English 80:
Course Description and Policies
This English 80 course examines the overarching effects of the American capitalistic system on individuals and the environemnt through an exploration of consumerism, and our industrial food and health care systems.
COURSE INFORMATION
What is English 80? If you have enrolled in English 80, it is because you are not quite ready for English 1A. English 80 is based on the idea that students who do not immediately place into English 1A do not need lots of “basic” classes to get them to 1A, nor do they need lots of grammar exercises. Rather, a class preparing students for 1A should be a lot like 1A, in which students read intellectually interesting and challenging articles and books and then write essays exploring their own ideas about the issues raised in those readings. The goal of English 80 is to give you the tools and motivation to get into 1A quickly and to succeed in 1A when you get there.
What can you expect? Because this course is based on the idea that students need exposure to college-level reading and writing in order to be successful in a college-level English course, we will be reading college-level texts from the very beginning. These readings will be academically, intellectually and practically challenging. And there will be a lot of them. However, don’t let this turn you away! My goal as an instructor is that we will work through these readings as a class and much of our class time will be spent working to understand what the authors wrote so that we all grasp the big ideas of each reading. I will never expect you to be an expert on any reading, especially not the first day we start discussing it. However, I always want you to read all the way to the end of every assigned reading before coming to class. Reading all the way to the end is going to be absolutely essential, or the in-class discussions I devise to help us understand difficult sections, the main points, or just an interesting side-note will not work.
As part of this course, then, you are expected to struggle—with the readings, with critical thinking, with your writing, with the world of ideas. Struggle is the very core of academic work. There was never a time in college or grad school (or even today) when I have read something and got it all on the first go. I still struggle all of the time. It’s how we confront our struggle to improve ourselves that I will focus a lot of my energies on in order to help you succeed. As part of this struggle, you must come to class every day prepared to speak: first testing out what you think the writer’s points are, then testing out your own theories about the readings, extending your classmates’ ideas, challenging their ideas, and questioning your own after you hear your classmates. This need to test ideas, therefore, requires that you participate in the small group and large group discussions we have.
What can you expect from me?
To support you, I will give you time to work out your understanding of what authors are saying. I will hound you to make sure you are reading all the way to the end of each reading that is assigned. I will hold you accountable for class absences. I will meet with you all individually or in small groups regularly. I will applaud your successes and praise you for hard work. I will not belittle you when you are struggling, but I will offer constructive criticism, including constant encouragement to keep you pushing through frustration. I will create sequences of activities that help you understand the readings, and then later the demands of the essay prompts. And then, I’ll give you time to work on those essays. I will also make myself available to you outside of class time. If you ever have questions, please don’t hesitate to email me, come to my office hours or make an appointment to meet with me individually.
What can you do to create a positive and productive learning environment?
We will create a learning community of support. Participating actively in the class by completing all readings and assignments and joining in class and small group discussions is paramount to your success. I will ask that you support each other. When in groups, if you understand something that a classmate does not yet, support your classmate by trying to explain your understanding. Having to put your understanding into words will sharpen your understanding and make writing the essays easier. Exchange contact information with classmates to help each other know what is due on any given class day. Ask your classmates how they are doing when they return from an absence and encourage each other to attend every class period. Congratulate each other on your successes, encourage each other through struggles, and participate openly: do these things and you’ll find a college English class can be a whole lot better (and more manageable) than you had previously thought.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
What will you be able to do after this course?
Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to:
Text*: MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers: 8th Edition ISBN-13: 978-1603292627
Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal by Eric Schlosser ISBN-13: 978-0547750330
*A Note on Required Texts: Please note that you MUST purchase the 8th Edition of the MLA handbook. Significant changes were made between the 7th and 8th editions, and as we will be using this book as our primary guide for how to properly cite outside sources, you must have the most up to date version. If possible, do not rent Fast Food Nation. It is not a very expensive book, and you will be much more prepared and able to participate actively in class and complete assignments if you can write in your book.
