English 101~ Spring 2016

Course # 1063
Hum 104
Saturday: 9:00am-12:10pm
Instructor: T. Payte
Office hours: S 12:15-12:45pm
E-Mail: PAYTETR@lavc.edu
Ignoring isnt the same as ignorance, you have to work at it.
Margaret Atwood The Handmaids Tale

Required Texts:
Everyones an Author. Andrea Lunsford. ISBN: 978-0-393-93211-9
The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood. ISBN: 978- 0385490818
Various supplemental readings (I will provide these via PDF or link but you will need to access them
through my class Weebly site: http://payte101.weebly.com
Required Materials:
o An active E-mail account and access to Internet
o Folder with 2 pockets to turn in essay packets and a binder to hold all our supplemental readings.

Course Description: 101 College Reading and Composition I (3) UC/CSU Transferrable.
Prerequisite: English 28 or English 363 with a grade of C or better or appropriate skill level demonstrated
through the English placement process. Cannot be taken for P/NP. Lecture, 3 hours. This course teaches
students to write college-level essays in response to reading and analyzing college-level texts. The course focuses
equally on writing and critical reading, and students will write a substantial research paper in which they
accurately, clearly, and coherently synthesize ideas and information from a variety of sources and points of view
to fulfill the 8,700 word writing requirement.
Course Objectives:
Analyze college-level texts, including comparing, contrasting, and evaluating a variety of opinions on the same
issue or topic;
Compose college-level essays in response to college-level texts;
Demonstrate logical thinking and reasoning;
Locate and evaluate information in the library and on the internet to support a research topic;
Analyze and synthesize information and ideas into a substantial research paper;
Demonstrate the ability to avoid plagiarism by citing sources according to MLA style documentation;
Assess early drafts and revise them to improve organization, coherence, support, focus, and word choices
Proofread to improve sentence structure, punctuation, grammar; capitalization, spelling, and usage;
Demonstrate an understanding of multicultural values through reading culturally diverse texts.
Student Learning Objectives (SLOs):
Upon successful completion of this course, a student will be able to:
1. Write focused, coherently organized, well-developed texts, appropriate to the transfer level, that
effectively integrate, synthesize, and document sources.
2. Demonstrate critical reading, thinking, and research skills through analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of
important ideas encompassing multiple points of view.
A Message:
Welcome to English 101. The purpose of the course is to help you obtain the reading, writing, and critical
thinking skills necessary for success in the intellectual environment of the university and beyond. We will read
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and think deeply about a range of texts, and you will learn a variety of rhetorical writing strategies to use in
response to the different occasions for writing you will come up against as you move forward into your academic
and professional careers.
I look forward to working with each and every one of you. Come to me with any questions, comments, or
concerns. Dont ever suffer in silence; we are all in this together.
Course Requirements:
The following is a list of the assignments required throughout the semester and the amount of points they count
toward passing this class. There are 1,000 total points. You will receive a zero for each missing assignment.
o Homework (100 points)
o Reading Journals (150 points)
o Essay 1 - Argument (150 points)
o Essay 2 Social Literacy (150 points)
o Essay 3 - Research (150 points)
o Essay 4 Transfer (150 points)
o In-class work (100 points)
o Final (50 points)
Grading: 900-1000 = A; 800-899=B; 700-799=C; 600-699=D; 599 and below=F
Major dates (tentative):
Papers:
1. Essay 1: 3/12
2. Essay 2: 4/09
3. Essay 3: 5/14
4. Essay 4: 5/28
Final Date: 6/4
*Peer review is a requirement. If you miss it, you will lose 25 points from that essays total.
**(Smaller assignment due dates will depend on class needs and reading schedule. They will be announced in class and on Weebly.)
All 4 essays and the final must be turned in to pass the course. Therefore they can be turned in late;
however, I will reduce your grade by a letter from what was earned for each calendar day (NOT CLASS
PERIOD) it is late. So get your work in on time. If you cannot come to class the day a paper is due, turn it into
my mailbox in the English department office ASAP. I do not accept papers via email.
There is no credit or points, partial or otherwise, given for late assignments (homework, journals, exercises, in
class writing, etc.). All assignments must be typed. There is no exception to this rule aside from in-class writing
assignments. Also, I expect your assignments to be in MLA format, double-spaced, size 12 legible font, and
properly headed. Do not turn an assignment that is not stapled if it is more than one page. Be sure to follow the
directions carefully for each assignment, as I will not grade them if they do not meet the specifications of the
prompt. Drafting and revising are crucial elements of good writing. Therefore, points will be taken off of essays
that lack drafts.
Essays:
Final drafts will be turned in as a packet that includes the following, in order:
o Final draft
o PR Draft
o In class draft
o All lead-up homework
o Peer review sheets
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Assignment Policies:
o All written work is due at the beginning of class on the assigned day. If you know ahead of time that you
will not be able to be in class on the day an assignment is due, you must hand it in earlier. In case of
medical or family emergencies, written documentation will be required. Otherwise, LATE
HOMEWORK WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. I do not accept assignments of any kind via
email.
Conduct:
My classroom guidelines can be boiled down to a simple philosophy. Be respectful and you will be respected.
Please keep in mind that while I want to encourage a free exchange of ideas and information, side-conversations
or other disruptive talking or activities when either myself or a fellow student is speaking is inappropriate and
inconsiderate. Furthermore, all commentary needs to be respectful of the beliefs, opinions, and ideas of others.
Students that do not comply with these guidelines will be asked to leave for the day, resulting in an unexcused
absence. If the problem continues, further disciplinary action will be taken. This is college, collegiate behavior
and decorum are expected.
Cellphones: You are all adults. As such, I expect you to act like adults. But if the alluring trap of your
cellphone is too much for you to handle, keep it in your bag. A discreet check during down time I can ignore.
Gazing deeply into its screen while myself or a classmate is disrespectful and shows a lack of presence.
Attendance: Attendance is not optional. There is a lot of work that will be done in class that cannot be made
up; therefore, it is imperative that you come each day, on time and ready to work hard and contribute. If you
miss more than 3 classes, your grade will likely drop. If you miss more than 6 classes, you will be in danger of
failing the class.
I expect you to not only be on time, but also fully present. This means all readings and assignments you are
responsible for that day are done before you get to class. If you are not prepared for class, it will show. Respect
your time, as well as mine and that of your classmates. If you commit yourself to the process, we will all be able
to learn and grow together. Be present, be active, be involved. Make sure you bring your reading journals and
book(s) with you to class every day.
Participation: Class participation includes writing, discussions, activities, quizzes, and workshops. Everyone
has something to provide to our class and there is always opportunity to learn from one another; make sure that
you are listening and contributing. It is impossible to achieve the highest grade in this class if you are not
contributing to the community.
Academic Dishonesty:

