Welcome to the Spring, 2005 Semester of ENGL 052 – Basic Writing II.  The following information is designed to help guide you successfully through this course.

Professor: Cheryl Scott 
Office: E 322
Email: cscott2@ccbcmd.edu Telephone: 780-6621
Office Hours:

Course Description:
Major topics:
  • Writing as Process
  • Grammar, mechanics, punctuation
  • Audience and Purpose
  • Sentence style and variety
  • Paragraph development
  • Essay development and organization
  • Introductions and conclusions
  • Transitions
  • Revision
  • Editing and Proofreading


This course provides intensive instruction and practice in writing coherent paragraphs and essays for specific audiences.  Course activities include drafting, revision and editing processes, as well as instruction in grammar, mechanics and usage. After successfully completing this course, you’ll be able to understand and use the following skills in your writing:

Materials needed for success:
1. McDonald, Stephen and William Salomone.  The Writer’s Response, 2nd ed. New York: Harcourt, 2000.
2. Fowler, Ramsey and Jane Aaron.  The Little Brown Handbook, 9th ed. New York: Longman, 2001.

Guidelines to follow for success:

This is a Pass or Fail course in which you earn either an S for satisfactory or a U for unsatisfactory performance.  In order to pass the course you must demonstrate your readiness to move on to ENGL 101 by successfully accomplishing the course goals and earning a passing grade in all of the following areas:

  1. Essays – You will plan, develop, write, revise and edit six essays, each one requiring you to use a different strategy to organize and present information. All drafts of these essays (whether for peer editing or to be graded by me) should be typed, double-spaced, using 12-point font (Times New Roman), with one-inch margins at the top, bottom, left and right of each page.  Name, date of submission, ENGL 052 and Sec., my name, and paper #, draft # should appear in the upper left-hand corner of the first page of the paper.  Each essay should have a creative title.  Please DO NOT use bold font, do not italicize it, do not underline it, do not USE ALL CAPS, do not “put it in quotes.”(See attached sample).  You will hand in all essays in a pocket folder and include all brainstorming and pre-writing activities, an organization plan, and all rough drafts (at least one from peer editing workshops), all peer editing sheets, and copies of any sources you used to support the ideas in your essays.  You’ll spend time working in small groups, brainstorming, reading and editing each other’s work, and giving and getting feedback from each other. Essays for these workshops must also be typed and complete in length, and you will need to bring enough copies of your draft for each member of your group.  You will receive more detailed information about each assignment well in advance.

  2. Revisions of Essays – If at first you don’t succeed in earning a passing grade on an essay, you will have an opportunity to revise.  Each paper you submit will be returned to you with a detailed explanation of why the paper did not earn a passing grade and detailed instruction as to which areas you need to revise.  You will be given two revision opportunities for each paper. Please take them seriously, because if you do not earn a passing grade on all of your papers, you are not eligible to submit a portfolio; thus, you will not pass this course.

  3. Journal Entries – You will plan, practice and refine your writing by keeping a journal notebook.  These assignments and topics will relate to the papers you will write for the class.  They will be graded with a check mark (passing) or a 0 (which earns you no credit).  You will receive more specific details in class.

  4. Participation and Preparation – These two areas go hand-in-hand.  Your participation in class discussions, writing workshops, and other collaborative class activities is expected and essential to your success as a writer and for the success of this class. Contributing to class discussions and being involved in all class activities, including writing workshops, will enable you to earn a passing grade in this area.  However, in order to be able to participate, you must also be prepared for each class.  This means reading all the assigned readings, bringing all your books, readings, and writing materials to class, and completing and bringing all assignments, including your drafts for workshops, your journals, and grammar exercises. Note, also, that I expect that while you are in this class, you will work on our class assignments, not assignments for your other classes. If you are not prepared for class or you work on activities not related to our class, you will not be given credit for attendance or participation and preparation for that day.

  5. Grammar exercises and quizzes – Each week you will be assigned chapters in your book that explain one area of grammar, punctuation, or mechanics and exercises that give you the opportunity to practice these skills.  It is really important that you read and complete the exercises in these chapters and demonstrate your understanding of and ability to use these skills in the writing of your papers.  Since one of the requirements for passing this course is to be able to identify and correct major and minor grammar and punctuation errors in your own writing, these exercises will help you accomplish this goal.  There will also be quizzes based on the information from these chapters that you have to pass in order to complete the course with a satisfactory grade.

  6. Attendance - Because participation and interaction of all students is essential for the success of the course, your attendance for each class is expected and required.  I understand that we all have circumstances in our lives that sometimes prevent us from meeting certain commitments.  With that in mind, you are allowed four absences for the semester without consequences. If you miss more than four classes you will fail the course.  There are also consequences for students who show up to class late. Two late arrivals are allowed.  After that, each late arrival counts as _ of a class absence.  In other words, two late arrivals are considered an absence. Missing a class is not an excuse for not being prepared for the next class.  If you miss class, refer to the syllabus or call a classmate or me to find out what you missed that day and what is due for the following class.  If you anticipate that this attendance policy will be a problem for you, meet with me ASAP. The final day to withdraw from any course is Wednesday, April 13.

