Saturday 090 Syllabus

ENG 090--509 (3 credits) Basic Composition
Fall, 2010

Instructor: Nancy Stohlman
Class Meets Saturdays from 9:00-11:45 in South Classroom Room #108
Instructor’s Office: South Classroom Room 230
Instructor’s Mailbox: South Classroom Room 313
Instructor’s email: nancystohlman@gmail.com
Class blog: www.profstohlman.blogspot.com
Office Hours: Saturdays 11:45-12:30 or by appointment

COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF DENVER
Center for Educational Advancement
Prerequisites: “C” or better in ENG 060 or ACCUPLACER score of 70-94
or a C or better in ESL 053
Co-requisite: AAA 099: Enhanced Learning Support 1 credit

**If you have no experience typing, you may want to sign up for a 1-credit computer keyboarding class this semester, BTE 100



Required Course Materials:

Readings for Writers, CCD Developmental English Faculty
Sin and Syntax, Constance Hale
One 8.5x11 spiral-bound notebook that will be periodically turned in for review
Additional handouts provided

Recommended:
A paperback college-level dictionary
A paperback college-level thesaurus


Course Description

This course emphasizes both critical thinking and creative writing as students explore composition for diverse purposes and audiences. Students will develop skills required for college-level writing while reviewing paragraph structure and focusing on essay development, storytelling and an increased comfort and ease with language.

Course Objectives and Classroom Methods

To make you a better writer, of course! Specifically by the end of the semester I want you to have an increased knowledge in: grammar, descriptive and metaphoric language, clichés, story arcs, points of view, tenses, essay structure, intro and conclusions, vocabulary, topic sentences, dialogue, revision and workshopping, voice, sentence structure, rhythm, and most importantly—learning to trust yourself as a writer.

Kinds of Writing we’ll be doing:

Free-Writing
Description
Narration
Expository
Persuasive
Drafts
Critiquing
Revisions
Process/Reflective Essay
Final Portfolio

SAVE ALL WRITING DONE FOR THIS CLASS; THIS INCLUDES PREWRITING, DRAFTS OF ESSAYS, WORKSHOPPING AND ALL OTHER WRITTEN WORK. This will affect your final grade.

Your journal will consist mostly of in-class exercises and other handwritten work. It will be turned in for review 2 times during the semester.

There will be 5 major assignments:
Descriptive Essay
Narrative Essay
Expository Essay
Persuasive Essay
Final Portfolio

Each of these assignments will be preceded by prompts, rough drafts and in-class workshopping, so don’t panic!


Evaluation Methods and Class Management

To complete this course successfully you must finish all work with a C or better, turn your work in on time and in the proper format, conform to class attendance policies, and participate regularly in class. Participation means coming to class with all written assignments completed and ready to turn in and all reading assignments completed and ready for discussion. I will give pop quizzes on a random basis which will count as part of your participation grade.

Late Work: Work that is one class period late will be docked 50% of possible points. Late work that is more than one class period late will not be accepted. If you are unable to attend class, you may turn in work to me by email no later than the end of your scheduled class time on the day it is due to receive full credit.

Absolutely no texting or cell phone use during class. I will ask you to leave. If you must take a call, inform me of this before class and exit quietly to take your call.

Attendance

Attendance is crucial for your learning, since much of our work will be done in class. You will be allowed two absences that won’t affect your grade. However, I will deduct 10 points from your final grade starting with your third absence. This means that you can do everything else in class but still fail the class if you do not show up. I repeat: You can turn in all assignments and still fail the class if you have too many absences. So make sure to show up.

Students will be held responsible for any and all information missed due to absence, including assignments. I suggest that you exchange contact information with one or two other students in the class in case you miss a class and need to know what you have missed. Also please consult the Class Blog, as I will post changes to the syllabus and writing prompts there. I reserve the right to change the assignment dates and/or descriptions at any time during the semester. I will always announce any changes in class and on the Class Blog, so it is the student’s responsibility to keep informed of any changes. Since I have several classes using the Class Blog, please be sure to look for the “Saturday” posts for this class.

In keeping with CCD’s Attendance Policy: “Faculty may give a failing grade to any student who has a 15% or greater absence from a course, starting from the first class meeting.”

