Instructor: J.
Caroccio
Office Hours: Room
2311B, W 9:30- 10:30 am, Th 12- 1pm
Email:
jcaroccio@brooklyn.cuny.edu
Days: Mondays and
Wednesdays
Time: 8:00- 9:15 am
Room: 3404B
Website: http://bccompmwfall14.blogspot.com/
Course
Objective:
The Brooklyn College Bulletin describes
English 1010 as, “A workshop in expository writing: strategies of, and practice
in analytical reading and writing about texts. Fundamentals of grammar and
syntax. Frequent assignments in writing summaries, comparisons, analyses, of
texts and such other expository forms as narration, description, and
argumentation. Emphasis on writing as a process: invention, revision, editing.”
All of which will culminate in an exit exam that demonstrates the student’s
mastery of English Composition.
For
our purposes, this will mean a semester spent reading. A semester spent
thinking. A semester spent writing. We will accomplish this by reading essays,
fiction, memoirs, written speeches, interviews and other types of texts with a
focal point on expository writing. One cannot become a good writer without
becoming a good reader. The readings assigned are meant to give you examples of
thoughtful, coherent, and persuasive work. They are also meant to evoke strong
reactions, feelings, or thoughts in the reader. These works are written from
varying perspectives on a range of different social topics. Understanding the
material will require you to think critically and use personal experience,
knowledge and observations.
Writing
for this course will help you better understand what you read in this class
(and outside of it), how to think critically about what you read and, in the
end, how to write about topics that are meaningful to you for academic
purposes. Through comparison and contrast you can gauge the different sides of
an argument and synthesize your own thesis on the topic. Academic writing is
not an inherent skill, it is a laborious task that requires practice to
develop, which this class is meant to help you to do.
Class
Expectations: Composition is a component of the Brooklyn
College curriculum. Some of you are in this class with no aspiration of taking
another English class while others will go on to major in writing-related fields.
Either way, your time in this class is your responsibility and you are the one
who is held accountable for your education.
Ø Attendance - It is expected that you come to class on
time, prepared with any assignments due that day, and the reading in hand and
read. You are allowed up to three unexcused absences, after that your grade
will be negatively impacted. If, for some reason there is an emergency that
restricts you from coming to class for more than three times please contact me
right away. More than 5 unexcused absences will result in a failure for this
class, as per Brooklyn College policy.
Ø Assignments - You will be assigned 5 formal essays,
informal blog entries, and an exit exam at the end of the semester. Late Work will be accepted at the
instructor's discretion, and if accepted will be lowered by one grade interval
(B will become a B-). You are allowed to hand in one assignment late without
penalty so long as you inform the instructor 48 hours prior to the due date.
Blog - This course will have an outside of the
classroom component that will provide a space for initial responses to the
texts that we will tackle in class. Responses can be in the form of a question,
comment, or critique of the text and should not be a mere summary. They are for
your benefit since they can be used as a safe way to experiment with style or
technique and practice your writing. You are expected to compose six blog posts
throughout the semester. Two each month, so manage your work and time wisely.
These informal writings will not be graded but will be checked over the course
of the semester; on the first of Oct, Nov & Dec.
Formal
Writing – Formal Writing – You will be assigned 2
short papers to compose at home, as well as revise, and write 3 in-class
essays. Essays written in class should be written in blue or black ink. Short
Papers should be typed, 12 point font, an appropriate font type (i.e. Arial or
Times New Roman), double spaced, one inch margins throughout and include your
last name and page number on the top corner of every page.
These essays will ask you to write
instructive, analytical, persuasive, and comparative types of writing. Some
will be based on the texts we read in class, while others will draw on your own
personal experience. They should all conform to standard formal English, have a
coherent flow, express your own ideas and have a thesis.
Exit
Exam - This is an in-class essay given at the end of
the semester that involves writing a concise essay on two texts by comparing
and contrasting the ideas and arguments in each work; one short piece will be
given to you on the day of the exam and the longer piece will be given to you
two weeks before the exam. This essay should demonstrate a reasonable mastery
of the mechanics and style of English composition as well as an understanding
of the two texts.
Ø
Participation and Conduct - Active participation is expected in order to
make this class and peer review sessions successful. When you do participate,
you will be courteous and respectful to the instructor and to your fellow
classmates. That means refraining from offensive or harassing comments and
disabling of electronic devices. This class will be discussing topics that can
be sensitive or controversial, in the hopes that there can be an exchange of
ideas and perspectives. You are free to express yourself and with that freedom
you will be expected to defend your argument in an intelligent and professional
manner.
Ø
One-on-One Conference – Every student is required to meet with the
instructor at least once throughout the semester. These conferences will be
scheduled ahead of time and will count toward your participation grade.
Ø
Plagiarism
- When you present someone else's ideas,
writing, or work as your own or if you insufficiently cite your sources you are
plagiarizing. In no way is plagiarism acceptable or tolerated. If one of your
assignments has been found to be plagiarized you will fail that assignment, and
can possibly fail the class and face academic disciplinary action. You can find
the full CUNY Academic Integrity Policy here:
http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/bc/policies. If you are unsure of whether or not
you might be plagiarizing please check this site or consult me before
submitting your work.
