Below you will find a copy of the course outline and a copy of the unacceptable errors handout, both which were distributed in class today.
English 20—Composition
II
Summer 2012
May 29 – July 5; TWR 10:30-12:50
pm – Calaveras 134
Instructor: Catherine Fraga
Email: sacto1954@gmail.com
Office hours: (Calaveras 149) TWR, 9:30 am-10:25 am
OR BY APPT.
Course Description (from CSUS Catalog): Advanced
writing that builds upon the critical thinking, reading, and writing
processes introduced in ENGL 1A and ENGL 2. Emphasizes rhetorical awareness by
exploring reading and writing within diverse academic contexts with a focus on
the situational nature of the standards, values, habits, conventions, and
products of composition. Students will research and analyze different
disciplinary genres, purposes, and audiences with the goals of understanding
how to appropriately shape their writing for different readers and demonstrating
this understanding through various written products. Note: Writing requirement: a minimum of 5,000 words. Prerequisite: Completion of ENGL 1A and
ENGL 2 or equivalent with a C- or better; sophomore standing (must have
completed 30 units prior to registration). Units:
3.0.
Required
Texts & Materials:
- Two blue (or green) books.
- Lined notebook paper with a clean, straight edge.
- Stapler.
- Reliable
access to a computer and a printer. You will need the computer to access
readings, access the course blog, English20Summer2012.blogspot.com,
and to view the seven episodes of Season I of Breaking Bad. (we will watch episode 1 in class on the first
day)
In addition, many of the readings
will be items found on the Internet and will need to be printed and brought to
class.
- Sacramento State Student Writing Handbook—available free on line at:
http://www.csus.edu/wac/WAC/Students/CSUS_Writing_Handbook.pdf
(Suggestion:
you may want to bookmark the two web addresses above on your personal computer
for quicker access.)
Recommended
Text:
Any writing handbook that, at a minimum, offers
information on MLA research documentation.
Newly updated MLA format is available free online at:
http://library.csus.edu/guides/rogenmoserd/general/mla.html
Classroom Policies:
- Attendance is especially important during this accelerated summer school course, which meets a total of only 18 days. Classroom discussions prepare students for all writing assignments, and your fellow students and I need your input in order to make this class more complete and enjoyable.
2.
YOU MUST TYPE AND DOUBLE SPACE ALL OUT OF CLASS
WORK
3.
In all fairness to other students, out of class assignments must be handed in on
time. For out of class essays, for every day it is late, there
will be 10 points deducted from your earned grade, even on weekends. You may
not earn these points back in a revision. In-Class Writing Responses and quizzes
cannot be made up.
4.
You’re responsible for finding out what you
missed if you are absent. I will provide you with a class roster
for your convenience. If you miss
class, ALWAYS ASSUME YOU
HAVE MISSED SOMETHING IMPORTANT.
5.
My policy on EXTRA CREDIT is…I do not believe in extra credit. In short, “real” life outside the
university does not operate on the extra credit option. You earn the grade you
receive. It really is a fairness issue.
6.
ABOUT
REVISIONS: you have the option to revise one of your first two out of class essays. If you choose to revise, you must submit the revision with the
original within one week of receiving the graded essay back. No exceptions. An
essay with unacceptable errors might be an essay you choose to revise. Once you
submit your revision, and receive it back with the revised score, you can
continue to revise and re-submit as many times as you wish until you earn the
grade you desire. ALL
REVISIONS MUST BE HIGHLIGTED WHERE YOU HAVE MADE CHANGES AND/OR CORRECTIONS,
ADDITIONS, ETC. and THE ORIGINAL GRADED ESSAY MUST BE ATTACHED TO THE REVISION.
NO EXCEPTIONS.
7. Plagiarism: Students who plagiarize may be expelled from
the university. Copying papers off the Internet or using other sources without
documenting them are examples of plagiarism. (It is quite easy for instructors
to discover whether a student has done this.) Quotes and paraphrases in your
essays must be cited. Students who are discovered to have been plagiarizing
will be referred to the appropriate University Dean.
A note on classroom etiquette:
If you feel you cannot survive
each class session without the use of your cell phone, iPod, iPad or laptop
computer, etc., please do not enroll in this class. (Simply, it is the highest
degree of rudeness and disrespect.)
