Syllabus | ENGL 1301 372 - COMPOSITION I

ENGL 1301 372 - COMPOSITION I

Introduction

COURSE SYLLABUS: ENGL 1301 Sections 370, 371, 372 ONLINE

SEMESTER: Fall 2016 161S

INSTRUCTOR CONTACT INFORMATION

Instructor: Mrs. Tanda Nasche

Online Office Hours: by appointment

E-mail: Use CANVAS course email

Alternate email ONLY if CANVAS mail fails: tnasche@nctc.edu

Start Date: Monday, August 22

Course Credits: 3 hrs (fulfills a core requirement)

IMPORTANT SEMESTER DATES:

Labor Day: September 5

Thanksgiving Break: November 24-25

Drop Date: November 3

CALENDAR OF ASSIGNMENT DUE DATES FOR THE ENTIRE SEMESTER

CAN BE FOUND AT THE END OF THIS SYLLABUS.

ALL ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE BY 11:50 PM ON THE DUE DATE

REQUIRED TEXTS

TEXTBOOK

Lundsford, Andrea, et al. Everyone’s an Author w/Readings, 2nd ed. W.W. Norton, 2013.

ISBN-13: 978-0393265293

HANDBOOK

Lundsford, Andrea, et. al. The Everyday Writer w/exercises, 6th ed. Bedford/St. Martins, 2016.

SBN-13: 978-1-319-11780-1

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Intensive study of and practice in writing processes, from invention and researching to drafting, revising, and editing, both individually and collaboratively. Emphasis on effective rhetorical choices, including audience, purpose, arrangement, and style. Focus on writing the academic essay as a vehicle for learning, communicating, and critical analysis.

PREREQUISITE: Satisfactory placement test score or passing grade in ENGL 0305

5 STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students who successfully complete this course will

Demonstrate knowledge of individual and collaborative writing processes.
Develop ideas with appropriate support and attribution.
Write in a style appropriate to audience and purpose.
Read, reflect, and respond critically to a variety of texts.
Use Edited American English in academic essays.

CORE OBJECTIVES

Foundational Component Area: Communication

Courses in this category focus on developing ideas and expressing them clearly, considering the effect of the message, fostering understanding, and building the skills needed to communicate persuasively. Courses involve the command of oral, aural, written, and visual literacy skills that enable people to exchange messages appropriate to the subject, occasion, and audience.

*Critical Thinking Skills (CT)- to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information

*Communication Skills (COM)- to include effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through written, oral, and visual communication

*Teamwork (TW)- to include the ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal

*Personal Responsibility (PR)- to include the ability to connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision-making

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

COMPUTER HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE

Students are REQUIRED to have access to a working computer with Internet access and word processor throughout the semester.

You should also make a backup plan for when problems with the computer occur, as they surely will. NCTC has computer labs. Area libraries offer free access to computers. Perhaps you have friends or family members who will be able to help out. **Computer and/or technical issues WILL NOT excuse any late work in this course.**

MS Word or another word processing program (Windows open documents or Google docs are both free programs)

REQUIRED SKILLS

Basic Computer skills (how to format, type, and save documents, how to copy and paste text, how to convert file extensions, how to open documents). You will save files throughout the semester as .rtf (rich text format) only!

Basic Internet navigational skills (Do not use Safari or Google Chrome. They have known conflicts with CANVAS. Mozilla Firefox or IE 7, 8, or 9 should work.)

Basic facility at using email (originating email with an appropriate RE [subject] line, opening, reading, writing, attaching documents, and sending emails)

Basic CANVAS Navigational Skills (Using CANVAS's internal email, writing and editing discussion board posts, taking tests, attaching documents to drop boxes and email, checking grades, locating materials, using links)

Ability to READ and FOLLOW written instructions.

TIME REQUIREMENT—FALL AND SPRING TERMS

The rule of thumb in college is 2 hours of outside study time per week for every hour a course is worth. This is a three-hour course, so 6 hours per week would be your "outside" time, and 3 hours per week would be your "in class" time in a long semester. Even though we do not meet as a class, you still have to read assigned works and my lectures, complete discussion boards and journals, write papers, and take quizzes and exams. Doing all of this independently is going to require a significant time investment. Realistically, you should expect to devote 6-9 hours per week to this course. If you do not have time to take this course, you should withdraw from it.

