Churan's Home Page

Instructor: Jacleen Churan

Class: Section #01524 Day/Time Th 1:00 P.M. – 3:55 P.M., Rm. G-214

Office hours: Thursday – 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm., by appointment only!

Contact phone/voice mail: 248-731-6151; Email: jachuran@oaklandcc.edu

*please contact me using email if possible to ensure a more prompt response

Alternate Contact: English Department – Donna King 248-522-3576

ENG 1510, English Composition I, focuses on the multi-stage writing process. Students will read, analyze and write expository essays. This course will prepare students for academic writing as required in ENG 1520 Composition II, and will introduce them to forms of thinking, reading and writing that are applicable in multiple contexts beyond the college setting.

General education is the foundation of every student’s program, regardless of area of emphasis, and is intended to impart common knowledge, intellectual concepts and attributes. Attributes specifically identified for this course encourage you:

1. To communicate effectively

2. To learn independently and collaboratively

3. To think creatively and critically

Prerequisite to ENG 1510: Successful completion of ENG 1060 or appropriate score on placement test.

The following text has been ordered through the OCC Campus Bookstore, J-151.

The St. Martin’s Guide to Writing. 8^th ed. Eds. Rise B. Axelrod and Charles R. Cooper (Bedford/St. Martin’s). 2008

* The St. Martin’s Guide provides you with a guide to learning how to use APA or MLA style formatting (MLA pp. 750-763, APA pp. 763 – 771). You must utilize a writing reference guide when writing your papers in proper APA or MLA format.

A college-level dictionary. The Oxford English Dictionary is a good choice, and can be found online at: http://oed.com. Also a thesaurus. Note: whichever computer program you use should also have a dictionary and thesaurus function. Make use of these!

Helpful Websites:

Writer’s Handbook: www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbook/index.html

Univ. of Purdue’s Writing Lab: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/

• Always be fully prepared for class. Bring the required texts and materials to class that you will be working from, as well as any assignments due that day.

Your attendance to this class is vital to the passing of this course. A significant portion of your grade will consist of active participation in the form of in class-writing and workshops, so you must be in class in order to participate. If you miss more than three classes, your grade will automatically be lowered by one letter grade from the grade you achieve by the end of term. Each absence thereafter will lower your grade by 2%. (Remember that this portion can make or break that "A" you hope to achieve!) I will pass around a sign-in sheet at the beginning of each class, and will track attendance closely. Tardiness will also not be tolerated. If you are tardy twice, that will count as one absence, and the absences will add up with subsequent late entrances. Talk to me about any unusual circumstances you may face.

To those who are diligent about attending class and being on time: if you have less than two absences for the entire semester, 5% will be added to your grade!

Participation is a considerable portion of your grade, so I expect to hear from you in class. I will actively encourage and promote class discussion. Therefore, in order to participate, you must be prepared, so be sure to have all reading and assignments completed before class.

Please be sure to exchange phone numbers and/or email addresses with another student(s) in class in order to find out what you have missed when you are absent. It is not my responsibility to track you down, nor do I want to receive emails and phone calls requesting assignments/notes etc.

I expect you to come to class prepared and ready for discussion. Please also consider your fellow classmates with respect: everyone is entitled to their own opinion and belief. This includes discussion in your journals! This class will be conducted in an open conversation format, so bring your thoughts and ideas from the readings, but temper these with courtesy and never dismiss the ideas of others. On this note, while everyone is entitled to an opinion, it will never be my intent to offend anyone with mine. If I happen to do so, please speak to me privately after class, drop by my office, or email me. I will be more than happy to talk with you and hear what you have to say.

PLEASE TURN OFF ALL CELL PHONES AND PAGERS BEFORE CLASS BEGINS! I will not tolerate ringing phones or pagers during class. Again, respect your classmates who are here to learn. If for some reason you must have a phone on during class, put it on vibrate.

Assignments are due on the dates listed in the syllabus – NO EXCEPTIONS. Late papers will NOT be tolerated. I will NOT ACCEPT papers or assignments by fax or email.

I will not tolerate plagiarism. You must credit all sources of information, even information found on the internet. Plagiarism is unnecessary and thoughtless to both me and you. Do NOT try to plagiarize. I will fail you on that assignment, and possibly the class, depending on the extent, and will subsequently follow due process through the college.

If you have a physical or mental impairment that may interfere with your ability to complete successfully the requirements for this course, please contact the PASS office, which is located in K-111. Their phone number: 248-522-3480. They will inform me of any special conditions pertaining to your learning.

In compliance with federal law (FERPA), no personal information of yours (grades, attendance, etc.) will be shared with anyone unless you provide written permission.

