English 131 Syllabus – Fall 2007 David DeBakerInstructor InformationTextMaterialsClass Goals and ADOSLate PapersAttendanceAcademic Honesty1English 131 Syllabus – Fall 2007 David DeBaker“My aim is to put down on paper what I see and what I feel in the best and simplest way.” --Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961)Instructor InformationSchool phone 787-0800 ext 8371 E-mail address: [email protected] My Mailbox is in Bert Walker Hall, Room 233. My office is room 231 Bert Walker HallWebsite: daviddebaker.com, Class Blog: daviddebaker.com/131blog, Myspace: myspace.com/misterteacherguy AIM: DaveJccTextWriting A guide for College and Beyond Brief Edition. By Lester FaigleyMaterialsA USB thumbdrive is HIGHLY recommended. Paper and something to write with each class. It is also recommended that you have a 3-hole binder or folder to organize the handouts I give.Class Blog – www.daviddebaker.com/131blogI will be using this blog in a variety of ways. You should regularly check the blog for updates and general information. I will posting things that add to the different assignments we are working on and general thoughts about writing. This blog will have descriptions of all the major assignments and is a spot where you can ask general questions. It will have links to all of your blogs and general helpful writing links.Class Goals and ADOSThe #1 goal is to figure out your own personal writing process. How do you write best? What do you need to do to write? What things do you need to write? Your final paper in this class is all about this process. Be aware of what is working for you and not working for you during the semester. Try new ways and break yourself of bad habits. The course goals and objectives incorporate specific Associate Degree Outcomes (ADOs) established by the JCC Board of Trustees, administration, and faculty. These goals are in concertwith four-year colleges and universities and reflect input from the professional communities we serve. ADOs guarantee students achieve goals necessary for graduation credit, transferability, and professional skills needed in many certification programs.ADO 1. You will develop and become proficient in writing. You will be able to write clearly, concisely, and intelligibly. You will be learning the recursive nature of the writing process and evaluating sources. You will be able to effectively engage your audience and establish credibility. You will be able to organize, develop, and support central ideas with abundant examples and facts. You will understand how to mix prior knowledge with new information. You will be able to use research and sources effectively and be able to document sources correctly. You will improve your skills on grammar, mechanics, and word choice, writing sentences that show variety and complexity.2ADO 9. You will gain a great understanding of working in groups. Becoming proficient in participating, making collective decisions, supporting group members, managing conflict, and evaluating your contributions and role in a group.Late PapersPapers turned in late will be lowered by a ½ grade each class session they are late. No papers will be accepted after two weeks late.AttendanceClass attendance is extremely important for this class. You get 4 free absences. Starting with your 5th absence you’re OVERALL grade is lowered ½ grade per absence. There is no suchthing as an automatic excused absence, letting me know you are going to miss a class, or providing proof of your absence will help me decide to excuse it for you.Major AssignmentsBlog & Blog/Class Reflection paper – 15% of your grade.Throughout the semester you will keep a blog for yourself and for various writing activities. Thepurpose of the blog is to practice writing in an informal way. The blog will also serve as a way for you to figure out your personal writing process. Lastly, the blog will be used to discuss your research during the research paper.The majority of your grade for this assignment comes from your Blog/Class Reflection paper. This paper should be a wrap up of what you learned about yourself and writing from the blog andfrom the class itself. This paper should serve as a guide for you as you are assigned writing assignments during your college career.You can blog on Myspace, facebook, blogger.com, wordpress.com, or any other site you currently use. Your blog must be open to your fellow classmates. You must email your blog URL by 8/30!!Portfolio – 30% of your grade. Due 12/5At the end of the semester you will turn in a portfolio that represents your best written work fromthe 4 papers we will write this semester. These should be edited and revised to demonstrate whatyou have learned throughout the semester. You must use at least 3 of your papers and your portfolio must be at least 10 FULL pages in length. Guided Practice and Workshops (GPAW) – 10% of your grade. Due 12/10All English 131 students must complete a total of sixteen hours of additional writing work outside of classroom time. These hours include workshop attendance, tutorial work in The Center for Student Success, and other personalized writing instruction as approved by your composition instructor. To help you accomplish this task over the course of the semester, we have devised a variety of activities. Your instructor will assist you in making choices to improve your writing experiences and skills. You will be provided with a list of workshops, different outside projects, internet sites, and other ideas to help you get the required hours for the course.3My highest recommendation is that you use The Center For Student Success. Located in Bert Walker Hall room 123. Or the JCC Writing Fellows in the library. It’s your responsibility to keep track of your GPAW hours.New Media Thing – 10% of your grade.To take advantage of our new building and our new toys, we will create a new media text of some kind. A new media text is something that combines some of the following, words, images, sounds, video, HTML, or CSS. Further instruction will come during the semester. If we are unable to complete a new media text the 10% will be added to your portfolio grade.Participation – 5% of your grade.Participation includes the following things, in class participation, effort, homework stuff, commenting on other students blogs, attendance (being on time), etc. 4 Major Papers – 30% of your grade. (due dates can change)All papers must be turned
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