a PDF of the entire syllabus here.

English 846
HIP HOP LITERACIES & TRUE NOTES SINCE FALL 2014.
English 846: Reading & Writing Connections Skyline College – CRN:
94271 – Section: CI – 5 Units Center for Innovative Practices through Hip
Hop Education & Research (CIPHER) Learning Community BLDG 8-220 –
Monday/Wednesday/Friday –9:10 am-10:35 am– Instructor: Janice
Sapigao, MFA – sapigaoj@smccd.edu – Office Hrs: Fridays 11 am-1 pm
About this course: This is a reading/writing development workshop designed to introduce you to the
conventions of university-level academic composition and help you as a reader, writer, and critical thinker. The
course content uses hip hop as a lens that you will use to improve what you already know about reading and
writing. Discussing hip hop literacy will help you improve your scholarship, writing, and ability to actively
participate in its culture.
Required Textbooks:
1) [NONFICTION/MEMOIR]
Laymon, Kiese. How To Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in
America. Evanston: Agate Publishing, 2013.
2) [NONFICTION/HISTORY]
3) [MUSIC/AUDIO]
Chang, Jeff. Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop: A History of the Hip Hop
Generation. New York: Picador Publishing, 2005.
Hill, Lauryn. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. Sony Records,
1998. CD. (or YouTube)
1 Prerequisite: ENGL 826, and READ 826, or ENGL
828, or ESOL 840, or ESOL 864 and ESOL 874 or
ENGL 846, or ESOL 400, or equivalent on approved
college placement test or multiple measures.
Course Description: This course will provide
students opportunities to grow as readers and writers
in a student-centered environment. Through reading,
writing, and discussing a range of complex issues
across disciplines, they will experience reading and
writing as interrelated processes. Although there is
substantial guidance in the writing process,
instruction in essay writing assumes a basic
understanding of sentence and paragraph structure.
Introduces students to college-level reading and
writing, covering thesis construction, organization,
development, sentence skills, text-based writing, and
effective reading strategies to improve
comprehension, analysis and vocabulary. ENGL 846
prepares students for ENGL 100.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this course, a student
will meet the following outcomes:
1.
ESSAYS: Write focused, organized, well-developed,
and text-based essays appropriate to the
developmental level using effective paragraphs,
which support a clear thesis statement, and
demonstrate competence in standard English
grammar and usage.
2.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS: Demonstrate critical reading,
writing, and thinking skills through analysis,
synthesis, and evaluation of important ideas.
3.
SOURCES: Effectively evaluate and integrate
relevant sources and document them according to
MLA guidelines.
Instructional Methods: We will experience,
critique, and write about a variety of interdisciplinary
media and text. Through lectures and discussions,
small group work, readings, peer editing, student
presentations, conferences, exams, in-class writing,
journal writing and rigorous engagement with text,
you will deepen your understanding of yourself and
your writing or storytelling process.
Course Required Materials:
__ Post-its for reading
__ 2 folders for submitting essays
__1 dictionary
__ Books
__ Highlighter
__ Pen & pencil
__ Reliable access to internet to check e-mail
& WebAccess
__ Notebook for the course
Grading: It is strongly suggested that the student keep
track of their own progress by recording assignment
scores once the instructor has graded the assignment
and has provided feedback. Students should also hold
onto all paperwork from the course. The final grade in
this class be based on:
Assignments & Journals (10%)
Participation & Facilitation (10%)
Attendance (15%)
Quizzes, Exams & Tests (15%)
Essays (25%)
Final Presentation & Research Paper (25%)
Letter grade will include:
Assignments & Journals: Journals are written
responses to reading and class discussions. Journals
provide opportunities for students to practice skills in
criticality. Other writing assignments will assist you
with course materials.
Attendance/Attendance Policy: Students must arrive
on time and attend the entire duration of section
meetings. If you are unable to attend or if you will be
leaving early, you must inform me as soon as possible.
Each section requires your thought, brilliance,
presence and comprehension of the course materials.
If you have 3 unexcused absences, you will be
dropped from the course. Because we are creating a
classroom community, know that your absence and
efforts affect the entire group dynamic. Student will
receive one (1) point for every time they attend class.
Instructor takes roll within the first five to ten minutes of
class. If you are not present by this time, you will be
marked late or absent. See Attendance Regulations.
Participation & Facilitation: When you come to class,
you are expected to be an active participant. Ask
questions, ask for clarification, answer any questions
asked by peers and the instructor, and make sure you
try your best to understand given assignment and
readings. Make sure to communicate with your
instructor and other peers.
