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ENGL 1010: English Composition-Student Version: Schecter, Erica Spring 2020

ENG 1010: English Composition-Student Version

Course Overview, Objectives

Bulletin Description: Workshop in expository writing: strategies of, and practice in, analytical reading and writing about texts. Fundamentals of grammar and syntax. Frequent assignments in writing summaries, analyses, comparisons of texts, and such other expository forms as narration, description, and argumentation. Emphasis on writing as a process: invention, revision, editing. Satisfies Pathways Required Core English composition requirement. (Not open to students who have completed English 1.7.)

 

Discussion: This class will serve as an introduction to college-level composition. During this course students will practice and perfect strategies for writing expository essays and for engaging with different kinds of texts. Students will read actively and think critically about course reading and assigned writing. Students will write both in and out of class, with an emphasis on drafting and revision.  Class will be split between writing, working in groups, and discussing readings and student work.  Students will focus on the following: reading critically and writing analytically; developing and supporting theses and arguments; summarizing, paraphrasing, and synthesizing information from a variety of sources; structuring persuasive and cohesive essays; incorporating and integrating evidence into their writing using MLA documentation; editing and revising; using appropriate conventions of language, including correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

 

Course Objectives

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

  • Read and think critically
  • Understand how language operates
  • Express ideas–both orally and in writing–correctly, cogently, persuasively, and in conformity with the conventions of the discipline
  • Conduct research

Course Requirements and Policies

Course Requirements & Policies

Materials

  1. Course Packet (password: eng1010): https://libguides.brooklyn.cuny.edu/1010/schecter_erica
  2. Grammar Handbook: https://libguides.brooklyn.cuny.edu/1010/grammar_handbook

Attendance & Punctuality: Students who miss class or arrive late will receive a zero on the daily in-class quiz (see below).

Participation: Participation includes completing and commenting on the assigned reading, contributing to class discussion through listening and responding to classmates or the instructor, bringing required materials to class, and engaging in peer review and group activities.

NOTE: Cellphones must be silenced and put away during class. The use of cellphones and other electronics is not permitted in the classroom, except under exceptional circumstances.  Students should inform the instructor about these circumstances.

Reading: Class discussion is a critical element of this course, and participation is essential. Students are expected to have closely read and be ready to discuss all readings on the day they are assigned. There will be daily reading quizzes. Students should print the assigned reading and bring it to every class.

Assignments:

Essays & Other Writing: Students will write the following: a personal narrative (750-1000 words), two summaries (250-500 words each), an argumentative essay (1000-1250 words), and a compare and contrast essay (1000-1250 words). Students will revise each of these essays.  These essays must be typed, double-spaced, in 12-point font, and formatted with one-inch margins.   In addition, students will have an in-class essay exam.  There will be additional in-class writing assignments and reading responses.

NOTE: Essays are due at the beginning of class. Students should bring a hard copy to class, and email a digital copy to the instructor before class.

Final Exam: English 1010 students must take a final exam. The exam is based on responses to two pieces of writing: one 5-7 page essay, distributed one week before the end of the term, and a second 1-2 page piece, distributed along with the question on the day of the exam. The exam will count for 20% of the final grade for the class. The instructor will discuss the test format in class.

Daily Quizzes: There will be a two-question quiz at the beginning of each class period to test that students have completed and understood the assigned reading. Students will receive 50 points for showing up and writing their name (NOTE: it is therefore in students’ best interests to attend class even if they did not complete the reading), and 25 points for each question they get right. The first question will be asked promptly at 11:00 a.m. and questions will not be repeated; therefore students should be at their desks and ready to write at 11:00 a.m.

LOOP workshop: The Brooklyn College Bulletin states the following:

All students in English 1010 will complete the required Brooklyn College library orientation, which will introduce them to the services and resources of the library, including access to and ethical use of its print and electronic resources.

 

 

Grading: The Brooklyn College policy on grading for English 1010 is as follows:

Grades for English 1010 are: A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, NC or F. Note that the minimum passing grade is C-.Students who have completed all the course work but are not yet writing at the college level will receive a grade of NC; students who have not completed the course work will receive a grade of F.

                                  

Students who do not pass English 1010 must repeat it the following semester. The course may not be taken more than three times; students who receive three grades of F, NC and/or WU may be dismissed from the college.

