Syllabus

ENG101.0761

Composition I: An Introduction to Expository Writing

“Animal-Human Relations”

LaGuardia Community College

Spring I 2011

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7-9am

(7-7:50am, E-262; 8-9am, E-228)

Ms. Suzanne Uzzilia

Office Hours: Tuesdays, 9:15-10:15am (MB-14, office G)

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, the current reading, any additional handouts, etc.), 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 unexcused absence through March 26^th. After four hours of unexcused absence, you will automatically receive an F, unless you are able to withdraw from the course on or before March 26^th. After this date, you are allowed no more than four additional hours of unexcused absence.

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.

Required Texts:

Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat: Why It’s So Hard to Think Straight About Animals by Hal Herzog
 

I will be providing all other reading handouts; you are responsible for reading and bringing these handouts to class for discussion.

Course Requirements:  

In-Class Essays (25%):  

Diagnostic: 0%

Midterm: 10%

Final: 15%

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 (75%):

Essay #1: 15%

Essay #2: 25%

Essay #3: 35%

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 source; the second and third must include at least two 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 may 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).

Class Schedule:

Theme #1: Animals as Pets

T, March 6^th: Introductions, Diagnostic Essay

Th, March 8^th: “Then There Was You” (Roiphe)

T, March 13^th: [Diagnostic Essay Returned] “The Youth in Asia” (Sedaris)

Th, March 15^th: Essay #1 Rough Draft Due, 1^st part of “Pet-O-Philia” (Herzog)

T, March 20^th: [Essay #1 Rough Draft Returned] 2^nd part of “Pet-O-Philia” (Herzog)

Th, March 22^nd: Essay #1 Final Draft Due “Pony Party” (Grealy)

M, March 26^th: Last day to drop a course (you may be eligible for a tuition refund)

T, March 27^th: [Essay #1 Final Draft Returned] “Travis the Menace” (Lee)  

Th, March 29^th: Project Nim

Theme #2: Animals as Food

T, April 3^rd: “My Son, My Compass” (Smith)

Th, April 5^th: Essay #2 Rough Draft Due, “The Fruits of Family Trees,” from Eating Animals (Foer)

T, April 10^th: No Class (Spring Break)

Th, April 12^th: No Class (Spring Break)  

T, April 17^th: [Essay #2 Rough Draft Returned] “Six Rules for Eating Wisely” (Pollan)  

Th, April 19^th: Essay #2 Final Draft Due, “Delicious, Dangerous, Delicious, and Dead” (Herzog); Last day to officially withdraw from a course with a “W” grade

 T, April 24^th: [Essay #2 Final Draft Returned] “You Can’t Run Away on Harvest Day” (Kingsolver), “Grub” (Goodyear)

Th, April 26^th: Midterm

Theme #3: Other Animal-Human Relations  

 

T, May 1^st: [Midterm Returned], Cockfighting readings (misc.)

Th, May 3^rd: “In the Eyes of the Beholder” (Herzog)

T, May 8^th: “Petting Zoo” (Greely)

Th, May 10^th: Essay #3 Rough Draft Due

T, May 15^th:  [Essay #3 Rough Draft Returned] “The Moral Status of Mice” (Herzog)

Th, May 17^th: Essay #3 Final Draft Due

T, May 22^nd: “Death of an Innocent” (Krakauer)

Th, May 24^th: “All Animals Are Equal” (Singer)

T, May 29^th: Dog fighting reading

Th, May 31^st: Final

T, June 5^th: No Class (Reading Day)

Th, June 7^th: Individual Meetings (re: final, Essay #3, final grade, etc.)