English Department

Instructor

Johnny Sarraf
jsarraf@santarosa.edu
HOMEPAGE (Faculty Profile)

Announcement

Dear students:

Welcome to English 100! Our Fall 2017 course syllabus is now available (as a PDF in the Syllabus section). Please PRINT it and bring it with you to our first class meeting Wednesday, 6 September. (Electronic devices may not be used in class.)

I look forward to meeting you this Wednesday, 6 September.

Welcome

"I actually wanted to come to class because it felt more like a group of friends all learning together rather than individually."

"You are a no bull---- type of teacher, and that’s what I like. Also, you are fair & you care."

--Former composition students

Welcome to English 100. In this class you will be exposed to different types of expository writing, as well as some research and documentation skills. You will be expected to write regularly, both in and out of class. Your writing and our class discussions complement each other; therefore, your participation in both areas is crucial to your success.

Although the syllabus (which will be on my homepage by the time the semester begins) may seem intimidating, past students have found the class much more comfortable than what the syllabus suggests. Since I don’t expect you to take my word for it, scroll down a bit to see what my past students have said, in their own words. The syllabus is so specific in order to make it clear to you what we’ll be doing and when we’ll be doing it. If you make the needed effort, I’m confident that you’ll get a lot out of the class, and hopefully you’ll also enjoy it.

Be advised, however, that we will be dealing with some sensitive material that requires maturity and an open mind to examine. If any material is a concern to you, please speak to me about it.

STUDENT EVALUATIONS OF PAST CLASSES
Here are comments, as they appeared on my evaluations, from my past students of different courses. I include them here not to pat myself on the back but to encourage you not to be intimidated or overwhelmed by the syllabus, which I know comes across as rigid and formal. Though there is a lot of work in the course, students have found it very interesting. Anyway, these are just as the comments appeared:

“I think you’re one of the best teachers I’ve had because you caught our attention w/modern works of art and ideas. Using music, creative readings . . . . You related to us in many ways . . . instead of abusing your authority. It was great that you left room for jokes and kept class relaxed. Class went by faster than I expected.”

“It was great that you encouraged us to be creative and present info in an interesting and unique way. No other teacher has ever encouraged that and I’m surprised! I feel that now I take a different approach to writing, and I’m glad!”

“Your sense of humor and approach to the class made it much easier. You never took yourself too seriously; you never tried to bully us in any way.”

“You’re probably one of the best teachers I’ve had. Your approach is great—fresh and original, and I’ve enjoyed this class a lot! Thanks!”

“I thought for sure I would hate this class but you surprised me. You are a no bullshit type of teacher and that’s what I like. Also you are fair & you care. I just had a great time. Thanks!”

“Thank you again—I’m really glad to have had the courage to take [college writing] even though I was scared at the beginning. It was definitely worth it, thanks to you. You made the class so cool, not as serious or boring as I would have expected it to be. I hope to have you in another class.

“I am starting to enjoy [English]. I have a lot more personality. You taught me not to fear writing, to do it the way it felt natural. You have great personality, and are a lot of fun. You like what you do and it reflects. I didn’t realize reading could be so fun.”

“I really enjoyed having you as a professor. You were articulate and clear. You were consistent and I always knew what to expect. It was a difficult class that you made enjoyable.”

“I think you are probably one of the best English teachers I have had. You have a good way of making everything relevant to our lives by bringing in music, movies, & other things that make this class fun.”

“You make people comfortable because you laugh and smile a lot. This causes the students to relax and feel as though they can approach you. Thanks.”

“Your teaching skills are excellent! I rate you in the top 5% of all teachers I’ve ever had. You have made my hardest subject bearable. Don’t lose your enthusiasm.”

“I thought your course was great. I like that you emphasized style in writing because my previous experiences have neglected that aspect.”

“I like your approach because it gives room to those who understand things differently than others and express themselves differently. I really appreciated the class!”

“Your approach is very cool. Your personality comes out through your lectures. It is refreshing. The only thing you lacked was dullness like so many professors. I’d recommend you to anyone!”

“Your approach—GREAT! You progressed through the semester as we were told you would. Students are not always so fortunate. Some classes we leave wondering, ‘Did he/she give us homework tonight?’ We always knew where we were and what was coming in your class.”

“I thought your approach was excellent, full of enthusiasm. I enjoyed this class more than ANY of my former classes because of your innovative teaching. Thanks!”

“I think your approach to the class was great. You do things different from other English teachers. You made the learning of English fun.”

“I like the personal touch to your teaching. We know a little about you, and the atmosphere is comfortable, providing non-threatening learning.”

“You were a great teacher. You took time to listen to our questions and helped us understand what we were confused by.”

“I was very happy w/the class. From the first three weeks I had learned more than in my whole semester in the fall. Your class was very creative and you made it truly enjoyable and educational. It was truly one of my favorite classes. Thanks.”

