Developmental English: Fall 2001 Syllabus

Developmental English

Fall 2001 Syllabus

Living in America

While our nation's demographic makeup has been shifting, technological advances have been changing the way we view the world. Students have only to push a few buttons to make contact with their virtual neighbors in other countries. They can delve into thousands of libraries and data bases without leaving their chairs. Information about our global village comes fast and cheap; the challenge is reacting to it. Which events are important? Which speakers are trustworthy? How can we judge their motives, their biases, and the accuracy of their reports? What critical and rhetorical skills of our own will help us first to interpret what we read and then to respond appropriately as citizens and neighbors?

--Carol Verburg Making Contact

Course Description and Format

English 098 is designed primarily to develop your writing skills so that you can meet the demands of First Year Composition and other lower division college courses which require extensive writing. This course offers an intensive study of reading/writing skills, focusing on the types of reading and writing that you will do in college. This course will:

Emphasize the basics of the writing process and build upon the skills you have already developed
Improve your ability to organize information and ideas through reading, writing, and discussion.
Help you to produce writing which demonstrates appropriate grammar, sentence structure, and usage, reflecting the mature thinking of a college student.
Help you to understand the impact of language use in a multi-cultural society and to recognize the effects of biased language on readers and writers.
Introduce you to online learning communites: discussions and practice in online "netiquette," the use of email, discussion lists and research data bases.

This course focuses on all aspects of the writing process: pre-writing, drafting, revising. Much of class time will be spent discussing, writing, and working in small groups, both offline and online. Students are encouraged to use the resources of the Writing lab and Learning Resource Center.

Course Requirements

Three in-class, timed essays (30%):
- Timed Writing (SAMPLE)
- Timed Writing (RESPONSE TO A TEXT)
- Timed Writing (REFLECTION)
Three papers (30%): CSUN students, see Portfolio requirements.
- Narrative
- Concept
- Text Based
Online Journal (30%): consists of posting summaries and responses to all readings, reading and replying to others on the publicly readable list.
Group Project (10%):

Required Texts and Materials

Covell, Scott and Patricia Murray. Living in America: a Popular Culture Reader. MountainView: Mayfield, 1998.
New Voices. Sandra Jackson, editor. Available in the Matador Bookstore.
Card, Orson Scott. Ender's Shadow. New York: Tor, 1999.
Silverman, Hughes and Wienbroer.Rules of Thumb. 4th ed. Boston: McGraw Hill, 1999.

Required Materials: