Practice Test #2

Boy oh boy, the chores on this here farm sure are hard. I work out here all day long and don't even earn a thousand dollars per week. The sun beats down and I can feel the sweat drip down my face. From dawn until dusk, I am out here hustling apple seeds. Then at the end of the day, when the sun go down, I finally got my rest. I dig a hole in the sand and, while thinking of all the work I did that day, calls it a day.

The hardest chore has got to be milking the cows. Sometimes, as I'm milking, the cow kicks me in the face. Then blood started gushing from my nose, and it gets mixed in with the milk. That means I have to throw out the milk; nobody wants blood in their milk. Also, one cow, Harry, always passes gas in my face. My face turning blue, while Harry is smiling.

After milking the cows I have to feed the chickens so they don't get too skinny. Although this is not a fun job. I always find something amusing while I'm doing it. For example my favorite chicken, Henrietta, will call the other chicken's names to distract them while she hogs all the best feed. One disadvantage however is that the coop stinks. I have to hold my nose the hole time I'm in there. But I don't pass judgement on them.

Another arduous chore are cleaning the pigs. They always insist on rolling around in the mud all day long, so when it comes time to clean them, they are very dirty pigs indeed. Usually I get my power washer and spray the pork out of them. It looks like they're in pain as I am spraying them but I think those squeals are squeals of pleasure, not of pain. By the time I'm done with them, they are squeaky clean.

Finally, I have to shear the sheep. There coats are snow white, and so I use the wool to make sweaters. Sweaters that will keep you warm in Antarctica. The sheep love the feel of the razor buzzing along their backs. They grin and they squeak with delight. Some even buy me gift certificates to say thank you.

Practice Editing Test #1.

Last night was a major drag. As I was pulling into my driveway after a long day of hard work, a cat jumped in front of my car and I couldn't stop in time. But I was so hungry that I didn't even look under the car to see if I ran it over. When I got inside, it looked like my house had been burglarized. The couch was overturned, and the HDTV was missing. Magazines and newspapers were strewn across the floor. Much to my relief, however it turned out that my pet gorilla, Harry, had gotten loose and went wild in the living room. When I asked him where he got the wad of cash he was holding, he grinned and tells me that he sold my HDTV on craigslist.

I went outside to cool down a bit and decide how I was going to punish Harry. Then, looking at the driveway, the cat napping on my hood. The funny thing about this cat now that I think about it was that it had a pink tail. That tail would make a fine fishing lure, I thought. So I took out my crossbow and that night I had cat stew. The stew, however, as it was cooking turned blue, and latter that night, up my stomach threw.

As Harry was tying flies in his den, I took out my cat tail and, instead of making a lure, fashioned the varmint's fur around my neck. What I would give to be king for a day, I thought. Suddenly, the police arrived at my door as I were talking to myself in the mirror. I heard there sirens and ran into the basement to hide all of the donuts. Hunkering over the stash of confectionery delights, I herd my stomach begin to growl like a tomcat. The cause being the cat stew.

Much to my surprise, the cops was not after me at all. Mr. Wilson, the guy next door, had died, and the sirens are from the ambulance. So I went outside and said to the driver "Tell me, sonny, how does this cat tail look around my neck?" With a dry and sly wink of the eye, the driver told me that I was crazy. That doesn't bother me, though. Ambulance drivers are the crazy ones. Just ask anyone who's seen them drive through an intersection and I bet he'll tell you the same.

After all the commotion wound down. I turned on Seinfeld, and Kramer was provoking a mail strike. I know this was Harry's favorite episode, so I called him into the living room. "Where did you get the TV?" he exclaimed. I told him that I used his craigslist cash to by a new one, but that was a lie. I had took his cash and put it into his college fund. The TV was Mr. Wilson's. He won't need it where he's going. Only one good thing that came out of last night.

Documentation.

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Syllabus

Syllabus for
Writing Skills III
Camden County College
Fall, 2008
Professor Flanagan

Contact Information:

Cell Phone: 609.605.8656 (please use only for emergencies)

Email Address: rflanagan@camdencc.edu

Office Hours: See me or email for appointment

Course Description:

This course provides students with the ability to write essays, to summarize readings and to respond to reading-based topics. At the completion of Writing Skills III, the student will write a well-developed essay that demonstrates adequate, thoughtful support of a controlling idea so that the student, on the first day of English Composition I, will read and write at the level of students placed directly into English Composition I.

