Syllabus

English 105 | Composition with Support | Prof. Janice Sapigao | sapigaoj@smccd.edu |

Call/text (from 9am-5pm on weekdays) 408-759-5226 |

Office hours: Thursdays on Zoom (Links to an external site.) or by appointment

Meeting ID: 873 9359 2789 | Passcode: 136169

Section: CI | CRN: 95616 | 5.0 units | Fall 2021

Section: PI | CRN: 96670 | 5.0 units | Fall 2021

artwork by Jessica Sabogal (@jessicasabogal)

Semester and Year: synchronous, online for Fall 2021;

Meeting Times: Class meets on Zoom on Tuesdays & Thursdays from 11:10 a.m. to 1:35 p.m.

How to contact me:

  1. Email - sapigaoj@smccd.edu; let me know that you're in my English 105 class when you email me

  2. Canvas message

  3. In class or during office hours on Zoom!

  • CLASS

    • Tuesdays & Thursdays 11:10am-1:3pm or other days/times by appointment

  • OFFICE HOUR

    • Thursdays: 2-3 p.m.

    • Please come to office hours, even if you just want to check in and say hi!

  1. Google Voice Phone number: (408) 759-5226 (I'm from San Jose, CA!)

  • You can call or text me on weekdays between 9am and 5pm

I am open to meeting through Zoom, FaceTime, or via phone call. I’ll switch to whatever mode works best for you.

Instructor Biography: Hi hi! I'll be your English Professor for this semester! I'm excited to work with you, and I look forward to getting to know you. I know that this is a difficult time in our world, and I hope you know that we will have space to process how this is also a very important turning point in our history. There is no time like it, and I am excited to teach during this time. I teach because I believe in the heart, hard work, and honor in education, and I believe that students are the best teachers. As an English Professor and a daughter of immigrants, I teach because language helps us articulate who we are, what we think, and what we know to be true or changing. In this class, we will grow our ideas and selves together.

Required Textbooks and Materials:

This is a zero textbook course! All readings will be available for free and online.

1) Teaching Media Literacy by Belinha S. DeAbreu

How to find the book:

1. Go to the Skyline College Library website

2. Click on the “eBooks” button underneath the search bar

3. Click on “EBSCOhost Academic & General eBooks”

4. Type in “Teaching Media Literacy Belinha S. DeAbreu”

5. You’ll be able to view the full book there under "View ePub Full Text"

2) "The Rhetoric" What, Why, and How? 15 Concepts to Become a Better Writer by Skyline College faculty

Shorter readings are incorporated throughout the course.

All readings reflect themes or aspects of social justice, contemporary and controversial issues, academic research and writing, critical thinking, issues of race, sex, class, gender, sexuality, immigration, war, ability, religion, and education, migration, current events and issues of history, identity, oppression and other -isms (ableism, colorism, etc.), and other issues that are directly related to the college's mission and values of equity, opportunity, and social justice. These titles and authors reflect contemporary literature and current events, mostly by artists and writers of color that are a part of and represent communities of struggle.

Course Prerequisites: ENGL 846 or ESOL 400 or eligibility for ENGL 100 or ENGL 105 on approved college placement tests and other measures as necessary.

Course Description: Designed to help the student recognize and critically evaluate important ideas in short and book length texts, and offers instruction in expository and argumentative writing, appropriate and effective use of language, close reading, cogent thinking, research strategies, information literacy, and documentation.

Student Learning Outcomes: Upon successful completion of this course, a student will meet the following outcomes:

  • ESSAYS: Write focused, organized, well-developed, and text-based essays appropriate to college transfer level using effective paragraphs, which support a clear thesis statement, and demonstrate competence in standard English grammar and usage.

  • CRITICAL ANALYSIS: Demonstrate critical reading, writing, and thinking skills appropriate to college transfer level through analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of important ideas from a variety of college level texts.

  • INFORMATION LITERACY: Use research strategies appropriate to college transfer level to effectively evaluate and skillfully integrate credible and relevant sources and cite according to MLA guidelines.

Netiquette / Guidelines for Online Learning

Please stick to these discussion forum guidelines, and please let me know if you'd like to add any to this list; some of these are informed by these Guidelines for Social Justice and Personal Growth:

  1. Express, not impress - We are here to express ourselves and learn as much as we can. Don't feel like you have to impress me or anyone in class. I want you to develop your own writing voice and logic.

  2. Free speech, not hate speech - Any appropriate messages that result in hate speech or put down others' forms of expression will not be tolerated, and you may not receive credit for this assignment as a result.

  3. Agree to disagree - There can be opposing truths, and you don't have to agree with all people in order to do well, but you should try to understand yours and others' perspectives.

