ENGLISH 125: WRITING SKILLS FOR COLLEGE
Fall 2005
Schedule # 53004 MF 8-9:50

Instructor:
Shana Bartram

“Although no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending” - Anonymous
Course Description & Requirements

Inside this issue:

As a means for developing writing skills and meeting course outcomes, . we will learn to utilize all aspects of the writing process to gain rhetorical control; including audience, purpose focus, development, clarity, and revision. Additionally, you will be required to find and correct grammatical errors.
Through collaborative exercises, we will share our strengths, weaknesses, and develop and/or share a common goal. To succeed as a community of academic students, we will have to understand the responsibility that goes with being a team member and will learn to negotiate our similarities and differences. Essentially, the success of the class hinges on each student understanding the common goal and doing everything within his/her power to see the class as a
whole reaches that goal. You must earn a “C” or better to pass this course.
COURSE OUTCOMES:
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
A. Write complete, appropriate, varied English sentences, using coordination, subordination, and modification to clarify meanings.
B. Use punctuation, capitalization, abbreviations, etc., conventionally and spell correctly.
C. Differentiate between standard dialects and community dialects and slang, and use dialects appropriately.
D. Use standard dialect noun, verb, and pronoun forms and verb tenses correctly.
E. Write in paragraphs that develop topic sentences with adequate, detailed support.
F. Use various patterns of paragraph development.
Initiate and carry through appropriate use of the writing process: recognizing the effect of purpose and audience, discovering topics, selecting and ordering ideas and the evidence to develop the topic, writing and revising, and editing and finishing the paper.
H. Write with coherence and unity, paying attention to reference, agreement, consistency, and transitions.
I. Use basic library sources to find information, and avoid plagiarism in the preparation of a limited paper based on published sources.
J. Use critical thinking skills in writing, with attention to avoiding fallacies, relating structure to ideas, developing logical support for generalizations, following logical orders, and differentiating between statements of fact and opinion.

Required Texts / Materials

Patterns for College Writing, 9th ed. Kirszner, Laurie & Stephen Mandell
A Commonsense Guide to Grammar and Usage Beason, Larry & Mark Lester

A College– level dictionary
Discs/cd’s to save work
A binder & Portfolio to save/present your work
Access to email/ internet
Scantrons/blubooks for exams

Course Description & Requirements	1 –2
Important Dates	1
Required Texts/Materials	1
Grading Criteria	2
Additional Information—Extra –credit	3
Important Due Dates	3
Instructor’s Information	3

Important Dates:
August 15th—Instruction begins
September 5th—Labor Day. No classes held
November 11th—Veterans Day. No classes held
November 24 –26— Thanksgiving Holiday. No classes held
December 12-16—Finals Week

Page #

ENGLISH 125: WRITING SKILLS FOR COLLEGE
Fall 2005
Schedule # 53004 MF 8-9:50

Course Requirements Continued

Attendance:
Since group work and in-class writing assignments are a major component of this class, attendance is vital. I understand that emergencies arise from time to time; however, your grade will suffer from excessive absences and tardiness. You may miss up to four class sessions before you run the risk of being dropped from the class. Additionally, I consider three tardies/ early departures as one absence. Unfortunately, there are NO excused absences.

workshopping/editing during each class period. Keep a copy of your work in your binder until the end of the semester.
Essays/ Out of class Writing Assignments:
You will be required to write several short essays over the duration of the semester, including a final research project. Your writing will be examined in both a workshop setting by your peers and by the instructor as well. Copies of your work are due the class session prior to your workshop.
All revisions for a higher grade must be submitted during my office hours!

Grading Criteria

Class Participation - Required
Essays 70%
Homework 10%
Mid-term 10%
Final 10%
Grading Scale:
90—100% = A
80– 89% = B
70– 79% = C
60– 69% = D
0—59% = F
Remember: You must earn a “C” or better to pass this course
Keep copies of
ALL your work
until the end of
the semester!

Requirements continued...