Quizzes & Tests: You will have a quiz every Friday.
These quizzes will mostly consist of vocabulary,
though some quizzes may require short answers.
Essays: Essays are sites of critical thinking, reading,
and writing. Your essays will be taken very seriously,
graded and read thoroughly, and as a result, heavily
weighed for your overall. Take your writing seriously
and you will do well. You will be writing a total of five
(5) essays in this class.
Final Presentation & Research Paper: 25% of your
grade rests on what you’ve learned in the class and
how your writing has improved. You will submit a
research paper and present on your findings.
2 Grading Scale:
100-87% A
86-70% B
69-55% C
54-40% D
40-0% F
Attendance Regulations: Regular attendance in class and
laboratory sessions is an obligation assumed by every student
at the time of registration.
Regular attendance affords the student the opportunity to
acquire the content of the specific session and, over the length
of the course, the continuity of the professor’s plan for the
presentation of the subject matter in the course. It is the
student’s responsibility to withdraw when absences have been
excessive. (Absence means nonattendance for whatever
reason.) The more class sessions a student misses, the
greater the chances that their grades may suffer. A professor
can drop a student from a course if excessive absences, in the
opinion of the professor, have placed the student's success in
jeopardy. It is the prerogative of the professor to determine
what absences have been excessive. If the student believes
that there were extenuating circumstances related to the
absences that resulted in being dropped from a course, the
student may petition the Academic Standards and Policies
Committee within five academic calendar days. For additional
information about filing a petition contact the Admissions and
Records Office (650)738-4251.
Expected Preparation for Class: Students must come to
class with the required assigned texts/textbook(s) each class
period, and they must come prepared with all work completed,
as assigned. Students should plan to spend a minimum of
two hours outside of class for each hour spent in class to
learn and make satisfactory progress in the class.
Extra Credit: You will have opportunities to earn extra credit.
If you attend any community events or read an related to the
course, you must write a 1-paragraph summary about it and
submit it to me before the course is over.
1) Community Events/Festivals: If you attend a community
event or food festival related to the content of the course, you
may write a one-paragraph summary about your experience
there. Your summary should include: 1) Name of the event, 2)
location of the event, 3) why it occurred, 4) what you did there,
5) why it’s important. You may earn up to five extra credit
points for each summary. You may only submit up to two (2)
summaries.
2) Articles: If you come across and read an article specifically
related to ideas or content in the course, you may post it to the
Extracurricular Forum on WebAccess with a summary of what
we can expect to read in it. This article must discuss one
idea/concept you’ve learned from the class. You may only
submit up to two (2) summaries.
3 Late Work Policy: Every student will be allowed 1
late assignment pass. Late passes can only be
submitted on the following class day with the
completed assignment. Late work will not be
accepted without a late pass. Late passes cannot be
used for Journal #1, any quizzes or exams, nor the
Final Group Project or any facilitation or presentation
assignments.
Header Policy: All assignments must have your
name, the date, the class (ENG 846) – Section #
and the assignment. Example: (can be on the left or
right margin)
Your Name
Date
Class & Section #
Assignment Title
Revision Policy:
Students will be asked to review and revise each
others’ papers. Students may also be asked to revise
their papers upon the instructor’s request. Peer
review is often a very use element of writing courses.
You will have the opportunity to come into contact
with others’ voices and suggestions. This activity is
beneficial for all students who participate and keep
up with class assignments. This activity also depends
on the willingness of all students to put forth their
best efforts when critiquing a peer’s writing. Make-Up Work Policy: Students can make up work
and/or exams with the instructor’s approval. It is the
student’s responsibility to schedule a time to re-take
quizzes or exam in a timely manner. Once quizzes
and tests have been passed back to the class,
students cannot make up the assignment.
Strict E-Mail Policy: All e-mails must include a
greeting and/or salutation. We must practice writing
and clear communication in our everyday lives. If you
send me an informal e-mail, I will respond asking you
to re-write it, or I may delete it. I will try my best to
respond to your e-mails as soon as I receive it. I will
not be responding to e-mails sent on Sundays.
E-mails regarding class absences must be sent
before or during the time in which you should be in
class. If not, your absence will not be excused unless
they are emergencies.
Check with your classmates or read over course
handouts before you e-mail me.
For example, beginning with, “Hi Janice, how are
you?” or “Hello Janice, I hope you’re well!” are
acceptable forms of e-mail etiquette.
