NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE COURSE SYLLABUS

 

Course Title: Fundamentals of English II
Course Prefix & Number: ENGL 0305	Section Number:  400	Semester: Spring, 2017
Semester Credit Hours: 3	Lecture Hours: 3	Lab Hours: 0
Course Description (NCTC Catalog): In this course, students will learn to compose unified, well-developed essays with an introduction, a body, and a conclusion.  The thesis statement and topic sentences will be emphasized.  Students will also review and practice the basic grammar skills taught in ENGL 0300 and then move to more advanced topics, including modifiers and parallelism.  This course does not count toward graduation at NCTC.
Course Prerequisite(s): Earn satisfactory TSI Assessment placement scores or earn satisfactory placement scores on another approved assessment.
Required Course Materials: *Biays: Along These Lines: Writing Paragraphs & Essays with Writing from Reading Strategies, Pearson, custom edition for North Central Texas College, 2016.  (The book bundle in the NCTC bookstore includes a MyLabsPlus access code for MyWritingLab, which is required.) *Scantrons for tests and the final examination *A college dictionary is recommended

 

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Name of Instructor:	Dawn Watts
Campus/Office Location:	Corinth 307
Office Hours:	M:  9:00am – 11:00am T:   10:00am – 11:00am; 12:20pm – 1:20pm W:  9:00am – 11:00am; 12:50pm – 2:20pm TH: 10:00am – 11:00am; 12:20pm – 1:20pm F:    8:50am – 9:20am
Telephone Number:	940-498-6223
E-mail Address:	dwatts@nctc.edu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  GRADING CRITERIA

# of Graded Course Elements	Graded Course Elements	Percentage or Points Values
10	MyWritingLab Assignments (20 Points Each)	200
3	Essays (100 Points Each)	300
10	Writing Activities (20 Points Each)	200
2	Tests (100 Points Each)	200
1	Final Exam (100 Points)	100

 

  Grade Scale:   90 – 100% = A;   80 – 89% = B; 70 – 79% = C;     Below 70% = F

 

  1,000 Points Possible:

 

  900 – 1,000  = A

  800 – 899     = B

  700 – 799     = C

      0 – 699     = F

 

Late Work:

 

Students are expected to turn their assignments in on time.  Late essays will have 5 points deducted per calendar day (including Saturdays and Sundays) if they are not turned in by the due dates, and will only be accepted up to 3 days after the due dates.  No late work of any kind will be accepted during the last week of classes (the week before finals).  MyWritingLab assignments and writing activities cannot be made up or submitted late for any reason.

 

 

Make-up tests will only be given:

 

*when prior arrangements have been made with the instructor

*with a doctor’s note

 

Students will only be allowed to take one (1) make-up test per semester.

 

 

Class Participation:

 

All Students are expected to participate in class.

 

 

Writing Center:

 

All students are strongly encouraged to visit the campus writing center.   See the instructor for details about earning extra credit for working with a writing tutor.

 

CLASS RULES

 

1. Turn off and put away (e.g., in your pocket, backpack, or purse) all electronic devices prior to entering class. Students are not allowed to have any electronic devices on their desks or in view.  Students are not allowed to read or send text messages or check their cell phones during class.  Students who break this rule will be asked to leave the classroom, will be counted absent for the class period, and will receive disciplinary action, which may include expulsion from the course.  (Students may put their cell phones in the instructor’s cell phone basket for the duration of the class if they wish to do so.)
2. Store your coat, purse, backpack, and other carrying bags or materials on the back of your chair or on the floor beside or beneath your desk. Students are expected to keep only their course materials (textbooks, papers, and pens/pencils) on their desktops.  Students who break this rule will receive disciplinary action, which may include expulsion from the course.
3. Students are not permitted to use laptop computers in this section of English 0305. Students who break this rule will receive disciplinary action, which may include expulsion from the course.
4. Students are required to submit their writing assignments through the turn-it-in drop box to receive credit/grades. Students who plagiarize any writing assignments will be required to sign the NCTC academic dishonesty form, will receive a grade of zero (0) for the plagiarized assignment, and will be ineligible to receive a final grade of A in this course.  Further disciplinary action, including expulsion, may follow.
5. Be courteous and respectful to everyone in the classroom at all times. Maintain a positive and professional attitude.  All students are expected to remain respectfully engaged with the instructor and the learning materials throughout each class period.  Students who break this rule will receive disciplinary action, which may include expulsion from the course.
6. Students are required to use appropriate "netiquette" while interacting on class discussion boards. Comments that are rude, aggressive, or dismissive will not be tolerated.  Students who break this rule will receive a grade of zero (0) for the offending assignment.  Further disciplinary action, including expulsion from the course, may follow.
7. Students are not permitted to use or to appear to be using earbuds or earphones/headphones of any type while in class. Students who break this rule will be dismissed from class, will be counted absent for the class period, and will receive further disciplinary action, which may include expulsion from the course.
8. A seating chart will be assigned in this section of English 0305. Students are required to sit where they are assigned according to the seating chart.  Also, the seating chart may change throughout the duration of the semester.  Students who do not sit in assigned seats as directed by the instructor will receive disciplinary action, which may include expulsion from the course.
9. Students are expected to arrive to class on time for the start of each class period. Students who consistently arrive after class begins will be counted tardy and will receive disciplinary action, which may include expulsion from the course.
10. Students are expected to remain seated in class for the duration of each class period. Students are expected to use the restroom, make or receive telephone calls, and take care of any personal matters before or after class.  Students who consistently leave the classroom (more than two times throughout the semester) during the class period will receive disciplinary action, which may include expulsion from the course.
11. Students are not permitted to sleep in class. Sleeping students will be dismissed from class, will be counted absent for the class period, and will receive further disciplinary action, which may include expulsion from the course.
12. Students are to conduct themselves in a courteous and respectful manner while visiting the NCTC writing lab. Misconduct toward staff members or fellow students in the NCTC writing lab will result in disciplinary action, which may include expulsion.
13. Administrative policy prohibits food and drink in classrooms. Students are expected to eat their meals and snacks before or after class.  Students who consume food in class will be dismissed from class, will be counted absent for the class period, and will receive further disciplinary action, which may include expulsion from the course.

