Cañada College
Spring 2005
English 165 Clay

Essay: Proposition 13 - What has it meant for California.
Due Tues, May 17 2005

Write a history of Prop 13, and explain what consequences it has had for education in California. This is a difficult subject, especially since it is rarely discussed without a lot of bias and opinion. So be critical of your sources!

Use these questions as starting points:
What were the events and ideas that triggered the movement for Prop 13?
What was the Serrano decision?
Who was Howaard Jarvis? What were his arguments for Prop 13?
Exactly what did Prop 13 mandate?
What is Proposition 98? What does it mandate?
What is going on right now in California vis-a-vis education funding?

Here are several documents for research that appear to be reliable and useful:
1. http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/OP_998JCOP.pdf.
A long thorough look at the unintended consequences of Proposition 13 (like increased urban sprawl)

2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Proposition_13_(1978)
a very brief overview of Proposition 13 with links...

3. “The silver anniversary of Proposition 13”
http://webpages.csus.edu/~sac15356/Proposition%2013.htm
Strong recommendation - a good overview:

California was changed forever when Proposition 13 passed a quarter of a century ago this month. Since then, Californians have gone on an initiative binge that has further altered the state's landscape. (Peter Schrag)4. “Debate over Prop. 13 still rages,” by John Hill, June 1, 2003
http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/projects/prop13/story/6772215p-7722935c.html
A wonderful overview of the Prop. 13 debte - good graphs about tax $...

Spring 2005
Essay #3: “Bilingual Education - Political Football Anyone?”
Prewriting due April 7
Paper due April 14
Bilingual education is a huge issue, at the national level as well as at the state and local level. It is fascinating to examine the rhetoric that is thrown at the topic, and to see the implications of the issue for large numbers of our student population. Many of the most basic questions about bilingual education are presented in our Taking Sides text, and the essays in our text are a great place to start the topic. In addition, the recent history of California’s Proposition 227 - its passage, its tests in court, and its implementation, are essential material for any clear discussion of the issue in California. So this assignment begins with 3 short prewriting tasks:
Prewriting: (due April 7)
1. Prepare a critical analysis of “The Politics of Bilingual Education,” by Rosalie Pedaline Porter, (280) in Taking Sides. Be sure to discuss the main ideas in the essay, and examine the evidence and logic of each idea. Don’t let the length of the essay put you off - the main arguments are very clear.
2. Do the same for “Bilingual Education: The Controversy,” by Richard Rothstein (290). Again, the basic arguments are very clear, but in this piece they are grounded in a pretty thorough history of bilingual education.
3. Do enough web research to prepare a short history of Proposition 227. We will look at some sources in class, and you will megatons of information. use sources from the Cañada Library’s search engines please. Give some special attention to the search engine, “Ethnic News Watch.” Here you will find materials that the more main stream search engines will not have.
The Paper: (due April 14)
What approach to bilingual education is the most practical and the most fair for students with limited English proficiency? Base your essay on what your have read and discussed, and be sure to use as much concrete evidence as you can to support your position. Don’t limit your thinking to English studies for recent immigrants - be aware that many 2nd generation or “1.5 generation” students want and need bilingual education also.
Define your terms carefully, and be a creative as you can be.
Your paper should be 1000 words or so, and must have complete documentation in MLA style.

