Syllabus

NYCCT Fall 2019

Syllabus for English 1101: Composition I.

Prof. James Wu

jwu@citytech.cuny.edu

Office hour, Namm 529 Wed 11:45 – 12-45

 

Course description. This course will focus on basic, college level reading and writing, including the essay. We will be doing college level writing with research elements, including citation.  We will also learn basic concepts of grammar, with the goal of understanding sentence structure. Pre-requisite: passing score on CATW.

Course objectives: Practice academic college level writing. Practice critical thinking and textual analysis.  Learn research practices and MLA Citation.

Readings in several genres will be circulated and/or available on line. Students will reflect on reader expectations of different genres; the student will also reflect on the student’s own building of a base of knowledge, which will include numerous and opposing points of view.

Grades will be based on the following.assignments: 3 short papers (including the midterm) in various genres, 3-5 pages long (45% of final grade).  All papers must be printed and handed in. Late papers will be accepted within one week of due date. Papers may be rewritten and corrected for a higher grade. Topics and specific guidelines will be circulated prior to due date.

1 longer, research assignment, 6-8 pages long, including citations and works cited page, using MLA format. (15% of final grade). This paper will be built on a previous paper. The student will have the option of incorporating a multimedia component as part of this project.

Attendance and class participation are essential and excessive absences may affect the final grade. Class presentation. Each student must make a class presentation on their recent work. This should also be a written document, notes, list of bullet points; it can also be a short multi-media presentation. (10%)

Final Exam:  in class essay, finals week, at the end of the semester (30% of final grade)

Required texts. Readings in several genres, circulated by instructor and available online.

1. Writings based on personal experience.

Hemingway, on writing. “Now I Lay Me.”   “I Guess Everything Reminds You of Something.” Fictional short story with autobiographical elements.

 

Junot Diaz, “How to Date a Brown Girl, Black Girl, White Girl, Halfie.” Fictional narrative with autobiographical elements. “Homecoming with Turtle.” Nonfictional memoir.

 

William Faulkner. “Elly,” fictional short story on an interracial relationship in 1930s segregationist South.

 

Standiford, Natalie. “Nesting Doll.” Personal essay/memoir.

 

Ackerman, “The Brain on Love.” Informational/science essay with personal anecdote.

 

 

 

1. Writings on a topic. Readings in nonfiction, informational journalism. Economics, jobs, technology.

 

Larsen, Christina.   “Closing the Factory Door.” Foreign Policy. July 1, 2018

 

McClosky, Deidre Nansen. “Myth of Technological Unemployment.” Reason Aug 1 2017.

 

Drum, Kevin. “You Will Lose Your Job to a Robot.” Mother Jones. Nov Dec. 2017.

 

Thompson, Clive. “What Will Happen When Machines Write Song Just as Well as Your Favorite Musician.” Mother Jones. March/April 2019.

 

Gros, Daniel. “ China’s Forced Technology Transfer.” Business Times website, Nov 13, 2018.

 

Schellenberger, Michael. “Why Renewables Can’t Save the Planet.” Quillete, website, Feb 27, 2019.

 

 

Plato, “Allegory of the Cave,” excerpt. Philosophy.

Accessibility Statement: City Tech is committed to supporting the educational goals of enrolled students with disabilities in the areas of enrollment, academic advisement, tutoring, assistive technologies and testing accommodations. If you have or think you may have a disability, you may be eligible for reasonable accommodations or academic adjustments as provided under applicable federal, state and city laws. You may also request services for temporary conditions or medical issues under certain circumstances. If you have questions about your eligibility or would like to seek accommodation services or academic adjustments, please contact the Center for Student Accessibility at 300 Jay Street room L-237, 718 260 5143 or http://www.citytech.cuny.edu/accessibility/.

 

Attendance Policy. Class Participation
Participation in the academic activity of each course is a significant component of the learning process and plays a major role in determining overall student academic achievement. Academic activities may include, but are not limited to, attending class, submitting assignments, engaging in in-class or online activities, taking exams, and/or participating in group work. Each instructor has the right to establish their own class participation policy, and it is each student’s responsibility to be familiar with and follow the participation policies for each course.

If you do not attend class at least once in the first weeks of the semester, the instructor is required to assign a grade of “WN”.

Lateness. Classes begin promptly at the times indicated in the Schedule of Classes. Arrival in classes after the scheduled start time constitutes lateness. Latecomers may, at the discretion of the instructor, incur an official absence.

 

College Policy on Academic Integrity:

 

“Students who work with information, ideas, and texts 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 in CUNY and at New York City College of Technology, and is punishable by penalties, including failing grades, suspension, and expulsion. The complete text of the College policy on Academic Integrity may be found in the catalog.”