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Last saved by: Stephanie Mood
Company: GCCCD

Medina

English Department

Associate Professor: J. Medina
Office: 569-A
Office Hours:	MW, 10:00-10:45 a.m. & 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
		TTH,  2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Phone:		619-644-7507
E-mail:		joe.medina@gcccd.edu

English 120, Reading and Composition

Texts:	Hodges’ et al. Harbrace College Handbook, current ed.
	Salinger’s, The Catcher in the Rye
	A file folder

Catalog Description:
Elements and principles of composition. Practice in writing expository and argumentative themes. Research paper. Reading to stimulate logical thinking and effective writing. Satisfies GE’s for GC, CSU & UC.

English 120’s Objectives:
Through readings that have been challenged, banned, or censored, this course aims to do the following:

•	Examine controversies around certain works;
•	Consider why certain audiences esteem works as valuable or laudable, and why other audiences consider those same works offensive, threatening, or harmful;
•	Examine how writers and societies respond to restriction on expression;
•	Consider how certain genres (e.g., drama, novels, autobiography, poetry, sort stories, children’s literature) and media of expression (e.g., printed books and periodicals, teaching, film and the Internet frame the exchange of values between author and audience;
•	explore challenges, bannings, and censorship controversies in our own society, as well in that of others;
•	and form the class as a community that shares, increases, and communally creates knowledge.
•	Write expository essays, using a variety of rhetorical techniques, including classification, definition, comparison-contrast;
•	Evaluate expository essays and fiction in order to understand how professional writers employ organizational and rhetorical techniques to develop their ideas clearly and persuasively. These readings will also serve as resources for the student’s own writing and the development of the student’s own clear style;
•	Examine the tools of rhetoric and the principles of organization and style as the basis for writing logically and clearly;
•	Develop the student’s skill and technique of effective library research; and
•	Learn the technique of writing on MLA research paper.
Course Content:
1.	Reading:
a.	The student will
1)	Read on a wide range of subjects.
2)	Learn rhetorical strategy used by professional writers and through class discussion will learn to evaluate and analyze expository writing.
2.	Writing:
a.	The student will
1)	Utilize in his/her own writing those techniques in the essays read.
2)	Learn to chose and delimit a topic, write a thesis statement, and from it prepare a plan for a paper.
3)	Write many themes both as outside assignments and as in-class writing.
4)	Learn what is to be considered an “A” paper, a “C” paper, or an “F” paper by observing examples of student work.
3.	Discussion:
a.	The student will participate in discussions dealing with analysis of the essays read and the writing techniques being used.
4.	The Research Paper
a.	The student will write at least one long investigative research paper to be completed near the end of the semester. In the paper the student will demonstrate the skills learned in previous assignments and the mechanics of the research paper—with in-text citations, bibliography cards, note cards, MLA documentation, and a works cited page.

Method of Instruction
I will:

1.	Assign and evaluate 5-7 essays, including at least two written during class meetings and four that involve critical thinking responses to a reading.
2.	Assign a fully documented MLA research paper within 2, 150-3, 350 words or 8-12 pages.
3.	Return evaluated assignments within a reasonable time with commentary that helps the student.
4.	Assign each student to write 10,000 words of evaluated prose, including written exercises as well as both drafts and revisions but excluding journals and other writing that do not receive evaluation.
5.	Employ a variety of teaching methods, including lectures, journal writing, prewriting, multiple drafts, writing exercises, small group workshops, oral presentations, student-teacher responses, and audio-visual aids.
6.	Assign work in the English Writing Center or the listening/viewing area of the LRC .

Entrance Skills:
1.	The ability to produce essays substantially free of major spelling, grammar, punctuation, and usage errors (i.e., errors which interfere with communication), and displaying competency of coordination, subordination, and parallelism.

2.	The ability to write a multi-paragraph essay focusing on a thesis statement and demonstrating an understanding of the concept of an introduction, a body, and a conclusion as well as adequate development, unity of idea, and coherence.

3.	The ability to recognize in professional and peer essays the rhetorical elements stated in #2.

4.	The ability to develop paragraphs and essays through rhetorical modes (narration, description, process analysis, definition, classification and division, causal analysis, and comparison-contrast) to accomplish a purpose with a given audience.

