English 1B: Composition, Critical Reading and Thinking Through Literature

Fall 2021

Professor: Sean Negus

Office Hours: Fridays 2:30-3:30PM (or by appt.) via Zoom Conference/Canvas Chat
E-mail: negussean@fhda.edu

Course Description
Welcome to English 1B! This course is designed to further develop your critical awareness as
readers, writers and thinkers through literary works with special focus on the refinement of
technique in analytical, critical and argumentative writing. A cross-section of literary works
spanning the major genres including fiction, poetry, non-fiction and playwriting will serve to
stimulate your appreciation of literature's versatility of creative form and idea.

This particular section is themed around the literature of epidemics and draws from cross-genre
literary works reflective of that emphasis while integrating interdisciplinary tools for the critical
analysis and interpretation of literary works. Works of literature will be examined as the nexus
for conventional modes of literary appreciation while also deploying methods for understanding
and engaging literary works from diverse theoretical and disciplinary frameworks.

This course fulfills the Foothill College reading and composition requirement for the AA/AS
degree and the university-transfer general education requirement in English reading and written
composition.

Student Learning Outcomes

After completion of ENGL 1B, students will be able to:

Writing

 Write extended compositions based on class reading and demonstrate interpretive as well
as critical thinking skills.
 Formulate an arguable thesis and substantiate it through analysis, logical and systematic
organization, supporting evidence, and clarity of expression.
 Use diction and tone appropriate to the academic community and the purpose of the
specific writing task; proofread for errors in language and mechanics to the degree that
the nature and frequency of errors do not become distracting.
 Use techniques of research, especially textual citations and proper documentation.
 Demonstrate through extensive application in written assignments the ability to
distinguish fundamental concepts of critical thinking.
 Apply theoretical models or schema (such as sociological or historical criticism) to a text.
Reading

 Analyze literature from major genres: at minimum poetry, drama, and fiction (novel and short
story). Nonfiction supplemented where necessary.
 Identify and analyze literary and rhetorical devices in connection with a text's main themes.
 Recognize differences in value systems based on culture in a given text.
 Draw comparisons to other works and contexts.
 Read and analyze texts to demonstrate critical thinking skills.

Course Texts

 Beauty Salon, by Mario Bellatin, City Lights Publisher, 2009 (available on Canvas)
 Illness as Metaphor, by Susan Sontag, Farrar Straus & Giroux, 1978 (available on
Canvas)
 Severance, by Ling Ma, Farrar Straus & Giroux, 2018 (order online)
 The Living, by Anthony Clarvoe, Broadway Play Publishing Inc., 1993 (available on
Canvas)
 The Plague, by Albert Camus, Vintage, 1991 (order online)
 Electronic texts and media (available on Canvas)
STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS

Students are likely to succeed in the course if they:

• Read the syllabus and follow the course policies

• Remain engaged in the course, participating meaningfully with regularity
• Log on to the Canvas course site regularly and submit work on time
• Communicate with the instructor as needed including asking relevant questions, seeking
feedback, informing of difficulties throughout the term
• Seek support when they need it from campus tutors, counselors, professors, and peers
• Make use of available resources on campus
• Take responsibility for their academic and life experiences
• Challenge themselves to inquire, wonder, speculate, consider, and think freely

CAMPUS RESOURCES

Tutorial Services: Campus tutoring services are available virtually! You are encouraged to visit
the Teaching and Learning Center's website to connect with faculty and peer tutors virtually from
Monday-Friday. Visit the TLC’s website for more information: http://www.foothill.edu/tlc/.
Peer tutoring can be accessed on campus through Pass the Torch. Information for those
resources can be found on their website: https://foothill.edu/torch/. Additionally, the NetTutor
link on Canvas provides access to web-based tutoring 24/7. Additional options for online
tutoring can be accessed by visiting the links on Canvas under ‘Tutorial Support’.
Disability Resource Center: Any student who feels they may need an accommodation based on
the impact of a disability should contact me privately to discuss your specific needs. Students
should also contact a disability counselor by:

 E-mailing Michelle (Mish) Lapitan (Accommodations Coordinator) @

lapitanmichelle@fhda.edu or drc.@fhda.edu
 Calling 650.949.7673 or 650.949.7017

Counseling Services: Foothill offers professional and confidential counseling free of charge to all
students. Counseling can help students cope with personal issues and assist them in meeting the
challenges of an academic environment. To make an appointment with a counselor, contact
Counseling Services at 650.949.7423. Additional information can be found by visiting:
https://foothill.edu/counseling/.

