BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE
The City University of New York

Description

This is a basic college-level course, similar to "freshman English" at other community and four-year colleges. Students learn to use their experience and ideas as subject matter for essays and to analyze topics in depth. They also become acquainted with the process of writing, from pre-writing activities to producing a final, proofread draft. The purpose of, audience for, and structure of the essay are explored through readings chosen to stimulate ideas for writing and demonstrate varied style. Grammar and syntax are discussed as needed. At the end of this course, students will be required to submit a digital portfolio, containing five selected pieces with comments and reflections on each--to be evaluated in place of the final exam..

Prerequisites and/or Corequisites

A passing score on the ACT Writing Test (or other exemption).

Requirements and Evaluation of Students

Students must write seven or eight essays of varying length, most of which will be longer than 500 words. Essays will go through a process of planning, writing, and revision. Some drafts may be written in class. Students will assemble and submit a digital portfolio. I will assign grades based on the assignments and class participation.

Objectives

• To help students develop basic writing skills
• To help students improve their mastery of grammar, idiom, and syntax
• To help students improve their ability to develop, organize, and revise longer essays
• To improve students' ability to write on a level suitable to the various college disciplines and majors
• To prepare students to succeed in higher level English courses where applicable
• To improve students' technological skills and critical thinking

Policies

Attendance and participation in all class activities is required. All assignments must be completed and handed in on time.

Computer Work

Some of the work of the class will be carried out on computers. We will meet once a week in the computer lab. You can also do this work from any computer (at home, in the library, in the cafeteria or wherever) which is connected to the Internet. Point your browser to http://www.cuny.edu and login to the CUNY Portal, in order to login to Blackboard.

Tutorial Assistance

For tutorial assistance, the Learning Resource Center (S500) is open:
Monday-Thursday 9am-9pm
Fridays 9am-7pm
Saturdays 9am-5pm
Sundays 11am-4pm
In addition, e-tutoring is available online at www.bmcc.cuny.edu/etutoring.

Books

You will need to buy two books for this class:

Patterns for A Purpose: A Rhetorical Reader, 3rd Edition by Barbara Fine Clouse,

A Troubleshooting Guide for Writers: Strategies and Process, 4th Edition by Barbara Fine Clouse,

Both are Published by McGraw-Hill

They are available at Manhattan Books (150 Chambers Street, 212-385-7395), packaged together in a shrink-wrapped bundle.

Good Luck, and Don't forget to email me with any questions (bmccjoe@yahoo.com)