And congratulations!
You have successfully "found" the class blog! :)
Please "bookmark" this site for easy access.
Below you will find several items:
1. a copy of the syllabus & Grade Sheet, which was distributed in class today
2. a copy of the unacceptable errors handout, distributed in class today
3. a copy of the Breaking Bad Viewer's Journal assignment, distributed in class today
4. Packet #1 assignment
5. Packet #2 assignment
English 20—Composition II
Summer 2014
Sacramento
State University
June 3-July 10
English 20, Section 1 TWR
10:30-12:50 pm – Calaveras 134
Instructor:
Catherine Fraga
Class Blog: English20Summer2014Fraga.blogspot.com
Office hours: (Calaveras 149)
TWR, 9:30 am-10:20 am
OR BY APPT.
Course Description (from CSUS
Catalog): Advanced writing that builds upon
the critical thinking, reading, and writing
processes introduced in ENGL 1A and ENGL 2. Emphasizes rhetorical awareness by
exploring reading and writing within diverse academic contexts with a focus on
the situational nature of the standards, values, habits, conventions, and
products of composition. Students will research and analyze different
disciplinary genres, purposes, and audiences with the goals of understanding
how to appropriately shape their writing for different readers and
demonstrating this understanding through various written products. Note:
Writing requirement: a minimum of 5,000 words. Prerequisite: Completion
of ENGL 1A and ENGL 2 or equivalent with a C- or better; sophomore standing
(must have completed 30 units prior to registration). Units: 3.0.
COURSE GOALS:
Students completing English 20 can
accomplish the following:
· Reading texts from a variety of disciplines in a variety of
genres.
· Identifying appropriate context-based writing conventions.
· Composing, informally and/or formally, in a variety of subjects.
· Developing the ability to think critically about the values and
standards of writing
Required Texts & Materials:
·
Breaking Bad, Season 1 (there are many ways you can gain
access to this television series. It is streaming on Netflix; you can also
purchase it on iTunes or Amazon.com. I do NOT recommend that you rely on
youtube. Many of the episodes are missing scenes.)
• Rules of Thumb: A Handbook
for Writers (9th edition)
by Jay Silverman, Elaine Hughes, Diana Roberts Wienbroer
Publisher: McGraw-Hill
• Two blue (or green) books (small or large)
• Lined notebook paper with a clean, straight edge.
• Stapler.
• Reliable access to a computer and a printer. You will need the
computer to access readings; access the course blog, English20Summer2014Fraga.blogspot.com;
and view the seven episodes of Season I of Breaking Bad. In addition,
many of the readings will be items found on the Internet and will need to be
printed and brought to class.
• Sacramento State Student
Writing Handbook, 1st edition—available
free on line at:
You may also purchase a hard copy
of the handbook for approximately ten dollars at FedEx/Kinkos, on the corner of
J Street and 56th (5600 J Street)
(Suggestion: you may
want to bookmark the two web addresses above on your personal computer for
quicker access.)
Classroom
Policies:
1. Attendance is especially important
during this accelerated summer school course, which meets a total of only 18
days. Classroom discussions prepare students for all writing
assignments, and your fellow students and I need your input in order to make this
class more complete and enjoyable. I do not keep track of absences; this
is college.
2. YOU MUST TYPE AND DOUBLE SPACE ALL OUT OF CLASS WORK
3. In all fairness
to other students, out of class essay assignments
must be handed in on time. For every day it is late, 10 points is deducted
from your earned grade, even on weekends. You may not earn these points back in
a revision. In-Class Writing
Responses, Group Work and Quizzes cannot be made up.
4. You’re
responsible for finding out what you missed if you are absent. I will provide you with a class roster for your
convenience. If you miss class, ALWAYS
ASSUME YOU HAVE MISSED SOMETHING IMPORTANT.
5. My policy
on EXTRA CREDIT is…I do not believe
in extra credit. In short, “real” life outside the university does not operate
on the extra credit option. You earn the grade you receive. It really is a
fairness issue.
