English 224 A (Item 1223)
Scott Bessho
Office: C-207 D Phone: 425-564-2425 E-mail: sbessho@bcc.ctc.edu
Office Hours:9:30-10:30 Campus Mail: R 230
and 12:30-1:30 Daily
Required Texts: Himes: Voices in Wartime
Ninh: The Sorrow of War
Rabe: War Plays (Streamers)
Chattarji: Memories of a Lost War
O'Brien: The Things They Carried
Optional Text: Roberts: Writing About Literature (on reserve in the BCC library)
Objectives of the course:
English 224 Outcomes
By the end of the quarter, the student should be able to:
· Demonstrate various invention practices: brainstorming, free writing, outlining, journaling
· Demonstrate various patterns of organization and use an organization pattern that suits your identified purpose & audience.
· Illustrate the concept of audience in your writing.
· Artfully combine audience, purpose, and tone in compositions written in and outside of class.
· Write in a vocabulary appropriate to your subject and identified audience.
· Practice good group skills: how to give useful feedback, and how to make use of feedback you receive
· Develop self-assessment skills
· Demonstrate multiple ways of responding to literature.
· Work in groups to analyze various works.
· Effectively use your responses to literature in writing essays.
· Make connections between literature and your world.
Class policies:
1. Please refer to the web site on Arts and Humanities Policies (www.bcc.ctc.edu/arshum/policy.html), all of which apply in my classes. Pay special attention to the section on academic dishonesty. Plagiarism, which we will discuss in class, will not be tolerated. Be warned that BCC uses plagiarism detection methods that can easily find papers that are taken, in whole or in part, from the internet.
2. The grading for papers in this course will be based on a variety of factors, including readability, content, organization, use of sources, and overall effectiveness. A grading rubric will determine points for each assignment. Out of the assigned papers, you will choose three to revise extensively for a final grade.
3. Attendance (15%) is critical in this class, as much of our work is done in groups or in class discussion. Any absences beyond two will negativelyaffect your grade. A grade of F will result if you miss more than nine classes. Excessive lateness will count as an absence if I take roll before you arrive.
4. Your participation is essential to others in the class, whose participation grade depends in part on your preparation. Beyond the writing assignments, participation in groups, quizzes and class activities determines much of your grade, and is evaluated on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. You can ensure a good participation grade if you ask questions and try answering questions in class. Unsatisfactory participation will lower your paper grade by one letter.
5. Your lab fee entitles this class to use the Writing Lab computers. We might meet in the Writing Lab occasionally and use the computers for various assignments. You should use a computer for all of your outside writing (journals may be hand written if legible). The Lab also provides free tutorial help and instruction in editing.
6. Be sure to ask about any of our campus services: Writing Lab, Reading Lab, Multicultural Services, Women's Center, Disability Support Services, etc. We have many resources for our students, and we all want to help you succeed. See me if you would like to know more about available help.
7. If you require accommodation based on a documented disability, emergency medical information to share, or need special arrangements in case of emergency evacuation, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible. 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 Student Services Building.
Reading Assignments
Readings will be assigned in class. Begin reading immediately and set a regular time for reading each week. Since this class doesn't meet on Fridays, that might be one good time to devote to reading.
Writing Assignments
· Reading Log or Journal: (15%) Entries in the reading log will be made each week. These will be reviewed and graded, but not for content. Specific log assignments will be explained in class. The log can provide material for more formal writing assignments.
· Quizzes: (10%) These will be on the readings for each week. Quizzes will take various forms, including True/False, Short Answer, Contest and Essay. Students will participate in generating questions for most of the quizzes.
· Main Paper Assignments: (25%) These formal essays will come out of the discussions and log work, and will also take various rhetorical forms. The form of the papers is determined by the type of analysis featured in the assignment for a particular week. Topics for these assignments may be works not specifically assigned to be read as well as the assigned readings. At least one assignment will require some outside research. All papers should be 2-3 pages in their first draft form.
· Final Portfolio: (25%) Three of your weekly papers will be expanded and revised into final papers for the portfolio, which is turned in at the end of the quarter. These papers should be in final draft form, free of mechanical errors, and 4 or 5 pages long.
