ENGLISH 120: EXPOSITORY WRITING

Fall 2023 • Section 29/X-30 • Hunter North C112 • Monday & Thursday, 10–11:15 a.m.

Instructor George Seibel

Email seibelgl@gmail.com
Office 1432 Hunter West
Office Hours Wednesday 8:30–9:30 a.m.; via Zoom by appointment
Google Classroom code bp6jv24

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This is a class centered completely on writing. We won’t be diagramming sentences, reading
novels or poetry, or taking vocab or spelling tests. English 120’s only focus is helping you handle
a variety of writing situations—especially those you’ll encounter in college, but also those in the
real world.

This course seeks to impart the fundamentals of research, argument, and developing ideas.
These skills are important because they help you contribute intelligently to conversations,
academic or otherwise.

Since college is a painful experience for many and one imminent for you, of particular interest in
this course is the research-based college paper. Learning to write this type of paper will serve you
in the years to come, as you almost certainly encounter similar assignments.

For some of you, writing in this mode will be completely new. For a few of you, these are skills
you have already mastered. Most of you are somewhere in between. If you’re at the top end of the
spectrum, you still have work to do: your goal is to make your writing interesting, both to
yourself and to other people.

By the end of the semester, you still might not love writing, but I hope you at least won’t find it
scary or boring.

REQUIRED TEXTS/MATERIALS
● All readings will be distributed electronically by pdf
● A Gmail email address, which belongs to you and you alone, to access Google Docs
● A laptop for in-class writing; if you don’t have your own, Hunter IT can provide one
● A standard notebook and pen or pencil for in-class writing

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LEARNING OBJECTIVES

The goals of English 120 at Hunter College are to promote students’ abilities to:

● Develop nuanced and persuasive research questions and thesis statements

● Identify, evaluate, and effectively incorporate a variety of sources to explore the research
question and thesis statement
● Apply effective evidence to academic writing situations
● Organize arguments logically and effectively
● Choose effective style and grammar for academic audiences
● Incorporate peer and instructor feedback
● Reflect on the writing and revision process

In class, we will discuss the value of the above goals, as well as what else we value about writing
in general.

ASSESSMENT

There are 100 points in the semester.

Major Writing Assignments (70 points)

There are five (5) major writing assignments we will undertake this semester, for a total of 70
points.

1. Initial Analytical Essay (5)

2. Rhetorical Analysis (10)
3. Annotated Bibliography (15)
4. Research Paper (30)
5. Final Reflection (10)

For these assignments, you will have a great deal of freedom in topic selection. You’re
encouraged to write about what matters to you, but approach each assignment with the mindset
that anyone in the class might read your writing.

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Homework (30 points)

Homework assignments will count 1 point each. Sometimes in-class assignments will count for a
homework grade, and sometimes there will be assignments that count double.

● Homework assigned Monday will be due Wednesday at 5 p,m.

● Homework assigned Thursday will be due Saturday at 5 p.m.

A few notes about drafts

Each time a draft is due:

1) You will be expected to respond to the draft of a fellow classmate. That response will be
due 24 hours before the paper is due.

2) You also have a 72-hour window to conference with me about your paper.
● I will divide my time evenly between all students requesting a conference.
● Please bring specific questions about your work. Never just put your paper in
front of me and ask "What do you think?"

3) If you need more help than I can offer you in a single session, please make an office hours
appointment for another session. Please also see the section below regarding the Writing
Center.

You are also encouraged to seek the counsel of your peers at any and every juncture.

Late Work

Homework points cannot be made up, so please don’t ask.

Late major assignments will be assessed according to the following scale:

1 class day late 90% credit

2 class days late 80% credit
3 class days late 70% credit
4 class days late 60% credit
5+ class days late 50% credit

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Adjustments (5 points)

I reserve the right to adjust your grade up or down by 5 points based on your effort and attitude in
the class.

Positive adjustments will be made for those going above and beyond by means of participation,
coming to class prepared, listening to and helping others, and generally showing effort and
interest.

