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Paper Guidelines and Topics for
English 100 – Fall 2017
Theme: Environment &
Sustainability
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 ONE of the assigned chapters from Field Notes
from a Catastrophe: Man, Nature, and Climate Change by
Elizabeth Kolbert
Draft due 9/19, Revision due 9/26
MLA Title page and Works Cited required
Make your own argument about an issue or idea raised from ONE of the assigned
chapters in Elizabeth Kolbert’s book Field Notes from a Catastrophe.
Do not simply summarize her points. Make an argument about an aspect of the chapter
that you would need to prove or convince your reader of.
Uploading the revision of Paper #1 on Tues 9/26 before midnight:
(1) 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 9/26, go to Canvas: http://smccd.instructure.com/
(3) Log
in using your student email without '@my.smccd.edu.' Your
Canvas
Password is the same
as your smccd email password. If you don’t remember your password,
click "Forgot your
password?" to reset it.
(4)
Select our English course.
(5) Click on Module 1: Paper 1 and to move onto the submission page hit “next.”
(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 Green is the New Red: An Insider's Account of a Social
Movement Under Siege by Will Potter
Draft due 10/17, Revision due 10/24
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 Will Potter’s Green
is the New Red. Do
not simply summarize his points. Make an argument about an aspect of the
chapter that you would need to prove or convince your reader of.
Uploading the revision of Paper #2 on Tues 10/24 before midnight:
(1) 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 10/24, go to Canvas: http://smccd.instructure.com/
(3) Log
in using your student email without '@my.smccd.edu.' Your
Canvas
Password is the same
as your smccd email password. If you don’t remember your password,
click "Forgot your
password?" to reset it.
(4)
Select our English course.
(5) Click on Module 2: Paper 2 and to move onto the submission page hit “next.”
(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 Will the Flower
Slip Through the Asphalt edited by Vijay Prashad
Tuesday, November 7th during regularly scheduled class
time 11:10-12:25pm
Open
book, timed essay exam on the assigned reading from Will the Flower Slip
Through the Asphalt edited by Vijay Prashad. 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 7th 11:10-12:25pm
You have the choice to take the exam in-class or online:
OPTION
1: Taking the exam online
(1)
BEFORE the exam day, 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: http://smccd.instructure.com/
(3) Log
in using your student email without '@my.smccd.edu.' Your
Canvas
Password is the same
as your smccd email password. If you don’t remember your password,
click "Forgot your
password?" to reset it.
(4)
Select our English course.
(5) Click on Module 3: Paper 3 and click “next” until you reach the exam page.
(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 ONE of the assigned chapters from The Sustainability Generation: The Politics of Change
and Why Personal Accountability is Essential NOW! by Mark Coleman
Draft due 12/5, Revision due 12/11
MLA Title page and Works Cited required with a minimum of TWO outside sources
Choose
an issue or aspect in ONE of the assigned chapters from The Sustainability
Generation by Mark Coleman, and write a collaborative research essay that
asserts your own analysis of the significance of this chapter. You are not
summarizing 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 12/11 before midnight:
(1)
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: http://smccd.instructure.com/
(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 the same
as your smccd email password. If you don’t remember your password,
click "Forgot your
password?" to reset it.
(5)
Select our English course.
(6) Click on Module 4: Paper 4 and to move onto the submission page hit
“next.”
(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 “Environment
& Sustainability”
Tuesday, December 12th 11:10-1:40pm
Open
book, timed essay exam on the assigned reading from Elizabeth Kolbert’s book Field
Notes from a Catastrophe, Will Potter’s Green is the New Red, Will the
Flower Slip Through the Asphalt edited by Vijay Prashad, and The
Sustainability Generation by Mark Coleman. 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:
“Environment & Sustainability.” 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)
BEFORE the exam day, 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: http://smccd.instructure.com/
(3) Log
in using your student email without '@my.smccd.edu.' Your
Canvas
Password is the same
as your smccd email password. If you don’t remember your password,
click "Forgot your
password?" to reset it.
(4)
Select our English course.
(5) Click on Module 5: Paper 5 and click “next” until you reach the exam page.
(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 on the exam day. 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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