  4. Respect - Be fair, realistic, and uphold a strong work ethic for yourself and others

  5. Stay engaged and read thoroughly to understand: value the opportunity to read your peers' stories, and treat them as stories; be careful not to compare your experiences with someone else's right away, even internally. This can invalidate others' experiences.

  6. Experience Discomfort – “Be comfortable with being uncomfortable” - Allow yourself to be vulnerable. Meaningful learning can occur when we take risks. Sometimes we confuse safety and comfort. Safe conversations may still be uncomfortable. Stay present with the emotion and pain of others, and your own discomfort, as you read and pay attention.

  7. No Fixing -- Don’t assume that you know best, or that you can help a person process their pain or discomfort. Trust that people have what they need to take their own path to learning and growth.

  8. Confidentiality – Share the message, not the messenger; some people may share information that is personal; please do not spread this information around anywhere, and since this is an online class, do not screenshot, text, or share anything in this class without anyone's permission. In addition, please be careful with what you share, and if you have any questions, or seek to respond privately–that totally is okay with me–please e-mail me properly labeled and named responses.

Course Technological Support:

https://smccdhelp.zendesk.com/hc/en-us

  • Email support available: Responses occur, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day

  • Chat support available: Monday through Friday, 9AM - 9PM PDT

  • Call or text: 1-844-505-4565, Monday through Friday, 9AM - 9PM PDT

Grading & Grading Scale

Letter Grade Only. It is strongly suggested that the student keep track of their own progress by recording assignment scores once the instructor has graded the assignment and has provided feedback.Students should also hold onto all paperwork from the course. The final grade in this class be based on:

  • Assignments (20%)

  • Participation in Discussions (20%)

  • Essays (50%)

  • Final (10%)

Grading Scale

  • 100-87% A

  • 86-70% B

  • 69-55% C

  • 54-40% D

  • 40-0%

Letter Grade Information

  • Assignments: Course work will be assigned throughout the class to ensure that students have read and completed tasks to keep up with the material.

  • Participation in Discussions: You are expected to be an active participant for an online class. Ask questions, ask for clarification, answer any questions asked by peers and the instructor, and make sure you try your best to understand given assignment and readings.

  • Essays: Essays are sites of critical thinking, reading, and writing. Your essays will be taken very seriously, graded and read thoroughly, and as a result, heavily weighted for class.

  • Final: Will be a cumulative paper and/or project that will require you to use skills learned in the class

Late Policy

Generally, late work will not be accepted. Late work will only be accepted for assignments and other assignments as approved by the instructor; late work will be graded for half credit of the grade earned on the late submission.

Revision Policy

Students may be asked to review and revise their own and each others’ papers. Peer review is often a very useful element of writing courses. You will have the opportunity to come into contact with others’ voices and suggestions. This is beneficial for all students who participate and keep up with class assignments. This also depends on the willingness of all students to put forth their best efforts when critiquing a peer’s work for improvement.

Strict E-mail and/or Message Policy

Check with your classmates or read over course handouts and information before you e-mail me clarification questions. When you do e-mail me, for example, the email should begin with, “Hi Janice, how are you?” or “Hello Janice, I hope you’re well!” as acceptable forms of e-mail etiquette. This is good practice for e-mailing peers, instructors, and supervisors in the future.

File Name Policy

Whenever you send or submit a file via e-mail or onto Canvas, type your last name, first name, an underscore, the course name, an underscore, and the assignment title: SapigaoJanice_ENG105_Essay1.doc

This way, your work is organized for me and most importantly, for you.

Extra Credit Policy

You will have opportunities to earn extra credit. If you need extra credit, you will need to look in this syllabus for information. If you attend any community events or read content related to the course, you must write a 1- paragraph summary about it and submit it to the instructor via email before the course is over.

Extra credit is a total of 10% in addition to the course grading previously listed in the syllabus. Extra credit does not replace any work in other categories of grading.

1) Community Events (can be online, if in person, then please be safe!): If you attend a community event related to this class (a reading, a music festival, a concert, a rally, a protest, a community organizing meeting, etc.), you may write a one-paragraph summary about it and turn it in to the instructor for five extra credit points. You may only submit up to two (2) summaries.

AND/OR

2) Articles: If you read an article that specifically relates to ideas or content in the course, you may write a summary about it. Write a 1-paragraph summary must discuss one idea/concept you’ve learned from the class.

You may only submit up to two (2) summaries. In total, you have four (4) extra credit opportunities. More opportunities may come as the semester unfolds. Feel free to ask the instructor if there are opportunities on or off-campus that the class should know about.

Personal Space Policy

Remain professional at all times, and be aware of the space and tones in which you are speaking to your professor and/or each other. Be kind and respectful.

No Electronics Policy

Do not use any personal electronics in disturbing or distracting ways in class.

