100.Spring.2008

Snider, English 100, Spring 2008 #

English 100-13 and 17/Dr. Clifton Snider
CSULB Spring 2008/Office: MHB-506
MW 12:30-2; 2-3:30 p. m./Phone: 985-4247; e-mail: csnider@csulb.edu
Rooms: LA2-106; LA2-202/Hours: MW 4:55-5:40 p. m.

Web Site: www.csulb.edu/~csnider (contains important class material)

Introduction

This syllabus constitutes a kind of contract between you as a student and me as your instructor. Read it carefully; it sets forth my requirements for the entire semester. In this course you will write papers of about 600-700 words each, except for the 1200-1400 word research paper. I evaluate in terms of (1) organization, (2) content, (3) grammar, style, and mechanics (i.e., expression).

Course Goals

To develop critical thinking through your writing, consistent with tolerance and open-mindedness.
To analyze controversial issues with the ability to distinguish between fact and opinion, using evidence and reasoning.
To present your ideas in thesis-driven papers, developed with unified, coherent, well-developed, logical supporting paragraphs (no 1-sentence paragraphs or paragraphs a page or longer) written in standard American English.
To analyze a book and a film in terms of its moral and/or spiritual values or concerns.
To use the Library to find evidence for your argument and research papers.

Texts

Murdick, A Student Guide to College Composition (M); MLA Handbook, 6th Ed.; Snider, Course Packet (Bring this each time we meet.)

Types of Assignments

You will write five full-length papers, as explained above ("Introduction") and two or three paragraphs. Each paper gets up to 50 points, the final one up to 100. In-class paragraphs get up to 10 points, and you get up to 5 points each for the peer reviews and up to 10 points for the final.

Sequence of Assignments

Your first paper will be autobiographical. The second will be a book review on a book from my list. The third will be a film review on a film from my list. The fourth will be an argument paper, and the fifth a research paper. All papers are explained in my Course Packet.

Late Paper Policy

Late papers lose 5 points per day, including non-class days and weekends (apart from documented illness, death of a loved one, or sanctioned university function); the final paper loses 20 points per day late, and after 4 days I will not accept it. Papers are due on the dates scheduled before class is dismissed. If your paper is late, have another instructor (not the English Department Office) sign and date it; then hand it to me without making any changes. Do not put it in my mail box.

Basis for Assigning the Course Grade

You must do all five papers to pass the course. I grade by total point percentages (90-100, A; 80-89, B, etc.), but some on the borderline may receive the higher grade, depending on the other class grades and your class participation. I drop the lowest of the first three papers.

Withdrawal Policy

Please note the withdrawal policies and dates in the Schedule of Classes. After 10 Feb. you may not use myCSULB to withdraw or drop the class.

Absence Policy

After 2 free absences, you lose 5 points per absence (apart from documented illness, death of a loved one, or sanctioned university function). If you miss a required conference, you're counted absent for all the days conferences are scheduled for the class. If you are not present and someone else signs your name to the roll, you lose 20 points, and if I discover who has signed your name, that person will also lose 20 points. If you leave early without telling me in advance, you'll be counted absent for that day.

Accommodation for a Disability

If you need accommodation for a university-verified disability, you must see me in advance of such an accommodation.

Requirements for Assignments

In-class paragraphs (all indicated as such on the schedule) must be written in blue or black ink, one side only. All full-length papers must be typed (font 12 or 14), no exceptions. Hand in a rough draft with each paper inside a regular-size file folder along with your last paper. The rough draft must show substantial revisions, and I will not accept your paper, including the final paper, without a full rough draft. An exact copy of the final draft will not be accepted as a rough draft. Follow the format I give you (including underlining your thesis and topic sentences). That also means no separate title page, no staples, MLA-standard margins, a title and a heading on the first page with subsequent pages numbered (with your last name) in the upper right-hand corner (see MLA Handbook, pp. 292-93). After the first paper, you may lose 5 points each for violating any of these format requirements. If you have sincerely and repeatedly tried to get the margins right and can't, write a note to that effect and see me.