Ø
Required Texts
o A
Writer's Reference By
Diana Hacker
o Little
Failure by Gary Shteyngart
o All other required texts will be found on the
class website.
Ø
Suggested Texts
o The Elements
of Style by
William Strunk Jr. & E.B. White
o Woe
is I by Patricia T. O'Connor
Ø
Grading - Grades for English 1010 range from an A+ to a
C- & F. There is no grade of D given. A grade of NC (No Credit) does not
affect a student's GPA but is still non passing. It can be given if a student
has done the work for the class but isn't yet writing on a level to pass the
class.
Participation and Attendance - 15%
Blog Posts - 10%
Essays/Short Papers - 55%
Each
In-class essay is worth 5% each
First
draft and final draft of short papers are worth 10% each.
Exit Exam -20%
Grading Scale
A+
|
A
|
A-
|
B+
|
B
|
B-
|
98-100
|
93-97
|
90-92
|
88-89
|
83-87
|
80-82
|
C+
|
C
|
C-
|
D+
|
D
|
D-
|
78-79
|
73-77
|
70-72
|
68-69
|
63-67
|
60-62
|
F
|
|||||
60-0
|
|||||
Resources:
Ø
The Learning Center, 1300
Boylan
Ø
The ESL Lab, 1408 Ingersoll
Ø
SEEK Tutoring, 1428
Ingersoll
Ø
Pudue OWl (Online Writing
lab), http://owl.english.purdue.edu/
Religious
Holidays: If
you must miss class because of religious observance that is your right. If this
is the case then please contact the instructor beforehand so you can set up an
alternative arrangement as you will still be held accountable for any work due
in class.
Americans
with Disabilities Act: If you have a disability, or suspect that you
may have a disability, and need accommodations you must register with the
Center for Student Disability Services at 138 Roosevelt Hall (718.951.5538.)
You can contact the Director, Valerie Stewart-Lovell,
vstewart@brooklyn.cuny.edu. Once registered please speak to me so we can set up
accommodations for you
Tentative
Schedule - Dates, readings and texts are subject to
change.
|
||
Date
|
Readings
|
Assignments Due
|
Wed 9/3
|
In Class: Syllabus
|
In Class: Diagnostic Mini
Essay
|
Mon 9/8
|
Little Failure p.1-116 (ch. 1-8)
|
|
Wed 9/10
|
Little Failure p. 117-224 (ch. 9-16)
|
|
Mon 9/15
|
Little Failure p. 225- end (ch. 17-last)
|
|
Wed 9/17
|
bell hooks – Remembered Raptured
|
Draft of 1st
Short Paper
|
Mon 9/22
|
Kathy Russell, et al - The Color Complex
|
|
Wed 9/24
|
NO CLASS
|
|
Mon 9/29
|
No reading
|
In-Class Essay 1
|
Wed 10/1
|
Neil Gaiman - Coraline (text and graphic novel)
|
|
Mon 10/6
|
Gene Luen Yang - American Born Chinese
|
|
Wed 10/ 8
|
Toni Morrison - Playing
in the Dark
|
|
Mon 10/13
|
NO CLASS
|
|
Wed 10/15
|
Susan Muaddi Darraj –
“It's Not an Oxymoron: The Search for an Arab Feminism”
|
Revision of 1st
Short Paper
|
Mon 10/20
|
Erica González Martínez –
“Dutiful Hijas: Dependency, Power, and Guilt”
|
|
Wed 10/22
|
Alison Bechdel - Fun Home
|
|
Mon 10/27
|
(In class) Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie –
“The danger of a single story”
|
Draft of 2nd
Short Paper
|
Wed 10/29
|
Gloria
Anzaldúa - Borderlands/La Frontera
|
|
Mon 11/3
|
Iilan Stavans - Latino USA: A Cartoon History
|
|
Wed 11/5
|
No reading
|
In-Class Essay 2
|
Mon 11/10
|
Jamaica Kincaid – A Small Place
|
|
Wed 11/12
|
Maxine
Hong Kingston - The Women Warrior
|
|
Mon 11/17
|
Kortney Ziegler - “It is Bigger
Than Microaggressions”
|
Revision of 2nd
Short Paper
|
Wed 11/19
|
Hacker Manual W3-b - W4-b. P. 158-160
|
|
Mon 11/24
|
Pha Lo – “When Eating Organic Was
Totally Uncool”
|
|
Wed 11/26
|
Bring in past essays & papers | |
Mon 12/1
|
Taigi
Smith – “What Happens When Your Hood is the Last Stop on the White Flight
Express?”
|
In-Class Essay 3
|
Wed 12/3
|
Past Exit Exam Student
Essays
|
|
Mon 12/8
|
Past Exit Exam Student
Essays
|
|
Wed 12/10
|
Past Exit Exam Student
Essays
|
|
Mon 12/15
|
Exit Exam Prep
|
|
12/17
|
10:30am - 12:30 pm; Room: TBD
|
Final Exam
|
