CCBC Essex
Humanities & Arts Division
English 052
Sections ERA/ESA
| Semester |
Spring 2007 |
| Professor |
McLaughlin
|
| Office # |
E-301 |
| Phone # |
410-780-6300 |
| E-Mail |
bo_teach00@Yahoo.com |
| Office Hours |
M-W: 5-5:30 p.m.
(or with an appointment) |
ENGL 052
Basic Writing II
3 Semester Hours
The Community College of Baltimore
County
Description
Basic Writing II
Provides intensive instruction and practice in writing coherent
paragraphs and essays for specific audiences; includes the drafting,
revision, and editing processes as well as instruction in grammar,
mechanics, and usage.
Prerequisite: English
placement of LVE 1 or completion of (ENGL 051 or LVE 1) and (RDNG 052
or LVR 2) (conc.)
Overall Course Objectives
Upon successful
completion of this course, students will be able to:
- employ a generative and recursive writing process
that includes invention, planning, drafting, revising, editing, and
proofreading
- write for a variety of purposes and audiences
- develop and organize appropriate evidence
- use a variety of sentence structures
- write effective, focused and logically organized
paragraphs
- write topic sentences for individual paragraphs
- write thesis or controlling sentences for essays
- write introductory and concluding paragraphs
- use effective transitions within and between
paragraphs
- write coherent essays , as appropriate to topic,
audience and purpose
- work collaboratively with peers in the
development and revision of an essay
- identify and correct major sentence-level errors
(especially sentence fragments, comma-spliced and run-on sentences,
subject-verb-disagreement, and incorrect verb tense and form) in
their own writing
- identify and correct minor sentence-level errors
(including apostrophes, punctuation, pronoun reference and
agreement, and capitalization) in their own writing.
Major Topics
- writing as process
- grammar, mechanics and usage
- audience and purpose
- sentence style and variety
- paragraph development
- essay development and organization
- introductions and conclusions
- transitions
- revision
- editing and proofreading
Course Requirements
Individual writing
assignments will be determined by the instructor and will be described
in the syllabus for each section. However, all students will:
- Submit a diagnostic writing sample the first week
of the semester
- Write and revise at least six pieces of writing,
some of which will be written in class; at least one of the
multi-paragraph pieces will be written without the assistance of the
teacher or tutors as a means of assessing students’ end-of-semester
competency.
- Other duties as assigned.
Grading Policy:
Papers will receive
either a “Pass” or “Revise” grade. You will have two chances to
turn a ‘Revise” paper to a “Pass.” Ultimately and eventually all
papers must pass in order to fulfill class requirements.
The Grading Process for
written assignments will go as follows:
- First Draft
(must be typed) is workshopped. I won’t see it, but it is
required.
- Second Draft
(must be typed) is submitted to me and receives suggestions for
revisions.
- Revised Draft One
- Revised Draft Two
Last chance for a passing grade
All papers must be in
MLA format (see below) and submitted as a complete packet in a folder
with pockets. A complete packet includes all prewriting; the work
shopped first draft with peer comments, the second draft(s) and
evaluation sheet(s).
Rules Regarding Late Work:
If you are absent, and
it’s an unexcused absence, I will not accept late work under these
circumstances. Just because you are not here, does not mean the
assignment is no longer due.
- However, I tend to be much more understanding and
flexible if you take the time to email or call me the day of the
absence, not to explain yourself, just to let me know – a courtesy, if
you will. If you must miss class, you have the option to get your
work to me (either electronically, or delivered to my mailbox on
campus) by 5 p.m. the day after the assignment’s due.
- Also, when you are absent, it is best if you
learn from a classmate of any changes in the schedule or assignments
you have missed. You can call or email me, but it may be better
to talk to a classmate; I may not respond in a timely manner.
- Experts have proven that regular class attendance
will positively affect student success. Use this information
wisely!
- Participation Counts! (see definition
below**)
**more than mere presence in the
class. Participation is an active, meaningful, thoughtful, and
relevant contribution to the discussion and other classroom activities.)
Required Texts and Materials:
Buscemi, Santi and
Pharr, Donald. Writing Today:
Contexts and Options for the Real World. McGraw-Hill 2005.
College dictionary (paperback)
Computer disks (floppy or flash drives)
Folder with pockets
An email address
Portfolio:
At the end of the
semester you will submit a portfolio of three of your best pieces of
writing from this semester (chosen from the six major writing
assignments). Also in the portfolio will be a reflective essay
(details to follow during the semester). Although you will
receive grades on all essays and assignments as we go along, the
portfolio will be you opportunity to polish your essays and flaunt your
improved writing, revising and editing skills. The portfolio will
be graded as a whole, and will include a holistic assessment of your
writing.