Tardy Policy: While sometimes being late is unavoidable, tardiness is disruptive to the class and should be avoided. Three tardies (more than 10 minutes) will equal one absence.

Leaving Class Early: Same as tardy policy above. Please don’t schedule work, appointments, etc. during class time, as leaving early is equally as disruptive and disrespectful of class time.


Grading

Final Portfolio 18 points
Journal 12 points
Assigned Exercises 8 points
Essays 40 points
Participation/Quizzes 10 points
Writing Center Hours 8 points
Blog Posting 4 points
_____________________________
Total Possible 100 points
(Instructor may award 5 bonus points to any student showing exceptional effort)
Instructor may offer bonus assignments at her discretion.

A: 90-100
B: 80-90
C: 70-80
D: 60-70
F: 59 or lower


Essay Formatting

Each time you submit a final essay, all previous brainstorming, outlining, and early drafts must also be submitted with the final draft. Drafts, final drafts, and essays must be turned in typed. THIS MEANS everything but your notebook needs to be turned in TYPED. No exceptions.

All work should be double-spaced, 1-inch margins, 12 point font Times New Roman. Please put page numbers if more than one page (either top or bottom). All work should be formatted as follows and given a title:

Name
Date
English 090-509, Sat 9:00-11:45
Nancy Stohlman
Assignment (i.e. Descriptive Paragraph First Draft, Narrative Essay Final Draft, etc.)


Class Blog

www.profstohlman.blogspot.com
I will update the class blog with specifics of the day, daily prompts, any changes to syllabus or reminders, announcements, etc. The class blog is NOT a substitute for the syllabus, however, so you will need to consult your syllabus for your daily assignments. Please consult the blog (or another student) if you missed class and need to know what you missed. Please keep in mind that I have several classes using the blog, so when searching for your missed days, please look for the “Saturday” posts.

Everyone must post one piece of writing done in this class to the class blog. In order to post, please send your work to my email at nancystohlman@gmail.com and put in the subject line: Please Post to Blog. Make sure your name is on you paper, of course. Keep in mind that I will not edit your paper for you but will post it as is, so make sure it’s ready before you post. You may post multiple times, but only once is required. Email your post to me no later than December 4.


Final Portfolio

Your final portfolio will be an 8-10 page polished compilation of the work you’ve been doing this semester plus a Process/Reflective Essay. You’ll have a chance to workshop it with a colleague, but this portfolio should be error-free. I’ll expect you to use all formatting guidelines. Also, I’ll expect that each piece will have been revised again since I saw it last—I will be able to tell! Think of this as a final art exhibit of your work. Details when we get closer.


Plagiarism

Plagiarism is literary theft of another author’s ideas and/or exact words, without giving proper credit to the source in both the text of your essay and on the Works Cited sheet. This rule is true of direct quotes, paraphrases, and summaries. Plagiarism is a serious ethical offense and may be grounds for the student’s failure in this class. Cheating of any kind will get you kicked out of my class and possibly expelled.


Writing Center

All ENG 090 students must attend Writing Center sessions based on the requirements for AAA 090. AAA 099 requirements: 25 hours in the Academic Support Center Labs

Please take advantage of the FREE tutors in the Writing Lab—students who take that kind of initiative always turn in stronger work and get higher grades. If you cannot attend the Writing Center to have a tutor advise you, you may use the OWL to submit papers on line. This requires planning ahead since the return time is 48 hours. Owl.ccd.edu


Tentative Course Schedule and Weekly Assignments:
(subject to change)

**Every day we will do in-class exercises—you will need a spiral-bound notebook for just this class. Please bring your readings for the day and spiral notebooks to every class.

Week One: Introductions. Descriptive Writing
Saturday, 8/28: Introductions, Syllabus, Course Objectives
In-class writing: Creative Monsters
In-class writing: Journal #1
Ten Things to Stop Misspelling (in-class handout)
“Death of The Moth” Virginia Wolfe (handout)
“Death of A Moth” by Annie Dillard (handout)
Discussion: Sensory Description

Take Home Descriptive Exercise: Sit in a public place for 5-10 minutes with your journal, just watching. Then write for 10 minutes describing in great detail what you saw, witnessed, etc. Think about using strong nouns and sensory description.


