Fall 2019
ENG 1101: English Composition I
New York City College of Technology, CUNY
Class Syllabus
Instructor: Prof. Brianna Jewell
Time and Place: MW 10-11:15; W 9-9:50 Midway 304
E-mail: bjewell@citytech.cuny.edu
Office and Office Hours: Namm 529, Wednesdays 11:30-12:30 and by appointment
Description:
English Composition I is a writing intensive course designed to strengthen your ability to read and write critically by developing your skills in textual analysis, critical thinking, composition, and revision. As an introduction to the processes, rhetorical situations, structures, and registers of college writing and reading, this course will give you the opportunity to experience different kinds of academic and non-academic writing and engage with texts through your own written responses. You will enhance your existing skills as a writer and learn new ways to effectively communicate your viewpoints through rhetorical analysis, close reading, and class discussion. Your work in this course will help you advance the critical writing and reading skills you will need to succeed in your major and your career.
You will learn how to:
1. Read and listen critically and analytically in a variety of genres and rhetorical situations: identify and evaluate exigencies, purposes, claims, supporting evidence, and underlying assumptions in a variety of texts, genres, and media.
2. Adapt to and compose in a variety of genres: Adapt writing conventions in ways that are suitable to different exigencies and purposes in a variety of contexts, including academic, workplace, and civic audiences. When appropriate, repurpose prior work to new genres, audiences, and media by adjusting delivery, design, tone, organization, and language.
3. Use research as a process of inquiry and engagement with multiple perspectives: Learn to focus on a topic and develop research questions that lead to propositions and claims that can be supported with well-reasoned arguments. Demonstrate research skills through attribution and citation gathering, evaluating, and synthesizing both primary and secondary sources. Learn how to use appropriate citation styles depending on disciplinary and situational requirements (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.).
4. Use reflection and other metacognitive processes to revise prior assumptions about reading and writing and transfer acquired knowledge into new writing situations. Students write reflections of their own reading and writing process from the beginning and throughout the semester with the intention to transfer their acquired knowledge about genre and composing practices into new writing situations.
5. Demonstrate the social and ethical responsibilities and consequences of writing: Recognize that first-year writing includes academic, workplace, and civic contexts, all of which require careful deliberation concerning the ethical and social ramifications concerning fairness, inclusivity, and respect for diversity. Write and revise for academic and broader, public audiences accordingly.
Required Texts:
Most of our course’s readings will be found in our class packet, which will be available September 3 at Remsen Graphics on 52 Court Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201 (ph: 718.643.7500). The packet is required and you will be responsible for bringing the readings to class. Please see me now if you are unable to purchase the packet by September 3.
Classroom Policies:
To best facilitate your learning and growth as a reader and writer, you must come to class on time with the reading for the day (as well as your reading notes) AND the daily assignment. It is my number one priority as an instructor to foster a safe classroom environment where everyone feels not only comfortable but encouraged to participate. Class discussions are always more interesting and smart when more voices are in the room. Please see me if there is something you need or want in order to learn more safely and/or effectively.
Open Lab:
From the second week of the semester on, our class will utilize Open Lab’s online platform. I will send an email to your City Tech email before Week 2 with the link to our course website. I will frequently ask you to submit blog posts and assignments on Open Lab and the most up-to-date syllabus will be available on the site. It is your responsibility to check Open Lab frequently (in other words, daily) to make sure you have the most current schedule, readings, and assignments for the class. You need a City Tech email to access our Open Lab. If you do not have a City Tech email, go to the Help Desk in the library to get one.
Cell Phone and Technology Policy:
In the beginning of the semester, we will develop a cell phone policy as a class. Please think seriously about the role you want cell phones to play in our course. Keep in mind that 50% of your grade is “Homework,” which includes class participation and active contributions (See Grading section below). If you spend class texting, you will not earn a good grade in the class; I encourage you to consider that prospect when you are creating your ideal class cell phone policy.
