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English 1510
Leah
Michels, instructor
This handout contains the policies that will govern
this course for the semester. It is your responsibility to reread this
handout from time to time so that you remain aware of these policies at
they beomce applicable to specific assignments and situations affecting your
final outcome in the course.
Where to find me: I will be available to talk in
person during my posted office hours in G316. You can call me or leave
messages for me by calling 522-3690. You can also leave me e-mail messages
at
lamichel@oaklandcc.edu.
What this course will do for you: In this class
you will develop your ability to write clear, focused prose. Your writing
will demonstrate an awareness of audience, organizational ability, and
competence analyzing information from various texts. You will learn to
write different types of papers. You will improve your grammar and
mechanics, become critical readers for one another, and develop
interpersonal and team skills. You will use technology in an effective
manner.
What you need to do: I would really like to see
each of you complete this class and do well. To do that, I insist on the
following:
1.
regular, timely attendance;
2.
reading and comprehension of the assigned readings;
3.
work and participation in class;
4.
completion of assigned essays;
5.
thoughtful revision of essays.
Your past performance in English classes is not as
important for success as your present attitude and willingness to work a
reasonable amount. Please try to envision your success in here and agree to
do your work daily and weekly. This short-term effort should translate into
a good grade, the ability to read critically, the ability to write college
level papers, and three transferable credits.
Don’t hesitate to talk to me if you have any problems
with the subject matter. If you do your best to follow my minimal rules,
I’m very happy to help you succeed in here.
Grades: I will record many grades. These grades
will be my evaluation of your attendance, reading and comprehension, use of
class time, and written and oral work. Some of my evaluations will be as
simple as looking out to see if you are present and on time. Other
evaluations will be more subjective, as I assess your class participation,
knowledge of assigned readings, and the quality of your writing.
The approximate percentage devoted to each area is:
10% attendance
10% quizzes
10% group work
10% personal event paper
10% argument paper
10% how to paper
10% argument paper II
10% literary paper
10% final exam
10% use of class time
(Note that some of these areas overlap: for example,
if you miss class on a day when we have a quiz, then discussion on a
reading, then group work, you will have earned 4 F’s in only one class
period.)
You will be required to see a writing lab tutor
(provided free of charge, extensive hours, in the IIC) about your papers a
minimum of 3 times this semester. You must have been to the lab at least
once by the week of February 5. If I recommend that you seek additional
tutoring, you should consider that an assignment, and know that failure to
complete assignments carries a heavy penalty.
Attendance and punctuality, or lack thereof, will
affect your grade both indirectly and directly. Indirectly, your grade will
be affected by missed information, loss of workshop or lecture time.
Missing a single class is considerable. It is unrealistic to imagine that
you can call me on the phone or come to my office hours and I will relive
the entire class for you. I can give you handouts and briefly go over
missed information, but it is not a substitute for attendance. Directly,
your grade is affected because when I see the zero in my gradebook by your
name, I figure it directly into your final grade. You can miss two classes
or be late twice with no direct averse affect to your grade; three times,
you grade is significantly lowered. If you are absent four times, you will
earn a WP. I do not assess absences in terms of excused or unexcused.
Missing four classes, for any reason, will simply make it impossible for you
to complete the course.
You will be responsible for information disseminated in
class, whether you are present or not. Make up assignments are generally
not possible. I will not seek you out to give you information or demand a
late paper or remind you how many absences or lates you have. Absence does
not absolve you of your responsibility to turn in work.
Class procedures: This is a workshop class.
Most days you will either sit at a computer and write, or you will work in
groups giving and receiving feedback on your drafts. Some days we will
discuss the readings as a class, take quizzes, or I will lecture on some
feature of an assignment or research technique.
An important feature of this class is the revision of
your written work. In the past you may have written a single draft of a
paper and turned it in for a final grade. Here you will write a draft and
then be given advice on how to improve the paper. This advice will come
from your classmates, the open lab writing tutors, and me. You do not have
to follow every piece of advice you receive, only the ones you believe will
improve your paper. You must consider all advice, and be ready to
substantively change your paper over and over.
The first draft of each paper will go to feedback
groups; the second draft will be turned in to me. I will write all over you
papers. I will spend a lot of time developing ideas and strategies to help
you revise and write an excellent final draft. I do not always have good
handwriting, and sometimes what I write may be confusing to you. I will not
be hurt if you ask me to explain a comment I’ve written on your paper. I
will be furious, however, if you do not seriously consider what I have
written on you papers as you make your final revisions. That fury will
result in a lowered grade.
Books, materials, technology: You will be
required to have:
The St. Martin’s Guide to Writing;
a good, college-level dictionary for
home use;
two folders with pockets for this class
alone, no sharing;
two computer disks that will
work for our computers (problems with technology are not my domain. I will
not accept, “my disk won’t work” as an excuse).
You must be able to work on the computers here. I give
no guarantees of compatibility between our computers and others. If you
wish to use another computer in addition to the computers here, that is your
prerogative, but you must be able to work here. Making the switch
between computers is your responsibility.
Keep all writing you do in your folder. Keep all
handouts in the folder. Bring all materials with you daily.
After reading this syllabus, you should have a good
idea of what this class will entail and what I will expect from you. If
these expectations will not work for you, you may wish to find another
class. Staying in this class represents your acceptance of the terms laid
out in this document.
Hints: Here are some basic college
expectations:
1.
Know that in college you are expected to spend at least two
hours working outside of class for every hour you are in class.
2.
Use a planner—it is your responsibility to keep track of when things
are due. You are responsible for material covered in your absence—don’t
expect extensions.
3.
Read and annotate your assignments before they are due.
4.
Be prepared for class, be it finishing the reading, having copies of
your work, computer disks; don’t ask to get prepared during class.
5.
Attend class on time, regularly, and work until the end. Regularly
showing up late or leaving early is tantamount to insulting the instructor.
6.
Utilize the free writing tutor.
ADA Notification: Students requiring special
assistance (including those affected by the Americans with Disabilities
Act) should contact the PASS office (see attached sheet) and inform the
instructor of any special conditions pertaining to their learning.
Note on plagiarism: Any student caught cheating
(using someone else’s work as his or her own) will fail. There is no
negotiation in such a case. Students should be aware that it is their
responsibility to prove their innocence (with previous drafts or notes).
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