Course Requirements & Policies
Materials
1. Freshman Common Reading: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Americanah (required)
2. Course Packet (required): Online at ????
3. Grammar Handbook (required): Online at ???
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. 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.
Reading Discussion Leaders: You’ll be expected to take an active part in the readings
by leading discussions with your peers in class. Leaders will be expected to read the texts
carefully, coordinate with their partners to plan the discussion, conduct the discussion in
a respectful manner, facilitate a line of inquiry based on how the class responds to the
text, and turn in a typed copy of their questions prior to the day they lead discussions.
This will count for 10% percent of your grade.
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.
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.
Possible grades are as follows:
A: 93-100
A-: 90-92
B+: 88-89
B: 83-87
B-: 80-82
C+: 78-79
C: 73-77
C-: 70-72
D+: 68-69
D: 63-67
D-: 60-62
F: Below 60
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%
Discussion Leadership: 10%
See above Reading section
Attendance & Participation: 10%
This includes attendance, promptness, includes in-class writing, participation in class
discussions and group work, etc.
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
Non-attendance Because of Religious Beliefs: Brooklyn College’s statement on non-attendance
Student Bereavement Policy: Brooklyn College’s statement on non-attendance because of
Important Dates
? Monday, August 27 Weekday classes begin
? Sunday, September 2 Last day to add a course
? Wednesday, September 5 Conversion Day; Classes follow a Monday
Schedule, Last day to file for elective course Pass/Fail
? Saturday, September 8 Weekend classes begin
? Sunday, September 16 Last day to drop a course without a grade.
? Tuesday, November 6 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.
