Welcome to

English 1B Honors

My Teaching Philosophy

My name is Jessica Budica and I went to Cal State Long Beach where I earned my BA and MFA in Creative Writing. I have always loved writing and using my creativity and I hope I bring that into my classes every day! Ultimately, my teaching philosophy and this course are centered around you, the student. This means I will always set you up to succeed through activities and lessons with ample feedback designed to guide you through each unit. We will also focus on getting in the field and learning through hands on experiences. Often I will push you, but I will never leave you unsupported or set you up to fail. And I think it is important that our course material not only aids in your writing journey but is relevant to your life. I want this class to challenge you and help you cultivate your ideas so you leave this class feeling not only more confident in your writing capabilities but also in your thoughts, ideas, and opinions. So, even if you don't feel ready yet, you got this! And we'll get through this together!

Why are you taking English 1B Honors?

Kudos for taking an Honors course! Honors can be beneficial for you academically as you pursue your degree and beyond, reflecting positively on both your transcripts and applications. More importantly, this class helps students better understand and use the various aspects of thoughtful, academic argumentative writing. This may not feel like it applies to your long term goals. So instead, think of this class as a way to learn and develop critical thinking and articulate your ideas in both written and verbal communication. But this class is really special!

Honors English isn’t “more work,” but it is different work. A key difference in Honors courses is the inclusion of field research. This means you will be conducting your own research throughout this semester, some of which are small projects. From having your own plant to care for to collaborating with the Interior Design Space Planning class & Landscape Design Student Association to transform 2 classrooms here at Saddleback, this class takes you beyond simply writing but finding your own way.

As you may have noticed, there are a lot of leaves here! That is because we will be focusing a lot of our attention on nature-- how it impacts our home & learning environments, our minds, our bodies... everything! So get excited for a transformative semester together!

Course Info

Here I Am!

Our class will meet every Monday and Wednesday in BGS 200. All work will be conducted through Canvas, with work due at the start of each class.

You can find me in BGS 209.

Email is JBudica@saddleback.edu

Office phone is 949.582.4903

Office Hours: Office Hours: M W in-person or online 2-3pm & T online only 10-1pm

I'm on campus MW. But, you can reach me via email M-F 9:00am-5pm. I usually respond to emails within an hour or two, but definitely the same day. Sat & Sun I rarely check emails as I am hanging with my kiddos!

Course Description

Catalog Description

Provides instruction in critical thinking and in writing a research paper with an argumentative thesis and academic-style analytical and argumentative essays. The writing totals a minimum of 8,000 words. Instruction focuses on the development of logical reasoning; on analytical and argumentative writing skills; on research strategies, with emphasis on use of scholarly sources and field research; and on an oral presentation of research findings. Assignments are derived from complex interdisciplinary nonfiction sources. Credit may be earned for ENG 1B or ENG 1BH, but not both.

Need anything else?

Remember, there are course policies, but ultimately my job is to aid you through this course and your writing journey. I'm here to help and to guide you as you develop your writing techniques and explore new ideas. So, reach out! Don't wait until you feel overwhelmed. Let's make a plan to ensure you reach your goals and succeed in this course. And if you are overwhelmed, then definitely reach out so we can make a plan and together, get you back on track!

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