East Los Angeles College English 103 section 25305, Syllabus

February 8-June 7, 2021                                 T-Th 10:35am-12:10pm

I understand that you are taking this class because of the wealth and worth of your ideas--I value you. To use a metaphor to illustrate how I use this idea, if you had a gold bar and tried to use it to buy your groceries this week, the clerk would not know how to deal with that "money." The right currency for that transaction (i.e. debit card, cash, check, correct phone app, etc.--probably not blood or a goat) needs to be present. Your great ideas, in other words your gold bar, will take shape in journals, discussion posts, responses to other students, essays, outlines, works cited. . .all the kinds of currency that we use in our academic writing. So, I don't want you to ignore who you are or dread any of those tasks, but see those tasks as ones that allow you to have all kinds of currency in your bank account (your knowledge of writing, especially) to use in any of your interests. Remember that I value you!

How do we operate to maximize our focus? We need the following syllabus to structure and discipline our efforts.

Communication

With Instructor

Email: missakiv@elac.edu

Phone:626.733.3999

I will respond to emails and voicemails (not text messages--sorry, I have an old phone!) within 24-48 hours and, of course, during Zoom meetings live. For messages please indicate your full name and class section 25305 when leaving a voice mail as ALL my students will be using this number (thank you!). I have office hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays 10-10:30am (before our class/Zoom meetings) where you can reach me immediately by email and phone for an immediate reply.

With Students

Regular discussion tasks will occur weekly in Canvas (see modules!) and your participation is required. Do not ignore this opportunity to see the value of yourself and others as we engage our topics and materials. I will remind you the first time if a discussion is missing, but you will need to check Canvas.

For Questions

Class time is a great time to ask questions about the class, but this is not the place to ask personal questions. Please reach me by email or phone for personal matters, especially, but for class questions, too, if we are unable to answer your inquiry during class meetings.

Course Description:

 103 Composition and Critical Thinking (3) UC:CSU IGETC Area 1B (C-ID ENGL 105)

Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of English 101. LECTURE, 3 HOURS.

This course develops critical thinking, reading, and argumentative writing skills beyond the level achieved in English 101 and requires the writing of a minimum of 10,000 words in essays and a research paper throughout the semester. It emphasizes reasoning, analysis and strategies of argumentation using interdisciplinary texts that include theoretical and literary works. Evaluations of texts reveal the multicultural/ global aspects of our society.

ENGLISH 103 CLOs:

CLO 1 - Students will be able to write an essay, based on one or two assigned texts that focus on social issues, that will focus on supporting a thesis and topic sentences with textual evidence and with integrated quotes that show rather than tell, and (along with citations) are integrated smoothly into the analysis.

CLO 2 - Students will be able to write an essay in which they will analyze passages/texts from a source(s) that focus on social issues, and provide insightful analysis that looks at word choice, implications, connotations, and/or gaps in the text.

Objectives: 

Your writing will explore expository, argumentative, and researched essays, emphasizing the kind of styles that are most common in the writing you do for other college classes and many kinds of employment. 

The course instructor assumes that you have the knowledge acquired or represented by adopting the skills in the writing process:  1) writing cohesive pieces utilizing paragraphs with topic sentences, unity, logical organization, sufficient information, consistent point of view, appropriate emphasis, and appropriate diction, 2) representing styles of development by example, comparison, contrast, definition, library use for references, and that show multi-paragraph essay awareness, 3) drafting, editing, and revising techniques, 4) reading, understanding of methods of development, and summarizing skills, 5) and studying of research techniques to recognize scholarly and appropriate material for academic audiences.

We will be elaborating upon reading skills that will help you to generate 1) organized and developed themes written in third person, supported by references and details, unified in control and varied in delivery, using language effectively, and maintaining clarity, 2) 3 papers with 5-7 page range, 3) and 1 research paper 7-10 page range

The course includes consistent use of online materials.

ELAC MISSION STATEMENT

East Los Angeles College empowers students to achieve their educational goals, to expand their individual potential, and to successfully pursue their aspirations for a better future for themselves, their community and the world.

VISION

Through our emerging focus on student-centered instruction, student-centered services, and integrated learning, East Los Angeles College will be an exemplary model for student academic achievement, skill development, and artistic expression.

