STEPS: English 074
Name: Phone: Email: Name: Phone: Email:
Instructor: Lucy Czesak
Telephone: 425-564-2346 (option #2)
Email: lczesak@bcc.ctc.edu (I don’t accept any assignments via email)
Office: R230L
Office Hours:
Required
Materials:
About STEPS 074
STEPS 074 is designed to develop your skills in reading and writing for placement in 092, 093, or 101. Depending on your skills at the beginning of the quarter it may take you one, two or three quarters to pass the test. The test is comprised of a reading selection and reading comprehension questions, in addition to an essay writing question. The test will be given at the end of the quarter and a panel of English instructors will evaluate it.
About your
STEPS 074
I have designed this course to teach you step-by-step practical techniques to navigate the reading and writing process. The key word here is process. You will find that the reading and writing lessons will overlap. The reading skills that you develop will help your writing, and by becoming a skillful writer you will become a more observant and thoughtful reader. I am excited to help you through this process!
We will complete work in large and small groups, pairs, and singly. Nearly every class, we will start by doing a 10 minute in class write on a topic I write on the board. These writings should help you feel more comfortable and confident with writing by the end of the quarter. Please keep all of these 10 minute writes in a notebook. You will use them for your portfolio at the end of the quarter.
Classroom Atmosphere:
STEPS students come from all walks of life. It is not uncommon in one classroom to have
students from 7 different countries including the
NOTE: Please turn OFF all pagers, phones, (text messaging too),
headphones etc.
Keys to succeed in my
class:
Grading:
074 is graded pass or fail. You may pass the class, but you may not test out of the class. In this instance you will take another quarter of STEPS. The reverse is also possible. You might be able to test out of STEPS at the end of the quarter, but if you have not completed all required course work you will not earn a pass, and therefore, have to take STEPS for another quarter. Your assignments will receive a √, √+, or √- (good, very good and needs improvement). While these grades give you some idea of your progress, it is mainly through my comments on your essays and private conferences with me that you will identify your progress and challenges.
Attendance:
Since improvement in this class is largely based on participation in classroom activities, attendance is important. You may not miss more than 4 classes in the quarter or you will fail the course. If you are late or leave early two times it counts as one absence. Please see me if you have a situation that will prevent you from adhering to these policies.
Lateness:
Coming late to class shows disrespect to the whole class. Additionally it is distracting. A general rule of thumb is if you are more than 10 minutes late, do not bother coming. As stated above, if you are late or leave early two times it counts as one absence. Please see me if you have a situation that will prevent you from adhering to these policies.
Homework:
STEPS is an intense program. Be prepared to do homework most days of the week and on the weekends. Homework will consist of readings, writing exercises, and writing assignments. Homework will be checked that it is completed, but it will not be graded. Consistent completion of homework will help you prepare for class discussions and will benefit you and the whole class.
Assignments:
Unlike homework, assignments will be graded. Assignments are not accepted late. If you cannot come to class the day that it is due you may turn it in 2 ways: send it with another classmate or turn it in yourself during class. I do not accept assignments via email. I do not accept assignments in my mailbox. If you have an emergency please call me on the day the assignment is due and we will arrange something.
Unless specified, all assignments must be typed:
*Please save all of your assignments, both
paper copies that I have graded and electronic copies. These assignments will go into your portfolio
at the end of the quarter.
All of these assignments must be completed to
receive a passing grade: ·
5 Essay
Assignments Essay #1 (paragraph) Essay #2 (paragraph to essay,
5-7 paragraphs) Essay #3 (5-7 paragraphs) Essay #4 (5-7 paragraphs) Essay #5 (5-7 paragraphs)
Essay
Assignments
You will write 5
essay assignments this quarter. The
topics assigned will be based on class discussions and readings. Assignment #1 will be one paragraph. Assignment #2 will expand Assignment #1 into
a full 5-7 paragraph essay. Assignments
3-5 will also be 5-7 paragraphs.
Normally you have about two weeks to write each of the Essay
Assignments.
A Weekly Vocabulary
Journal
Part of becoming a
skillful writer is utilizing a sophisticated vocabulary. Throughout the quarter you will keep a
vocabulary journal of new vocabulary words you read in classroom writings, the
newspaper or magazines and what words you hear.
If you hear a word used by me or another student that you do not know,
write it down as you think it might be spelled and ask me after class. Each week you will turn in your journal to be
checked off during class. These
vocabulary words will be great additions to your essays written for the class
and I will be looking for them.
10 Weekly Outside
Reading Summaries
Another part of
becoming a skilful writer is having strong reading skills. To supplement what you will read in class and
the reading activities you practice at the Reading Lab, you will choose one
outside reading to summarize per week.
The article you choose may be from either a magazine or newspaper – be
sure it is something you are interested in.
For each summary, cut out the article and staple it onto your typed
summary. More directions about how to
write a summary will be given out in class.
Portfolio
At the end of the
quarter you will complete a portfolio.
This last assignment will showcase the progress you have made and skills
you have gained over the quarter.
Hopefully it will be a valuable source of self-assessment for you and an
indicator for me how much your reading and writing skills have developed over
the quarter. Please be sure to keep all
graded and electronic copies of your assignments because the portfolio will
consist of all of the work you have completed during the quarter, in addition
to a Statement on Learning.
Your portfolio will
consist of the following:
Quizzes and Tests:
In addition to the
above homework and assignments, you will complete grammar quizzes and reading
and writing tests. These exams will be
an excellent time to check how much progress you are making. Unlike homework, these exams will be
graded.
To receive a pass
grade, you will complete the following:
Ownership:
The papers that you write for this class are expected to be your original work, written for the specifications of the assignment. Save drafts, outlines and other preliminary steps toward your finished work in case a question of ownership arises. Burden of proof belongs to the student.
Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is the use of someone else’s words and ideas as
if they were your own. It is important
that you learn the proper MLA citation techniques to avoid plagiarism. Papers turned into my class many times will
be scanned and downloaded to turnitin.com. This is a web service that
My policy is: 1st offense = F on the assignment; 2nd offense = F for the quarter. Each time you will be reported to the Dean of Student Services.
Student Accommodations
If you require accommodation based on a documented
disability, emergency medical information to share, or need special
arrangements in case of emergency evacuation, please speak with me. If
you would like to inquire about becoming a DSS student you may call 564-2498 or
go in person to the DSS (Disability Support Services) reception area in
the
To summarize this
syllabus, please answer the following questions:
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