English 21 English Fundamentals - Fall 2014

Section Number: 3150

Class Time and Location: Tues 3:306:40 PM in CSB 208
Instructor: Rebecca Lawson
Email: [email protected]
Office Hour: Tues/Thurs 3:00-3:30 (location to be announced) or by email appointment.
Mailbox Box: Located under Lawson in ReproGraphics copy room..
Required Textbook:
Pathways for Writing Scenarios by Kathleen T. McWhorter (3rd edition) ISBN-13: 978-0205617760
Also Required:
Regular and reliable access to your school email.
Regular and reliable access to the class blog: lawson21fall2015.weebly.com
Regular and reliable access to turnitin.com
Course Description: (from LA Mission catalog): This is a course in reading and writing designed to strengthen
the students basic communication skills, including grammar, spelling, punctuation, and sentence construction.
Greatest emphasis is placed on the writing of competent paragraphs and short essays.
Student Learning Outcomes:
1. Recognize and correct basic errors in grammar
2. Produce an essay of at least 350 words, which has a thesis, introduction, body, and conclusion. Sentence
structure will be diversified.
3. Self-edit and correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors in his/her essays.
4. Differentiate fact from opinion.
Grading:
This class is graded credit/no credit. In order to receive a grade of Credit, you must have above a 70% in the
class. Your grade will consist of the following:
Homework Paragraphs, Readings, and In-Class Assignments: 5-20 points each, depending on length.
4 Out-of-Class Essays and 3 Required Rough Drafts: 100 points each + 25 points for Rough Drafts
In-Class Essay Final: 100 points
Extra Credit: I will give one optional extra credit assignment toward the end of the semester. It will be a
writing challenge based on a reading The Case for Short Words by Richard Lederer. Details to come.
Attendance:
As a member of this class, you are part of a community of writers. It is important that you be here to participate
in class activities and offer your contribution to your classmates learning process. Because this is a once a
week class, missing class once is like missing a whole week. You are allowed only two absences without
penalty. Save them for days when you truly need them. The third absence will result in your final grade
being lowered one full letter grade. Students who are absent more than 3 times during the semester may be
dropped without question after the 3rd absence. If you do not plan on return to class, please notify me before
you drop or withdraw from the class.
We will be doing activities and assignments during class that you cannot participate in if you are not
present. Please refer to the schedule and the class website for upcoming assignments and instructions. You
may also wish to exchange phone numbers with someone else in the class so that you can catch up on what you
missed. In the case of an emergency, please contact me as soon as possible email to let me know your situation.

Tardiness: It is essential that you be on time. I will be taking roll at the beginning of class each day. If you
arrive after I have taken roll, it is your responsibility to come to me after class and have your absence changed
to a tardy. Three tardies will count as one absence. Please do not leave class early. I will often make
announcements at the end of class or give in-class assignments you will not be able to make up.
Student Conduct: Our classroom will be a place of learning, attention, and respect. Disruptive or
disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated and may affect your grade. Also, students who disrupt the class after
the first warning will be asked to leave and will be marked absent for the day.
Technology: Students will keep their cell phones turned off and in their bags. To avoid checking text
messages, please keep your cell phones in your bags, not your pockets or on your desk. I love my smart
phone as much as the next person, and I will sometimes use my smart phone for class related reasons, however
I will never use it for personal reasons in class, and I expect the same from you.
Students with Disabilities: If you have any special needs, please see me privately. Sharing your situation with
me will help me to be a more effective instructor. If you are a student with a disability and require classroom
accommodations, please see me to discuss arrangements. I am happy to accommodate in any way that I can.
The sooner I am aware that you are eligible for accommodations, the quicker I will be able to provide them. If
you have not done so already, you may also wish to contact the DSP&S Office in Instruction Building 1018
(phone #818.364. 7732/TTD 818.364.7861) .
Emergency Procedures: If a campus emergency that poses risk to students occurs, please be prepared to
immediately follow the instructions of your Instructor. Do not exit the classroom until instructed to do so. If
building evacuation is required, you will be asked to leave all of your non-essential personal belongings in the
classroom and quickly, yet orderly and safely, exit the classroom and the building, preferably through the main
doors on the north end of Building 29. Proceed to a safe location near the walkway intersection. As the last
person to exit, I will lock the classroom door behind me and meet you outside of the building in order to
account for your presence and safety.
Paper Format: All final drafts must be in 12-point, Times New Roman font. Margins must be one inch on all
sides. All papers must include the following in the left-hand corner: your name, the date, your class and section
number, the assignment name, and your word count. I will pass out an example of correct formatting in class
and we will discuss it. Please refer to it every time you turn in a written assignment. If you have any questions
about how to format your paper correctly, please ask me or a writing center worker. All assignments should be
carefully proofread for grammar and spelling errors.
Turnitin.com: We will be using an online resource called turnitin.com to submit all our essays. Thats right: no
printing! However it does mean you will need to be able to access the website and upload files from your
computer. I will show you how to access and use turnitin.com in class. If you ever have any questions about
this requirement, please come ask me.
Late Assignments/Papers: All four major essays must be uploaded to turnitin.com before class time on the
day they are due. Expect to have computer difficulties at least once during the semester and plan for them as
best you can. All other homework/assignments must be turned in as soon as you arrive in class unless we will
be using them in class. If you arrive late to class, you must turn in your work to me immediately upon arriving.
I will not accept homework turned in at the end of the period. If you know you are going to be absent, please
make arrangements to have your work in my box in the LA Mission faculty mailroom before class or to have it
in class with a classmate on the day it is due. I will never accept emailed assignments. Printing facilities are
available, but you must buy a print card if you wish to use the printers in the LRC.

