Thursday, July 5, 2102 8 pm

Welcome to Summer Bridge Academy, English 1A!
Below you will find the course outline that you received in class today. You will also find a copy of the Unacceptable Errors handout. In case you misplace handouts, they can be found here on the blog, along with reading assignments (packets), etc. Please check this blog daily.

SUMMER BRIDGE ACADEMY--2012, CSU SACRAMENTO

COURSE:  English 1A:  College Composition I

July 6-August 9

Mendocino Hall Room 1020; 1:00 pm – 2:35 pm M through F

INSTRUCTOR:  Catherine Fraga

E-mail:  sacto1954@gmail.com

Office Hours:  Calaveras 149, MTWThF; 12-12:50 PM or by appointment

CLASS BLOG: http://SummerBridge1A.blogspot.com

Prerequisites:  Placement by examination OR successful completion of English 1 or its equivalent.

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REQUIRED TEXTS & MATERIALS

(ALL READING MATERIAL WILL CONSIST OF HANDOUTS AND READINGS FOUND ON THE INTERNET)

• 8 1/2” x 11” lined notebook paper (paper that is torn out of a notebook without a straight edge will not be accepted).

• Stapler

• Reliable access to a computer and a printer. (Remember, all Summer Bridge Academy students have 200 copies free on their One Card.)

• Two (2) Blue (or Green) Books for the two in-class essays

(these can be found in the university’s bookstore or at the Student Union store—they are available in two different sizes—either size is acceptable)

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

English 1A is a freshman writing course that offers students the opportunity to learn and develop the reading and writing skills that will be most useful to them during a four-year college program.  The course is designed to help students improve their ability to understand and critically judge reading material and to write an essay which has a single controlling idea and which is coherently developed using idiomatically and grammatically correct English.

The heart of the course is readings that require a range of narrative, analytical, reflective and research writing skills.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

1.     Attendance and punctuality are required.  I have designed this course so that it depends on your presence and participation. Summer Bridge Academy is a very intense course—a 15 week course in only five weeks.  

2.     There will be numerous reading and writing assignments in this course.  I expect you to complete them on time and come prepared to class.  We may not get an opportunity to discuss everything we read for class, but that is inevitable in any college course.

3.    You will complete a question and comment assignment for several of the reading assignments, BUT NOT ALL. The course outline indicates clearly when a question and comment response is due for a particular reading. The question is optional, but the commentary is not. Your commentary must be a minimum of eight sentences in length.  (I know ALL the shortcuts students may try.  Be assured that if you write eight very short, simple sentences you will not receive credit for the assignment. A thorough explanation of what is required for these question and comment assignments and a sample will be provided.)

4.    No late work is accepted. No exceptions. This is a fairness issue.

5.     Journal writing assignments are assigned and completed in class and are not allowed to be made up. 

6.     Quizzes:  There will be five unannounced, unscheduled quizzes during the semester. If you come prepared to class, the quizzes should present no problems for you. Quizzes cannot be made up.

7.    A note on classroom etiquette:

If you feel you cannot survive each class session without the use of your cell phone, iPod, iPad, laptop computer or other similar devices, 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 BEORE CLASS.) Each cIass session is a mere 95 minutes long and I plan to give you my full attention for 95 minutes and I expect the same from all my students. (Of course, if you have documented paperwork from the university indicating the need for a computer in the classroom, that is perfectly fine!)

8.     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.

9.    English 1A is graded A, B, C, D, or F.  Do not assume that because you have not submitted an out of class essay assignment, you will still be able to pass the course.  Even though you have missed the due date, and have an automatic “F” for that assignment, YOU STILL MUST WRITE AND SUBMIT ALL THREE OUT OF CLASS ESSAYS TO PASS THE COURSE, as well as earning passing scores on your other work.

Theme:  The Significance of Home

·      We will consider home as our course-long theme. The significance of home – as a place of beginnings, as a starting point, as a place of comfort, regret, anguish, joy, personal growth, and loss – fuels a meaningful, intriguing collection of themes.  Home is a base from which all of us emerge.

·      Most of us have pre-conceived notions of home as a place of love, comfort, security.  For millions of children, however, these definitions do not fit their reality of home as a place to escape: escape from cycles of poverty, mistrust, abuse.

·      The course will explore not only home as a safety net, but also the illusions we have of home perpetuated by Madison Avenue advertising agencies. 

·      What are our expectations of home?  Again, does our “real” home live up to the expectations society has created?  How do different cultural values and priorities play a role in determining what home should and should not be?  Attempting to answer these questions is the task I have set for us during this semester. 

·      What does it mean to leave home for the first time?  What does it mean to be rootless, without a home? 

·      Finally, how can we reconnect to the earth as home, knowing full well that the lives we have created for ourselves impact the finite planet all of us call home?

·      We view at least one film (possibly two) which explore the theme of home. These films will allow us to observe and witness concepts we have read about and discussed.

COURSE OUTLINE

(Please note:  Bring this outline to class each session; changes could occur at a moment’s notice.  Also, most reading and writing assignments are noted -- other class exercises and lectures may not be noted specifically)

ALL OUT OF CLASS ASSIGNMENTS (HOMEWORK, ESSAYS, ETC) MUST BE TYPED AND DOUBLE SPACED UNLESS INSTRUCTED OTHERWISE. PLEASE USE TIMES NEW ROMAN, 12 POINT FONT and MLA DOCUMENTATION GUIDELINES.

