Saddleback College

English 1A: Principles of Composition I

Ticket # 12935
Instructor: Professor Chris Paquette

Units: 4
Email address: cpaquette@saddleback.edu

Class Meetings for term: ONLINE; August 22-October 16 2016

Division Office: LRC 344; (949) 582-4788
Required Materials:
Hacker, Diana; Nancy Sommers. "A Writer's Reference" 8th Edition. Bedford/St.Martin's 2015.
ISBN: 978-1-319-00920-5
Blackboard site: http://saddleback.blackboard.com/
Course Prerequisites: A satisfactory score on the English placement examination or completion of English 200
or a comparable course with a grade of C or better.
Catalog Description
Focuses on composing the academic-style expository essay, which features a comprehensive thesis and logical
support. Students will write original compositions increasing in level of difficulty and length, totaling at least
6,000 words, which will use rhetorical strategies such as textual analysis, causal analysis, comparison and
argument. Students will read, interpret, and synthesize non-fiction sources using Standard Written English and
MLA format.
Topics Covered
1. How to select and narrow an essay topic
2. How to formulate a thesis statement
3. How to select an appropriate pattern of organization
4. Essay structure: Introduction, development, conclusion
5. Review of paragraph development
6. Techniques for creating variety in sentence structure
7. Effective use of transitions
8. Discussion of diction and Standard Written English
9. Prewriting strategies to generate content and pattern of development
10. Peer editing techniques to respond to essays
11. Evaluation techniques using content, organization, style, and mechanics
12. Identify structure, development, and features of writing style in expository prose
13. Developing a 4-6 page argumentative paper, including the use of outside sources.
14. Summary, analysis and interpretation of outside sources.
15. MLA format and documentation.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Narrow an essay topic.
2. Select an essay topic.
3. Formulate a thesis statement.
4. Select a pattern of organization appropriate to the topic and the thesis of an expository essay.
5. Using a process approach, write 3-4 formal essays ranging from 2-3 pages in length, totaling
approximately 3,000 words.
6. Write unified and coherent paragraphs using a variety of methods of development.
7. Summarize, analyze and interpret approximately 100-150 pages of primarily cross-discipline texts
reflecting a diversity of authorship, disciplines, genres and perspectives.

8. Synthesize one course reading from a cross-content discipline into an essay completed in-class (500
words).
9. Assimilate two sources/readings from cross-content disciplines into a formal, out-of-class essay (800
words).
10. Write on a variety of topics using Standard Written English (SWE).
11. Use a variety of prewriting activities to generate ideas, focus a topic, and formulate a method of
developing an essay.
12. Edit an essay for content, organization, style, and mechanics.
13. Evaluate essays using content, organization, style, and mechanics.
14. Analyze the structure, development, and features of writing style in expository writing.
15. Find, read, analyze, interpret, use, synthesize and evaluate outside sources, including online
information.
16. Incorporate sources into writing as appropriate.
17. Use MLA or APA documentation format.
18. Develop a 4-6 page argumentative paper, including the use of outside sources.
Saddleback College English Composition Department Student Learning Outcomes
Out-of-Class: English 1A students will write an essay of 900+ words, which demonstrates the following
outcomes.
1. Controlling Idea: Essay contains a specific, arguable thesis.
2. Development: Essay contains at least 900 words and develops the thesis through summary, analysis,
and evaluation.
3. Sentences/Style: The essay contains a variety of sentences that have no fragments, comma splices,
and run on sentences.
4. MLA Formatting: The essay integrates MLA standards to the following (8) items: heading,
running header, fonts, spacing, indentation, works cited page, in-text citations and use of outside
sources with minor errors.
Grading Criteria:
At your request, throughout the course I will inform you of your progress and areas for improvement. You can
easily track your progress by clicking on the "My Grades" tab at the Blackboard class site. Grades will be issued
on a traditional percentage scale. Your semester grade will be delineated as follows:
A= 272-250 B= 249-222 C= 221-194 D=193-165 F=<165
Tentative Course Requirements
Overall Point Value
Writing Forums (8)
32
Each forum is worth up to 4 points
6 Papers
240
Each paper is worth 40 points
Student Conduct and Online Attendance Policy

In accordance with Saddleback College policies, students may be dropped from a course if they miss
eight or more instructional hours during the term.
Saddleback College students are responsible for regulating their own conduct and for respecting the rights
and privileges of others in accordance with the Code of Conduct set by the district Board of Trustees (AR
5401) (SB Student Handbook).
Attendance Policy: To be considered in attendance, you must post at least one message to a Blackboard
forum on two separate days during a one-week period.
If you don't meet this criteria three times during the semester, I will drop you from the course.

Blackboard allows me to easily track who is checking in and how often.