Goal 1:

Increasing student success and academic excellence through student-centered instruction, student-centered support services, and dynamic technologies.

Goal 2:

Increasing equity in successful outcomes by analyzing gaps in student achievement and using this to identify and implement effective models and programming to remedy these gaps.

Goal 3:

Sustaining community-centered access, participation, and preparation that improves the college's presence in the community, maximizes access to higher education and provides outlets for artistic, civic, cultural, scientific and social expression as well as environmental awareness.

Goal 4:

Ensuring institutional effectiveness and accountability through data-driven decision-making as well as evaluation and improvement of all college programs and governance structures.

In collaboration with the District’s Mission, ELAC is committed to advancement in student learning and student achievement that prepares students to transfer, successfully complete workforce development programs, earn associate degrees, and pursue opportunities for lifelong learning and civic engagement.

Texts

1. Online versions of our readings will be linked to our modules and made available in alternative versions by request.

·         The Process of Research Writingby Stephan D. Krause (our instruction for academic writing and research)—you can read this online or download a .pdf version

·         Logical Reasoning by Bradley H. Dowden (our instruction for argument and rhetoric)—you can read this online or download a .pdf version

·         Online articles in the context of where they have been published online (New York Times, The Atlantic, Al Jazeera, Time, Slate, Christian Science Monitor, New Republic, Dissent Magazine, Wired, Forbes, etc.)—you will be given links to these sites. I will make you aware of which sites limit access (i.e. 3, 4, or 10 articles before you must subscribe, so we will want to monitor which you will decide to open and/or want to keep a copy of)

2. The novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. You may obtain any version, but a free copy is available online! Consider bookmarking this link or using another that you may find easy to use: free copy of novel

3. Regular access to MLA guidelines for our academic papers. MLA website. Also consider bookmarking this link.

Exams/quizzes will be open texts, so be sure your device will allow you to access these materials so that you can complete these particular tasks.

This syllabus contains links to third party sites. Access to any other internet site linked to this Web site is at the user’s own risk East Los Angeles College and Professor Missakian are not responsible for the accuracy or reliability of any information, data, opinions, advice, or statements made on these sites. East Los Angeles College and Professor Missakian provide these links merely as a convenience and the inclusion of such links does not imply an endorsement.

Technical Details

If there is ever a complication in which you cannot open Canvas, please contact technical support M-F: 323-415-5313 and After-hrs: 877-890-2142. As a back-up, should there be a delay in your return to the Canvas platform, the following website will contain our syllabus and tasks. This is for consultation only as you will still need to use Canvas for submitting your work: back up website.

As you might expect, internet will be essential in order to use Canvas for our course. While cell phones can access many of the features, not all of them will function properly, so access to a computer needs to be available to you.

Additionally, you will be using CANVAS to submit your formal papers, for instance, which can be sensitive to document formats. Consider using:

• Microsoft Word

• PDF

• RTF

• Google Docs (submitted via the Google Drive submission option AND with express permission for me (CANVAS) to open the file. . .your work will not be graded if I cannot open it)

Please take note of the extensions at the end of the documents that you generate –some are not compatible (.wps, .wpd, etc.).

Furthermore, there is no cost for texts in this course because they are all "findable" on the internet for free. I will also provide .doc or .pdf versions (especially when links break during the semester--it happens), but then you'll need to be able to open them.

Attendance for an Online Course

Attendance is determined by your participation in our tasks, in discussions, during peer review, and in the submitting of your work.

In accordance with the college drop policy, students who do not access the class web site or submit Module/Week 1 “first assignment(s)” by the due date may be dropped as a “No Show”. Students who fail to turn in the weekly assignments and/or fail to participate in the discussion boards will be considered “absent” and may be dropped from the class for “Excessive Absence,” for example, two weeks of non-participation. Students are responsible to officially drop the course as the instructor does not automatically do so, and you will receive a grade based on your performance with missing work/scores i.e. zeros for each missing element.

It is important that you check the Monday announcements and log in to Canvas consistently each week during the semester. We will Zoom at the beginning of classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays—your presence will contribute to your success. Consult the recordings of the Zoom meetings and class lecture videos so you do not fall behind.