Week Two: Descriptive Writing
Saturday, 9/4: DUE: Descriptive Exercise in proper format
Syllabus Review
Discussion: “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien (handout)
“Homeless” by Anna Quindlen from Reader for Writers
Chapter 1 “Nouns” from Sin and Syntax
Journal #2 and #3: Descriptive (please have your spiral notebooks)
Discussion: Nouns/Editing



Week Three: Descriptive Writing
Saturday, 9/11: DUE: Descriptive Rough Draft with three copies
“Coming into Language” by Jimmy Santiago Baca (handout)
“Adjectives” from Sin and Syntax
“Shitty First Drafts” by Anne Lamott (handout)
Discussion of workshopping
In-class workshopping
All class workshopping
Metaphoric Language
Journal #4 and #5: Descriptive


Week Four: Narrative Writing
Saturday, 9/18: DUE: Descriptive Essay with all rough drafts
Discussion of Narrative Writing
“Only Daughter” by Sandra Ciscneros in Reader for Writers
Discussion: “Rawlings” by William Haywood Henderson (in-class handout)
“Salvation” by Langston Hughes (in-class handout)
Journal # 6 and #7: Narrative
Discussion: Story Arc, Beginnings, Middles Endings
Discussion: Dialogue formatting

Take Home Narrative Exercise: Eavesdrop for at least 5 minutes on someone else’s conversation, either in public or not. Then attempt to write the entire conversation verbatim, but making sure to use the “voice” of the people speaking. OR ask someone to tell you their story and write it down in their voice.



Week Five: Narrative Writing
Saturday, 9/25: DUE: Narrative Exercise
“Verbs” from Sin and Syntax
“Am I Blue” by Alice Walker from Reader for Writers
“Returning to Southie” by Michael Patrick McDonald in Reader
Discussion: Verbs/Verb Tenses
Journal #8 and #9: Narrative
“Put Your Shirt On, Fabio” by Shane Jimenez (in-class handout)
Discussion: Voice


Week Six: Narrative Writing
Saturday, 10/2: DUE: Rough Draft Narrative Essay with three copies
Due: Journals
All class workshop
Discussion: Radical Revision
“Someone to Read Your Drafts” by Anne Lamott (handout)
“Pronouns” in Sin and Syntax
Discussion: POV
Journal # 10 and #11


Week Seven: Expository Writing
Saturday, 10/9: Due: Narrative Essay with all attachments
Discussion of Expository Writing
Journal #12 and # 13: Expository
In class: “Morning Pages” by Julia Cameron
“37 Who Saw Murder Didn’t Call Police” from Readers for Writers
“On Dumpster Diving” by Lars Eighner in Reader for Writers
“Adverbs” in Sin and Syntax

Take Home Expository Exercise: Take Home Expository Exercise: Read at least one newspaper article, paying attention to the style of journalistic writing: straight expository information answering the questions who, what, when, where, and how. Note the "lead" sentence format: who, what, when, where, and how all answered in the first sentence. Write a newspaper article about some event in your life this week or something you witness (I prefer something that just happened rather than something from the past). Give it a headline, lead sentence, etc. One page.


Week Eight: Expository Writing
Saturday, 10/16: Due: Expository Exercise
“Politics and the English Language” by George Orwell in Reader for Writers
Discussion: Cliches and handout “How to slay a cliché”
“Serving in Florida” by Barbara Ehrenreich in Reader for Writers
Journal #14 and # 15: Expository


Week Nine: Expository Writing
Saturday, 10/23: Due: Rough Draft Expository with three copies
In-class Workshop
All class workshop
“Hearing Voices” by Linda Hogan in Reader for Writers
“I Have a Dream” by Martin Luther King, Jr. (handout)
“Just Walk on By” (handout)
Discussion: Rhythm
Journal #16 and #17: Expository


Week Ten: Persuasive
Saturday, 10/30: Final Expository Essay Due with all attachments
Discussion of Persuasive Writing
Discussion: Five Paragraph Essays
“What We Eat” by Eric Schlosser in Reader for Writers
“Repping Islam” by Isra Javed Bhatty in Reader for Writers
Journal #18 and # 19: Persuasive

Take Home Persuasive Exercise: Either listen in on or begin a controversial discussion. Then write a Point/Counterpoint. OR write a review of anything: a meal you ate, a movie you rented, a date you went on, an event you attended. The purpose here is to have a strong opinion and let that come through.


