Penny Partch

  

Monterey Peninsula College

ENG 1A  section #4442

Spring 2012

INSTRUCTOR:                    Penny Partch

HOURS:                                 Tuesday/Thursday 1-2:30

ROOM:                                   HU 106

OFFICE:                                 BH103E

HOURS:                                 M/W 8-9; W 2-3; T/Th 2:30-3:30

PHONE:                                 646-4279

EMAIL:                                   ppartch@mpc.edu

TEXTS:                                 New Directions, Peter Gardner, in the bookstore

                                                 a writer’s handbook

                                                 college-level dictionary and thesaurus                                                                

PREREQUISITES:              ENSL 110 and ENSL 155 or qualifying score on ENSL

                                                Placement Test

COURSE GOALS:              To produce college-level writing

 COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This is section of English 1A is designed for students who are not native speakers of English.  It satisfies the transfer requirements for freshman composition.  If you have successfully completed ENSL 110 and ENSL 155, you have the required understanding of English grammar and essay organization and the ability to read and understand academic English.  If you have problems in the areas of spelling, grammar and punctuation, I suggest you enroll immediately in English 326 in the English Study Skills Center (ESSC) or see a tutor in the ESL Lab in the library.

 ENGL 1A is the most rigorous ESL course you will take at MPC.  Its focus is to help you develop the critical thinking, reading and writing skills needed to generate, organize and logically support your ideas.  There is an 8,000-word requirement for this course.  There will be extensive readings from the text and supplemental materials.  Please reserve two hours of time for homework for each hour of coursework.  We meet three hours a week, so please schedule six hours a week for homework.  All papers must be typed.  If you do not feel comfortable with your typing ability, please enroll in English 50 in the ESSC or sign up for a typing tutorial in the ESL Center.  Please take note of my office hours.  I am available to talk with you about how you can make the best of this class.  Please feel free to contact my or visit my office during office hours.

 

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS

Over the sixteen weeks we are together, we will read engaging prose, develop opinions about the readings, discuss key concepts and defend our opinions in writing.  Students are expected to come to class prepared to participate in class discussions and activities.  This means that the readings are done outside of class.  Class time will be spent analyzing the readings and engaging in relevant writing activities. This class will be supported by my website, where links to supplemental materials will be available to you. 

 Student Learning Outcomes: By the end of the semester, students can expect to:

 ·         Demonstrate the ability to form a provable thesis, develop it through factual research and distinguish between fact and opinion.

·         Demonstrate the ability to be conscious of multiple factors affecting both verbal and written communication.

·         Recognize the nature of persuasion in written, visual and oral argument.

 COURSE REQUIREMENTS: 

 1.      Writing assignments:  There are four major papers, exams and other, shorter writing assignments

Assignment                                       word length                 possible points

Letter of Introduction                                         250-500                              20

WA#1    My name                                              250-500                              25

WA#2     Descriptive Biography                      600-750                              100

WA#3      Comparison                                      750-1000                            100

In-class Midterm                                                 500-750                              100

#4 Research paper                                        1,500-2,000                           200

#5 literary analysis                                         1,000 -1,500                          100

Final exam                                                           500-750                            100

 Homework and pop quizzes add to the total score. Class participation  affects your final score

 2.      Writing Format and Requirements:

  1. All papers to be turned in must be stapled and have in the upper right corner: your name, ESL 1A, the date and the name of the assignment.
  2. All papers must be typed and double-spaced
  3. If you attend class on a peer-review day without a prepared draft, you will automatically receive an absence and a grade deduction for that assignment.
  4. Drafts.  First drafts are due for all papers and must be turned in at the beginning of class on the day they are due.  They must also be turned in with the final draft.

e.       Research paper.  This 7-8 page essay is a major paper for the course. 