Write down the name and e-mail of 2 fellow
classmates here:
1. Name: _____________________________
E-mail: _____________________________
2. Name: _____________________________
E-mail: _____________________________ File Name Policy: Whenever you send or submit a
file via e-mail or onto TurnItIn on WebAccess, type
your last name, first name, an underscore and the
assignment title:
SapigaoJanice_Essay1. This way, your work is
organized for me and most importantly, for you.
Academic Integrity: The work you submit/present
must be your own. All paraphrases and quotations
must be cited appropriately. The Skyline College
Student Handbook has a complete statement
defining cheating and plagiarism, available online. If
you are caught cheating or plagiarizing another
person’s work, you may be disciplined in one or
more of the following ways:
1) You may be given an F on the assignment and
your name will be submitted the Dean of Language
Arts;
2) You may be referred to the College Disciplinarian
for further sanctions which range from a warning to
expulsion from Skyline College.
Please note, if you have any questions about
appropriate ways to cite sources or if you are unsure
how to incorporate your own ideas with ideas you
read, please ask.
Available Support Services: The Learning Center
(Building 5) provides support for writing, reading,
math, and other subjects. Sign up for LSKL 800 for
general tutoring, or for LSKL 853 for reading and
writing support through the Writing & Reading Lab in
the Learning Center. Librarians, on the 2nd floor of
building 5, can assist with research projects and
library questions. Academic counselors, health
services, and other student support services are
available in the Student Services Center in Building
2.
Academic Adjustments for Students with
Disabilities: In coordination with the Disability
Resource Center office, reasonable accommodation
will be provided for eligible students with disabilities.
For more assistance, please contact the DRC Bldg
5, Room 5132 or call 650-738-4228.
4 Personal Space Policy: Students are expected
to be professional at all times, during all electronic
and in-person interactions. Be mindful of your
comfort and be sure to approach the instructor
with tact and respect. Class Conduct Policy: Students are responsible
for adhering to the Code of Student Conduct
outlined in the Skyline College Catalog and the
Skyline Student Handbook, available online.
Means of Communication: To avoid missing
important messages from your instructors and
from the college/District, please activate your
student email account by logging in at
http://my.smccd.edu/ if you have not already done
so. Messages regarding your registration status,
as well as other necessary information, will be sent
to you through this means of communication.
No Electronics Policy: Laptops, cell phones and
tablets are prohibited in class. Because this is a
writing class, the practice of writing (in this case,
pen and paper) is encouraged and will be enacted.
There will be moments in class where electronics
will be required for participation. There will be
consequences for those whose electronics
interrupt class.
How to Forward Your my.smccd.edu Email to
Another Email Address:
Your teacher, and Skyline College, will use your
my.smccd.edu email account to share information
with you. If you don’t check that email, you will
miss important news. If you don’t want to check
your my.smccd.edu account, and you would
rather use an email account such as yahoo or
gmail, please take a few minutes to set up
forwarding for your my.smccd.edu email to your
regular account. Follow these steps:
1. Go to Websmart at https://websmart.smccd.edu/
2. In your student account area, click on the link
that says "New! Student Email"
3. Here, you may view your email address and
password, and you may reset your password.
4. IMPORTANT: Open your my.smccd.edu email.
5. Click “Settings” at the top of the page.
6. Click the “Forwarding and POP/IMAP” tab.
7. Under Forwarding, click the “Forward a copy of
incoming mail” button.
8. Enter the email address you want to forward
your email and then SAVE CHANGES
Important Dates à
5 This course schedule is rigorous. Keep up with the readings, stay present in class and find interest.
Your critical opinions on these materials will guide you through the class. Expect more detailed
information about each unit as we move through the course. Possible interdisciplinary media (guest
speakers, and extracurricular events) are not yet listed below. This syllabus is subject to change.
REMINDER: LATE WORK WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED WITHOUT A LATE PASS.
Unit one – “R.A.P.: Rhythmic American Poetry”
We’ll discuss hip hop poetics, sound, rhythm, social justice theory, critical thinking, critical reading,
and critical writing. We’ll also gear up to discuss pre-writing, pre-reading, and writing processes.
Unit two – “Holler At Your Girl”
What roles and responsibilities do women take on in hip hop? We’ll discuss, feminism, black
womanism, third world and women of color feminisms, male allyship, and critical liberation. We’ll
also work on MLA citation, refining paragraph and essay structure, and note-taking.
Unit three –Youth Culture Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop
If we empower our youth, what happens? Hip hop is, was, and will be dependent on the power of
youth. We’ll begin working on research projects, discussing methodology, and analysis.
Unit four – Welcome to Where I’m From
Does where we’re from influence or pre-determine our sound, styles, production, and/or our lives? 6