English 101: Freshman English

Rereading Los Angeles

In this class, you are going to be developing your critical thinking skills by closely examining texts and ideas. What better place to start than somewhere close to home? Los Angeles is both a city and a concept, consisting of multiple cultures, stereotypes, misconceptions, untold or forgotten histories, and all the people trying to navigate through these conflicting messages. People around the world are fascinated by L.A., thanks to its representations in film, music, and other forms of media. In order to critically examine this complicated city, we must look beyond the hype in order to understand where these myths about L.A. come from, and what we can do to excavate the truths and realities of “La La Land.”

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Course Description:

English 101 is a foundation course in critical reading and writing skills required of those students intending to transfer to a university. Through their reading and discussion of selected prose works, students learn to identify problems, examine possible solutions, recognize unstated assumptions and values, appraise evidence, evaluate arguments, draw inferences, and test conclusions. Through their writing, students learn to analyze, synthesize, organize information logically, and propose original ideas. Students also receive instruction in research and MLA documentation and are required to complete a fully documented research paper.

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Instructor Contact Information:

Instructor Name: Joanna Parypinski

Contact Phone: (818) 240-1000 ext. 5516

GCC Email: jparypin@glendale.edu OR click on "Inbox" in Canvas

Office Hours: By appointment

• You can make an appointment with me to meet in person in my office (SV 216) or set up a time to chat online, which will be conducted using "ConferZoom" in the links on the left-hand side of our course in Canvas.

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Introduction: 

I am looking forward to working closely with you this semester and you can expect me to play an active role in the course. I will post announcements every week, join you in weekly class discussions to help you understand course concepts and facilitate class conversations, and provide detailed feedback on major assignments. Please reach out to me if you need help—that’s why I’m here!

About the Instructor

I am an English instructor, genre fiction fanatic, cellist, and writer. I received my MFA in creative writing from Chapman University and began teaching at GCC in 2014. In my non-teaching life, I am a writer with work published in the horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction genres. My short fiction has appeared in publications such as Black Static and Nightmare Magazine, and my recent novel Dark Carnival was published this year. In my free time, I play cello in the GCC orchestra. I love to discuss reading and writing, so don't hesitate to reach out for a chat!

If you ever have any questions, please email me through Canvas by clicking on "Inbox" on the left side of your homepage. Click on "Compose a new message", select this course and then select "Teachers" under the "To" field and you will find my name, Joanna Parypinski. This is email inside Canvas :-) I am not supposed to receive any personal email... Canvas email only, please! I will respond to your email within 24 hours, M-F. If you do not hear back from me within this time, please assume I did not receive your email and resend it.

Remember, confusion is normal! If you need anything, please reach out to me. I am here to guide you through this exciting course journey!

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About Your Class: 

• This course is 100% Online: We will not meet on-campus for any reason.
  
• This course will officially begin on June 17 and end on July 18.
• Check-In Assignment: Welcome to My Neighborhood within the "Student Getting Started" Module - Due Thursday at 11:59pm (Not submitting this assignment will result in a permanent drop from this course by the instructor).

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Log into Your Class: 

LMS – Canvas:

• You will be using the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) for your Online Learning Environment. 
• Contact me immediately if you are unable to log-in for any reason: jparypin@glendale.edu

How to Log into your Class:

• Your class will be accessible in Canvas starting on the first day of the term. You will not be able to access your course in Canvas before this date unless otherwise notified by the instructor.
• Click on Canvas Log-in – Notice the help materials that available below the log-in sign.
  
• Use your GCC Student ID number as Username; use your initials in caps followed by @ followed by your six-digit date of birth (mmddyy) as the password - for example, the password for John Smith born January 23, 1990, would be JS@012390. You will be asked to change your password the first time you log-in.
• You should now see your class on your Canvas Dashboard for access.

Student Technical Support:

• Go to Student Tech Support if you are having Canvas tech issues
• Student Canvas Questions ONLY: 24/7 Assistance at 1-844-600-4951
• Student Support through Live Chat
• Student Support On-Campus (SM 266)
• Student Canvas Guides
• Student Distance Education Success Tips

Browser Compatibility:

• I highly recommend using the most recent version of Google Chrome or Firefox as your browser to make sure everything works correctly in Canvas.

Set-Up Notifications:

• Set up your notification preferences if you would like to know when discussion posts are made, messages are sent to your GCC email or Announcements are posted.

Turn-On Auto-Save Text:

• For Chrome: Typio Form Recovery automatically saves text as you type and lets you easily recover input data in case of loss. You are in full control of which sites auto-save is enabled on and how long the input is saved. Typio is lightweight and secure, your data never leaves your computer.
• For Firefox Mozilla: Form History Control manages form history entries (search, edit, cleanup, export/import) and easy text form-filler. Auto-save text entered in any form while typing to allow fast recovery when disaster strikes.

