Skyline College http://skylinecollege.net

English 165: Critical Thinking and Advanced Composition -- Spring 2007

Course Theme: Diaspora: Those Forced from Their Homelands

Instructor: Rachel Bell

Webpage: http://www.skylinecollege.edu/bellr

Email: bellr@smccd.net, Voice Mail: (650) 738-4349

Office: Building 5, Room 5108

English office & mailboxes: Room 8114, 738-4202 Course Meetings: T Th 11:10-12:25pm

Computers and Tutoring in TLC: Bldg 5, Room 5100 Room 8219, Course Dates: 1/16 – 5/24

Engl 853: Get help writing papers—enroll now CRN #37247 Schedule #36127 – Engl 165AM, Units 3.0

“Here then perhaps is the final irony of that bitter war: since the start of the Vietnamese Diaspora, when
the war ended in 1975, Vietnam, having defeated imperialistic America, fell susceptible to America's charms and
seductions...They diligently remove Uncle Ho's photo from their walls, and to replace the void they put
up posters of Baywatch and AC/DC and Kiss." -- Andrew Lam Perfume Dreams

"At the dawn of the 21st century African Americans lag the American mainstream in virtually every area

of statistical measure…Solutions to our racial problems are possible, but only if our society can be brought to
face up to the massive crime of slavery and all that it has wrought" -- Randal Robinson The Debt

Course Prerequisites: Completion of English 100 or 105 with a letter grade of “C” or better.

Course Objectives: By the end of the semester, you will have developed a strong understanding of what it means to think and write critically. Through the writing and reading you do in this course, you will be able to analyze; criticize; advocate and reason both inductively and deductively; distinguish fact from judgment; understand the relationship of language to logic; identify the assumptions upon which particular conclusions depend; and recognize common errors of logic in language and thought.

Required Materials:

Perfume Dreams: Reflections on the Vietnamese Diaspora by Andrew Lam

The Debt: What America Owes to Blacks by Randall Robinson

Genocide of the Mind: New Native American Writing ed. MariJo Moore

Our Feet Walk the Sky: Women of the Southern Diaspora eds. Women of S. Asian Decent Collective

Course Reader (which includes readings on the Jewish Diaspora)—available at Skyline's Bookstore

English Hour-by-Arrangement Folder—available at the Skyline Bookstore

Course Policies:

(1) Attendance—Your active participation is necessary for you and your classmates to realize the objectives of this course. Therefore your attendance is crucial. A maximum of 4 (four) absences is permitted; each absence after the fourth will significantly lower your grade.

(2) Late Assignments—No late work will be accepted. All due dates are given well in advance; therefore I feel that it is unfair to the students who complete their work on time to accept the work from those who do not. However, because “life happens,” each student will be allowed two “late tickets” during the semester; twice students may choose to turn an assignment in the following class period after the due date. Late assignments beyond this will not be accepted.

(3) Class participation—Remember that participation counts--both for your grade and in your life. It is essential that you become consciously involved in class by participating in discussions and contributing thoughtful comments, questions, and answers.

(4) Disabled Students—Reasonable accommodation will be provided for eligible students with disabilities. Contact the DSPS office for an accommodation letter (650) 738-4280.

“For 2000 years the Jewish people, my people, have been dispersed all over the world and seemingly deprived of any hope of returning. But still each year Jews have stubbornly, and apparently without reason, said to each other, Leshana habah b'Yerushalayim (Next Year in Jerusalem)!” -- Natan Sharansky, 1977

Papers: Six major papers will be written for this class. The requirements are as follows:

(1) Due Dates-- Paper #1 (2-4 pages, 500-1000 words) Draft due 2/6, Revised 2/13

Paper #2 (3-5 pages, 750-1250 words) Draft due 2/27, Revised 3/6

Paper #3: Midterm essay exam Thursday, March 15th

Collaborative Research Paper #4: (4-6 pages, 1000-1500 words) Draft due 4/12, Revised 4/19

Research Paper #5: (5-7 pages, 1000-1500 words) Draft due 5/17, Revised 5/24

Paper #6: Final essay exam—2 ½ hours on Thursday, May 24th, 11:10am-1:40pm

“Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose.” -- Zora Neale Hurston

(2) Revision-- E.B. White said, “The best writing is rewriting.” Because revising or “re-seeing” a piece of writing is such an important aspect of the writing process, each of the papers has two due dates. Each student will receive feedback and suggestions on each of his/her papers through class workshop/discussion groups; then each student will be asked to revise each paper based on peer feedback. Please note: if the first due date for a paper is missed, the paper cannot be turned in at all.

(3) Workshopping-- Each paper will be read, discussed, and commented upon by small student workshop groups. Workshop days are very important, and therefore a missed workshop day will count as two (2) absences and a late paper will not be accepted. Students without a completed paper (meeting page and format requirements) will not be allowed to participate in the workshop. Below are the workshop dates--students must bring a copy of their paper for themselves as well as for the other members of their group:

Workshops for Paper #1: Tues, Feb 6th Workshops for Paper #4: Thurs, April 12th

Workshops for Paper #2: Tues, Feb 27th Workshops for Paper #5: Thurs, May 17th

(4) Format—Papers must meet the required minimum length or run the risk of not being accepted.

All papers must be typed, double-spaced, have 1” margins, and have a font of 12.

“The American Indian consciousness continues to circulate, regardless of past or present genocidal
attempts, whether cerebral, endemic, systemic, or otherwise.” -- MariJo Moore Genocide of the Mind

Course Grade: Record Your Own Grades:

Paper 1 10% Score for Paper 1 ______ x .10 = _____
Paper 2 10% Score for Paper 2 ______ x .10 = _____

Paper 3 10% Score for Paper 3 ______ x .10 = _____

Paper 4 15% Score for Paper 4 ______ x .15 = _____

Paper 5 15% Score for Paper 5 ______ x .15 = _____

Paper 6—Final Exam 5/24 10% Score for Paper 6 ______ x .10 = _____

Quizzes & Homework 10% Avg. Quiz/HM Score______ x .10 = _____

Class Presentation 10% Score for Presentation_____ x .10 = _____

Hour by Arrangement 5% Hour by Arrangement _____ x .05 = _____

* Participation 5% Participation ______ x .05 = _____

*TOTAL: (convert total to %) ________

* Participation includes being prepared each day, meeting

with me at least once during the course of the semester, * Deduct 1% for each absence over allowed 4.

adding to daily discussion, and giving your classmates Scoring as follows: 100-90=A, 89-80=B

thoughtful responses to their writing in workshops. 79-70=C, 69-60=D, 59-0=F