Please notify me by a personal email (do not use the discussion board) to let me know of challenging circumstances. When you share, I can care! Let’s strategize together so that you can make plans and complete the course successfully.

Drop Dates:

February 21, 2021

Make ups/Late work

Not accepted as work needs to be turned in to Canvas per directions. Should you encounter complications, please communicate—if you share, I can care! I will grade class work, generally, within 2-5 working days; essays, generally within 7 working days. No extensions on revision work/un-submitted work will be accepted the week before or during finals. 

OH--that means revision of work that didn't get a great grade is possible during the semester? YES! If you talk to me. And here is the key word to the "oops," "technical glitches," and "life happens" situations. . .SHARE with me what you are able to so that I can understand what challenged you regarding a due date. Why have zeroes anywhere in your grade? That's not the right academic currency. Let's try everything (assignments) and then work on what we have to with feedback so we can put something into that academic bank account of yours! 

Expectations

• Participate in discussions in Canvas with other students in the class to help each other and yourself; ask questions during class meetings that we will all benefit from having answered as well (i.e. how would we find out X?, what site would be best to use for Y? do we need to include Z in this draft?, etc.)

• Email me personally for questions about your grade, issues that are personal in nature, etc. at missakiv@elac.edu   

• Familiarize yourself with resources like the library and writing center for extra help.

• Papers should be typed and proofread carefully, double spaced on 8 1/2x 11 paper.

• Drafts for essays require participation in peer review

• Readings on the below listed dates/modules are to be completed ideally BEFORE you work with discussion questions for the readings so that you are prepared for small group and whole class discussion—avoid working without some knowledge of the content and details of the topics! Reading will always be the biggest component of your preparation for good writing.

• Students with DSP&S accommodations need to notify the instructor of their needs. You must obtain prior permission from the instructor if you wish to record class experiences (conferencing, etc.) that are not automatically recorded. Such recordings for DSP&S students with documentation from the office, or for any student even with permission, are only for personal use and may not be distributed, posted, published, or shared in any manner.

• Throughout the semester, we may be reading, writing on, and discussing some controversial, possibly even personal topics. This class is a meant to be a safe place where you can express your thoughts and feelings about these topics without fear of exposure. Because it is important to respect the privacy of both your instructor and your fellow classmates, no downloading, screen capture, and/or distribution/display of any other person’s work (including the instructor’s) will be permitted without the express consent of the instructor.

Academic Honesty Policy

Plagiarism and Cheating:   Not tolerated. Papers are subjected to several document searches, including the use of turnitin.com, a requirement for turning in papers or they may not be considered for credit.  When caught, student (or students) involved will at the least receive a failing grade on the assignment and documentation will be sent to the Department Chair and Director of Student Affairs (LACCD Board Rule 6703.10 & 9803.28). Additional information is available from Student Services.

Statement for Students with Disabilities 

East Los Angeles College and I are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for all individuals with disabilities. If you have a disability that may have some impact on your ability to do well in this course, I encourage you to speak with me as soon as possible. Also, please contact DSP&S so that we can all collaborate on your classroom accommodations in a timely manner. Their phone number is (323) 285-0662 and email is dsps@elac.edu. DSP&S office requires documentation of your disability in order to receive reasonable accommodations. If you do not have documentation, they will work with you to acquire it. I look forward to supporting you to meet your learning goals.

Title IX

Title IX is a federal civil rights law that prohibits sex discrimination in education. This includes sexual harassment, sexual assault, and rape. Violations of Title IX, as well as violence or threats of violence on campus or online, are taken very seriously so that victims are provided with proper support and violators are properly disciplined. As a faculty member, I am required by law to report all such violations. If you have been a victim of sexual misconduct and would prefer to talk to someone confidentially, I encourage you to take advantage of the psychological services offered our college health center. Our Title IX coordinator can be reached at (323) 265-8613   and the Title IX website contains extremely valuable information.

Veterans

We are so grateful to our Veterans—please know that the resource center has additional support to extend for counseling, peer mentoring, and other programs. Their phone number is 323-415-5052 and email veteranservices@elac.edu .

