Tutoring This Wednesday! Assignment & Syllabus

ENG 101

Prof. J. Jones

Due Date:

Assignment 4 (Research Paper)

We began our semester reading Bodega Dreams and discussing how issues such as race and class can affect the attainment of or aspiration for formal education.  We will end our semester reading selections of Diane Ravitch’s Reign of Error, a book in which the author argues that contemporary education policies and education privatization movements have threaten the stability of America’s education system.

For your research paper choose one of the following education policies or movements discussed in Reign of Error and research it further:

·         No Child Left Behind

·         Raise to the Top

·         Charter School Movement

·         School Voucher Movement

Then write a research paper of 4 – 5 pages in which you take a position as to whether or not your chosen education policy or movement has made a positive or negative impact on America’s education system. Be sure to thoroughly explain your position and use evidence to support your claims.  To support your essay you must cite Reign of Error and two newspaper or journal articles (of 600 words or more) from Lexis Nexus or Academic Search Complete.

Additional Guidelines

1.      You must provide in-text citations throughout your essay as well as a Works Cited page

2.      You should provide your heading in the top left corner of the first page. Your heading should include your name, course information, assignment identification (i.e. Assignment 2), and the date (see syllabus or Blackboard handouts)

3.      The title of your essay should be in the center of the page after the heading. DO NOT underline or bold the title

4.      Your essay should be doubled spaced with 1 inch margins. Use size 12 Times New Roman font.  Page numbers should appear in the top right corner.

ENG 101.0768

EXPLORING AMERICA’S EDUCATION SYSTEM

Mondays & Wednesday 9:15am- 11:30 am in E129

Professor: Dr. Jacqueline M. Jones

Email: jacjones@lagcc.cuny.edu

Office Location: M119B

Office Phone: 718-482-5968

Office Hours:  Mondays 3:30 – 4:30pm and Wednesdays 2-3pm

COURSE DESCRIPTION

English 101 is a course where you practice skills that will help you successfully engage in college-level writing. We will work on writing essays that have clear arguments, are well organized, supported by evidence, and free of errors. The theme for the semester is “Exploring America’s Educational System.” We will start by reading Ernesto Quinonez’s novel Bodega Dreams to get a more personal account of how individuals view education and societal issues that affect educational achievement. Later in the semester will reading sections of Diane Ravitch’s Reign of Error to get a better understanding of the policy and ideas that have dominated American education the last three decades? Toward the end of the semester you will write a research paper in which you will discuss an education policy or movement in-depth.

The pace of this class is pretty fast. To be successful in this class it is important that you keep up with assigned readings, come to class regularly, and set aside regular times to write essays. Instructional methods for this course include: small group discussions and activities, mini-workshops on writing skills, in-class writing, and student-instructor conferences.

REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS & MATERIALS

·         Ernesto Quinonez’s novel Bodega Dreams

·         Ravitch’s Reign of Error: The Hoax of the Privatization Movement and the Danger to America's Public Schools

·         Folder (to hold handouts, readings, and returned work)

·         A spiral notebook with perforated pages or 3 ring binder with loose-leaf paper

·         USB stick or other form of saving and accessing your in-progress written work

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

·         Complete reading before class.  Bring assigned readings and handouts to class everyday even if it’s not assigned for that day

·         You must regularly access Blackboard to view, download, and print, assignments, handouts, readings, etc.

·         You should make sure you know how to use your LaGuardia printing account

·         Attend at least one scheduled student conference with professor (not doing so will lower your final grade)

·         Avoid academic dishonesty. As stated in the Course Catalog: “Academic Dishonestly is prohibited […] and is punishable by penalties ranging from a grade of an F on a […] assignment to an F in the course or suspension or expulsion from the College.  Academic Dishonesty includes: cheating, plagiarism, […] obtaining unfair advantages, [as well as] falsification of records and official documents”

ATTENDEANCE

·         The English Department allows no more than three unexcused absences over the course of the semester. More than three absences require written evidence (such as a doctor’s note). Each unexcused absence over the limit will affect your final grade. Students with four or more unexcused absences may not pass the course

·         Be on time. More than three lateness will affect your final grade

·         You are responsible for any missed work due to absence or lateness. Seek out classmates to copy notes.

SUBMISSION OF ASSIGNMENTS

·         Timely submission of written assignments is expected. I do not accept papers via email. In accordance with the instructions you receive, assignments should be handed to me in class, posted on Blackboard, or (in the worst case scenario) put it in my mailbox in E103

·         I will not accept assignment more than one week late. Late assignment will be marked down accordingly.  Extensions will be granted sparingly and must be arranged before an assignment is due.

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

If you have a diagnosed learning or physical disability please let me know as soon as possible. Academic accommodations are granted for all students who have qualified, documented disabilities.

ASSIGNMENTS & GRADING

·         The English Department requires ENG 101 students to submit 5 formal assignments (including 2 in-class assignments) during the course of the semester. All assignments except Assignment 5 will be return to you with feedback. All written assignments, except in-class writing, must be typed and follow MLA style and format.

·         Students who receive a B or lower on Assignments 2 & 4 will be allowed to revise and resubmit for a higher grade. You have one week from the time you receive your graded assignment to resubmit for a higher grade. Students seeking a higher grade are required to visit the Writing Center for help with their revision; and must submit the original graded assignment along with the revised version for consideration.

·          Issues with attendance, lateness, conferences, and general preparedness for class activities will be figured into your final grade after your average (i.e. 85 average may be lowered to an 80)

Paper Formatting

·         MLA Format requires papers to be formatted as following: 12pt font, Times New Roman font, double spaced, and 1 inch margins.

·         Your assignments should include the following heading:

Student’s Name

Course and Section Number (example ENG 101.0798)

Professor’s Name

Date

Assignment (example:  Assignment 1

·         Title should go under the heading. Title should be centered (no bold, italics, or underlining)

Final Grade Breakdown

In-Class Participation, Quizzes, Activities, and Writing                                                    15%

You are expected to participate in small-group work and activities, to add your knowledge and ideas to class discussions, and to complete in-class writing assignments. You will be graded on the rate of your participation in these activities rather than the content of such participation. However quiz grades are based on the number of correct answers.

Assignment 1 (Presentation/Handout)                                                                                15%

Through the course of the semester each student will be assigned a date to present on course reading. It will be the job of the presenter to provide any necessary background information to better understand the reading, to point out key passages or ideas in the reading, to come up with discuss questions and to lead the class discussion. Presenters must provide handouts for classmates to keep for their own future use. Further details on this assignment will be provided on a later date.

Assignment 2 (Bodega Essay)                                                                                              20%

You will write and turn in an outline and essay responding to a specific assignment prompt on Bodega Dreams. You will receive feedback through a rubric and written comments providing one aspect in the essay you excelled in, and one aspect you should continue to work in future assignments.

                       

Assignment 3 (In-Class Midterm)                                                                                        10%

This in-class assignment will assess how much you have retained of course content (knowledge of essay structure, skills, and vocabulary, as well as assigned readings) at the midpoint of the semester.

Assignment 4 (Research Paper)                                                                                           30%

You will write two drafts of a research essay on an education policy or movement in America. The first draft of your essay will be reviewed during peer review sessions. A final draft will be due toward the end of the semester. You will receive feedback through a rubric and written comments providing one aspect in the essay you excelled in, and one aspect you should continue to work in future assignments.

                                   

Assignment 5 (In-Class Reflective Essay)                                                                           10%

For the last assignment in the class you will write a reflective essay in which you will discuss how you improved your writing during the semester.