Course Syllabus

Overview

The following syllabus contains much of the basic information about the course: what the course is about, what assessments you will be expected to submit, and so forth. Much of the information is repeated in the first module, so feel free to bounce back and forth between this page and those in that module. Note: Pay particular attention the the relative weight of assignment chart, which is on the top left of this page, below the calendar. And also pay attention to the calendar of assignments below the syllabus, which will give you a really good sense of what is actually due each day. Many students get confused about the point system, for instance: since different categories or work are "weighted" differently, not all points are created equal! Keep that in mind as you plan your time: it is much more worth your while to turn in a major essay, for instance, than to do an individual discussion post. 

 

About Your Instructor

Hi all, my name is Dr. Glenn Keyser and I have been teaching in the English department here at Solano College since 2005. I went to UC Santa Cruz as an undergraduate and received my PhD in English from U.C. Davis in 2003. I'm married, have two children, and one cat. If I'm not teaching writing and reading I'm probably out hiking at Pt. Reyes National Seashore or down in the Santa Cruz mountains. I have a variety of other interests, however, including art, architecture, urban design, old books, and astronomy. I like to go to thrift stores and find valuable old books. I even once found a book printed in 1632 in a local thrift store!  I can't draw to save my life. 

 

Instructor Contact information

• Email Address: canvas conversations/inbox tool preferred, but also gkeyser@solano.edu

• Text Number: 707-980-2861 (text me anytime!)

• Office Hours: 1 - 2 pm every Wednesday. Place TBA. 

Basic Course Information

The following is the basic technical information you need to know about the course:   

• • • Course Title: English Composition
    • Course Number: English 1
    • Section Number: 10183
    • Class Meeting Times: MW 9 - 10:50 am in Classroom 701 in building 700  on the Main Campus. 
    • Co-requisites: LR10. LR10 is a library science course that teachers you the basics of research—how to tell if a source is credible, how to find sources, and how to integrate sources into your papers. More detail on LR10 will be provided to you in the first module and by your LR10 instructor. There is a separate Canvas shell for LR10, so make sure you locate that as soon as possible if you haven't already done so. 

Course Description

The following is the course description from the official Solano Course Catalog: 

"This college-level course will help you to develop your critical reading, thinking and writing skills—skills that are essential for future success! Students read essays and articles dealing with multi-cultural issues and current events, and write effective thesis driven essays which synthesize these readings. Students will produce at least 5,000 words of formal, final draft writing that draws upon the assigned readings as well as articles that students have researched on their own.  Students will also read, analyze and write about one book-length work." 

It is important to clarify that while the focus of the course is on college-level reading, thinking, and writing skills, it is also essential that you master the basics of format, research, and sentence-level work as well, and so some time will be devoted to these subjects as well. However, English 1 is not focused on grammar or sentence-level errors, so if you feel (or I determine) that you are having trouble in these areas, we should get together via ZOOM or by phone or at office hours to discuss the matter and come up with an personalized "action plan." I'm happy to help! 

 

Course Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) 

According to the official Solano College course description, a student should be able to have mastered the following skills upon completion of this course: 

Course Content Outline

To achieve these objectives, you will be required to do the following: 

• Read approximately 50 - 100 pages per week, including both course readings and online instructional material. 

• Write a variety of essays, include argumentative and synthesis essays. 

• Engage in a variety of hands-on activities

• Engage with the class in a variety of interactive activities, including course discussions. 

• Engage in the writing process, including revision and peer review. 

In order to do all of this in only 16 weeks, you will likely need to spend a total of about 8-12 hours per week. Please manage your time accordingly, and make sure that you don't take too many units this semester! Please see me and/or make an appointment with a counselor if you wish to discuss time management in more detail. 

1. The three major unit essays major unit essay assignments will, combined,  make up 50% of your final grade. Each of these assignments includes a detailed prompt, either a suggested or a mandatory outline, and a rubric. Both the prompt and the rubric need to be followed carefully if you want a solid or exemplary grade. Typically I will give you both marginal and rubric comments in addition to an "overall" or "end" comment, and all three are designed to allow you to revise for a higher grade if you desire. Please contact me about this for more details. Please make sure that you know how to access all three of these on Canvas, which can be difficult. For instance, often students trying to access marginal comments through a hand-held device have trouble seeing marginal comments. 
2. Hands-on activities and discussions account for an additional 20% of your grade. Typically a short rubric or at least clearly grading criteria will be included with these assignments as well, detailing why points will be deducted. In general, however, submissions that that meet the minimum word counts for the assignment and that follow directions will receive full credit, even if there are some 'mistakes.' For that reason, it is particularly important that you remember to look at my feedback on hands-on activities: just because you got full credit does NOT mean you got everything right! 
3. The midterm, which will include both a multiple-choice section and a reflective essay prompt. 
4. The final exam, which will also include a multiple-choice section and an essay. The first will be done online as a multiple-choice test and will be graded automatically as soon as you finish.  Combined, the final and midterm make up 20% of your final grade. 
5. Finally, most modules include graded multiple-choice quizzes at the end and, combined, these quizzes account for the final 10% of your grade. Unlike the midterm and the final, however, there will be no extra credit to help you boost your score on these exams, although I will allow multiple attempts on some quizzes (such as the first one!). 

