Tuesday, January 22, 2013

The Second Day

Today we went over our class syllabus, I discussed everything in detail, from beginning to the ending of each class session.  Here is the syllabus I went over:




Guam Community College
English Department

Spring Syllabus 2013
EN100W-14, Fundamentals of English – Writing CRN-10286
INSTRUCTOR: Mr. Jose A. Cruz, Jr.
Meets: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8:00pm-9:30pm Room C4
Contact #: 735-5579 (English Department)
Email: jose.cruz@guamcc.edu

Catalog Description:
EN100W:  Fundamentals of English/Writing

Students work toward improving their writing skills.  Instruction is individualized to meet each student’s level of ability.  EN100W focuses on writing as a process, conferencing with peers and the instructor, and using critical thinking skills to improve written work.

Students with a composition score below 4 from a prior EN100W course are required to retake EN100W until the required composition score of “Pass” is achieved.  Students may enroll in both EN100R and EN100W if they earn a score of 62-67 on the reading component of the COMPASS placement test.  Students are placed into EN100W if they received a grade of “P” in EN100R-Fund. of English/Reading, or are reading at the 9.0 or above grade level based on the Nelson-Denny reading test and currently enrolled in EN100R, or earn a score of 68-100 on the reading component, 0-100 on the writing component, and 0-5 on the essay component of the COMPASS placement test.

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs):

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

            1.  Demonstrate improvement in their overall writing abilities.
            2.  Submit prewriting drafts, outlines, rough drafts, revisions, and final drafts as evidence
                 of using the writing process.
            3.  Utilize a word processing program to facilitate writing.

OBJECTIVES:
The student:
1.      Will engage in the writing process, develop strategies, ask relevant questions, react and enjoy the writing of others. 
2.      Assume the responsibility for their learning, and have input into the writing of others in a positive non-critical manner. 
3.      To participate in the full writing process and turn in writing pieces on time. 
4.      Become actively involved with their writing, reading, and become critical thinkers. 




PROCEDURES:
1.      Attendance is very important!  Students are required to sign in at the beginning of each class period on the Attendance Sheet provided.  Attendance and promptness are strongly encouraged. 
2.      Inform the instructor of absence and have a doctor’s excuse if it is more than two days.  Make-up work will be given upon the date of return, for excused absences.
3.      Late assignments will be accepted at the discretion of the Instructor. 
4.      Students are required to come to class prepared. 
5.       Each class session: 
a.       Begins with a 10-15 minutes “free writing” exercise.
b.      Class/group sharing 5 minutes.
c.       Mini-skill lesson 10-15 minutes.
d.      Writing
                                                                                      i.      Choosing topics/narrowing topic
                                                                                    ii.      Drafts/revision/editing/proofreading
e.       Instructor – Student conferencing.
f.       Student – Student conferencing.
6.      All hand-written work should be legible in print.  Use of slang or offensive language will not be tolerated. 
7.      Students must actively participate in class discussions, group activities, one oral presentation (Author’s Chair) and conferencing exercises.  We will share our methods of writing, problems encountered, and strategies or solutions that work for us.  Group share may begin or end each class session. 
8.      Academic Dishonesty/Plagiarism issues will result in a grade of F and referral to Student Services Office. 
9.      All final papers to be turned in are to be printed from a computer (double spaced).  Final Copy: Must have student’s name, course number, instructor’s name, date, semester, and paper number (Left margin).  All pages must have student’s last name and page number, in the upper right corner.
10.  Evacuation Procedures: Instructor will inform students of exit procedures. 

MATERIALS:
No textbook is required.  Students will be given a folder to be used as their “writing folder” which will remain in class.  All in-class work, drafts and copies of your final papers will be kept in your writing folder.  STUDENTS MUST BRI NG LOTS OF FILLER PAPER, BLUE OR BLACK INK PENS, AND A DICTIONARY/THESAURUS/SPELLER. Use black or blue ink pens, do not use metallic or gel ink pens; never write with a pencil.  Instructor will provide worksheets and other activities as needed.  Recommended resource: Pocket Keys for Writers by Ann Raimes (Available at GCC Bookstore). 

