ENGLISH 1A—READING AND COMPOSITION (4 UNITS)
SPRING SEMESTER 2016
Instructor: Dr. Mary Ann Leiby
Office: H 121-D
Phone: 310-660-3593, ext. 3183
Section: 6345
Day/Time: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 9:05 a.m.-10:20 a.m.
Room: H 103
Email: mleiby@elcamino.edu (Please use your ECC email account and
always include your section number and specific topic in the subject line.)
Web Site: http://www.elcamino.edu/Faculty/mleiby/index.html
Office Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays: 8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.; 11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Tuesdays and Thursdays: 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Fridays: 8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.; and all week by appointment.
******************************************************************************
Prerequisite(s): Credit in English A and credit in English 84 or English as a Second Language
53C with a minimum grade of C and English as a Second Language 52B with a minimum grade
of C or qualification by testing (English or ESL Placement Test) and assessment.
Course Catalog Description: This course is designed to strengthen students’ ability to read
with understanding and discernment, to discuss assigned readings intelligently, and to write
clearly. Emphasis will be placed on writing essays in which each paragraph relates to a
controlling idea, has an introduction and a conclusion, and contains primary and secondary
support. College-level reading material will be assigned to provide the stimulus for class
discussion and writing assignments, including a required research paper.
Required Texts: (available on reserve at the library and at the campus bookstore:
http://www.elcamino.edu/studentservices/bookstore.asp)
1) The Mercury Reader: A Custom Publication. Compiled by Mary Ann Leiby, Ph.D. San
Francisco: Pearson Learning Solutions, 2015 (or earlier). ISBN: 9780558905071.
2) A Writer’s Resource 3rd Edition. Elaine P. Maimon, Janice H. Peritz, and Kathleen Blake
Yancey. San Francisco: McGraw Hill, 2010 or later (preferably the ECC custom version
with 2009 MLA update). ISBN: 9780077810337.
3) The Way to Rainy Mountain. N. Scott Momaday. The University of New Mexico Press,
1969. ISBN: 9780826304360.
4) I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Maya Angelou. New York: Ballantine Books, 2009.
ISBN: 9780345514400.
Materials: Folder or binder to keep handouts and readings given by the instructor; notebook to
keep class notes; several two-pocket folders for essays; a blank flash drive used only for
English 1A; notebook paper, stapler, white out, pen, identification labels for folders, etc.
Course Objectives:
1. Recognize and revise sentence-level grammar and usage errors.
2. Read and apply critical-thinking skills to numerous published articles and to college-level,
book-length works for the purpose of writing and discussion.
3. Apply appropriate strategies in the writing process including prewriting, composing, revising,
and editing techniques.
4. Compose multi-paragraph, thesis-driven essays with logical and appropriate supporting ideas,
and with unity and coherence.
5. Demonstrate ability to locate and utilize a variety of academic databases, peer-reviewed
journals, and scholarly websites.
6. Utilize MLA guidelines to format essays, cite sources in the texts of essays, and compile
Works Cited lists.
Student Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of the course students will:
1. Complete a research-based essay that has been written out of class and undergone revision. It
should demonstrate the student’s ability to thoughtfully support a single thesis using analysis
and synthesis.
2. Integrate multiple sources, including a book-length work and a variety of academic databases,
peer-reviewed journals, and scholarly websites. Citations must be in MLA format and include
a Works Cited page.
3. Demonstrate logical paragraph composition and sentence structure. The essay should have
correct grammar, spelling, and word use.
Students with Disabilities: It is the policy of the El Camino Community College District to
encourage full inclusion of people with disabilities in all programs and services. Students with
disabilities who believe they may need accommodations in this class should contact the campus
Special Resource Center, (310) 660-3295, http://www.elcamino.edu/academics/src/, as soon as
possible. This will ensure that students are able to fully participate. If you have a documented
disability and wish to discuss academic accommodations, please let me know. You may speak to
me after class, during my office hours, or by phone or email. Your privacy will be protected.
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism: El Camino College places a high value on the integrity of
its student scholars. When an instructor determines that there is evidence of dishonesty in any
academic work (including, but not limited to cheating, plagiarism, or theft of exam materials),
disciplinary action appropriate to the misconduct as defined in BP 5500 may be taken. A failing
grade on an assignment in which academic dishonesty has occurred and suspension from class
are among the disciplinary actions for academic dishonesty (AP 5520):
http://www.elcamino.edu/administration/board/AP5520StudentDisciplineDueProcessProcedures
December212009%20docx.pdf. Students with any questions about the Academic Honesty or
discipline policies are encouraged to speak with the instructor in advance. PLAGIARISM is a
serious offense and will not be tolerated. You must submit your essays to the web-based,
college-provided plagiarism software program Turnitin.com, which helps to determine if any
part of your essays is plagiarized. Cite and document all sources accurately to avoid
plagiarism; please review the discussion of cheating and plagiarism in ECC’s Student Code of
Conduct: http://www.elcamino.edu/studentservices/activities/codeofconduct.asp.