COURSE POLICIES

Computer/Internet Access: You will need access to a computer with reliable internet. Each week
you should check your college e-mail for the week’s instructions with assigned tasks and login to
the course site to complete and submit required homework/activities in addition to essay projects
and other assignments.

Correspondence and Web Access: Participation in part requires that students login to Canvas
each week and check your e-mail frequently for course correspondence. Canvas should be
accessed in order to remain informed of developments in the course, access course materials and
submit assignments. Additionally, you are responsible for accessing your Foothill College e-
mail address frequently to receive electronic communication related to the course.

Students are encouraged to reach out and correspond regularly with the instructor throughout the
term as needed. Questions regarding the course content, readings, assignments, progress and
other related concerns can be directed through e-mail. Additionally, students are provided with
the opportunity to communicate through chat online and video web conferencing through the
course platform. Write directly to the instructor to arrange an appointment.

Course Activities: Each unit will contain lessons and activities that emphasize various elements
of the course. In addition to these lessons and activities that allow you to practice course
concepts and strategies related to reading, writing and critical thinking about poetry, there will be
a few major assignments due throughout the term that invite you to demonstrate learning.

Learning Modules: Each week will consist of a learning module comprised of various lessons
and activities that emphasize elements of the course. These lessons and activities will allow
you to practice course concepts and strategies related to reading, writing and critical thinking
and will prepare you to demonstrate your learning through the major assignments. Each week’s
module will open at the beginning of the week with an announcement outlining instruction and
will be due by the week’s end.
Assigned readings: The readings are gateways into the strategies, approaches and skills
developed in this course. These readings were chosen to demonstrate the expansiveness of
poetic practices and encourage your growth as readers, writers and thinkers in the world.
Assigned readings are required to be completed in full and will be essential to success in the
course. Two of the texts must be ordered or purchased digitally, the other texts will be made
available through Canvas.

Participation (class activities, discussions, etc.): This class is made whole through community
and participation is one way of ensuring that we thrive together throughout this course. The
class activities are designed to support your work in the course as are the discussions that we will
hold in forums on the site. Bring your most engaged mind to this course and remain open to
critically interface with new ideas and ways of understanding the written world.

Plagiarism Policy: Plagiarism is an act of academic dishonesty in which an individual falsely

represents the ideas and/or words of another as his/her own. Any act of plagiarism will be
grounds for failure of the assignment, failure of the course, or referral to college disciplinary
procedures. All sources must be cited according to MLA style. If you have questions about what
constitutes plagiarism or about citing sources, please reach out for support from me, consult with
the materials on the course site or a writing tutor on campus.

Syllabus: This syllabus is subject to change throughout the quarter at the discretion of the
instructor. Students will be notified in writing of significant changes made to the syllabus.

Classroom Community/Learning Environment

It is the goal of this course that every student will encounter an environment in the class that is
conducive to intellectual, creative and personal growth. Together we will strive to practice what
it means to find value in the exchanges that occur intellectually, emotionally, and creatively
throughout the course of the term. Aspire toward your highest ideals when communicating and
remain honest, open, and kind to others. Refrain from the use of any discriminatory language or
behavior, including those related to race/ethnicity, gender identity/sex, sexual orientation, age,
ability, religious affiliation and other identity categories. Such remarks create a hostile
environment, violate college, state and federal anti-discrimination laws and will be not be
tolerated. This should make it easier for all to participate in this learning environment and to
learn from one another.

Grading
Evaluations will be based on the following opportunities to demonstrate learning. Completion of
the assignments, presence and participation in the weekly activities are required to receive a
passing grade. This course follows the UC grading scale as recommended by Foothill College
where an A = 93-100, A- = 90-92, B+ = 87-89, B = 83-86, B- = 80-82, C+ = 77-79, C = 70-76,
D+ = 67-69, D = 63-66, D- 60-62, below 60 = F. For information on your official grade in the
course, please inquire directly through e-mail (Canvas cumulative grades will likely not
accurately reflect your overall course progress).
 
Grades are used in this course consciously to encourage student learning, the primary
objective and focus of higher education. Because learning is the focus of this course, and not
grades, a system known as ‘contract grading’ will be used to simplify the process whereby
grades are earned. Because letter grades equitable to a 4.0 scale are requirements of higher
education despite major research suggesting they only serve to inhibit the learning process,
contract grading will serve as a method for reconstructing the ways grades are assigned,
simplifying and making a more just and equitable grading system.

