course syllabus v1.2

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English Composition I
Confronting Contemporary Issues, Composing in an Academic Voice
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Fall 2009 MW2AF (0572)
2154 Boylan M&W 2:15 – 3:30p


Steve D’Amato
prof.damato@gmail.com
3308 Boylan M&W (10a – 2p), and by appt.
syllabus v.1.2

Required Texts & Materials:
-- A notebook, accompanied by your favorite pen and pencil.
-- D’Amato. ENG1 Coursepack. 2009.
-- Hacker, Diana. A Writer’s Reference with Writing in the Disciplines. 6th Edition. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2007. ISBN: 0-3124-7167-X
-- Obama, Barack. Dreams from My Father. New York: Three Rivers Press, 2004. ISBN: 1-4000-8277-3
-- Truss, Lynne. Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation. New York: Gotham Books, 2006. ISBN: 1-5924-0203-8
Note: your textbooks can be purchased only from Shakespeare & Co.; the Coursepack only from Far Better Copy

Course Description & Goals
The purpose of this course is for you to develop and improve your skills as a writer within academia. The saying that “practice makes perfect” cannot be more suitable when used in this context. This course is a workshop in expository writing focusing on strategies of, and practice in analytical reading and writing about texts, on fundamentals of grammar and syntax, and on writing as a process of invention, revision, and editing. In order to become a better, trained writer you must read and write, and frequently at that. Therefore, I have set the following goals for this term. Please keep in mind that these are benchmarks both I, as your professor, and you, as the student, should be continually striving to meet.

(1) Display correct grammar and spelling in your writing, in both formal and informal contexts
(2) Summarize an author’s position on a particular subject or issue; i.e. identify their thesis
(3) Compare the point of view of one author or text with that of another
(4) Understand and, crucially, compose effective thesis statements
(5) Use textual evidence to support your arguments
(6) Effectively organize your papers by including an introduction, a structured body, and a conclusion
(7) Use your personal experiences as viable examples in your writing
(8) Proofread and revise your own work
(9) To enjoy the writing process and its outcome

Course Requirements & Grade Distribution
I. e-journal (25%) – To complete this requirement I ask that you (i) join this class’s online blog; (ii) frequently submit and/or reply to posts as prompted; (iii) participate by writing at least 150 words. Each journal entry is due on the specified day, before the class convenes at 2:15p. The weblog may be found at: http://profdamato.blogspot.com/

II. Article Reviews (25%) – You must do brief, outside research to fulfill these assignments. These short (1-3p) papers summarize the thesis and content of an article or essay located within an “approved” academic source (e.g. J-STOR, ProjectMUSE, Google Scholar, the OED, the BBC, et al.). Note: Wikipedia is not an approved academic source! The selected article must discuss or address the topic corresponding to the syllabus. If you choose to do so, you may compare and/or contrast your article with one read previously by the class. Importantly, to receive credit the outside article or essay must be cited properly according to MLA format, printed, and attached at the end of your paper.

III. Essays & Essay Revisions (50%) – These are the bulk weight of the course: formal essays that display an effective thesis statement and sound organization, thus illustrating comprehension and thoughtful engagement with the required texts. These should typically be no shorter than three pages in length and no more than six. Outside sources, other than a dictionary, are neither recommended nor encouraged and must be approved prior to final draft submission.

IV. Exit Exam (Pass or No-Pass) – Given at the end of the semester, this two-hour written exam requires you to compose an organized formal essay in which you compare and contrast two articles that debate a common topic, theme, or issue. You must pass this exam in order to receive credit for English I and move onto English II.

V. Attendance and Participation – As a university student, coming to class prepared is vital. Similarly, remaining attentive, taking notes, and joining in-class discussion are vital means to obtaining the most out of this course. If your participation is poor or excellent it may affect your final grade by as much as one letter down or up, respectively.

