Course Syllabus

Instructor:	Jun Xu
Time:	5:30 - 7:40 pm M & W
Place:	R103A
Office Hours:	3:30 am - 5:30 pm T & Th in R230 N
Contact:	E-mail (jun.xu@bellevuecollege.edu)

 

Course Description:

ENGL 091/ENGL&101 are a suite of Accelerated Composition Courses to facilitate the transition of your study to the college level. Together, we will explore how academics read, think and write; that is, the effective and productive ways to engage with texts. More specifically, we will observe and discuss how reading, thinking, and writing are synthesized and shaped, as well as reshaped by one another in academia so that you will have the capacity to adapt your writing through adopting the writing strategies of various disciplines.

This course is transitional as well as an inclusive. As transitional, it is designed to prepare you for college-level writing; as inclusive, it is meant for both native speakers and English language learners. The goal of this course is to cultivate critical thinking and writing skills necessary for college and higher level studies through learning and practicing logical and textual analysis as well as reasoning and argumentation.

The theme of this course is "binge drinking," in which binge drinking among college students as a controversy is scrutinized at three levels: first, the core text of this course is four articles on binge drinking, which help you understand the complexity of the issue. Second, each of the four articles has a specific and complex argument on binge drinking. Through studying how those authors argue, you will learn how to read, summarize and analyze texts. Third, you are asked to write your argument on binge drinking. You will practice writing in various genres, and furthermore, developing flexible strategies for revising, editing and proofreading.

Books Required:

• Barkley, Larry and Christine Sandoval.  Grammar and Usage, Naturally. 1st ed. Stamford: Cengage Learning, 2015.

Grading:

17	Lectures	340	points
5	Homework Assignments	100	points
3	Conference	90	points
9	Grammar Exercises	180	points
	Grammar Presentation	50	points
	Paper 1 First Draft	30	points
	Paper 2 First Draft	30	points
	Final Paper First Draft	30	points
	Total	850

Grades will be assigned according to the following scale:

A	A-	B+	B	B-	C+	C	C-	D+	D	F
≥ 93%	92%-90%	89%-88%	87%-83%	82%-80%	79%-78%	77%-73%	72%-70%	69%-68%	67%-60%	≤59%

Course Outcomes:

• To demonstrate an awareness of the rhetorical strategies that writers use in different writing contexts.
• To read, analyze, and synthesize complex texts and incorporate multiple kinds of evidence purposefully in order to generate and support writing.
• To understand complex, analytic, persuasive arguments that matter in academic contexts.
• To make strategic choices of words, tone, and style appropriate for a particular audience.

How Outcomes Will Be Met:

These strategies help you achieve the outcomes of this course:

• Reading: Reading is extremely important to this course. Please make sure you finish the reading assignments before you come to every class.
• Homework assignments: Homework deepens your understanding of the reading materials; meanwhile, it also prepares you for the papers.
• Papers: You will write three short and one longer papers.  The short ones build up to the long one; in other words, the shorts ones practice the skills and research necessary for the long one. 
• Grammar book presentation: Believe or not, reading a grammar does improve the precision and clarity of your writing.  You are required to read the grammar book and present one chapter to the class.

Instructor’s Expectation:

• Attendance Expectations: Students are expected to attend all scheduled class meetings whenever possible. Active participation and regular attendance are essential to your success. Unless students have accommodations regarding attendance that have been approved by the Disability Resource Center, they should not be absent more than 20% of the total class time scheduled. When absences go beyond 20%, instructors’ policies may result in one of the following: Students may earn a grade of "F" for the course.
• Grading Policies of homework assignments, grammar tests, and presentation: Any work getting 60% or above correct is graded as full points; any work getting less than 60% correct receives partial credit.
• Class discussions: We will use both class time and electronic discussion boards to discuss our understandings of course readings and the ideas we develop from them.
• Collaborative work: We will frequently meet in small groups for in-class exercises, discussions and peer reviews.
• Peer reviews: We will use peer reviews in each assignment sequence as a way of developing your skills as critical readers and able revisers. I will NOT accept any papers without peer review, or reviewed by someone outside this class; in other words, any paper without peer review is automatically failed.
• Timely arrival in class: Being late or poorly prepared is rude and distracting to both your colleagues and me and can seriously hinder course plans in our limited amount of class time; as a matter of courtesy, then, I expect you to come to class on time and fully prepared.
• Timely submission of work: All homework assignments are due at the beginning of class whether or not I collect them at the beginning of class. You must provide your papers as Word documents to your classmates and me. You also need to have a laptop with you when you do peer review as well as participate in some class discussions.  If you miss class, you will lose participation credit for the work we do in class that day—it is your responsibility to find out what you miss from your classmates and to complete all written assignments as the final draft of your essay will not be accepted without them. If you know in advance that you will miss a class, please let me know so that we can make arrangements, if possible, for you to complete the assignment in advance (in which case it will not be late, and you will not lose credit).