Attendance Policy: Students are expected to attend their classes regularly. Students who miss
the first class meeting or who are not in regular attendance during the add period for the class
may be dropped by the instructor. Students whose absences from a class exceed 10% of the
scheduled class meeting times may be dropped by the instructor. However, students are
responsible for dropping a class within the deadlines published in the class schedule. Students
who stop attending but do not drop may receive a failing grade.
Activities:
1) Reading assignments: assigned essays, novels, short stories, and poems.
2) Writing: 6-8 (maybe more) essays based on readings. Essays will include both timed, in-class,
revised, and homework writings. You will write and rewrite essays, as well as work on inclass individual and collaborative writing exercises and assignments. You will do independent
library and field research and write a 5-7 page research paper.
3) Grammar: exercises related to errors found in essays; collaborative in-class exercises.
4) Review of reading skills:
a.) Paraphrase
2
b.) Summarize
c.) Identify the various styles of writing (description, illustration, narration,
comparison/contrast, critical analysis, response and argumentation)
d.) Advocate or challenge the author’s assertions
5) Writing skills to be reviewed and introduced:
a.) Thesis statement
b.) Topic sentence
c.) Essay structure
d.) Research paper structure (MLA and APA formats)
6) Use of computer software and word processing to enhance collaborative learning and
facilitate the writing process in all stages.
Classroom Policies:
Essays. With the exception of Essay #6 (an in-class essay written on the last day of the
semester), you should include at least one rough draft with every essay. When turning in outof-class essays, place the final version, which must be clearly labeled and include a Works
Cited page, in one side of a two-pocket folder (please write your name and the course number
on the cover of the folder); in the other side place clearly labeled rough drafts, including any
peer reviewed drafts or drafts you have brought to conferences (either with me or the Writing
Center or other tutors), as well as photocopies and/or printouts of pages of books and articles
from which you quote or paraphrase. (You do not need to include pages from our course
handouts or textbooks, such as The Mercury Reader.) Please highlight or underline on these
photocopies and/or printouts any quoted and/or paraphrased material that you use in your
essay, placing the title page or first page of each source on top, with the author and title
highlighted, then staple to it the pages of the source from which you quote or paraphrase, and
organize these separately stapled source materials alphabetically (in the same order as the Works
Cited page).
Failure to include at least one satisfactory rough draft (one that shows proof of substantial
revision and/or proofreading) will result in lowering of the essay grade by 25 points. You are
welcome to discuss rough drafts with me during my office hours or you can make an
appointment for an alternate time that is mutually agreeable (but please make alternate time
appointments a few days in advance). In-class Essay #6 must be typed (in the computerized
classroom) and completed in the time allotted. Essays will receive a letter grade (A, B, C, D, F)
and count as a percentage of your overall course grade. To improve your grade on Essays #1, #2,
#3, and #4, you should revise them and include the revised versions in a portfolio. (See
guidelines for revision in the Understanding Your Grade section of this syllabus.) An
exceptionally well-written final in-class essay (Essay #6) will receive an extra credit point
that will improve the overall course grade.
Revisions. You will improve your writing skills (including grammar, if necessary) through
revising your work outside of class, for example, utilizing campus resources such as the
Writing Center (H 122) or the library’s Learning Resource Center (LRC) throughout the
semester to work on revising your essays. Such revision work may include any or all of the
services offered by the Writing Center: pre-writing conferences; one-on-one writing conferences
with tutors; virtual (online) tutoring (if available); grammar conferences and workshops, either
individual, group, or through self-based grammar software programs; MLA documentation
conferences and workshops; word processing; access to the computer lab to work on drafts and
revisions; and Internet research with access to ECC’s databases. The Writing Center offers
3
unlimited pre-writing conferences and two conferences on rough drafts per each writing
assignment. You can also have a conference on MLA documentation (in-text and/or the Works
Cited page). You must be sure to log in and out correctly at the Writing Center (bring your ECC
ID and enter the correct course section #!), as well as bring a copy of your assignment sheet
when you want to have a one-on-one conference on an essay. (Remember: if you lose your
assignment sheet, you can download it from our course website.) The LRC also offers free
tutoring for English assignments (http://www.elcamino.edu/library/lrc/tutoring/index.asp).
