ENGL 1010: English Composition-Student Version (2018-19 Archive): Coleman, Caroline

Required Materials

1. Freshman Common Reading: Americanah, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

2. A dedicated folder for handouts, past assignments and readings

3. A binder or notebook with removable paper for in-class writing assignments

Course Policies

- We will regularly write in class. Bring paper and a pen to every class

- You may bring drinks to class, but do not eat in class

- Cellphones must be silenced and put away during class.

Note: If there are emergency circumstances that require you to pay attention to your phone, please inform me of this before the start of class

Assignments

Reading: I expect you to annotate the texts we read by taking note of key sentences and words. If you read online, copy down the most important concepts and phrases. I expect you to look up words you don’t know and to be prepared to define them. There will be unannounced reading quizzes. Please bring the assigned reading to every class.

Writing Assignments:

You will be handing in: 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). You will revise each of these essays at least once. In general, rewrites are due a week after I return the first draft to you. Your essays must be typed, double-spaced, in 12-point font, and formatted with one-inch margins. In addition, you will have an in-class compare and contrast essay exam. You will also be asked to complete many other short assignments. Essays are due at the beginning of class. I will not accept essays submitted via email unless I give prior written permission.

Final Exam: All English 1010 students must take a final exam. The exam is based on responses to two pieces of writing: a 5-7 page essay, distributed a 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. We will discuss the test format in class.

LOOP workshop: All students in English 1010 are required to complete the Brooklyn College library orientation, which will introduce you to the services and resources of the library, including access to and ethical use of its print and electronic resources. Take your completed test to the library for stamping before September 6.

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 of 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.

Grading Breakdown: 

Essays: 60% 

Personal Narrative: 10 %

Summaries: 20%  (i.e. 10% each)       

Argumentative Essay: 15%    

Compare and Contrast Essay: 15%  

In-Class Compare and Contrast essay 10%

Final Exam: 20% 

Other Assignments: 10% 

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

Attendance & Participation: 10% 

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

Attendance

Prompt attendance is mandatory. There will be additional assignments for each class that are not on this syllabus. If you must be absent you are responsible for all assigned homework. Please email me before the start of class if you will be late to class or if you will be absent from class. The official Brooklyn College policy on attendance is as follows: “First-year students absent from a course for a number of times equivalent to two full weeks of class meetings may be denied credit for the course.” In other words: four absences may result in being denied credit.

Late work

Essays turned in late will be penalized half a letter grade for each class meeting that they are late. Late work will not be accepted after one week has passed from the original due date. If you miss a class during which an essay is to be submitted, you are still responsible for submitting (e-mailing) the essay on the same day AND bringing a hard copy of it the next time you attend class. Otherwise, the assignment will be treated as a late submission.

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. The College's official 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/web/about/initiatives.php

Students With Disabilities:  If you have documented learning issues, please register with the Center for Student Disability Services. The College’s official policy is as follows:

“In order to receive disability-related academic accommodations students must first be registered with the Center for Student Disability Services. Students who have a documented disability or suspect they may have a disability are invited to set up an appointment with the Director of the Center for Student Disability Services, Ms. Valerie Stewart-Lovell at (718) 951-5538. If you have already registered with the Center for Student Disability Services, please provide your professor with the course accommodation form and discuss your specific accommodation with him/her.”

Non-Attendance for Religious Beliefs or Bereavement:

For non-attendance because of religious beliefs, please consult the Brooklyn College Bulletin: http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/web/off_registrar/2017-2018_Undergraduate_Bulletin.pdf.

For the Brooklyn College Student Bereavement Policy, please see the information at the following link: http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/web/about/initiatives/policies/bereavement.php

Please inform me in advance if you plan to be absent for any reason.

Office Hours: I am available for questions during my office hour after class on Thursday. If you are unable to attend my office hours, please let me know and we can arrange a separate time.

Withdrawal Policy:

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.”