LAVC FALL 2017 K. Yegoryan 1

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WELCOME TO ENGLISH 103!

We will have a great journey exploring some major movements influential for the critical thinking and analytical reading!

Section # 25217 Instructor: Kristina Yegoryan Fall 2017 Email: yegoryk@lavc.edu Class Location: Hum 113 Office: Hum 121C (and LARC 229) Class Day/Time: Mon. & Wed.: 9:40am-11:05am Office hours: Mon. 2:00 - 4:00 Tues. 10:30am-12:30 Course Web: http://english103lavcfall17.weebly.com Tues. 3:30-4:30 at LARC 229 Course Description: English 103, Composition and Critical Thinking, is a 3 hour-lecture course, designed to help students develop critical thinking, writing and research skills beyond the level achieved in English 101. Students will read and critically evaluate (for meaning, purpose, strategy, and style) expository and argumentative essays from a variety of classical sources and multi-cultural perspectives and then use these essays as rhetorical models for their own writing assignments.

Prerequisite: Appropriate skill level demonstrated through the English placement process or satisfactory completion of English 101 with a grade of C or better. This course cannot be taken for Pass/No Pass.

Recommended Texts and Materials:

Title: A Critical and Cultural Theory Reader 2nd ed. Author/Editors: Antony Easthope and Kate McGowan

Publication Info: University of Toronto Press ISBN: 978-0-8020-3800-5

The book is available at LAVC Bookstore and on Amazon.com

You also need to read:

• Laura Bohannan’s “Shakespeare in the Bush” (scholar article) • Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” • Amy Tan’s "Two Kinds" • James Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues” And any other assigned readings posted on the class website.

You will need to watch a min of 2 movies from this list for critical analysis • Danny Boyle’s 2013 British psychological thriller Trance • Christopher Nolan’s The Prestige • Gary Ross’ The Hunger Games 1 (based on Suzanne Collins’s novel) • James McTeigue’s V for Vendetta • Neil Burger’s (or trilogy fiction by Veronica Roth) Divergent • Phillip Noyce’s 2014 The Giver (based on Lois Lowry’s book)

LAVC FALL 2017 K. Yegoryan 2

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Student Learning Outcome As a result of completing this course, students will be able to: 1. Write coherently organized analytical essays that demonstrate sound reasoning, the ability to clearly connect evidence to claims, advanced critical thinking

strategies, and an understanding of conventions of scholarly discourses.

2. Use critical thinking and advanced research skills to illuminate various political, social, ethical, and philosophical ideas.

Course Objectives/Students Expectations Each student writes his/her expectations for this course.

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Holidays and Important days

Sept. 8: Last day to add and audit Fall 2017 semester: Aug. 28- Dec. 17 Sept. 10: Last day to drop w/o ‘W’ Sept. 4: No class: Labor Day Nov. 23-26: No class: Thanksgiving Nov.19: Last day to drop with a ‘W’ Dec. 11: 9:40am -11:05am Final / The Last Day

Assignments and The Grading System

Grading: A separate list of the course assignments will be given. Alltheassignmentsaregradedwithpoints(p)andpostedonCanvas.Thetotallettergradeiscalculatedbasedonthepoints/%earnedfromtheassignments.

The FINAL Letter Grade is derived from the percentage: (% - % = letter grade) 90-100= A 80-89 = B 70-79 = C 60-69 = D Below 60=F Extra Credit possibilities will be discussed in class!

Student Success Strategies

Attendance, Participation, and Networking: Wewillhaveseveralgroupactivitiesanddiscussionsinclassthatwillhelpdevelopcooperativenetworkingskillsandastrongstudentagency.

Special Circumstances and Disability Statement: Foranyacademicaccommodationpleaseseemeafterclassorduringmyofficehourstodiscussthenecessaryarrangements.Forsupportservices,specializedinstructions,additionaltimefortests,andothereducationalaccommodationsneededforyouracademicsuccesscontactServicesforStudentswithDisabilities(SSD)at8189472681.

Academic Honesty Policy/ Plagiarism: Studentsareexpectedtoabidewithethicalstandardssetforthbytheinstitution.SeeLAVCScheduleofClasses:StudentConductandDisciplinaryAction.Plagiarism istherepresentationofexpressionofideasfrompublishedorunpublishedwork(s)aswellasfrominternetsitesorfromothers(otherstudents)asone’sown.Studentsareencouragedtocitethesourcestoavoidplagiarism.Note:CheatingandPlagiarismwillnotbetolerated.Studentssuspectedofviolationwillbewarnedandreferredtoacademicaffairsforpossiblesuspension.

PLEASE KNOW THAT I’M HERE TO HELP YOU SUCCEED!