For the last two papers you will be required to hand in copies of each of your sources, 10 points off per the required number of sources if you don't do this. For each paper you must use a database to find a source and cite it MLA style. I allow only one authorized website.

Also, I encourage you to get extra tutorial help, if needed, from the Writer's Resource Lab (LAB-212; 985-4329). In some cases, I may ask that you use the Lab; you receive no credit for the paper if you don't show evidence of using the Lab. In a very few cases, I may use your papers, anonymously of course, as samples for the class (hard copy or electronically) or for pedagogical discussion within the Department. If you object, please tell me immediately.

Caveats

The film I show before the review may be R rated; if this or language and subject matter of the sort used in such films disturbs you, please see me at once. If you are age 16 or under, see me immediately so we can make other arrangements.

Plagiarism has increasingly become a serious problem. If I find that you have plagiarized, you will fail the course. This supersedes the Course Packet if there are any differences. Remember that using anyone else's words without quotation marks, even if you give credit to your source, is plagiarism. See the Schedule of Classes. And read the chapter on plagiarism in the MLA Handbook.

Absolutely no cell phones, iPhones, BlackBerries, laptop computers or any other electronic devices are allowed during class time, except for those needed for a disability. Please respect your classmates and me by paying attention to what we are doing in class without interrupting us. Do not work on other material during class.

See also the Resolving Differences Handbook on the CSULB web site. If you have any complaints, you must follow university policy or risk the lowering of your final grade.

Schedule

1. 28 Jan. Diagnostic Test. 30 Jan. Read M, Part I. See my Correction Signs. Bring a copy to class, either from my web page or the Course Packet.

2. 4 Feb. In-class paragraph (no makeups for in-class paragraphs). 6 Feb. Read M, Part II and Part III, 6. Discussion of Autobiographical Paper.

3. 11 Feb. Peer review, Autobiographical Paper. (Bring your rough draft; you get 5 points for doing a full review, but you lose 5 points if you don’t bring a full-length draft each time we have a peer review. Get the peer review sheet from my web site. Click here.). 13 Feb. Paper #1, Autobiographical, due; M, pp. 54-56; Part III, 9, definition and critical analysis. Bring title of book for review. It must come from my Course Packet list or my web site (a much fuller list).

4. 18-20 Feb. Individual conferences on Paper #1; meet in my office.

5. 25-27 Feb. Conferences continued.

6. 3 Mar. Peer analysis: Book Review. 5 Mar. Paper #2, Book Review, due. Video (title to be announced).

7. 10 Mar. Video continued. Bring title of film for review. It must come from the list in my Packet or on my web page. 17 Mar. In-class paragraph on video.

8. 17 Mar. Peer review, Film Review. 19 Mar. Paper #3, Film Review, due; M, Part III, 8, Argument; bring controversial stories from the newspaper or magazines.

9. 24 Mar. Logic. Bring Argument topic (see the Course Packet) and copy of a letter to the editor (Note: you must do this to pass the Argument Paper); 26 Mar. Meet in the Library, Spidell Room.

31 Mar.-2 Apr. Spring Recess

10. 7-9 Apr. Conferences on Argument Paper (requires at least three different sources, only one authorized web site; see "Evaluating Sources," MLA Handbook); also, at least one article from a database is required. For the last two papers, you may use a regular-size folder with pockets.

11. 14 Apr. Conferences continued. 16 Apr. Paper #4, Argument, due; M, Part III, 10; Part II, 5; discussion of Research Paper; requires at least five sources, including one book and one article from a database; only one authorized web site allowed among these 5; Bring topic for research; see the Course Packet.

12. 21-23 Apr. Conferences for Paper #5, Round One. Bring a tentative thesis, an outline, and a typed list of preliminary sources, MLA style. (Note: you must come at least once to each round of conferences.)

13. 28 Apr. Conferences, Round One, continued; 30 Apr. Conferences for Paper #5, Round Two. Bring your rough draft, including your MLA-style list of sources.

14. 5-7 May Conferences continued.

15. 12 May Conferences, Round Two, continued; 14 May Paper #5, Research Paper, due.

FINAL: to be announced

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