Course Objectives:

1. At the completion of Writing Skills III, students will be able to write short essays comparable to those written on the first day by students placed directly into English Composition I. Because of the nature of writing and of our placement program, some of the course material covered in Writing Skills I and II will also be covered in Writing Skills III. These same subjects are frequently covered in English Composition I. Greater mastery, however, is required as students progress from one level to the next.

2. Students will be able to write clear, accurate, grammatically correct essays that show sufficient ability to state and support a position, to analyze, to exemplify ideas, and to summarize or paraphrase others’ published works, using appropriate references and avoiding plagiarism.

3. Students will be able to revise for clarity, consistency, coherence, and wordiness, and to proofread and correct errors in agreement, incomplete and run-on sentences, verb tense and form, pronoun reference, modification, spelling, and mechanics (punctuation and capitalization).

4. Students will be able to use acceptable manuscript form (for example, for margins, titles, spacing, deleting words and punctuation, and inserting words above carets).

Required Texts and Materials:
1. Armstrong, Donna, et al. Portfolios. 5th edition. McGraw-Hill: New York, 2004.
2. An IBM compatible, high density, formatted disk OR a USB flashdrive.
3. A notebook in which to take notes.
4. A folder in which to hold your essays.

Course Requirements and Percentages:

To pass Writing Skills III and move into English 101, you must pass the class with a C, pass the final portfolio, and pass the editing test at the end of the semester.

95% of your grade = essays, summaries, and grammar quizzes (not necessarily in chronological order)
1. Examples Essay
Essay using exemplification (p. 8, option 2: teacher-edited, reading-based)
2. Narrative/Descriptive Essay
Essay using narration (p. 9, option 2: teacher-edited, reading-based)
3. Division/Classification Essay
Essay on advertising (p. 14, option 2: teacher-edited, reading-based)
4. Definitive Essay
Timed essay (topic will be announced)
5. Cause and Effect Essay
Essay using cause and effect (p. 12, option 2: student-edited, general topic)
6. Comparative/Argumentative Essay
Essay using compare and contrast (p. 13, option 2: student-edited, reading-based)
7. Process Essay
Timed essay (topic will be announced)
8. Summaries (Together, they count as one grade)
9. Quizzes and Tests (Together, they count as one essay grade)

5% of your final grade = class participation (which includes worksheets)

Midterm Portfolio:
The midterm portfolio consists of one essay that, by mid-semester, you think best represents your writing ability. The portfolio will receive a grade of “Pass” or “Fail.” This grade will serve as your midterm exam and progress report.

Contents of the Midterm Portfolio:
1. A manila folder, labeled with your name, your instructor’s name, and your course’s name. (I will provide the folder, and the labels are in the back of your textbook.)
2. A cover letter, labeled.
3. One essay of your choice that you have written in this class, labeled.
4. The rough draft of the essay that you are submitting.

*All essays assigned up to this point must be turned in, graded, and handed back. You may not turn in a midterm portfolio if you have not completed all other work in this class

Final Portfolio
The final portfolio will be comprised of several pieces of writing that represent your accomplishments in Writing Skills III over the course of the semester. The portfolio will receive a grade of “Pass” or “Fail.” I will assign this grade in addition to your final letter grade in the course. Note: You cannot submit a final portfolio if you do not have a passing average.

Contents of the Final Portfolio:
1. A manila folder, labeled as before.
2. A cover letter, labeled.
3. One reading-based essay, labeled.
4. One peer-edited essay, labeled (the reading-based essay and peer-edited essay may be the same essay, in which case, you must include an additional essay to have a total of two revised essays).
5. One timed essay, labeled (revisions are not allowed on timed essays).
6. One optional essay, labeled.

Grading System for Essays:
A = Excellent (A+ = 98; A = 95; A- = 92)
This paper must have zero to few mistakes in grammar and/or punctuation, and must be free of awkward or wordy sentence structure. It must have a clearly stated thesis and be very well organized. Language should be creative and detailed (void of unsupported claims).

B = Good (B+ = 88; B = 85; B- = 82)
This paper will have few mistakes in grammar and/or punctuation and have very few spots of awkward or wordy language. It will be well organized and creative, with a clear thesis statement. Language will be mostly detailed.