 

 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

	At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
1.	Compose a variety of texts that demonstrate clear focus, the logical development of ideas, and the use of appropriate language that advances the writer’s purpose.
2.	Determine and use effective approaches and rhetorical strategies for given writing situations.
3.	Generate ideas and gather information relevant to the topic and purpose, incorporating the ideas and words of other writers in student writing using established strategies.
4.	Evaluate relevance and quality of ideas and information to formulate and develop a claim.
5.	Develop and use effective revision strategies to strengthen the writer’s ability to compose college-level writing assignments.
6.	Edit writing to conform to the conventions of standard English.

 

STUDENT EMAIL

All students at NCTC are assigned a student email address, also known as Lion Pride email. Lion Pride email can be accessed on the NCTC home page by clicking on MyNCTC, then the link “Lion Pride Email” to the left. After clicking the Lion Pride Email link, the Microsoft Office 365 window will open.
1. Enter your NCTC student e-mail address. (for example, Smithj123456@student.nctc.edu)

2. Enter your password (your NCTC Student ID Number, either 7 or 9 numbers).
3. From the list of Microsoft icons, choose MAIL.
4. You will be asked to set your language and local time zone (Central Time). Your account is now activated.

 

**It is the student’s responsibility to activate and regularly monitor the assigned NCTC (Lion Pride) e-mail account. Important announcements and notifications from the Admissions office, Financial Aid, or other college staff will be sent via the Lion Pride student email system.

 

For communicating with classmates and instructors, students also have an option to communicate through Canvas. Canvas messaging is NOT the same as Lion Pride e-mail. Failure to read and/or receive NCTC e-mails (either in Lion Pride or in Canvas) is no excuse for not complying with the College Prep Attendance Policy or any other school policies. Be sure to regularly check BOTH the Lion Pride email as well as the Canvas inbox for important messages and information.

 

TSI COMPLIANCE

At North Central Texas College, students who test but do not meet the passing scores in ALL sections of the TSI Assessment or any other THECB approved testing measurements are required by state law to obtain TSI advising and continuously enroll in a formal college preparatory studies (developmental) program every semester until all TSI requirements are satisfied. TSI program attendance is MANDATORY. Non-compliance with the rules of attendance will result in a student being WITHDRAWN from the college preparatory course and possibly from North Central Texas College. Withdrawals are subject to college policies as set forth in the college catalog.

 

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Regular and punctual attendance is expected of all students in all College Prep classes for which they have registered. There are NO excused absences.  Faculty in the Department of College Preparatory Studies will notify students of absences on a regular basis and one courtesy warning e-mail notification will be sent to the students’ current NCTC student e-mail address (Lion Pride email and/or Canvas email) when the student accrues 1 week absence (not necessarily consecutive days) in a course. Please check your NCTC student email (Lion Pride) frequently to ensure that you are receiving notifications from the college and from your instructors. Some faculty may send notifications in Canvas as well. Failure to read and/or receive NCTC e-mail (Lion Pride) is no excuse for not complying with the Attendance Policy. It is the student's responsibility to maintain correct and current e-mail and local and permanent addresses with the college.

 

After a student has been absent from class 2 weeks (not necessarily consecutive days), the student may be dropped. If the student is dropped from the only College Prep class in which he/she is enrolled and is TSI liable, the student may be DROPPED from all remaining courses for that semester.

Inform the instructor in writing during the first week of class of any religious holidays observed this semester. Documentation must be given to the instructor at the class following the holiday.

Also, since punctuality has become a problem in recent semesters, three tardies may be considered one absence. Coming in late disrupts the class. Occasions do occur that you will need to be tardy, but not on a consistent basis.

 

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

*See separate course calendar

 

LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW

Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is Thursday, April 6, 2017.

 

DISABILITY SERVICES (OSD)

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides accommodations for students who have a documented disability. On the Corinth Campus, go to room 170 or call 940-498-6207. On the Gainesville Campus, go to room 110 or call 940-668-4209.  Students on the Bowie, Graham, Flower Mound, and online campuses should call 940-498-6207.

North Central Texas College is committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, ADA Amendments Act of 2009, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-112).   http://www.nctc.edu/StudentServices/SupportServices/Disabilityservices.aspx

STUDENT HANDBOOK

Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the student handbook. http://nctc.smartcatalogiq.com/en/2016-2017/Catalog/North-Central-Texas-College-Student-Handbook

 

 

Name of Chair/Coordinator:	Elizabeth Howell
Office Location:	Corinth 324
Telephone Number:	940.498.6209
E-mail Address:	ehowell@nctc.edu
Name of Instructional Dean:	Sara Alford
Office Location:	Flower Mound Suite 200
Telephone Number:	972.899.8401
E-mail Address:	salford@nctc.edu

 

CAMPUS RESTRICTIONS

Tobacco-Free Campus:  NCTC restricts the use of all tobacco products, including cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and smokeless tobacco, on campus property.

 

Campus Carry: Current law prohibits the open carry of firearms on college campuses including all property such as parking lots.  For more information, see the website at http://www.nctc.edu/Police/gun-laws-campus-carry