Essay Writing 91 / 98
Spring 2009 5 credits
Instructor: Lisa Bernhagen
Office: Bldg 5-213
Office Hours: 11-12 M-W, 11-1 Thurs, or by appointment
Phone: 206-878-3710 ext. 3213
e-mail: lbernhag@highline.edu
Home Page: http://flightline.highline.edu/lbernhagen
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course involves every day pre-writing, drafting, revising and editing of paragraphs and essays. You will frequently write in class, and work on grammar and punctuation. You will read and summarize essays. You will give and receive reader feedback on the essays we write for class.
REQUIRED TEXTS AND MATERIALS:
Ø Real Writing with Readings, 4th ed., Black and White, Susan Anker
Ø Your working brain; your calm demeanor; your ability to read and follow instructions
Ø Everyday access to a computer and a college-level dictionary (if you don’t have a computer at home, it’s assumed you will spend about 10 hours a week in HCC’s computer lab, which you have paid for already)
Ø Two places to save drafts. (Always save essay drafts in two places. Never give away your only copy of a draft.)
Ø A little stapler you carry with you to class
Ø Student I.D. # to log onto HCC computers (bring it with you to the lab)
Ø Lots of clean paper for daily in-class writing
Ø Folder or 3-ring binder DEVOTED TO THIS CLASS to keep all your course papers. (Keep all your work until you check your grade after the quarter is over. Bring this folder to class everyday.)
Ø An e-mail account
Reading skills are crucial to your success in Writing 101, where you will be reading and responding to college level essays. Because of this, reading ability is a mandatory prerequisite for Writing 101: a minimum COMPASS Reading score of 71 or 2.0 or above in Reading 060. This is in addition to the writing prerequisite.
To earn a 2.0 or better, students must demonstrate they can
¨ Write 500 + word essays in their own words that make one point, are well-organized, and are supported with specific details and an explanation of how those details support the main point.
¨ Use every day pre-writing and drafting as a method of thinking and choosing a narrow, college-level focus for each essay
¨ Identify their essay writing strengths and weaknesses and revise their drafts to make them stronger
¨ Identify their grammar/punctuation strengths and weaknesses and edit their drafts to make them stronger
¨ Use adjective, adverb, pronoun and verb forms correctly
¨ Write mostly clear, correct sentences in Standard Written English
¨ Give and take constructive peer feedback for writing in progress
¨ Respond effectively to college level readings by applying concepts and/or adding their own ideas to the ideas of an essay.
Student requests for accommodation:
If you need course accommodation or adaptation, please call Access Services at 206-878-3710 ext. 3857 or visit their office in Building 6. I must receive a "Letter to the Instructor" from this office before I can provide students with accommodation.
Just clip it all together, or you may use a thin, paper folder
Include the items below in the order listed here:
Late Work:
You may turn your essay in up to one week after the due date, with no points lost. However, after one week (seven days), late essays receive no points. (If it’s due on a Monday, you have until the next Monday to turn it in.) No credit for late peer responses. Late essays go to the bottom of my grading pile and are graded last, so it may be two weeks before you receive your graded paper. If you will miss an in-class essay, contact me beforehand. If it’s an emergency and you miss class, call me that day, even if it’s just to leave a message (206-878-3710 x3213) to let me know you want come see me to make up the work.
Attendance and Participation: is 20% of your grade. Your homework is your attendance and participation points. Come every day, on time, with your work done, ready to write quietly, read aloud when asked, or work with another student or group when asked.
Stamps: . We need you here with your homework done at the start of class so we can work together. Homework is stamped at the first 5 minutes of class, the day it’s due. If you arrive after that, your homework will not be stamped. If you are absent, your homework will not be stamped. Thank you for not asking for special treatment. If you are absent, I assume you have a good reason; however, homework is only stamped the first 5 minutes of class, the day it’s due.
I do not grade your homework until a Homework Packet is collected (Packet 1-6, Packet 7-13, Packet 14-20). Staple or clip them together in order. Each item should have your name in the upper right corner of each homework item, and the Homework # below your name. You will lose 1 point if your homework is out of order or not clearly labeled (it takes me hours to grade homework).
Grade for Homework: Each stamp is worth ½ point. Each correctly completed homework item is worth ½ point. When you turn in a homework packet, all items must be done correctly. If you re-do your homework, staple the new one to the back of the stamped one. After your packet receives a grade, you may leave it at home and keep it safe until the quarter is over and you see your grade posted.
Extra credit: I give almost no extra credit, because your grade must reflect your writing skills. Your advisors and teachers will use your grade in this class to determine the appropriate next courses for you. I give a little extra credit for a few activities I consider to be very valuable. Extra credit is like a free gift: you cannot demand it, and you do not need to accept it. It is available to you if you meet the requirements for it and choose to do it.
Inappropriate behavior in a college classroom:
· Talking or shuffling things while I'm talking to the class, or while another student is talking to the class.