• Conferences with me. You are required to meet with me during the quarter in conferences to discuss your work. These conferences give you the opportunity to get feedback about your papers/projects and to express any concerns, questions, or suggestions you might have about the course or the assignments. Conferences are mandatory, and if missed, will affect your participation grade. I will provide you with a sign-up sheet for these conferences and detailed instructions about how to prepare for them.

Student Code of Conduct and Academic Integrity:

Any act of academic dishonesty, including cheating, plagiarism (using the ideas or words of another as one’s own without crediting the source), and fabrication and inappropriate/disruptive classroom behavior are violations of the Student Code of Conduct at Bellevue College.  Examples of unacceptable behavior include, but are not limited to, talking out of turn, arriving late or leaving early without a valid reason, allowing cell phones/pagers to ring, and inappropriate behavior toward the instructor or classmates.  The instructor can refer any violation of the Student Code of Conduct to the Dean of Student Success for investigation.  Specific student rights, responsibilities, and appeal procedures are listed in the Student Code of Conduct at Student Code.

Affirmation of Inclusion:

Bellevue College is committed to maintaining an environment in which every member of the campus community feels welcome to participate in the life of the college, free from harassment and discrimination.

We value our different backgrounds at Bellevue College, and students, faculty, staff members, and administrators are to treat one another with dignity and respect.

Religious Holidays:

Students who expect to miss classes, examinations, or any other assignments as a consequence of their religious observance should be provided with a reasonable alternative opportunity to complete such academic responsibilities. It is the obligation of students to provide faculty with reasonable notice of the dates of religious holidays on which they will be absent, preferably at the beginning of the term. Students who are absent on days of examinations or class assignments should be offered an opportunity to make up the work without penalty (if they have previously arranged to be absent), unless it can be demonstrated that a makeup opportunity would constitute an unreasonable burden on a member of the faculty. Should a disagreement arise over what constitutes an unreasonable burden or any element of this policy, parties involved should consult the department chair, or Dean.

College Anti-Discrimination Statement (Title IX)

Bellevue College does not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity; color; creed; national origin; sex; marital status; sexual orientation; age; religion; genetic information; the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability; gender identity or veteran status in educational programs and activities which it operates.

For further information and contacts, please consult College Anti-Discrimination Statements.

Disability Resource Center (DRC):

The Disability Resource Center serves students with a wide array of learning challenges and disabilities. If you are a student who has a disability or learning challenge for which you have documentation or have seen someone for treatment and if you feel you may need accommodations in order to be successful in college, please contact us as soon as possible. 

If you are a person who requires assistance in case of an emergency situation, such as a fire, earthquake, etc, please meet with your individual instructors to develop a safety plan within the first week of the quarter.

If you are a student with a documented autism spectrum disorder, there is an additional access program available to you. Contact Autism Spectrum Navigators  Email and phone number is on the web page. ASN is located in the Library Media Center in D125.   

The DRC office is located in B132 or you can call our reception desk at 425.564.2498. Deaf students can reach us by Skype: the address is DRCatBC (NOTE: There is no @ sign...it is DRCatBC).  Please visit our website at Disability Resource Center for application information into our program and other helpful links.

Accessibility:

The online elements of this course are designed to be welcoming to, accessible to, and usable by everyone, including students who are English-language learners, have a variety of learning styles, have disabilities, or are new to online learning. Be sure to let me know immediately if you encounter a required element or resource in the course that is not accessible to you. Also, let me know of changes I can make to the course so that it is more welcoming to, accessible to, or usable by students who take this course in the future.

