols.
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Quiz: Know Your Syllabus
(Short answers or true/false)
1. How many times can you miss class before you are dropped from the class?
2. I don’t have to hand in a real paper as long as I submit it to turn-it-in. (T/F)
3. When is the Library Workshop deadline?
4. It is okay to email my paper to Mr. Allen. (T/F)
5. The three things I need to know to create a turn-it-in account are:
6. What does it mean if I see v/r on my paper?
7. It is okay to receive text messages in class as long as I don’t disrupt anyone. (T/F)
8. As long as I keep a record of my grades and am mindful of my class participation, I
should know what my grade is anytime I want. (T/F)
9. What does it mean if I see “su” written on my paper?
10. When is the first draft of my research paper due?
I have read and understand the contents of this syllabus for English 104, Section 1334,
and agree to abide by the regulations and deadlines set forth in it.
Print name: _________________________________________________
Signature: ___________________________________________________