You will be allowed one late assignment and ONLY one. It must be turned in within 1 week of the
original due date with a late contract stapled to the front. You must request a late contract from me.

.
Drafts and Participation in Peer Review: Writing is a process, and it is important that you participate in the
process by bringing drafts of your essays to class on the due dates. In order for your classmates and me to help
you as much as possible, we need to see the direction that you are going with your paper. In order to do this we
need to see a full draft. A full draft is NOT just an outline. A full draft has an introduction, body, and a
conclusion. It might not be as long as the final draft, but it is at least HALF the length of the final draft
minimum length. Students who do not bring a full draft to class on the day of peer review will:
Lose participation points.
Lose points on their final drafts for not having peer revision sheets.
Spend the class period working on their drafts rather than participating in peer review.
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is presenting anothers work as your own. This can include copying word-for-word
from the internet or another source without properly citing and crediting it, presenting an idea as your
own without acknowledging the source, or turning in a piece of writing that you did not personally create.
Minor and accidental plagiarism will result in an "incomplete" on the assignment with the option of revising for
a passing grade. Major and intentional plagiarism will, at the least, result in an "F" on the assignment in
question and may result in an "F" in the class. Repeat offenders risk suspension from LA Mission College.
Record Keeping: It is your responsibility to keep track of which assignments you have turned in and which you
have not, and it is your responsibility to keep track of your grade. While I always keep records of your points on
every assignment, you should keep records of your progress also. Please keep all of your work after I pass it
back. This means your in-class work, your essays, your homework, and any other assignments we do. Also,
you should never give me your only copy of an essay. Always save your work on a computer or a flash
drive or print out an extra copy for you to keep in case something goes wrong with your computer or I
misplace your work.

PLEASE NOTE:
All lesson plans, a copy of this syllabus & class schedule, and any class announcements
will be available on the class blog: lawson21fall2015.weebly.com

COLLEGE RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS

Admissions and Records: Students can register for classes, request transcripts, file
petitions for graduation, and drop classes at this office. For more information call
818-833-3322 or visit: http://www.lamission.edu/admissions/
Assessment Center: Offers student assessments in English, English-as-a-SecondLanguage (ESL) and Mathematics. Please contact the Assessment Center at (818)
364-7613 for more information or visit http://www.lamission.edu/assessment/
Bookstore: For hours of operation, book availability, buybacks, and other
information call 818-364-7767 or 7768 or visit
http://eagleslanding.lamission.edu/default.asp
Counseling Department Office: For appointments and information call 818-3647655 or visit http://www.lamission.edu/counseling/
Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSP&S): For appointments,
eligibility and information call 818-364-7732 or visit
http://www.lamission.edu/dsps/
Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS): For appointments,
eligibility and information call 818-364-7645 or visit
http://www.lamission.edu/eops/
Financial Aid: For information and applications call 818-364-7648 or visit
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Library: For information on hours, resources, workshops, and other services
contact 818-364-7106 or visit http://www.lamission.edu/library/
Tutoring Services in Learning Center: Laboratories for Learning, Writing, Math
&Science. Walk-in and appointment services offered. Call 818-364-7754 or visit
www.lamission.edu/learningcenter/