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Paper
Guidelines and Topics for English 100 – Fall 2016
Theme: Activism—Be the Change
All the writing you will be doing in this course is reading-based.
This means that every essay you write will be a response to and analysis of the reading arguing a point of view
about the reading. If you write an essay that does not mention the reading or
directly examine the reading, it will be considered off topic and will
receive little to no credit. You will not be writing plot summaries. You will
summarize parts of the reading to support your argument, but summary should
not take over your paper. Each paragraph should serve to prove a clear and
specific point and all paragraphs should work together to prove one unifying,
thesis (opinion on the reading). For all papers, except the midterm and final
exam, you will be creating your own argument about the assigned reading so
that you are writing from a place of interest rather than duty. You cannot
pass this course if you fail to turn in one of the assigned papers.
Follow standard paper guidelines and know expectations as
described in Chapter 3: Paper Topics: http://www.skylinecollege.edu/skyenglish/3Papertopics.htm
Paper topics come in all shapes and sizes, but in general for an English
class, you can expect to find the following requirements:
·
Meet stated page length requirements. Turning in papers that are under the required page
length sends a message that the assignment was not taken seriously and that a
lack of time, effort, and consideration was put into the project.
·
Adhere to due dates. Plan ahead and break down the project into
manageable stages, so you don’t cause yourself undue stress by doing things
“last minute” or by hurting your grade through missing due dates and not
being able to turn in assignments.
·
Use the stated paper formatting standards. In an English
class, the most common paper formatting approach is MLA. See Chapter 5 on MLA
Conventions.
·
Follow the assignment.
It is essential that you follow
the guidelines of the assignment or else you risk receiving little to no
credit for your work. English classes
are also teaching students how to successfully complete college-level tasks,
so take some time in the beginning to ensure you are doing what was asked.
·
Apply writing standards in your paper. This Rhetoric
walks you through the fundamental essay components, so apply these concepts
to your writing. There is also an Essay
Checklist in Chapter 4 that you can use
to ensure you have covered all the bases your instructor will be expecting in
an academic paper:
·
Seek opportunities for additional help. Writing can be an
isolating experience but it does not have to be. Use campus resources to help you formulate
your writing plan and to get outside perspective and feedback on your
writing. You can visit your instructor
during office hours at any stage in the writing process. You can also use the tutoring services
offered in the
Learning Center: http://www.skylinecollege.edu/learningcenter/index.php. Getting feedback
is one of the most effective ways to focus and improve your writing.
Use the Essay
Checklist to make sure you have all the necessary
essay elements but here is also a quick guide of things not to forget:
·
MLA formatting: on the first page, include your own title centered at the top, the
course info (your name, the class, the instructor, the
date) in the top left corner and in the top right corner of each page, your
last name next to the page number.
Typed, double spaced throughout, font 12, one inch margins and be sure
to meet the page minimum (Please note: 10 pts are removed for each page the paper is under the
required minimum length and 5 pts for half a page under. Don’t go solely by
word count but by actual length).
MLA Conventions (Rhetoric 172-176): http://www.skylinecollege.edu/skyenglish/5MLA.htm
·
Creative title: Creating a strong, clear, appealing title
is an important part of any writing task.
The title is the reader’s first
introduction to your piece of writing, and first impressions matter. Therefore, you want to create a title which
pulls in your reader’s interest and makes him or her want to keep
reading. Make your essay stand out
from the others and draw in your reader.
The Writing Process (Rhetoric 153-154): http://www.skylinecollege.edu/skyenglish/4Writing.htm
·
Integrating Sources: When writing about texts,
you will want to include quotes and paraphrases and you want to make sure to
smoothly integrate and properly document all your sources. Connect all quote to phrases that introduce
them (don’t drop quotes) and follow quotes with the source information in
parenthesis (usually the author’s last name and the page number). Also, follow quotes with your own analysis
explaining their significance.
Sources (Rhetoric 253-273): http://www.skylinecollege.edu/skyenglish/10IntegratingSources.htm
·
Works Cited: when
you are writing about a text, you will always include a Works Cited even if
you are only citing the text you wrote about.
