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Instructor:                  Shusmita Sen             

Office:                         Old Main 211-R            Phone:             533-7367

Email:                          msen@scc.spokane.edu

Office Hours:              8:00-9:00 Mon-Thurs, and by appointment

Text:                           Foundations First: Sentences and Paragraphs, 2^nd edition, by Laurie G. Kirzner and Stephen R. Mandell

Supplies:                     8^1/2 X 11 legal, loose-leaf papers for all in-class writing

                                    2 Manila Folders to hand in assignments

                                    College dictionary/thesaurus—optional but suggested

                                    2 HD Disks (for all your computer needs)

Course Description:

@     Many students have difficulty with the fundamentals of writing (basic grammar, sentence structure, punctuation, spelling, and the organization, development and support); therefore, English 97 has been designed to review and emphasize these skills which are necessary for your continued success in future English classes. 

@     Students completing English 97 with a 2.0 or better may register for English 99. Students who do exceptionally well in this class would be recommended for English 101. 

Course Objectives:

By the end of the course, students in English 97 should be able to demonstrate the following outcomes:

@     Write a variety of grammatically correct sentences, using various sentence patterns

@     Use a writing process (including brainstorming, prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and proofreading strategies) to improve composition skills

@     Write logically organized, well developed, and grammatically sound paragraphs

@     Apply various rhetorical elements and strategies to particular writing assignments

@     Respond, thoughtfully and critically in writing, to college-level readings

@     Recognize and demonstrate the following Student Learning Outcomes Abilities:

   Responsibility: manage time effectively, fulfill educational commitments, set priorities, work individually and in groups, and turn in acceptable, college-level work

   Communication: write clearly and correctly for effective communication

   Problem Solving: synthesize necessary information (facts, evidences, and expert opinions) in writing, learn to ask the right questions for clarification, and recognize the connections between what is learned and real-life skills

  Global Awareness: develop awareness of and respect for human diversity and tolerate differences of opinion in class

Note:  Your performance on these learning outcomes will be assessed through self-analysis, group evaluation, and instructor-generated evaluation methods. 

Course Format:

@     With (a) regular instructions and class discussions, (b) assessment through exams and quizzes, and (c) application through writing assignments, both in and out-of-class, you will learn the following elements of composition:

ü      The English sentence patterns, concerning the subjects, verbs, independent and dependent clauses, coordination, and subordination

ü      The fundamental aspects of the English grammar, including punctuation, mechanics, and word usage, especially commonly confused terms

ü      The writing process, including prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and proofreading 

@     Since writing in response to reading is central to instruction in later composition classes, you will become familiar with a reading process, use appropriate strategies to understand texts introduced, and write paragraphs in response to the reading selections.

Note:

@     In-class writing must be done on loose-leaf paper and written double-spaced. 

@     Papers written outside of class should be computer-generated and double-spaced. 

@     All copies of the prewriting activities, the rough and other drafts of your paragraphs, along with the feedback sheets need to be turned in with the final draft in a manila folder.   

Attendance Policy:

@     Because so much of what you learn and receive credit for must be completed within the class period, your attendance is important.

ü      Daily attendance will be taken, and you are allowed to miss only two days; therefore, use your “day-offs” cautiously.

ü      You are responsible for all information covered during the classes you missed. Choose a classmate from whom you can get the missed notes, assignments and handouts.

ü      If for some reason you are forced to miss a class, please inform me on time so that we can work on an alternative schedule.

ü      Please do not offer me your excuses or explanations for late or failed work or for your absence. I do not distinguish between “excused” and “unexcused” absences. Absences, regardless of the situation, are absences.

@     Being late for class or leaving early is also disruptive, so please be on time and in class for the scheduled classes.

@     I will encourage you to take responsibility for your attendance, behavior, and work. Your contribution to the class will enhance the learning environment for you and your classmates. If your behavior disrupts others or the learning environment, you will be asked to leave, and you will not receive credit for that day’s work or attendance. This is a college classroom and adult level of behavior is expected at all times.

@     Unless otherwise directed, assignments are due on time. Late papers are not “excused” due to absences.

@     As a rule, you should expect to spend two hours of additional time on studying and skill development per hour in class, per night. This is a standard college course expectation.

Grading Policy:

Your grade will be based on the total points acquired on the activities you choose to complete.  As indicated above, it can also be affected by your attendance. Keep these guidelines in mind:

@     Homework and certain in-class activities can be made up, but with some penalty

@     As a rule, extra-credit work is not assigned. If an exception is made, it will be an opportunity allowed the entire class, not for individual cases.

@     An approximate idea of the possible assignments and points is as follows:

@     Spokane Community College Grading Scale:

Note: the grade scale for this course will be slightly different                   

@     Please save all your assignments till the end of the quarter (in case there is any conflict or error in the final grade calculation).

Withdrawals and “Z” Grades:

@     It is recommended that you see your instructor and /or advisor if you consider withdrawing from this class.  In the event you stop attending, have not formally withdrawn, and do not complete the course, you will receive a grade of 0.0 (F).

@     A grade of “Z” or “I” (Incomplete) may be given, when requested by the student, under justifiable circumstances and solely at the instructor’s discretion. 

@     An “I” will only be considered under the following circumstances:

ü      Passing work must have been achieved prior to the student not being able to complete the course and

ü      The student is not able to complete the course due to circumstances beyond his/her control. 

Other Considerations:

@     The American with Disabilities Act is designed to ensure that students with disabilities have an equal opportunity to access academic programs and successfully complete their educational goals. Spokane Community College is committed to providing accessibility to all students. Any students with disabilities who have accommodation needs must contact Disability Support Services. The information will remain strictly confidential.

@     Classroom Visitors: Washington Administration Code 131, 12.010 Section 3 specifies that children are not allowed in classes with a parent. Because of this regulation, please make other arrangements if school schedules or illnesses are a problem.

@     Cheating:  WAC 132Q-04-060

(a)    Any student who, for the purpose of fulfilling an assignment or task required by the faculty as part of the student’s program of instruction, shall knowingly tender any work product that the student fraudulently represents to the faculty as the student’s work product, shall be deemed to have cheated.  Cheating shall be cause for disciplinary action.

(b)    Any student who aids or abets the accomplishment of cheating as defined in subsection (1) of this section shall also be subject to disciplinary action. 

@     Plagiarism Policy:  WAC 132Q-04-061 

Please review this SCC English Department Plagiarism Policy:

“Plagiarism (from the Latin word for “kidnapper”) is the presentation of someone else’s ideas or words as your own.  You plagiarize deliberately if you copy a sentence from a book and pass if off as your writing, if you summarize or paraphrase someone else’s ideas without acknowledging your debt, or if you buy a term paper to hand in as your own.  You plagiarize accidentally if you carelessly forget quotation marks around another’s idea because you are unaware of the need to acknowledge the idea.  Whether deliberate or accidental, plagiarism is a serious and often punishable offense.”* 

*Fowler, H. Ramsey.  Little, Brown Handbook, 3^rd Ed.  Boston: Little, 1986: 570. 

To encourage academic excellence and honesty, we have established the following policy:

Penalties for Deliberate Plagiarism or Cheating:

First Offense:        Automatic failure of the paper or test and possible failure of the course.

Second Offense:    Automatic failure of the course.

Contents within this site are copyrighted by both the author of essays and/or Mita Sen
(email msen@scc.spokane.edu)
The contents within these pages are solely those of the author and S.C.C.
should not be held responsible.  ©2005 and 2006