Cañada College
English 165
Spring, 2005, Clay
Essay: Vouchers/Charter Schools
Due on Tuesday, March 8
This assignment is based on Issues 11 and 12 of your text, Taking Sides, Educational Issues.
Choose either Issue 11, "Are School Vouchers an Appropriate Choice Mechanism?" or Issue 12, "Can Charter Schools Revitalize Public Education?"
1. Prepare summaries of the "yes" and "no" essays for your issue. Be as complete as you can, but be sure to focus on the arguments in each essay. Think about what kind of support is provided for each argument. Your summaries should be no more than 2 pages each, and do not need to be in standard essay form. Be as critical as possible of each of your two essays.
*
2. Do some research on the topic. Use the Cañada library web site as a starting place, and look for articles using the search engines provided by the library. Prepare a short bibliography of sources that you think are interesting and reliable. Put them together in MLA form, and include brief comments on each source as you wish.
3. Write a pro or con essay (about 1,000) words on the issue of vouchers or charter schools. Take a strong position in a thesis statement, and refer to your assigned essays and any of your other sources as appropriate. Your essay should be an "argument" essay, but with good research and documentation.
All three pieces of this assignment are important! Be sure to hand in everything to me on the 8th.
Evaluation: I will look for
a good clear understanding of the issue
a clear position pro or con
complete summaries of the essays
good use of sources - the essays and your research
good organization in your essay
good style in your summaries and essay
complete proofreading - your essays should be free of errors in sentence structure and mechanics
Don't forget to consult with tutors in the Learning Center, and catch me during my office hours in 3-242.
Clay, 3/3

Essay #3: Analysis and Evaluation and Group Presentation:
For this assignment you will participate in a group presentation centered around one of the issues in your text, Taking Sides. Your group should discuss the specific arguments in the pro and con essays for your chapter. Your group should also go beyond the text with research based on the essays. You may want to look up the sources cited in the text, for example, or you may choose to investigate a recent political or social event relevant to your topic. We will establish dates for your presentations in class.
Your group should prepare a brief written summary of your work. Hand this in on the day of your presentation. The summary should include a brief statement from each group member, and should provide an overview of what you did for this project. Include citations for your research.
Your grade for this project will be based on your individual preparation and how clearly you and your group express the basic ideas of your issue. This grade will be equal to one essay in calculating your semester grade.

Essay #3: (750-1000 words)

For this paper choose one of the essays used in your presentation. Analyze and the evaluate the arguments in the essay. As preparation for your essay, please make a list of these arguments, and meet with me to discuss your list. We will have some class time for these meetings, but try to see me during office hours or after class. Your list should use the “standard argument form” described in your Writing Logically text on page 56.

Due Dates:
Presentations: October 21 - November 6 10/22 - 11/5 for MWF class
Argument lists: October 28 10/29 for MWF class
Paper: October 30 10/31 for MWF class
dc 10/14

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Essay #2: “Bilingual Education - Political Football Anyone?”

1000 words, due October 1 (Monday) or October 2 (Tuesday)

Bilingual education is a huge issue, at the national level as well as at the state level. It is fascinating to examine the rhetoric that is thrown at the topic, and to see the implications of the issue for large numbers of our student population. Many of the most basic questions about bilingual education are presented in our Taking Sides text. Choose either “Tongue Twister”(172) or ”Does Bilingual Ed Work,”( 175) and do a detailed analysis/evaluation of the essay. Your paper should focus on the specific arguments made in the essay, and examine whether the arguments are logical, well supported and free from fallacies. What assumptions does the author make? Consider the evidence used by the author - you may want to find the original sources and determine whether they are substantial or not.
Your paper will be evaluated primarily on whether it shows a close reading of the text, and whether you carefully use the logical tools that we have have discussed in class. Be sure to read chapter 3 in your Writing Logically text also.
Class assignment: bring a complete outline of your paper to class on Thursday or Friday. Your outline should consist of your thesis statement and topic sentences. Print it on a transparency so that we can share our thoughts.
Clay 9/21
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9/4:
Assignment 1 (short essay): "Inferences." Due Sept. 8th or 9th.
Materials: chapter 2 of Writing Logically, Thinking Critically, and “Hills Like White Elephants,” a short story by Ernest Hemingway.
Think about the inferences involved in “Hills Like White Elephants”. Who makes inferences in the story, and what inferences do you make as the reader of the story? More important, what is the basis for the inferences? What leads you to infer what you do?
Your essay whould be about 500 words, typed, double spaced...MLA style.

To prepare for this essay:

1. Read the story carefully and make a complete list of inferences in the story, and inferences made by you, the reader.

2. Cluster or organize your list - use whatever principle of organization you think works.

3. Outline your essay with a strong thesis sentence.

4. Write a rough draft.

5. Now write the essay.