SYLLABUS

Fall 2022 ENGLISH 1121 D431

Professor:  Sarah Schmerler

Email: sschmerler@citytech.cuny.edu

Course Site: https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/schmerlereng1121d431fall2022/

Course meeting times: Mon and Wed 8:30AM–9:45AM

Location: Namm 523

Weekly office hours: TBA and on Discord

Welcome:

Welcome to City Tech and English 1121. I want to take a moment and say how proud I am of you. We are living with, and adapting to, the most challenging period of history you and I have ever known. The CUNY community has been hit harder by Covid-19 than any other university system in the country — and I know that we are all still being affected. So, let me be clear: I want you to prioritize the physical/emotional health of yourself and your family, and your financial/safety needs. English writing and composition is important, but your own safety and wellbeing is more important. If life circumstances make it difficult for you to complete activities for this course, please advocate for yourself and email me sooner rather than later. The skills we will gain, and the community of learners we will create together, should make your world better. If this is not the case, let me know.

Course Description:

An advanced course in expository essay writing that requires a library paper. Further development of research and documentation skills. Assigned literary and expository readings.

Every City Tech (and CUNY) student takes Composition I, which features reading and writing assignments that will help prepare you for college and beyond. Together we will work on communicating effectively, building an argument, adapting your writing for different needs and situations, interpreting and responding to a text, incorporating and citing secondary source material. We will be reading pieces both for their inherent literary and informational value and also as models for our own writing projects. Sharing your own ideas and experiences and adding your voice to our discussions will enrich our class community.

Prerequisite: 

English 1101 or equivalent

Course Meetings:

This course will meet twice a week in person (Mon and Wed 8:30AM–9:45AM) in Namm 523. Students must commit to scheduled class times. 

You may have homework due each week. I will explain the work for each week in class, as well as post the work for each week in the WEEKLY ASSIGNMENT FOLDERS on OpenLab. The due dates will also be included with the assignment instructions. You will be responsible for completing this work, as well as for attending each class, every week.  

Course Website: 

Our homework and messages from me will be on our course website. This is where you will find your assignments, as well as submit many of your finished unit assignments. You should check our course website frequently! You are responsible for being up-to-date and knowing what is on our course site. You are also responsible for checking your CityTech email frequently. Please contact me if you are having trouble!

Course Tools and Required Materials:

  • A working computer with which to do assignments and view our OpenLab site. (See below for another link to Tech Services if you need assistance with tech.)
  • Access to and use of GoogleDocs and GoogleDrive. (I will create a folder on GoogleDrive with your name on it dedicated to this class. This is your STUDENT FOLDER and will house your assignment drafts and portfolio. If you don’t have GoogleDrive, you can’t access this folder!)
    ● Access to a strong WiFi connection
  • Access to OpenLab (you should consider bookmarking important pages on our site like READINGS, ZOOM LINKS, and WEEKLY ASSIGNMENT FOLDERS for easy access!)
  • A City Tech e-mail account
  •  An English Style Guide (either in print or Online)
  • A dictionary (print or Online)
  • Access to an Etymological Dictionary (Online)

(On our website you will find the  link to IT services with helpful downloads of Zoom, GoogleDrive, and other softwares)

Grading Breakdown:

Unit 1                                                                                                 20%

Unit 2                                                                                                 20%

Unit 3                                                                                                 20%

Final Reflection                                                                                10%

Low-stakes Writing (Weekly/Class/Participation Homework) 30%

You’ll see that “low-stakes writing” counts for 30% of your grade in this class. What does this mean? What is “low-stakes writing?” How is this calculated? Why is this such a high percentage?

In this class, you’re graded almost as much on your weekly class participation and low-stakes assignments as you are on your high-stakes essay assignments. This means you have to keep up with the day-to-day to get that 30%.

This is because in this class, you’re not learning how to write one particular paper, or how to do one particular thing, you are learning about the process of writing (and reading—and researching) and all of those things are the behind-the-scenes work.

How will low-stakes writing be graded?

More or less, if you do it in a reasonable fashion, you’ll get the credit. You have to do it thoroughly and thoughtfully, and you have to do it in a timely manner. (If you’re having trouble with getting things done on time, please let me know.) Writing is largely about discipline and routine, so this is a good way to learn that—and to earn 30% of the credit for this course.