Please note:
- Only passing papers may be included in the
portfolio;
- It is only after all papers have passed that a
portfolio may be submitted;
- Incomplete or late portfolios will result in a
failing grade for the course.
Workshops:
Before each major
writing assignment is due, you will have the opportunity and
responsibility to share your writing with a group of classmates in
order to give and receive valuable feedback. Attendance and
preparedness at Workshop meetings are required. You will complete
a Workshop review sheet for group members’ essays. Your comments
on review sheets indicate to me your grasp of the elements of good
writing.
Attendance Policy:
The Division of
Humanities and Arts considers attendance essential for student
success. The following attendance rules apply:
- A student enrolled in a course that meets twice a
week is permitted four absences and fails after the fifth absence.
- Punctuality counts. So much so that I will
count three tardies (five or more minutes after class begins) as an
absence.
- All absences are unexcused unless you present a
medical slip or other documented, verifiable excuse prior to or
directly following the date of the absence. Excused absences
might count towards your total days missed.
- I allow students to take two “Mental Health Days”
per semester. Everyone needs to stay in his or her pajamas all
day once in a while. Use these days wisely. All late work
rules will apply, and these days will count towards your total days
missed.
Course Outline
Tentative Schedule of assignments:
Please note: Instructor may need to change dates and assignments as the
semester progresses.
Week 1
(Jan. 29-31): Introductions:
Monday: Writing Diagnostic Essay
Wednesday: Grammar Diagnostic Quiz, meet the course,
syllabus and classmates
Week 2
(Feb. 5-7) The Essay:
| READ: |
Chapter 1: |
ASSIGNMENTS:
—both Exercises will be due Wednesday, February 7, 2007 |
Exercise 1.1 (p.
19)
Exercise 1.2 (p. 21)
|
Monday: Characteristics of the Essay
Wednesday: Reading with a Writer’s Eye & Write
with a Reader’s Eye
Week 3
(Feb. 12-14) Shaping Your Essay:
| READ:
|
Chapter 2 |
|
ASSIGNMENT(S):
—all Exercises will be due
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
|
Exercise 2.1 (p.
37)
Exercise 2.2 (p. 39)
Exercise 2.3 (p. 49--Essay #1)
|
Monday:
Lecture Topics:
- Choosing Your Topic
- Prewriting Strategies
Wednesday:
Lecture Topics:
- Focusing strategies
- Organizational Strategies
- Drafting Strategies
Week 4 (Feb.
19-21) Editing Skills
| READ: |
Chapters 3
& 4: |
ASSIGNMENT(s):
—all Exercises will be due Wednesday, February 21, 2007 |
- Exercise 3.2 (p. 68)
- Exercise 3.3 (p70)
- Exercise 3.5 (p. 76)
- Exercise 4.1 (p. 89)
- Exercise 4.2 (p. 89)
- Exercise 4.3 (p. 92)
- Exercise 4.4 (p. 93)
- Essay #1 (work shopped) due Wed. with peer
reviews
|
Monday:
Writing Workshop: Using Exercise 4.7 (p. 96) as a guide,
pair-share your drafts of Essay #1 with a classmate.
Lecture Topics:
- Paragraphs in Context
- Writing Effective Topic Sentences
- Achieving Unity
- Achieving Coherence
Wednesday:
- Peer Response and Review
- Revising Essays
Week 5 (Feb.
26-28) Refining Your Essay
| READ: |
Chapter: 5 |
|
ASSIGNMENT(s):
—all Exercises will be due
Wednesday,
February 28, 2007
|
- Exercise 5.1 (p. 103)
- Exercise 5.2 (p. 103)
- Exercise 5.5 (p. 112)
- Exercise 5.6 (p. 114)
- Exercise 5.7 (p. 117)
- Essay #1 (Revised) due Wed.
