English 83
Spring 2008

 Instructor:  Jennifer McBride
Office Phone: 384-6376
E-mail: mcbride.j@mccd.edu
Meeting Hours: T TH F 10 am - 111 am; M 11 am - 12 pm; or by appointment
Office: Humanities IAC 239 

 

Course Description: In English 83, you will learn the basic rules of grammar and how to write an acceptable paragraph.  The class will focus on sentence and paragraph construction and end with the beginning foundation of essay writing.

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Required Texts and Supplies

Mosaics--Sentences in Context, 3rd edition

        ANY COLLEGE LEVEL DICTIONARY AND THESAURUS

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Required Work: 

* 7 paragraphs

* Weekly homework assignments

* 7 grammar quizzes

* 1 essay

* Final exam 

(Note:  Everything turned in may be handwritten; however, typed final drafts would be greatly appreciated if you have access to a computer.) 

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Rough Drafts and Final Drafts: Each paragraph that you write is worth 10 points.  The grading scale is as follows:

10-9 A
8      B
7      C
6      D
5-0   F

You will have one week from the day that I turn your paragraph back to you to re-write for a higher grade.  This is voluntary on your part; if you are satisfied with the grade you received, you do not have to re-write the paragraph.

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  Cell Phones and Pagers: Please silence your electronic devices before coming into the classroom, and leave the room to answer any calls.  I will assume that these interruptions will be for emergencies only. 

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Grades: Your final grade in the class is based on the number of points you accumulate throughout the semester.  These points will be converted into a percentage that will give you a letter grade at the end of the semester.

Paragraphs: 10 points X 7
Quizzes      Approx. 10 points X 7
Essay:         50 points
Final Exam: Approx. 50 points

Any plagiarized papers, copied homework assignments, or tests taken dishonestly will automatically receive failing grades. 

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Attendance: Attendance is crucial for this course.  Everyday, we will be learning something new or practicing our writing skills. I take roll every day at the end of class.  Please note,  I do not differentiate between excused and unexcused absences.  Students with excessive absences (five or more) may be immediately dropped from the course. 

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Homework and Exams  

Missed homework and exams cannot be made up. Short homework assignments will be given regularly and will help you prepare for quizzes and writing your paragraphs.  It is your responsibility to find out about homework assignments if you miss class.
    Quiz dates are posted on the class schedule so you know ahead of time.  If you cannot make it to class on a quiz day, you need to notify me before the quiz takes place.

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Class Schedule

Week 1:    Part I in Mosaics -- The Writing Process
                Diagnostic paragraph due

Week 2:    How to write the description paragraph
               
Week 3:    The description paragraph continued
                Description paragraph due
                Quiz over subjects and verbs

Week 4:    How to write the narration paragraph
               
Week 5:    The narration paragraph continued
                Narration paragraph due
                Quiz over fragments

Week 6:    How to write the illustration paragraph

Week 7:    The illustration paragraph continued
                Illustration paragraph due
                Quiz over fused sentences and comma splices

Week 8:    How to write the comparison/contrast paragraph

Week 9:    The comparison/contrast paragraph continued
                Comparison/Contrast paragraph due
                Quiz over verbs

Week 10:   How to write the definition paragraph

Week 11:   The definition paragraph continued
                Definition paragraph due
                Quiz over punctuation

Week 12:   How to write the cause / effect paragraph

Week 13:   The cause / effect paragraph continued
                 Cause / Effect paragraph due
                Quiz over parallelism

Week 14:   How to write the argument paragraph
               
Week 15:   The argument paragraph continued
                Argument paragraph due
                Quiz over combining sentences
               
Week 16:   How to write an essay

Week 17:   How to write an essay continued

Week 18:  Essay due
                Prepare for final exam
 

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Holidays

Jan. 21 --Martin Luther King Day
Feb. 8 -- Lincoln's Day
Feb. 18 --Washington's Day
March 31-28 -- Spring Break

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Last updated on January 11th, 2008 by Jennifer McBride