ENGLISH 101
Fall Quarter,
2010 Instructor:
Jeffery White
9:30-10:20
M-F Office:
R230Q Tel: 564-3084
Room L120 jwhite@bellevuecollege.edu
Office
Hour: 8:30 - 9:20 M-F
(also
available by appointment)
Required
Materials: Deep
Economy, Bill McKibben
The
Little, Brown Handbook, Eleventh Edition
Three-ring,
loose-leaf binder (1”-2”)
COURSE
DESCRIPTION
In English
101, we familiarize ourselves with and build upon basic methods for composing
original, interesting and intelligent responses to a particular topic. In an informal workshop atmosphere, we will
review certain grammatical conventions while developing a keener understanding
of what constitutes an effective sentence, paragraph and essay. We will do this, both in small groups and as
a whole class, through various peer response strategies and by becoming
careful, critical readers. By quarter's end, you will have a more detailed
understanding of how to compose an articulate, intelligent, well-developed
discussion of a given topic. However,
your skill in executing such a discussion will depend upon the degree to
which you apply what you learn in the coming weeks.
As many of you pursue an education
to better prepare yourself for a successful professional life, it may help you
to think of this class as rehearsal for meeting professional responsibilities.
To continue the analogy, you might think of me as your supervisor; I expect you
to be engaged and committed to your work, courteous and helpful to those you
work with, and regular and prompt in your attendance.
Please understand that this is
not a "Warm Body" class -- one of those classes which you attend
half conscious, take the occasional note and leave after fifty minutes. As with most courses, we'll be trying to do
too much in too little time, so we'll need to divide the workload equally,
every student responsible for more than simply his or her own success or
failure. You will spend a majority of your class time doing "hands-on"
activities and group work, both seeking and giving assistance. If you, for
whatever reason, aren't prepared or able to be an active, responsible member of
this learning community, then another class may more suit your needs. What follows are our course policies.
As in the professional world, you’ll
need to work within deadlines. All assignments are due in class on the
specified date. Should you fail to submit a draft of an essay on its due date
and still desire my feedback on that draft, you must write and present me with
a one-page explanation of why you missed the deadline, outline strategies for
preventing it happening again and request an alternate date to submit the work.
I will review your request and determine whether to grant an alternate due date
or not.
On days when drafts are discussed, either in groups or as a class, those without drafts will be dismissed to complete their work and suffer an absence for that class meeting. On days when papers are due to me, I expect them in class but will accept them in person or in my mailbox until 12:30 PM on the day they are due. I'll accept nothing after that time unless specific arrangements are made with me before the class in which it is due. I'll permit such an arrangement only once.
You are responsible for having a hard
copy of your seminar paper in hand at the beginning of the
classes on the day it is due. I will not accept emailed seminar papers,
nor will I excuse you to go print a copy of a seminar paper due that day. Your
seminar paper is due in class and will only be accepted if you are in class to
present it.
One
indicator of your commitment to your work in this class is your ability to be
in class when it is scheduled to begin.
Because, quite often, the first five to ten minutes of class are crucial
to work that follows, and because groups need your prompt attendance to
function properly, let's begin class on time with all members present. You're late if you walk into class more than
5 minutes after its scheduled starting time. Walk into class late 10 times,
and you'll receive no credit for the course. I'm certain, however, that out of
consideration for your peers, you will do whatever possible to see that we make
the most out of our brief, daily meetings.
1. Miss the first week of class: no credit for the course
2. Students
who miss fewer than 5 classes receive a bonus on their final participation
grade. TEN ABSENCES, NO CREDIT.
3. Those
who feel they have exceptional circumstances that prevent prompt, regular
attendance should speak to me in person BEFORE those
circumstances interfere with your work in this class.
Your final grade will be based on
two primary components:
1.
Preparedness and class participation:
Seminar
Papers: 20% of final grade
Preparedness
and Contributions: 10% of final
grade
Attendance:
10% of final grade
2.
Portfolio of five finished papers that includes all
primary and revised drafts of each paper.
Preparedness
and Class Participation: Beyond offering thoughtful and well rendered seminar
papers, to receive full credit for this component, you must attend class
regularly and on time, have with you at all times all writing for this class
and text books on days that you made need them, have all completed drafts in
hand for peer critique sessions, participate actively and constructively in all
peer critique and small group activities, participate regularly in class
discussions by offering insightful or thought provoking, relevant comments that
advance and develop the discussion (what matters here is the caliber and
quality of your comments, not the number of times that you share your views).
Portfolio
(60% of final grade): In brief, your
portfolio grade is based upon the quality of the final drafts of three
self-selected papers, the degree to which they have been revised, a
self-evaluation, and the overall appearance and presentation of the portfolio
itself. Details about portfolios and the
criteria I will use to grade them are in a separate handout.
Note: You should know that the portfolio process
allows you to revise your writing as often as you see fit before that work
receives a grade. You will receive a
mock grade for your third paper, which I will then review with you during a
conference designed to give you an idea of your class standing. Circumstances
permitting, I am available to review and comment on revised drafts (three
drafts per essay), but will not grade the work until it has been included in
the portfolio and that portfolio turned in for grading at the end of the
quarter. I will review and comment one revised draft at a time from each
student. The last day to submit a revision for my comments is November 24.
Cell phones will be
turned off during this class. Any
interruption due to these devices will disrupt our work and foul the
instructor's usually sunny mood. Those who feel they have reason to be exempt
from this policy should speak to me in person outside of class.
Plagiarism
Should you
use another's words or ideas and represent them as your own, you are
plagiarizing. Should you get help with your writing to such a degree that it,
in any part, is no longer your own; then, too, are you plagiarizing. Plagiarism
is grounds for failing the course, and possibly for dismissal from school. Also
be advised that Bellevue Community College contracts with a plagiarism
detection software company. Should I receive any work that I suspect to be
plagiarized, I will submit it for to for
investigation. For suggestions on how to avoid these rather dire consequences,
see The Little, Brown Handbook.
If
you need course modifications /
adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, I can refer you to our
Disability Resource Center (DRC). If you prefer, you may contact them directly
by going to B132 or by calling 425.564.2498 or TTY 425.564.4110. Information is
also available on their website at http://bellevuecollege.edu/drc/
A FINAL
NOTE: I am here to serve as your
guide and then ultimately to evaluate your work. I am interested in helping you do as well as
you want in this class. My schedule
permitting, I'll assist you in any way I can.
If you're having difficulty, speak to me about it, and I'll see what I
can do to help. If life interferes in some substantial way with school, let me
know. If you show me that you're
concerned with doing good work in this class, I'll do what I can to help you
around the obstacles. Communication
is the key here. Keep me informed of
your circumstances, and you should do fine.
Talk to me after things fall apart, and there will be little more that
I can offer than my sympathy.