Guided Pathways--Finding your Path 

Find your path to fulfilling careers and/or transfer opportunities. The career and transfer programs at ELAC are organized into 8 Career and Academic Pathways (CAPs), according to areas of interest. Explore pathways within an interest area to see what program is best for you. Each degree/certificate program has an Academic Map, a tool for you to plan your pathway with a Counselor. The Academic Map also has information about scheduling, pre-requisites, career and transfer options, and recommendations from the department. Meet with a Counselor at each step in your academic journey to find your path, stay on your path and complete your goals at ELAC. 

To explore the CAPS and Academic Maps, visit the ELAC website 

To meet with a Counselor, make an appointment with Academic Counseling 

To meet with a Career and Job Services Counselor, make an appointment with Career and Job Services 

Wait Time for Instructor

Should a delay or emergency occur that prevents the instructor from reaching class at the start time, students are asked to wait up to 15 minutes (I may experience wi-fi issues, too!). If no message has been posted or no representative from the department delivers an announcement within those 15 minutes to inform the class of further directions, you may leave/log off and check back for instructions that will be posted as soon as possible and an announcement available in Canvas.  Do consult Canvas by the next day, however, to be aware of any information that the instructor will share with you regarding arrangements/adjustments that will be made via Canvas.

Grading components: 

(no extra credit points apply to calculation of grade)  points are scaled into the following percentages         

·         40%     3 formal papers, 5-7 pages each (each paper is about 13% of your grade)

·         20%     1 research paper and preparation paperwork, 7-10 pages

·         15%     in-class writings, journals, quizzes, homework, drafts, peer review

·         10%     4 writing center conferences

·         15%  midterm and final exams (in-class essays)

                   any rounding of percentage points reflects attendance and class participation

90-100% A 80-89% B 70-79% C 60-69%D -59% F; clarify any questions about grades the week before final

Calendar

Your MODULES will correspond to each week of the semester, so it is vital that you check Canvas each week for the readings, discussions, assignments, drafts, quizzes, etc.The syllabus is subject to change when necessary—notification will be given by announcement. Readings posted are to be completed before you engage any tasks or generally try to navigate the content for the lectures as those will assume that you have read the material.

Reading Key:  The Process of Research Writing=PRW; Logical Reasoning= LR; Frankenstein= FR

We meet for class Tuesdays and Thursdays via Zoom (see Zoom policies in the Course Information Module) where lecture, clarification, discussion, and directions will be shared.

Week ONE 2/8 (meet Tues. 2/9; Thurs. 2/11—this pattern repeats each week so check announcements in CANVAS for links to the meetings)

1. Intro to our course—we look at the files prepared to orient us to the course and provide info for our semester. I have a lot to share with you this week regarding our texts and to set the tone of our advanced rhetoric class.

2. Reminder, I AM ONLINE during our class time as follows in Zoom: Tuesdays and Thursdays 10:35am-12:10pm. Before class 10-10:30am by email and phone.

3. You also have a discussion task to participate in (with a due date)! Don’t ignore this task, or you will be dropped this week per attendance policy.

4. Look into how you can access our online texts so you find the most convenient way to obtain your materials.

5.      READ (i.e. “review” actually) PRW chapters 1, 2, 3, and 11 This is a review day for the writing process and. . .MLA! The hope is that this refreshes your awareness of how we talk about writing, and may not be new information to you at all. Look through (you don’t have to ‘study’) the readings but pay attention to anything that looks unfamiliar to you. There is much support in our online text platform that I will point out to you.

Week TWO 2/15

1.      Introductory information about the novel Frankenstein. . .you will start reading the novel soon.

2.      READ PRW chapters 4,5, and 9; AND LR chapters 1 and 2—these are the content of our lectures so be sure to scan through these texts and pay attention to any unfamiliar concepts as we delve into argument. There is much here to prepare ourselves to work with in here.

Week THREE 2/22

1. READ LR chapters 3, 4, 5, further exploring argumentative techniques

2. Essay 1 assigned this week (we are jumping right in!)

3. READ FR chapters “Letters” through chapter 5

Week FOUR 3/1

1. The official composition nature of our course is now in full swing! We will dissect our first essay assignment thoroughly and address MLA once again. Here’s where we apply what our first few weeks have invited us to explore.

