English 101: College Composition
Winter 2010

Bradley Bleck Office: 5-157 Phone: 533-3572 email: bradbATspokanefallsDOTedu

Class Times: 11:30-12:35 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday Office Hours: 8:00-8:50 a.m. daily and by appointment after 1:00 daily. Check my office door schedule for available times. You may also email me with questions.

Required Texts: The Jungle by Upton Sinclair, Norton Critical Edition

• To ease the portfolio process, you should buy a copy of Portfolio Preview handbook. It has examples that show the college's, the department's, and my expectations for your writing (which are all the same!). Online Portfolio Preview Handbook
• Either the Rhetoric and Composition Wiki Handbook (We just might add to this as we work through the course material.) or the Wadsworth Handbook. We won't use the handbook in class; instead, you'll use it as a resource.

Official Course Description:This course develops and sharpens the basic principles of writing college-level essays. Students work on a series of essays to improve their ability to write clear, detailed prose and to use texts to support their claims. Competence in mechanics and standard English usage is assumed of all students taking ENG 101. Prerequisite: Appropriate placement score or 2.0 in ENG 99. Earning a grade at or above a 2.0 requires successful completion of the portfolio process, which will be discussed in greater detail later.

Unofficial Course Description: This term we are going to do a lot of reading, thinking, talking and writing about writing and thinking and how each is used to inform and persuade us. I suspect many, if not all of you, have probably given this little, if any, thought, and that's okay. Additionally, you will be developing some reading skills that go beyond simply decoding the words on the page. We'll include the analysis of texts and how they make meeting using words, rhetoric, images, sounds and more. We are going to approach the reading and writing in this class to see how reading, thinking and writing can help us as we search out truth, understanding and/or awareness in our own lives.

On Being Successful: One of the most important behaviors promoting student learning and success in college, aside from doing what directed when directed to do so, is a student making the time to sit down and visit with their instructor, professor or teacher, call them (and me) what you will. Along with actually visiting me in my office, this means emailing or blogging questions when you are unsure of things, even if you think you are being a "pest." Better a "pest" (and I rarely think of students in this way) than stumbling blindly along and doing less well than you otherwise would had you asked questions and run ideas by me. Doing this is no guarantee you will excel. What it means is you will do better than you would otherwise. How much better cannot be predicted, but it will depend on how willing and able you are to take and follow advice. Don't come in (or email) the day before or after something is due hoping we can turn the inadequate into the excellent; come by the moment you find yourself in need of help. Be willing to avail yourself of other help as well, such as the peer tutoring services provided by the college. Doing so is a sign of strength, not weakness. This is the sort of thing that will pave your avenue to success in this and all other classes.

In this class, you will need internet access (campus, home or work), an open mind (but not so open everything might fall out), the ability to create the necessary time to get your work done, a willingness to learn and a sense of adventure. In a typical quarter, it's expected you'll allot 15 hours a week to a five credit class--five hours a week in class and 10 hours outside. The class workload is predicated on this expectation though workload will vary somewhat from week to week. Keep this in mind as you plan your life. You will be busy, but not with busy work. All work is directly related to the assigned essays you must complete to succeed in the class.

Portfolio Dates

Midterm: Oct 28 Final: Dec 1 & 2

H1N1/Swine Flu

The SFCC administration is anticipating that H1N1/Swine Flu will hit from 20-50 percent of students, faculty and staff. Thought not a strong strain of flu, it is highly contagious. Please don't come to class sick. Students who display symptoms will be asked to leave class and not return until at least 24 hours has passed since their fever has abated.Though there are attendance policies that affect your final grade, should there be a substantial incidence of flu, I'll likely modify the application of the policy to take this into account.