Using the Canvas App on your Phone:

• Download Student App

Help with Online Learning:

• If you are new to online learning or overwhelmed or confused, all the help you need is under the Get Started icon on the Student GCC DE page.
• Are you new to Canvas? Here is a short Canvas Tour

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Student Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• Critically read materials from a variety of perspectives in order to draw logical interpretive conclusions based on textual evidence.
• Write thesis-based essays that demonstrate critical thinking skills through a variety of rhetorical and analytical strategies appropriate to the academic context, and that incorporate appropriate tone, style, evidence, and semantics.
• Prepare an essay organizing, synthesizing evaluating, and applying research materials, employing quotation, paraphrase, and summary as effective means of support and using proper documentation and format.

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Course Content:

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Textbook(s):

• A People's Guide to Los Angeles by Laura Pulido, Laura Barraclough, and Wendy Cheng
  UC Press, 2012
  ISBN: 978-0520270817
• LAtitudess: An Angeleno's Atlas edited by Patricia Wakida
  Heyday, 2015
  ISBN: 978-1597142977
• Select readings posted on Canvas
  
• Writing at GCC: Writer's Handbook on Canvas
• Glendale Community College Bookstore Website

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Course Assignments:

Important Dates

The due dates for your assignments can be found in the Calendar in the global navigation links at the top of your screen. Please review these.

Weekly Assignments

Each week you will need to complete the following:

• Read the weekly lesson(s).
• Post in the twice-weekly Discussion Board by the dates indicated on each discussion.
• Respond to two other students’ posts in the Discussion Board by Sunday at 11:59pm.
• Complete the lesson assignments in each course lesson by the dates indicated on each assignment.

Grading Criteria:

Points Possible: 1,000

Grading Criteria Chart

Assignment	Points
Participation Activities Quizzes Discussion Board Responses	150 points 20 pts 80 pts 50 pts
Support Writing Reading Journal Outlines Research Prospectus Annotated Bibliography	150 points 100 pts 10 pts 10 pts 30 pts
Essay 1	100 points
Essay 2	200 points
Essay 3	300 points
Final Creative Assignment	100 points
Total:	1,000 points

 

Grading Scale Chart

Letter Grade	Points
A	900-1,000
B	800-899
C	700-799
D	600-699
F	599 and below

Assignment Rubrics:

In order to understand what is expected of you for each assignment, please check out the rubric -- a table that details the "tips for success" of each assignment and the benchmarks for success -- attached to each major Assignment for the grading criteria.

Course Grades:

You can view your grades using the Grades button in the course navigation links. Please check your grades regularly to make certain that I have received all your assignments. If you have a question about a grade, email me through the Canvas Inbox (left-side of your screen). Please do not post your personal concerns in a discussion forum.

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Submission Policy:

Plan for success! Submit your work by the requested due date and time. If you have an extenuating circumstance, please contact me by private message before the assignment is due to make alternate arrangements. Late submission of essays will receive a deduction equal to half a letter grade for each day the essay is late. Email submissions will not be accepted.

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Attendance/Participation/Refund Policies:

• DE Drop: A student must log into Canvas during the first week of an online/hybrid class and pass the Check-In Assignment in order to remain in the class. See Refund/Payment Policy for more information regarding course drops.
  • Any student that is added after the Sunday at 11:59pm deadline as a 'late add' student has until Census to complete the Check-In Assignment or be dropped.

• DE Participation/Attendance: If a student misses more than the equivalent of one week's worth of online assignments, they may lose credit for, or be dropped from, the course.
  • Students: Please refer to Student Rights in an Online and Hybrid Course if you have further questions regarding the expectations of your course and instructor.

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Important Notes:

Academic Honesty:

• It is expected that all work submitted for grading is original, not copied from others and that the work being graded is indeed done by the student who is receiving the grade. Cheating and plagiarism are serious violations of the student conduct code. Cheating or plagiarizing will result in a zero on the assignment or test and may result in other disciplinary action taken by the College. All incidents of cheating or plagiarizing are reported to the Dean of Students.

Students with Disabilities:

• All students with disabilities seeking accommodations are responsible for making arrangements in a timely manner through the Center for Students with Disabilities. Please let me know right away if you will need accommodations so we can pre-plan together.
• Please let me know if you have adaptive software and hardware to assist you with taking this course or if you have any specific needs of which I should be aware. You can find more information about Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS) or call the office at 818-240-1000 x5905.

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I hope you have a wonderful summer!

Be prepared to WORK HARD, to have FUN and to come with an open mind. Interactions and group activities will be conducted, so I expect respectful, constructive, mind-expanding, and high-energy attitudes.