Ten percent of your overall grade in the course will be based on how well you use campus
resources or other means of support off campus to gain feedback on your writing and
improve it through revision for a portfolio. You should provide evidence of your revision
work, such as drafts on which you’ve received feedback from campus tutors or others, and the
revisions you’ve made based on this feedback. Be sure to include your Writing Center or LRC
conference drafts in the folder when you initially submit your essays for a grade, as well as any
other revised drafts. Depending on quality, these revisions can increase your portfolio grade, thus
improving your overall grade in the course.
Portfolio. At the end of the semester you must re-submit all of your essays in a portfolio that
includes the original GRADED essays, as well as REVISIONS of your essays. (Follow the
guidelines on pages 8-9 of this syllabus under UNDERSTANDING YOUR GRADE.) You
should include all out-of-class essays (with Works Cited pages). These revisions will raise your
overall portfolio grade, which counts for 10% of the overall course grade. You MUST turn in
the portfolio to ensure credit for all essays submitted during the semester, even if you do not
revise any of them. Do not include in the portfolio rough drafts, peer review drafts, prewriting
materials, or research materials that you have already submitted earlier in the semester; rather,
place all essays in order from Essay #1 to Essay #5 (Essay #5 being a revised, expanded version
of your research paper, with any changes from Essay #4 highlighted on #5) in a two-pocket
folder, and make sure all essays are labeled properly (with your name, section, etc.), and label
the outside of the folder as well. The Portfolio should NOT include late essays (essays that have
not already been graded). It must include all graded and/or revised essays from the semester, as
well as Essay #5, the final version of the research paper.
The portfolio is due for all students on May 4, unless you arrange an extension with me for a
later date. Only students who submit the portfolio on time will be able to attend a portfolio
conference, when we will discuss your portfolio and your probable grade in the course. Students
who do not submit a complete portfolio might not receive a passing grade in the class,
although in documented cases of extreme illness, family emergency, and so forth, I may agree to
submit an Incomplete grade for the course. The Incomplete grade is submitted with a default
grade, the grade you will receive if you do not make up the work within a certain time frame
(usually six weeks into the next semester). It is your responsibility to negotiate an Incomplete
grade with me in writing (via ECC email) before I submit final grades for the semester.
Quizzes. At any time you may be quizzed on material from the reading assignments or class
discussions; therefore, you must attend class regularly and take the time to read assignments
before class. Most quizzes will be created in-class, that is, students may contribute possible quiz
questions. The quizzes are usually closed-book and closed notes; however, you may bring to
class a list of questions and answers you have written based on the readings, using these to
help you with the quiz and/or to offer as questions for the quiz. Any quiz missed due to tardiness
or unexcused absence will receive a "0." No make-ups are permitted for quizzes; however, if you
miss class due to an excused absence the missed quiz grade can be changed from a “0” to a
passing grade (70%) if you arrange with me an acceptable make-up assignment (usually a list of
4
questions and answers totaling double that of the number on the missed quiz). Students who
attend class yet earn a failing grade on a quiz also have this opportunity to improve their grade. If
you miss a quiz on one of the novels, be aware that these quizzes are more heavily weighted in
your overall grade than the other quizzes. Except in rare circumstances (such as extended,
extreme illness), no more than two quiz grades may be changed during the semester, and the
make-up assignment must be submitted within two weeks of the date of the original quiz unless
you request and receive an extension via email.
Exercises. Throughout the term, you will be assigned out-of-class and in-class exercises,
including analyses of the assigned readings. You need not write out the exercises in the textbook
or respond to the textbook questions in writing, but you must come to class prepared to respond
to them in class. You will respond through writing to the readings using a method that I assign.
We will usually incorporate the writing into class exercises and discussion. Occasionally, I will
assign individual, out-of-class written exercises that will either help you in writing your major
essays or will be used for in-class group exercises. Unless I tell you otherwise, out-of-class
exercises should be typed; in-class assignments should also be typed and printed out in the
computerized lab/classroom, as well as saved onto flash drive. For group exercises, all group
members should save the work onto their flash drives and ensure that one printed copy of the
group’s work is submitted to the instructor. I will grade the individual and group exercises on a
simple scale of check minus, check, check plus, roughly equivalent to 60%, 80%, and 100%.
Serious efforts which for the most part answer correctly or address thoroughly the assignments
will receive a check plus; the grade lessens as the seriousness, correctness, and thoroughness of
your work lessens. Half-hearted efforts will receive a check minus or perhaps even a failing
grade; missed exercises will receive a “0,” so it is very important that you make up any
missed exercises as soon as possible.