C = Satisfactory/Fair (C+ = 78; C =75; C- = 72)
This paper will have noticeable mistakes in grammar and/or punctuation and may have several areas of awkward language. It will be organized in a rudimentary fashion and may have an unclear thesis statement. Language will be mostly general and may possess few concrete examples. It will lack essential creativity.

F = Unsatisfactory/Needs improvement (F = 60)
The following criteria (one or several in combination) may make your paper result in an “F”:
· Plagiarized essays (See my policy on plagiarism)
· Essays that do not meet format guidelines.
· Essays that do not meet length guidelines.
· Essays missing a thesis statement.
· Essays with serious organizational problems.
· Essays with serious errors in grammar, punctuation, and/or syntax.
· Essays that are confusing or offensive to a general readership.

Grading System for Final Grades:
0-69 F
70-79 C
80-89 B
90-100 A

Attendance:
Having one or two absences for legitimate reasons is understandable. Being absent four or five times (unless you are deathly ill or experiencing a family tragedy) looks bad and affects your class participation. Missing seven classes means that you have removed yourself from the class and that you have earned an NA (Not Attending) on your report card. Save absences for when you might truly need them; don’t waste them in the beginning of the semester. Please keep in mind that there is no such thing as an excused absence. You are allowed a certain number, period.

If you attend every class on time; stay awake during class; complete review sheets; and act respectfully during class, I will give you 100% for class participation.

First Missed Class: Excused
Second Missed Classes: Excused
Third Missed Class: Deduction of 10 points from class participation
Fourth Missed Class: Deduction of 15 more points from class participation
Fifth Missed Class: Deduction of 20 more points from class participation
Sixth Missed Class: Deduction of 20 more points from class participation
Seventh Missed Class: You earn an NA (Not Attending) as your final grade, and you must repeat the course
Falling asleep in class = one absence. You will lose 5 points from your class participation grade each time this happens.

Missing class on a day when homework is due does not mean that it’s OK to turn in that assignment late without penalty. Homework is due at the beginning of class, not afterward. If you don’t want a late penalty, then either attend class and submit homework on time or get to a computer to email the work before class starts. If the file is corrupt, scrambled, zipped or accidentally unattached, the assignment will be considered late. Every campus has a computer lab, and so do Kinkos stores.

Note: If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to see me about missed handouts and/or assignments.

If you do not show up on the day that the midterm portfolio is due, you will lose class participation points. If you do not show up on the day that the final portfolio is due, you will fail the class unless you can prove that a true emergency took place, preventing you from arriving. There are NO “make-up days” for portfolios.

Lateness:
Being a few minutes late once or twice is understandable; being late more than that is not, which is when each tardiness will equal half an absence. If you continue to arrive late, please withdraw from the course.

Missed Quizzes:
If you miss a quiz, you will have to wait until the “make-up” day at the end of the semester before you can take it.

Late Essays:
Do not wait until the last minute to write or type your assignments because if you do, you may discover that your printer is out of ink, that you have run out of paper, or that your computer has crashed, etc. These are unacceptable excuses for late work. Stock your house with extra paper and ink, save your work to a disk, and learn how to email your work to yourself. Create an emergency plan for what to do if a computer-related emergency occurs. This means using a computer on campus, at Kinko’s, or at a friend or family member’s house.

Essays submitted one class period late will be marked down ½ a letter grade (before any other deductions).
· Essays submitted two class periods late will be marked down an entire letter grade (before any other deductions).
· Essays submitted three or more class periods late cannot earn higher than a C (Other deductions might earn the paper a failing grade).
· If two weeks have passed since the due-date of a rough draft or final draft of an essay, that essay may NOT be submitted, and it will earn a zero.

Cheating:
If you cheat during a quiz or exam, you will get an automatic zero on the exam, which will hold enough weight to make you fail the entire course.

Plagiarism:
Plagiarism occurs when a person knowingly or unknowingly uses someone else’s words or ideas without giving credit to that person. Plagiarism is theft. If you use someone else’s words or copy someone else’s paper when you type essays for this class, you will earn a zero on the paper with no opportunity to redo it for credit. It is always immediately obvious when a student uses someone else’s words because English professors are trained to notice.

Use of Technology:

Cell Phones, Blackberry Devices, Etc: You may not use your cell phone or BlackBerry during class, and these devices may not be left on desk surfaces. If any student reads a text message, sends a text message, answers a phone call, makes a phone call, or flips open the phone to read menus, type, or surf the Internet, all students must take an immediate cell-phone quiz based on whatever topic I am covering. Moreover, all cell phones and BlackBerries must be set to SILENT or shut off completely.

