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

Saddleback English syllabus assignments:

• 5-6 essays, ranging from

4-6 pages in length.

• Minimum of 20 pages of

writing assignments.

• Timed in-class writing

exams. CSU, Fullerton English syllabus assignments:

• 4 essays, ranging 3-6

pages in length.

• Reading quizzes.
• Journal writing.

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 200 Fundamentals of Composition 4 units

ENG 300 Beginning Writing 3 units + .25 unit lab ENG 340 Reading Skills for College ESL 350 Advanced Academic Skills

ENG 390 Introduction to College English (accelerated) 4 units

How to Improve Your Placement

• Retest after three months.
• Writing Sample Appeal (this appeal is

final).

• Summer Refresh: 2-Day Workshop over
• ne weekend.

College-Level Placement

English 1A

• At least 4 essays of up

to 6 pages in length.

• At least two in-class

essays, 4 double- spaced pages in length.

• Read a minimum of

200 pages of nonfiction material.

Principles of Composition I

English 1B

• Heavy emphasis on logic,

rhetorical devices, analytical/argumentative skills, and research.

• Assignments are derived

from themes and works in various disciplines and cultures.

• Write an argumentative

research paper of 8-10 pages

Principles of Composition II

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

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

• pportunities Saddleback College offers.