Academic Integrity: The work you submit/present must be your own. All paraphrases and quotations must be cited appropriately. If you are caught cheating or plagiarizing another person’s work, you may be disciplined in one or more of the following ways:

  • Failing grade on the assignment which could lead to a lowered course grade or failing the course.

  • Being reported to the Dean of Enrollment Services/Disciplinary Officer who maintains a record of those reported for academic dishonesty.

  • Disciplinary probation, suspension or expulsion

For clear definitions of cheating/plagiarizing, see the Skyline College Student Handbook: http://catalog.skylinecollege.edu/current/rights-responsibilities/integrity.php

Available Support Services: Skyline College cares deeply about student success and provides a range of support for students both academic and personal, so take advantage of these resources:

  • Academic Counseling: for counselor guidance, creating action plans, getting connected with the Career

  • Transfer Center: Room 2-218, 650-738-4318, skycounseling@smccd.edu.

  • The Learning Center: provides tutoring in all subjects. Sign up for LSKL 800 for general tutoring or for LSKL 853 for reading and writing support. Room 5-100, 650-738-4144.

  • Library: consult librarians for expert research advice. Building 5, 2nd floor, 650-738-4311, skylibrary@smccd.edu. Use the Library’s website to conduct online research, access citation guides, live chat with a librarian, and much more: http://www.skylinecollege.edu/library/

  • Health & Psychological Services: provides health care and mental health services (counseling, crisis intervention, substance abuse). Room 2-206 & 2-237, 650-738-4270, skyhealth@smccd.edu

  • Financial Aid: help with fee waivers, grants, scholarships, work study programs and loans. Room 2-2234, 650-738-4236, skyfaoffice@smccd.edu

  • SparkPoint: provides students and the community FREE financial education/coaching, food pantry, tax preparation, banking/savings advice, assistance with public benefits enrollment and more. Room 1-214, 650-738-7035, skylinesparkpoint@smccd.edu, visit: http://www.skylinecollege.edu/sparkpoint/

Academic Adjustments for Students with Disabilities: In coordination with the Educational Access Center (EAC), reasonable accommodation will be provided for eligible students with disabilities. For more assistance, please contact the EAC in building 5, Room 5132 or call 650-738-4280, skyeac@smccd.edu. For more information visit: http://skylinecollege.edu/disabilityresources/index.php

(Links to an external site.)

Class Conduct Policy: At Skyline College, our classrooms are safe and inclusive places. In this community, we treat each other with mutual respect regardless of differences in race, religion, age, and/or sexual/gender identity. If you go by a different name or would like a different gender pronoun used, please advise your instructor and your preference will be honored. Additionally, classroom respect means not using electronic devices in class that are not connected with class instruction and being attentive when your instructor and classmates are speaking.

Students are responsible for adhering to the Code of Student Conduct outlined in the Skyline Student Handbook: http://skylinecollege.edu/catalog/rightsresponsibilities/codeofconduct.php

(Links to an external site.)

Expected Preparation for Class: Make the most of your class experience. We as a class expect and depend on you to come prepared with your class materials and completed work. To be able to fully grow your skills and abilities, expect a minimum of two hours of outside time for each hour in class.

Your SMCCD college email: To avoid missing important messages from your instructors and from the college/District, be sure your student email account is activated. Log in at http://my.smccd.edu/

If you don’t want to check your my.smccd.edu account, forward your my.smccd.edu email to your regular email account.

Forwarding your SMCCD email:

  1. Go to Websmart at https://websmart.smccd.edu/

  2. (Links to an external site.)

  3. In your student account area, click on the link that says "New! Student Email"

  4. Here, you may view your email address and password, and you may reset your password.

  5. IMPORTANT: Open your my.smccd.edu email.

  6. Click “Settings” at the top of the page.

  7. Click the “Forwarding and POP/IMAP” tab.

  8. Under Forwarding, click the “Forward a copy of incoming mail” button.

  9. Enter the email address you want to forward your email to

  10. Click “Save Changes.”

TITLE IX:

The San Mateo County Community College District is committed to maintaining safe and caring college environments at Cañada College, College of San Mateo and Skyline College. The District has established policies and procedures regarding Sexual Misconduct, Harassment, and Assault. A District website has also been developed which provides you with important information about sexual misconduct and sexual assault: http://smccd.edu/titleix/

To learn more about these issues and how you can help prevent them, you are encouraged to view the “Not Anymore” videos, which can be found on WebSMART under the Student Services link.

Skyline College’s Important Dates to Remember:

As a student, you’ll want to know the important academic dates regarding dropping and withdrawing from classes, school holidays, final exams, etc. For dates, visit Skyline College’s Academic Calendar.

any part of this syllabus is subject to change; you'll be notified when major changes are made