Class Participation / Standards of Conduct Policy. You will be expected to participate by
contributing to class discussion, taking part in group exercises, and by editing and evaluating
other students' essays during peer review sessions. Always bring your textbooks to class, with
scheduled assignments already read and annotated by the dates listed, and always bring
your English 1A flash drive with all of your written work/assignments. You must, of course,
attend class to be able to participate; failure to participate due to unexcused absences will
significantly lower your overall class participation grade due to the failing grades you will
receive on in-class assignments not completed. Students must adhere to a strict Standards of
Conduct Policy: you will be expected to treat your peers and your instructor with respect,
listening to others attentively and speaking only when you have something to say that will
contribute in a productive manner to the class; violations of the Student Code of Conduct will be
dealt with according to campus policy. (Please refer to the ECC Code of Conduct, Board Policy
5500, for more information:
http://www.elcamino.edu/administration/board/boarddocs/5500%20Standards%20of%20Student%20Con
duct.pdf ). You should avoid disciplinary problems that disrupt the class and/or create a hostile
environment for your fellow students, including using the classroom computers for social
networking, e-mail, chat, or surfing the Web for material unrelated to course work.
Final Exam. You will take a final exam in the form of an in-class essay (Essay #6). You will
write this essay on the last day of the semester—Friday, May 13—thus, the essay must be
drafted, revised, and carefully proofread in class. It also counts as part of your final portfolio.
5
Rules:
1) You must attend class regularly. Each unexcused absence will result in a zero if I give a
a quiz or any other in-class work on that day. I will determine what constitutes an excused
absence. Do not expect me to excuse an absence just because you tell me you had to miss class;
you must put in writing via ECC email your request to have an absence excused, be prepared to
document the reason for the absence, complete all work missed in a timely fashion, and
double-check the MyECC online grade book and with me via ECC email to ensure that I have
recorded your absence and late work as excused. If you are sick and cannot afford to pay for
medical care, remember that the student Health Center is available for you
(http://www.elcamino.edu/studentservices/health/index.asp), as you have already paid for it as
part of your fees. When emailing me about an absence or other issue, be sure to do so from
your MyECC email account and include your section number and the topic (for example,
“excused absence”) in the subject line. Students must sign up on the roll sheet each day;
please be sure to do so, even if you arrive late.
When you miss class, it is your responsibility to find out from another student what you
missed (notes, reading assignments, due dates, and so forth) and to download from the
instructor’s website any handouts submitted to students on the day(s) you missed class; I will
not repeat lectures to students who miss class, and I will hold you fully responsible for coming
back to class (after an illness, religious holiday, etc.) prepared for quizzes, exercises, peer
review, and so forth, even if scheduled assignments have changed during your absence. Never
call or email me to ask about material you missed due to an absence; call or email another
student in the class first. Then, if you have questions, contact me, and I will be happy to
address your concerns. If you decide to stop attending class altogether, you are responsible for
dropping the class and notifying me. (The last day to drop classes at ECC and receive a
“W” is April 15.) However, if you have an emergency, serious illness, or other circumstance
beyond your control, please notify me as soon as possible before dropping the course; I am
willing to work with students in such situations, providing additional assignments to make up for
missed class time and/or arranging for an Incomplete grade to be assigned so that you can
complete the course. Arrangements for an Incomplete grade must be in writing via ECC email.
2) You must attend class on time. If you arrive late to class and miss a quiz or other in-class
assignment, you will receive a zero on the missed assignment; if you only partially complete an
assignment because you arrived late to class, your grade will be lowered accordingly. Frequent
late arrivals will lower your class participation grade due to missed work; such behavior is also
disruptive to the class and violates the ECC Student Code of Conduct.
3) You must submit work according to the assigned format. Essays must be on standardsized, white, smooth-edged paper, one side only, with 1" margins, and typed double-spaced in
good print, using proper (updated, 2009) MLA format. Please do not use odd point sizes and
unusual fonts to make your paper seem longer; such practices simply make you appear foolish
and manipulative. You must include your name, my name, the course title and section
number, the date submitted, and a brief description of the assignment ("Group Exercise";
"Essay #1";"Quiz #3") on each assignment and each folder you turn in to me. I will not
grade work that does not include this information in the top left-hand corner of the first page and
on the folder cover. Rough drafts may be written in pen, if legible, but I prefer them to be typed.
4) You must edit carefully. All essays will be subject to a strict grammar rule: each
grammatical or typographical error will count one point off the overall grade for the paper.
6
Do not rely solely on computer software for editing your work; refer to the required handbook, to
the notes you take at the beginning of the term, and to a good college dictionary.
5) You must photocopy (or print out an extra copy of ) each out-of-class assignment and
print out an extra copy (if in the computer lab) of each in-class assignment. Keep the copy in
case for some reason the original does not get to me or I misplace it. I also suggest that you save
work, including group assignments, onto a flash drive as well as email a copy to yourself.
6) Revisions of essays must be completed according to the guidelines for revision explained
in the “Understanding Your Grade” section of the syllabus.
