Bellevue Community College Maureen Phillips

English 092:Developmental English mphillip@bcc.ctc.edu

7:30 a.m. R306 Office Hours: by appointment and by phone

Fall, 2004

COURSE OBJECTIVES

This course is designed to strengthen your writing skills and prepare you for English 101. To that end, you will be working in your Writing First textbook on grammar and punctuation and issues related to writing college-level essays. In addition, you will be writing four short papers. These papers will provide you with practice writing in different genres, the art of the thesis statement, and in composing standard, college-level English. The knowledge you gain in this class can help you to succeed in other writing-intensive classes as well. The most important ingredient to success in this class is your enthusiasm and commitment to learning. It is important that you attended each and every class. After we discuss the course components, take a moment to consider seriously whether you are willing to stay committed to completing all of the work. Moreover, your contribution to class discussions is integral to our class as a community of learners; therefore, part of your grade is based upon your participation. I know from past experience that open, hearty discussions can make learning fun; I hope you will be actively involved in your learning and in our class. Lastly, please note that there is no final exam in this course. However, your final work for that week, the last Writing First exercises and your last essay, are due on the final day of class. If you would like your final paper returned to you, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope when you submit it.

REQUIRED MATERIALS

Hacker, Diana. Rules for Writers. 5^th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2004.

Kirszner, Laurie G. and Stephen R. Mandell, 2^nd ed. Writing First: Practice in Context. Boston:
Bedford/St. Martins, 2003.

A 5x7” spiral notebook (due by Friday of week 1)

Access to a computer with spell-checking capability

Access to a dictionary or www.dictionary.com

A STAPLER!!

COURSE COMPONENTS

Essays	Four essays, progressively longer, the last will include a bibliography page. These include: description, process, and two argument essays.
Exercises	Please complete all Writing First (WF) exercises in the workbook. They are due the Monday following and submitted at the end of each week after we review them. The schedule of WF assignments is included in this syllabus. Please staple the pages of each assignment before turning it in each Friday.
Journals	Each week you will write in class for 5-10 minutes in a 5x7” spiral notebook. Your journal is a place to record your reactions to lessons, our discussions, and your progress in class. You must have a 5x7” journal by the end of the first week.
Participation	Take a risk, share your ideas, have fun!! We’ll all have a better experience if you do! And besides…20 percent of your grade is a lot!

GRADING

assignment	Due date	Point Value	Percent Value
Essay 1: Description (2 pp)	10/6, 11	100	05
Essay 2: Process (2-3 pp)	10/19, 25	100	05
Essay 3: Argument (3 pp)	11/1, 17	100	10
Essay 4: Argument (3-5 pp)	12/1, 10	100	25
WF Exercises: 10 Chs@10 pts	Fridays	100	25
Participation	Daily	100	20
Journals (10 weekly entries)	Weekly	100	10
TOTAL		700	100

ATTENDANCE AND TARDINESS

I consider our mutual involvement in this class a contract. Part of that contract is accountability. I fully expect you to be here, on time, every day, as I do for myself. I take attendance on a regular basis. If you are late more than 5 minutes, I consider you absent. Parking issues do not excuse a tardy or absence. Think about your schedule now and plan to be here on time consistently; it can make a huge difference in your learning experience. Planned absences, which you must speak with me about prior to the date they occur, are not counted.

LATE PAPERS OR ASSIGNMENTS

Late papers will result in an automatic 5 percent reduction in your grade. I expect you to solve any issues or problems you may have regarding printing of your papers or fulfilling other course requirements within the first week. Tardy assignments create a logistical nightmare for me, so I’m not inclined to accept them. However, as with attendance, I understand that there are sometimes extenuating circumstances. See me if you are having difficulties.

WRITING GROUPS

On the first day we work in writing groups, you will receive specific instructions for how to review each other’s work. Please follow those instructions carefully to make the most of the experience for everyone in your group.

TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE

(Note: This schedule is subject to change at the instructor’s discretion.)

WEEK	DAY	DATE	IN-CLASS FOCUS	DUE	WF CHAPTER
1	M	SEP 27	Introductions		15: Simple Sentences
	T	28
	W	29
	TH	30
	F	OCT 1	Journal
2	M	4			16: Compound Sentences
	T	5
	W	6		E1 Draft
	TH	7
	F	8	Journal
3	M	11		E1 Final	17: Complex Sentences
	T	12
	W	13
	TH	14
	F	15	Journal
4	M	18	NO CLASS		31: Using Commas
	T	19		E2 Draft
	W	20
	TH	21
	F	22	Journal
5	M	25		E2 Final	32: Using Apostrophes
	T	26
	W	27
	TH	28
	F	29	Journal
6	M	NOV 1		E3 Draft	33: Mechanics
	T	2
	W	3
	TH	4
	F	5	NO CLASS
7	M	8	Midterm Journal Check		21: Run-ons & Comma Splices
	T	9
	W	10	Journal
	TH	11	NO CLASS
	F	12	NO CLASS (Teacher’s Choice)
8	M	15			22: Fragments
	T	16
	W	17		E3 Final
	TH	18
	F	19	Journal
9	M	22			23: Subject/Verb Agreement
	T	23
	W	24	Journal
	TH	25	NO CLASS
	F	26	NO CLASS
10	M	29			24: Illogical Shifts
	T	30
	W	1		E4 Draft
	TH	2
	F	3	Journal
11	M	6
	T	7
	W	8	Journal
	TH	9
	F	10	JOURNAL CHECK	E4 Final