If I see you busy texting, etc. I will not hesitate to ask you to leave.
(IF THERE IS A COMPELLING REASON THAT YOU MUST KEEP YOUR PHONE ON VIBRATE FOR
AN EMERGENCY PHONE CALL THAT MAY OCCUR DURING CLASS HOURS, PLEASE INFORM ME BEFORE
CLASS.) Again, we only meet for 18 days. I plan to give you my full attention
for the 2 hours and 20 minutes, and I expect the same from all my students.
HOW YOUR GRADE
IS EARNED:
See attached grade roster.
At no time should you wonder how you are “doing” in the course. The grade worksheet
makes it very easy to keep track. Simply record your scores as you receive back
your graded work. Do not discard any assignments that are graded and returned
to you until the semester is over.
ABOUT THIS COURSE…
I have designed a very
different and I hope interesting and provocative set of themes for discussion
and critical thinking/writing for the semester. The core of the course from
which these themes/ideas will spring is the first season of the television
series, Breaking Bad. It recently won
the TCA (Television Critics Association) Award for Outstanding Drama on
Television. It has also been honored with a few Emmys as well. The series is
heading into its fourth season.
You will view the first episode on the first class day and on your own,
you will view the remaining six episodes as well as read a wealth of material
connected either directly or indirectly to some of its themes. (if you have a
Netflix account, you can view online. It is also on youtube.com.
This series poses so many
intriguing questions about conformity, morals, family values/responsibilities,
the line between good and evil, the war on drugs, greed, health care and so
much more, including a comparison between current television vs. film viewing.
In short, we will examine and expand on several issues connected with the
overall term of “breaking bad”—straying from the path of morality, of legality,
of conformity towards something deemed unacceptable by the majority of society.
In fact, the origin of the term is American Southwest, a slang phrase meaning
to challenge conventions, to defy authority, to skirt the edges of the law.
Here is an excerpt from a
review of the series:
“It’s difficult to fathom a
more dangerous and enthralling piece of television than Breaking Bad, the AMC drama that is quietly redefining the creative
and content limits of primetime.”
--Ray Richmond, The
Hollywood Reporter, March 4, 2009
Class Schedule:
(Please note:
This schedule is subject to change at a moment’s notice. Please bring this schedule and required
readings and appropriate handouts to every class session.)
Each time a reading assignment is given, you are expected
to arrive to class having read the assignment. If it is an assignment from the Internet, please bring a
hard copy to class on the day it is assigned to have been read. You may access
the reading online during class for reference, but do NOT wait UNTIL class to
actually read the assignment.
NOT EVERY ACTIVITY IS LISTED ON THIS CLASS SCHEDULE. It is
not unusual to have a quick quiz over reading material. There will be no prior
announcement for these quizzes.
Tuesday, May 29
· Introduction to the Course
· Course Outline (handout)
· Unacceptable Errors
(handout)
· View Breaking Bad, Season 1, Episode 1 in class
Wednesday, May 30
· Discussion: How to
Critically Read and Evaluate an Essay (handout provided in class)
· Read Packet #1
· In class WR #1
· Out of class essay #1
assigned
Thursday, May 31
· Group Work #1
· View Episode 2 of Breaking Bad (come to class having
viewed)
· Review of Sentence
Mechanics
Tuesday, June 5
· Out of class essay #1 ROUGH
DRAFT due today (OPTIONAL)
· View episode 3 of Breaking Bad (come to class having
viewed)
· Arrive to class having
read pages 34-48 in the Handbook.
· Read Packet #2
· In class WR #2
Wednesday, June 6
· View episodes four and
five of Season 1, Breaking Bad (come
to class having viewed)
· Read Packet #3
· Group Work #2
Thursday, June 7
·
Out of Class Essay #1 due today
·
Out of Class Essay #2 assigned today
· In Class Essay #1 (bring
blue or green book to class)
Tuesday, June 12
· Out of Class Essay #2 ROUGH
DRAFT due today (OPTIONAL)
· In-Class Group Work #2 in class
· Read pgs. 67-78 in the
Handbook and Packet #4.