7) You must submit your essays (Essays #1, #2, #3, #4, and #5) to the college-provided
plagiarism software program Turnitin.com by the due dates for the essays listed on the
syllabus; grades for essays not submitted may revert to an “F,” which could result in a failing
grade for the course, especially if Essay #5 (the major research paper) is not submitted.
8) You must complete all work to ensure a passing grade in the course. A student who has
received good grades but has not submitted all assignments might not pass the class. Even one
missed paper can lower the overall course grade significantly.
9) You must keep copies of all returned, graded material until at least the last day of the
semester (preferably longer, in case you believe you did not receive the correct overall course
grade); portfolios must include all graded essays.
10) You must use the computerized classroom only for academic work assigned for the
class. At any time, the instructor will be able to view your computer screen via software installed
in the computerized classroom/lab. If you choose to break the lab rules and view nonacademic
material on the Internet or write personal emails, and so forth, please be aware that you have no
privacy rights in the lab/classroom; the instructor has the option at all times to view your
computer screen and freeze it, thus gathering evidence needed to report you to the Director of
Student Development for Student Code of Conduct violations.
Grading Policies:
Paper Criteria:
A--concrete, well-detailed, well-organized, grammatically
sound, stylistically admirable paper.
B--reasonably concrete, well-organized--perhaps
a few minor grammatical flaws, perhaps some
minor problems with style.
C--paper lacks somewhat in concreteness, detail and development, has
some organization problems and some minor problems of grammar and
style.
D--paper poorly written, little detail or development,
poor organization, many minor and major grammar errors.
F--unacceptable manuscript, a laughable paper
without serious effort, many basic grammar errors.
***In addition, please see the English 1A Rubric, which is available on the course website.***
Grading Scale: A=90-100; B=80-89; C=70-79; D=60-69; F=below 60.
7
Final Grade Determination:
-Essays #1 and #2: 10%
-Essay #3: 10%.
-Major Research Paper (Essays #4 and #5): 30%
-Essay #6: 15%
-Revisions and Portfolio: 10%.
-Quizzes: 6% on novels, 9% on all other readings: total, 15%.
-Exercises and Class Participation: 10%
Late Assignment Policy: Late essays will receive 5 percentage points off for each day late. All
late exercises will receive a "check minus." See me about late work due to excused absences; I
seldom take points off in these circumstances. I also grant extensions when necessary, but you
must request these before assignments are due.
Understanding and Improving Your Grade:
If you ever have any questions about your assignments, grades, or writing, please feel free to
come to my office to talk with me. When I return your graded essay, it will have important
comments on it meant to help you improve your writing, including many suggestions for
revision. Revise your essay as follows:
1) Revision of grammar/MLA for a new grade: Regardless of the grade, if you’ve lost points
for grammar or incorrect MLA documentation on Essays #1, #2, #3, and #4, you may revise
the essay and have most points reinstated, as long as you do in fact make accurate corrections.
You MUST first make the grammar revisions in pen on the original graded essay and make
the revisions clear and apparent. ALL GRAMMAR AND MLA REVISIONS ARE DUE for
Essays #1, #2, and #3 two weeks after the date you receive your graded essay and for Essay #4
at the time of portfolio submission (May 4), but your revisions may be submitted earlier. Please
use a pen with ink that is a different color than what I used to grade the original essay. DO
NOT simply turn in a new essay with corrected grammar or MLA. Resubmit the original
graded essay with the grammar corrections and in-text MLA corrections made right on it
in pen and (if necessary) attach a new, corrected Works Cited page. For Essay #5 (which is a
revision and expansion of Essay #4), you will need to make grammar corrections in pen on the
original graded #4, THEN make revisions of grammar and MLA electronically on Essay #5. If
you receive points off for errors in a Works Cited page or for not including one, you must submit
the original graded essay with a new typed (revised, correct) Works Cited page attached.
2) Revision of content for a new grade: You may also revise out-of-class essays for content,
style, organization, etc. to receive a higher grade (regardless of whether or not points were taken
off for grammar and MLA). Very minor style and content revisions may be added in pen on
the original graded essay; more substantial revisions, however, (for example, reorganization of
paragraphs, more than a sentence of added text, etc.) will require submission of a complete
revision essay. Using a colored marker (or the Word highlighter), please highlight the
sections of this new essay that you revised (changed or added). Essay content revisions are
not due until portfolio submission. In your portfolio, you must turn in the original graded
essay with the revised version. In addition, you must also follow requirements (number 1)
above for grammar and MLA errors, revising grammar errors in pen on the original
graded essay by the two-week due date. DO NOT just highlight revised grammar on the
new revision essay. Content areas revised in Essay #4 should be highlighted in Essay #5,
including any additions/changes made, such as a revised thesis statement, new transitions, an
8
expanded problem section, and so forth (but pages added on the solution should not to be
highlighted). For group essays, each student should submit his or her own revised version in the
portfolio; however, it is fine for students in the group to work together on their individual
revisions. If I determine that students contributed equally to the revision effort (see me about
this), I might approve the submission of the same revised essay for all group members.
