English Writing 1A is a transfer level course which fosters maturity in critical reading, thinking, and writing. Students write analytical essays of five pages in response to assigned readings and learn strategies for enhancing reading comprehension, improving vocabulary, and creating a sophisticated, varied sentence style. In addition to these objectives, the web-based course will emphasize the acquisition of "netizen" skills in the use of electronic forms of communication such as the listserv, newsgroup, and MOO.
Placement based on English Placement Test scores or other equivalent assessment information or successful completion of assigned courses in basic reading and writing skills.
Mr. Sheftman holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Marist College in Poughkeepsie NY and a Master of Arts degree in English, specialization in the teaching of composition, from San Francisco State University. He works full time at De Anza College as a Disability Access Specialist, training persons with disabilities in the use of specialized computer technologies. He volunteers for a local non-profit organization which provides job training and placement services to youth with disabilities seeking high tech careers. He is married, and enjoys long evening walks with his wife and their nine-year old black labrador. His interests include tennis, writing, and politics.
From Thursday, April 6th to Thursday, June 22nd
Days/Hours: Thursdays, 12:30-1:30 PM
Phone/Voicemail: (408) 864-8430
FAX Number: (408) 864-8245
Office Location: Distance Learning Center, LCW-102
E-mail Address: das2192@tiptoe.fhda.edu
Home Page: http://www.sheftman.com/ewrt1a
Be prepared to spend a minimum of 20-25 hours each week studying course materials, working on assignments, and participating in class activities.
1. Attend the Orientation Meeting on Saturday, April 8th (attend either 10:00-11:20 AM or 11:30-1:00 PM), room S-34; OR complete the Online Orientation and submit the Student Information Form by 12 noon on Friday, April 7th. (Online Orientation may be found at: http://distance.deanza.fhda.edu/Orientation.html). Pre-registered students who do not attend the Orientation Meeting or complete the online orientation by the deadline will be dropped to make room for students on the wait list (see the Distance Learning Student Handbook for complete instructions for the online orientation).
2. Subscribe to the class listserv ASAP, no later than Monday, April 10th or you will be dropped from the class.
3. Complete all assigned readings in the course texts and materials.
4. Complete seven essays.
5. Complete ten assignments which are graded on a credit/no credit basis, consisting of reading quizzes, short writings, sentence exercises, etc.
6. Participate in class online activities.
1. Distinguish the diverse rhetorical forms of the discipline of composition.
2. Analyze texts from a wide variety of perspectives.
3. Examine relationships between personal life experiences and the material in the course texts.
4. Compare themes and ideas in several texts.
5. Evaluate points of view, development of arguments, and ideas in the texts.
6. Generate ideas and topics for essays.
7. Develop an awareness of audience.
8. Translate personal interests and experiences into formal analytical writing.
9. Formulate and defend a thesis.
10. Compose organized, focused, well-developed essays.
11. Use diction and tone appropriate to different purposes and audiences.
12. Employ diverse forms of personal and formal writing.
13. Practice writing as a process.
Purchase at the De Anza College Bookstore:
1. Muscatine and Griffith, The Borzoi College Reader, 7th ed.; McGraw-Hill, Inc.
2. Shermer, Michael, Why People Believe Weird Things
3. A list of URL's for electronic handbook/writing will be posted on the instructor's home page at
Pick up at the De Anza College Distance Learning Center (LCW-102):
1. Spring '2000 Distance Learning Student Handbook
Computer Hardware:
It is required that you have access to a computer that provides you with your own e-mail address and with which you can send and receive daily e-mail and browse the World Wide Web.
http://www.sheftman.com/ewrt1a
The instructor's home page contains instructional and assignment material for the course. The most updated information about assignment topics and due dates will be available there.
It is required that all students have their own personal e-mail address where they can send and receive messages daily. If you need an e-mail account, sign up with a free service like Rocketmail or Yahoo. Their addresses are:
http://www.rocketmail.com
http://edit.my.yahoo.com/config.form
The listserv for this class is moderated by the instructor and is used to talk about EWRT 1-A readings and assignments. All students are required to join the class listserv no later than Monday, April 10th. To join the listserv, go to the class home page and click on the "Subscribe to the listserv" link or "Join E Groups" button.
You will need to register for a free account with E Groups to become a member of the listserv; all information is confidential. Once you are registered you will send e-mail to the class list at this address: sheftman@onelist.com
Note: If your browser can't handle forms, or you experience other technical difficulties, please e-mail Mr. Sheftman.
If you drop or withdraw from the class, or if you want to change your e-mail address for the listserv, you must unsubscribe from the list. Go back to the http://www.onelist.com/subscribe.cgi/sheftman site, and follow the directions for unsubscribing or contact Mr. Sheftman for assistance.