6. ABOUT REVISIONS: you have
the option to revise one of your first two out of class essays. (Due to the
time constraints of an accelerated summer course, there will be no time to
revise out of class essay 3). If you choose to revise, you must submit the
revision with the original. No
exceptions. An essay with unacceptable errors might be an essay you choose to
revise. Once you submit your revision, and receive it back with the revised
score, you can continue to revise and re-submit as many times as you wish until
you earn the grade you desire. ALL
REVISIONS MUST BE HIGHLIGTED WHERE YOU HAVE MADE CHANGES AND/OR CORRECTIONS,
ADDITIONS, ETC. and THE ORIGINAL GRADED ESSAY MUST BE ATTACHED TO THE REVISION.
NO EXCEPTIONS.
7. Plagiarism:
Students who plagiarize may be expelled from the
university. Copying papers off the Internet or using other sources without
documenting them are examples of plagiarism. (It is quite easy for instructors
to discover whether a student has done this.) Quotes and paraphrases in your
essays must be cited. Students who are discovered to have been plagiarizing
will be referred to the appropriate University Dean.
From the CSUS
Policy Handbook:
“As stipulated
in the California Code of Regulations, Section 41301, cheating or plagiarism
in connection with an academic program at a campus may warrant expulsion,
suspension, probation or a lesser sanction. Administrative action involving
academic dishonesty at Sacramento State is the responsibility of the Student
Conduct Officer in the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs. Any
administrative action taken by the Student Conduct Officer must be in
accordance with the procedures set forth in Executive Order No. 970, Student
Conduct Procedures for the California State University.”
Familiarize
yourself with this website—everything you need to know about what constitutes
plagiarism and the repercussions.
8. STUDENT ACCOMODATIONS AVAILABLE:
Become informed about accommodations for test taking and other learning
disabilities on this campus. The following excerpt is from
Testing
Services
Testing for
Students with Disabilities
Students
registered with Services to Students with Disabilities, (SSWD), are able to
take exams in an environment free from distractions, with tools usually not
available in the classroom. Some of the testing accommodations available to
students are; readers and scribes, computer assisted and computer adaptive
software, and wheelchair accessible and adjustable tables. Group room testing
times are 12:30 PM on Monday, and 8:30 AM and 12:30 PM Tuesdays - Thursdays.
Students arriving after 8:45 AM or 12:45 PM will not be admitted to the testing
room. Testing Accommodation Instruction forms are to be completed by faculty and
submitted with the exam. Exams should not be faxed or e-mailed.”
9. HOW
YOUR GRADE IS EARNED:
Attached to
this course outline is your Grade Worksheet. At no time in the semester
should you be puzzled about your grade. Please keep ALL returned & graded
work until the very end of the semester.
NOTE: quizzes are NOT usually scheduled.
Come to class prepared with the assigned reading assignments completed on the
day they are due to be read.
Refer to pages
3 and 4 in the Handbook to fully understand how your writing will be
evaluated.
10. ABOUT
THIS COURSE…
I have designed
a very different and I hope interesting and provocative set of themes for
discussion and critical thinking/writing for the semester. The core of the
course from which these themes/ideas will spring is the first season of the
television series, Breaking Bad.
On your own,
you will view all seven episodes of Season 1 as well as read a wealth of
material connected either directly or indirectly to some of its themes.
This series
poses so many intriguing questions about morals, family values/responsibilities,
conformity, gun laws, the line between good and evil, gun control, the war on
drugs, greed, health care and so much more.
In short, we
will examine and expand on several issues connected with the overall term of
“breaking bad”—straying from the path of morality, of legality, of conformity
towards something deemed unacceptable by the majority of society. In fact, the
origin of the term is American Southwest, a slang phrase meaning to challenge
conventions, to defy authority, to skirt the edges of the law.