I write comments throughout your essay to help you identify both strong and weak aspects of
your writing. I also write a brief summary of my evaluation of the essay on the last page (or the
back of the essay if no space is available on the last page) and clearly indicate the letter grade
you’ve earned. If you EVER have difficulty understanding these comments or if you disagree
with the grade, I strongly urge you to speak to me right away, either before or after class,
during office hours, or in a scheduled conference. For explanations of my most commonly used
abbreviations and symbols, please refer to the list of abbreviations and symbols for editing and
proofreading on the last page of A Writer’s Resource as well as to the following list:
a check mark in the margin: there is a grammar error or typo in that line
a final grade slashed through followed by “xx pts. for gr.” or “xx pts. for
MLA”: the essay grade was lowered due to grammatical/mechanical or
MLA citation problems; most points can be reinstated with proper
revision. (See #1 above for revision requirements for grammar/MLA.)
ag: there are problems with agreement of number, person,
pronoun/antecedent, or parallel structure
AGT: agentless prose
ap: apostrophe usage is incorrect
awk: an awkward sentence or phrase; needs to be reworded for clarity of
expression
c.s.: comma splice (using just a comma to join two independent clauses)
c.u.: comma usage is incorrect; comma rules are not followed
diction: improper word choice; consult a dictionary or thesaurus
expl: expletive such as “it is” or “there are”; avoid and replace with agent prose
frag: sentence fragment
fused: fused sentence (two independent clauses shoved together)
pass: unnecessary passive voice
paragraph symbol: problems with paragraphing / start a new paragraph
question mark: your writing is unclear, confusing, or illegible
rep: unnecessary repetition
ref: the referent is unclear
r.o.: run-on sentence
slash through a letter: lowercase the letter
sp: spelling error
s.u.: semicolon usage is incorrect
s/v : subject/verb agreement problems
tense: verb tense is incorrect or not appropriate
underlined or circled word or phrase: signals a problem area (unless
accompanied by a positive remark)
word or line marked through: should be cut from the essay
wordy: unnecessary words
9
Important Dates:
Martin Luther King Holiday (Campus Closed): Monday, 1/18/2015
Last day to add a class and to drop with no notation: Friday, 1/29/2015
Lincoln’s Day Holiday (Campus Closed): Friday, 2/12/2015
Washington’s Day Holiday (Campus Closed): Monday, 2/15/2015
Spring Recess: 3/12/2015 – 3/18/2015
Last day to drop with a “W”: Friday, 4/15/2015
Spring Semester Ends: Friday, 5/13/2015
Student Resources:
Your success is the number one priority at El Camino College. College resources to help you
succeed include computer labs, tutoring centers, health services, and services for designated
groups, such as veterans and students with disabilities. For a comprehensive list of Academic
Resources and Support Programs, visit:
http://www.elcamino.edu/administration/vpas/aims/aims_docs/ARSP.pdf
 Reading Success Center (East Library Basement E-36): Software and tutors are
available for vocabulary development and reading comprehension.
 Library Media Technology Center - LMTC (East Library Basement): Computers are
available for free use. Bring your student ID # and a flash drive. There is a charge for
printing.
 Writing Center (H122): Computers are available for free use. Free tutoring is available
for writing assignments, grammar, and vocabulary. Bring your student ID and a flash
drive to save work. Printing is NOT available.
 Learning Resource Center - LRC (West Wing of the Library, 2nd floor):The LRC
Tutorial Program offers free drop-in tutoring. For the tutoring schedule, go to
www.elcamino.edu/library/lrc/tutoring. The LRC also offers individualized computer
adaptive programs to help build your reading comprehension skills.
 Student Health Center (Next to the Pool): The Health Center offers free medical and
psychological services as well as free workshops on topics like “test anxiety.” Low cost
medical testing is also available.
 Special Resource Center – SRC (Southwest Wing of Student Services Building):
The SRC provides free disability services, including interpreters, testing
accommodations, counseling, and adaptive computer technology.
El Camino College is committed to protecting the safety of our students. If you have been a
victim of misconduct/assault (including experiences of sexual harassment, sexual assault,
stalking and intimate partner violence), help is available. You can:
1) Speak with an instructor. By law, faculty must report to the Office of Staff and Student
Diversity any information about sexual or gender-based misconduct shared by students
in person, via electronic communication and/or in classroom papers or homework
exercises. Once an incident has been reported you can decide whether to cooperate with
the investigation.