 

NOTE: Essays turned in after 9:30a.m. on the day they are due will receive a 20 percentage point penalty. Late work will not be accepted after one week has passed from the original due date.  If students miss a class during which an essay is to be submitted, students are still responsible for submitting (e-mailing) the essay on the same day AND bringing a hard copy of it the next time they attend class.

 

Possible final grades are as follows:

Grade

A

B

C

NC

F

A

A-

B+

B

B-

C+

C

C-

NC

F

Percent

93-100

90-92

88-89

83-87

80-82

78-79

73-77

70-72

60-69

<60

 

Grading Breakdown:

Essays: 60%

Personal Narrative: 10 %

Summary: 5%      

Argumentative Essay: 15%     

Texts in Conversation In-Class: 10%

Texts in Conversation Take-Home: 20%

Final Exam: 20%

Daily Quizzes: 20%

Total: 100%

 

Plagiarism: Brooklyn College's statement on plagiarism is as follows:

The faculty and administration of Brooklyn College support an environment free from cheating and plagiarism. Each student is responsible for being aware of what constitutes cheating and plagiarism and for avoiding both. The complete text of the CUNY Academic Integrity Policy and the Brooklyn College procedure for implementing that policy can be found at this site: http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/bc/policies.

Non-attendance Because of Religious Beliefs: Brooklyn College’s statement on non-attendance because of religious belief is located on page 66 of the Brooklyn College Undergraduate Bulletin: http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/web/off_registrar/2017-2018_Undergraduate_Bulletin.pdf

Student Bereavement Policy: Brooklyn College’s statement on non-attendance because of religious belief is located here: http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/web/about/initiatives/policies/bereavement.php

Important Dates

  • Tuesday, August 27                 Weekday classes begin
  • Monday, September 2              Last day to add a course
  • Thursday, September 5            Last day to file for elective course Pass/Fail
  • Tuesday, September 17            Last day to withdraw from course with a W                                                     (non-penalty) grade. 

 

NOTE: English 1010 is an Academic Foundations course.  Brooklyn College’s policy on withdrawing from English 1010 is as follows:

 

Students are not permitted at any time to delete, drop, or withdraw from an assigned Academic Foundations course without obtaining permission of the academic department involved and consulting the Center for Academic Advisement and Student Success.

 

The full academic calendar, including many other important dates, and the undergraduate final exam “grid” are available on the Office of the Registrar’s website.

Course Information

Brooklyn College

The City University of New York

Professor Schecter

Office Hours: T 10am-11am 2311 Boylan / 951-5195

English 1010  Fall 2019

3 hours and conference; 3 credits                   

ejschecter@gmail.com

T/Th 11am, Ingersoll 3424

 

Readings and Resources

Schedule

Classes 1-5: The Hero's Journey (Personal Essay)

  • Tuesday August 27 (Class 1)              
    • Introduction to course goals, requirements, and syllabus.
    • Student and instructor introductions.
    • Diagnostic Essay.
    • HW: Read Douglass, "Learning to Read and Write" and Obama, Becoming p1-30
  • Thursday, August 29 (Class 2)            
    • Name Game
    • The Hero's Journey
    • Discuss Douglass and Obama
    • HW: Read Alexi, "Superman and Me" and Obama, Becoming p 31-67
  • Tuesday, September 3 (Class 3)          
    • Name Game.
    • Discuss Alexi and Obama
    • Close reading & annotation.
    • HW: Read Lake, “An Indian Father’s Plea,” and Whitehead, “City Limits,” and Obama, Becoming p67-162
  • Tuesday, September 10 (Class 4)         
    • Discuss Whitehead, Lake, and Obama
    • Writing Process.
    • Crafting a personal essay.
    • Formatting
    • Plagiarism.
    • Essay assigned.
    • HW: Read El-Ghobashy, “Quandaries of Representation,” WRITE Essay Draft One
  • Thursday, September 12 (Class 5)       
    • Discuss El-Ghobashy
    • What is revision?
    • Draft One due. In-class peer revision.
    • HW: Essay Draft Two

Classes 6-8: Summary

  • Tuesday, September 17 (Class 6)       
    • Essays due.
    • Summary vs. paraphrase.
    • Summary vs. analysis.
    • Texts.
    • HW: Read Staples, "Confederate Monuments"
  • Thursday, September 19 (Class 7)      
    • Discuss Staples.
    • Summary assigned
    • Roxane Gay
    • HW: Read Furgurson, "The End of History?" and summarize EITHER Staples OR Furgurson
  • Tuesday, September 24 (Class 8)     
    • Summaries due
    • Discuss .Furgurson
    • Discuss summaries
    • Reverse Outlining
    • HW: Read Gatto, “Against School” and watch Alike, "How Society Kills Our Creativity"