Week Eleven: Persuasive
Saturday, 11/6: DUE: Persuasive Exercise in proper formatting
“What is Poverty?” by Jo Goodwin Parker in Reader for Writers
“Serve or Fail” by Dave Eggers in Reader for Writers
“The Subject and the Predicate” in Sin and Syntax
Discussion: Sentence Fragments
Journal # 20 and #21: Persuasive


Week Twelve: Persuasive
Saturday, 11/13: Due: Persuasive Rough Draft with three copies
“A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift (handout)
Discussion--Satire
All-class workshop
In class workshop
Journal #22 and #23: Persuasive/Satire



Week Thirteen: Portfolio
Saturday, 11/20: DUE: Final Draft Persuasive Essay with all attachments
Discussion of Final Portfolio
Journal #24 and # 25: Process
Reading: “On Writing” by Stephen King (handout)
Other readings TBA




Week of November 22-26 off Happy Thanksgiving! Work on Portfolios!


Week Fourteen: Portfolio workshop
Saturday, 12/4 : DUE: Rough Draft Portfolio with 1 copy (partners will be assigned)
DUE: Journals
In-class Portfolio workshopping
Due: All blog posts and extra credit


Week Fifteen: Wrap up

Final Portfolios due 12/11 by 12:00 pm (noon) MST



Extra Credit:

(All extra credit must be received by instructor no later than December 4, 2010)

• Create Your Own Blog—2 points
Two points extra credit will be given to anyone who starts their own blog as a result of this class and makes at least three posts of their own writing throughout the semester. In order to receive credit, please email me with the link to your blog by December 4.

• Attend a Literary Event and Write a Response—2 points
Two points extra credit will be given to anyone attending a literary event around town and then writing a one-page response to the event. The response should be written in the same format and with the same attention to detail as you would any other homework assignment. Below is a list of possible ongoing literary events, but if you find others not listed here, or one-time-events, please check with me first to make sure it will count. Papers must be received no later than December 4.
Here is an event that I will be part of:
Release Party for Fast Forward: The Mix Tape
Friday, September 24th, 7 pm
The Mercury Café
2199 California St, Denver
303-294-9258
And here are some ongoing events:
Mondays
1st & LAST Mondays
SlamNuba – open mic & slam feat. members of the Cafe Nuba Slam Team + DJ CaveM
doors 7:30pm – $5 – All-Ages
@Crossroads Theatre, 26th & Welton in Denver’s Five Points
Tuesdays
2nd & 4th Tuesdays
Minor Disturbance Youth Series & Slam – feat. writing wksps & performances
7:30pm – Free (donations welcome) – Youth (ages 12-19)
@Flobots.org Community Space, 27th & Larimer, Denver
&
1st & 3rd Tuesdays
Justiz Speech Open Mic
7:00pm – 11:00pm | Free | All-Ages
@Gypsy House Cafe, 13th & Marion St. Denver
Wednesdays
Last Wednesday of the Month
“Poet As Muse” – feat. spoken-word, live visual art, hookah & good vibes
7:30pm – Free – All-Ages
@Gypsy House Cafe, 13th & Marion St. Denver
&
DejaVu – spoken word mic feat. local & national poets for the “grown & sexy”
Every Wednesday | 9:00pm – 21+
@Twisted Olive at Northfield Stapleton, 8270 Northfields Blvd, Unit 1480 Denver
&
Every Wednesday
“She Said” Interactive Mic
9:00pm – 12:30am | 21+ | LGBTQ-Powered
@ Her Bar, E. Colfax & Pearl, Denver
Fridays
2nd Fridays
Cafe Cultura – Latino & Indigenous inspired spoken-word, music & live art
7:30pm – Free – All-Ages/Youth-Powered
@LaAcademia, 9th & Galapego
Saturdays
1st & 3rd Saturdays
The SpeakOut Poetry Getaway – urban word, community issues & poetry
doors: 8:00pm/show 9:00pm – $5 – All-Ages
@Sam’s BBQ, 435 So. Cherry, Glendale, CO
Sundays
Mercury Slam – spoken-word and slam w/ feat. local & national poets
Every Sunday | 7:30pm – $5 suggested donation – All-Ages/Youth-Powered
@Mercury Cafe, 21st & California St. Denver