2) Speak with a psychologist at Student Health. This assistance is free and confidential –
psychologists are not required to report to the Office of Staff and Student Diversity. To
schedule an appointment, call the Student Health Center at (310) 660-3643 or visit
their website: http://www.elcamino.edu/studentservices/health/
10
3) Contact the Office of Staff and Student Diversity at (310) 660-3813 or visit their
website for more information about resources on and off campus:
http://www.elcamino.edu/administration/hr/diversity/
Student Success Act:
New state regulations may affect your eligibility for financial aid, your registration priority, and
your ability to repeat classes. For more information, visit:
http://www.elcamino.edu/administration/vpas/aims/aims_docs/S3PF15.pdf. After completing 15
units or prior to the end of the third semester, all students must declare a major and complete a
comprehensive educational plan. Schedule an appointment to see a counselor for an up-to-date
educational plan by visiting: https://www.elcamino.edu/studentservices/co/appointments.asp.
Detailed Weekly Schedule:
Please note: the instructor reserves the right to make changes in the schedule if necessary.
Week of
Assignment
Jan. 20
W: Introduction; syllabus.
F: Computer Lab orientation (bring a blank flash drive, one that is used only for
English 1A, and be sure to bring it to class every day for the remainder of the
semester); Word Overview handout (on 1A website); Pasi Sahlberg’s “Teachers
as Leaders in Finland” (on 1A website); excerpt from Mike Rose’s Lives on the
Boundary (handout); Essay #1 assigned (all essay assignments are available
on the 1A website).
Jan. 25
M: A Writer’s Resource: “Learning across the Curriculum,” 1-18, and “Reading
Critically,” 21-27; Grammar Review handout (on 1A website); Grammar selfassessment exercise assigned (on 1A website).
W: The Mercury Reader: 1-28; grammar review continued.
F: Lecture on the three forms of oppression (on 1A website); Essay #1 due; Please Note:
Jan. 29 is the last day to add courses and the last day to drop and be eligible for a
full refund; it is also the last day to drop without receiving a “W” on your
transcript.
Feb. 1
M: A Writer’s Resource: “Writing and Designing Texts,” 37-106; Grammar Review
continued.
W: Grammar self-assessment exercise due; The Mercury Reader: Frederick Douglass’
“Learning to Read and Write,” 75-81.
F: The Mercury Reader: Paula Gunn Allen’s “Where I Come from Is Like This,”
82-88; Gloria Anzaldúa’s “How to Tame a Wild Tongue,” 89-100; Alice
Walker’s “In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens,” 101-10; Analysis Exercise #1
Assigned (on 1A website).
Feb. 8
M: The Mercury Reader: Argument, 29-74; Logic and Argumentation handout (on
1A website); A Writer’s Resource: “Thinking Critically,” 27-37, and “Writing an
Argument,” 126-39.
W: Optional Analysis Exercise #2 assigned (use the same 1A website handout as you
did for Analysis Exercise #1, but instead write on either Baldwin’s or
Bettleheim’s essay from The Mercury Reader, 111-20); Essay #2 Assigned;
Analysis Exercise #1 due; Group Analysis Exercise (in-class).
F: NO CLASS—Lincoln’s Day Holiday.
11
Feb. 15
M: NO CLASS—Washington’s Day Holiday.
W: A Writer’s Resource: “Informative Reports,” 109-12; Drafting of Essay #2 (inclass); IMPORTANT: You should start reading the assignments for the weeks
of Feb. 22 and Feb. 29 NOW so that you have time to read the entire novel
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Feb. 29.
F: Essay #2 Due, submitted in a labeled folder, with the paper copy of the final essay in
one side and all rough drafts, with contributions of individual students clearly
labeled, in the other side; the group leader should submit an electronic copy to
the instructor via ECC email (as a Word 2007 or 2010 attachment), cc’d to all
other group members’ ECC email accounts, as well as submit the essay to the
plagiarism software program (Turnitin.com: the link and class ID are available
on the 1A website; the password is the section number of the course).
Feb. 22
M, W: The Way to Rainy Mountain (entire book by Feb. 22); Guidelines for Interpreting
Literature handout (on 1A website); analysis exercise (in-class).
F: The Mercury Reader: Susan Glaspell’s “A Jury of Her Peers,” 124-42; Maya
Angelou’s “Caged Bird,” 121-23 (poem in the Mercury Reader); Optional
Analysis Exercise #2 Due; Essay #3 assigned.
Feb. 29
M, W: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (entire book by Feb. 29); analysis exercises.
F: A Writer’s Resource, “Interpretive Analyses and Writing about Literature,” 118126; Drafting of Essay #3 (in-class).
