Class Rules:
You are allowed 3 absences this semester. Further absences must be documented (e.g., a doctor’s note) and explained to the instructor. After 3 absences, your grade will go down significantly, and you are at risk of failing the class.
1 late arrival = ½ absence. No excuses!
If you miss a class, you must contact the instructor or a classmate to get the homework. You are responsible for getting your assignments on days when you are absent.
Please make your cell phone silent during class. Absolutely no text messaging in the classroom. Texting during class is considered the same as being absent.
There are serious punishments for cheating. You must do all the work yourself. Never plagiarize (steal written words) on any of your assignments. This means you cannot take words directly from the Internet, a book, or an article. Also, you cannot ask another person to write an essay for you. If you plagiarize, your essay will receive a failing grade and you may be dismissed from the class, receiving an F for the semester.
About This Class:
The goal of this course is to develop academic writing skills in English.
Reading
• You will read a variety of texts related to the theme of urban issues. All reading must be done prior to class. Be prepared to discuss and write about each reading.
Essays
• You will write several essays, both at home and in class. Essays done at home will be double spaced, in Times New Roman 12 point.
• Your essay grades will be based on your ideas, organization, clarity, grammar and vocabulary.
• Late assignments: One week late (or less) = 10% penalty. More than one week late = 50% penalty. Assignments not submitted by the last day of class = 0%. You will likely fail the class if you do not do your assignments on time.
Other Writing Requirements
• For each unit, you will write a response to a question posted on our course blog on the City Tech OpenLab (URL above), for a total of four blog responses.
• For each unit, you will do one “Website It!” activity and post it on our course blog on the City Tech OpenLab (URL above), for a total of four blog responses.
Grammar Homework
• We will review grammar topics that are essential for clear writing. You will have grammar homework, which, in many cases, will require you to read or watch a video about a grammar/writing style topic. This homework will replace in-class lectures, so you should read/watch them multiple times and come to class ready to be tested on that grammar topic.
Exams
• There will be a midterm and final exam. The midterm counts for 10% of your final grade; the final exam counts for 20% of your final grade. If you fail the final exam, you will fail the class (per the English Department).
Participation
• Even if your English is not perfect, it is important that you ask questions and contribute to class discussions. If you never speak, the professor may think that you don’t understand the topics. You will receive a grade for participation.
Final Grade:
20% Final Exam (but if you fail the final, you fail the class)
10% Midterm Exam
20% Blog and Website It posts
40% Essays
10% Attendance and Participation
