Syllabus

ENG101.0793

Composition I: An Introduction to Expository Writing

“Animal-Human Relationships”

LaGuardia Community College

Fall I 2011

Tuesdays, 1-3:15pm [1-3pm], Room E-266

Thursdays, 1-3:15pm [1-3pm], Room E-228

S. Uzzilia

Office Hours: Thursday 10:30-11:30am (MB14, office A), 11:45am-12:45pm (MB14)

E-mail: suzzilia@lagcc.cuny.edu

Course Description:

The LaGuardia Community College catalog describes ENG101 in this way:

In this course, students focus on the process of writing clear, correct, and effective expository essays in response to materials drawn from culturally diverse sources. Emphasis is placed on using various methods of organization appropriate to the writer’s purpose and audience. Students are introduced to argumentation, fundamental research methods, and documentation procedures. Students write frequently both in and out of class. Admission to this course is based on college placement test scores.

Declaration of Pluralism:

The LaGuardia Community College catalogue states the following:

We are a diverse community at LaGuardia Community College. We strive to become a pluralistic community. We respect diversity as reflected in such areas as race, culture, ethnicity, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, disability, and social class.

As a pluralistic community we will:

• Celebrate: individual and group diversity.

• Honor: the rights of people to speak and be heard on behalf of pluralism.

• Promote: inter-group cooperation, understanding, and communication.

• Acknowledge: each other’s contributions to the community.

• Share: beliefs, customs, and experiences which enlighten us about members of our community.

• Affirm: each other’s dignity.

• Seek: further ways to learn about and appreciate one another.

• Confront: the expression of dehumanizing stereotypes, incidents where individuals or groups are excluded because of difference, the intolerance of diversity, and the forces of racism, sexism, heterosexism, homophobia, disability discrimination, ageism, classism, and ethnocentrism that fragment the community into antagonistic individuals and groups.

We believe by carrying out these actions, we, as students, faculty, and staff can achieve social change and the development of a society in which each individual can achieve her or his maximum potential.

Classroom Expectations:

Every student in this class has the right to learn in a positive and respectful environment. When you come to class, please come ready to work. This includes turning off the ringer on your cell phone, bringing all required materials to class (notebook, pen or pencil, reading, and any additional handouts), and making your best effort. Please treat others as you would have them treat you, and do your best to contribute to group work and class discussions in a positive manner.  

Attendance Policy:

Good attendance is crucial to your success in this class. You may have no more than four hours of absence through September 27^th. After four hours of absence, you will automatically receive an F, unless you are able to withdraw from the course on or before September 27^th. After September 27^th, you are allowed no more than four additional hours of absence. There are no excused absences.

You must also be punctual. Being late two times equals one absence. If you are late, please see me at the end of class.

In case you have to miss a class or be late, please have the phone numbers and/or email addresses of at least two classmates so that you can find out what you missed.

Plagiarism Policy:

It is very important that you do your own work, so plagiarism will not be tolerated.

If a paper exhibits plagiarism, it will automatically receive an F, regardless of whether the writer intended to plagiarize or not. Students are expected to understand what constitutes plagiarism. When the plagiarism is eliminated, the paper will receive no higher than a C. If there is a second case of plagiarism, the student will either automatically be required to withdraw from the course, or, if it is past the withdrawal date, the student will automatically fail ENG101.

Please see the “Statement about Plagiarism” sheet for more information.

Required Texts:

You do not need to purchase any textbooks for this class. I will be providing all reading handouts; you are responsible for reading and bringing these handouts to class for discussion.

Course Requirements:  

In-Class Essays (15%):  

Diagnostic: 0%

Midterm: 5%

Final: 10%

You will write three in-class essays: the diagnostic, the midterm, and the final. The diagnostic is not graded. The last two essays will be at least 600 words in length. Your midterm may be revised, but your final may not.

Take-Home Essays (85%):

Essay #1: 15%

Essay #2: 30%

Essay #3: 40%

You will write three take-home essays. Each of these essays must be at least 600 words in length. The first essay must include at least one primary and/or secondary source, and the second and third must include at least two primary and/or secondary sources. Because revision is important, I will ask you to write two drafts of each essay. Please note that you have to have a passing version of every essay in order to pass this class. If you do not pass an essay by the second draft, you will keep revising the paper until you do pass.

If a paper is one day late, it will be deducted by one letter grade.

Please type essays written outside of class and make sure to proofread your papers before you turn them in. Essays must be written in MLA format (we will discuss this later).  

Please come see me during my office hours for additional help. You can also visit the Writing Center (Room B-200), which is open Monday through Thursday, 9:15am-3:15pm, 4:30-9pm and Friday, 9:15am-2pm, 4:30-9pm.

Class Schedule:

Theme #1: Pets

Th, September 8^th: Introductions, Diagnostic Essay

T, September 13^th:  [Diagnostic Essay Returned] “Then There Was You” (Roiphe)

Th, September 15^th: “The Youth in Asia” (Sedaris)

T, September 20^th: Essay #1 Rough Draft Due, 1^st part of “Pet-O-Philia” (Herzog)

Th, September 22^nd: 2^nd part of “Pet-O-Philia” (Herzog)

T, September 27^th: [Essay #1 Rough Draft Returned] “Pony Party” (Grealy); Last day to officially withdraw from a course with a “W” grade

Th, September 29^th: No Class: Rosh Hashanah

T, October 4^th: Essay #1 Final Draft Due, “Travis the Menace” (Lee)

Th, October 6^th: “‘Project Nim’: A Chimp’s Very Human, Very Sad Life” (Fresh Air)

Theme #2: Food

T, October 11^th: [Essay #1 Final Draft Returned], What’s on Our Plate? (misc)

Th, October 13^th: “My Son, My Compass” (Smith)

T, October 18^th: Essay #2 Rough Draft Due, “Delicious, Dangerous, Delicious, and Dead” (Herzog)

Th, October 20^th: “The Animals” (Pollan)

T, October 25^th: [Essay #2 Rough Draft Returned], “You Can’t Run Away on Harvest Day” (Kingsolver)

Th, October 27^th: “Grub” (Goodyear)

T, November 1^st: “Essay #2 Final Draft Due, “The Luckiest Lobster” (RadioLab)

Th, November 3^rd: Midterm

T, November 8^th: No Class: Election Day

 Theme #3: Miscellaneous  

Th, November 10^th: [Essay #2 Final Draft Returned], Cockfighting readings (misc)

T, November 15^th: [Midterm Returned], “In the Eyes of the Beholder” (Herzog)

Th, November 17^th: “Petting Zoo” (Greely)

T, November 22^nd: Essay #3 Rough Draft Due, “The Moral Status of Mice” (Herzog)

Th, November 24^th: No Class: Thanksgiving

T, November 29^th: [Essay #3 Rough Draft Returned] “Death of an Innocent” (Krakauer)

Th, December 1^st: “All Animals Are Equal” (Singer)

T, December 6^th: Essay #3 Final Draft Due, Dog fighting reading

Th, December 8^th: Final

T, December 13^th: No Class: Reading Day

Th, December 15^th: Individual Meetings (re: final, Essay #3, final grade, etc.)