Participation:
Participation is required. Come to class prepared and ready to work. Discussions are primarily group-led. Those who come to class under prepared may be asked to leave the class and will be considered absent for that day.
Reaction Papers:
You are required to write (type) a two page reaction paper each week.
In-class Writing Assignments:
You will be required to work on essays and other assignments, including peer
I do not accept late work. If you know that you will be unable to attend class the day an essay is due, it is your responsibility to turn the essay in before that class session. All essays must be typed, double-spaced, in size 12 font, and follow MLA format. If you do not follow the required format, I reserve the right to not accept your essay (and you run the risk of receiving a failing grade for that assignment). I will not read / grade essays that have not been proofread. Be sure you read your paper for spelling/mechanical errors before it is due.
Workshops:
You must bring a copy of your paper for each member of your group to the class session prior to your workshop. Essays will be reviewed by each member of your group and returned to you for revision.
Homework:
You will be assigned homework each week. Please have homework completed and be ready to discuss at the beginning of the class session it is due. Again, if you are not prepared for class, I reserve the right to ask you to leave class for that day and you will be counted as absent.
Quizzes/ Tests:
Be prepared to take a quiz at any given time. Quizzes/tests will be based on
reading assignments, vocabulary words, grammatical functions, writing process
review, etc.

“Pearls do not lie on the seashore. If you desire one, you must dive for it” - Eastern Saying

ENGLISH 125: WRITING SKILLS FOR COLLEGE
Fall 2005
Schedule # 53004 MF 8-9:50

Page #

Additional Information

If you miss class, it is your responsibility to find out what you’ve missed, changes to the schedule, etc.
It is the responsibility of the student to officially withdraw from the course. Failure to do so may result in an “F” final semester grade. Additionally, I reserve the right to drop a student from the course (please refer to “campus policies” in the schedule of courses).
Cell phones and pagers must be turned off before class. I make exceptions for emergencies, however; you must inform me before class begins.
For your own protection, keep a copy of all your work until the end of the semester.
Please inform me of any special circumstances you might have, i.e.; learning disabilities, family emergencies, etc. If you have special needs as addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please notify me immediately. Reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate your needs.
Because we are using Blackboard, a class e-mail list will be generated.

Don’t forget!
In order to pass this class, you must meet the English 125 Course Outcomes.

8/29 Essay 1 Workshop
9/9 Essay 1 Revision Due
9/19 Essay 2 Workshop
9/26 Essay 2 Revision Due
10/10 Essay 3 Workshop
10/14 Mid-term
10/17 Essay 3 Revision Due
10/31 Essay 4 Workshop
11/7 Essay 4 Revision Due
11/28 Research Paper
Workshop
12/2 RP Workshop cont.
12/9 Research Paper Due
Instructor’s Information:
Office: Annex 5
Office Hours: Wed 9-12
Phone: 638-3641 ext. 3472
Email: shana.bartram@reedleycollege.edu

“If you can not find the truth right where you are, where else do you expect to find it?” - Dogen

Extra—Credit:
I give extra-credit to anyone who enrolls in and successfully completes a semester credit in English 272: The Writing Center

Some Important Due Dates

This story can fit 175-225 words.
If your newsletter is folded and mailed, this story will appear on the back. So, it’s a good idea to make it easy to read at a glance.
A question and answer session is a good way to quickly capture the attention of readers. You can either compile questions that you’ve received since the last edition or you can summarize some generic questions that are frequently asked about your organization.
A listing of names and titles of managers in your organization is a good way to give your newsletter a personal touch. If your organization is small, you may want to list the names of all employees.
If you have any prices of standard products or services, you can include a listing of those here. You may want to refer your readers to any other forms of communication that you’ve created for your organization.
You can also use this space to remind readers to mark their calendars for a regular event, such as a breakfast meeting for vendors every third Tuesday of the month, or a biannual charity auction.
If space is available, this is a good place to insert a clip art image or some other graphic.

Organization

Primary Business Address
Your Address Line 2
Your Address Line 3
Your Address Line 4

Phone: 555-555-5555
Fax: 555-555-5555
E-mail: someone@example.com

Your business tag line here.

Instructor:
Shana Bartram
Annex 5