REQUIRED "PARTICIPATION"

Students are accountable for their behavior. Students are expected to CHECK ANNOUNCEMENTS frequently and stay abreast of any changes made to class assignments or requirements. Students should also CHECK EMAIL frequently—important course information will be given through email as well.

REQUIRED "ATTENDANCE"

To be successful in this online course, students must be regular and active participants. You must complete assignments to be marked as “attended” this course and simply logging on will not count you as having “attended”.

ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSION

NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED. Late is late regardless of the amount of time which it is late—one minute, one hour, one day—late work will earn a zero. **I am willing to work with those who come to me BEFORE a deadline.

Some assignments are time sensitive and require class participation—these assignments cannot be extended due to the time constraints. Discussion board, rough drafts, and peer reviews must be submitted on time and are NOT eligible for a time extension regardless of the excuse.

Unless otherwise specified on the specs for a particular assignment, all work must be saved with a.pdf file extension only.

Please note: I suggest you complete and save your work in your word processor and then copy and paste or attach (whichever the assignment directions say) your completed work to CANVAS. This way, you have a copy of your work when (not if) bad things happen.

Please note: If you have a word processing program that defaults to .doc or .docx or wps or odt (or any other extension that is NOT.pdf), you MUST convert files to .pdf or before submitting them. Please be aware that .pdf files, while generic, also save as larger files than MS Word documents. Also, shared documents should be saved with an .pdf extension so that classmates will be able to open them regardless of the word processing program they are using.

Please note: All assignments should be submitted to their dedicated discussion boards or drop boxes. This instructor DOES NOT accept assignments by email. DO NOT use the text box to copy and paste a paper that is to be ATTACHED.

Please note: Rough Drafts and Peer Review: A draft is required on the due date. A draft must have three fully developed body paragraphs and a thesis statement (unless otherwise indicated on the assignment description). If you do not have a draft on the day of peer review, you cannot participate in the peer review. Rough Drafts (along with peer review) make up 5% of your semester grade.

Important Note: Drafts are graded on completion (did you have a draft on the day required, did your draft include three body paragraphs and a thesis statement, and did you complete the required number of peer reviews). The draft should respond to the essay prompt—simply turning in some writing that does not attempt the assignment will not be accepted. Drafts, however, are NOT evaluated for content by the instructor—so it is possible to get full credit for a draft but quite a different grade for the final polished essay. The draft grade in no way reflects the grade you should anticipate for the final draft of the essay. Draft grades are for completion only.

EXTRA-CREDIT, MAKE-UP, AND LATE WORK

College students are expected to work independently and complete assignments within the time allotted. It is important to look ahead in order to understand when assignments are due. Most successful students mark due dates on a planner or calendar.

Please note: This instructor DOES NOT make available extra-credit assignments and NO LATE WORK IS ACCEPTED. Students must stay abreast of deadlines and submit their work as scheduled in order to receive credit. There is a dedicated discussion board where bonus points can be earned and applied to different assignments.

Have a backup plan for when your technology fails and avoid working close to a deadline in case your technology fails and you do not have time to access your backup. Technology and computer issues WILL NOT be an excuse for not having work submitted on time.

COURSE CONCERNS OR COMPLAINTS

Students who have concerns/complaints about this course or the instructor should make an appointment with the instructor to discuss those concerns. Very often, "issues" that arise are simple misunderstandings that with additional dialogue and clarification can be easily resolved. If we cannot satisfactorily resolve the issue, the student should then contact the department chair. Students who try to circumvent this process will be redirected to the instructor as NCTC has a clearly stated protocol for dealing with student dissatisfaction.

GRADING POLICY

Please note: Students should note that this class is writing intensive. Although I will try to look at everything students write, I will not necessarily assess and respond to all submissions. You should faithfully complete all assignments so that you gain practice in writing and acquire the specific skills being taught in this course. The semester grade criteria articulated below makes clear the weight of assignments.

Grades will be posted in Canvas.

Students may meet with the professor at any time throughout the semester to discuss grades or progress or status in the class.

All major assignments include a grading rubric that is available before the assignment is due. Assignments will be assessed using the specified rubric. All assessment attempts to reward students for what they have accomplished. If at any time during the semester, you think that your work has not been fully appreciated for its merits, please contact your professor privately to review your contribution to the course.

LETTER/NUMERICAL GRADE VALUES

A = 90-100
B = 80-89
C = 70-79
D = 60-69
F < 59

SEMESTER GRADE CRITERIA (LO=Learning Outcome, CO=Core Objective)

Quizzes = 10 %—LO: 1, 4 CO: 1

Quizzes are either objective or short answer essay and are intended to check your reading/understanding.
Quizzes are usually timed.