 3.      Weekly writing assignments:

  1. This includes: homework, free writing, and summary-response assignments.
  2. Homework assignments are due at the beginning of class.  Please do not do homework in class.
  3. Late homework will not be accepted and will be considered “missing”

 4.      In-class work:  We will discuss readings, take quizzes, review drafts and complete other work.

 5.  Participation:   Regular attendance is recommended.  If you are not in class it is difficult for you to participate in discussions.  I regard you as an adult capable of making important decisions about how you spend your time.  I do take attendance and will drop you after 4 absences.  If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to check with a classmate about missed work.  Tardiness shows disrespect for those who get to class on time.  I consider three tardies an absence.  Please, turn off your cell phone in class.

A note to students with disabilities: If you have a need for any in-class accommodations because of a physical or learning limitation, please speak with me during the first two weeks of the semester.

Grade=           70% papers and assignments

                        30% in-class exams/in-class participation, (group work) which is

                        dependent on regular attendance

                         

 6. Late papers: 

This course is designed to build and review skills in advanced reading and writing.  Papers are assigned to practice the skills being discussed, which means that they are due in a particular sequence.  Here are my guidelines regarding the due dates of papers:

  1. Papers are due at the beginning of class.  Please do not come to class late because you were printing your paper in the computer lab. 
  2.  Late papers will have 5 points deducted for each day, up to three days after. 
  3. Papers more than 3 days late will receive a zero score.

That being said, I know that life gets in the way sometimes, so please let me know what issues have come up that prevent you from adhering to these guidelines. 

 PLAGIARISM: 

We have the entire semester to work on your writing and to get it to the level you will be proud of.  Don’t sabotage your efforts by using someone else’s work on campus or off the internet.  I will exercise my option of checking with one of the many internet sources that can scan for plagiarism.  It’s really not worth it to cheat in my class. 

RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Page 43 of the 2010-2011 MPC catalog begins section of student rights and responsibilities.  I have included a link (http://www.mpc.edu/classes/MPC%20Catalogs/2010-11%20Catalog.pdf)

 Here are the main points regarding classroom conduct:

A. Standards of Conduct:  Monterey Peninsula College considers the following principles es­sential to its educational mission and its community life:

1. Mutual respect between students and faculty

2. Pursuit of studies with honesty and integrity

3. Respect for rights of others

4. Courteous treatment of everyone

5. Respect for college and personal property

6. Compliance with all rules and regulations.

Students shall be subject to College discipline for any of the fol­lowing kinds of misconduct which occurs at any time on campus or at any off-campus facility or College-approved or -sponsored function:

1. Dishonesty, such as plagiarism, or knowingly furnishing false information to the College;

2. Violation of examination rules, such as communicating or trans­ferring information to another student, using any materials such as books, notes, etc. other than those expressly allowed for the exam, looking at another student’s exam, etc.;

3. Forgery, alteration, or misuse of college documents, records, or identification;

4. Obstruction or disruption of teaching, research, administration, disciplinary procedures, or other College activities, including its public service functions, or of other authorized activities;

5. Physical or verbal abuse of any person or conduct which threat­ens or endangers the health or safety of any such person;

9. Use, possession, or distribution of legally controlled drugs such as alcohol, narcotics, marijuana or cocaine, except as expressly permitted by law;

10. Use, possession, or sale of any firearm, knife, explosive, or other object that could be classified as a weapon (unless the student has specific authorization from a College official);

11. Failure to comply with directions of College officials acting in the performance of their duties;

13. Hazing or any act that injures, degrades, or disgraces or tends to injure, degrade, or disgrace any fellow student or person;

14. Disorderly conduct or lewd, indecent, or obscene behavior;

15. Willful or persistent smoking in any area where smoking has been prohibited by law or by regulation of the Governing Board.

1. The Classroom Instructor

a. May act when minor infractions disturb normal classroom procedure.

b. May suspend, for good cause (See V. A., Standards of Conduct), any student from the instructor’s class for the day of the suspension and the day following. The Vice President for Student Services shall be notified of such suspension, and the student shall be directed to report to the Vice President. The parents of a minor student shall also be notified of the suspension.

c. May drop students from class for failing to meet academic and attendance requirements.

 IMPORTANT DATES:

February 17-Lincoln's birthday\

February 20-Washington's birthday

March 25-30- Spring Recess

 

 

You are responsible for understanding the rules of this class.  Please keep this with your important papers.