I do not
utilize SacCT. This class has a blog and it is vital that you check it on a
regular basis, even on weekends, for important information, including reading
assignments and other information pertinent to the course. Please bookmark it on
your computer for easy, quick access. The blog address is below, AND in two
other places on this course outline.
www.English20Spring2014Fraga.blogspot.com
11. A note on classroom etiquette:
If you feel you cannot survive each
class session without the use of your cell phone, iPod, iPad or laptop
computer, etc., please do not enroll in this class. (Simply, it is the highest
degree of rudeness and disrespect.) If I see you busy texting, etc. I
will not hesitate to ask you to leave. (IF THERE IS A COMPELLING REASON THAT
YOU MUST KEEP YOUR PHONE ON VIBRATE FOR AN EMERGENCY PHONE CALL THAT MAY OCCUR
DURING CLASS HOURS, PLEASE INFORM ME BEFORE CLASS.) Again, we only meet for 18
days. I plan to give you my full attention for the 2 hours and 20 minutes, and
I expect the same from all my students.
EXCEPTION: Many of your reading assignments are found on the Internet.
I prefer
that you print out these assignments, annotate them, and bring the hard copy to
class on the day the assignment is due. However, you MAY access the reading IN
CLASS (on an electronic device) if you need to during a quiz or a writing
response.
Class Schedule:
(Please note: This schedule
is subject to change at a moment’s notice. Please bring this schedule and
required readings and appropriate handouts to every class session.)
NOT EVERY ACTIVITY IS LISTED ON
THIS CLASS SCHEDULE. It is not unusual to have a quick quiz over reading
material. There will be no prior announcement for these quizzes.
Tuesday, June 3
· Introduction to the Course
· Course Outline (handout)
· Unacceptable Errors (handout)
· Breaking Bad Viewer’s Journal assigned (handout)
· Sign up for Class Contact Roster
· Lecture: Television vs. Film
Wednesday, June 4
· Discussion: What is Rhetoric & Why is it so Important?
· Read Packet #1 (print out ALL reading packets & bring to
class)
· In class WR #1
· Out of class essay #1 assigned
· Class Contact Roster distributed (handout)
Thursday, June 5
· Group Work #1
· View Episodes 1 & 2 of Breaking Bad (come to class
having viewed)
· Read pgs. 67-78 in the Handbook
and read the following in Rules of Thumb: pages xvii-xviii; page 2; AND familiarize yourself well with all four parts of Rules of Thumb and how to utilize
specific information quickly and efficiently.
Tuesday, June 10
· Out of class essay #1 ROUGH DRAFT due today (OPTIONAL)
· View episode 3 of Breaking Bad (come to class having
viewed)
· Arrive to class having read pages 34-48 in the Handbook.
· Read Packet #2
· In class WR #2
Wednesday, June 11
· View episodes 4 and 5 of Season 1, Breaking Bad (come to
class having viewed)
· Read Packet #3
· Group Work #2
Thursday, June 12
· Out of Class Essay #1 due today
· Out of Class Essay #2 assigned today
· In Class Essay #1 (bring blue or green book to class)
Tuesday, June 17
· Out of Class Essay #2 ROUGH DRAFT due today (OPTIONAL)
· Group Work #3 in class
· Review Part 4 of Rules of
Thumb.
Wednesday, June 18
· View episode 6 of Breaking Bad, Season 1 (come to class
having viewed)
· Discussion: How to Critically Read and Evaluate an Essay
Thursday, June 19
· View episode 7 (final episode) of Breaking Bad, Season 1
· Out of Class Essay #2 due today
· Review MLA Documentation guidelines in Rules of Thumb.
Tuesday, June 24
· In class WR #3
· Read Packet #4
· Out of Class Essay #3 assigned today
Wednesday, June 25
· Workshop/Review on Errors Commonly Found in Student Writing
Thursday, June 26
· Group Work #4
· Read Packet #5
Tuesday, July 1
· Out of class essay #3 ROUGH DRAFT due today (OPTIONAL)
· Reading Packet #6
· Arrive in class having read one of the four sections in Part III
of the Handbook: Writing Across the
Curriculum at Sacramento State. Select the section that “fits” your major field
of study. If you have not yet declared a major, select the one that BEST fits
what you THINK your major will be. (Your choices are: Natural Sciences and
Math; Social Sciences; Arts and Humanities; or Business and Professional
Communications.)