· Speaking on a cell phone in class (even if class is not in session)
· Disrupting a respectful college atmosphere with jokes, loud, or negative comments before, during or after class
· Coming to class late, leaving class early, not attending class daily
· Turning in work while we are teaching and learning (wait until the end of class).
· Talking to the instructor before, during, or after class every single day. There are many students sharing one instructor – be considerate.
Rewards for appropriate behavior:
Students will want to know you and socialize with you. The instructor will appreciate your presence. You will learn more. You will enjoy coming to class more. Mostly likely, you will earn a better grade as a result of all these other factors.
Consequences of inappropriate behavior: If you distract teaching and learning once, I will ask you to stop. If you distract teaching and learning twice the same day, I will ask you to leave class for the day. Quietly pack up and leave, then attend class the next day ready to participate quietly and respectfully.
Requirements for passing Writing 91/98: In order to earn a 2.0 or better in Writing 91/98, you must pass the portfolio assessment. If your portfolio earns a pass, your grade will be based on your completion of the instructor’s grading requirements. Note: you are not guaranteed a 2.0 or higher if your portfolio passes—you must meet the course requirements at or above a 2.0 as defined by your instructor. If your portfolio does not pass, you can earn up to a 1.9 in the course, and you will need to take Writing 98 and pass it with a 2.0 or better before moving on to Writing 101. The assignment of a grade between 0.0 and 1.9 will be based on your completion of your instructor’s grading requirements.
Visit the Writing Center, in the Highline Tutoring Center--Building 26, Room 319. Writing consultants are student mentors who can help you understand assignments, brainstorm ideas, develop thesis statements, organize your writing, and start to find and fix your own editing errors.
WHEN YOU COPY SOMEONE ELSE'S WORDS, IDEAS OR STYLE
OF WRITING, AND PRESENT THEM AS YOUR OWN (without clearly citing the source), IT
IS VIEWED AS STEALING and LYING. If you turn in work, and I am not sure it’s
your original writing and revising, you may receive a zero for that assignment.
For example, if you are absent for 3 days, then show up with a 2-3-page draft, I
may ask you to start over on a different essay. Anything I haven't seen in an
early and a polished draft will receive a zero. This includes the portfolio.
GRADING:
Keep track of your grade. Run your education like a business: decide when it’s best to stay invested, and when it’s better to withdraw and save your business. Your grades are recorded on Blackboard. However, you probably will want to write them down here, so you can easily see your percentage.
Drafts (4 pts) ____ ____ ____ ____
1 1 1 1
Mid-Term Portfolio: (12 pts) _____
(includes Essay #1, first essay 1, and a cover letter) 12
Essay #2 (6 pts) ____
6
second in-class essay (3 pts) ____
3
Essay #3 (6pts) ____
6
Homework Journals: (20 pts) ____ ____ ____
6 7 7
Peer Responses: (6 pts) ____ ____ ____
2 2 2
Third in-class essay (3 pts) ____
3
Writing Portfolio: (40 pts) ____
40
Points possible _________ my Points _________
GRADES:
At any time, divide total points you've earned by total points possible so
far. My points: 20
Points possible: 25 20/25 = 80%. 80 on the points chart
= 2.7.
|
4.0 Scale |
Points |
4.0 Scale |
Points |
4.0 Scale |
Points |
|
4.0 |
95 -100 |
2.9 |
83-84 |
1.8 |
66-67 |
|
3.9 |
94 |
2.8 |
81-82 |
1.7 |
65 |
|
3.8 |
93 |
2.7 |
80 |
1.6 |
64 |
|
3.7 |
92 |
2.6 |
78-79 |
1.5 |
63 |
|
3.6 |
91 |
2.5 |
76-77 |
1.4 |
62 |
|
3.5 |
90 |
2.4 |
75 |
1.3 |
60-61 |
|
3.4 |
89 |
2.3 |
73-74 |
1.2 |
59 |
|
3.3 |
88 |
2.2 |
72 |
1.1 |
58 |
|
3.2 |
87 |
2.1 |
71 |
1.0 |
56-57 |
|
3.1 |
86 |
2.0 |
70 |
0.9 |
55 |
|
3.0 |
85 |
1.9 |
68-69 |
0.8 |
54 |
For one point extra credit, you must complete
the following sheet and give it to Lisa Bernhagen by or before May 15, 2009.
(Getting good advising is key to earning a degree or certificate. Thus, I honor
it with extra credit.)
Use the Highline Quarterly and an advisor to find this information.
1. Last day for 40% tuition refund: ____________
2. Last day to withdraw from classes: ____________
3. Date I can register for fall and/or summer classes: ________________
4. Name of my academic advisor: ____________ (if you don’t have one, go online to http://www.highline.edu/stuserv/edplanning/request.advisor.htm and request one.)
5. I met with my assigned academic advisor, OR I met with an educational planning advisor in bldg 6.
a. on this date: ____________________________
b. Her/his name is: ______________________________
c. She/he helped me with: ____________________________
___________________________________________________________
d. Here is her/his signature:_________________________