ENGCOMP 3D
English Composition, Rhetoric, and Language
Description: Lecture, three hours. Enforced requisite: satisfaction of Entry-Level Writing requirement or course 2 or 2I (C or better). Not open for credit to students with credit for course 3, 3DS, 3E, or 3SL. Rhetorical techniques and skillful argument, with focus on diversity and inclusiveness. Analysis of varieties of academic texts and writing of minimum of 20 pages of revised prose. Completion of course with grade of C or better satisfies Writing I requirement. Letter grading.
Units: 5.0
Units: 5.0
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Most Helpful Review
Fall 2019 - This class was heavily based on discussion of the novels. Dr. Drissi only spent a class or two talking about the structure of an essay, which is the five-paragraph formula. Other than that, we spent most of the time discussing what hair means culturally and socially. So I didn't really learn a lot about writing essays from her and I don't think I improved. But I went to her office hours and she did provide valuable comments on my essays. So if you want to do well in this class, definitely go to her office hours. However, she replies to email really slow, so definitely email her a few days prior. She also did offer many extra credit events that boosted our grades by 10% ish. Overall, Dr. Drissi is a really nice person and very funny in her lectures, yet I didn't really learn a lot about writing essays from her since the lectures were basically discussions on the readings.
Fall 2019 - This class was heavily based on discussion of the novels. Dr. Drissi only spent a class or two talking about the structure of an essay, which is the five-paragraph formula. Other than that, we spent most of the time discussing what hair means culturally and socially. So I didn't really learn a lot about writing essays from her and I don't think I improved. But I went to her office hours and she did provide valuable comments on my essays. So if you want to do well in this class, definitely go to her office hours. However, she replies to email really slow, so definitely email her a few days prior. She also did offer many extra credit events that boosted our grades by 10% ish. Overall, Dr. Drissi is a really nice person and very funny in her lectures, yet I didn't really learn a lot about writing essays from her since the lectures were basically discussions on the readings.
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Most Helpful Review
Fall 2019 - Overall, I didn't really like this class. Don't get me wrong, it was pretty easy to get by with an A as long as you know how to write an argumentative essay (though you have to follow certain methods he expects you to use) and if you talk a couple of times throughout the classes. The essays were no longer than 2-4 pages, with the final essay being 4-6 pages. You also have to record a 20-30 minute podcast in a group of 5, which was a bit annoying and tedious but kind of easy in the end. Compared to another professor my friend had for English Comp. 3, I apparently had it much easier as Vincent is pretty nice with assigning a small amount of work. However, I feel like I didn't learn anything from the class. All I did was write about racial topics or anything related to discrimination and stereotyping. The course reader he requires is expensive at about $70, but you can pretend you read it as he goes over the content during class in his slides (the books are about how to write and he doesn't test you on if you read or not). Overall it was a decent class to fulfill your requirements but I wish I had topics that were more interesting to me to write about.
Fall 2019 - Overall, I didn't really like this class. Don't get me wrong, it was pretty easy to get by with an A as long as you know how to write an argumentative essay (though you have to follow certain methods he expects you to use) and if you talk a couple of times throughout the classes. The essays were no longer than 2-4 pages, with the final essay being 4-6 pages. You also have to record a 20-30 minute podcast in a group of 5, which was a bit annoying and tedious but kind of easy in the end. Compared to another professor my friend had for English Comp. 3, I apparently had it much easier as Vincent is pretty nice with assigning a small amount of work. However, I feel like I didn't learn anything from the class. All I did was write about racial topics or anything related to discrimination and stereotyping. The course reader he requires is expensive at about $70, but you can pretend you read it as he goes over the content during class in his slides (the books are about how to write and he doesn't test you on if you read or not). Overall it was a decent class to fulfill your requirements but I wish I had topics that were more interesting to me to write about.
Most Helpful Review
Fall 2022 - Dr. West is one of the best writing teachers I've ever had. The course's subject is hip-hop, so we did lots of analysis of rap lyrics and artists in class discussions. We had two essays, one about a hip-hop song and the other about an artist of our choice, and a final essay about an aspect of our identity. The last essay didn't relate too much to everything else we had been learning, but it wasn't too hard for a final assignment. The peer reviewing is a lot of work (3 essays with 2-3 peers each with about an hour on each peer's essay) but it is definitely worth it for all the feedback you get on your own essay. Throughout the course, Dr. West weaves in various writing techniques and exercises that genuinely improved my writing as someone who already had a somewhat strong writing background in high school. This class is definitely a lot of work but very rewarding in terms of growth as a writer and student, and Dr. West is a very engaging professor who obviously cares a lot about her students. I would 100% recommend this class and Dr. West for a writing GE.