March 7
M: Draft of Essay #3 Due; Peer Review of Essay #3 (bring two paper copies,
including the Works Cited page, as well as an electronic version on flash
drive; read the Literary Analysis Peer Review Instructions handout on the 1A
website before class).
W: Essay #3 Due, submitted in a labeled folder, with the paper copy of the final essay
in one side and all rough drafts in the other side; submit the essay to the
plagiarism software program (Turnitin.com: the link and class ID are
available on the 1A website, and the password is the section number of the
course); Essays #4 and #5 assigned; A Writer’s Resource, “Researching,” 197271; work on the Research Quiz (on 1A website) while reading this assignment
from your textbook; Research Questions and Research Plan assigned (on 1A
website).
F: Tentative thesis (claim with reasons) for Essay #4 due; Library Orientation.
March 14
M, W, F: NO CLASS—Spring Break.
March 21
M: Drafting of research questions and research plan (use handout on 1A website); begin
reading assignments for March 28 and April 4.
W: Research Quiz due; Drafting of research questions and research plan continued;
book selection for research paper.
F: Research Questions and Research Plan due; outlining of Essay #4.
March 28
M: Paulo Freire’s “Chapter 2 of Pedagogy of the Oppressed” (link on 1A website); Jean
Anyon’s “Social Class and the Hidden Curriculum of Work” (link on 1A
website); Joanna Kadi’s “A Question of Belonging” (handout given out in class,
not available on 1A website); Free writing exercise (in-class).
W: The Mercury Reader: Langston Hughes’ “Theme for English B,” 143-44; Richard
Rodriguez’s “Public and Private Language,” 145-56; Ann Hulbert’s “Boy
Problems,” 157-60; Brian Doherty’s “Those Who Can’t, Test,” 161-67.
F: Signal Phrase/Education Readings Exercise (in-class).
12
April 4
M, W: MLA and Documentation handout (on 1A website); A Writer’s Resource, “MLA
Documentation Style,” 275-323; “APA Documentation Style,” 327-358; MLA
Works Cited workshop for Essay #4 (bring rough draft of Works Cited page, all
research materials, MLA handouts, and BOTH textbooks); drafting of outline.
F: Outline of Essay #4 due (bring several paper copies and an electronic version on
flash drive; read Peer Review of Outlines handout on the 1A website before
class); Peer review of outlines; tentative Works Cited page for Essay #4 Due.
April 11
M, W: Drafting of Essay #4.
F: Peer Review of Essay #4 (bring two paper copies, including the Works
Cited page, as well as an electronic version on flash drive; read Peer Review
Instructions handout on the 1A website before class); Revision of Essay #4;
Please Note: THE LAST DAY TO DROP CLASSES AT ECC is April 15.
April 18
M: Essay #4 Due (must include a Works Cited page, be submitted in a folder
with peer review drafts, a Writing Center reviewed draft, as well as printouts or photocopies of research materials; please highlight or underline on
these photocopies any quoted and/or paraphrased material that you use in your
essay, placing the title page or first page of each source on top, with the author
and title highlighted, then staple to it the pages of the source from which you
quote or paraphrase, and organize these separately stapled source materials
alphabetically (in the same order as the Works Cited page). Essay #4 must also
be submitted to the plagiarism software program (Turnitin.com: the link and
class ID are available on the 1A website, and the password is the section number
of the course); Research/Drafting of Essay #5.
W, F: Research/Drafting of Essay #5; Conferences on Essay #4.
April 25
M, W, F: Research/Drafting of Essay #5; Conferences on Essay #4; PLEASE NOTE:
your Essay #4 conference should take place by May 2; it is important to
have a conference on Essay #4 to receive an initial grade so that you will be able
to submit a thoroughly revised version (Essay #5) with the portfolio (revisions of
Essays #1, #2, #3, and #4).
May 2
M: Peer Review of Essay #5 (bring two paper copies, including the Works
Cited page, as well as an electronic version on flash drive); Conferences on
Essay #4 continued.
W: Essay #5 Due (with grammar corrections in pen on graded Essay #4 and content
changes made to Essay #4 highlighted on Essay #5, and must be submitted to
the plagiarism software program); Portfolio Due (must include revisions of
Essays #1, #2, #3 and #4: please follow syllabus directions for revision);
YOU MUST RECEIVE APPROVAL FOR AN EXTENSION IN ORDER TO
SUBMIT ESSAY #5 OR THE PORTFOLIO ON A LATER DATE.
F: Portfolio conferences.
May 9
M, W: Portfolio conferences; F: Final Exam—Essay #6 (in-class); bring a flash drive,
all files okay). Bring your textbooks, hand-outs, notes, etc. to use for the final.
13