“I really enjoyed your class this semester. Like I told you before, I had amazing English teachers in junior high & high school. They gave me a true appreciation for literature & writing. I add you to that list. I came in w/low expectations for you because I never thought I would enjoy anybody else’s English class—but I did. Thanks for all the help, encouragement, & even the comment,‘What happened?’ You, like them, forced me to aim high & do the good job that I know I am capable of doing. Thanks.”

“Your class was far more demanding than any other one I’ve had. It was difficult yet very fun. I liked your class best. I looked forward to coming to class, and to get a good grade from you is a compliment!”

“Mr. Sarraf is one of the best teachers I have had. He is understanding and funny, but he is still challenging. Mr. Sarraf gives helpful assignments that actually teach me things, rather than assigning busy work. He is a great teacher with confidence, and it shows immensely.”

“You are such a good teacher! This class was more fun than it should have been. I can’t get over how different it was than any English class I ever took—thank you so much!”

“Your easygoing manner and sense of humor made the class more comfortable and enjoyable—therefore more effective in that everyone felt free to participate.”

“I really thought that you brought a fresh approach to the class. You were funny and you were open-minded and willing to listen to every single point.”

“Mr. Sarraf is fair and everything is explained in the syllabus.”

“He’s always on time and always has his lesson planned. He communicates everything well and tries to make everything clear. We receive everything promptly. Homework is sometimes intensive but that can be expected in a college class. Overall, I’m learning how to write better already.”

“Thank you for being such an awesome teacher. I LOVED the style of your class and the way you ran things. Considering I’m here all day, I would never have made it through a rigid 3-hour class, and yours has definitely not been rigid!”

“I actually wanted to come to class because it felt more like a group of friends all learning together rather than individually. It’s the first class I can honestly say I learned from.”

“I can tell you like students and your job, and you try hard. That makes me comfortable & eager to hear what you have to say.”

“Your attitude is one of the greatest things about you. I also enjoyed the challenges you gave the class to examine views and the world around us. I hope this passion you have now is something you will keep throughout your career. I didn’t find any fault in you as a teacher—that’s a big compliment. (It’s also very sincere.) I would refer you to anyone who needs to take an English class. You made a general ed. class one of the best classes I’ve ever taken. Thank you.”

“Sarraf makes the classroom very alive & active. He makes participation a requirement, which helps the classroom feel comfortable. He gives great feedback & tries to focus on each individual.”

“You’re a great teacher. Continue to keep your voice and closeness to your students. It works well as a teaching tool. Thank you.”

“You are an excellent teacher. It was a good change to have an instructor that was excited about what he does.”

“You stayed right on schedule, and I have seen many instructors give in to the class pushing the assignments to other weeks and throwing them off. You held your ground, and I respect that. You were tough to a certain extent and also sympathetic allowing us to rectify where we went wrong. These things are important to us as students because we can slack off or take instructors’ kindness, leniency, for granted, which is not good for future classes. You didn’t give in to us, no matter how hard we tried, and you handled it well, never letting us know how much it affected you.”

“Johnny is a great teacher. He challenges you and makes you ask ‘why?’ rather than just accepting the general consensus. He is encouraging and treats everyone, whether they deserve it or not, as adults. I liked the way he approached issues with a little bit of controversy to get the students talking, but not arguing. He helps you see there are sometimes more than two sides to every issue.”

“You deserve an A+. I very much enjoyed your class. I was able to understand your approach and teaching techniques. Most importantly, you never made anybody feel stupid for asking. You’re a great example of a teacher.”

“Considering entry into college is a scary and intimidating event, Johnny has made my first semester a rewarding experience. I feel confident that when I come to class my presence is appreciated. I enjoy Johnny’s sense of humor and it’s awesome how he incorporates that into subject matter. I have never been so interested in English.”

“If you weren’t teaching this class, I probably would have dropped it. . . . I think your understanding and willingness to work with us was cool. You didn’t completely separate yourself from us as most teachers do; you truly seemed to care, and thank you for that.”

“I appreciated your approach to the class. I noticed your enthusiasm for literature and teaching from the very first class. Thanks for a great class. I feel like I was challenged appropriately and that I’ve gained a lot from this class.”

“I think you did a great job keeping the class interesting. It is always easy to tell whether or not a teacher is enjoying what they’re doing, & you seem to be enthusiastic about teaching as well as learning. I liked the way you talked to us because you treated us like intelligent individuals & not ignorant people. . . . I’m glad I had the opportunity to learn from you.”

“Completely effective. Every major unit we covered had a smaller counterpart.”

“Your approach to the class is very firm but fair. You are strict enough to keep things in line and under control but open enough to encourage a forum of discussion with the students. This is one of the few classes where you (student) really feel like your opinion is relevant, where the student can be heard. I think it worked well for you to be kind of strict at the first meeting because it emphasized that you have high standards for the class, and then as you loosened up to the class the standards were never compromised. Thank you for a wonderful experience.”

“You were hard, overbearing, sometimes unbelievably impossible to keep up with. But that’s what made you such a great instructor. You gave me this drive to keep going, almost as if you actually believed in me. . . . Even though at times I called you some awful things as I stayed up all night doing my reading, I never meant one of them. You are a great instructor. Don’t ease up; keep it challenging!”