Headphones and Bluetooths: Headphones and Bluetooths may NOT be left in any students’ ears, even if the student is not listening to music or talking on the phone. Headphones and Bluetooths left in ears will result in a loss of 10 class participation points for each occurrence as well as a headphone quiz.
Computers: You may not surf the Internet, type emails, or otherwise use the computer during class unless your teacher gives you permission. Each time a person clicks a mouse or otherwise uses the computer when not permitted, all students will have to take an immediate computer quiz on whatever topic the teacher is covering.

SAVING WRITING ASSIGNMENTS ON THE COMPUTER
If you are using Microsoft Word, you will not have to worry about saving your work in a special way. Simply save it as you normally would. If, however, you are using a Macintosh computer or if you are using Microsoft Works or anything other than Microsoft Word, you MUST save your work with file extensions of .rtf (rich text file). To do this, go to “File” and “Save.” When the save box opens, go to “Save as Type” and scroll down with the arrow until you see “rich text file.” Select this. Otherwise, you will not be able to access your work on computers at school.

Tutoring:
You may go to the Tutoring Center on the 3rd floor of Wolverton (the library). These services are free, so please take advantage of them.

Computer Lab:
There are several computer labs on campus, available to all students.

Additional Assistance:
Students who have a physical or learning disability and are entitled to a classroom accommodation must inform me and provide documentation from the Program for Academically Challenged Students (PACS). That office is here to assist and support you.

Schedule I

Writing Skills III
Professor Flanagan
Fall 2008
Schedule I: Sept. 3 - Oct. 22

PLEASE NOTE: This schedule is a tentative schedule of assignments; it is subject to change at any time.

Week One
Wednesday, Sept. 3:
Introduction to the course and each other.
Distribution of syllabi and schedules.
Introduction to the portfolio system of writing assessment.
Homework to complete by the next class:
1. Purchase the textbook and other materials for the class.
2. Read “An Introduction to Writing” on p. 74-89. You do not have to turn in the activities on those pages, but you would benefit from completing them on your own.
3. Read “Types of Essays” and “Rhetorical Patterns of Organization,” p. 6-7. Be prepared to discuss this information in class.

Friday, Sept. 5:
Discuss readings.
Five-paragraph essay structure.
Thesis statements and topic sentences.
Writing process.
Prewriting activity if time permits.
Homework to complete by the next class:
1. Read about the writing process on p. 94-107. You do not have to turn in the activities on those pages.
2. Read about introductions, conclusions, and titles, p. 160-166.

Week Two
Monday, Sept. 8:
Writing a summary: instructions and activity.
Reading-based essays: a brief introduction/essay structure.
MLA format.
Read and discuss "Dad" by Andrew H. Malcolm.
Homework to complete by the next class:
1. Type a one-paragraph summary of “Andrew H. Malcom." Be sure to follow the formatting instructions.

Wednesday, Sept. 10:
Due today: summary
Activities p. 107-115
Exemplification pattern.
Homework to complete by the next class:
1.Complete activities p. 114-120

Friday, Sept. 12:
Review homework.
Activities pg. 122-128.
Intro to subjects, predicates, fragments.
Time in class to create outlines for the Exemplification essay.
Time in class to draft the first essay.
Homework to complete by the next class:
1. Type your reading-based, Exemplification essay on someone who has influenced you. Proofread your work as if you are submitting a final draft. Do not just rely on SpellCheck. Read and edit carefully for typos and spelling mistakes. A lack of proofreading will pull down your class participation grade. Draft due Wednesday, Sept. 17.

Week Three
Monday, Sept. 15:
Quick review: Subjects, predicates and fragments.
Narration pattern.
Any questions about drafting Exemplification essay?

Exercises p. 132-134.

Myth quiz.
Homework to complete by the next class:
1. Study for a quiz on subjects, verbs, predicates.
2. Finish on Exemplification essay.

Wednesday, Sept. 17:
Due today: first (typed) draft of the Exemplification essay on influential person
Activities p. 137-138.

Look at students' essays and discuss problem areas.

Narration pattern review.

Homework to complete by the next class:
1. Read “The Professor is a Dropout” on pages 652-658.
2. Type a summary of “The Professor is a Dropout.”