Wednesday, July 2
· Reading Packet #7
· WR #4 in class
Thursday, July 3
· Out of Class Essay #3 due today
· Discussion of WPJ—How to prepare & what to expect
Tuesday, July 8
· In class essay #2 (WPJ Practice) Bring a blue or green book.
Wednesday, July 9
· Course evaluation
· Refer to Part 2 in Rules
of Thumb and review writing introductions and conclusions; writing a
thesis; and proofreading tips.
Thursday, July 10
· Last day of class; grade roster check
Name:________________________________________
Summer
2014, Prof. Fraga
POINTS
EARNED: Your English 20 Grade Worksheet
1650
points possible
OUT OF CLASS ESSAYS—600
pts.
Essay 1 (200
points)_____ Essay 2 (200 points)_____Essay 3(200
points)
IN-CLASS ESSAYS—400 pts.
In class essay 1 (200 points)_____
In class essay 2 (200 points)_____
IN-CLASS WRITING
RESPONSES—200 pts.
WR 1 (50 points)_____
WR 2 (50 points)_____
WR 3 (50 points)_____
WR 4 (50 points)_____
IN-CLASS GROUP WORK (200
pts.)
Each session is worth 50
pts.
Group Work 1
_____ Group Work 2 _____
Group Work 3 _____ Group Work 4 _____
QUIZZES (these five quizzes
may not always be “announced” and they cannot be made up. (250 pts. total) Each
quiz is worth 50 points. Please record
each quiz and your score below.
Quiz 1_____ Quiz 2_____
Quiz 3_____ Quiz 4_____ Quiz 5_____
How to assess your grade
earned: Divide the points you earn by 1650 to find the percentage.
100-95=A
94-90=A-
89-85=B+
84-80=B
79-75=B-
74-70=C+
69-65=C
64-60=C-
59=D
58 and below=F
In English 20, students should already be very proficient in word usage. We do not have time for grammar
lessons. (I will, however, provide
short ‘mini’ lessons when I feel they are warranted.) The following errors that are commonly made on student
papers are considered unacceptable.
For out of class essays each unacceptable error
takes ten points off your final earned grade. You may correct unacceptable errors and
receive the points back if you choose to revise. In class essays that have
unacceptable errors CAN always
be corrected to earn back the points lost.
1. there – place Put
it over there.
2. their – possessive pronoun That
is their car.
3. they’re – contraction of they
are They’re
going with us.
4. your – possessive pronoun Your
dinner is ready.
5. you’re – contraction of you are You’re
not ready.
6.
it’s – contraction of it is It’s
a sunny day.
7. its – possessive pronoun The
dog wagged its tail.
8. a lot – always two words I
liked it a lot.
9. to – a preposition or part of an
infinitive I
like to proofread my essays carefully.
10.
too – an intensifier, or also That
is too much. I will go too.
11.
two – a number Give
me two folders.
12. In today’s society
or In society today This
phrase is grossly overused and very cliché. Instead use “Today” or “In America”
or “Now” etc
13. right(s)/write(s)/rite(s) rights are a set of beliefs or values
in which a person feels entitled: His rights were read to him before he
was arrested for stalking Dave Matthews. Writes
is a verb indicating action taken with a pen, pencil or computers to convey
a message: Michelle writes love letters to Dave Matthews in her sleep. Rites are a series of steps or events
which lead an individual from one phase in life to the next, or a series of
traditions that should be followed: The initiate began his rite of
passage ceremony at the age of thirteen.
14. definitely/defiantly This
error USUALLY occurs when a writer relies solely on spell-check. You really
must learn to become the final editor of your work. Definitely is an adverb and it means without a doubt. Mary will definitely
miss the Dave Matthews Band concert. Defiantly
means to show defiance. She was in a defiant mood. It is an adjective.