E-mail Tip: If you haven't done so already, take the time to create a signature line in your e-mail software. A signature line contains your name and any other contact information you'd like to include in your e-mail messages (e-mail address, phone #, etc.). It is attached to the bottom of your e-mail messages automatically when you send them.
The current course calendar is available through the course Home Page or at this address: http://www.sheftman.com/ewrt1a/cal1a.html
Due dates for each written assignment are listed on the Course Calendar. When you e-mail your assignments to your instructor at das2192@tiptoe.fhda.edu, you may do so as attached files. If there is a problem with Mr. Sheftman receiving your attachments, he will email you to describe a different method of email delivery.
For critical information on how to succeed in the course in the completion of your writing and reading assignments, read and study the information on the Writing Tips link from the homepage of the course website or from the following web address:
http://www.sheftman.com/ewrt1a/tips.html
Graded work will be returned to students by e-mail.
Two of the ten credit/no credit assignments you do consist of reading quizzes taken on-line through a testing service offered by the University of Hawaii. Both quizzes will consist of multiple choice and possibly some True/False and/or short answer type questions. Do not neglect the new vocabulary words you encounter in the readings. Some of the quiz questions may ask you to identify the correct definition of words. Be sure that when you do your readings, you look up the definitions of those words with which you are unfamiliar. For more information on online quizzes, visit:
http://www.sheftman.com/ewrt1a/onlineqz.html or click on the Online Quizzes link from the homepage
Prior to an on-line quiz being due, the instructor will individually e-mail to each student the URL of the web page and server where the quiz is stored. Using your web browser, you'll go to that URL and call up the quiz on your screen. For the multiple quiz format, there will be radio buttons which you can click inside of to indicate your choice of response. When done with the quiz, there will be a submit button on the screen for you to click on. The University of Hawaii software will automatically grade the quiz and email to me the percentage correct out of the total responses. To pass a quiz and receive credit for the assignment, you must correctly answer 70% or higher. Once the instructor receives the results via email, you will also receive a copy.
On-campus exams consist of writing two short essays, one the midterm and the other the final. Students living outside of the San Francisco Bay Area must make special arrangements two weeks ahead of time with the instructor for testing.
Testing Materials: A dictionary and thesaurus, blank lined paper, a pencil or pen, and a photo I.D. must be brought to each exam. Students may also bring one page of notes.
Alternate Exams: If you are unable to attend the scheduled exam you may take an alternate exam at the De Anza College Instructional Testing Office in the Learning Center.
Instructional Testing Office: LC123
Wednesdays, 2:30-5:30 PM; 6-9 PM
Thursdays, 1:30-5:30 PM
Alternate #1: Wed., 5-17, Thu., 5-18 for the midterm essay
Alternate #2: Wed., 6-21, Thu., 6-22 for the final essay
Essay Scores: Scores will be emailed to you within a one week period.
Grades are based on: 1000 points possible on seven papers and the number of assignments receiving credit.
Failure to receive credit on at least seven of the ten credit assignments will result in the final course grade being lowered by one letter.Assignments may not be resubmitted for credit and must be handed in by the deadline or will not be accepted. The final version of out-of-class essays must be handed in by the deadline or will not be accepted. Students must take the midterm and final exams to pass the course.
Papers written early in the course (papers 1-3) are worth fewer overall points. This allows for a learning period in which writing skills can be developed. Later papers carry more points; thus, the better writer you become during the course the higher points you can earn and the higher your final grade will be (assuming you also earn credit on a minimum of seven of the ten credit assignments!)
Paper #1--50 points (5% of grade)
Paper #2--100 points (10% of grade)
Paper #3--100 points (10% of grade)
Paper #4 (midterm)--150 points (15% of grade)
Paper #5--200 points (20% of grade)
Paper #6--250 points (25% of grade)
Paper #7 (final)--150 points (15% of grade)
Final Grade Scale
A = 900-1000 pts
B = 800-899 pts
C = 700-799 pts
D = 600-699 pts
F = below 600 pts
Some ventures we enter into are collaborative; others are go-it-aloners. On-line quizzes are designed to measure your comprehension of the assigned reading(s). Therefore, since my purpose is to assess what you know as an individual without your receiving any assistance from your fellow students or others, the quizzes will be presented to you in a format which discourages collaboration.
You may access your final grades through the Star System (408-777-9394 or 650-917-0509) or the Internet (http://www.fhda.edu/DA_Grades.html).
Return to Mr. Sheftman's EWRT 1-A Home Page
updated 3/2000
Media Components
Class Home Page:
E-mail and the Class Listserv:
Listserv Subscription Information:
Course Calendar
Assignments
Tips for Successful Writers and Readers
Testing and Grading
Final Grades
Point/Grade System
Academic Integrity