WELCOME TO ENGLISH 252-77028 
WRITING IMPROVEMENT
SUMMER 2009 (4 units)

Instructor	Ms. Stacy Ross	
Class Time	MTWTH 8am - 10:50 am	
Class Location	CCI 207	
E-Mail	stacy.ross@reedleycollege.edu
ms.ross.09@gmail.com	
Office Hours	As arranged by appointment	

Course Prerequisites
English 250 or placement by college assessment process

Course Description
This course is designed to provide the student with practice in English sentences, paragraphs, and short papers including work with spelling, vocabulary, punctuation, usage, and sentence structure skills needed by writers.  The emphasis for this course is on the communication of the writer’s ideas. 

Blackboard will be supplemental to this class.  This means that each student must have an e-mail address and access to a computer.  Quizzes, assignments, and other course documents as well as grades will be housed on Blackboard. 

Course Outcomes (Goals):

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1.  Write complete sentences, avoiding or correcting major sentence errors and punctuating  
      correctly.

2.  Use the conventions of English writing: capitalizing, indenting, spelling, hyphenating, etc.
   
3.  Write clear, varied, appropriate sentences.  Combine sentences using coordination, 
      subordination, and phrase structures.

4.  Use verbs correctly in present, past future, and present perfect tenses and use the correct forms 
     of common irregular verbs.

5.  Write short papers (approximately 500 words) that demonstrate rhetorical control of main idea,
      utilizing the writing process in developing, writing, revising, and editing those papers.

6.  Complete and in-class writing exam with minimal errors.                     
     
7.  Divide your text in paragraphs and use appropriate word skills, including spelling and 
     vocabulary, affixes common in English, etc. 

8.  Recognize various usage and dialects: standard, community, slang.
     
Required Course Materials:
♦  Writings From Life by Tom Tyner.
♦  A composition notebook 
♦  A folder to keep ALL drafts of your work.
♦  A memory stick or other reliable way to save ALL of your work.
♦  A dictionary and thesaurus.

Attendance Policy
Attendance is required.  Roll is taken at the beginning of every class meeting and you must stay for the entire period.  If you have more than 3 absences within the first two weeks of class, I will drop you.  I do not distinguish between excused and unexcused absences so please schedule your work and other appointments around our class time and do not bother to bring me a doctor’s note.  If you have a conflict and must miss class, you MUST contact me BEFORE you miss class--not after.  Absence will not serve as an excuse for late work; it is your responsibility to turn in your assignments on time regardless.  Assignments will always be updated and posted on Blackboard; it is your responsibility to check it regularly.  Do not be late! 3 tardies will count as an absence and will effect your participation grade.

A = 90-100%
B = 80-89%
C = 70-79%
D = 60-69%
F =    0-59%

Grading:
70%   Essays (both in class and out of class)
20%   Homework, In-class work, and Tests/quizzes
10%   Participation 
*  I do not grade on a curve.  Your earned points are converted into an overall percentage which will determine your grade.  You will be able to check your grades throughout the semester.
*  I do not GIVE grades, you EARN grades.  Your time and effort as well as that of your classmates would be greatly diminished if it were any other way.  You are responsible for your own success!! 
* Class participation includes being present and on time for class, completing assignments and taking part in discussion, whether that is answering questions, asking questions, or participating in conversation. It requires you to have the class assignments read before coming to class.  

Assignment Requirements
♦  Quizzes and posting on Blackboard must be done on time, no late work will be 
    accepted. If you are absent and miss a quiz, you will not be able to make it up  
    UNLESS you contact me BEFORE the class period and I approve a make-up time. 
♦  Homework assignments are due at the BEGINNING of the class period.  Being 
    absent does not excuse you from a due date.  If you are not able to attend class, you  
    must get your work to me before the due date.
♦  Homework may not be left in my box unless first discussed and approved by me. 
♦  In-class assignments are just that, to be completed IN CLASS.  If you miss an in-class 
    assignment you cannot make it up. SO BE IN CLASS!
♦ Papers turned in late will be given a one week grace period in which you may still
   turn in a paper but it will be docked one full letter grade. No papers will be 
   accepted after this grace period.
♦ Always keep a copy of your work, especially drafts that have been returned with my 
   comments.
♦ Keep all drafts and phases of your work (I may ask for them at any point).  
♦ Proofread! Please be sure to proofread your work before you turn it in.  This means 
   check it for spelling, punctuation, correct grammar, complete sentences, etc.
♦ Format for every paper:
		• Typed		
• Times New Roman font size 12
		• Double Spaced	
• Put your name, date, class, and assignment title in   
                          the upper left-hand corner of your paper.
		• Always give your papers an interesting title.
		• All papers must be revised and typed in accordance with MLA   
                          guidelines.
• Word Processing Format: The most common word processing format is 
  Microsoft Word. If you use another word processing program, you will  
  need to find out how to save your work in Rich Text Format (RTF).  
  Guidelines for how to save in RTF are found under the Course   
  Documents tab of the classroom Blackboard.  Please do not use  
 Microsoft Works or any other program that does not allow for easy 
 conversion.

FINAL
Thursday August 6, 2009
8:00-10:50 am
Please plan accordingly!  There will be no accommodations made
for travel or other scheduling issues.  

A Quick Note on Blackboard Etiquette
Blackboard is a place for educated thought, discussion and communication.  It is not the appropriate venue for comments in the style of text message, nor is it appropriate to write in verbal slang as if you are emailing a friend.  Please remember that this is an English writing course so you should use proper punctuation and grammar when posting on Blackboard.  Thank you!
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the use of someone else’s work as your own.  It includes but is not exclusive to another student’s work, the internet, books, journals, newspaper articles, speeches and lectures.  Plagiarism is cheating and will result in the failing of that assignment as well as the possible failing of the class.  

Final Thoughts
♦ Please realize that your instructor passionately loves literature and try your darndest to 
   share her enthusiasm.
♦ Please return the respect that I have for each of you, back to each other as well as to   
   me.
♦  Please believe that writing well (and accurately) is difficult for most of us but it is a 
    learned skill that can be practiced and nurtured until is becomes easier and more 
    effective.  Believe in your ability!!
♦  ASK FOR HELP!!! 
♦  Turn your cell phones and pagers to silent and keep them out-of-sight.  Yes—this 
    means that even text messaging is hereby outlawed in class.  If I see your phone in use  
    during class, you will be asked to leave class.
♦  Do not be late to class
♦  No eating in class—we are sharing a learning environment with other students 
    and they should not have to sit in or smell our mess.
♦  It is your responsibility to officially withdraw from this class should you choose to not 
    attend.  If you fail to do so, you will receive an “F.”  
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
If you have special needs as addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), including alternate media requests, please notify me immediately.  Reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate your special needs.
Disruptive Behavior and Sexual Harassment 
Reedley College is committed to the principle that instructors and students must treat each other with courtesy and respect, and it will take action to enforce college policies regarding behavior that violates this principle. These policies are set forth in the student code of conduct at Reedley College. (RC Catalog 36) If you need a brochure, please ask.

Important Dates
June 29			First day of class
July 3	 		Independence Day 
**NO CLASSES**
August 6			Final Exam 8am-10:50am