INSTRUCTOR: Leo Fong    

OFFICE: 920 • TELEPHONE: 242-2232 • E-MAIL: lfong@shastacollege.edu

WEB:  http://www3.shastacollege.edu/lfong

OFFICE HOURS: MW 10:00-12:00; TTh 2:00-3:00; and by appointment.   

CATALOG DESCRIPTION:

This course develops the reading, critical thinking, and writing skills necessary for academic success, emphasizing expository and argumentative writing as well as research and documentation skills. As a transferable course, it presupposes that students already have a substantial grasp of grammar, syntax, and organization, and that their writing is reasonably free from errors.  A research paper is required for successful completion of the course.

REQUIRED TEXTS AND SUPPLIES:

·         Spatt, Brenda.  Writing from Sources, 7^th ed.  Bedford/St. Martins, 2007.  ISBN:  0-312-43797-8

·         Schlosser, Eric.  Fast Food Nation.  Perennial Books, 2002.  ISBN:  0-06-093845-5

·         Hacker, Diana.  A Writer’s Reference, 6^th ed.  Bedford/St. Martins, 2007.  ISBN: 0-312-45025-7

·         Folders for saved work, lined and unlined paper (8” x 11 ½”), pens, a good college dictionary and access to typing/word processing (all final drafts of essays must be typed).

·         Computer with Internet access.  This course requires the use of web-based resources.

COURSE GOALS/OBJECTIVES:

·         Critically read, analyze, and evaluate a variety of non-fiction texts for their rhetorical and technical merit, with consideration of the principles of unity, coherence, tone, persona, purpose, methods, and the effects on a target audience.

·         Write clear, well-developed academic essays using a variety of rhetorical strategies, which may include textual analysis, comparison/contrast, causal analysis, and argument.          

·         Write sentences of varying structure in order to emphasize meaning, relationship, and importance of ideas.

·         Organize paragraphs into a logical sequence, developing the central idea of the essay to a logical conclusion.

·         Find, analyze, interpret, and evaluate outside sources, including print and electronic media.

·         Integrate the ideas of others through paraphrase, summary, and quotation into papers that express the writer’s own voice, position, or analysis.

·         Use current MLA guidelines to document sources.

·         Revise, proofread, and edit their essays for public presentation so they exhibit no gross errors in English grammar, usage, or punctuation.  

GRADING:

·         Three research-based essays (approx. 3–5 pages each, 12pt double-spaced)... 30%

·         One research project/essay (approx. 5–7 pages, 12pt double-spaced)............. 30%

·         Completion of drafts, reading and research homework, and quizzes................. 20%

·         Participation in class discussion, workshops, research activities..................... 20%

IMPORTANT GRADING POLICIES: 

·         Students must earn a C or better on the final research essay in order to earn a C or better in the course.

·         Students must complete all four essay assignments in order to pass the course.

·         Late work will not be accepted without a valid excuse and permission of the instructor.  Students can have no more than one overdue essay at any given time.

·         An essay will not be accepted and may be subject to failure and/or a rewrite if it does not follow the guidelines of the given assignment.

·         You are responsible for keeping copies of all of your drafts and essays.  In the event that a paper is lost, it is your responsibility to supply a copy of that paper.

·         In enrolling in this course, you agree to allow your writing to be reproduced for instructional purposes, such as class workshops and Turnitin.com.

·         Participation is defined as offering meaningful and helpful contributions to the class, not simply talking.  Participating in workshops means offering useful feedback to your peers on their writing.

·         Remember that C is considered satisfactory.  Your grade is based on the quality of your work, not simply on completing it.

ATTENDANCE AND DROP POLICY:

Attendance in all classes is mandatory.  Students are responsible for making up any missed work.  Students absent from more than 5 classes are advised to drop the class.  Students who miss any classes may be graded down.  Please note that if you consistently miss classes without valid reasons, you can be dropped from the class through an instructor-initiated drop.

EXPECTED BEHAVIOR:

Please respect the right of your classmates to be in a positive learning environment.  Keep in mind the following standards.

·          Please arrive on time so that you do not disrupt the class.  The instructor will take attendance within the first ten minutes of class. If you are late, the instructor can count you absent that day.

·         If you must leave early on a particular occasion, please clear this with the instructor prior to the beginning of class. 

·         If the instructor continues to talk after the class period has ended, you may let him know.

·         Do not talk when others (including the instructor) are talking.

·         Active discussion (even disagreement) is vital to the class, but keep comments constructive. 

·         Do not use cell phones or other electronic devices during class.  The instructor reserves the right to ask you to leave or to put away anything that distracts you or your classmates from class.

·         Know what the assigned work will be for each class and come to class prepared for it.  The instructor will assume that you are ready to participate.

·         If you do miss class (or you will miss class), do not ask, “Did I (or will I) miss anything important?”  Think about what this question implies to the instructor.

POLICY ON PLAGIARISM/CHEATING:

·         The class follows the standards set in the Student Code of Conduct, Board Policy 5410, found in the Shasta College Catalog and Student Handbook, and students are subject to disciplinary action for violation of that code. 

·         Plagiarizing any work at all, in whole or in part, will result in an automatic grade of F for that assignment.  A second incident will result in an automatic F for the course.

SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS

If you feel that you will need academic accommodations in this class due to limits imposed by a disability then contact the Disability Resource Center (225-3973) to make the necessary arrangements.  It is the student’s responsibility to provide documentation that verifies the disability and type of limitations that may result.  The Disability Resource Center has been delegated the authority to 1) evaluate that documentation and determine if it is sufficient to justify accommodations, 2) determine which accommodations are appropriate, 3) facilitate the provision of approved accommodations.

Leo Fong © All Rights Reserved
For questions regarding this web site, please contact lfong@shastacollege.edu 
This web site was last updated on 04/13/2005