Practice Quizzes = 0 %—LO: 1, 4 CO: 1

Quizzes are either objective or short answer essay and are intended to check your reading/understanding and grammar/mechanics.
Quizzes are usually timed

Discussion Boards and Journals = 20%—LO: 1-5 CO: 1-4

In order to receive full credit, your discussion post MUST address the lesson prompt AND meet the required word count.
60 points can be earned for your original post and 40 points for responding to peers equaling 100 points for each DB.
Comments MUST BE thoughtful and based on careful analysis.
Ideas about texts MUST BE supported with specific reference to/details in the text.

Essays =40%—LO: 1-5 CO: 1,2,4

Essay 1 =20%
Essay 2 = 20%

Short Writing Assignments=20%—LOs 1-5 CO: 1,2,4

Shorter “essays” focusing on building particular skills in different areas

Rough Drafts=10%—LOs 1-5 CO: 1-4

Rough Drafts and Peer Review: A draft is required on the due date. A draft must have three fully developed body paragraphs and a thesis statement (unless otherwise indicated on the assignment description). If you do not have a draft on the day of peer review, you cannot participate in the peer review. Rough Drafts (along with peer review) make up 5% of your semester grade.

GRADE POSTING

Objective assignments will be graded automatically when you submit them. You must notify me within 24 hours of any issue; thereafter, the grade stands.
Written assignments (DBs, essays, short writing journals, etc.) will be assessed as quickly as I am able to. I will use Announcements to keep you apprised of my grading progress. Please follow Announcements and or course email closely and refrain from sending emails about grades, since all that does is slow me down. Check Canvas frequently--you can control the settings in Canvas and get notifications even when outside of Canvas. It is your responsibility to stay up to date on when things happen in the class. I try to have assignments graded within a week of their due date, sometimes during heavier grading periods or for longer assignments and busier times in the semester it may take a little longer. I will keep you updated through Announcements and/or course email.

GRADE DISPUTES

If you disagree with any grade you receive, you should take the following steps:

Verify, first, that a recording error has not been made.
To challenge a specific grade, you should first determine the grade you think your work should have received based on the assignment criteria. This means you must take the criteria/rubric for the assignment you wish to challenge and decide how, in fact, the work you submitted DOES meet those criteria.
When you are prepared to justify the grade change according to the assignment criteria, you should make an appointment to speak with me via phone or video conference. After we have discussed your concerns and your work, I will make a decision to keep or modify the grade.

NCTC DEPARTMENTAL STANDARDS

NCTC mandates departmental standards that all English faculty adhere to in the grading of student writing. The emphasized general criteria include the following:

Substance (Content): The soundness and interest of the idea and the effectiveness of the supporting material;
Plan (Pattern): Organization;
Style: The appropriate manner of expression;
Mechanics: Sentence structure and variations, grammatical forms, punctuation, spelling, abbreviations, syllabification, hyphenation, italics, capitalization, and the conventions of writing numbers. Sentence level errors include, but are not limited to, errors in grammar, spelling, sentence structure, and word usage (diction). These seriously interfere with the reader’s response to the writing.

Sentence level errors cause coherency to break down. Many sentence level errors essentially destroy coherency. College students should exhibit a level of general literacy by avoiding sentence level errors. Thus, students should work diligently to avoid the following common errors:

Lack of Subject – Verb agreement
Lack of Pronoun – Antecedent agreement
Faulty use of verb tense (including needless shift of tense)
Faulty shifts in verb voice
Illiterate use of verbs
Illiterate use of homophones (words that sound the same but spell and mean differently; e.g., aisle/isle, cite/sight/site, compliment/complement, affect/effect, break/brake, principal/principle, your/you’re, their/there/they’re, its/it’s, whether/weather, discrete/discreet, advice/advise, device/devise, patients/patience, etc.) [Check a dictionary or the “Glossary of Usage” in The LBH.
Excessive number of misspelled words (Create a personal spelling list and keep it with your writing materials. We all have our own personal vocabularies. The words you misspell in one essay, you will continue to use and misspell in future essays – if you do not correct the error when you are made aware of it. When you receive your graded work and spelling errors are marked, add those words to your list AS YOU HAVE SPELLED THEM. Highlight the errors. Then write the correct spelling next to the misspelled word. Refer to this list frequently in the writing of subsequent papers. Also, get and USE a good college dictionary. Finally, when your paper is complete, in Word, you can use the FIND feature [CTRL + F] to check for use of these words and to correct them.)
Illegible penmanship and/or typing
Un-proofed manuscript (When you think your written work is complete, read it aloud.)

