COURSE:  ENGL 1A               

Location:  26D-3280

Professor:  McFaul

Office:  26D-1240E

Office Hours:  See website:  https://faculty.mtsac.edu/jmcfaul

Phone:  (909) 274-4716

e-mail: professor.mcfaul@gmail.com

BOOKS AND SUPPLIES

Claro, Belandra.  College Level Writing, 2nd Edition. Day & Nite, 2013.  ISBN: 978-1-884155-66-6

Long, Chum.  Grammar Manual.  Day & Nite, 2013.  ISBN:  978-1-884155-64-2.

Money Words CD.  Princeton Disk.  2012.

Six "large" bluebooks.

Fifty 5 x 8 cards

           "The function of a great university is to

ask right questions, not to give right answers.”

--Cynthia Ozick

English 1A is a university level course in critical thinking and writing.  Above all, in the sections that I teach, it is a course about the relationship between thinking and writing.  I say that I teach this course, but that is not how I would most carefully define my role.  I am here to help you construct a serious course of study that will enable you to become a more careful user of language, a better thinker, and a better writer.

Critical thinking, as I like to understand the phrase, is not so much a subject as it is a verb.  That is, in this course you will not so much learn about critical thinking as learn to apply critical thinking in several environments:  in class discussion, in your written responses, and in “the real world.”  My main role in class will be to prod, to provoke, and to keep your learning as active as possible.

Critical thinking consists in thinking about your thinking while you’re thinking in order to make your thinking better.

“You cannot afford to think of being here to receive an education. You will do much better to think of yourselves as being here to claimone.”

 --Adrienne Rich

One of the best ways of “claiming an education,” I would argue, is through writing.  Writing gives you an opportunity to present your critical thinking abilities in a tangible form.  This semester I will ask you to engage in two different “ways” of writing:  formal take-home essays and formal in-class essays.

1.      Formal Take-home Essay (200 points)

Essays will all house 1,000 typed words (minimum) presented in the standard format for formal academic writing.  Pages should all be numbered in the upper-right corner, quoted material should be parenthetically referenced, and all papers should be carefully edited and proofread.  A word count should be found at the bottom of the last page.  All essays should be double-spaced.

Essays will be graded based on the following criteria:  clarity (choice of words, logical syntax, sequentially linked paragraphs), comprehension (demonstration of a full understanding of the ideas presented), connections (use of supplemental text from readings or class discussion), care (appropriate format, evidence of proofreading and editing), full development(ideas fully supported with evidence or reasonable argumentation).

2.      Formal In-class Essays (800 points) + One Paper (100 points)

This essay, similar to the take-home essays, will be graded on the following criteria:  clarity, comprehension, connections, care, and full development.  Potential prompts will be provided to students one week ahead of time, and students will have the opportunity to commit a specified number of quotations (no longer than three “text lines” each) to a 5 x 8 card or to a sheet of paper (simply check the Due Dates page for the specified number of quotations).  The quotations can be used during the exam to bolster a student’s credibility as a writer, help advance her claim, and help substantiate anything which would have otherwise gone unsubstantiated.

For the in-class essay, please bring TWO large bluebooks to class, as you will be expected to double-space and to write on only one side of each page.

3.     Quizzes (120 points)

It seems that some college graduates are without the broad written and spoken vocabulary that should be representative of a college education.  To actively combat this ugly trend, students in this class will be expected to complete the Money Words vocabulary program.  In doing so, students will be expected to take five quizzes (24 points each).  As an incentive to learning additional words, however, students will have the opportunity to earn up to 36 points for each quiz.  These "extra points" will represent "extra credit."  

4.  Homework (30 points)

Students must earn an 80% or higher on the homework in order to be eligible to pass the class.  Thus, it is in the best interest of the student to complete and submit all of the homework assignments.

Grade Determination:   If you are grade conscious, you will keep an on-going account of your point standing.  Figure out your percentage by taking your point total and dividing it by the total points possible. 

90%=A      80%=B     70%=C     60%=D

Policies

No late assignments will be accepted.  ("Late" is defined as 30 minutes after the class begins.)

Formal Take-home Essays that fall short of 1,000 typed words will start from 100/200.

*I reserve the right to make changes to this syllabus throughout the semester.