Course Description, Goals, Requirements

Course Description
Overview/Prerequisites
Objectives
Methods
Required Texts & Materials

Catalog Course Description: An introduction to the fundamental techniques and rhetorical devices necessary to effective expository prose, with emphasis on paragraph development, outlining, organization, and revision leading to the multiple-paragraph essay. This course is designed primarily for students preparing for ENGL 101. · Placement is based on multiple assessment measures or successful completion of ENGL 040.
Overview/Prerequisites: This is ENGL 100, a class designed to get you ready for ENGL 101. You should have completed ENGL 40, the ESL program, or tested successfully into this course. Successful completion of the course will enable you to take ENGL 101. We will be fine tuning your writing skills on various levels during this semester, using a conference style class. Few lectures. Few tests. No sweat... right? Actually, this class may be the hardest you will ever take if you are not a motivated person. This course requires the maturity of the student to read, write and excel on one's own. If you don't read the material or do your papers, only you will suffer. There will be few lectures or class discussions in which you can figure out what you missed. You snooze, you lose.
Objectives: This course is designed to help you become a more efficient writer. By semester end you will be able to present your thoughts in an organized, logical and effective manner. We will cover various writing approaches which will not only prepare you for English courses, but also any course that requires compositional skills. My job is to give you the tools to create pieces of writing that reflect your thoughts, attitudes and what you have researched in a collegiate, scholarly manner. Your job, if you accept it, will be to utilize those tools to your best advantage. Your responsibilities include both mastering grammar and understanding the material we cover. You will learn how to effectively communicate with a college level reader, through development of grammar skills, articulation of ideas and organization. I do not give credit for creative spelling. If you don't know a word, LOOK IT UP! Writing effectively is a skill which requires practice and diligence. Again, you cannot pass this course merely by showing up every day.

Course Methods

This is a conference style class with portfolio grading. We will have a series of writing assignments from the book, all of which you are responsible for. There will be reading and journal assignments. Some of the time you will work with other students. You will briefly (about 5 min.) conference with me at least once a week and have your progress monitored. We will spend the majority (if not all) of our time in a computer classroom. There is no excuse for not getting your work done. There are some caveats: stay focused. Do not spend class time wandering the net, and especially stay away from sites that should not be viewed in public. Anyone accessing pornography or other illegal or banned (by the school) sites will be dropped form the course. You wil be sitting next to someone….that is NOT an invitation to talk. If you cannot stay focused, leave the classroom so you do not bother those that want to work.

HOW IT WORKS When you want to meet with me put your name on the board at the beginning of class. This is first come, first served. You can also see me during my office hour. I will keep a tally sheet on each student, on which I will sign off on your progress. You cannot get credit for any essay that is not initialed by me. Most of the class time will be spent working either individually or in groups on your writing. We will work a bit in Citrus College's Writing Lab, using computers to generate the final versions of the papers you will submit.

Five of these essays will then be submitted for an actual grade at the end of the semester Three of these are your choice, but assignments on chapters 24 and 32 must be included in the five. There will be two in-class essays and a final proficiency exam.

The pace you set is, ultimately, up to you. My suggestion is to move as quickly as you can without becoming confused. It is imperative you remain on top of the class. If you are absent for a day you will need to catch up on anything you missed. Also, you cannot wait until the end of the semester to complete your assignments. I will not look at more than two assignments at one time. ALSO, YOU MAY NOT TURN IN AN ASSIGNMENT MORE THAN 3 WEEKS AFTER ITS ASSIGNED DATE. In other words, it will be too late to hand in week 2’s assignment after week 5. Thus, if you get too far behind, there will be a point at which you will no longer be able to catch up. Keep up with the work. Talking with classmates and me about the assignments and any problems you may have is encouraged. There is no curve in this course, so there is no competition. Any help from tutoring or in groups is encouraged.

Ultimately, this class is in your hands. You can sit there and let the time pass, or you can get involved and actually enjoy the course. And, yes, you will be able to use the things you learn in this course in your other classes, in your post-graduate work, and in your jobs and careers. If you have any questions at any time during the course of this class, I want you to feel free to see me personally before or after class.

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Required Texts

Dornan , Dawe. One to One
RECOMMENDED: College level dictionary.

Required Materials

Computer (16 RAM minimum) with a 28.8 (or better) modem
Internet access with direct dial-up connection (like Earthlink), utilizing a major browser such as Netscape Navigator 4.+ or Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.+.
Microsoft Word 5.1 or higher, Windows 95 or 97, or Word for Mac
Student e-mail address

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