All papers must adhere to the same format – one inch margins (left, right, top, and bottom), twelve point font, and double spacing. Pages are to be numbered in the upper right hand corner of each page, along with your last name. All pages should be stapled, unless you want to risk pages being lost. Revisions with my comments must be turned in with your completed paper. I will not accept your revised paper without the original! I will not accept cover sheets or folders which encase your work. There is much to be said for simple and understated work.

Reminder: NO LATE PAPERS!!! I cannot stress this enough. We are all on a schedule and must adhere to deadlines in our everyday lives. This course is no different. If you foresee that you will be unable to complete an assignment, talk to me before it is due. I will make very few exceptions and I will not make exceptions after the due date.

These are two invaluable resources to use if you are having difficulties with your writing. The Academic Support Center and The Open Writing Lab (522-3435), located at K-100. These centers provide tutoring in all aspects of writing including editing and proofreading. Both The Academic Support Center and The Open Writing Lab prefer appointments, but you can also drop in. Bring a draft of your current project as well as any assignment directions that I provided. Be prepared to work with the tutors: they are not there to do your work for you!!!

• I am approachable and want to see you succeed in this course. Please do not be shy about arranging appointments to discuss your work with me during my office hours. Your best bet to set up an appointment is to contact me by email.

• If you are going to be absent, you must email me before the class period to let me know. Do not call me and leave a message on my voice mail! Remember that you are responsible to find out what you missed for that class session from your classmates. I will not email class notes or assignments under any circumstances. If inclement weather occurs, please refer to the local broadcasting, TV or radio, or the OCC home page for school closings or call 248-341-2023

• Do really good work! Your best work! Be proud of what you turn in! Engage with the readings and with your classmates! This course will be fun and enlightening for you, but only if you let it be. Attitude is everything – so come to class rested, prepared to learn and to have fun!

Last day for 100% refund: close of 6th business day from start of class

Last day to withdraw: Friday of the 12th week of class

Labor Day recess: Monday, 9/1

Thanksgiving break: Thursday, 11/27 – Saturday 11/29

Last day of instruction: Thursday, December 11th

Winter term ends: December 15th

Assignments will consist of one preliminary response essay (ungraded), three shorter essays (2, 3 and 4 pages each), workshopped revisions of the short essays, bi-weekly journal entries (1 page each entry), participation (in-class discussions and group work), a final essay of 4-5 pages, and a final exam.

• Journal entries are about 250 words, will be due every Thursday, and should be in response to discussion we have had in class or in response to a prompt I give you in class. You will work on journaling either in class or as homework, at my discretion. The purpose of these entries: I want to know what you think! What you have to say is important to me, so use the journal forum to unselfconsciously write about the topic at hand. You will not be graded on your response but on simply completing the journals weekly.

• Hand-write entries on loose-leaf paper and keep them bound in a simple three punch paper folder. You will turn the entire portfolio in at the end of the semester.

NOTE: The journal/responses are a forum for learning. They are not to be used to criticize class discussion, or any comments that I or your fellow students make in class. They are not a venue for venting. If you have concerns or frustrations regarding the course and/or the material, make use of my office hours, or email me directly.

• Preliminary response assignment: Due: TH, 9/4. Topic to be given in class.

• First Essay: Due: TH, 9/11 for in class workshopping. Final Due Date: TH, 9/18. 2 pages, informal writing.

This will be a non-fiction creative narrative with a topic of your choice. We will be working from chapters 2, Remembering an Event and 3, Writing Profiles in SMG.

• Second Essay: Due: TH, 10/9 and will be worked on in class. Final due date: TH, 10/23. 3 pages, informal writing.

This paper will ask you to compare/contrast a topic of your choice from what we discuss from chapters 4 & 5 in SMG.

• Third Essay: Due TH, 11/6 for in class workshopping. Final essay due: TH, 11/13. 4 pages, formal writing.

This paper will be an analysis or a compare/contrast on a story/stories of your choice from chapter 10 in SMG.

• Final Essay: Due: TH, 12/4 for in class workshopping. Final Due Date: TH 12/11. 4-5 pages not including works cited page, formal writing, using MLA documentation.

This essay will ask you to argue a position, or work with a problem/solution scenario. For this paper we will be working from chapters 6 and 7 in SMG. I will also require that you use a minimum of 2 outside sources for this essay.

NOTE: I will provide an assignment sheet for each essay with specific instructions well before each due date!!!

• Final Exam: In class Thursday, December 11th. This will be a writing exam based on a novel you are assigned to read at the beginning of term. We will discuss this more thoroughly the first full week of class.