Or it could be used as an adverb. She was defiantly rude and sullen
towards the professor.
15. On your Works Cited page: you
MUST center and type at the top the heading just as it is here: Works Cited.
NOT ALL CAPS, NOT BOLDED, NOT UNDERLINED, NOT MISSPELLED, NOT IN A DIFFERENT
SIZED FONT, ETC.
16. woman/women woman
is used when you are referring to ONE female lady.
women
is the
plural of woman, meaning MORE THAN ONE lady
There are many women
at the nail salon, but only one woman is shopping at the market next
door.
***********************************************************************
An accumulation of the following
errors will affect your grade, but not 10 points off for EACH error. My evaluation of your work depends on
how serious the error is, and how often you make it. Some do not slow up the reader as much as others.
- Misuse of the word
“you”. You must actually mean
the reader when you use the word “you”.
- Avoid use of
contractions in formal expository writing. (can’t, shouldn’t, didn’t,
etc.)
- Agreement of subject
and verb. Both must be either
singular or plural.
- Fragmented sentences,
comma splices and run-ons. Be
sure to proofread your papers carefully before turning them in.
You
will not pass English 20 if you cannot write an intelligent sentence in correct
English.
English 20, Summer 2014, C. Fraga
Viewer’s Journal Assignment
Learning Outcome:
If one is able to write an in-depth
character analysis, one will be able to write ANY kind of analysis.
Observing character and
determining/analyzing why someone acts, thinks, speaks, reacts, feels, and
responds the way one does is both intriguing and also the most challenging of
tasks.
For your Out of Class Essay #3, you will be writing a very in-depth analysis
of ONE of the main characters from Breaking
Bad, Season 1.
You will select one of the
following characters: HANK; MARIE; WALTER, SR.; WALTER, JR.; JESSE; or SKYLAR
(This is NOT the official
assignment for the essay. You will receive that on the day indicated on the
syllabus.)
However, when you do eventually
submit Out of Class Essay #3 you will
ALSO be submitting a Viewer’s Journal as well. If you do not submit the Journal,
20 points will be deducted from your score on the essay.
What is a Viewer’s Journal?
Simply, as you watch each episode
of Breaking Bad, Season 1, you will
jot down notes. There are no specific guidelines for WHAT you will write.
Record what you believe is
significant or may end up being significant. Some of your entries might read a
lot like a recap of the episode. That is fine.
As you view each episode, begin to think
about what character you would like to focus on for essay 3. Throughout your
viewing, more than one character may
intrigue you, so you may be jotting down observations and details about more
than one character.
This journal is strictly for YOU and for your use and reference when
planning and preparing to write essay 3. I will not be reading through them.
There is no requirement for length or content. These notes can be typed or
handwritten or be barely readable. Obviously, though, they should be at least
readable to YOU. J
When you submit essay 3, you will attach these journal entries
to the back of the essay.
It must be clear to me that you
have SEVEN distinct entries, one for each episode. Each entry must be titled by
the name of the episode.
Example:
Episode 2: “Cat’s in the Bag”
As you view each episode, and
observe the main characters, here are some questions to guide your note taking.
• What does this character do (and
not do) and why?
• What do others think about your
character? And how do you know?
• What motivates your character to
do what he/she does?
• What influences this character to
do what he/she does?
• What was your first impression of
this character and does it change as you view new episodes? Why or why not? In
which ways?
• What are this character’s goals,
dreams, desires, needs? How do you know?
• Do you like this character? Why
or why not?
• Is this character a believable
one, a genuine one? Why or why not?
"Sweet land of...Conformity?"
By Claude Fischer
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2010/06/06/sweet_land_of_conformity/
AND....
"A. J. Jacobs' Year of Living Biblically"
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/a_j_jacobs_year_of_living_biblically.html
By Claude Fischer
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2010/06/06/sweet_land_of_conformity/
AND....
"A. J. Jacobs' Year of Living Biblically"
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/a_j_jacobs_year_of_living_biblically.html
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