Contemporary Composition
Course Syllabus
Spring 2011
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
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 500 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 your HHS planner or another planner in which you 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 drop by one full letter grade for each day they are late. I will not take late work past one week after the due date.
- 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 most 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
February 14-19 Introduction to Rhetoric – written and visual rhetorical devices
Major Assignments Due: Junior Project Topic Packet, Letter of Intent Draft
February 22-27 Los Angeles, Unread City – Reading: “Going Up in L.A.” by Ruben Martinez
Major Assignment Due: Resume, revised Letter of Intent, and 10 facts about Junior Project Topic
March 1 – 4 Los Angeles, Unread City – Reading: “Coming Home to Van Nuys,” by Sandra Tsing Loh
Major Assignments Due: Revised Resume, Brainstorm on Reflective Essay, Signed Mentor Slip Due
March 7- 11 Los Angeles, Unread City – Culminating Task: Reflective Essay and Multimedia Project
Assignments Due: Reflective Essay due: Thursday, 3/10; Presentation due: Friday, 3/11 10 more facts due
March 15 - 19 Virtual Selves - Reading: “Time’s Person of the Year: You” by Lev Grossman
Assignment Due: Rhetorical Précis; due Friday, 3/18 1 Data table on Junior Project Topic
March 28- - 1at 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: Debate Preparation; due Thursday, 3/24 1 Map on Junior Project Topic
April 4 - 8 Rhetoric of War – Reading: “Fighting Words: The War Over Language,” by Jon Hooten
Assignment Due: Newspaper – Euphemism Analysis; Due Friday, 4/8 1 Chart on Junior project Topic
April 11 - 15 Rhetoric of War – Reading: “Making Metaphor No More? Sportspeople Rethink Their Words of War,” by Bob Moser
Assignment Due: Rhetorical Précis; Due Wednesday, 4/14; Socratic Seminar Preparation; Due Friday, 4/16 Signed Progress report from your Mentor due
April 18 - 22 Rhetoric of War – Culminating Assignment: Analytical Essay
Assignment Due: Analytical Essay with all Writing Process Steps; Due Monday 4/25
April 26 - 29 Developing a Research Question/ Initial Research steps; Readings TBD
Assignment Due: Survey Questions; Due Wednesday, 4/27; 10 Interview Questions Due 4/28; MLA Citations; Due Friday, 4/29
May 2 – 6 Using Developing a Thesis/Central Claim Based on Research; Readings TBD
Assignment Due: Thesis Statement and Outline; Introduction to the problem Due Friday, 5/6
May 9- 13 CST Preparation/ Formative Assessments (Tentative)
May 16 – 20 Junior Research Project Topics 1-3 Edited Drafts Due
May 23 - 27 Analysis of Survey and Interviews
May 31-June 3 Junior Research Project Conclusion and Call to Action
June 6 - 10 Junior Research Project Final Draft Due to trunitin.com by Sunday, June 5th at Noon.
June 14 - 18 Final Multimedia Preparation and Presentations
Assignment Due: Research Portfolio including Senior Project Preparation; Due Friday, 6/18
June 20 – 24 Final Exam Week
Assignment Due: Final PowerPoint/Multimedia Presentation
* * * TEAR OFF * * *
I have read/reviewed the requirements for this class. I have read/discussed this syllabus with my child.
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Student Printed Name and Signature Parent/Guardian Printed Name and Signature
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Student’s Email Address Parent/Guardian Email Address and/or Phone Number
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