Classes 9-16: Argument

  • Thursday September 26 (Class 9)
    • Discuss Gatto and film.
    • Thesis. Defining Terms.
    • Argument.
    • HW: Read Lukianoff and Haidt, “The Coddling of the American Mind”
  • Thursday October 3 (Class 10)
    • Discuss Lukianoff and Haidt.
    • More on thesis, argument.
    • HW: Read Apihtawikosisan, “An Open Letter,” Black, "The Painting Must Go," and Bradford, "Cultural Appropriation Is, In Fact, Indefensible"​
  • Thursday, October 10 (Class 11)
    • Discuss Apihtawikosisan, Black, and Bradford.
    • More on thesis, argument
    • Evidence
    • HW: Read Excerpt from Sapiens by Harari
  • Tuesday, October 15 (Class 12)
    • Discuss Harari
    • More on argument, evidence.
    • HW: Read Zaki, "Caring About Tomorrow" and Lukas, "Neoliberalism Has Conned Us"
  • Thursday October 17 (Class 13)
    • Discuss Zaki and Lukas.
    • Game theory
    • Essay Assigned
    • HW: Essay Thesis and 2 Arguments, Read Newkirk, "Is Climate Change a Prisoner's Dilemma?"
  • Tuesday October 22 (Class 14)
    • Discuss Newkirk.
    • Thesis and 2 arguments small-group workshops
    • HW: Essay Draft One (Outline)
  • Thursday, October 24 (Class 15)
    • Draft one (outline) due.
    • How to revise an analytical essay.
    • Essay peer review and revision.
    • HW: Begin working on Essay Draft Two
  • Tuesday, October 29 (Class 16)
    • Discuss Schwartz.
    • Class Forum: Questions about Essays.
    • HW: Argumentative Essay Draft Two

Classes 17-29: Compare and Contrast

  • Thursday, October 31 (Class 17)
    • Essays due.
    • Introduction to counterargument.
    • HW: Read Susan Collins's speech on Kavanaugh and Slater, “The Trouble with Self-Esteem”
  • Tuesday, November 5 (Class 18)       
    • Discuss Collins
    • Discuss Slater
    • HW: Read Chua, “Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior” 
  • Thursday, November 7 (Class 19)
    • Discuss Slater in conversation with Chua.
    • How to write a texts in conversation essay.
    • Counterarguments for “The Case for Reparations.”
    •  HW: Read Coates, “The Case for Reparations.”
  • Tuesday, November 12 (Class 20) 
    • Discuss Coates
    • HW: Read Michaels, “The Trouble with Diversity.”
  • Thursday, November 14 (Class 21)
    • Discuss Michaels in conversation with Coates
    • How to write a texts in conversation essay.
    • Outline a texts in conversation essay.
    • HW: Read Orwell, “Politics and the English Language” and Solomon, “Thugs, Students”
  • Tuesday, November 19 (Class 22)
    • Discuss Orwell and Solomon.
    • Outline essay.
    • Exam rubric
    • HW: Read “Nutritionism Defined” by Michael Pollan
  • Thursday, November 21 (Class 23)
    • Outline and discuss Pollan.
    • Instructions for in-class essay.
    • Begin in-Class Essay
  • Tuesday, November 26 (Class 24)
    • In-Class Essay Day 2
    • HW: Happy Break!
  • Tuesday, December 3 (Class 25)
    • In-Class Essays returned and discussed.
    • Take-home TiC Essay assigned.
    • HW: TiC Essay Draft One
  • Thursday, December 5 (Class 26)
    • TiC Draft one due
    • Peer Revision Workshop
    • HW: Essay Draft Two and Read "The Fourth State of Matter" by Joann Beard.
  • Tuesday, December 10 (Class 27)
    • Draft Two due.
    • Discuss Beard.
    • Questions about final.
    • HW: Read first essay for Final Exam
  • Thursday, December 12 (Class 28)
    • Student-led discussion of first essay for final exam.
    • Note: Instructor may not discuss the final exam with students.
  • Friday, December 13th
    • Final Exam at 10:30 am