Return to Classes by Year Page        Go to Cathy's Homepage

Course Topics

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental elements of the English language and its characteristics.

2. Demonstrate an understanding of the logical relationship between the parts of a sentence.

3. Recognize and compose complete, correct, and logical sentences, having written a minimum of 1,000 words.

4. Identify parts of speech, phrases, and clauses.

5. Recognize and compose sentences in a variety of sentence patterns.

6. Apply the rules of punctuation and capitalization correctly and effectively.

Grade Scale

Office Hours

In Fontana Success Center: Mon. and Wed. 2-3, Wed. 6-6:30

On Main Campus, LA-7C: Fri. 8-9; 3-4:30

Phone Number (909) 941-2412

Email cathy@hal.ucr.edu

Web http://hal.ucr.edu/~cathy

Policies and Other Information of Note

1. Adult content will be discussed in this class.
2. In special cases, I may choose not to apply or lesson one of these policies. For example, all serious emergencies will mean students may reschedule quizzes or exams or turn work in as soon as they return without any penalty.
3. If you need special accommodations for any disability, please let me know.
4. Late papers lose thirty points (out of 100).
5. Papers will not be accepted via email.
6. Exams and quizzes cannot be rescheduled.
7. Papers, quizzes, etc., will require one to two weeks for grading.
8. Plagiarism gets a zero. Malicious plagiarizers will fail the course. Plagiarism is the use of another's ideas, words, or sentence structure without quotation marks and the identification of the source.
9. The final exam is in room 101 at 1:30 (earlier than our regular class time) and lasts until 4 p.m. The final is on Monday, Dec. 17^th. Grades will be posted by ID number or secret name by Jan. 7^th.
10. The last day to add this class is Sept. 1, by 1 p.m. You must be on the official role by then to get a grade.
11. The last day to drop this class is Nov. 21^st. I do not drop students who have attended my class; it is your responsibility to do so.
12. The class webpage is http://hal.ucr.edu/~cathy/syll/f01-550.html where you can find the syllabus and handouts.

Grade Formula

Tests, Quizzes Papers, Writing Other Work Final Exam Participation

25% 35% 30% 5% 5%

Tentative Course Schedule

W 8/22 Homework Due: p. 2, ex. 1; p. 2-3, ex. 2; p. 4-5, ex. 4; p. 7, ex. 6. (2%)

Do the exercises first in your textbook. Then on lined paper, write your name, the page number and exercise number, the numbers of the questions, and the "underlined" answers for each exercise. In-Class Work: Work on verbs, subjects, and prepositions.

M 8/27 Homework Due: p.19-20, ex. 17. (2%)

Do the exercise in your book in pencil. There are fourteen subjects and twenty-three verbs in total. When you are satisfied you have done the exercise correctly, take a dark pen and correctly label the answers. Carefully tear page 19-20 out of your textbook and write your name at the top.

In-Class Work: Reading tests to determine vocabulary level and reading ability.

W 8/29 Homework Due: p. 216-217, ex. 10; p. 217, ex. 11; p. 233, ex. 4 (3%)

Read p. 215-217 and 220-225. Do the exercises in your textbook. Then on lined paper, write your name, the page number and exercise number, the numbers of the questions, and the answers only. For the exercise on p. 217, write the ten words in the order of the corrections, numbered 1 to 10. In-Class Work: Quiz on Subjects, Verbs, and Prepositions (2%)

Work on spelling and commonly confused words (bring dictionary).

W 9/5 Homework Due: p. 213, ex. 7; p. 214-215, ex. 9 (2%)

Do the exercises in your textbook. Then on lined paper, write your name, the page number and exercise number, the numbers of the questions, and the answers only. For exercise nine, put the answers done in the order they occur next to numbers 1 to 12.

In-Class Work: Quiz on commonly confused words (2%; bring dictionary).

Work on using prepositions correctly and review of subjects, verbs.

M 9/10 Homework Due: p. 24-25, ex. 1; p. 25-26, ex. 2; p. 27, ex. 4; p. 27-28, ex. 5 (2%)

Read p. 21-24. Do the exercises in your book first. Then on lined paper, for each exercise, write down the page numbers and the exercise number. Then write, "no punctuation needed" and list the numbers of the questions you did not need to add any punctuation. Then write down the numbers of the questions were you added a comma or semicolon. After the number, write down the word before the punctuation, the punctuation mark, and the word after the punctuation only.

In-Class Work: Work on coordination.

W 9/12 Homework Due: p. 36-37, ex. 1; p. 37-38, ex. 2; p. 39-40, ex. 3; p. 40, ex. 4 (2%)

Read p. 35-36 and 38-9. Do the exercises in your book first. Then on lined paper, write down the page numbers and the exercise numbers. Write "OK sentences" and then list the numbers of the sentences you did not have to correct. Then write the numbers of the sentences you corrected. Next to the numbers, write the word before the new punctuation that you added, the new punctuation, and the word after the punctuation.

In-Class Work: Quiz on coordination (2%). Work on run-ons and comma splices.

M 9/17 Homework Due: p. 44-45, ex. 1; p. 45-46, ex. 2; p. 46-7, ex. 3 (3%)

Read p. 42-44. Do the exercises in your book first. Then on lined paper, write down the page numbers and the exercise numbers. For exercises 1 and 2, list the sentences needing no punctuation next to "OK sentences." Then write the numbers of the sentences you corrected. Next to the numbers, write the word before the new punctuation that you added, the new punctuation, and the word after the punctuation. For exercise 3, carefully check spelling, then clearly copy your new sentences. Don't forget to proofread for errors. If you have poor handwriting, type exercise 3.

In-Class Work: Quiz on run-ons and comma splices (2%). Work on subordination.

W 9/19 Homework Due: p. 56-57, ex. 4 (1%)

Do the exercise first in your textbook. Check the spelling of your sentences. Then type the six new sentence combinations on typing paper, double spacing. Proofread for spelling errors.

In-Class Work: Work on combining sentences and avoiding fragments.

M 9/24 Homework Due: p. 60, ex. 2; p. 61-2, ex. 4; p. 63, ex. 6; p. 68, ex. 9 (2%)

Do the exercises p. 60-63 first in your textbook. Then on lined paper, write the page number and exercise number of each exercise. Write "Sentences" under the page number and exercise number and then list the numbers of the exercise sentences that you labeled "S" or sentence. Do the exercise on page 68 in your textbook. Check the spelling of your sentences. Then type the two paragraphs with your revisions. Be sure to proofread for any errors.

In-Class Work: Work on avoiding fragments and test review.

W 9/26 In-Class Work: Test One on all work covered by 9/19 (5%; bring dictionary).

M 10/1 Homework Due: p. 377, ex. 1; p. 380, ex. 2 (2%) Typed summary of "Binge Nights" (2%)

Read p. 371-377. Do exercise 1 in your book. Then on a piece of lined paper, write down your name, page 377, ex. 1, the eight words you underlined, the definition of formal education, and the main point that your wrote in your own words. Be sure to check the spelling of the exercise and to make sure your main point is not a fragment. Read p. 378-379, 323-324. Do exercise 2 in your book; check your main point for spelling and grammar errors. Then copy on your lined paper, the number and letters for questions 1-15 and your main point. Read pages 380-3. Then write a one-paragraph summary of "Binge Nights: The Emergency on Campus" (323-324). Carefully read your summary and check for spelling and grammar errors. Type your summary, double spacing. Carefully proofread and correct any errors.

In-Class Work: Discussion of readings and summary, in-class writing.

W 10/3 Homework Due: Typed reaction paragraph on "Binge Nights" or "Part-Time Job" (2%)

Read p. 383-391. Reread the reading you wish to work on. Use work from class or do new prewriting to generate an outline for a paragraph that supports an idea you got from either reading. Note all the potential topics on p. 324-5, 390-1; you can base your reaction on one of these suggestions. Draft your paragraph and revise it. Then type your paragraph, and be sure to edit for any errors. Be sure to write a reaction, not an agree or disagree paragraph.

In-Class Work: Discussion of readings and writing from reading, in-class writing.

M 10/8 Homework Due: Typed agree/disagree paragraph on "Part-Time Job" (2%)

Using the two ideas on page 386 or the three ideas on page 390 or another idea from "Part-Time Job," write an agree or disagree paragraph. Be sure to revise. Type the paragraph and proofread.

In-Class Work: Discussion of readings and writing from reading, in-class writing.

W 10/10 Homework Due: Typed summary of "New Directions" (3%)

Read p. 393-394. Do ex. 3, p. 395 to help you prepare for your summary. Then write the summary using the model on p. 381-382. Carefully correct any spelling and grammar errors. Type your summary, double spacing. Proofread and fix any errors.

In-Class Work: Discussion of reading and writing from reading, in-class writing.

M 10/15 Homework Due: Typed reaction paragraph on "New Directions" (3%)

Write a paragraph that supports and idea you got from the reading "New Directions." Items #2 and #4 on p. 396 are good sample topics for a reaction paragraph you can use. Use the same technique as on your previous reaction paragraph.

In-Class Work: Discussion of reading and writing from reading, in-class writing.

W 10/17 Homework Due: Typed agree/disagree paragraph on "New Directions" (3%)

Use the same method as you did for your previous agree/disagree paragraph. One suggestion f or an agree/disagree paragraph is #3, p. 396.

In-Class Work: Discussion of reading and writing from reading, in-class writing.

M 10/22 Homework Due: Typed summary of "Home Away from Home" (3%)

Read p. 397-399. Do ex. 4, p. 399-400 to help you prepare for your summary. Then write the summary using the model on p. 381-382. Carefully correct any spelling and grammar errors. Type your summary, double spacing. Proofread and fix any errors.

In-Class Work: Discussion of reading and writing from reading, in-class writing.

W 10/24 Homework Due: Typed reaction paragraph on "Home Away from Home" (3%)

Write a paragraph that supports and idea you got from this reading. Items #2 and #4 on p. 400 are good sample topics for a reaction paragraph you can use. Use the same technique as on your previous reaction paragraph.

In-Class Work: Discussion of reading and writing from reading, in-class writing.

M 10/ 29 Homework Due: Typed agree/disagree paragraph on "Home Away from Home" (3%)

Use the same method as you did for your previous agree/disagree paragraph. One suggestion for an agree/disagree paragraph is #3, p. 400.

In-Class Work: Discussion of reading and writing from reading, in-class writing.

W 10/31 In-Class Work: Essay test on all material covered by 10/29 (5%)