There is one caveat that's really important. If you don't post an introduction for the first week activity,
you will be dropped from the course as a "no-show", and your space will be filled from another student
on the add list.
Late Policy
You can turn in essay one or two or three late with the following consequences. You only have one
week to turn in a late paper, and one full grade deduction will be applied. Essay four and five cannot
be turned in late. Writing forums cannot be redone after the deadline.
Weekly Blackboard Entries:
To be successful in this class, you must contribute to the weekly blackboard discussion forum.
The criteria for grading blackboard entries is shown below.

Extra-Credit
If you look under the Links tab at the class site, you'll find the Extra-Credit folder.
Out of Class Academic Expectations
The Carnegie Units or workload for this course is approximately 12 hours per week. This means that you
should expect to spend at least 12 hours per week on homework, reading, writing, and revising. Furthermore,
even if a specific assignment is not due for the week, you are still expected to spend this amount of time on
activities that will increase your understanding of the subject, such as re-reading texts, writing notes, reviewing
course materials, working on upcoming assignments and pursuing independent reading.
Academic Integrity Statement from the Saddleback College Student Handbook
Plagiarism involves the misrepresentation of someone elses words, ideas or data as ones original work,
including, but not limited to, the following:
Intentionally representing as ones own work the work, words, ideas or arrangement of ideas,
research, formulae, diagrams, statistics, or evidence of another.
Taking sole credit for ideas and/or written work that resulted from a collaboration with others.
Paraphrasing or quoting material without citing the source.
Submitting as ones own a copy of or the actual work of another person, either in part or in
entirety, without appropriate citation (e.g., from Paper Mills or other internet-derived products).

Sharing computer files and programs or written papers and then submitting individual copies of
the results as ones own individual work.
Submitting substantially the same material in more than one course without prior authorization
from each instructor involved.
Modifying anothers work and representing it as ones own work.

Your own commitment to learning requires you to be honest in all your academic course work. Faculty members
are required to report all infractions to Student Services, wherein a range of disciplinary measures may take
place, including receiving an F for a plagiarized assignment, and possibly an F in the course and expulsion from
the college. The complete policy on academic integrity can be found at:
http://www.saddleback.edu/media/pdf/handbook.pdf.
More on Plagiarism
Do your own work. Intentional plagiarism is subject to severe consequences, which are listed in the
student handbook. You will submit your paper through an online plagiarism detection site called
turnitin.com. If you do plagiarize, turnitin will alert me. Also, turning in a paper you've previously written
(i.e., recycling or churning out an old paper) is also subject to severe consequences.
Supplemental Courses
Students who would like ongoing,
individualized help with grammar, sentence
structure, punctuation and the writing process
should enroll in ENG 210, which meets in the
Writing Center, LRC 210. This half-unit
credit/no-credit lab is open entry/open exit.
You may come whenever the Writing Center is
open; there are no scheduled class meetings.
Twenty-four hours of attendance are required
for credit.

Students who need help with study skills (reading and annotating textbooks efficiently, interpreting
writing assignments, using time management, etc.) should enroll in ENG 333, Reading Skills Lab,
located in LRC 215. This half-unit pass/no-pass lab is open entry/open exit. You may come
whenever the Reading Lab is open; there are no scheduled class meetings. Twenty-four hours of
attendance are required for credit.

Non-native English speakers who need support with grammar or mechanics are encouraged to enroll
in ESL 347, Advanced Grammar Review. This 0-unit course begins the advanced ESL grammar
sequence and emphasizes a rapid review of English verb system. Not open-entry/open-exit.

Students with Disabilities

If you have a verified learning disability, it is your responsibility to bring me a copy of your Saddleback College
Special Services Educational Accommodations form and/or a Special Services Test Proctoring Guidelines form,
either of which will indicate the accommodations you are given. (This is usually accompanied by an
authorization for academic adjustments/accommodations form which I initial and keep, returning to you the
yellow carbon copy on the bottom.)
If you feel that you might have a disability-related educational limitation, contact the main Special Services
office (DSPS) at SSC 113, MondaysThursdays 8:00 am 4:30 pm; Fridays, 8:00 am 12:00 pm.
Phone: (949) 582-4885, TTD: (949) 582-4833, Fax: (949) 347-1526
http://www.saddleback.edu/dsps/

Tutoring
All students are encouraged to use the Learning Resource Center (LRC 212), for one-on-one tutoring. Please
make an appointment (in person) with an English tutor for help with writing assignments. Tutoring is free of
charge. More information is below:

Location: LRC 212 (second floor of the LRC building)

Phone: 949.582.4519

Email: sctutoring@saddleback.edu

Website: http://www.saddleback.edu/tutoring/

English 1A OnlineTentative Course OutlineFall 2016

Week

Weekly Reading
Shane Snow
Matthew Hurley
Peter McGraw
Steve Martin

Forum

2
David Gillota
Nancy Goldman

A Substantive Post
The Writing Process
MLA Basics
Sandwiching a Quote
Help With Essays
Prewriting Strategies
The Successful Thesis
Text Wrapping
Comma Splice

