ENGLISH 102, Section 201: College Reading

Fall 2020: ONLINE with mandatory synchronous class meeting on Zoom: Wednesdays, 1:45-3:05 PM
Instructor: Renato Escudero
Student Hours ("Office Hrs.") on Zoom: Mondays, 3:30-4:30 PM &
Wednesdays, 4:30-5:30 PM. Or, by Appointment.
Email: renato.escudero@evc.edu

“A word after a word after a word is power.”

-Margaret Atwood

Course Description & Objectives:

Welcome to the Academic Community of our College! This course will prepare you for extensive and
sustained academic reading in multiple disciplines. We will read literacy narratives, everyday texts, and
academic texts in mathematics, science, psychology/sociology, history, political silence and literature. You’ll
be given a big tool chest to take to your other classes, full of reading strategies but, more importantly,
replete with the experience that can only be acquired through immersion in reading and writing exercises.
Writing?! Why is there so much writing if this is supposed to be a reading class? There is no simple way to
answer this question, but it is my hope that you will see that learning and retention of knowledge will come
to you at a much faster and steadier rate if you practice writing about what you are reading. The quality of
the writing itself will not determine your grade, but all your writing assignments will help me to evaluate
your thinking process which, in turn, will help me to evaluate your reading process. A lot of the thinking
you’ll be doing in this “thinking class” will be in peer groups, so this thinking class is also a “social class.”
Together we’ll learn how to make you a better academic reader and a more powerful student.

Catalog Course Description:

English 102 enhances college reading skills and study techniques using academic materials in a variety of
disciplines such as the natural sciences, social sciences, humanities and business. Instruction includes literal
and interpretive comprehension, rate flexibility, vocabulary expansion, and beginning research. All students
in English 102 are strongly encouraged to complete a 0.5 unit of lab work per semester in the Reading Lab.
Concurrent enrollment in English 104 is recommended.

Required Materials:
• Reliable access to a computer, a printer, the internet, and an email account that you check regularly.
• Class Handouts & Electronic texts available on Canvas or the internet: You are required to annotate
these texts.
• We will be using Canvas for this course, so you will need access to a computer and Internet. Canvas is
also mobile-friendly and can be used on your phone or tablet through the Canvas Mobile App;
however, I strongly suggest that you do your assignments using a computer.
• Canvas works best on Chrome, a free web browser.
• Class readings will be available on Canvas as PDF files or on the internet.
• There are NO REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS for this class. You will be required to purchase two books, but
I’ll let you know all about that later. Don’t worry – they won’t be too expensive.
 EVC – ENGL 102-201 - Syllabus, Fall 2020 – Prof. Rew 2

Software:
• Word Processor: if you don’t have one, you can use a free word processing program, such as Google
Docs or LibreOffice, as long as you can save and upload your assignments as PDF files.
• PDF Reader: download this one for free: Adobe Acrobat Reader DC. You may already have a PDF
reader on your device, but this one will allow you to annotate freely and without restrictions. Since
you are required to annotate your readings, please get this one.
• You must check the email associated with your MyWeb account regularly, as I will be contacting you
via email often.

Grading:
• 25 %Participation and Weekly Assignments, including but not limited to: Discussion Boards,
Metacognitive Reading Logs & Triple-Entry Journals
• 20% Summary-Response & Reflection Papers
• 10% Letters to Teacher (Book Summary, Analysis, metacognitive reflection)
• 10% Quizzes
• 10% Midterm Exam: Student Curated Reading (Presentation & Report)
• 5% Book Club Presentation
• 20 % Final Exam
o Mark your calendars now - you must attend both Final Exam Sessions on Zoom:
M 12/14 & W 12/16, 1:45-3:05 PM

Course Requirements & Policies:

• Attendance & class participation are mandatory. Online attendance is not marked by your physical
presence in a classroom, but rather by your participation and engagement with the course activities
and assignments on Canvas and your attendance and participation during our mandatory
Zoom Videoconferencing class meetings on Wednesdays, 1:45- 3:05 PM.
• You may be dropped from the class if:
o You don’t attend our first mandatory class meeting on Wednesday 9/2, 1:45-3:05 PM and
Complete “Module 0: Getting Started” --by Friday 9/4, 11:59 p.m.
o Your absences to our mandatory class meetings on Mondays exceed two.
o You make no submissions on Canvas for two or more weeks.
o Please Reach out to me if you are having trouble. I am flexible and willing to work with you,
but you have to let me know what's going on.
• Peer Groups: On occasion, you’ll do activities in small groups, which depend on your timely
participation to be effective.
• Assignments: in order to complete most assignments, discussions, and activities, you will have to do
the readings first. Highlight or underline passages. Annotate your texts in the margins with
observations, questions, concerns. I expect you to practice Active Reading in this course.
o Be prepared to spend between 7-9 hours per week on this course
• Due Dates: It is your responsibility to turn in your assignments on time. If you’re falling a little
behind, it’s always better to turn in an assignment late than not at all. Most assignments will have a
grace period after a due date, but please be aware that your grade may be lowered for each
day/week late work is submitted. Certain assignments, like peer-reviews, exams, and presentations
cannot be submitted after the fact or made up. Activities and assignments given during our
Wednesday class meetings cannot be made up later.
 EVC – ENGL 102-201 - Syllabus, Fall 2020 – Prof. Rew 3

Course Requirements & Policies (Cont’d.):

