Students

English 1A/100
A course in "expository” writing. Instruction will focus on how to select and narrow a topic, frame a thesis statement, and organize an essay into a logical, coherent composition. Original essays, increasing in level of difficulty and in length, are developed through a process approach, including prewriting and peer-editing techniques. Students will also read several prose examples from various fields and periods that will serve as models of effective writing styles.
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English 1B/101
English 1B is a course in expository writing, focusing "on the development of logical reasoning, analytical and argumentative writing skills, and on research strategies” (catalog description). The general goals of this class include selection and focus of topic, organization, use of rhetorical devices, principles of argumentation, research techniques, documentation, and evaluation of the writing process.
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Mass Communications
A study of mass media and media technology as they apply to society. Includes a study of media functions, responsibilities, practices, and influences, as well as a study of media law, ethics, history, development, and potential for the future. The course is designed to increase student awareness of the impact of mass media in shaping society. Also listed as CA 1. Credit given in either area, not both. May be offered by mediated mode of instruction.
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Freelance Writing
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA EXTENSION, IRVINE
ENGLISH X452

Getting Published, Getting Paid as a Freelance Writer
Whether you’re a new or established writer, take what you already know and turn it into a successful freelance career. This 10-week interactive workshop will help you gain insights into how to ferret out markets, write compelling query letters, conduct interviews, wow editors and get paid. Each class combines instruction, in-class exercises and critiquing sessions in a healthy and respectful environment. Gain new perspective and enthusiasm to enhance your vision to become a successful freelance writer. But take note: This is not a theory class, but a hands-on, realistic approach to earning money as a freelance writer. Course open to beginning, intermediate and advance writers.
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STUDENT ESSAY: Dead Journalist’s Society
By Robert Cha

This essay requires an interesting and a strange person for a topic. I chose to interview and write about Scott Hays, my English 100 teacher. He has an unorthodox teaching method, which sometimes looks completely improvised or thought out a day in advance. However, such chaotic methods that seemed to be planned haphazardly always led to an essay assignment or a thought provoking discussion. Because of the seeds of creativity he planted prior to giving out the writing assignments, the essays written after being exposed to Hays’ eccentric teaching style were always full of inspiration.

I chose Hays as my topic for this essay because his methods and his background as a writer have impressed me. Judging him solely by his style, I can say he is the type of guy anyone would invite over for a weekend barbeque and a beer because of his ability to make any mundane topic interesting and fun. However, because of that easygoing personality, a few classmates I spoke to at the beginning of the semester thought he was rather unacademic. Once they were able to see beyond their preconceived notion of how a teacher should behave, their thoughts changed to a favorable and even admirable opinion.

I affirmed my initial view on Hays after researching his website and a thirty-minute telephone interview: The only real oddity about Hays is that he hides tremendous amount of professionalism beneath a likable and easygoing façade.

I called Hays on the phone on a Saturday afternoon. I had a list of questions to ask, but gave myself room to go with the flow of the conversation. The first question I asked addressed the superficially obvious eccentricity Hays showed from the first day in class: A white towel perpetually draped over his shoulder. He has an almost ceremonial approach to starting his English class, much like a clock ticking with mechanical precision. First, he walks to the front of the class and after setting his briefcase on the table, he pulls out a stack of papers and a neatly folded towel. The papers sit on top of the table without much notice for a while, but the towel invariably goes over his shoulder, like a boxing coach ready to wipe the sweat off the brow of his prizefighter.

When asked about the towel, Hays laughed a little and without any hesitation gave me his reasons. "Whether I’m working with chalk or whether I’m working with that white board ink, it invariably gets on my hands. And if it gets on my hands, it gets on my clothes and my face. But also, if I’m really worked up or if it’s a hot day, like anybody else, I’ll break a legitimate sweat. And the towel is there for me.” That answer revealed a pragmatic approach with a complete disregard for wanting to create a fashionable appearance.

When I heard Hays’ reply, two images came to my head: an old photograph of Einstein wearing a hat made out of a wet napkin, and of a strange man I recently saw in L.A., wearing a shopping bag over his head to protect him from the rain. Odd fashion statements are only sane when the person sporting it can support it with a confident sense of accomplishments.

Such a casual approach to his appearance serves as a window to Hays’ perception of himself: He is tremendously proud of his accomplishments in life. The first assignment he gave his English class involved going to his website and writing a comment on his message board. I inevitably saw the body of work he has produced in his career while browsing through his web pages. Hays has written books on physical health, sex, the Spanish language, Nike, capital punishment, the NFL, land sailing, surfing, racism, and even a novella which he has adopted into a screenplay. In addition, he has written articles for countless magazines and even made an educational video.

When asked about how he got started as a writer, he humbly responded, "It was the only thing I could do that people were willing to pay me.” In 1985, Hays did his first freelance article for Orange Coast Magazine. The topic was about a red beret wearing national vigilante group called the Guardian Angels. This article immediately jumped into the action, and poked fun at the ridiculous redundancy of the group’s over eagerness approach. Hays’ description of the hodgepodge ensemble dropped not so subtle hints of nuisance and possibly misguided motives behind the members of the vigilante group.

"I always labeled myself as a journalist,” Hays said, "Calling myself a writer at first was very uncomfortable. But then I got out of newspapers, and started writing for magazines. Then I started writing books. I called myself a writer then, and that’s pretty much how I look at myself these days.”

As a writer with a journalistic background, Hays approaches his nonfiction writing as a reporter would. Without claiming to be an authority on the topic, he gathers information and presents them in a cohesive manner.

When asked what book his is most proud of, he said, "I’m always most proud of the one I haven’t done yet, but I would probably recommend Ghost of Tahquitz.” Ghost "owards the end of the interview, I quoted the line, "Those who can do, and those who can’t teach.” Hays quoted back a Woody Allen version that added, "And those who can’t teach, teach gym.” His impressive professional background in writing clearly strengthens his teaching abilities, and goes against the ideas stated in the aforementioned quotes. His background suits the wide variety of students who take English 100 for General Education purpose.

By having taken on different types of writing assignments and never specializing in one narrow genre, Hays is better suited to teach students who will each write something different in their future, whether it is the next great American novel or the next month’s company-meeting Power Point presentation. Orange Coast College may not have the poignant setting as did the film Dead Poets Society, but Hays’ loud eccentric teaching style is making quiet progress in the minds his students.

Copyright 2005 by Robert Cha

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