If you did research, include all your outside sources on the Works
Cited page as well. List the sources
alphabetically by author last name
or by title if there is no author.
MLA Conventions (Rhetoric 177-181): http://www.skylinecollege.edu/skyenglish/5MLA.htm
·
Revising and Editing: the best writing is rewriting so before turning in
an essay for a grade, use the advice on revising (making larger global
changes) and editing (making sentence level corrections) to ensure that you
have submitted your best work.
Revising (Rhetoric 143-152) & Editing
(Rhetoric 155-161): http://www.skylinecollege.edu/skyenglish/4Writing.htm
·
Grading standards: every student should be striving for the ‘A’ paper
so know what criteria make an excellent paper by reviewing the English
department grading standards that your instructor will be using when
assessing your essay. Use the criteria
as the standard you
are using as you revise your essay.
Grading Standards (Rhetoric 197-198): http://www.smccd.edu/accounts/bellr/GradingMenu.htm
Five major papers
will be written for this class:
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Paper #1 (worth 10% of grade): 2-4 pages, 500-1000 words
Analyzing Writing to Change the World by Mary Pipher
Draft
due 9/20, Revision due 9/27
MLA Title page and Works Cited required
Make your own argument about an
issue or idea raised in Mary Pipher’s book Writing
to Change the World.
Do not simply summarize her points.
Make an argument about an aspect of the book that you would need to
prove or convince your reader of.
Uploading the revision of Paper #1 on
Tues 9/27 before midnight:
(1) The DAY BEFORE the deadline, try
a test log-in. If you experience any difficulties, call Canvas
right away. Weekdays:
1-888-998-6010 or Nights (after 5pm) & Weekends: 1-844-711-7104.
(2) Before midnight on 9/27, go to Canvas: https://smccd.instructure.com/login/canvas
(3) Log
in using your student email without '@my.smccd.edu.' Your Canvas Password is sent to
your email. If you did not
receive the password, click "Forgot your password?" to reset it.
(4)
Select our English course.
(5) Click on Module 1: Paper 1.
(6) Click on the blue button in the top right that says “Submit Assignment”
and upload your paper and
your completed Essay Checklist (all
files must be in .doc, .rtf or .pdf format).
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Research Paper #2 (worth 10% of
grade): 3-5 pages, 750-1250 words
Analyzing ONE of the assigned
chapters from The Art of Protest by T.V Reed
Draft due 10/18, Revision due 10/25
MLA Title page and Works Cited required with a minimum of ONE outside source
Make your own argument about ONE of the assigned chapters from T.V. Reed’s The
Art of Protest.
Do
not simply summarize his points. Make
an argument about an aspect of the book that you would need to prove or
convince your reader of.
Uploading the revision of Paper #2 on
Tues 10/25 before midnight:
(1) The DAY BEFORE the deadline, try
a test log-in. If you experience any difficulties, call Canvas
right away. Weekdays:
1-888-998-6010 or Nights (after 5pm) & Weekends: 1-844-711-7104.
(2) Before midnight on 10/25, go to Canvas: https://smccd.instructure.com/login/canvas
(3) Log
in using your student email without '@my.smccd.edu.' Your Canvas Password is sent to
your email. If you did not receive
the password, click "Forgot your password?" to reset it.
(4)
Select our English course.
(5) Click on Module 2: Paper 2.
(6) Click on the blue button in the top right that says “Submit Assignment”
and upload your paper and
your completed Essay Checklist
(all files must be in .doc, .rtf or .pdf format).
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Paper #3 (worth 10% of grade):
Midterm 75-minute essay exam
Analyzing the
assigned reading from The Next American Revolution by Grace Lee Boggs
Tuesday,
November 8th during regularly scheduled class time
Open
book, timed essay exam on the assigned reading from The Next American
Revolution by Grace Lee
Boggs. In 75 minutes, you will compose
an essay to a prompt about the reading that will be given to you on the day
of the exam. You will not need to
include a Works Cited or outside research.
There is no required page length but you will want to fully answer all
parts of the exam question in a focused, organized and well-developed essay
using the texts as the basis of your response.