Plagiarism is the use of others words and/or ideas without clearly acknowledging their source. When
you incorporate those words and ideas into your own work, you must give credit where credit is due.
Plagiarism, intentional or unintentional, is considered academic dishonesty and is not tolerated. Anyone
found to be plagiarizing or cheating on assignments (e.g., copying or giving answers, using crib sheets,
etc.) will:
1. Receive a zero (fail) on the assignment, and
2. Be referred to the Associate Dean of Student Services for further disciplinary action,
following due process.
For further information on plagiarism, go to the Writing Center website
(www.lavc.edu/WCweb/plagiarism.html) and refer to the STANDARDS OF STUDENT CONDUCT
AND DISCIPLINARY ACTION in the current Schedule of Classes and Catalog.

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If you take only one piece of advice from me beyond this class, it should be this: dont plagiarize. College is
about academic exploration, skill development, and critical growth why would you take that away from
yourself? When you cheat, you are cheating yourself out of an opportunity to develop and learn, which will
enable you to better contribute to your world. What a sad choice to make! I am sure all of your ideas are
wonderful. You do not need to use anyone elses work. Plagiarism, and the like, minimizes what we are trying to
do here, which is teach you to become critical thinkers, successful college students, and ethical citizens of the
world.
Drop/Add Policy:
If you need to drop this class, do so before the last drop date. Check the LAVC schedule of classes for dates. If
you do not drop this class officially, you will receive an "F" for this class. It is your responsibility to keep track of
those dates.
Email:
Please be sure to check your LAVC email regularly as that is how I will send updates. I check my emails
regularly, so feel free to email me with questions. That being said, I will not respond to any emails sent less than
24 hours before a class meeting or before an assignment is due. Start your assignments early, so you can have
the time to email me with questions. Also do not forget to get contact info from a few of your classmates.
Three Attempt Limit
A state policy limits students to three attempts per course.
Receiving a grade or a "W" for a course counts as an attempt, regardless of when the course was taken.
Withdrawal by the deadline to avoid a "W.
Getting Help:
It is your responsibility to make sure you are on top of things. There are plenty of ways to get help when you
need it: (1) Email a classmate. (2) Check the course website on weebly. (3) Ask me. That said, if you are absent
and need to know what you missed, contact a classmate. If you have questions or concerns about the class, that
cannot be answered by syllabus, weebly or a classmate, you may contact me.
ADA Statement:

If you are a student with a disability requiring classroom accommodations, and have not contacted
SSD, do so in a timely manner. SSD is located in the Student Services Annex, Room 175 or call SSD at
(818) 947-2681 or TTD (818) 947-2680 to meet with a SSD counselor. If SSD has already sent the
memo to instructor confirming accommodations required by student for this class, please meet with me
to discuss arrangements.

Financial Aid

Financial Aid Financial Aid is available! Call (818) 947-2412. Go to the Financial Aid Office in the
Student Services Center, first floor. For more info: http://www.lavc.edu/financialaid/.

I reserve the right to require other assignments as necessary, including unannounced quizzes,
or to change or cancel assignments as needed. You will receive advance notice of any other
additions or changes. It is the responsibility of each student to read, know, and adhere to the
information and policies contained in this syllabus.
For your daily schedule of assignments and due dates, please visit the weebly site listed at the
top of this syllabus.
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