Contemporary Composition
Course Syllabus
Winter-Spring 2013.
Elizabeth Cohen, Ph.D.
This semester, we will cover
the appropriate contemporary writing and grammar components necessary in a
variety of formal domains. Our
work will be directed toward the following goals:
-
Recognizing and
understanding rhetorical devices and their use in written and visual
communications.
-
Thinking
critically about an author’s purpose ways in which s/he uses rhetoric to
achieve those ends.
-
Becoming better
writers to succeed in a junior college or university & within the
professional community.
-
Gaining speech
expertise so that you may comfortably prepare and give a presentation at a
collegiate level or in the workplace.
Required Materials:
-
Binder (or
notebook and folder) with paper specifically for English class
-
Readers/Writers
Notebook
-
Pens (blue or
black ink, red, green ink)
-
#2 Pencils,
eraser
-
Highlighters
-
Handouts being
read by the class
-
Materials for all
projects
-
Class Website
used daily
Grades:
I do
not “give” grades – you earn them.
All work assigned is worth points.
This includes active classroom participation. Larger assignments carry a heavier point value. For example, a homework assignment may
be worth 100 points, while a final draft of an essay may be worth 600 points. Your grade will be determined by
dividing the number of points you earned by the number of points possible. Therefore, if you keep track of your
work, monitor Engrade.com, you should be able to calculate your grade at any
time.
Homework:
Use an
agenda planner or agenda Smartphone APP to keep track of your homework
assignments. This organizational
skill will be vital for both college and professional life.
-
Homework will be
preparation for essays, studying for tests, reading, journaling and gathering
sources for classroom discussions.
DO ALL OF IT.
-
Assignments must be turned in on time unless accompanied by a Doctor’s note. Students with IEP accommodations must
meet their extended time deadline.
-
Work is due AT
THE BEGINNING of class. In some cases,
due dates are firm, whether you are on campus or not. Work turned in after the designated collection time will be
marked late, whether it is turned in the same day or not. Of course, you may always choose to
turn work in early.
-
Oral assignments
can NOT be made up.
-
See me during advisory,
lunch, or during after-school tutoring about make-up work. Do not ask me for make-up work, as
class is about to begin or end.
PLEASE
NOTE: I will grant extensions for
some assignments without penalty to your grade ONLY IF you see me at least 48
hours before the assignment is due to arrange an appropriate turn-in date. I
understand that students have other commitments, however, organizing your time
and planning ahead are vital skills.
Extensions will NOT be granted on the day that work is due.
Attendance/Tardies:
If you are late for class, I will be keeping
track. If it becomes habitual, I
will give you detention, call home, refer you to your counselor, and/or lower
your work habits/cooperation grades.
The professional world does not accept tardiness, and the rest of us
seem to be able to make it on time.
Thus, so will you. Period.
You
cannot learn enough to pass this class if you are not IN class. Clearly, there are some things that are
REALLY worth being absent for.
There is no excuse for excessive absenteeism however. If there is a verifiable excuse (family
emergency, serious illness, etc) be sure you call another student and get the
work you missed. YOU are
responsible for any work you miss due to absences – I will not chase after you
for make-up work.
Contemporary Composition Course Sequence: Dates
Subject to Change
January 7-12 Introduction
to Rhetoric – written and visual rhetorical devices
Major
Assignments Due: Essays on
Friendship and Compare and Contrast an ad in Two Different Mediums
January 14-18 Los
Angeles, Unread City – Reading: “Going Up in L.A.” by Ruben Martinez and Los Angeles, Unread City – Reading: “Coming Home to Van Nuys,” by Sandra Tsing Loh, and Junior Project Survival Guide
The
difference between a Mentor and an Expert for purposes of the Jr. and Senior
Project, FATt Thesis
Major
Assignment Due: Expository Essay on a Neighborhood Issue due to turnitin.com,
Junior Project Research Questions due with 10 facts about each potential topic,
10 names Potential Mentor list due
January 21 – 26
Major
Assignments Due: GRAMMORAMA WEEK
1, Junior Project Research Question and 10 more facts
on Junior Project Topic, Mentor Request letters due
January 28- Feb. 1 Los
Angeles, GRAMMORAMA WEEK 2
Major Assignments due: Friday, 2/1 10 more facts due, Junior –Senior Work Product Brainstorm and
Plan due
February 4- 8 Virtual
Selves - Reading: “Time’s Person of the Year: You” by Lev Grossman
Assignment
Due: Essay
on Credibility in Multiple Mediums due to turnitin.com, 2 Data tables on Junior
Project Topic (from different credible sources), JUNIOR PROJECT THESIS REVIEW
February
11-15 Virtual
Selves – Reading: “What You Say Online Could Haunt You: Schools, Employers Scrutinize
Social Websites Such as MySpace and Facebook” by Janet Kornblum and Mary Beth
Marklein
Assignment
Due: Essay on Internet Freedom Vs.
Security MLA Formatted Works Cited List due with at
least 20 Credible Sources from at least 3 different mediums, Expert Request
letters due
February 18-22 Rhetoric
of War – Reading: “Fighting Words: The War Over Language,” by Jon Hooten
Assignment
Due: Newspaper – Euphemism Analysis; Due Friday, 2/20 Introduction Section
Junior Project Topic
February
25- March 1 Rhetoric
of War – Reading: “Making Metaphor No More? Sportspeople Rethink Their Words of
War,” by Bob Moser
Assignment
Due: Jr.
Project Topic I section Due Friday, 3/1 Signed Progress report from your Mentor due
March 4 -7
Green
Book-Readings TBA
Assignment
due: Essay Cal State Rubric
March
11-14 Green
Book Readings TBA
Assignment
Essay Cal State Rubric
Assignment
Due:
March 18-22 MARCH 20th EAP Essay Test; Data Collection
and Analysis– Conducting a valid survey and analyzing the data. Culminating
Assignment: Analytical Essay (Jr. Project Methodology
Draft Section Due)
Assignment
Due: Jr.
Project Survey Questions due begin Conducting Survey.
March 25-April 1 Spring
Break
Assignment
Due: Topic 2 Jr. Project and Finish Survey
April 8 –12 Revise
Jr. Project Thesis if needed.
Assignment Due: Topic 3 due
April 15-19 CST
Preparation/ Formative Assessments (Tentative)
April 22 –26 CST
Formative Assessments Junior Research Project Topics
1-3 Edited Drafts Due
April – 29-May 3 Analysis
of Survey and Interviews
May 6- May 10 Junior
Research Project Rhetorical Précis, Conclusion and Call to Action
Final
Draft due to turnitin.com by 5/9/13 at beginning of class.
May 13- 17 Junior
Research Project Multimedia
Presentations
May 20-24 Final
Junior College Prep Portfolio Due
Assignment Due: Research Portfolio including
Resume, Best papers, “sizzle reel”, artwork, and Junior project
; Due 5/20
May 28 – 31 Final
Exam Week
Assignment
Due: Portfolio Presentation is Final
(College/Job Interview format).
* * * TEAR
OFF * * *
I have read/reviewed the requirements for this class. I
have read/discussed this syllabus with my child.
`
_________________________________________ ___________________________________________
Student Printed Name and
Signature Parent/Guardian
Printed Name and Signature
_________________________________________ ___________________________________________
Student’s Email Address Parent/Guardian
Email Address and/or Phone Number
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