Welcome to English 1010!
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 you will practice and perfect strategies for writing expository essays and for engaging withdifferent kinds of texts. You will read actively and think critically about your reading and writing. You will write both in and out of class, with an emphasis on drafting and revision. Our time in class will be split between writing, work in groups, and discussion of the readings and your own work.
Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:
1. Read and think critically
2. Understand how language operates
3. Express ideas–both orally and in writing–correctly, cogently, persuasively, and in conformity
with the conventions of the discipline
4. Conduct research
Course Expectations, Requirements, and Grading:
Attendance: 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. A pattern of lateness will affect your grade.
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 unannounced reading quizzes. Bring the assigned reading 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), 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. Students will be asked to complete other assignments, such as journal entries, in-class writing, and reading responses.
NOTE: Essays are due at the beginning of class. The instructor will not accept essays submitted via email.
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.
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.
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is not tolerated at Brooklyn College and especially will not be tolerated in this class. If you are caught handing in work that you have plagiarized from any source, you will fail the assignment in question, possibly the entire class, and may be subject to disciplinary action by the college. Here is the College's statement on plagiarism:
"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.”
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 late will be penalized half a letter grade for each class meeting they are late. 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.
Grading Breakdown:
Essays: 60%
Personal Narrative: 10 %
Summaries: 10%
Argumentative Essay: 20% Compare and Contrast: 20% Final Exam: 20%
Other Assignments: 10%
(this includes take-home assignments, in-class writing, and quizzes).
Attendance & Participation: 10%
(this includes attendance, promptness, participation in class discussions and group work, etc).
ENGLISH 1010: Brooklyn College Composition 1
Fall 2018, Tuesday and Thursday, 9:30-10:45 Instructor: Alex Batkin
Whithead 518 AlexBatkin@gmail.com
Office hours: Tuesdays, 11:00am-1:00pm
WEEK 1:
Tue. Aug 28 |
Introduction / syllabus review |
Thurs. Aug 30 |
In-class essay (personal) + writing discussion. What is revision? |
WEEK 2
Tue. Sep 4 |
Reading due: Common Reading Assignment Due: Personal narrative (revision) In-Class: Close reading exercise |
Thurs. Sep 6 |
Reading due: Common Reading In-Class: Close reading exercise |
WEEK 3
Tue. Sep 11 |
NO CLASS |
Thur. Sep 13 |
Reading Due:
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WEEK 4
Tue. Sep 18 |
NO CLASS |
Thur. Sep 20 |
Reading Due: “On Dumpster Diving,” Lars Eigner Assignment Due: Two short summaries (summary + summary with textual analysis) |
WEEK 5
Tue. Sep 25 |
Reading Due: “Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire,” Errol Morris In-Class: Thesis statements |
Thurs. Sep 27 |
Reading Due: “Regarding the Pain of Others,” Susan Sontag In-Class: Thesis statements |
WEEK 6
Tue. Oct 2 |
Reading Due: “Thugs, Students, Rioters, Fans: Media’s Subtle Racism in Unrest Coverage” Akiba Solomon In-Class: Working with textual evidence |
Thurs. Oct 4 |
Reading Due: “The Case for Contamination,” Anthony Appiah Assignment Due: Thesis statement for analytical essay |
WEEK 7
Tue. Oct 9 |
Reading Due: “The Braindead Megaphone,” George Saunders Assignment Due: Outline and first paragraph of analytical essay |
Thurs. Oct 11 |
Assignment Due: Analytical essay (Draft one). Please bring 3 copies for a peer review. |
WEEK 8
Tue. Oct 16 |
Reading Due: “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” MLK Jr |
Thurs. Oct 18 |
Reading Due: “Consider the Lobster,” David Foster Wallace Assignment Due: Analytical Essay (Final Draft). Please bring 3 copies for a peer review. |
WEEK 9
Tue. Oct 23 |
Reading Due: “Another Country,” Edwige Danticat In-Class: Essay scaffolding |
Thurs. Oct 25 |
Reading Due: “Another Country,” Edwige Danticat In-Class: Essay scaffolding |
WEEK 10
Tue. Oct 30 |
Reading Due: “Notes of a Native Son,” James Baldwin In-Class: Structure and Signal phrases |
Thurs. Nov 1 |
Reading Due: “Notes of a Native Son,” James Baldwin In-Class: Structure and Signal phrases |
WEEK 11
Tue. Nov 6 |
Reading Due:
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Thurs. Nov 8 |
Reading Due:
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WEEK 12
Tue. Nov 13 |
Reading Due: “The Case for Working With Your Hands,” Matthew Crawford In-Class: Compare and contrast essay review |
Thurs. Nov 15 |
Reading Due: “We Are Not All Created Equal,” Stephen Marche In-Class: Compare and contrast exercise |
WEEK 13
Tue. Nov 20 |
Assignment Due: Compare and Contrast Take-Home. Please bring 3 copies for peer review. |
Thurs. Nov 22 |
NO CLASS |
WEEK 14
Tue. Nov 27 |
Assignment Due: Compare and Contrast Final In-Class: MLA Citation |
Thurs. Nov 29 |
Reading Due: Sample Essays |
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WEEK 15
Tue. Dec 4 |
Reading Due: Sample Essays Assignment Due: Grading Exercise 1 |
Thurs. Dec 6 |
Reading Due: Sample Essays |
WEEK 16
Tue. Dec 11 |
Reading Due: Sample Essays Assignment Due: Grading Exercise 2 |
Thurs. Dec 13 |
Reading Day |
FINAL EXAM