GRADE OF ZERO

A paper not submitted or submitted late will receive a grade of zero.
A paper that fails to respond to the prompt and/or fails to follow instructions will receive a grade of zero because the assignment has not been done.
A paper that fails to do the assignment as prescribed (e.g., formatting, length, content) will receive a grade of zero because the assignment has not been done.
A research assignment that contains no research or insufficient/inadequate research will receive a grade of zero because the basic assignment has not been done.
A research assignment that contains a Works Cited page but no internal documentation will receive a grade of zero because the paper is plagiarized (information was not internally cited).
A research assignment that is internally documented but contains no Works Cited page or a page that fails to conform to MLA standards will receive a grade of zero because the paper is plagiarized (information is not completely/correctly documented).
An essay previously written by you for another class and submitted as original work for an assignment in this course is considered plagiarism/cheating and will receive a grade of zero.

Please note: When I assess your papers, I assess them holistically in terms of how successfully you have managed the content, plan/pattern, style, mechanics, and the research component (if any). I also assess any assignment-specific criteria.

Please note: It is important to put in the effort to do your best and complete each assignment as assigned and according to the assignment specific instructions. No credit is given for "trying hard" or investing "a lot of time" in an assignment. This is a college course. This instructor expects you to be challenged and to invest the effort and the time needed to complete assignments successfully. (If you are "trying hard" and spending "a lot of time" on assignments and not producing a successful outcome, you should seek help.)

Submission of Assignments

Assignments must be submitted by the due date.

Assignments may be submitted before deadlines.

Assignments will not be accepted that do not follow assignment guidelines.

Assignments are due by 11:50 on the due date unless otherwise indicated..

Assignments not submitted in the proper format or do not follow directions will not be accepted.

It is your responsibility to submit your work properly and on time. It is your responsibility to check (and double check) to make sure that work was submitted correctly.

Not understanding the technology will not be an excuse for falling behind or not having things turned in.

Anything I ask you to submit as an attachment must be in a.pdf format. This means that if you have a new computer with Windows Vista and Word 2007 or later, you will have to convert your files before attaching them.

Files that are not submitted in the proper format will not be accepted.

After typing your essay or assignment using your word processing program, use the Save As feature under File on your tool bar to save your file in.pdf, following this format for the file name:

Lastname_Firstname_type of assignment

When you have typed in the file name, you will notice a box that is preceded by Save As directly underneath the file name. It will currently contain the name of the program you are using, but if you will click on the small down arrow to the right of that box, a drop down list will appear that will include .pdf. Click on that and then click on save to complete saving your file in Rich Text Format, which is readable by any word processing program.

Files not submitted in the proper format will be not be accepted.

Examples of saved files:

Smith_Matthew_Essay1FinalDraft.pdf

Each assignment will contain a reminder as to the file name to be used.

When using a drop box, discussion post, or any other submission, make sure you click the appropriate action to submit your work (Post, Submit, etc.)

MLA Formatting

All assignments submitted as attachments MUST be formatted according to MLA guidelines. This requires you to change most of the defaults if you use a current version of MS Word.

Use your Little Seagull Handbook for full list of MLA guidelines. General requirements are as follows:

Heading should be in MLA format (Your name, instructor name (spelled correctly!), course and section, and date (day month year). The heading should appear on the FIRST page only and in the TOP LEFT corner of the page. TIP: Type this in as part of the document and do not insert in as a header into the margin space.

Title—the title should reflect what the essay is about and NEVER “Essay 1” or anything of that nature. Titles should NOT be in larger, bold or in any way different from the rest of the text. The title should be centered.

Spacing—the entire document should be double spaced. No extra spaces between heading and title, title and text, or between paragraphs. If you use a new version of MS Word you must manually remove those spaces from the paragraph options tab.

Paragraphs the first line of each should be indented one tab space.

Page number and your last name should appear on the top right of each page including the first. TIP: use the “Insert” feature of your word processor and NEVER type these directly into the document. They should appear inserted into the header/margin space. TIP: remember to format this the same way as the rest of the document (font size and font style).