Week One (Friday July 6)

·      Introduction to the Course (course theme explained)

·      Course Outline Distributed (handout)  & Class Blog explained

·      Question/Comment Homework Explained (handout)

·      Unacceptable Errors (handout)

·      Packet 1 distributed (Q & C #1due for this packet)

Week Two (July 9-13)

·      Packet 1 due (Q & C #1 due) (Monday)

·      Stapler check…25 points! (Monday)

·      Oral Presentation Assigned (for last week of class) (Monday)

·      Discussion: Reading and Evaluating Poetry (Monday)

·      Out of Class Essay #1 assigned today (Tuesday)

·      In class Demonstration/Discussion on the Writing Process (Tuesday)

·      Read Packet 2 (Wednesday)

·      In class Journal #1 (Wednesday)

·      Read Packet 3 (Thursday) Q & C #2 due today

·      Group Work #1 (Thursday)

·      Discussion: Reading and Evaluating Short Fiction (Friday)

·      In class Journal #2 (Friday)

Week Three (July 16-20)

·      Out of Class Essay #1 due today (Monday)

·      Out of Class Essay #2 assigned today (Monday)

·      Read Packet 4 (Tuesday)

·      Group #2 – Exercise in Critical Thinking/Analysis (Wednesday)

·      Read Packet #5 (Thursday)

·      Discussion: How to Evaluate a Documentary Film (Friday)

·       This will be a shortened class (we will dismiss at 2:15 pm)(Friday)

Week Four (July 23-27)

·      Out of Class Essay #2 due today (Monday)

·      View 1^st half of film in class (Monday)

·      View 2^nd half of film in class (Tuesday)

·      Preparation for in-class writing next week (Tuesday)

·      In Class Essay #1 – remember blue or green book (Wednesday)

·      Assign Out of Class Essay #3 (Wednesday)

·      Read Packet 5 & 6 -- Q & C #3 due today (Thursday)

·      In Class Journal #3 (Thursday)

·      Discussion: How to Read and Evaluate Essays (Wednesday)

·      Discussion: How to Evaluate a Documentary Film (Wednesday)

Week Five (July 30-August 3)

·      View 1^st half of film in class (Monday)

·      View 2^nd half of film in class (Tuesday)

·      Read Packet # 7 – Q & C #4 due today (Tuesday)

·      In Class Essay #2 – remember blue or green book (Wednesday)

·      Out of Class Essay #3 due today (Thursday)

·      Read Packet #8 (Thursday)

·      Read Packet #9— (Friday)

Week Six (August 6-9)

·      Read Packet #10 (Monday)

·      Oral Presentations today (Tuesday)

·      Oral Presentations today (Wednesday)

·      Last day of classes—Grade Worksheet Check & Celebration!

***A NOTE ABOUT REVISIONS***

Since this is a composition course, where the goal is to become a better writer and a more sophisticated thinker, you are invited to revise either out of class essay 1 OR 2. You will not have time to revise out of class essay 3. The decision to revise is purely optional. If you choose to revise an essay, the revision along with the original, is due no later than one week after you receive the graded essay back. You MUST highlight all changes and additions you make on your revised essay.

English 1A, Summer 2012, Prof. Fraga

GRADE WORKSHEET-----1675 POINTS POSSIBLE

Stapler Check (25 pts.)

Monday, July 9—stapler in your possession!______(25)

Oral Presentation=(100 pts.)

Oral Pres._____(100)

Out of Class Essays (600 points)

Out of Class Essay 1_____(200 pts.)  Out of Class Essay 2_____(200 pts.)  Out of Class Essay 3_____(200 pts.)

Unannounced Quizzes (250) (50 points each)

Quiz 1____Quiz 2_____Quiz 3_____Quiz 4_____Quiz 5_____

Journals=(100 pts.)

Journal 1 (25) _____Journal 2 (25)_____Journal 3 (25)_____Journal 4 (25)_____

Homework=(200 pts.)

Q and C #1 (50)_____Q and C #2 (50)_____Q and C #3 (50)_____Q and C #4 (50)_____

In Class Group Work (200 pts.)

Group Work 1 (50 pts)_____Group Work 2 (50 pts)_____Group Work 3 (50 pts)_____Group Work 4 (50 pts)_____

In Class Essays (200 pts.)

In class essay #1 (100)_____In class essay #2 (100) _____

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How to assess your grade earned: Divide the points you earn by 1675 to find the percentage. Then see chart below.

100-94=A                                     63-60=C-                                                      Example: 1505 pts. earned=91.4%=A-

93-90=A-                                    59-54=D                                                      Example: 1444 pts. earned=86.2%=B+

89-84=B+                                     53-0=F                                                      Example: 1376 pts. earned=82.1%=B+

83-80=B                                                                                           Example: 1189 pts. earned=70.9%=C+

79-74=B-

73-70=C+

69-64=C


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UNACCEPTABLE ERRORS

In English 1A, 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.

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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 1A if you cannot write an intelligent sentence in correct English.