Fall 2022 - Dr. West is one of the best writing teachers I've ever had. The course's subject is hip-hop, so we did lots of analysis of rap lyrics and artists in class discussions. We had two essays, one about a hip-hop song and the other about an artist of our choice, and a final essay about an aspect of our identity. The last essay didn't relate too much to everything else we had been learning, but it wasn't too hard for a final assignment. The peer reviewing is a lot of work (3 essays with 2-3 peers each with about an hour on each peer's essay) but it is definitely worth it for all the feedback you get on your own essay. Throughout the course, Dr. West weaves in various writing techniques and exercises that genuinely improved my writing as someone who already had a somewhat strong writing background in high school. This class is definitely a lot of work but very rewarding in terms of growth as a writer and student, and Dr. West is a very engaging professor who obviously cares a lot about her students. I would 100% recommend this class and Dr. West for a writing GE.
Most Helpful Review
Fall 2023 - I highly recommend this class for fufilling your writing I and diversity requirement! Although I am not the best in English (ap lang exam score was a 2, poor SAT english/grammar), I still managed to get a A-! There are only 3 essays for the quarter to complete (first-4 page, 2nd-9 page, 3rd- vary (for mine it was 3 pages..op-ed style)) and I love how the professor offers extensions. I had a 1 week extension for the first one and 4 day extension for the last essay! It really helped me spend time studying for midterms & final, you just have to email Laurel for an extension and she will give it to you (u dont need to make an excuse). She really wants to make the students feel comfortable so she reminds everyone every now and then that you can have extensions (for the final draft). Since theres only 3 essays… the process in completing an essay is in order of: “shitty” first draft- where u can just make a outline…write what comes to mind for the prompt..etc, then the first draft which will be peer reviewed by 3-4 classmates (u will do the same), and lastly the “final draft” where u will finalize everything and get a grade for it. Its straightforward! Essays are worth majority of your grade but participation really plays a big role to increase or lower your grade. You need to actively participate with any discussion… sharing your opinion or answer for a question. I got a A for partcipation so it helped my grade. I had a B for first essay, A for second, and a C for the last essay ( I forgot to put a cited page….silly mistakes). The theme for the class was diversity in Los Angeles and I learned a lot about gentrification. There is also a neighborhood project where you make a web page from google app with a group on an assigned neighborhood. ALSO, highly recommend doing at least 1-2 office hours…there is a zoom option! Honestly I am grateful I took this class and professor because my roommate had to complete 3-4 essays by the week for her eng comp 3 class. SHE WAS STRESSED. 10/10 for this class :)
Fall 2023 - I highly recommend this class for fufilling your writing I and diversity requirement! Although I am not the best in English (ap lang exam score was a 2, poor SAT english/grammar), I still managed to get a A-! There are only 3 essays for the quarter to complete (first-4 page, 2nd-9 page, 3rd- vary (for mine it was 3 pages..op-ed style)) and I love how the professor offers extensions. I had a 1 week extension for the first one and 4 day extension for the last essay! It really helped me spend time studying for midterms & final, you just have to email Laurel for an extension and she will give it to you (u dont need to make an excuse). She really wants to make the students feel comfortable so she reminds everyone every now and then that you can have extensions (for the final draft). Since theres only 3 essays… the process in completing an essay is in order of: “shitty” first draft- where u can just make a outline…write what comes to mind for the prompt..etc, then the first draft which will be peer reviewed by 3-4 classmates (u will do the same), and lastly the “final draft” where u will finalize everything and get a grade for it. Its straightforward! Essays are worth majority of your grade but participation really plays a big role to increase or lower your grade. You need to actively participate with any discussion… sharing your opinion or answer for a question. I got a A for partcipation so it helped my grade. I had a B for first essay, A for second, and a C for the last essay ( I forgot to put a cited page….silly mistakes). The theme for the class was diversity in Los Angeles and I learned a lot about gentrification. There is also a neighborhood project where you make a web page from google app with a group on an assigned neighborhood. ALSO, highly recommend doing at least 1-2 office hours…there is a zoom option! Honestly I am grateful I took this class and professor because my roommate had to complete 3-4 essays by the week for her eng comp 3 class. SHE WAS STRESSED. 10/10 for this class :)
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