English 081:
Intermediate
Instructor: Dave Moeller
Room: CCC-300
Time: 6:00 to 7:20
Days: Mondays and Wednesdays
Texts (bring with you to all
meetings):
·
Adventures in
Writing (3rd. ed.)
·
Prentice Hall
Grammar Workbook
·
March to
Freedom by Edith Singer
·
Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki
Houston
Course number: 70813
Web page: http://staff.hartdistrict.org/dmoelle
e-mail address:
dmoelle@hartdistrict.org
Objectives
Objectives: This class
improves writing at the paragraph level by focusing on structure, mechanics,
and editing. It familiarizes students with source-based compositions, and it
emphasizes pre-college level reading of fiction and nonfiction with attention
to formal responses to reading.
Student Learning Outcomes
By the end of the semester, students will be able to:
Ø
Students will
be able to compose well-organized, grammatically correct paragraphs, using
personal evidence as well as evidence from the assigned readings and a focused
topic sentence.
Ø
Students will
be able to correctly identify an author’s thesis, main points and supporting
details through annotation and comprehension questions.
Ø
Students will
be able to clearly explain an author’s theme and describe the main character’s
conflict in a complete paragraph.
Academic Course Requirements: This class is offered only in a credit/no credit
format. To pass this class, each student must do two things:
Grades
points – name of assignment
400 Classwork and Homework
100 Out-of-Class
Examples Paragraph
100 In-Class
Examples Paragraph
100 Out-of-Class
Argument Paragraph
100 In-Class
Argument Paragraph
75 Sentence Options Paragraph
75 Focus on Quoting Paragraph
100 March to
Freedom 1
100 March to
Freedom 2
100 Farewell
to Manzanar part 1
100 Farewell
to Manzanar part 2
100 Farewell
to Manzanar part 3
200 Midterm
400 Final
This list
of grades adds up to 2,000; therefore, you will need to earn 1,500 points to
pass the class.
I keep three gradebooks:
The overall percentage earned in the classwork and homework gradebook
becomes the classwork and homework grade in the gradebook, out of 400. For example, if you earn 80% in the classwork and homework gradebook,
you would receive 320 out of 400 for your classwork
and homework grade. In many cases, the classwork we
do is given an automatic 100%. On the other hand, classwork
points are only available for those who are in class; classwork
points are not available to those who are absent.
Make-Up Tests and Paragraphs
Here is a list of assignments that need to be made
up in the TLC lab before the following class meeting. The TLC lab
is in room 306; currently, its hours are M-Th from
9:00 to 7:00.
·
March to
Freedom part 1
·
March to Freedom
part 2
·
In-Class
Examples Paragraph (March 25)
·
In-Class
Argument Paragraph (May 20)
·
Sentence
Options Paragraph (March 18)
·
Focus on
Quoting Paragraph (May 6)
·
Farewell to Manzanar part 1 (April 15)
·
Farewell to Manzanar part 2 (April 22)
·
Farewell to Manzanar part 3 (April 29)
·
Midterm (April
1)
Attendance
I use a system of “attendance units.” This system
covers all situations, including absences, partial absences, and tardies. Here’s how it works:
You are allowed 16 penalty-free attendance units.
Beginning with the 17th attendance unit, your grade is penalized 1
percent per attendance unit.
Because
of this system, excessive absences or tardies will
mathematically eliminate the possibility of passing. In such a situation, it is
best to drop, providing the drop deadline has not passed.
About Absences
This is college; therefore, an absence is an
absence. We do not distinguish between good excuses, bad excuses, and no
excuses. You are either physically here, or you are not.
Work turned in to my mailbox (go to the switchboard)
prior to the beginning of class is considered on time.
If
you are industrious, you can minimize the consequences of an absence by (1)
turning in your work to my mailbox and (2) going to my Web page. I cannot
emphasize enough the importance of checking my Web page at least once a week.
Miscellaneous
If you must
bring a cell phone or some other electronic gizmo into class, turn it off
before class starts.
For certain
major assignments, I will announce in advance that full credit is given on the
due date; partial credit is given at the next class meeting. Other than that, I do not accept late work.
Out-of-class
support is provided by the TLC (Tutorial, Learning, and
Some
assignments will be turned in to Turnitin.com. In the event you have a problem
submitting an assignment to Turnitin, you may e-mail
me the assignment as an attachment and still get credit. E-mailing me is only a
temporary solution; you are expected to solve your Turnitin
problem before the next assignment is due.
Class Meetings
Note: I prefer to list
the major due dates only; that allows us much more flexibility. As we progress
through the semester, a listing of what we cover each day will appear on the
“What We Did” link on my Web page.
Mon. 8-24—
Wed. 8-26—
Mon. 8-31—
Wed. 9-2—March to Freedom #1: from the prologue to the end of
chapter 8
Mon. 9-7—Labor Day—no class meeting
Wed. 9-9—March to Freedom #2: from chapter 9 to the end of the
epilogue
Mon. 9-14—
Wed. 9-16—
Mon. 9-21—
Wed. 9-23—Out-of-Class Example Paragraph; due on Turnitin by 5:00 p.m.
Mon. 9-28—
Wed. 9-30—In-Class 5 Sentence Options Paragraph
Mon. 10-5—
Wed. 10-7—In-Class Examples Paragraph
Mon. 10-12—
Wed. 10-14—Midterm
Mon. 10-19—
Wed. 10-21—
Mon. 10-26—Farewell to Manzanar #1: from
chapter 1 to the end of chapter 7
Wed. 10-28—
Mon. 11-2— Farewell to Manzanar #2: from
chapter 8 to the end of chapter 16
Wed. 11-4—
Mon. 11-9— Veteran’s Day—no class meeting
Wed. 11-11— Farewell to Manzanar
#3: from chapter 17 to the end of the book
Mon. 11-16—
Wed. 11-18—Out-of-Class Argument Paragraph
Mon. 11-23—In-Class Quoting Skills Paragraph
Wed. 11-25—
Mon. 11-30—
Wed. 12-2—
Mon. 12-7— In-Class Argument Paragraph
Wed. 12-9—Final Exam
Some Dates
·
Last day for
refunds—Sept. 4
·
Last day to
add—Sept. 4
·
Drop deadline—Sept.
18
·
Withdrawal—Oct.
16