Office: FO 106
Office Hours: T-U 7:30-8:30 a.m., W 9-10 a.m.
Phone/Voicemail: 924-4457
E-mail: csigler@email.sjsu.edu and by appointment
Web: http://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/csigler/

REQUIRED MATERIALS
Sonia Maasik, Jack Solomon, Signs of Life in the USA: Readings on Popular Culture for Writers, 2nd Ed. (Bedford)
Robert DiYanni, Pat Hoy, The Scribner Handbook for Writers, 2^nd. Ed. (Allyn and Bacon)
Gary Soto, Baseball in April (Harper)
College-level paperback dictionary (English only)
4 large blue books and 2 yellow books
Various popular magazines of your choice
An activated university e-mail account

RECOMMENDED MATERIALS
Andrea Lundsford, Robert Connors EasyWriter: A Pocket Guide (Bedford)
MLA Handbook, 5^th Ed.

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Welcome to English 1B, the second in SJSUís two-part composition sequence. The prerequisites for this course include a passing grade on the English Placement Test (EPT) and the successful completion of English 1A (with a grade of C- or better). This course is designed to enhance the skills that you learned in English 1A, to help you to analyze the cultural texts you encounter every day, and to teach you to write the kind of coherent, persuasive and thoughtful essays which your professors will expect from you throughout your college career. The writing assignments for the semester will draw on our study of advertisements, television and other manifestations of popular culture. The textual readings will help us learn to recognize how popular cultural texts sell us a value system. Sometimes we are very aware that we are being sold something?advertisements are the obvious example?but at other times, our perception of what is "true" comes from sources that we donít expect to be "selling" us something. The mediaís reliance on stereotypes to sell us a value system requires that we examine the effects of stereotypical images on the viewing public. Once we are more aware of the mechanisms operating in our cultural texts, we will be able to critically analyze and construct arguments about those very texts. As writers and critical thinkers, our goal is to distinguish between appearance and reality, and of course, to express our views with clarity and coherence.

COURSE GOALS
1. To develop a fluency in the specific language and style of academic discourse;
2. To increase critical reading, thinking and writing skills;
3. To master the mechanics and techniques of writing including diction, sentence structure, paragraph form and overall organization;
4. To gain familiarity with a variety of research methods which will in turn be used for written assignments.
5. To explore various issues including race, class, and gender in American popular culture.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING PERCENTAGES
Assignments will be evaluated in terms of a student's ability to express a focused idea clearly and persuasively. This will require a clear thesis, careful organization, appropriate diction and sentence structure, substantial support for one's points, polished expression and an awareness of one's audience. Library research will form a key component of several assignments. Course work includes reading assignments (see schedule below); two 4-5-page formal essays; a large research project, which will begin with a 1-page proposal and annotated bibliography, and conclude with a 6 to 8-page formal research paper; three 50 minute in-class exams; a final exam; a series of short, informal writing assignments; and in-class informal assignments which may include reading quizzes. Your attendance and participation in class will also affect your grade. In fact, much of the course work cannot be completed if you are not in class.

• 2 out-of-class analytical essays (4-5 pages), revised and resubmitted with all drafts after editing sessions (10% each=20% of final grade).
• 1 research proposal (1-page) plus annotated research bibliography (5%)
• 1 research essay (6-8 pages) (20%).
• 3 in-class essays (5% each=15% of final grade)
• Department final (20%)
• Several non-essay assignments: class participation, writing workshops, quizzes, conferences, library activities (20%)

• Out-of-class essays must use the MLA format, be word-processed, free from mechanical errors, double-spaced, and printed in "best quality" using a standard 12-point font and one-inch margins.
• All essays must be completed and turned in for a student to pass the class.
• Simply turning in every assignment will not assure a passing grade?quality counts!
• Participation in class peer editing is mandatory in order to receive an "A" on any out-of-class essay. Full participation requires a completed, word processed essay (includes an introduction, a well developed body with appropriate support and a conclusion) and attendance. You will not be given any credit if your essay does not meet these minimum requirements.

WRITING CENTER
After the diagnostic exam in the first week, a number of English 1B students will be referred to the Writing Center where they will enroll in the 2L class. Regular attendance of 2L courses will be necessary for the successful completion of the 1B course. Any student is welcome to request a referral if he/she would like extra help with any aspect of writing.

FINAL EXAM
The mandatory department final exam for all English 1B students will be given on Saturday, December 4 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. All students who normally work on weekends must arrange now to be available on this exam date.

GRADING POLICY
The following statement has been adopted by the English department for inclusion in all greensheets:

The department of English reaffirms its commitment to the differential grading scale as defined in the official SJSU catalogue ("The Grading System"). Grades issued must represent a full range of student performance: A = excellent; B = above average; C = average; D = below average; F = failure. Courses graded according to the A,, B, C, No Credit system shall follow the same pattern, except that NC (No Credit) shall replace D or F. In such classes, NC shall also substitute for W (Withdrawal) because neither grade (NC or W) affects studentsí GPA.

• A = Excellent: The "A" essay is well organized and well developed. The paper has good topic sentences and is virtually free of grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. Besides a clear and persuasive use of evidence and fluid transitions, an "A" essay contains a fresh insight which teaches the reader something new about the subject matter and maintains the reader's interest.
• B = Above average: The "B" essay demonstrates a good understanding of its subject, a clear and persuasive use of evidence, a certain level of ease of expression, and solid organization. However, it may contain some minor problem with mechanical flaws, organization, sentence variety, or analysis. It usually lacks the spark of originality and creativity that characterizes the insight found in an "A" essay.
• C = Average: The "C" essay makes a good attempt at all the assignment's requirements. It has a reasonable understanding of its subject matter but its ideas are frequently simplistic or over-generalized. The writing style is also more bland and repetitive than the style shown by "A" and "B" essays and it often contains a large number of flaws in grammar, punctuation, spelling and/or word choice.
• D = Below average: The "D" essay is poorly organized and generally unclear. It has inappropriate or inadequate examples, is noticeably superficial or simplistic, or contains serious mechanical and grammatical problems. A "D" essay may also reveal some misunderstanding of the assignment requirements.
• F = Failure: An "F" essay has not addressed the requirements of the assignment and is unacceptable work.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
The misrepresentation of another's work as one's own, whether the original work is published or not, is plagiarism and will result in a failing grade. The incident will also be reported to the dean of students for possible further action. All quotes must be enclosed in quotation marks or, when more than three lines, put in an indented block. Full citation of the original author and source must also be included. Copies of SJSUís Policy on Academic Dishonesty are available in the office of the Dean of Student Services.

SCHEDULE
The following reading schedule may be slightly modified during the course of the semester, but students will be notified of any change at least one class day in advance. The pages on which you will find the daily reading assignments are listed in parentheses. You must attend class regularly in order to receive directions for the almost daily written assignments which will accompany the daily reading assignments. Extended descriptions of the four formal papers will also be distributed in class.

                            WEEK                         TUESDAY                                                  THURSDAY