Dr. Cathy Decker (messages, 941-2377)

Required Textbook
Langan, John. English Skills with Readings. 3rd. ed. New
York: McGraw-Hill, 1995.

Discrimination
The school forbids students to harass other students on the basis
of "race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital
status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age or sexual orientation" (Chaffey College
Catalog 1994-95 25). Note that the inclusion of "sexual orientation" means that no anti-
homosexual or anti-heterosexual comments are permitted in class!

Cheating
If you use another person's ideas or words without saying that the ideas or words are not yours,
you are cheating. You will receive an F for the assignment and can receive an F for the class if
the cheating is widespread and malicious.

Drop Policy
The college allows you to drop the course and get a W rather than a grade up until April 25.
If you stop attending class, drop the course before April 25. Otherwise, you will get a grade for
the course, most likely an F, if you have stopped coming to class and doing the work.

Attendance Policy
If you miss 1 month of class (4 weeks or 4 classes), you will not receive a passing grade (C or
above).

Paper Policy
1. All papers must be double-spaced (whether typed or handwritten), or they lose 5 points out of
100
2. All paper must have a title, or they lose 5 points out of 100
3. Papers that I have required be typed and are not lose 10 points out of 100
4. Papers with thesis errors (announcements, too broad, or too narrow thesis statements) lose 5
points out of 100
5. Papers with over 25 grammatical errors on any one page lose 10 points out of 100

Late Work Policy
Late work will be accepted for two weeks after the due date. After two weeks, a zero is entered
into the grade book and cannot be changed. Note that an F grade is a significant number of
points more than a zero. Late work turned in during the two weeks after the due date will lose 5
points out of 100 unless you have what I think is a reasonable excuse.

Grading Policy
Typed Writing Assignments 60% (10% each)
Other Homework and Class Participation 30%
Final Exam 10%

Class Schedule (16 weeks)
(1) 16 Jan. First Class
(2) 23 Jan. "A Pushover Instructor" Paragraph Due (p. 68); Have read
pp. 1-42 (Basic Writing Skills)
[27 Jan. Last day to get your money back if you drop the class.]
(3) 30 Jan. "Helping a Parent in College" Paragraph Due (p. 69); Have
read 42-71 (Thesis and Support)
[31 Jan. Last day to add class; unadded students do not receive
a grade or course credit.]
(4) 6 Feb. "A Selfish Person" Paragraph Due (p. 131); Have read
"What it Means to be Young Today" (pp. 543-47); Have read
pp. 72-91 (Transitions and Grammar)
(5) 13 Feb. Example Paper Due (pp. 131-5) (must be typed or you lose 10 points out of 100);
Have read pp. 92-118 (Revising Writing)
(6) 20 Feb. Have read "The Tryout" (pp. 440-448) and pp. 232-252 (Basic Sentences)
(7) 27 Feb. Cause and Effect Paper Due (pp. 148-151) (must be typed or you lose 10 points out
of 100); Have read pp. 331-340 and pp. 396-407 (Capitals and Common Word Errors)
(8) 6 Mar. Have read "People Need People" (pp. 535-9) and pp. 253-267 (Run-ons) and pp. 361-
371 (Comma)
(9) 13 Mar. Comparison/Contrast Paper Due (pp. 160-4) (must be typed or you lose 10 points out
of 100); Have read pp. 344-352 (Apostrophes) and pp. 322-325 (Parallelism)
(10) 27 Mar. Have read "How to Think Clearly" (pp. 514-8) and pp. 353-360 (Quotation Marks)
and pp. 313-321 (Modifiers)
(11) 3 Apr. Division and Classification Paper Due (pp. 176-9) (must be typed or you lose 10
points out of 100); Have read pp. 268-293 (Verbs)
(12) 10 Apr. Have read "Let's Really Reform Our Schools" (pp. 476-479) and pp. 294-307
(Pronouns)
(13) 17 Apr. Argument Paper Due (pp. 202-206) (must be typed or you lose 10 points out of
100); Have read pp. 426-431 (Editing) and
pp. 208-228 (Essay Writing)
(14) 24 Apr. Reread pp. 43-91
[25 Apr. Last day to officially drop course,
those who have stopped attending class
but not filed a drop form by this date will
receive an F for the course rather than a
W.]
(15) 1 May Essay Due (pp. 222-228) (must be
typed or you lose 10 points out of 100)
(16) 8 May Review Class
(Final Exam) 15 May, 6 pm.