Accommodative Services-Located under Student Services (guamcc.edu website)

The Office of Accommodative Services provides assistance to individuals with disabilities seeking educational opportunities with Guam Community College.  Our office is committed to ensuring that students with disabilities are afforded an equal opportunity to access the educational programs and services that GCC has to offer.  As well as our commitment to providing reasonable accommodations, adequate to the needs of an individual’s disability within a classroom setting, while maintaining the level of academic standards required in all courses and programs at Guam Community College.  The office telephone number is (671) 735-5597.
Mission
Through its actions, the Office of Accommodative Services seeks to create a climate at Guam Community College where all students, regardless of accommodative needs, become increasingly active participants in their educational experience.
Services Provided
  1. Reasonable accommodations for the classroom and the campus, based on your disability.
  2. Auxiliary aids for students who are in need of a sign language interpreter, note taker, e-books, etc.
  3. Assistance with the registration process and other needs concerning enrollment and student issues

FERPA and Privacy:
Under FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), your educational records are confidential and protected. Under most circumstances, your records will not be released without your written and signed consent. However, some directory information may be released to third parties without your prior consent unless a written request to restrict this is on file. You can learn more about student rights to privacy at the GCC online college catalog in Appendix I (http://catalog.guamcc.edu <http://catalog.guamcc.edu> ), by visiting the U.S. Department of Education website, http://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html <http://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html> , or accessing the FERPA Group on MyGCC which is open to all users.
If you still have concerns, please the Registrar’s office at gcc.registrar@guamcc.edu <mailto:gcc.registrar@guamcc.edu>.

Evaluation:

In addition to meeting the course requirements, students must meet the following criteria to pass this course:

1.      Achieve a passing score of 70% or better on the Standard English Recognition Test.
2.      Score a “Pass” on the final composition exam.

The following is an explanation of final grades:

            P – Successful completion of course and exam requirements.
Z – Progressing satisfactorily but has not achieved required competency level.  Student must retake EN100W.
            F – Student did not meet the requirements of the course.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE: ****Attend all classes as schedule is subject to change….
Week 1                                                                                          1/17-1/22                    
Introductions/purpose/procedures/writing survey/Introduction to Writer’s Workshop
Introduction of teacher, expectations of class, what we are going to be doing….beginning to ending of each class. 
Week 2                                                                                          1/24-1/29
Topics/Generating Strategies/Topic Chosen
Week 3                                                                                          1/31-2/5
Paper #1 Due: Feb. 5
Generating Strategies Continued
The Writing Process
Week 4                                                                                          2/7-2/12
Characteristics of Effective Writing/Punctuation Marks
Week 5                                                                                         2/12-2/14
Leads/Conclusions/Quotation Marks & Underlining                     
Week 6                                                                                          2/19-2/21
Paper #2 Due: Feb. 21
Editing/Model Writing
Week 7                                                                                          2/26-2/28
Commonly Confused words
Week 8                                                                                          3/5-3/7
Writing Partners Assigned
Group Editing
Week 9                                                                                          3/12-3/14
Paper #3 Due: Mar. 14
Presentation of favorite Writing Piece: Author’s Chair
Types of Paragraphs-Narrative
Week 10                                                                                        3/19-3/21
Types of Paragraphs-Illustration/Examples
Week 11                                                                                        4/2-4/4
Paper #4 Due: Apr. 4
Types of Paragraphs-Cause & Effect
Week 12                                                                                        4/9-4/11
Types of Paragraphs-Description/Definition
Week 13                                                                                        4/16-4/18
Final Paper due: Apr. 18       
Types of Paragraphs-Persuasion
Week 14                                                                                        4/23-4/25                    
Course Reflections/Writing Reflection Papers
Week 15                                                                                        4/30-5/2,7
Final Exams
Composition (5/2/13)
SERT (5/7/13)


****Syllabus is subject to change


Lengthy?  Not at all, I've read other syllabi, and they are more lengthy than what I have here.    The students that were absent last class, (on the first day), were tasked to write for me today, the remaining 30 minutes of class was reserved for them, to complete at least a paragraph of writing.  I wanted to see how they write, mainly just to get a feeling of all my students' writing.  Now I have to read six additional writing pieces, in addition to the twelve I got last class, totaling eighteen.  

Now it is time to read...student writing, hot off the press... 


Images taken from: http://pakistanpublicschool.blogspot.com/p/syllabus.html, http://south.mpls.k12.mn.us/syllabus14

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