“I feel that the things we did in class were great. You had every class planned out and your timing was always perfect. . . . You did everything in your power to have the best class possible. Thank you for caring so much and for teaching me so many things I will hold on to for the rest of my life. My writing has improved because of your love for English.”

“You gave us structure and freedom; this is difficult for instructors to do. So, thank you. You did a great job. I’d give you an ‘A’ (with a happy face).”

“It’s funny, but whenever I told anyone I was taking this class [Intro. to Literature] they were all like, ‘Ew, why?’ And I’d always say, ‘Actually it’s a lot of fun.’. . . You were fabulous. I admired your creativity and your enthusiasm. . . . I was always in such a better mood after leaving here.”

“I like that you know everyone by name. You make an effort to form some sort of relationship with each of your students. I have professors who don’t even know who I am, so I don’t try as hard in their classes, but with you I felt I had to do well in order to make you proud. . . . I just want to let you know that I’m planning on becoming an English professor, too; your class inspired me a lot.”

“As a student, it is very important that I can relate in some way to the person who is teaching me. That is the only way I can be interested in what I am learning. You have done this in that you have established yourself on what seems to be a student-student level . . . and I am almost certain that the whole class would agree that, because you are not intimidating like most professors you have made it easier for us to learn and enjoy at the same time. I hope this doesn’t sound too mushy but I only speak the truth. College isn’t always fun, but when you have a professor that has made it interesting and worthwhile it is a guarantee that everything that professor has taught the class will stick with them for a long time. Thank you for being that professor. It was a pleasure being in your class.”

“Since this is my 3rd time taking this course, I can clearly say that you are the best instructor. Thank you for making the material interesting and enjoyable. I appreciate the extra time and effort you have put into making this class fun and very interactive. You rock, and [unnamed college] is lucky to have you there.”

"Johnny Sarraf is strict but in a good way. . . . he's always prompt and ready for class and expects you to be as well. He expects a lot out of you but is willing to give it back, only enhancing your skill level. The most rewarding English class and Professor I've encountered in my scholastic experience."

"Maintained class democracy--everybody's opinion & voice heard in a warm environment. Great class [English 1B]--intellectual, calm teacher who effectively maintains order."

"Instructor is personable, understanding, very professional and organized. Has a great interest in and understanding of material studied, and initiates excellent discussion and analysis of the materials."

"I took Mr. Sarraf's English 1A class last semester. The only reason I signed up for English 2 is because he was the instructor. I find his classes and lectures very rewarding and I plan on taking every class he offers. He seems to have a genuine interest in the class topics as well as his students, and how much we learn. Personally, he's taken time with me to help me understand because I do struggle w/English. He is a great instructor."

"AWESOME CLASS. . . . This class [Intro. to the Novel] always has very good discussions in a comfortable and safe atmosphere. This is by far one of the most rewarding classes I have ever been in. More teachers should be like him, in regards to style of teaching, conduct of the class, and preparation of course material."

"From the first night of class I knew Johnny expected the best from each of his students. . . . No question is a waste--no comments or opinion put down. We had some very emotional and compassionate discussions."

"The environment you created was very serious, but lighthearted, something that most teachers have a hard time doing. It was really great not feeling like I was being judged for what I was saying. Everyone in the class was heard for their own voice. In a society where we are slowly losing our voice, it was a nice change to be in an environment that encouraged the strengthening of our voices."

"I specifically liked the classroom environment we had. Everyone knew everyone and we all got along so well. We had a lot of laughs and I even made some friends that I am taking classes with next semester! I appreciate your love for teaching. . . . You always brought a positive attitude into the class ang got everyone engaged. . . . I also like that your grading was always fair. It made sense and was never unreasonable."

Materials and Supplies

• America Now: Short Readings from Recent Periodicals (11th edition), by Robert Atwan. Bedford-St. Martin’s. ISBN: 9781457687426
• How to Not Write Bad: The Most Common Writing Problems and the Best Ways to Avoid Them (2013), by Ben Yagoda. Riverhead Books (Penguin).
• 1 Large Green (Examination) Book
• A college level (portable) dictionary
• Green, blue, and yellow highlighters
• Large three-ring binder, w/paper, and blue or black ink pens
• Flash drive (to save all outside writing in as backup)

*You must have the EXACT editions of the materials listed. I recommend that you buy the books online so that you save yourself some money and not have to deal with the bookstore running out of books.

Lab

PETALUMA WRITING CENTER (CALL HALL 690)
Hours TBA

REMEMBER: Have a focus for your visit, something specific about your writing that you'd like the instructor to address.

SANTA ROSA CAMPUS WRITING CENTER (EMERITUS 1629)
Hours TBA

Links

MLA 2016 (based on 8th ed. of the MLA Handbook)

Self-Evaluation Survey

Audience Exercise

Orwell, "Shooting an Elephant"

Click on Modules section for "Shooting an Elephant" Discussion Questions