Preparing for
the midterm exam:
Before taking the exam, review Chapter 11: Timed
Writing (pages 274-285), http://www.skylinecollege.edu/skyenglish/11TimedWriting.htm). The best way to prepare is to annotate your
text and take a practice 75 minute exam before the midterm. There is a non-graded practice exam you can
take in Canvas. Click on Module 3:
Paper 3 to assess the practice exam.
Take the
75-Minute Midterm Exam: Tuesday, November 8th
You have the choice to take the exam in-class or online:
OPTION 1:
Taking the exam online
(1) The DAY BEFORE the deadline, try a test
log-in. If you experience any difficulties, call Canvas
right away. Weekdays:
1-888-998-6010 or Nights (after 5pm) & Weekends: 1-844-711-7104.
(2) During our regular class time on exam day, go to Canvas: https://smccd.instructure.com/login/canvas
(3) Log
in using your student email without '@my.smccd.edu.' Your Canvas Password is sent to
your email. If you did not
receive the password, click "Forgot your password?" to reset it.
(4)
Select our English course.
(5) Click on Module 3: Paper 3.
(6) Open the Word program on your computer and save a document as
“Midterm.” This will allow you
to save a secure copy on your
desktop in case there are any online issues.
(7) Click on the midterm exam link.
(8) Recommended because online connections/programs can be unreliable:
Cut and paste the exam prompt into
your Word document and compose your exam there, saving
regularly. Before the 75 minutes are up, cut and paste
your entire exam into Canvas and
submit. If you experience any technical
difficulties, email me your exam directly to
bellr@smccd.edu. As long as I receive the exam 75 minutes
after your exam start time, it will be on
time and accepted.
OPTION 2:
Taking the exam in class in electronic classroom 8121
You can also take the exam in-class during your
regularly scheduled class time. You
can handwrite it
(bring a bluebook or lined paper) or take it on one of the computers, type
it, and submit it in
Canvas (see directions above).
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Collaborative Research Paper #4 (worth 20% of grade): 4-6 pages, 1000-1500
words
Analyzing I Am Malala by Malala Yousafai
Draft
due 12/6, Revision due 12/12 (11am class) and due 12/13 (12:45pm class)
MLA Title page and Works Cited required with a minimum of TWO outside sources
Choose
an issue or aspect in the book I Am
Malala by Malala Yousasfai, and write a
collaborative research essay that asserts your own analysis of the
significance of this book or an aspect of the book. You are not summarizing her story but
rather arguing your point of view about its significance.
What is a collaborative paper?
Students will select a partner (or we can assign partners in class) and write
the paper together in teams of two.
I've assigned this type of paper in my classes for many years and
consistently these are the strongest papers I get over the semester. Working
with another person can show you your strengths and weaknesses and help you
produce an excellent paper. As you
work with a partner, is it vital that you each work collaboratively and
equally. Also remember that you will
be completing a Collaborative Paper Evaluation on your partner and on yourself. Also, on the essay you turn in for a grade,
you will indicate who wrote which part of the paper to ensure that the work
was shared. If you have any
difficulties with your partner, let me know immediately and we can have you
write the paper separately. I want
this to be a positive experience for everyone.
Uploading the revision of Paper
#4 on Mon 12/12 (11pm class)
or Tues 12/13 (12:45pm class) before midnight:
(1) The DAY BEFORE the deadline, try a test
log-in. If you experience any difficulties, call Canvas
right away. Weekdays:
1-888-998-6010 or Nights (after 5pm) & Weekends: 1-844-711-7104.
(2) Before midnight on the due date, go to Canvas: https://smccd.instructure.com/login/canvas
(3) You and your partner need to only upload one copy
of the paper and it does not matter whose name
you submit it under. Just be sure that both of your names are on
the paper. As this is a collaborative
paper, you and your partner will
write the paper together but you will indicate which body
paragraphs each was the principle
writer for (each student must write a minimum of 2 pages each of
the final paper). Indicate this
information next to your names on the first page. For example, the top
left header will contain the following
information:
John
Ramirez (wrote paragraphs 1-4 & 7)
Jun
Chan (wrote paragraphs 5-6 & 8-10)
And
for the page numbers in the upper right corner of each page, you will
hyphenate the last names of the
authors, i.e. Ramirez-Chan 1
(4) Log in using your student email without
'@my.smccd.edu.' Your Canvas Password is sent to
your email. If you did not
receive the password, click "Forgot your password?" to reset it.