Wednesday, June 13
· View episode six of Breaking Bad, Season 1 (come to class
having viewed)
· Group Work #3
· Read Packet #5
Thursday, June 14
· View episode seven (final
episode) of Breaking Bad, Season 1
· Out of Class Essay #2 due
today
Tuesday, June 19
·
Read Packet #6
·
In class WR #3
Wednesday, June 20
· Out of Class Essay #3
assigned today
Thursday, June 21
·
In-class Group #4
Tuesday, June 26
· Out of class essay #3 ROUGH
DRAFT due today (OPTIONAL)
· Reading Packet #7
· Arrive in class having
read one of the four sections in Part III of the Handbook: Writing Across the
Curriculum at Sacramento State. Select the section that “fits” your major field
of study. If you have not yet declared a major, select the one that BEST fits
what you THINK your major will be. (Your choices are: Natural Sciences and
Math; Social Sciences; Arts and Humanities; or Business and Professional
Communications.)
Wednesday, June 27
·
Reading Packet #8
·
WR #4 in class
Thursday, June 28
·
Out of Class Essay #3 due today
·
Discussion of WPJ—How to prepare & what to expect
·
Reading Packet #9
Tuesday, July 3
·
In class essay #2 (WPJ Practice)
Wednesday, July 4
· No class, 4th
of July holiday
Thursday, July 5
· Last day of class; grade
roster check
************************************************************************
UNACCEPTABLE
ERRORS
In English 20, students should already be very proficient in word usage. We do not have time for grammar
lessons. (I will, however, provide
short ‘mini’ lessons when I feel they are warranted.) The following errors that are commonly made on student
papers are considered unacceptable.
For out of class essays, each unacceptable error
takes ten points off your final earned grade. You may correct unacceptable
errors and receive the points back if you choose to revise. In class essays
that have unacceptable errors CAN
always be corrected to earn back the points lost.
1. there – place Put
it over there.
2. their – possessive pronoun That
is their car.
3. they’re – contraction of they
are They’re
going with us.
4. your – possessive pronoun Your
dinner is ready.
5. you’re – contraction of you are You’re
not ready.
6.
it’s – contraction of it is It’s
a sunny day.
7. its – possessive pronoun The
dog wagged its tail.
8. a lot – always two words I
liked it a lot.
9. to – a preposition or part of an
infinitive I
like to proofread my essays carefully.
10.
too – an intensifier, or also That
is too much. I will go too.
11.
two – a number Give
me two folders.
12.
In today’s society Instead
use “Today” or “In America” or “Now” etc
13. right(s)/write(s)/rite(s) rights are a set of beliefs or values
in which a person feels entitled: His rights were read to him before he
was arrested for stalking Dave Matthews. Writes
is a verb indicating action taken with a pen, pencil or computers to convey
a message: Michelle writes love letters to Dave Matthews in her sleep. Rites are a series of steps or events
which lead an individual from one phase in life to the next, or a series of
traditions that should be followed: The initiate began his rite of
passage ceremony at the age of thirteen.
14. definitely/defiantly This
error USUALLY occurs when a writer relies solely on spell-check. You really
must learn to become the final editor of your work. Definitely is an adverb and it means without a doubt. Mary will definitely
miss the Dave Matthews Band concert. Defiantly
means to show defiance. She was in a defiant mood. It is an adjective.
Or it could be used as an adverb. She was defiantly rude and sullen
towards the professor.
15. On your Works Cited page: you
MUST center and type at the top the heading just as it is here: Works Cited.
NOT ALL CAPS, NOT BOLDED, NOT UNDERLINED, NOT MISSPELLED, NOT IN A DIFFERENT
SIZED FONT, ETC.
***********************************************************************
An accumulation of the following
errors can affect your grade, but not one error, ten points down. The number depends on how serious the
error is, and how often you make it.
Some do not slow up the reader as much as others.
- Misuse of the word
“you”. You must actually mean
the reader when you use the word “you”.
- Avoid use of
contractions in formal expository writing. (can’t, shouldn’t, didn’t,
etc.)
- Agreement of subject
and verb. Both must be either
singular or plural.
- Fragmented sentences,
comma splices and run-ons. Be
sure to proofread your papers carefully before turning them in.
You
will not pass English 20 if you cannot write an intelligent sentence in correct
English.
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