• Impromptu essays and quizzes to be given from time to time throughout the semester.

REMINDER** All assignments must be typed and proofread, use MLA style as required. Journals, however, can be handwritten on loose leaf white paper and are to be kept in a simple three punch paper folder.

**Revisions of workshopped shorter papers are due one week after the returned and workshopped paper. No late revisions will be accepted! No workshopping/revisions on late papers will be accepted! We will talk more about the workshopping process in class.

Preliminary assignment (ungraded)

3 Short essays (2, 3, and 4 pages each) 45% (10%, 15%, 20% per essay)

Final essay (4-5 pages) 20%

Final exam 15%

Journal entries, impromptu in-class essays 20%

Attendance, Participation, Tardiness Can make or break your grade!!!

Course point totals will be converted into percentages and grades will be determined according to the following scale: A(94-100%), A-(90-93%), B+(87-89%), B(84-86%), B-(80-83%), C+(77-79%), C(74-76%), C-(70-73%), D+(67-69%), D(64-66%), D-(60-63%), E(59% and below)

* All readings, unless otherwise noted or given by me as handouts, can be found in The St. Martin’s Guide to College Writing

Overview of class and syllabus.

Assign un-graded assignment.

Begin discussion of SMG: Chapter 2: Finding a subject; what is a well-told story?

**Read Annie Dillard essay in SMG for next Thursday’s class discussion.

Week Two: 9/4

Class discussion on Annie Dillard essay.

Discuss Paper 1: How to tell a well-told story.

*Take home journal topic to be assigned; journal due Thursday, 9/11.

Ungraded essay due.

Library tour 1^st half of class: meet at library (K-building, 1^st floor) at 1:00 pm.

Draft of first essay due to workshop in class 2^nd half of class.

**Journal entries due (Take home assigned on previous Thursday).

**Read John McPhee essay in SMG for next Thursday’s class discussion.

Essay 1 due at start of class

Chapter 3/SMG. You as a writer and your purpose in writing: John McPhee essay for class discussion 1^st half of class.

**Read Anastasia Toufexis essay for class next weeks class discussion.

*No journal this week!

.Chapter 4 continued discussion on Toufexis essay 1^st half of class: How to focus your writing.

How to use sources 2^nd half.

Work on journals in class.

**Read Alexander Cheung essay in SMG for next Thursday’s class discussion.

Week Six: 10/2

Chapter 5/SMG: How to effectively compare and contrast in your writing.

In class writing exercise.

Journal entries due (Take home assigned on previous Thursday).

Week Seven: 10/9

Chapter 5 continued discussion: finding a topic, formulating a thesis discussion 1^st half of class.

Very-rough Draft of 2^nd essay due; work on in class 2^nd half.

No journal this week!

**Read James Joyce’s Araby in SMG for next Thursday’s class discussion.

Finalize 2^nd essay 1^st half of class.

Chapter 10/SMG: How to write about a story! Araby class discussion 2^nd half.

Work on journals in class.

**Read Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery (handout!) for next Thursday’s class discussion.

Essay 2 due at the start of class.

In class discussion on 3^rd essay – how to analyze a story 1^st half of class.

Chapter 10/SMG continued: Analyzing a story: The Lottery class discussion 2^nd half.

Journal entries due! (Take home assigned previous Thursday).

**Read Amitai Etzioni essay in SMG for next Thursday’s class discussion.

Week Ten: 10/30

Writing and the Internet: Myspace? Facebook? Open discussion/In class writing exercise 1^st half of class.

Chapter 6/SMG: How to argue a position in your writing! Amitai Etzioni essay class discussion 2nd half of class.

Work on journals in class.

Rough draft of essay 3 due to workshop in class.

Work on journals in class.

Week Twelve: 11/13

Essay 3 due at start of class.

In class exercise 1st half of class: Chapter 7 – List problems; choose a problem. pgs. 363-364.

2^nd half of class: In class exercise – Analyze and define your problem. pg. 365 and

In class exercise – Tentative solution; defend solution; test your choice. pg. 366

Journal entries due (Take home assigned on previous Thursday).

1^st half of class: In class exercise – Reasons for proposal; alternative solutions; define purpose. pgs. 369 – 371 and in class exercise – your thesis and introduction! pg. 371.

2^nd half of class: In class exercise – Define problem; describe proposed solution; anticipate objections/questions. pgs. 373 – 374 and evaluating alternative solutions; concluding your argument. pg. 374.

No journals this week!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Final essay due for in class workshopping.

Last minute questions on final essay and final exam.

Final essay due at start of class.

Last day of class: In class final exam