Negative adjustments may be levied against individuals with poor attention and interest in the
course.

Attendance

You are allowed 3 free absences in this class. A fourth absence and each subsequent absence
will result in the lowering of your final grade by ⅓ (e.g., A to A-, A- to B+, and so forth).

NOTES ON PLAGIARISM

● Only your own original writing completed this semester is acceptable for credit.
Additionally, you may not submit writing you’ve completed in another course for credit,
including in high school.

● I reserve the right to use any reasonable means necessary to ascertain whether or not
your work has been plagiarized, including various online tools engineered for this
purpose.

● Please note that lack of dishonest intent does not necessarily absolve you of responsibility
for plagiarism. It is your responsibility to recognize when citation is necessary.

● These standards apply to writing in the draft phase as well as final revisions.

● Instances of plagiarism will be handled on a case-by-case basis, but will typically result in
an irreversible grade of 0 for the assignment. A second instance of plagiarism will likely
result in an F for the course.

Official Hunter College Plagiarism Policy

Plagiarism and cheating will not be tolerated. Plagiarism is defined as word-for-word copying
without acknowledgment of the language or ideas of another writer. Obviously, having
another person write or dictate all or part of one’s composition is forbidden. In addition, a writer

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should copy no printed passage, no matter how brief, without acknowledging its source and
either placing it in quotation marks or setting it aside as a blocked quotation. This applies to even
the briefest of phrases if they are truly individual and distinctive.

WRITING CENTER

The Writing Center, located on the 7th floor of Hunter East (in the library), is something that can
help you for your whole college career. At the Writing Center, consultants will work with you one-
on-one for an hour or so per appointment. They can help with any stage of a project—from
brainstorming to research to writing to proofreading—in any course, not just English.

It’s better to set up an appointment, but they accept walk-ins if they have people available, and
they also provide online sessions over the weekend. Please check them out, even if you think
you’re doing all right in this class (it can’t hurt). For more information or to set up an
appointment, visit http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/rwc.

VARIOUS COLLEGE POLICIES

Hunter College Academic Integrity Statement

Hunter College regards acts of academic dishonesty (e.g., plagiarism, cheating on examinations,
obtaining unfair advantage, and falsification of records and official documents) as serious
offenses against the values of intellectual honesty. The college is committed to enforcing the
CUNY Policy on Academic Integrity and will pursue cases of academic dishonesty according to
the Hunter College Academic Integrity Procedures.

Hunter College Academic Accommodation Statement

In compliance with the American Disability Act of 1990 (ADA) and with Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Hunter College is committed to ensuring educational parity and
accommodations for all students with documented disabilities and/or medical conditions. It is
recommended that all students with documented disabilities (Emotional, Medical, Physical and/or
Learning) consult the Office of ACCESSability located in Room 1214B East to secure necessary
academic accommodations. For further information and assistance please call (212) 772-4857 or
for TTY (212) 650-3230.

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Hunter College Policy on Sexual Misconduct

In compliance with the CUNY Policy on Sexual Misconduct, Hunter College reaffirms the
prohibition of any sexual misconduct, which includes sexual violence, sexual harassment, and
gender-based harassment retaliation against students, employees, or visitors, as well as certain
intimate relationships. Students who have experienced any form of sexual violence on or off
campus (including CUNY-sponsored trips and events) are entitled to the rights outlined in the
Bill of Rights for Hunter College.
A. Sexual Violence: Students are strongly encouraged to immediately report the incident
by calling 911, contacting NYPD Special Victims Division Hotline (646) 610-7272 or
their local police precinct, or contacting the College's Public Safety Office (212) 772-
4444.
B. All Other Forms of Sexual Misconduct: Students are also encouraged to contact the
College's Title IX Campus Coordinator, Dean John Rose (jtrose@hunter.cuny.edu or
(212) 650-3262) or Colleen Barry (colleen.barry@hunter.cuny.edu or (212) 772-4534)
and seek complimentary services through the Counseling and Wellness Services Office,
Hunter East 1123.