Course Requirements & Policies

Materials

1. Freshman Common Reading: Michelle Obama, Becoming (required)
2. Course Packet (required): Online at https://libguides.brooklyn.cuny.edu/1010/teverett2
3. Grammar Handbook (required): Online at https://libguides.brooklyn.cuny.edu/1010/teverett2

Attendance & Punctuality: If you miss more than four classes, you will receive no credit for participation.  Two latenesses count as one absence.  Arriving more than 10 minutes late counts as an absence.  As your participation is graded, a pattern of lateness will negatively affect your grade.

Reading: Class discussion is an essential 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 unannounced graded writing assignments. Bring the assigned reading to every class.

Course Objective:

1. To be able to read, understand, and analyze different types of texts.
2. To be able to write essays which are well-organized, thought-provoking, well-supported.
3. To be able to discuss the texts in class and in small groups, as well as to make connections to the world around us.
4. To understand the process of revision as a tool for improving writing. 
5. To prepare for the Final Exam, an in-class written comparative essay.

Grading Breakdown:

Essays: 60%

• Personal Narrative: 10 %
• Summaries: 10%       
• Argumentative Essay: 15%    
• Compare and Contrast: 15%
• In-Class Compare and Contrast 10%

Final Exam: 20%

Other Assignments: 10%

This includes take-home assignments, in-class writing, and quizzes.

Attendance and Participation: 10%

            This includes attendance, promptness, participation in class discussions and group work, etc.

GRADING:

Possible grades are as follows:

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.

All Essays  

·       Must be typed, double-spaced in 12 pt Times New Roman font.

• Late papers are subject to penalty, a half-grade per day.
• Each essay will receive an average grade of the First and Second drafts.
• Emailing the essays on the due date is required. The cut off is by the end of business day (5pm).

Assignments:

Students will write the following:

• Personal narrative (750-1000 words)
• Two summaries (250-500 words each)
• Argumentative essay (1000-1250 words)
• Compare and contrast essay (1000-1250 words).  

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.

Blog Reflections

• Blog reflections are due once a week (a paragraph or two).
• Once the blog is up and running, students are encouraged to respond to peers in a debate style fashion.
• Continue practicing correct grammar and thoroughly supporting arguments.

Discussion/Participation

Discussion is a valuable part of the writing process. We will practice articulating our ideas on these topics in order to form opinions and well-supported arguments. Therefore, it is in your best interest to actively participate. 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.

NOTES: Please be mindful of differing points of view. We are here to learn and grow, not to blame or shame. Create the kind of classroom that you would ideally envision. Be respectful, courteous, on time. And remember: this work will serve you further into your career as a student and as a lifelong learner!

Electronics: 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.

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.

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.

Student Bereavement Policy: Brooklyn College’s statement on non-attendance because of religious belief is located here.

Plagiarism: As a student of Brooklyn College, you are responsible for being aware of the plagiarism policy. The complete text of the CUNY Academic Integrity Policy and the Brooklyn College procedure for implementing that policy can be found at this site.   If a faculty member suspects a violation of academic integrity and, upon investigation, confirms that violation, or if the student admits the violation, the faculty member must report the violation.

Campus Resources: I recommend that you visit the services applicable to your needs. There are resources that will ease your time at school, and provide much needed support!

Learning Center Writing Tutors: 1^st floor of Boylan Hall in Room 1300.

• There are weekly walk-in hours posted on CUNY’s site. Recommended to go earlier in the semester, as the weekly appointments book up!
• To book an appt.: Call (718) 951-5821

Center for Student Disability Services: 138 Roosevelt Hall

Peer Mentor: Maisa Crispino (maisa.crispino@gmail.com) will shadow one class a week, and will act as liaison to resources in the university.

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.

●     Week 7: 

▪     10. 7: Staples, Brent. “Confederate Memorials As Instruments of Racial Terror.”

▪     10.10: Solnit, Rebecca. “Men Explain Things To Me.”

▪     10.10: Class discussion on Argumentative Essay Draft #1

▪     10.10: Summary #2 Due

●     Week 8:

▪     10. 14: No class

▪     10.16: Chua, Amy. “Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior.”*

▪     10.16: In-class: Evidence/Conclusions

▪     10. 16: Slater, Lauren. “The Trouble With Self-Esteem”

▪     10.16: Argumentative Essay Draft #1 Due

▪     10.16: Blog Post #4 due

●     Week 9:

▪     10.21: Carr, Nicholas. "Is Google Making Us Stupid?"

▪     10. 23: Chaudhry, Lakshmi. “Mirror, Mirror On The Web.”

●     Week 10: 

▪     10. 28: Coates, Ta-Nehisi. “The Case for Reparations.” (Pt.1)

▪     10.30: Coates, Ta-Nehisi. “The Case for Reparations.” (Pt. 2)

▪     10.30: Blog Post #5 due

▪     In-class: Grammar Review/exercises

▪     10.30: Argumentative Essay Draft #2 Due

●     Week 11:

▪     11.4: James Baldwin. “Notes on a Native Son.”*

▪     11.6: In-Class: Grammar Review

▪     11.6: Compare/Contrast Thesis Statement and Outline Due

▪     11.6: In-class: Conclusions/Structure Review

●     Week 12: 

▪     11.11: Cole, Teju. “Black Bodies: Rereading James Baldwin’s Strangers in the Village."*

▪     11.13: McWorther, John, “Thick of Tongue.”

▪     11.13: In-Class: Prep for Compare/Contrast In-class Essay

▪     11.13: Blog Post #6 due

●     Week 13:

▪     11.18: Grammar Review/Debate Prep

▪     11.18:Dandicat, Edwidge. “Another Country.”*

▪     11.18: Blog Post #7 due

▪     11.20: Debate

▪     11:20: In-class: Compare/Contrast Essay Exam

●     Week 14: 

▪     11.25: Dandicat, Edwidge. “Another Country.”*

▪     11.27: Compare/Contrast Essay Draft #1 Due

▪     11.27: In-class: Compare/Contrast Essay Exam

▪     11/28-29: NO CLASS (THANKSGIVING)

●     Week 15:

▪     12.2: King, Jr. “Martin Luther. Letters From A Birmingham Jail.”

▪     12.4: Compare/Contrast Essay Draft # 2 Du2

●     Week 16:

▪     12.9: Compare/Contrast Essay Draft # 2 Due

▪     12.9: Self-Assessment/Exam Review

▪     12.11: Review for Final Exam

▪     FINAL EXAM TBD