 

Attendance, Log-in, and Participation Policy

It is expected that you will participate regularly and thoughtfully in the course, both coming to class regularly and logging on to the canvas shell on average average 5-6 times a week at least and for a minimum of about 8-12 hours per week. You are expected to turn in assessments regularly, and If you miss several in a row, I will contact you. If you continue to miss, I might conclude that you are no longer interested in taking the course and may drop you. So if you find yourself in that situation, please make sure to stay in regular contact with me via text or email so I will not do so. 

 

Instructor Initiated Contact Policy

I promise that I will contact you frequently and in a variety of ways. First, of course, through our twice weekly in-person meetings. Also, I promise to provide you with timely feedback on assignments and to contact you if an assignment needs redoing. 

Note: instructors are allowed up to two weeks to turn back assignments, but my goal is to get most assignments back within one week and, if possible, sooner. 

Also, I will be making frequent announcements, at least two per week and often more, in which I

• Provide feedback about course assignments

• Remind the class of upcoming critical assignments

• Announce corrections / changes in the syllabus

• In some cases, share a story  in the news that is relevant to the course.

Finally, I will try to contact you regularly through the Canvas conversations / inbox tool, especially if there is an ongoing issue that we need to discuss, such as trouble keeping up with assignments. 

 

Student Initiated Contact Policy

It is your responsibility, and in your best interest, to contact me regularly throughout the semester. You can do this in a variety of ways: through the Canvas conversations / inbox tool, by text at 707-980-261, or by participating in our weekly ZOOM meetings or through appointments. Please contact me especially if you have any questions about your grade or about an upcoming assignments, but I encourage you to contact me just to say hi ... I know we are all feeling isolated during this strange period! Please remember that I am happy to answer texts within 1 or 2 hours when you send them from 9 to 6 on week days, and often in the same time frame at other times of day or on weekend. Note, however, that I may take more time to return texts if sent at night or on Saturdays.  

 

Student to Student Contact Policy

Part of any good class is student-to-student contact. We will achieve this in a variety of ways, including through small group work and larger discussions in class, as well as through some collaborative work online. 

 

Class Workload Expectation

Be prepared for about 8-12 hours of work per week in this course. A three unit "lecture" course, by virtue of what is known as the Carnegie Unit (Links to an external site.), mathematically establishes a standard the amount of work expected from a student (and the instructor) in any college-level course. California state law upholds this, see California Code of Regulations, Education Code, Title 5, Section 55002.5. (Links to an external site.)

Table shows calculation of number of hours per week to be spent on class.

Type of Unit	Units	x Hours Per Unit	Total Hours
Lecture	3	x 16	= 48
2 hours homework per hour of lecture	3	x 36	= 108
		Hours of work per term	= 162
		/ number of weeks	= 16
		Hours of work per week	= about 8-12

 

Critical Administrative Dates

The following are the most important administrative dates that you need to know for this course: 

• • January 16 - Classes start
  • January 16 - March 12 first 8-week session 
  • February 16-February 19 - Presidents Holiday Weekend (No Classes; Campus Closed)
  • March 13-14 - Optional Flex Days (No Classes, Campus Open)
  • March 15 - May 16 - second 8-week session
  • April 8-14 - Spring Break (No Classes; Campus Open 4/8-4/11, Closed 4/12-4/14)
  • May 17-23 - Finals Week 
  • May 28 - Faculty Grade Submission Deadline 5 PM

Note that once the section begins, students may only enroll with instructor permission. Please see me about getting an "add code" if you wish. A "W" stands for "withdrawal"—so that in place of the usual A - F letter grade, the letter "W" will appear on your  academic record, including transcripts. See a counselor or me for more details. 

