Dr. Daniel Lynch Fall 1, 2011
Office: E-103 G Tel: 518 482-5673 Composition I/ENG101
Office Hours Mon 3:25-4:25 pm, Wed 9:15-10:15 am, and by appointment
e-mail ProfDan0774@gmail.com
Please write me an email with your name in the subject heading.
Course Syllabus
Books needed for the course:
1) Rebecca Skloot, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (free from LaGuardia College; I will distribute it.)
2) Graff and Birkenstein, They Say, I Say (You have to buy it)
Freely distributed: Various handouts on writing essays.
In this class, we will work together to help you become a good writer: to write clear English sentences using a college-level vocabulary to support a thesis in a well organized essay. Everything is planned with that end in view. We will read, think discuss and write about important issues. What follows is a clear description of the course, especially the grading policies. I want you to approach the course with a positive, "I can do it" attitude.
During the semester, you will write 6 essays (high stakes assignments) and some exercises and briefer assignments (low stakes) [High and low stakes refer to large or small bets in gambling. For some reason, the terms are popular among writing teachers.]
1 —Diagnostic Essay = (300 words): "Once I was, But Now I am" or "Now I Am, But I Will Be." Not counted as part of your grade
2 —“Sandwich” Paragraph using quotation 5% of your grade
3 —-Essay, They Say, I Say--Midterm--25% of grade
4— Research Report on a topic growing out of our discussions of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
First Draft = 10% (800 words)
Final Draft = 15% (1200 words)
5— Essay on film and review of it, They Say, I Say (600 words) 25%
6 — Final In-class They Say, I Say Essay --Henrietta Lacks= 15% of grade, .(600 words)
Active class participation — 5%
Your grades will be posted on the class Blackboard website. Course documents such as this syllabus and all assignments will also be posted there. Check it often for announcements. Go to www.lagcc.cuny.edu to access it. You will all be registered as users.
Your performance on the diagnostic essay will give me a sense of your writing skills. After marking it, I will give you a frank assessment of your writing level. Some students will have to work at the Writing Center in B-200 on their own time to improve grammar and technical skills to the level demanded by the Department.
You must receive a passing grade in all your papers to pass the course.
Students must revise F papers and may revise others.
POLICY ON REVISIONS. You may revise your papers but your original grade will represent a percentage of your grade for that paper. The first graded draft is worth 70% of the grade for that assignment, and the revision is worth 30% All revisions must be handed in within one week of the day I return them to you. Return both papers. Underline or highlight new material. If your original ran 600 words, the revision, with additional material should run to 650 words or more.
If you miss more than 4 periods, you will receive a failing grade. If you miss three days, you will not receive a passing grade.
Other materials:
• a flash memory for the PC
• a dictionary, Bring it every day.
• a notebook in which you will have sections for
Class notes Homework Key Concepts New Vocabulary
Spelling Demons Grammar Exercises Pre-writing exercises and Journal Entries
Essays must be done on the microcomputer. I will teach you how to use it even if you have never touched a computer before. We'll be using the Internet very extensively for our research. You should use the microcomputer room at the times posted for student practice to do work on your own or to complete the week's writing assignment, but this does not count toward making up class time.
When I read your papers I look for ways in which they can be improved. I want you to do your best on every paper and revise them to make them even better. I will make marks on the paper that correspond to the Marking Symbols Sheet I will pass out. I will have conferences with you in the Computer Lab or after class. Passing papers will receive a letter grade (A,B,C, or D. with pluses and minuses). Papers may be revised. All F papers must be revised. All papers must be handed in. If a student is missing a paper, he or she will receive an F in the course.
Come on time, with the readings done and the homework prepared. If you are late more than once or twice at the beginning of the term, I will have a talk with you and see if we can identify the causes of your lateness and do something about it. If you are frequently late, you will use up the permitted absences quickly and will receive an F in the course.
I want you all to do well. Come to me if you are having any problems with the course.