Attendance: Class attendance is mandatory and there are no excused absences.* If you miss more than four (4) classes you will be asked to drop the class or will not pass. It is the student’s responsibility to keep track of absences. Students who miss multiple days in a row, or multiple labs in a row, could be automatically dropped from the class. These patterns show a lack of commitment to the class. Please always communicate with me about any repeated absences.
Tardiness: Entering class late is disruptive to the learning process for your fellow students, so please be respectful when arriving late. If arriving late becomes a problem, I reserve the right to count tardies as absences. Any student arriving more than 15 minutes late or leaving more than 15 minutes early may be counted absent. Habitual tardiness or early departures may result in a student being asked to drop or a failing grade. If you arrive late, do not interrupt the class to ask for missed work or what we are doing or announce that you have arrived; please see me during a break or after class. Even if you are going to be very late to class, please still come! Don’t get a whole day behind because you’re worried about walking into class late!
Lab Attendance Policy: This English 80 class has a scheduled lab period every Friday from 9:10am - 10:00am. As the lab offers guided practice and immediate instructor feedback on the skills we will develop throughout the semester, attendance at labs is mandatory and crucial to your success in this course. A student who must miss lab for medical or other emergency reasons may arrange to make up the lab at a different time with prior instructor approval.
Successful students:
Late Work: No late work will be accepted. You will have plenty of warning before assignments are due, so please plan accordingly. If you are going to miss class on the day an assignment is due, you may email me the assignment BEFORE THE CLASS IS OVER to have it counted as on time. If you miss class, it is your responsibility to ask a fellow student, check the course website, or email me (as a last resort, please) about what you missed to ensure that you do not miss turning in any homework assignments on the day of your return. If a quiz or test is missed, it is the student’s responsibility to request a makeup at the beginning of class on the day of his/her return. *Note: Emailed work is easily erased or forgotten, so emailed homework will be counted as on time, but will not be graded until I receive a physical (hard) copy from you.
Class rules:
Cheating and plagiarism have serious consequences. This is a writing and research course, so you will regularly be using outside sources to further your arguments. Learning how to cite those sources properly will be a key component of this class. Even using a short passage from someone else’s work without properly citing the source is considered plagiarism. Copying another student’s work is not “sharing” or “working together.” It is cheating and will face consequences. While I encourage you to work together and share ideas, the words that you ultimately write down should be your own.
According to Riverside Community College District Policy 6080, Section II.C. 1&2: For instances of academic dishonesty a faculty member may take any one of the following actions:
The faculty member may reduce the score on tests or assignment(s), reduce the grade for the course, fail the student in the course, or recommend to the appropriate administrative officer that the student be suspended from the course.
Note*: Class discussion and group work are considered the free exchange of ideas: build upon ideas you get in class and make them your own as you write your papers. You do not need to cite classmates or professors for ideas generated in class discussions.
COURSE INFORMATION
What is English 80? If you have enrolled in English 80, it is because you are not quite ready for English 1A. English 80 is based on the idea that students who do not immediately place into English 1A do not need lots of “basic” classes to get them to 1A, nor do they need lots of grammar exercises. Rather, a class preparing students for 1A should be a lot like 1A, in which students read intellectually interesting and challenging articles and books and then write essays exploring their own ideas about the issues raised in those readings. The goal of English 80 is to give you the tools and motivation to get into 1A quickly and to succeed in 1A when you get there.
What can you expect? Because this course is based on the idea that students need exposure to college-level reading and writing in order to be successful in a college-level English course, we will be reading college-level texts from the very beginning. These readings will be academically, intellectually and practically challenging. And there will be a lot of them. However, don’t let this turn you away! My goal as an instructor is that we will work through these readings as a class and much of our class time will be spent working to understand what the authors wrote so that we all grasp the big ideas of each reading. I will never expect you to be an expert on any reading, especially not the first day we start discussing it. However, I always want you to read all the way to the end of every assigned reading before coming to class. Reading all the way to the end is going to be absolutely essential, or the in-class discussions I devise to help us understand difficult sections, the main points, or just an interesting side-note will not work.