Confidentiality and Mandatory Reporting:

As an instructor, one of my responsibilities is to help create a safe learning environment on our campus. It is my goal that you feel able to share information related to your life experiences in classroom discussions, in your written work, and in our one-on-one meetings. I will seek to keep the information you share private to the greatest extent possible. However, I am required to share information regarding sexual assault and other forms of sexual misconduct (e.g. dating violence, domestic violence, stalking) that may have occurred on campus or that may impact someone on campus with the Title IX Coordinator. Students may speak to someone confidentially by contacting the BC Counseling Center at (425) 564-2212. The Title IX Office can be contacted at 425-564-2441 and more information can be found at www.bellevuecollege.edu/titleix/.

Course Calendar:

Week 1 

Wed 1/2

In Class:  Canvas, Syllabus & Introduction After Class:  Reading--Rhetoric

 

In Class:  Book Presentation and Its Assignment (BP Template)                  Reading--Grammar Ch1& 2 (P2-28)

 

Week 2

Mon 1/7

In Class: BP1--Ch1& 2 (P2-28) ( & ) In Class:  Discussion of Rhetoric (Discussion)  After Class:  Reading--Rhetorical Situation (HW2)

 

Wed 1/9

In Class:  Discussion of Rhetorical Situation (Discussion) After Class:  Reading--Rhetorical Strategies (HW3)

 

After Class: Reading--Grammar Ch3 & 4 (P33-59)

 

Week 3 

Mon 1/14

In Class: Discussion of the Ad (Discussion)  After Class:  Reading--Argumentation (HW4)

 

Wed 1/16

In Class:  BP2--Ch3 & 4 (P33-59) (& ) In Class: Discussion of Arguments (Discussion) After Class: Reading--How to read (P27-39) (HW6)

 

After Class:  Reading--Grammar Ch5 & 6 (P63-84)

 

Week 4 

Mon 1/21

No Class (Holiday) Reading--How to read (P39-47)

 

Wed 1/23

In Class:  BP3--Ch5 & 6 (P63-84) ( & ) In Class: Discussion of "Binge Drinking Must Be Stopped”                 (Parts of Speech) (Summary)

 

After Class: Reading--Grammar Ch7 & 8  (P91-118)

 

Week 5 

Mon 1/28

In Class:  BP4--Ch7 & 8 (P91-118) ( & ) After Class:  Reading--How to read (P39-47)

 

Wed 1/30

In Class:  Discussion of the Four Articles and Paper 1

 

After Class: Reading--Grammar Ch 9  (P126-142)

 

Week 6 

Mon 2/4

Paper 1 Conference [Schedule]

 

Wed 2/6

In Class:  BP5--Ch 9 (P126-142) ( & )

 

After Class: Reading--Grammar Ch13 & 14 (P219-241)

 

Week 7 

Mon 2/11

In Class:  BP6--Ch13 & 14 (P219-241) ( & )

 

Wed 2/13

In Class: Logical Analysis (Discussion) In Class:  Rhetorical Analysis (Discussion)

 

Week 8 

Mon 2/18

No Class (College Issue Day)                  Paper 2 Conference [Schedule]

 

Wed 2/20

Class moved to Monday, Feb. 18

 

After Class: Reading--Grammar Ch15 & 16 (P247-273)

 

Week 9 

Mon 2/25

In Class:  Reading Abstracts  In Class:  Library Research (Discussion)

 

Wed 2/27

In Class:  BP7--Ch15 & 16 (P247-273)  ( & )

 

After Class: Reading--Grammar Ch17 & 18  (P282-309)

 

Week 10

Mon 3/4

In Class: BP8 Ch17 & 18 (P282-309) ()

 

Wed 3/6

In Class: Discussion of the Structure Sheets In Class: Discussion of the Arguments of the Final Paper

 

After Class: Reading--Grammar Ch19 (P318-342)

 

Week 11

Mon 3/11

In Class: BP9--Ch19 (P318-342) () In Class: Discussion of How to Use Evidence from References

 

Wed 3/13

Final Paper Conference [Schedule]

 

Week 12

Mon 3/18

Writing Lab Visits

 

Thu 3/21

Final Paper Final Draft is due by 11:59 pm