Possible Final Grades
In accordance with departmental policy, the following final marks may be conferred in English I:
-- Standard letter grades A through C- will be given to any student who completes the majority of the course’s requirements. If a student’s work is less than a C- but higher than an F, the final grade becomes an NC.
-- A mark of NC—or no-credit—is a non-passing, non-punitive grade that requires the student to retake the course and strengthen his or her writing skills in a subsequent term. Each student at BC may attempt English I three times.
-- The grade of WU or F is given if the student fails to meet a majority of this course’s requirements, if the student is excessively absent or tardy, or if the student’s written work or classroom conduct is of poor and unsatisfactory quality.
-- Note: an unofficial withdrawal, or WU, will become an F six weeks after the term has closed unless appropriate action is taken by the student to resolve the withdrawal with the appropriate Brooklyn College academic office(s).

Class Policies
1.) Please bring the Writer’s Reference (WR), your notebook and a writing implement to every class meeting. Other relevant texts, e.g. Coursepack (CP), Obama’s Dreams (OD) or Eats, Shoots & Leaves (ES&L), should be brought as they are needed. Coming to class prepared is essential. If you are not prepared I may dismiss you from class.
2.) You are allowed three absences. If you miss more than three class meetings you risk being dropped from the course. Likewise, tardiness is not acceptable. Be on time. If you are consistently late I will be forced to take disciplinary action. If you must be absent due to religious observation please email me in advance, indicating dates/times and you will not be marked absent. Of course, if extenuating circumstances (i.e. medical or family matters) arise during the term that will impede your ability to attend class on a regular basis, please email me or see me during my office hours as soon as possible so we can work something out.
3.) All written work should be typed, double spaced, and stapled with your name clearly visible at the top of the first page.
4.) Plagiarism will not be tolerated in any shape or form. Don’t try it. I will catch you. Bad things will happen.
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/bc/policies. If a faculty member suspects a violation of academic integrity and, upon investigation, confirms that violation, or if the student admits the violation, the faculty member MUST report the violation.
5.) Late papers receive a deduction of one letter grade per day. Please, hand them in when they are due.

Academic Help & Tutoring
There is a wonderful wealth of academic help available to you at Brooklyn College. You can always email me or come see me during my office hours so that we can discuss the class and your writing. But perhaps you’d like to take another route… On the first floor of Boylan Hall, in room 1300 is the Learning Center. Here you will find writing tutors—as well as tutors who specialize in other subjects—who are more than willing to answer those pressing questions and alleviate those nagging concerns you might have about an individual assignment. If you feel that you need the advice of a peer, I strongly encourage you to visit the Learning Center and schedule an appointment. You’ll be glad you did.

Evaluation Criteria for Written Work
In this course your essays will be graded in the manner detailed below. Please read over this information carefully so that you fully understand what is expected of you. These terms apply to each individual assignment and to the class as a whole. Think of them as goals which you should consistently be working towards throughout your coursework in English I.
It is important to remind you that this page should serve as a reference guide for you. After you finish an assignment, look over these criteria and ask yourself the following questions. These questions are not only pertinent for you to consider for your own good, but also because they are the questions that I will be asking myself when I grade your work.
• Have all the assignment’s requirements been fully answered and fulfilled?
• Is the work appropriately and fittingly named or titled?
• Is there a thesis clearly presented within the introductory paragraph?
• Does the paper follow the structure outlined or suggested by the thesis?
• Is the body of the paper structured in a logical, flowing, and organized manner?
• Does the student show a clear understanding of the relevant text(s) at hand?
• Does the student provide quotations or evidence from the relevant text(s) at hand?
• Does the student analyze and adequately explain the textual evidence to illustrate and prove his/her point?
• Are the referenced sources parenthetically cited according to MLA format?
• Does a bibliography or Works Cited page appear at the end of the document in proper MLA format?
• Is there a conclusion to the paper?
• Does the conclusion reiterate and explain the paper’s thesis and main point(s)?
• Does the conclusion offer something new that has not been addressed in the paper?
• Is the student’s work free from grammar and spelling mistakes?
• Does the paper show signs that it has been proofread and revised by the student?

Note: This syllabus and its contents are subject to change and modification at any point during the term; before any changes take effect, you (the student) will be notified either in writing (hard copy), via the course weblog (electronic posting), or via a class-wide email message with the new syllabus attached (electronic copy). Compare version numbers on the top-right of the first page to stay current.