Oral Presentation (10%)
Length: 10-15 minutes
A presentation providing additional background about the writers and historical circumstances of the works we read (or other related works) is required of each person, but these may be presented in groups. The group members will all receive the same grade.
Each presentation must have some visual aids. These may include overheads, PowerPoint slides, posters, or charts. Overhead transparencies must be in 24-point font in order to be visible to the class. Our classroom is well-equipped for most presentations, but you must give me advance notice (at least 48 hours) if you need equipment that is not already in the classroom.
Late work: All assignments are due at the beginning of class. Papers turned in after that time will not receive credit. If you have several late papers, your final grade will suffer.
More about Plagiarism: Please visit and read the Avoiding Plagiarism page on the BCC Writing Lab web site (www.bcc.ctc.edu/writinglab). The information there also will help in the use of quoted material, which is an integral part of writing about literature.
General Considerations: I will employ reverse grading in this course: everyone begins the quarter with an A grade. That grade is either maintained throughout the quarter, or it is degraded by absence, late or shoddy work, lack of involvement in class and so on. By following directions and doing what is required, anyone can maintain an A until the end of the quarter.
Class Schedule (subject to change at any time)
Some weeks will also feature a quiz on the assigned reading, peer review sessions, and conferences. All of these are required.
Week One: Course introduction, introduction of class members, first writing assignment. Himes, Introduction and Part 1, pp. 10-63. Chattarji, pp. 1-25.
Week Two: Himes, pp. 67-158; Chattarji, pp. Film--Voices in Wartime (2005), Conferences
Week Three: Himes, pp. 163-234; Film--The Fog of War (2003);
Week Four: O'Brien, The Things They Carried; 10/11 no class; Film--Full Metal Jacket (1986)
Week Five: TTTC, continued; Conferences
Week Six: Ninh, The Sorrow of War; Film--We Were Soldiers (2002);
Week Seven: 10/30 no class; TSOW, continued
Week Eight: Rabe, Streamers; Film--Streamers (1980). 11/10 no class
Week Nine: Conferences; Independent work on presentations.
Week Ten: Presentations in class. Thanksgiving break 11/23, 24.
Week Eleven: Presentations in Class; Portfolio Due. Final In-class Essay.
Bellevue Community College uses the following grading system and standards in evaluating student performance (for more information, see the BCC Catalog):
“A” grades indicate “outstanding” achievement. The “A” student
· demonstrates consistent mastery of learning outcomes for the course
· demonstrates ability to interpret, integrate, and apply learning outcomes beyond the context of the course through application of critical and creative thinking skills
· completes work assignments that consistently exceed requirements and that interpret and apply objectives in new, unique, or creative ways
· demonstrates consistent leadership in class participation activities
“B” grades indicate “high” achievement. The “B” student
· demonstrates a high level of competence in learning outcomes for the course
· demonstrates ability to interpret, integrate, and apply learning outcomes within the context of the course through application of critical and creative thinking skills
· completes work assignments that consistently meet most requirements
· contributes regularly to class participation activities
“C” grades indicate “satisfactory” achievement. The “C” student
· demonstrates a satisfactory level of competence in learning outcomes for the course
· demonstrates competent ability to interpret, integrate, and apply learning outcomes within the context of the course
· completes work assignments that satisfy minimum requirements for the course
· satisfies minimum requirements for class participation activities
“D” grades indicate “poor” achievement. The “D” student
· demonstrates minimum competence in some learning outcomes for the course
· completes work assignments that usually meet minimum requirements
· contributes inconsistently or infrequently to class participation activities
“F” grades indicate “unsatisfactory” achievement. The “F” student
· cannot demonstrate competence in many or fundamental learning outcomes
· submits work assignments that frequently do not meet minimum requirements, or does not complete the assigned work does not satisfy minimum requirements for attendance or contribution to class activities
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Good Luck in 101/130/131 this quarter! Let’s make it fun and productive.
Always remember that I want you to succeed but that you are responsible for your own success.
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