5.	The ability to write an argumentative essay that asserts a thesis and provides adequate, documented support.

6.	The ability to read college-level texts (12^th grade level).

Exit Skills:

1.	The ability to write clear, college-level prose, free of major errors in grammar and punctuation and exhibiting a varied sentence style.

2.	The ability to write expository and persuasive essays which are organized to present, develop, and support a thesis statement and whose parts cohere through logical organization and the use of transitions.

3.	The ability to analyze written discourse for the elements stated in #2 and to evaluate their rhetorical effectiveness.

4.	The ability to write an essay which uses the principles of classical argumentation.

5.	The ability to write an MLA fully-documented, college-level research paper.

Methods of Evaluating Student Performance

I will:

1.	Evaluate the mastery of the students’ critical thinking, reading, and writing skills primarily as they are demonstrated in the expository, persuasive, and argumentative essays.

2.	Evaluate the research paper.

3.	Evaluate a persuasive/argumentative final written examination.

4.	Assess the level of students’ writing and critical abilities as is evidenced through portfolios, journals, exercises, discussions, quizzes, and examinations.

Outside Class Assignments

1.	Library research to develop the assignments and the research paper.
2.	Students are responsible for reading all required works on the reading list.
3.	Students are encouraged to both attend and participate in Banned Books Celebrations. Literary Art Festivals, author readings, and other departmental offerings.

Evaluation: The Portfolio Assessment Grading Criteria
	Six essays: see attached Medina’s Grading Grid	=	30%
	The Final Portfolio Contents	=        15%
	The Research Paper	=	40%
	Attendance and class participation	=	15%
		Totals	=	100%

Student Responsibilities:

1.	Adhere to the attendance policy. You are allowed three absences which may be caused by illness, religious holidays, or a family death. Do avoid successive absences. On the fourth absence, you are subject to having your grade lowered by one full letter grade for the final course grade. On the fifth absence, you will be dropped from this course. Please do your best to communicate with me ahead of time if you will be absent from class.

2.	Arrive to class on time and remain until dismissed. If you arrive late or leave early, it will count as half an absence.

3.	Active participation in all class activities is required; non-participation in classroom and group activities will affect the grade.

4.	Have all assignments in on time; no late papers will be accepted.

5.	Be courteous to each other at all times.

6.	No beepers or any other distractions allowed.

Miscellaneous Information:

Forms:
All forms (e.g., financial aid) requiring my signature must be signed before or after class or during my office hours. All forms must be completely filled out before I sign them.

Plagiarism:
Plagiarism constitutes a serious problem! This class will address what constitutes plagiarism and how to employ the MLA style to avoid it. If, however, either of the two major assignments: the research paper or the Final Portfolio plagiarize material, those assignments will receive a failing grade, thus resulting in failing this course.

Title 5, Sections 56027:
Students with disabilities who may need accommodations in this class are encouraged to notify the instructor and contact Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSP&S) early in the semester so that reasonable accommodations may be implemented as soon as possible. Students may contact DSP&S in person in room 110 or by phone at (619) 644-7112 (voice) or (619) 644-7119 (TTY for deaf).

Supervised Tutoring Referral:
Students requiring additional help or resources to achieve the stated learning objectives of the courses taken in English are referred to enroll in English 198W, Supervised Tutoring for assistance in the English Writing Center (70-119).  The department chair or coordinator will provide Add Codes.

Students are referred to enroll in the following supervised tutoring courses if the service indicated will assist them in achieving or reinforcing the learning objectives of this course:
*IDS 198, Supervised Tutoring to receive tutoring in general computer applications in the Tech mall;
* English 198W, Supervised Tutoring for assistance in the English Writing Center (70-119); and/or
*IDS 198T, Supervised Tutoring to receive one-on-one tutoring in academic subjects in the Tutoring Center (70-229).
To add any of these courses, students may obtain Add Codes at the Information/Registration Desk in the Tech Mall.
All Supervised Tutoring courses are non-credit/non-fee.  However, when a students registers for a supervised tutoring course, and has no other classes, the student will be charged the usual health fee.

Remember to show that Griffin pride. Buena Suerte!

Your Instructor,
J. Medina						03-0762-004W

8800 Grossmont College Drive
El Cajon, California 92020-1799

Telephone 619-644-7000
Fax 619-644-7922

8800 Grossmont College Drive
El Cajon, California 92020-1799

Telephone: 619-644-7000
Fax 619-644-7922