Plagiarism – Academic honesty is expected of all students.  Plagiarism is the willful theft of another person’s intellectual work (his or her actual language, parts of or entire pieces of writing, or even ideas).  The most glaring example of plagiarism is to turn in a paper that you didn’t write, a paper obtained from another student or from another source, including the Internet.  You are also plagiarizing when you incorporate ideas and information from an outside source into your own paper without citing those sources or even when you copy from others in class. If you borrow ideas and/or statements from another source without citing the source, you will receive an automatic F for the paper.  If you plagiarize a second time, you will fail the course and could even be dismissed from your program of study or the college. Please see the attached handout with specific details.

The Writing Center – The Writing Center is located in H 338 and is staffed with professional tutors who work with writers in any subject area.  This service is free of charge.  Call 780-6799 or stop by to make an appointment.

Computer Labs – There are several open computer labs for your use on campus. The Writing Center, the Student Success Center, and the library are some of these areas.

Cell Phones: Please be considerate of your classmates and me and turn off all cell phones and beepers before you enter class.  If you take or make calls during class you will be asked to leave and it will affect your participation, your attendance, and your grade.

A Final Note - If you should have any questions or need any help during the semester, please don’t hesitate to call me or make an appointment to meet with me. I want to see you succeed in your writing, and I promise to work with you to help you reach your goals for writing and for this class. Please, don’t wait until it is too late to ask for help either from the Writing Center, the Student Success Center, or me.

**** There may be changes made to the syllabus as warranted by the needs of the class.  Plenty of notice will be given.


ENGL 052 –Basic Writing II - Spring, 2005 Syllabus
Cheryl Scott

Week 1:     Introductions

Tues. Feb. 1:    To course, syllabus, texts, and other students.
 
Thur. Feb. 3:    In-class Writing Sample

Week 2:    Planning/Brainstorming

Tues. Feb. 8:    The Writer’s Response (TWR) – Read Chapter 1-p. 1 – 7 & “A View From Mt. Ritter” p. 11-13
        Journal # 1 - “Before You Read” questions p. 11 and “Prewriting Practice” questions 1 & 3 p. 13
Introduce Paper # 1 (A Significant Experience)

Thur. Feb. 10:    TWR  - Read p. 14 - 17 (Do ex. 1.1 and 1.2)
        Sentence Combining- (Adj./Adverbs/Prep. Phrases) TWR - p. 31 – 36. (Do ex. 1.9, 1.10, 1.11)
Grammar and Usage - TWR - Chapter 9 - Editing Terms (Do ex. 9.1 & 9.2 – even  #’s only)   
        Journal # 2 – Bring Topic/Thesis/Outline for Paper # 1

Week 3:      Topic Sentences/Thesis Statements

Tues: Feb. 15:    Sentence Combining- (Coordination/Parallel structure) TWR p. 67 - 75. (Do ex. 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5 even #’s only)
Grammar and Usage - TWR  Chapter 17 (Comma Usage)  Do ex. 17.1 and 17.2 and Chapter 18 (semi-colons). Do ex. 18.1
Paper # 1 - Workshop Draft for Peer Editing

Thur. Feb. 17:    TWR – Chapter 2 – Read p. 39 – 42 (Do ex. 2.1)
        Read p. 47 – 51 “Participating Actively in the Writer Response”
Read “A Required Course in Beating Freshman Blues” p. 54 – 58
Journal # 3 - Do the Steps for Active Reading from p. 47 – 48, including the “Before You Read” (p. 54) and “Suggestions for Summarizing” (58) and “Personal Response” question # 1 (p. 58).
Grammar and Usage - TWR - Chapter 10 (Fragments) (Do ex. 10.1)

Week 4:    Evidence and Support/Introductions and Conclusions

Tues. Feb. 22:    TWR – Chapter 3 – Read p. 77 – 84.  Do ex. 3.2 and 3.3 and Read p. 85 – 90 (ex. 3.5 & 3.6 )
        Paper # 1 – Bring a revised draft for peer editing– Focus on intros and conclusions and evidence

Thur. Feb. 24:    Sentence Combining- (Subordination) TWR  p. 106 – 111. (Do ex. 3.7, 3.8, 3.9 – evens only)
        Paper # 1- Final Draft due
        Introduce Paper # 2 – (Observation/Explanation)

Week 5:    Unity and Coherence/Organization/Transition

Tues. Mar. 1:    TWR – Chapter 4 – Read p. 113 – 124. Do ex. 4.1 and 4.4 and Read p. 127-129 “A Generation of Bigots comes of Age” and p. 133 – 136 “Burned Out and Bored”
Journal # 4 – Read actively, annotating in the book.  Do the “Before You Read” and “After You Read” questions for each essay
        Paper # 2 - Bring in a thesis and introduction for Essay # 2

Thur. Mar.3:    Grammar and Usage - TWR  Chapter 11 (Fused Sentences/run-ons).  Do ex. 11.1
Paper # 2 – Bring a workshop draft for Peer Editing


Week 6:     Summarizing

Tues. Mar. 8:    Sentence Combining (Verbal Phrases) TWR  - p. 141 – 149. Do ex. 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8  (even #’s)
        Paper # 2 – Bring a revised workshop draft for Peer Editing

Thur. Mar. 10:    Grammar and Usage - TWR  Chapter 19 (Apostrophes).  Do ex. 19.1
Paper # 2 - Final Draft due
        Introduce Paper # 3 – (Summary Response)

Week 7:     Tues.  March 15 and March 17 – Individual Conferences

 Due: Journal # 6 – Your mid-term evaluation.     

