The Active Writer and the World
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is designed to prepare you to effectively express and explore your ideas through writing at the college level. Throughout our course, you will work on strengthening your ability to write essays characterized by unity, development, organization, support, and appropriate word choice; at the same time, you will work toward developing your skills in the mechanics of writing: standard grammar, usage, spelling, etc. One specific goal of the class is to prepare you to pass the CUNY/ACT writing test. Beyond the test, the broader goal is to strengthen your ability to write effective paragraphs and essays in preparation for English 11 and beyond. This will deepen your critical thinking skills. Therefore, to reach these objectives, you will be asked to do a good deal of writing throughout the semester, including regular in-class “practice ACTs,” longer more formal essays composed out of class, as well as shorter observational, creative, analytical, and reading responses to assigned readings.
In addition to the various materials and policies listed below on this syllabus, the basic requirements of the course are as follows:
· Both you and I will attend all classes and make every effort to be on time.
· We will come prepared to each class session by reading assigned texts thoroughly and completing all writing assignments on time.
· Share our ideas and responses in small-group and full-class discussions and activities.
· Treat your own work and the work of your peers with interest and respect.
· Take risks! Listen. Talk. Explore ideas. Be open to a variety of perspectives.
· I in turn will be in attendance, prepared, return your written work in a timely manner, grade fairly and consistently, and will always treat your work and your opinions with respect. I will strive to provide clear instructions and encourage you to come see me regarding questions or concerns.
REQUIRED TEXTS
Alexie, Sherman. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. New York: Little Brown: 2007.
Daly. James, ed. Great Speeches by African Americans. New York: Dover Publications, 2006.
SUGGESTED TEXTS Strunk, William and E.B. White. The Elements of Style. New York: Longman, 1999.
SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS
· A good dictionary, such as Merriam Webster.
· A thesaurus is also strongly recommended.
· A sturdy pocket folder for storing and handing your papers and materials.
· Print and photocopy you work for workshops.
· A disk; save your work.
EVALUATION
In-class essays, including practice ACTS 25%
An analytical essay including revision 25%
A narrative essat including revision 25%
Active participation, including discussion of readings 25%
I grade with a rubric, which we will discuss in class.
THE CUNY/ACT EXAM
In November and at the end of the semester, you will take the ACT exam. According to BCC policy, if you do not pass the ACT, you cannot pass ENG 02. I will award grades based on the scale above only to students who pass the ACT. However, remember that passing the test is just one of our many class goals.
ATTENDENCE AND PARTICIPATION
In order to learn and move forward with your program, you need to be here and be actively involved. Show up for each session. Be on time. Participation is emphasized, so be prepared and mentally alert. Take risks. I want to know what you have to say. Listen to others and please realize that activities such as in-class writing, group work, peer review workshops and the like cannot be made up at home.
In accordance with Bronx Community College guidelines, students who miss more than two class sessions will receive a warning letter (as well as a verbal warning from me); students who miss more than four class sessions will be debarred. Moreover, missing key in-class assignments will have a negative effect on your overall grade. If you must miss a class, please contact a classmate or me in order to keep up with assignments. In short, attendance and participation are mandatory.
LATENESS
Showing up late to class interrupts the flow of learning and is disruptive for others in the classroom and for me. If disaster strikes on the rare occasion forcing you to be late, then please slip in quietly and see me after so as to rectify attendance. For record-keeping purposes, two substantial latenesses will be considered one absence. A pattern of lateness, just like a pattern of absences, will eventually lead to debarment from the class.
LATE ASSIGNMENTS
Simple: Hand in your assignments on time. In most cases I cannot accept late assignments.
PLAGIARISM
Plagiarism is the appropriation of passages from the writing of another person and attempting to pass the writing off as your own. This is a serious academic offense and it is your responsibility to avoid plagiarism completely.
Plagiarism is not to be confused with direct quotations, acknowledgement of influence, paraphrasing, or in text citation. We will study all of these approaches in class.
Furthermore, you have plenty of your own ideas from which to draw and expand, and I want to hear them.
CONFERNCES
I may schedule individual and/or small-group conferences at designated times in the semester to review drafts of your papers; you will be required to attend these conferences. I also welcome any other opportunity to discuss your writing with you. I encourage you to stop by during office hours — or set up an appointment at a more convenient time — to discuss any questions, concerns, or ideas you have about your writing or the course.
HOMEWORK
In addition to the in-class essays and formal essays you will be writing this semester, I will also be requiring that you complete written responses to readings, homework questions, discussion topics, and freewrites. Bring these with you to each class session. Sometimes we will do journal writing in class as well. I will collect these less formal writings periodically and we will read them in class.
A Note on Revision: Most students will be asked to do multiple drafts of their writing, beyond what is indicated in the weekly breakdown.