As part of this course, then, you are expected to struggle—with the readings, with critical thinking, with your writing, with the world of ideas. Struggle is the very core of academic work. There was never a time in college or grad school (or even today) when I have read something and got it all on the first go. I still struggle all of the time. It’s how we confront our struggle to improve ourselves that I will focus a lot of my energies on in order to help you succeed. As part of this struggle, you must come to class every day prepared to speak: first testing out what you think the writer’s points are, then testing out your own theories about the readings, extending your classmates’ ideas, challenging their ideas, and questioning your own after you hear your classmates. This need to test ideas, therefore, requires that you participate in the small group and large group discussions we have.
What can you expect from me?
To support you, I will give you time to work out your understanding of what authors are saying. I will hound you to make sure you are reading all the way to the end of each reading that is assigned. I will hold you accountable for class absences. I will meet with you all individually or in small groups regularly. I will applaud your successes and praise you for hard work. I will not belittle you when you are struggling, but I will offer constructive criticism, including constant encouragement to keep you pushing through frustration. I will create sequences of activities that help you understand the readings, and then later the demands of the essay prompts. And then, I’ll give you time to work on those essays. I will also make myself available to you outside of class time. If you ever have questions, please don’t hesitate to email me, come to my office hours or make an appointment to meet with me individually.
What can you do to create a positive and productive learning environment?
We will create a learning community of support. Participating actively in the class by completing all readings and assignments and joining in class and small group discussions is paramount to your success. I will ask that you support each other. When in groups, if you understand something that a classmate does not yet, support your classmate by trying to explain your understanding. Having to put your understanding into words will sharpen your understanding and make writing the essays easier. Exchange contact information with classmates to help each other know what is due on any given class day. Ask your classmates how they are doing when they return from an absence and encourage each other to attend every class period. Congratulate each other on your successes, encourage each other through struggles, and participate openly: do these things and you’ll find a college English class can be a whole lot better (and more manageable) than you had previously thought.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
What will you be able to do after this course?
Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to:
- Employ effective reading strategies for active, critical reading (including pre-reading and post- reading);
- Apply the higher-order cognitive skills necessary for critical participation in the ongoing conversations and debates of our culture and polity;
- Assess their own writing processes;
- Compose intelligible, source-based, multi-paragraph essays that employ rhetorical strategies for situating, developing, and communicating a controlling idea;
- Craft sentences for beauty, variety, and effectiveness.
- Participate willingly and productively in class discussions;
- Demonstrate tolerance of ideas that differ from their own;
- Tolerate (or hopefully even enjoy) writing and reading.
Text*: MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers: 8th Edition ISBN-13: 978-1603292627
Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal by Eric Schlosser ISBN-13: 978-0547750330
*A Note on Required Texts: Please note that you MUST purchase the 8th Edition of the MLA handbook. Significant changes were made between the 7th and 8th editions, and as we will be using this book as our primary guide for how to properly cite outside sources, you must have the most up to date version. If possible, do not rent Fast Food Nation. It is not a very expensive book, and you will be much more prepared and able to participate actively in class and complete assignments if you can write in your book.
- Some readings will be provided for you as photocopies, but there will also be readings that can only be found on the course website and will need to be printed out before you come to class.
- Access to/willingness to use a college level dictionary (can be found online)
- An at-home printer or a budget for on-campus printing of articles and assignments
- A three ring notebook for keeping materials organized and storing paper for in-class writings
- A composition book for in-class writing, Warm-up Assignments and Notes.
- Pens (all in-class writing and handwritten assignments must be done in pen)
- Highlighters of various colors to highlight important passages in readings and help with peer reviewing your classmates’ work
Attendance: Class attendance is mandatory and there are no excused absences.* If you miss more than four (4) classes you will be asked to drop the class or will not pass. It is the student’s responsibility to keep track of absences. Students who miss multiple days in a row, or multiple labs in a row, could be automatically dropped from the class. These patterns show a lack of commitment to the class. Please always communicate with me about any repeated absences.