Essay 2 Assigned
Essay 1 Due

Researching
Using a Database
MLA Basics
In-Text Citation

Essay 4 Assigned

Citing Web Sites

Using Transitions
Word Choice
Sentence Structure

Essay 5 Assigned
Essay 4 Due

Essay 3 Assigned
Essay 2 Due

3
Alicja Rieger

4
Caitlin Flanagan
Greg Lukianoff

Essay 3 Due

5
Ronald Collins
Benjamin Blackford
Ivana Milojevic

Paper
Essay 1 Assigned

1
Katie Watson

6
7

Lesson
Taking an Online Class
Attendance Policy
Class Cafe
Book Matters
Active Reading Strategies

Jason Peifer
Steve Martin

6
7

Essay 6 Assigned/Essay 5 D

Feedback

Christopher

Essay 6 Due

Other Saddleback College Services

Student Technical Support

o Problems accessing Blackboard? Call (949) 582-4515
or call 1-866-940-8991 for 24-hour service.
o

Other Technical Problems (for email, mysite, etc.)?

Call (949) 582-4363,
MondaysThursdays, 8:00 am 8:00 pm; Fridays, 8:00 am 2:00 pm.
or email scstudenthelp@saddleback.edu
Check out these great websites for help:
http://www.saddleback.edu/de/student-technical-support/
and http://saddleback.edu/oe/student-resources/StudentHelpDirectory.html

The Saddleback Library is the best place to get source material and personalized help from a librarian
whether you're on or off campus. Attend the library's free workshops to learn the basics, and take the
library's credit courses (LIB 100, LIB 101, or LIB 2) to become a highly skilled at utilizing information
technology. You may ask a librarian face to face at the Reference Desk on the 2nd floor of the LRC or
on the phone at (949) 582-4525 or online, chatting with a librarian during library hours, Mondays through
Thursdays from 8:00 am 8:00 pm and Fridays from 8:00 am 2:00 pm. For details, visit the library
website, www.saddleback.edu/library. You may also have your questions answered within 24 hours by
contacting the library on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Saddleback-CollegeLibrary/310334007473 or by emailing your question to sclibrary@saddleback.edu.

Student Health Center SSC-177; (949) 582-4606

All students who enroll in classes held at Saddleback College are required to pay an $18.00 Health Fee
per regular semester and $14.00 per summer session. The Health Fee entitles students to a variety of
health services. The Student Health Center provides treatment for acute, short-term illnesses and minor
injuries, general health screening and other health maintenance procedures. The Health Center is open
from 8:00 am 7:00 pm Mondays-Thursdays and 9:00 am 3:00 pm on Fridays. It is closed daily from
1:00 pm 2:00 pm.
Mental Health
The College Mental Health Program helps students meet the personal challenges associated with their
academic and life goals. Sometimes problems arise that interfere with students abilities to do well in
college, to continue in classes, and to be emotionally healthy. Personal counseling is provided by
advanced graduate school interns under the direct supervision of a licensed psychologist in the Student
Health Center and by generalist counselors in the Office of Counseling and Special Programs. These
services are free to all currently registered and enrolled students

Counseling and Special Services

Services are provided for enrolled students with verifiable disabilities. Each semester, Saddleback
College serves more than 1500 students with disability-related educational limitations.
o

Academic/Career/Personal Counseling
SSC 167
(949) 582-4572
MondaysThursdays, 8:00 am 7:00 pm; Fridays, 8:00 am 12:00 pm.

Special Services Office

SSC 113
(949) 582-4885 (voicemail)
(949) 582-4933 (TDD)
MondaysThursdays 8:00 am 4:30 pm; Fridays, 8:00 am 12:00 pm

Learning Disability Center

SSC 224
(949) 582-4246
MondaysThursdays 8:00 am 4:30 pm; Fridays 8:00 am 12:00 pm.

Alternate Media Production Center

Village 23-1
(949) 582-4885
msauter@saddleback.edu

Accommodated Testing Center

Village 28-1
(949) 582-4424
Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays: 8:00 am 3:00 pm; Wednesdays, 7:00 am 3:00 pm.

Campus Safety
Emergency number: (949) 582-4444
The Campus Safety office is located in the Village between Village buildings 1 and 2.
MondaysThursdays, 8:00 am 6:00 pm; Fridays, 8:00 am 3:00 pm.
The Saddleback College Campus Police is a service-oriented police agency. The Campus Police
Department is staffed by fully-sworn peace officers, trained and regulated by standards established by
the California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission. The officers have the same
authority as a municipal police officer or county deputy sheriff.
Campus Police Officers are responsible for patrolling campus grounds, taking crime and incident reports,
conducting investigations, enforcing all applicable laws, traffic regulations and providing a safe
environment for our students, faculty, staff and guests.
Crimes, suspicious activities, and any emergency should be reported to the Campus Police Department.
Campus Police can be contacted at any time by calling (949) 582-4585 or at extension #4585 from any
campus phone.