Also note: While I strive to make the information above accurate, there may be errors—so it is your responsibility to double-check the information by visiting the Solano College website calendar. 

 

Critical Course Due Dates 

The following are important academic / course dates that you need to remember for this course: 

• Official Start of the Semester:  Tuesday January 16

• Actual First Day of Class: Wednesday January 17

• First Major Essay:  Wednesday March 13

• Second Major Essay Due: Wednesday April 3

• Midterm Exam:  Monday April 15

• Final Major Essay Due: Monday May 13

• Final Exam: Wednesday May 22

Note: These dates are tentative and are subject to change as necessary. You will be given plenty of notice if this is required, however. Also, I will never move a date "forward" so that it is sooner than it appears initially in Canvas and on this syllabus. I will only provide you with more time on assignments, if I deem it necessary. I practically guarantee that this will happen at least once over the course of the semester. 

Required Books and Materials

My goal is to keep the cost of books down for this course as much as possible. For that reason, I will only be requiring that you buy the following full-length book:

• Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, by Matthew Desmond and published by Broadway books in 2016. 

The book should be available online and is modestly priced. 

In addition to these books, you will need regular access to the Internet, which I recommend doing by laptop, tablet, or desktop computer as much as possible, as accessing course materials via phone can sometimes be difficult. That said, you obviously need to make your own decision on this point. 

 

 

Overview

Many students don't take full advantage of all of the wonderful resources available to them. Below are short descriptions and links to more information about how to access some of the best of these. Please read this section carefully and take notes! 

 

The Solano College Library / The SCC Digital Library 

The Solano College LibraryLinks to an external site. is not just a place where you can go to check out books. The library gives you access to a variety of services that you will likely find useful over the course of your college career. These include: 

• Printing services 

• Research Assistance

• Films on Demand

• E-Magazines

• Quiet Study Space

Please visit the website for more detail, or talk to me. I am happy to walk you over to the library and introduce you to the librarians! :-)  Also, be aware that you can access the SCC digital library directly through Canvas, in the course navigation bar to the left on your screen. 

 

The Academic Success and Tutoring Center (The ASTC) 

 The Academic Success and tutoring centerLinks to an external site. provides a variety of services, including: 

• Online tutoring

• In-person tutoring

• Access to NetTutor

Critically, the ASTC now has weekly hours not only on the main campus, but at the satellite campuses in Vacaville and Vallejo. Please visit the ASTC websiteLinks to an external site. for more details. 

Also, be aware that both the ASTC and NetTutor can be accessed through the course navigation bar, to your left on the Canvas page. 

 

Basic Needs Resources

The Basic Needs CenterLinks to an external site. connects SCC students without access to food, clothing, housing, technology, transportation, childcare, and other essential needs to college services and community resources, including:

• Free Food Pantry, Clothes Closet, and Resources

• Housing Assistance and Referrals

• Emergency Assistance

• Health & Well-Being for Students

You can reach  the director, Christina Rodriguez, directly at (707) 863-7839 or visit theBasic Needs websiteLinks to an external site. for more details. 

 

 Academic Counseling 

Academic counselingLinks to an external site. services are available by appointment and by "express." Please visit the website or use one of these methods to get yourself started: 

• Email (counseling@solano.edu): best for petitions, pre-requisite clearances in which documents are needed to be reviewed (please include the reason you are emailing, your name, Solano Student ID #, and phone number)
• Phone (707-864-7101):   best for quick questions on transfer, deadlines, and guidance for choosing one course (please be ready to provide your name, Solano Student ID #, and call back phone number)

 

SOLANO COLLEGE MISSION AND LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Mission Statement

Solano Community College’s mission is to educate a culturally and academically diverse student population drawn from our local communities and beyond. We are committed to student learning and achievement and to helping our students achieve their educational, professional, and personal goals. Solano transforms students’ lives with undergraduate education, transfer courses, career-and-technical education, certificate programs, workforce development and training, basic-skills education, and lifelong-learning opportunities.

Land Acknowledgment

We should take a moment to acknowledge the land on which we are gathered. For thousands of years, this land has been the home of Patwin people. Today, there are three federally recognized Patwin tribes:

• Cachil DeHe Band of Wintun Indians of the Colusa Indian Community
• Kletsel Dehe Band of Wintun Indians
• Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation

The Patwin people have remained committed to the stewardship of this land over many centuries. It has been cherished and protected, as elders have instructed the young through generations. We are honored and grateful to be here today on their traditional lands. Approved by Yocha Dehe Tribal Council (July 23, 2019)