Course Syllabus

Seattle Central College                        

English Composition I: Supporting College Writing (ENGL 099-101)

Instructor: Susan Casey

E-mail: susan.casey@seattlecolleges.edu

 

Materials: There is a packet of readings for this class. Extra handouts will be provided online throughout the quarter. Please buy the class novel, Leaving Yesler by Peter Bacho, from the SCC Bookstore; the bookstore will mail it to you, free of charge.

 

Course Goals: In this course, students will develop effective college-level reading, critical thinking and writing skills. They will:

  1. Develop their critical thinking skills through discussions of a variety of texts.
  2. Write clear, thoughtful essays based on different organizational patterns.
  3. Devise thesis statements that direct their essays.
  4. Use supporting details effectively in their writing.
  5. Hone their organizational and grammatical skills.
  6. Learn how to integrate sources into their essays.
  7. Edit their own work, as well as their classmates' work, for problems with organization, grammar, punctuation, and coherence.
  8. Gain the writing competency necessary for ENGL 102 and for their future college coursework.

 

Exit Skills (as written in Seattle Central’s official ENGL 101 course outline)

Students who complete this course will be able to:

  1. Employ all steps in the writing process (prewriting, drafting, editing, revising) in producing an essay of 3-5 typed pages.
  2. Control sentence structure, including coordination, subordination, and combining.
  3. Control conventional mechanics.
  4. Develop a thesis in paragraph and sustained essay form.
  5. Use vocabulary and tone appropriate to the writing occasion.
  6. Recognize and use various modes/patterns of organization.
  7. Evaluate reading critically (i.e., able to recognize bias, insufficient evidence, stylistic  differences, inadequate support, etc. in their own and others’ writing).

 

Class participation is essential to successful completion of this course. Plan to participate regularly online in discussion boards. (Notice that together, these discussions will give you the greatest chance to earn points in our class.) If you are ill or unable to participate for some reason, please notify me directly.

 

Assignments, quizzes and discussion posts should be completed in a timely manner. If you are absent or unable to participate, please contact me. If you cannot avoid turning in an essay late, because of illness or an emergency, you may still turn it in; however, you will lose ten points for each day it is late. If you want to earn the highest score on your paper, you’ll want to turn everything in on time.

 

Plagiarism--turning in someone else’s writing as your own--will not be tolerated. Plagiarism will earn you a zero for that assignment or discussion post. Continuing offenses will lead to disciplinary action. Every student can contribute to the class in some more meaningful way; don’t resort to this.

 

Americans with Disabilities Act: If you need course adaptations or accommodation in the classroom because of a disability or if you have any medical information to share with me, please let me know in the first week of the quarter so that we can plan accordingly.

 

College Etiquette: The college environment, both in the classroom and online, is a place where adults come together to share ideas, consider other perspectives, and learn. None of this can happen if we don’t work within an atmosphere of courtesy and mutual respect. Disruptive or disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated. Any time you engage with a classmate online, please be just as thoughtful as you hope others will be with you. 

 

Brief Overview: During this course, we will spend time focusing on sentences, paragraphs, and essays. In addition, we will study the following writing patterns:

Description and narration: Weeks 1-3

Classification (single text): Weeks 4-6

Compare and contrast (multiple texts): Weeks 7-10

 

Grades will be determined by adding up the number of points you receive on writing assignments, quizzes, and discussion boards. Grades on individual writing assignments will be determined after a consideration of writing ability and effort. I will give you feedback on how you can strengthen your writing skills. I do not give make-up quizzes, so use your class schedule to plan ahead. (If you want to earn a 2.5 or above, you will need at least 800 points out of the possible 1,000 points.)

 

Three writing assignments: 100, 125, 175 points                            400 points

Ten quizzes: 20 points each                                                                           200 points

Ten weekly discussion boards: 40 points each                                  400 points   

                                                                                                                     Total:  1,000 points

 

There will be a few opportunities for you to earn extra credit. Keep these in mind if you hope to increase your total points before the end of the quarter.

Your final number of points will correspond with a grade based on the 4.0 scale. Do your best on each and every assignment. I’m looking forward to working with you. Good luck!

 

Final Grade Scale

 

950-1000 points   =   4.0                                                     800-809 points     =   2.5

940-949 points     =   3.9                                                      790-799 points     =   2.4

930-939 points     =   3.8                                                      780-789 points     =   2.3

920-929 points     =   3.7                                                      770-779 points     =   2.2

910-919 points     =   3.6                                                      760-769 points     =   2.1

900-909 points     =   3.5                                                      750-759 points     =   2.0

890-899 points     =   3.4                                                      740-749 points     =   1.9

880-889 points     =   3.3                                                      730-739 points     =   1.8

870-879 points     =   3.2                                                      720-729 points     =   1.7

860-869 points     =   3.1                                                      710-719 points     =   1.6

850-859 points     =   3.0                                                      700-709 points     =   1.5

840-849 points     =   2.9                                                      690-699 points     =   1.4

830-839 points     =   2.8                                                      680-689 points     =   1.3

820-829 points     =   2.7                                                      670-679 points     =   1.2

810-819 points     =   2.6                                                      660-669 points     =   1.1

                                                                                                           650-659 points     =   1.0

                                                                                                                 0-649 points     =   0.0