WHAT TO EXPECT

• To talk about how learning and academic skills mastery feels in your mind, body and heart.
• To move around in and beyond the classroom, a lot.
• To attend class regularly, be on-time and ready to work*.
• To attend class regularly, be on-time and ready to play*.
• To interact with other students, a lot.
• To shape the classroom environment with your questions and experiences.
• To regularly take risks as a reader and writer.
• To gain concrete skills that will strengthen your identity as a reader and writer.
• To explore the meaning of and help define our class theme (more on this later).

INSTRUCTOR CONTACT INFORMATION

Kimberly Smith, Instructor

REQUIRED TEXTS

(available in the bookstore)

SUPPLIES

(available in the bookstore and

stationary stores)

• Rules of Thumb, available in the bookstore.
• True Notebooks, by Eric Saltzman, available in the bookstore.
• A college level dictionary.
• A non-fiction book as decided by class members, which will be available in the bookstore.
• Various readings as distributed by the instructor.

• Two scantrons, form no. 882-E (available in the bookstore)
• Large blue-exam book (available in the bookstore)
• Floppy disc, rewritable cd or jump drive for saving word processing documents
• Notebook & writing pens
• Highlighter pens
• Packet of 5” by 7” index cards (very important!)
• A manila folder for submitting essays

LEARNING OUTCOMES

GRADING INFORMATION

Each class is worth 1000 points based on the following percentages

* Regular attendance directly correlates with student success.  Missed in-class assignments and quizzes cannot be made up. No late individual homework assignments are accepted. Larger assignments (packets and essays) are accepted at the discretion of the instructors and are subject to a lowered grade. If you miss four or more classes, you will be dropped from the course. It is your responsibility to formally drop yourself through the Registrars Office. Important note: Because this is a learning community, you must stay enrolled in both classes.

ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE

Unless otherwise indicated, assignments are due at the beginning of class.

IMPORTANT NOTES ABOUT THIS LEARNING COMMUNITY & GAVILAN COLLEGE

Role of the Writing Center:

The Writing Center, which is in the library building, room 120, serves the campus community by fostering, celebrating and encouraging writers and the varied and multiple purposes and audiences that writing serves.

Specially trained student Writing Assistants offer free one-on-one consultations about all kinds of writing assignments (including the essays you’ll write for this class) on a drop-in and by appointment basis. In the center you can also find computers and free printing.

The center is open Monday-Wednesday 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Thursdays from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. (closed Thursdays 2:30-4:30 p.m.) and Fridays 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

Plagiarism:

Plagiarism is using someone else’s ideas and words without giving proper credit or documentation. An act of plagiarism or cheating could result in an “F” for the assignment, zero credit for the assignment, losing credit for the course, or suspension from the college. 

Copying homework assignments from a classmate is both cheating and a form of plagiarism. Using information from the internet or from a print source without citing it and claiming someone else’s ideas and/or words as your own is also plagiarism and a serious offense. 

Always do your own work. See pages 40-42 and in the 2003/05 Gavilan College Catalogue for the “Academic Honesty Policy” and “Rules of Student Conduct.”

Campus Advisories: 

Students requiring special services or arrangements because of hearing, visual, or other disability should contact their instructor, counselor, or the Disabled Student Services Office.