|
Monday:
Wednesday:
Week 6
(Mar. 5-7) Essay #2:
Narration:
| READ: |
Chapter 7: |
| ASSIGNMENT(s): |
- Choose Essay topics from the Suggestions
for Writing
sections of Chapter 7 located on the following pages: (1st draft due
March 12 to be work shopped)
- P. 179
- P. 182
- P. 185
- P. 190
- (Additional Writing Topics P. 205)
|
Monday:
Reading the Narrative Essay with a Writer’s Eye:
“Only Daughter,” by Sandra Cisneros
“A Hanging,” by George Orwell
Lecture:
Issues to Keep in Mind
Choosing a Topic
Prewriting
Wednesday:
Organizing
Drafting
Revising Your Draft
Week 7
(Mar. 12-14) Essay #2: Workshop
| READ: |
Chapter 6 |
| ASSIGNMENT: |
- Work shopped Essay #2 due Wed. with peer
reviews
|
Week 8
(Mar. 19-21) Essay #3: Description
| READ: |
Chapter |
| ASSIGNMENT: |
- Revised copy of Essay #2 due Wed. March 21
- First draft (Essay #3) due March 26 (to be
work shopped)
|
Monday:
Reading the Descriptive Essay with a Writer’s Eye:
“Photographs of My Parents,” by Maxine Hong Kingston
from The Gift
Horse, by Hildegard Knef
Writing with a Reader’s Eye:
Issues to Keep in Mind
Choosing a Topic
Prewriting
Wednesday:
Writing with a Reader’s Eye:
Organizing
Drafting
Revising Your Draft
Week 9
(Mar. 26-28) Essay #3: Workshop
| READ: |
Chapter 9 |
| ASSIGNMENT: |
- Work shopped Essay #3 due Wednesday, March
28, 2007 with peer reviews
|
Week 10
(Apr. 2-4) Essay #4: Process Essay
| READ: |
N/A |
| ASSIGNMENT: |
- Final copy (Essay #3) due April 16
- 1st draft (Essay #4) due April 16 (to be
work shopped)
|
Monday:
Reading with a Writer’s Eye:
“My First Conk ,” by
Malcolm X
“How Not to Use the Fax Machine and the Cellular
Phone,” by Umberto Eco
Writing with a Reader’s Eye:
Issues to Keep in Mind
Choosing a Topic
Prewriting
(Choose Essay topics from the Suggestions for Writing
sections of Chapter8 located on the following pages: p. 251, p. 255, p.
258, p. 263, Additional Writing Topics, p. 274.)
Wednesday:
Writing with a Reader’s Eye:
Organizing
Drafting
Revising Your Draft
Week 11
(Apr. 9-11)
Spring Break!
READING(S)
|
Chapter 14 |
| ASSIGNMENT(S) |
- Final copy (Essay #3) due April 16
- 1st draft (Essay #4) due April 16 (to be
work shopped)
|
Week 12
(Apr. 16-18) Essay #4: Workshop:
| READING(S) |
Chapter 17 |
| ASSIGNMENT(S) |
- Work shopped Essay #4 due Wednesday, April
18, 2007 with peer reviews
|
Week 13
(Apr. 23-25) Essay #5 Argument
Last Day to withdraw with “W” Apr. 27!
READING(S)
|
Chapter 18 |
| ASSIGNMENT(S) |
- Final copy (Essay #4) due Wednesday, April
25, 2007
- 1st draft (Essay #5) due Monday, April 30,
2007 (to be work shopped)
|
Monday:
Reading with a Writer’s Eye:
“Students Who Push
Bergers ,” by Walter S. Minot
“What Should Be Done About Rock Lyrics?” by Caryl Rivers
Writing with a Reader’s Eye:
Issues to Keep in Mind
Choosing a Topic
Prewriting
(Choose Essay topics from the Suggestions
for Writing sections of Chapter 14 located on the following pages: p.
428, p. 432, p. 435, p. 439, Additional Writing Topics, p. 455.)
Wednesday:
Writing with a Reader’s Eye:
Organizing
Drafting
Revising Your Draft
Week 14
(Apr. 30-May 2) Essay #5 Workshop
| READING(S) |
Chapter 16 |
ASSIGNMENT(S)
|
- Work shopped Essay #5 due Wednesday, May 2,
2007 with peer reviews
- REVISED COPY DUE MAY 7
|
Week 15
(May 7-9)
Portfolio ASSESSMENT
Monday:
Essay Examinations:
1. Study for the Exam
2. Read the Directions
3. Allocate Your Time
4. Interpret Key Words
5. Prewriting Essay Responses
6. Drafting Your Essay
Portfolio:
Guidelines Set
Production
Wednesday:
Portfolio:
Productions
Week 16 (May 14-16) FINALS WEEK (CONSULT COLLEGE’S
EXAM SCHEDLUE FOR TIME/LOCATION)
The Writing Center
The Writing Center, located in H338 (410)780-6799, provides free
assistance with any stage of the writing process, including generating
ideas, organizing, editing, etc. Do take advantage of this
important resource.
Other Course Information
Students will demonstrate their readiness to move on to ENGL 101 either
through an end of the course portfolio assessment. Criteria for either
evaluation process will be based on CCBC End-of-Course Competencies for
ENGL 052.