- Any student who wishes to drop the course is responsible for dropping through WebAdvisor. Failure to properly drop the course may result in an F on your transcript.
Tardiness: Entering class late is disruptive to the learning process for your fellow students, so please be respectful when arriving late. If arriving late becomes a problem, I reserve the right to count tardies as absences. Any student arriving more than 15 minutes late or leaving more than 15 minutes early may be counted absent. Habitual tardiness or early departures may result in a student being asked to drop or a failing grade. If you arrive late, do not interrupt the class to ask for missed work or what we are doing or announce that you have arrived; please see me during a break or after class. Even if you are going to be very late to class, please still come! Don’t get a whole day behind because you’re worried about walking into class late!
Lab Attendance Policy: This English 80 class has a scheduled lab period every Friday from 9:10am - 10:00am. As the lab offers guided practice and immediate instructor feedback on the skills we will develop throughout the semester, attendance at labs is mandatory and crucial to your success in this course. A student who must miss lab for medical or other emergency reasons may arrange to make up the lab at a different time with prior instructor approval.
Successful students:
- Attend class regularly;
- Are motivated and committed;
- Complete all assignments on time;
- Are ready to start class at the appropriate time and have their materials ready;
- Are attentive during class, follow directions, take notes, participate in class discussions and activities, and ask questions about anything they do not understand;
- Plan and use their time wisely so they can keep up with assignments, complete work on time, and prepare for quizzes and exams;
- communicate with their classmates and instructors in an appropriate manner, which includes receiving the opinions of others with courtesy, even if they disagree with those opinions;
- show respect for other races, ethnicities, religions, genders, sexualities, and abilities.
Late Work: No late work will be accepted. You will have plenty of warning before assignments are due, so please plan accordingly. If you are going to miss class on the day an assignment is due, you may email me the assignment BEFORE THE CLASS IS OVER to have it counted as on time. If you miss class, it is your responsibility to ask a fellow student, check the course website, or email me (as a last resort, please) about what you missed to ensure that you do not miss turning in any homework assignments on the day of your return. If a quiz or test is missed, it is the student’s responsibility to request a makeup at the beginning of class on the day of his/her return. *Note: Emailed work is easily erased or forgotten, so emailed homework will be counted as on time, but will not be graded until I receive a physical (hard) copy from you.
Class rules:
- NO cell phones, other electronic devices (except when used for class purposes) or non-class related materials. If you are caught using any electronic device during class or viewing non-class related materials or working on outside homework, you will be given one warning. Upon the second request, you will be asked to leave the classroom and will be counted absent for the day.
- NO late papers or homework are accepted.
- RESPECT the property and people around you. Disrespecting anyone or anything in the classroom may result in you being asked to leave and counted absent for the day.
- NO food or open beverage containers in class. This is a school-wide policy in order to help reduce maintenance and custodial costs. Eating in class is also a distraction to you and often to those around you. Please eat before you enter class or during breaks.
Cheating and plagiarism have serious consequences. This is a writing and research course, so you will regularly be using outside sources to further your arguments. Learning how to cite those sources properly will be a key component of this class. Even using a short passage from someone else’s work without properly citing the source is considered plagiarism. Copying another student’s work is not “sharing” or “working together.” It is cheating and will face consequences. While I encourage you to work together and share ideas, the words that you ultimately write down should be your own.
According to Riverside Community College District Policy 6080, Section II.C. 1&2: For instances of academic dishonesty a faculty member may take any one of the following actions:
The faculty member may reduce the score on tests or assignment(s), reduce the grade for the course, fail the student in the course, or recommend to the appropriate administrative officer that the student be suspended from the course.
Note*: Class discussion and group work are considered the free exchange of ideas: build upon ideas you get in class and make them your own as you write your papers. You do not need to cite classmates or professors for ideas generated in class discussions.