English 2100, Fall 2014: “Guidelines and Policies”
Maria Garcia, Adjunct Instructor
August 28, 2014
[email protected], [email protected]. Office Hour: Thursdays, 10:10-11:10
“Writing is rewriting.” William Zinsser, On Writing Well.
All homework assignments for this class must be typed AND DOUBLE-SPACED. No handwritten assignments will be accepted. Spell-check is required; every misspelled word results in a 2-point reduction in your grade.
Required Texts: (1) Gucker, Philip. Essential English Grammar. New York: Dover Publications, 1996; and The New American Roget’s College Thesaurus (Any Edition), Dictionary Form, ed. Philip D. Morehead, New York: Signet, 2001, 2002. (2) Johnson, Robert A. He: Understanding Masculine Psychology. New York: Harper and Row. 1989. (3) Johnson, Robert A. The Fisher King and the Handless Maiden. HarperSanFranciso, 1993. (4) Ogden, Daniel. Perseus. London and New York: Routledge. 2008. (5) Ihimaera, Witi. The Whale Rider. New Zealand: Penguin Group (NZ), 1987. All books may be printed copies or e-books. (Total Cost: About $50 new. Any student who cannot purchase texts will please see me during office hours.)
Suggested Text: Webster’s New World Dictionary: NO “abridged” or “student” or “compact” editions. Used or new. Unlike other dictionaries, this one contains word origins, which help to expand your vocabulary.
ABOUT OUR CLASS
English 2100 is a required course in effective writing and basic research techniques. Our theme this semester is “Identity,” so we will be discussing the many individual characteristics and circumstances that determine our personalities, including (but not limited to) our birthplace, gender, race, ethnicity, the language(s) we speak, our family, our neighborhood, etc. We will be reading an essay, myths, fairy tales, a short story, portions of an epic poem and a novel, and screening a movie, to explore Western and Eastern ideas about the quest for identity. We will consider the feminine quest, the male quest and the child or adolescent quest in the course of the semester.
The overriding purpose of every English class is to read great writing because it is in reading that we often “find ourselves” and become better writers.
Learning Goals: In order to receive a passing grade, students must demonstrate the ability to: (1) analyze and articulate ideas contained in their reading assignments; (2) write clear, logical, grammatically correct sentences; (3) punctuate properly; (4) use a range of formal and informal language appropriate to the subject and purpose of their assignment; (5) write research papers and essays up to 1000 words; and (6) revise their work in response to corrections or editorial suggestions.
Class Plan: By the second week of class, you will receive our class plan for the semester. I delay this step because I prefer to get to know my students, and to gauge the composition of the class as a whole. In the meantime, you will receive all assignments on a separate sheet of paper. Homework for 9/2 is attached; both that class and our 9/4 class will be devoted to group work and discussion of this assignment.
POLICIES
Courtesy: During class, I expect to have lively discussions, but please remember to be polite to your fellow students. We are very privileged to be able to learn together and to speak freely, but with these privileges come the responsibility to be respectful of our differences. I have zero tolerance for gender-bias or any bias based on race, ethnicity, religion, sexual preference or disability.
Disability: If you have any physical limitations or conditions which require accommodation, please let me know ASAP. There is no need to divulge private information; simply let me know what you need in order to participate comfortably in class.
Homework and Classwork: Grammar quizzes are generally on Tuesdays and will be returned to you and reviewed on Thursday. I try to return papers for the next class session, but later in the semester as writing assignments grow in length, papers will be returned to you the same day of the following week.
Grading: Late papers and homework assignments receive an automatic reduction of one-half grade, i.e. “B” papers become “B-.” You are permitted to rewrite papers once for a higher grade. All papers marked “Rewrite” are not passing papers, and must be rewritten. The due date for the rewrite is one week from the return of the paper.
How your grade is determined: Timely completion of homework assignments (40%); in-class writing and grammar quizzes (30%); mid-term and final research papers (30%). Your class participation is also taken into consideration in determining your mid-term and final grades, as well as your willingness to go to the Writing Center if I recommend it. Every student who receives help at the Writing Center may receive additional time to complete their assignments.
Lateness and Attendance: More than three absences from class will result in a 10% reduction of your final grade, and may result in a failing grade. Two late arrivals count as one absence, so please be on time and try to attend every class. Our library visit is a required class and will be announced soon.
Keeping in touch: The best way to reach me is at the above e-mail, [email protected]. I try to answer e-mails within 24 hours. If you need to meet with me, please come to office hour. If you have a class during my office hour, send me an e-mail and I will find another time, perhaps before our class.
Plagiarism: Any plagiarized paper receives an F, and may result in a failing grade for the course. Baruch policy requires that two instances of plagiarism be reported to the dean of students. We will discuss plagiarism in our Tuesday, 9/2 class.