Email Protocol:
You are responsible for checking your City Tech email daily. This is a good practice for all of your classes. I will be communicating with you about any changes to our class schedule (which will definitely happen!). Not checking your email is not an excuse for not knowing what we are doing in class. When writing an email to me (or any of your professors), please include an appropriate subject title and proper salutation; please also use complete sentences and sign your name at the end of the message. Email messages are a great opportunity to practice your writing and to cultivate a strong student ethos!
Late Policy:
I do not accept late work. E1101 is a writing intensive course. The writing assignments are designed so that you develop skills that build on each other and we will conduct in-class peer reviews that require you to have completed writing; consequently, it is important that you keep on schedule with the assignments. Keep in mind that you cannot include major assignments that you did not turn in on their due dates in the Final Portfolio. Though your assignment grades are not set in stone before the Final Portfolio, you are still responsible for turning all assignments in on time and all assignments must be turned in on time in order to be counted fully in the Final Portfolio.
However, there is an exception to this rule: if you talk to me before the paper is due (and tell me the truth about whatever is going on), I’m likely to give you an extension. Keep in mind that talking to me is not sending me an email the night before a paper is due. To talk to me, you must hear back from me. If you need an extension, you must email me *at least 48 hours* in advance of the assignment.
Coursework and Grading:
*Homework: 50%
**Final Portfolio: 50%
*The Homework portion of your grade includes: in-class contributions, coming to class on time with the day’s readings and homework in hand, in-class writings, pop quizzes, peer reviews, and Open Lab posts. Since much of the homework happens in class, you will not be able to earn a good grade without good attendance. Regularly coming to class late means that you will miss many of that day’s potential points. You are responsible for checking your City Tech email daily and for keeping up to date with our syllabus.
**The Final Portfolio portion of your grade will comprise a compilation of all major writing assignments as well as your reflections on how you have evolved as a writer throughout the semester. I will your major assignments provisional grades as you turn them in, but you will have the opportunity to revise those assignments for higher grades in your Final Portfolio. If you do not revise an assignment for the Final Portfolio, it will stay the same grade that I initially gave it. We will talk a lot about revisions and the Final Portfolio throughout the semester.
Tips on how to succeed in this course:
• Come to class—on time!
• Do your work
• Know what’s expected of you (by reading the syllabus and keeping up with the Open Lab website. You can also make friends with someone in the course and email them if you miss a class to find out what you missed. You can also email your professor.)
• Be mentally and not just physically present. This means no texting, no headphones. Pay attention! Take notes!
• Treat yourself and your peers with respect
• Develop a good relationship with your professor by asking questions and going to office hours
Grades:
Final grades will be determined on the basis of the following rubric:
A 93-100
A- 90-92.9
B+ 87-89.9
B 83-86.9
B- 80-82.9
C+ 77-79.9
C 70-76.9
D 60-69.9
F 59.9 and below
City Tech’s Policy on Academic Integrity and Plagiarism:
Students and all others who work with information, ideas, texts, images, music, inventions, and other intellectual property owe their audience and sources accuracy and honesty in using, crediting, and citing sources. As a community of intellectual and professional workers, the College recognizes its responsibility for providing instruction in information literacy and academic integrity, offering models of good practice, and responding vigilantly and appropriately to infractions of academic integrity. Accordingly, academic dishonesty is prohibited at New York City College of Technology and is punishable by penalties, including failing grades, suspension, and expulsion.
Course Units and Major Assignments:
Schedule is subject to change based on class’s needs and desires. Please consult our syllabus before each class for daily readings and assignments.
Unit 1: Writing your Literacy Narrative
Major Assignments: Literacy Narrative; Group Presentation and Reflection
Unit 2: Becoming a Genre Expert
Major Assignments: Annotated Bibliography; Genre How-To Guide
Unit 3: Identifying a Research Question that Matters (to You)
Major Assignment: Writing using Generic Conventions; Group Presentation and Reflection
Unit 4: Revising and Final Portfolio
Major Assignment: Final Portfolio