2. Priority given to our first essay. . .here’s where due dates are particularly emphasized since you need to interact with peers with a prepared draft on 3/4 and completed peer review by 3/6

3. Make time for conferencing about your paper with a tutor in the Writing Center!—remember, this endeavor accounts for 10% of your grade, so don’t miss an opportunity!

4. READ LR chapters 6, 7, and Tierney essay

Week FIVE 3/8

1. READ LR 10, 11,12 (focus on deduction)

2. Make time for conferencing about your paper with a Writing Center tutor!

3. Essay 1 is due by 3/11, Thursday, by 11:59pm

Week SIX 3/15

1. READ LR chapters 13, 8, 9, (focus on induction) and Shulman essay

2. READ FR Chapters 6-10

3. Essay 2 is introduced

Week SEVEN 3/22

1. READ supplemental links for Toulmin and Rogerian argument; examples of each (Toulmin example by McWilliams “The Locavore Myth” and Rogerian example by Wilson “Letter to a Southern Baptist Minister”

2. Midterm review for exam

Week EIGHT 3/29

1. Midterm exam scheduled 3/30 and due 3/31—this has a 24 hour time limit, so be sure to plan ahead—Tuesday

2. Essay 2 draft is due 4/1 and peer review by 4/3 (latest since that’s when Spring Break begins)  Make time for conferencing about your paper with a Writing Center tutor!

Spring Break 4/3-4/11

Week NINE 4/12

1. READ LR chapter 14 and touch upon chapter 15; supplemental links for visual rhetoric   and  Ephron’s “The Boston Photographs”  

2. READ FR chapters 11-15

3. Essay 2 due 4/15 by 11:59 pm—be sure to follow directions

Week TEN 4/19

1. Read  G. Whitman’s information about debate; supplemental TED talk examples (TBA); and background on Moral argument (class file) and Legal argument (class file)

2. Short introduction (appetizer version) about the research project today, addressing literature as argument--you will see how this fits into our research project as it will include the novel Frankenstein

3. Supplemental readings: Chopin “Story of an Hour”; Plato summary on censorship

4. Assign essay 3  

Week ELEVEN 4/26

1. More details about the research project—proposal of your ideas/interests will be completed soon

2. READ Supplemental research focused readings to call our attention to strengths and shortcomings of research, especially online –linked to module

3. Draft essay 3 due 4/29; peer review by 5/1. Make time for conferencing with a Writing Center tutor!

Week TWELVE 5/3

1. Instruction about annotated works cited and research outline; READ PRW chapter 6

2. READ FR chapters 16-20

3. Essay 3 due 5/6 by 11:59 pm—be sure to follow directions

Week THIRTEEN 5/10

1. READ themed collection of supplemental readings: How and Why Do We Construct the “Other”? in course module—you will see how this fits into our research project, too, as you will need to use one piece from these selections along with the novel in your research (readings include authors Dubois, Anderson, DiGiorgio, Kipling, Riis, etc.)

2. Proposal about your initial ideas for the research project

Week FOURTEEN 5/17

1. Finish the novel FR chapters 21-24—how do you really understand that ending?!

2. Annotated bibliography for research project due 5/20—be sure to follow directions. Make time for conferencing with ma Writing Center tutor!

3. READ themed collection of supplemental readings: What is the Ideal Society?—these selections will be part of the final exam  (readings include authors Jefferson, Stanton, King, Jr., Whitman, Lazarus, LeGuin, etc.)

Week FIFTEEN 5/24

1        Continued discussions about research project

2. Outline for research project due 5/27 Make time for conferencing with a Writing Center tutor!

3. READ themed collection of supplemental readings: What Is Happiness?—these selections will be part of the final exam (readings include authors Gilbert, Epictetus, Dalai Lama, Lewis, Crittenden, Brady

Week SIXTEEN 5/31 finals week

1. Final exam is scheduled for 6/1 and is due 6/2, 24 hour time limit, so plan ahead

2. Research paper is due 6/3 by 11:59 pm