Week 8:    Summary/Quote/Paraphrase

Tues. Mar. 22:    TWR – Chapter 5 – Read p. 153 – 164. 
Read “The Decline of Neatness” do ex. 5.1, 5.3, 5.4
Do the “Before You Read” and “After You Read” questions for “Killing Women: A Pop-Music Tradition” and ‘The Changing Face of America.”
        Journal # 5 – Bring a copy and a summary of the article you plan to respond to in Paper # 3
        This is the last day to hand in a final revision of paper # 1.

Thur. Mar. 24:    Sentence Combining-  (Appositives)  TWR p. 187 – 191.  Do ex. 5.5, 5.6, 5.8 (even #’s)
        Paper # 3 – Bring a workshop draft for Peer Editing

Week 9:    Spring Break – There are no classes from March 25 – April 1

Week 10:    Audience/Purpose

Tues. April 5:    Grammar and Usage - TWR  Chap. 13 (Subject./Verb Agreement).  Do ex. 13.1 and 13.2
Paper # 3 – Bring a revised workshop draft for Peer Editing and a revision of any other essay.
This is the last day to hand in a final revision of essay # 2

Thur. April 7:    TWR – Chapter 6 – Read p. 193 – 200.  Do ex. 6.1, 6.2, 6.3
        Read Essays “Appearances Are Destructive” (201) and “Teenagers In Dreamland” (210)
        Journal # 7 – “Before You Read” and “After You Read” questions
        Paper # 3 - Final Draft due
        Introduce Paper # 4 – (Evaluation)

Week 11:    Evaluations

Tues. April 12:    Sentence Combining – (Parallelism) TWR – p. 218 – 223.  Do ex. 6.4, 6.5, 6.7 (even #’s)
        Paper # 4 – Bring a workshop draft for Peer Editing

Thur. April 14:    Sentence Combining – (Sentence Variety) TWR – p. 255-259. Do ex. 7.1 and 7.2
Paper # 4 – Bring a workshop draft for Peer Editing and a revision of another essay.
           

Week 12:    Documentation and Plagiarism

Tues. April 19:    Grammar and Usage – TWR – Chapter 14 (Pronoun Agreement). Do ex. 14.1 and 14.2
Paper # 4 – Bring a workshop draft for Peer Editing and a revision of any other essay

Reminder:     Tomorrow, Wed. April 13, is the last day to withdraw from a class.  If you have not earned a passing grade on essay # 1 and essay # 2, you should talk to me about whether to withdraw or not.

Thur. April 21:    TWR – Chapter 8 – Read p. 261-269
        Paper # 4 – Final Draft due
        Introduce Paper # 5 – (Argument)
Grammar and Usage - (TWR) Chap. 15 (Pronoun case).  Do ex. 15.1 and 15.2

Week 13:    Outlining/Using Sources

Tues. April 26:    TWR – Chapter 8 – Read “The Case for Drug Legalization” (p. 269) and “Should Druds be Legalized” (p. 276).
Do “Before You Read” (p. 269) and “After You Read” questions 281).
        Journal # 8 – Prewriting Activities from Essay # 5 assignment sheet
        This is the last day to hand in a final revision of Essay # 3

Thur. April 28:    Sentence Combining – (Combining Review) TWR – p. 296 – 298.  Do ex. 8.1
        Paper # 5 – Bring a workshop draft for Peer Editing       
   
Week 14:    Portfolos: Revision/Editing

Tues. May 3:    Grammar and Usage – (TWR) - Chap. 22 (Clear/Concise Sentences). Do ex. 22.1 and 22.2   
        Paper # 5 – Final Draft due
    Introduction to Paper # 6 - (An in-class Essay) Persuasion
Bring in all drafts and evaluation sheets and final revisions of all your essays (# 1- # 4).   If you have not revised them and earned a passing grade, you cannot begin Essay # 6
   
Thur. May 5:    Preparation for Portfolio and Paper # 6. Complete the planning and prewriting section on assignment sheet
Journal # 9 – One page discussing the improvements in your writing this semester as they relate to the course goals.       

Week 15:    In-Class Writings

Tues. May 10:    Prep for Portfolio and Paper # 6
Journal # 10 - One page discussing the areas in your writing that continue to be problems for you as they relate to the course goals.

Thur. May 12:    Complete Paper # 6 – In-class Persuasive Essay
Due: Portfolios


Final Exam To Be Announced

There may be changes made to this syllabus as warranted by the needs of the class.  Plenty of notice will be given.