• If you have an emergency that prevents you from turning in your work on time, please just talk to
me to work it out.
• Feedback: I will give you feedback on your work. On occasion, you’ll be asked to respond to my
feedback in writing. I welcome all comments and questions on my feedback (I never expect anyone to
use all of my feedback in a rewrite – part of the writing process is to decide which kinds of feedback
to use and which kinds to discard; this also applies to the feedback you’ll get from peers). There are
two main elements in feedback that you will get from me:
o Canvas Rubrics: Most assignments are set up with a Rubric. Be sure to go through the Rubric
to ensure you have completed the basic components of the assignment that I will be looking
for in your submission. When you are looking for your grades on most assignments (expect
for Essays and Final Portfolio), you will be able to see the point breakdown of your grade by
the rubrics' criteria.
o Comments: Then there are the overall comments or what I call "feedback"! I will not
comment on every assignment, only when I feel the need to say something.
• “Classroom” Culture & Etiquette: In this virtual classroom, you have the right to determine your
own identity. You have the right to be called by whatever name you wish. You have the right to be
referred to by whatever pronouns you wish. You have the right to adjust those things at any point in
your education. But I can’t accomplish this by myself, therefore:
o I would like each one of us to cultivate a learning environment in our class that supports a
diversity of thoughts, perspectives, and experiences, and that honors all our identities
(including race, gender, class, veteran status, sexuality, religion, ability, etc.). With this in
mind, let’s discuss what we all need in order recognize our own positions (including
unexamined biases), and take a careful look at other people’s ideas, experiences, and values.
▪ In short, be respectful and tolerant of all the people who share this classroom.
o During synchronous class meetings and student hours, please avoid engaging in disruptive
behaviors (such as but not limited to talking out of turn, making excessive noise, keeping your
mic on when you are not talking, showing inappropriate images on Zoom or on your
computer camera background).
o If you find that there are aspects of course instruction, subject matter, or class environment
that result in barriers to your inclusion, please contact me privately without fear of reprisal.
• Contacting me: You can reach me by email any time – if you haven’t received a response in 24 hours,
email me again. Important: The subject line of all emails must begin with “ENGL 102:” followed by
the purpose of the email. Send me a message to renato.escudero@evc.edu.
o Alternative email: Please Use the "Inbox" on left navigation menu. Response time will be
approximately 24 hours Monday-Friday. If you haven't heard back from me within 24 hours,
please email me again.
• Course Navigation: Start on the Homepage and then navigate the course via the Modules Page, as
the calendar and Dashboard on Canvas only give you highlights --never complete information. For the
most part, you will complete the Modules in order, one after the other, so stay on the Modules Page.
 EVC – ENGL 102-201 - Syllabus, Fall 2020 – Prof. Rew 4

When you’re in doubt about anything, please contact me. I am here for you.

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) per Official Course Outline

By the end of this ENGL 102, students will be able to:

1. Create a summary of a long reading passage from the assigned textbook or novel

2. Examine an author’s use of facts and opinions in a long reading passage

3. Evaluate the purpose and the tone of a long reading passage

4. Compare and contrast two major characters from the assigned novel

Academic Integrity

Evergreen Valley College values academic integrity. Students are expected to complete and submit their own work.
These values ensure that every student is graded fairly. Academic dishonesty is unethical and does not support
student learning.

Violations of standards include the following:

• Altering grades
• Altering or forging college documents, records, or identification
• Copying from someone’s test or allowing someone to copy your test
• Copying from an author’s work without giving credit (plagiarism*)
• Doing an assignment (e.g., a term paper or essay) for another student or asking, paying, bribing, or blackmailing
someone to do an assignment for you
• Sitting in for someone in class, or on a test, or having someone sit in class for you, if not authorized by the
instructor
• Submitting work previously presented in another class if not authorized by the instructor
• During an exam, using or consulting other test or course material not authorized by the instructor
• Possession of an examination or materials not authorized by the instructor

Consequences may include one or more of the following actions by appropriate college officials:

• Receiving a failing grade on the test, paper, or exam

• Course grade lowered, possibly resulting in course failure
• Verbal or written reprimand/warning
• Suspension for a longer specified time
• Expulsion from college

For more Information, go to: http://catalog.evc.edu/college-district-policies/standards-student-conduct/

*Any student who plagiarizes in this class will be reported to the administration and risk failing the course.
 EVC – ENGL 102-201 - Syllabus, Fall 2020 – Prof. Rew 5

Need Tech Help?

• Contact EVC's Campus Technology and Support Services : Mon-Thu, 7:00am-7:00pm & FRI, 7:00am -
5:00pm. Telephone: 408-270-6411 or email at ITSS.Helpdesk@sjeccd.edu.
• Or call the Canvas Support Hotline: EVC call 844-303-5596. support@instructure.com.

Student Support Services at EVC

• Visit Module 0.13 on our Canvas Page.

Disability Support Services

• This program offers many services to assist students with disabilities in achieving academic,
vocational, and personal success at Evergreen Valley College. But you need to register with them.
• For information about resources available for students with disabilities (including assistive
technology, accommodations, alternate media, tutoring, and counseling):
o Visit the Disability Support Program website.
o Main Contact: Margaret Faumui - Margaret.Faumui@evc.edu. Phone (408) 270-6447.

Important Dates

Last Date to Add: 09/13/20, 10:00PM

Last Date to Drop with Refund: 09/13/20
Last Date to Drop with no 'W': 09/13/20
Last Date to Drop with 'W': 11/23/20
Final Exam Sessions on Zoom: M 12/14 & W 12/16, 1:45-3:05 PM

It is your responsibility to drop the course.