Friday, Sept. 19:
Due today: summary of “The Professor is a Dropout”
Review summaries.
Activities #1 & #2 on pg. 462-463.
Activities p. 658-660.
Run-ons?
Homework to complete by the next class:
1. Activity #3 and #4 pg. 464-466


Week Four
Monday, Sept. 22:
Review and check HW.
Quiz on fragments.
Review mistakes in papers.
Review ROs. Quiz next week?
Homework to complete by the next class:
1. Activities #2, #3, and #4 starting on Pg. 477.

Wednesday, Sept 24:
Clarity and wordiness.
Homework to complete by the next class:
1. Work on typing the first draft of your Narrative essay. It is due Monday, Sept 29.

Friday, Sept. 26:
Hand back Exemplification Essay drafts.
Review mistakes.
Review HW from Monday.
Questions on Narrative essay?
Homework to complete by the next class:
1. Finish typing Narrative Essay.
2. Bring a magazine with ads to class.


Week Five
Monday, Sept. 29:
Due today: Did you remember to bring a magazine?
Due today: first (typed) draft of Narrative essay (on the influential person)
Discussion of “Propaganda Techniques in Today’s Advertising” (Magazine activity?).
Intro to Classification pattern.
Homework to complete by Wed., Oct. 8:
1. Complete Review Test One, Two, and Three on pages 470-472. For the first test, do NOT follow the directions in the book. Instead, follow these instructions: handwrite the entire paragraph LEGIBLY on a separate piece of paper (if I can’t read it, you lose points) while correcting the fragments as you go. Do NOT type it. No sentence should contain a fragment once you have finished writing the paragraph. To complete the exercise well, you should first review the chapter on fragments (p. 460-469). Do not forget to put your name on your paper and to label the homework with the correct page numbers. Due Friday, Oct. 3.

Wednesday, Oct. 1:
Organization and transitions.
Classification pattern? (if time)
NOTE: Final draft of Exemplification Essay due Oct. 10.
Homework to complete by the next class:
1. Activity #4 p.494

Friday, Oct. 3:
Review HW.
Review midterm portfolio requirements
Verbs: regular and irregular
Review Run-ons
Homework to complete by the next class:
1. Work on Classification essay. Due Monday, Oct. 13.
2. Verbs (regular/irregular) activity #4 p.494.

Week Six
Monday, Oct. 6:
Comma usage.
Discuss cover letters for portfolio.
Homework to complete by the next class:
1. Comma Review Test 1 and 2.

Wednesday, Oct. 8:
Review Narrative essays and hand back.
Homework to complete by the next class:
1. Work on the first draft of your Classification Essay (on propaganda techniques).

Friday, Oct. 10:
Progress reports.
Review fragments, commas, quotations.
Homework to complete by the next class:
1. Portfolio
2. RD Classification Essay.
3. Page 578 both review tests due Wed. Oct. 15.

Week Seven
Monday, Oct. 13:
Due today: first (typed) draft of your Classification Essay on propaganda
Write cover letters in class.
Homework to complete by the next class:
!. Review Tests 3 and 4 (commas) due Wed. Oct. 15

Wednesday, Oct. 15:
Due today: final draft of your Narrative essay (on the influential person)
Run-on sentences
Homework to complete by the next class:
1. Work on the final draft of your Classification essay (on propaganda techniques)
2. Due Friday, Oct. 17: Complete Review Test 2 and Review Test 3 on pages 484-485. For Test 2, you must write out the sentences, and for Test 3, you must write out the entire paragraph. Do NOT type your answers for either, and be sure to write LEGIBLY so that you do not lose points. Do not use only one method of correction in these tests. You must demonstrate your knowledge of all methods of correcting run-ons. To complete these exercises well, you should first review the chapter on run-ons (p. 474-482). Do not forget to put your name on your paper and to label the homework with the correct page numbers.

Friday, Oct. 17:
Due today: pages 484-485
Grammar Gremlins
Other punctuation marks
Homework to complete by the next class:
1. RT#1 on Other Punctuation Marks.

Week Eight
Monday, Oct. 20:
Timed Essay - Definitive
Homework to complete by the next class:
1. Revise the essay that you would like to submit in the midterm portfolio, and bring all drafts of it with you to the next class, including the final draft. Prepare portfolios.

Wednesday, Oct. 22:
MANDATORY ATTENDANCE
Due today: midterm portfolios!
Time to type cover letters
Distribution of the new schedule of assignments.