(5)
Select our English course.
(6) Click on Module 4: Paper 4.
(7) Click on the blue button in the top right that says “Submit Assignment”
and upload your paper and
your completed Essay Checklist
(all files must be in .doc, .rtf or .pdf format).
Uploading the Collaborative
Partner Evaluation on the due date before midnight:
(1)
Download the Collaborative Partner Evaluation:
http://www.smccd.edu/accounts/bellr/ReaderWorkshoppingCollaborativeMenu.htm
Complete both pages and assign yourself
as well as your partner a grade. If
you did not have a partner,
submit a written reflection on
your experience in writing the paper to get credit.
(2) Log into Canvas, click on Module 4: Paper 4 and follow directions to
upload your completed “Collaborative
Partner Evaluation” or
self-reflection.
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Paper #5 (worth 20% of grade): Final
essay exam—2 ˝ hours
Connecting the 4 course texts under the
course theme “Activism—Be the Change”
11am
class: Tuesday, December 13th 11:10-1:40pm
12:45pm class: Thursday, December 15th 11:10-1:40pm
Open
book, timed essay exam on Mary Pipher’s book Writing to Change the World, the assigned chapters from T.V. Reed’s The
Art of Protest, on the assigned reading from The Next American
Revolution by Grace Lee Boggs,
and I Am Malala by Malala Yousasfai. In 2 ˝ hours (150 minutes), you will
compose an essay to a prompt about the reading that will be given to you on
the day of the exam. You will not need
to include a Works Cited or outside research.
There is no required page length but you will want to fully answer all
parts of the exam question in a focused, organized and well-developed essay
using the assigned texts as the basis of your response.
Preparing for
the final exam:
Before taking the exam, review the advice in the
Rhetoric, Chapter 11: Timed
Writing (pages 274-285), http://www.skylinecollege.edu/skyenglish/11TimedWriting.htm. The best way to prepare is to
annotate the texts and take a practice 150 minute exam before the
midterm. You can create
possible final exam questions for yourself which connect the works we have
read through the course theme: “Activism—Be the Change.” Take at least one practice essay exam
before the actual final exam. There is a non-graded practice exam you can
take in Canvas. Click on Module 5:
Paper 5 to access.
Taking the 2
˝ hours Final Exam:
You
have the choice to take the exam in-class or online:
OPTION 1:
Taking the exam online
(1) The DAY BEFORE the deadline, try a test
log-in. If you experience any difficulties, call Canvas
right away. Weekdays:
1-888-998-6010 or Nights (after 5pm) & Weekends: 1-844-711-7104.
(2) At 11am on the exam day, go to Canvas: https://smccd.instructure.com/login/canvas
(3) Log
in using your student email without '@my.smccd.edu.' Your Canvas Password is sent to
your email. If you did not receive the
password, click "Forgot your password?" to reset it.
(4)
Select our English course.
(5) Click on Module 5: Paper 5.
(6) Open the Word program on your computer and save a document as
“Final.” This will allow you
to save a secure copy on your desktop in case there are any online
issues.
(7) Click on the final exam link.
(8) Recommended because online connections/programs can be unreliable:
Cut and paste the exam prompt into
your Word document and compose your exam there, saving
regularly. Before the 150 minutes are up, cut and
paste your entire exam into Canvas and
submit. If you experience any technical
difficulties, email me your exam directly to
bellr@smccd.edu. As long as I receive the exam 150 minutes
after your exam start time, it will
be on time and accepted.
OPTION 2: Taking the exam in class in electronic classroom 8121 from 11:10 to
1:40pm on exam day
You can also take the exam in-class during your
regularly scheduled class time. You
can handwrite it
(bring a bluebook or lined paper) or take it on one of the computers, type
it, and submit it in
Canvas (see directions above).
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