Canada College, Fall 2008
English 836 BL4 Writing Development
This section of English is part of the Crossing Borders Learning Community.
Enroll in HUM. 680CA BL4 CRN 91654 (10 units)

ENGL 836 BL4 is linked with Anthropology 360, Careers 401, and the Crossing Borders Learning Community.
Meeting times: ENGL 836: MW 8:10-10:00 in room 3-117
ANTH 360: MW 10:10-11:25 in room 17-209
CRER 401: M 11:45-12:35 in room 2-10
CROSSING BORDERS W 12:45-2:45 in Main Theater

Instructor: David Clay clayd@smccd.edu
office hours: room 3-242 M10:10-11:00, MTR:1:00-2:00 p.m.(or by appointment)
telephone: (650)306-3379

Prerequisite: Appropriate English placement test scores, or "C" or better in English 826 and Reading 826.

Crossing Borders: As a participant in Cañada’s Crossing Borders program you will have the benefit of special events and close support from your Career course instructor. In addition, you will have the same support for your Anthropology 360 class.The goal of the Crossing Borders program is to help you learn about Cañada College more quickly, and to assist you in planning your college career. This program will make you a better student by giving you the opportunity to share ideas, assignments, and concerns with other students, and create a support network that will enhance your college life.

Course Objectives: The primary focus of English 836 is "the five paragraph essay" with emphasis on writing thesis sentences and developing supporting paragraphs with strong topic sentences. Students will write at least 5 essays of 500-700 words during the semester. We will review mechanics, grammar, and MLA documentation style. Course work will include critical reading, research, class discussions, brainstorming, essays, essay editing and revision, peer review of essays, and class presentations,. In addition to essays, course requirements will include journals, short assignments, quizzes on grammar and mechanics, a midterm, final exam, and 16 hours of individual work by arrangement.

Policies:

Late Papers: Assignments are due on the dates shown on the assignment sheets. If special circumstances occur, please discuss the situation with me. I know that we all have lives.
Plagiarism: Don’t even think about it! All writing must be your own work, and the development of your essays must be evident to me in the notes, outlines, and rough drafts that are turned in with every essay. A rough draft should be rough; don't worry about neatness on the developmental material and do not copy it over after you have completed the final draft. Any essay that does not have appropriate developmental material attached may be handed back without a grade. Any cases of plagiarism will result in failure in the course. You may not hand in essays that you have written for previous classes.
Revisions: You are welcome to revise one or two of your papers. Please discuss this with me, and be sure to hand the original paper along with the revision. In some cases I will require that you revise your work.
Essay Format: All of your work written outside of class must be typed, double spaced, with the class heading on the first page. MLA style.
Attendance: Attendance is very important for this class. We learn by sharing ideas and participating in class activities. You have to be here. 4 absences is the limit - you may be dropped from the course if you miss more than 4 classes. It is your responsibility to drop the the class if you stop attending, and I cannot drop you after the last drop date. Athletic events are not excusable absences.
Hours by arrangement: 16 hours of individual work outside of class is a course requirement. These hours may include receiving tutoring in our Learning Center, doing on-line work in the Learning Center or at home, attending workshops, campus events, or other activities as assigned. Use the Hours By Arrangement Folder to record your hours by arrangement work.

Evaluation:
Grades will be determined by the instructor's evaluation of
essays (50%)
mid term and final examinations (20%)
quizzes and homework(15%)
class participation (10 %)
hours by arrangement (5%)

Texts:
required:
Kirszner. Writing First.3rd edition.
Sherman Alexie. The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven
Sherman Alexie. New Shirts and Old Skins
Any College Dictionary
Hours By Arrangement Folder (in bookstore)
recommended:
Diana Hacker. Rules for Writers 5th edition.
Barcharts. English Grammar & Punctuation Study Guide.
English Composition & Style Study Guide.
Essays and Term Papers Study Guide.