English at Saddleback College What to expect and what you need to - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

English at Saddleback College What to expect and what you need to know

Kristi Johnson – Point Loma Nazarene

Our Courses Saddleback courses are equivalent to courses at any CSU, UC, or private university (Harvard, Princeton, etc.). The transfer-level English course you take at Saddleback is fundamentally the same as your freshman English course at UC Berkeley.

Equal Rigor CSU, Fullerton English Saddleback English syllabus assignments: syllabus assignments: • 5-6 essays, ranging from • 4 essays, ranging 3-6 4-6 pages in length. pages in length. • Minimum of 20 pages of • Reading quizzes. writing assignments. • Journal writing. • Timed in-class writing exams.

Matriculation: What is it? 1)Matriculation is the formal process you go through in order to register for classes. 2)The process begins as soon as you submit an application. 3)It’s required of all students who want to earn a certificate, an associate degree, or transfer to a four-year school. 4)It’s designed to assist you in achieving your goals at Saddleback College.

Matriculation Process Three-step process: 1)Complete online orientation. 2)Take in-person placement test: English, reading, and math. 3)Complete online advisement that includes a first-semester educational plan.

English Placement Test What to Expect • Taking both English and math tests can take up to three hours. • Math and English tests can be taken separately. • English exam tests your comprehension, sentence structure and grammar, and syntax skills. • Sentence structure and grammar sections: 20 minutes, 30 questions. • Sentence and syntax skills: 15 minutes, 40 questions.

English Composition Course Sequence ENG 1B Principles of Composition II ENG 1A Principles of Composition I 4 units ENG 390 Introduction to College ENG 200 Fundamentals of English Composition (accelerated) 4 units 4 units ENG 300 ENG 340 ESL 350 Beginning Writing Reading Skills for Advanced 3 units + .25 unit College Academic Skills lab

How to Improve Your Placement • Retest after three months. • Writing Sample Appeal (this appeal is final). • Summer Refresh: 2-Day Workshop over one weekend.

College-Level Placement

• At least 4 essays of up to 6 pages in length. English 1A • At least two in-class Principles of essays, 4 double- Composition I spaced pages in length. • Read a minimum of 200 pages of nonfiction material.

• Heavy emphasis on logic, rhetorical devices, English 1B analytical/argumentative skills, and research. Principles of Composition II • Assignments are derived from themes and works in various disciplines and cultures. • Write an argumentative research paper of 8-10 pages

Cesar Martinez – Saddleback College

Carnegie Units - What Are They? Carnegie units measure workload For example: English 1A (4 units) requires 12 hours of work per week - four hours in class and eight hours of work outside of class.

Sample Assignment: Rhetorical Analysis Essay Analyze and evaluate two written arguments for their rhetorical effectiveness. For this essay, you will analyze two of the following readings: Plato’s Gorgias , Aristotle’s Rhetoric , Buck’s The Present Status of Rhetorical Theory , Achebe’s Language and the Destiny of Man , Morrison’s Nobel acceptance speech, or Momaday’s Personal Reflections .

Grading Criteria • Have a clear purpose. • Clearly state the issue. • Present a clear thesis. • Support your thesis with well-paragraphed evidence and analysis. • Use effective, relevant quotes as evidence to support your thesis. • Demonstrate awareness of audience through appropriate academic tone. • Present focused, well-developed body paragraphs relevant to the thesis. • Articulate your ideas with clarity at the sentence and paragraph levels. • Use MLA format for in-text citations. • Write an essay free of errors in spelling, grammar, and mechanics. • Include a Works Cited page (This does count toward the minimum length requirement).

Importance of Writing Your essays are worth at least 70% of your entire course grade. In other words, in order to succeed, you need to do well on your papers.

Course Syllabus 1)It’s probably the single most important document for the class. 2)It tells you most of what you need to know for the class. 3)It should be referenced throughout the semester whenever you have questions.

Resources We Offer Tutoring Center Supplemental Courses in Grammar, ESL and Writing Center Study Skills Online Paper Center Special Services for Students with Online Tutoring Disabilities Academic/Personal Counseling

Parting Thoughts 1)Begin the matriculation process as soon as possible (Freshman Advantage) 2)Take the placement test seriously. 3)Take your high school English class and all the work you do in it seriously. 4)Take advantage of all the services and opportunities Saddleback College offers.