What is contract grading? Contract grading is a system whereby the student agrees to engage
in a certain amount of (academic) labor in a course while meeting certain requirements in
exchange for a clearly defined learning assessment or final grade. The ‘contract’ on which the
grading depends is outlined below:

A: The grade of ‘A’ will be reserved for students demonstrating competence and
excellence in the course content meeting all of the other criteria defined for the grade of
‘B’. Students who meaningfully inquire, explore and engage in course content in
authentic and inspired ways accomplish an ‘A’ status. This assessment will be based on
the instructor’s evaluation, but students are welcome to engage in dialogue throughout
the term to be ‘guided’ to earning this outcome. Please reach out to the instructor if
interested in earning an ‘A’ in the course.

B: Students who complete all of the required learning materials in a timely manner and
satisfy most of the requirements outlined in the instructions will earn a ‘B’ in the
course. Course requirements include timely completion of the weekly modules
including discussions and activities, submission of rough and final drafts, attainment of
learning objectives as demonstrated in the assessments like essay projects, demonstrated
ability to follow instructions.

C: If most of the required learning materials are completed by the student in a timely
manner, but some requirements defined in the assignment prompts and related
instructions are not clearly met a grade of ‘C’ will be earned in the course. Students
will have the ability to improve through feedback and revision.

D/F/No Pass: If the requirements of the course are not met in a substantial manner on
the essay projects, midterm/final exams or weekly modules, students may receive a
letter grade of ‘D’, ‘F’ or a NP. Students who do not complete required work or who do
not satisfy the requirements outlined in the instructions may result in these outcomes.
As these outcomes do not satisfy transfer requirements or indicate satisfactory
completion of the course learning outcomes, students will have the option to take the
course again.

Evaluation: Throughout the course, students will receive the marks ‘Complete’ if satisfying
the requirements or ‘In Process’ if more work needs to be done to align with the assignment
criteria for the weekly assignments. Each essay project and exam will include a rubric that
clearly outlines the evaluative criteria and maps the assessment outcomes to clearly
demonstrate where the work succeeds or ‘meets’ criteria and where it might need
improvement.

This instructor believes grades should not be used to penalize or punish students, but
to reflect their progress and provide opportunity for continued learning. Therefore, in
some instances, students may be offered the chance to revise or makeup work.
 Final course grades will be based on the following opportunities to demonstrate learning. This
course follows the grade point average grading scale where an A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1, and
an F = 0. For information on your official grade in the course, please inquire directly
through e- mail (Canvas cumulative grades will likely not accurately reflect your overall
course progress).

• Participation (class activities, discussion, etc.)

• 3 Writing Projects
• Midterm Exam
• Final Exam (Dec. 10)
• Homework (weekly modules, etc.)

Revision: Opportunities for revision will occur for each essay through peer review,
conferences, and individuated feedback on drafts. In addition, each student is welcome to
participate in office hours and receive one-on-one feedback on their writing before final
drafts are due.

Title IX Notice of Non-Discrimination

Foothill College does not discriminate on the basis of gender, which includes sex and gender
identity or expression, or sexual orientation in its education programs or activities. Title IX of the
Education Amendments of 1972, and certain other federal and state laws, prohibit discrimination
on the basis of gender or sexual orientation in employment, as well as in all education programs
and activities operated by the college (both on and off campus). The protection against
discrimination on the basis of gender or sexual orientation includes sexual harassment, sexual
misconduct, and gender based dating and domestic violence and stalking.

If you have been the victim of discrimination or sexual violence, Foothill College fully supports
you in reporting the crime and providing resources for your immediate and long-term wellbeing.
If you wish to file a complaint, you may want to review information about the informal and
formal complaint procedures available to you. Afterwards, contact the Foothill College Title IX
Coordinator:

Leticia Maldonado, Title IX Coordinator, Dean of Students

Campus Center, Room 2003
650.949.7389
fhtitleix@foothill.edu

More resources at Foothill College you might utilize include:

 Title IX Information: http://www.foothill.edu/titleix/

 Campus Police: 911 or 650.949.7313 (for non-emergencies)
 Health Services: 650.949.7243
 Psychological Services: 650.949.7910
 See the links under 'Campus Resources' on Canvas for more support services