Important dates:

Last day to drop and receive a refund for 15-week classes is
Last day to drop the class with a W is
Grades available to students:



Student Code of Conduct and Academic Integrity Admission to the Community College of Denver implies that you agree to respect the rights of others and observe moral and civil laws. Interference with the normal processes of education in the classroom or elsewhere on the campus will be regarded as unacceptable conduct, warranting suspension or dismissal. Complete Student Code of Conduct is at this web site: http://www.ccd.edu/search.aspx?WebID=63204&&View=0&Search=student%20code%20of%20conduct


Americans with Disabilities Act Students with a documented disability who need reasonable accommodations to achieve course objectives should notify the instructor and apply for services at the Center for Persons with Disabilities within the first week of classes. NOTE: All students who identify themselves to faculty as having a disability or suspect that they have a disability should be encouraged to contact the Director of the Center for Persons with Disabilities (CPD), Room 134, South Classroom Building, 1st Floor. Faculty is not obligated to provide accommodations without proper notification from the Center for Persons with Disabilities Office. You may also contact CPD staff by telephone to make an appointment: (303) 556-3300.
More information is available at http://www.ccd.edu/Disabilities/Disabilities.aspx

Grade of Incomplete
Incomplete: An "I" indicates that the course objectives are not yet fulfilled. It is the responsibility of the student to request, if needed, the assignment of an incomplete grade. The instructor's decision to authorize or not authorize an incomplete grade is final. The student must have completed 75% of the class with a C or better, and must complete the rest of the work with the same instructor. Arrangement for the completion of the course must be made with the instructor prior to the assignment of the "I" grade. This agreement must be written on a Contract for Incomplete Grade Form. The instructor may allow up to one full semester for the student to complete missing requirements. "I" grades not changed by the end of the following semester will automatically become failing grades (F).
Grade of SP You can receive an SP grade only if you
• attended the full term (missing no more than 5 classes and completing all 15 hours of lab work)
• have shown satisfactory progress by completing all assigned course work
• but have not yet mastered the skills that will give you the opportunity to be successful in the next class in the sequence.
If the SP grade is received, you must complete the course within the next 15 week semester, or the grade will change to NC (no credit). If the SP grade is received, you may attend the same course the following semester (without registering or paying again for the course) with the same instructor or a different instructor (with her/his permission). You must show the instructor the proper paperwork (from the instructor who graded you SP) to be allowed into the class. If you earn a C or better at the completion of the course, the instructor will submit a grade change to change the SP to a C or better. Then you will be allowed to register for the next course in the sequence. A D, F, AW, I, or SP will not allow you to enter the next course in the sequence.




Educational Case Manager: Rosie Sanchez
Help with advising, financial aid, academic and related personal issues
Office: SO 312 E
Phone: (303) 556-2790
Email: rosie.sanchez@ccd.edu
Email for appointment or stop by her office










Keep Track of Your Grade

Descriptive Exercise: _____________ (2)
Descriptive Essay _____________ (10)
Narrative Exercise: _____________ (2)
First Half Journal: _____________ (6)
Narrative Essay: _____________ (10)
Expository Exercise: ______________(2)
Expository Essay: ______________(10)
Persuasive Exercise:_____________ (2)
Persuasive Essay:_______________(10)
Second Half Journal ______________ (6)
Blog Posting _______________ (4)
25 Lab Hours: _______________(8)
Portfolio: ________________(18)
Participation (including pop quizzes): ________________ (10)
______________________________________________________________________________
Total: _______________ (100)
Absences: ______________ (Subtract 10 points for every absence after first two)
____________________________________________________

Grand Total: _______________ (100)