Late Paper Policy:

If you are having difficulty completing a major assignment please talk to me before it is due. I am here to help you. My extension policy is: If you write me an e-mail, tell me the specific assignment for which you are requesting an extension, and give me a new due date that you can truly manage to honor, I will consider your request! Also, when you request an extension, please be sure to include your course’s Section # in the e-mail.

Revision Policy:

In this course, you can—and will!– revise all major units for your final portfolio (see Unit 4: Final Portfolio). Your new grade entirely replaces your old grade. You can also revise your units sooner than that if you feel you’d like more feedback. Please come see me during office hours if you’re confused about my comments or you’d like additional feedback.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism occurs when you present the ideas or words of another as your own. It is a severe crime in college. Plagiarism takes many forms, and your claiming “I didn’t know I plagiarized” will not save you from receiving an “F.” This is the Library’s resource on Plagiarism. To be clear: Unless I explicitly ask you to find examples of other people’s writing, you should be the author of everything you submit for this class.

For a full overview of CityTech’s Academic Integrity Policy,: http://www.citytech.cuny.edu/academics/docs/academic_integrity_policy.pdf

University Policies:

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, you can leave a voicemail at 718-260-5143, send an email to:  Accessibility@citytech.cuny.edu, or visit the Center’s website at  http://www.citytech.cuny.edu/accessibility/ for more information.

Academic Integrity:

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 in The City University of New York 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.

Diversity Policies:

City Tech Diversity and Inclusive Education Syllabus Statement:

This course welcomes students from all backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. In accordance with the City Tech and CUNY missions, this course intends to provide an atmosphere of inclusion, respect, and the mutual appreciation of differences so that together we can create an environment in which all students can flourish. It is the instructor’s goal to provide materials and activities that are welcoming and accommodating of diversity in all of its forms, including race, gender identity and presentation, ethnicity, national origin, religion, cultural identity, socioeconomic background, sexuality and sexual orientation, ability, neurodivergence, age, and etc. Your instructor is committed to equity and actively seeks ways to challenge institutional racism, sexism, ableism and other forms of prejudice. Your input is encouraged and appreciated. If a dynamic that you observe or experience in the course concerns you, you may respectfully inform your instructor without fear of how your concerns will affect your grade.  Let your instructor know how to improve the effectiveness of the course for you personally, or for other students or student groups. We acknowledge that NYCCT is located on the traditional homelands of the Canarsie and Lenape peoples.

Support Resources:

College Writing Center:

Online writing tutoring is available through the Writing Center at City Tech! I encourage you to utilize their services. Keep in mind you’ll need to make an appointment ahead of time. It’s unlikely they’ll be able to squeeze you in at the last minute, especially during busy times, so plan ahead!

Advisors:

The transition to college is challenging for everyone. It is helpful to periodically reflect on how you are doing in your classes, and how your anticipated area of study (major) is progressing, as well as to plan next steps. Once advisement begins, you will be assigned a faculty advisor. During this period, if you have not been emailed and/or you do not see your advisor/appointment on CUNYFirst, go to your major’s homepage; there, you will find advisement details that will include contact information, as well as dates and times.

English 1121 Learning Outcomes  

Departmental Learning Outcomes:

It is expected that at a minimum, students in ENG 1121 will:

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.

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.

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. Persuasively communicate and repurpose research projects across a variety of contexts, purposes, audiences, and media. 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.).

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.

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.

Compose in 21st– Century Environments: Learn to choose among the most current and effective delivery methods for different composing situations. Students learn to compose in new media environments, including alphabetic texts, still and moving images, sonic, and mixed media compositions. Use digital media platforms appropriate to audience and purpose.

CUNY Pathways Learning Outcomes:

A course in this area must meet all of the following learning outcomes. A student will:

  • Read and listen critically and analytically, including identifying an argument’s major assumptions and assertions and evaluating its supporting evidence.
  • Write clearly and coherently in varied, academic formats (such as formal essays, research papers, and reports) using standard English and appropriate technology to critique and improve one’s own and others’ texts.
  • Demonstrate research skills using appropriate technology, including gathering, evaluating, and synthesizing primary and secondary sources.
  • Support a thesis with well-reasoned arguments, and communicate persuasively across a variety of contexts, purposes, audiences, and media.
  • Formulate original ideas and relate them to the ideas of others by employing the conventions of ethical attribution and citation.