Font size and type—the font you use should be Times New Roman or Arial 12 point font. This is different from the default on most MS word processing programs so you have to change it. No other font style or size should be used.

Text color should always be standard black (typically the default on most word processing software).

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but not be limited to cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion. See the NCTC Student Handbook, “Student Rights & Responsibilities: Student Conduct [FLB- (LOCAL)]” #18.

Disciplinary Actions [Student Handbook, p. 164, #5] “When cheating, collusion, or plagiarism has occurred beyond any reasonable doubt, the instructor may give the student or students involved an “F” on a particular assignment or in the course. [See Scholastic Dishonesty FLB (Local)] The instructor shall make a written report of the incident and of the planned action to his Department Chair. The Department Chair shall report the incident and action to the appropriate instructional dean who shall review the case, notify the student, and, if necessary, take further action. This may involve either probation or suspension of the student or students in question. If such disciplinary action is deemed necessary, the Dean of Student Services shall be notified, and the action shall be taken through that office.”

Plagiarism, which should be avoided at all costs, includes the following student actions:

Turning in someone else's ideas, opinions, theories, or work as your own;
Unintentionally or inadvertently turning in someone else's ideas, opinions, theories, or work as your own as the result of failing to document sources both internally and in the Works Cited;
Copying words, ideas, or images from someone without giving credit; Failing to put a quotation in quotations marks;
Giving incorrect information about the source of information, quotations, or images;
Changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit;
Copying so many words, ideas, or images from a source that it makes up 20% or more of the student's work, whether or not the student gives credit.

A NOTE ABOUT USING SOURCES:

Any information that comes from a source--not matter if you quote, summarize, paraphrase, mention the source in the sentence, or otherwise put someone else’s thoughts/ideas/words into your own words, that information MUST be cited BOTH in-text AND in a works cited page according to MLA guidelines.

DO NOT use a quote more than 2 lines in length for ANY assignment in this course.

Discuss any sources used and any information used from that source. Do not just insert quotes here and there without discussing both the source and the content.

Source information should help to support your points (that is your ideas/thoughts/etc.) and should NOT make points for you. Synthesize any source information and come up with your original thoughts!

Please note the consequences of scholastic dishonesty in this course: The consequences of scholastic dishonesty in this course may range from a zero on the assignment to expulsion from the course with a grade of F. Students MUST be diligent in avoiding scholastic dishonesty of all kinds. Intentional and unintentional plagiarism have the same consequence.

RULES FOR DISCUSSION BOARD PARTICIPATION

Comments by users are not endorsed by NCTC. NCTC does not necessarily endorse, support, sanction, encourage, verify, or agree with the comments, opinions, or statements posted on the Discussion Boards. Any information or material placed online, including advice and opinions, are the views and responsibility of those who post the statements.
Use of the discussion boards. In this online course, your right to use the Discussion board is limited to class activities. You may not give or supply your password or ID to others to use. You may not authorize others to use the Discussion Board, and you are responsible for all use of the Discussion Board in your name. You agree not to use any obscene, indecent, or offensive language or to place on the Discussion Board any material that is defamatory, abusive, harassing, or hateful. Further, you may not place on the Discussion Board any material that is encrypted, constitutes junk mail or unauthorized advertising, invades anyone's privacy, or encourages conduct that would constitute a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability, or that otherwise violates any local, state, national or international law or regulation.

You agree to use the Discussion Board only for lawful purposes of this online course, and you acknowledge that your failure to do so may subject you to academic, civil, and criminal liability. You are responsible for ensuring that any material you provide to or post to the Discussion Board, including but not limited to text, photographs, and sound, does not violate the copyright, trademark, trade secret or any other personal or proprietary rights of any third party or is posted with the permission of the owner(s) of such rights. Music files etc. may not be distributed in this Discussion Board or within this course. Material on the Discussion Board is for your academic course use only.

The Discussion Board contains copyrighted and other proprietary information. You may not in any way make commercial or other unauthorized use, by publication, re-transmission, distribution, performance, caching, or otherwise, of material obtained through the Discussion Board, except as permitted by the Copyright Act or other law.

You agree neither to disrupt or interfere with the Discussion Board, nor to alter of tamper with any information or materials on or associated with the Discussion Board. You acknowledge that your Instructor may review and archive the content of all discussions and sites linked to and from this Discussion Board and that you are responsible for the content or actions of any other sites linked to or from this Discussion Board. Your linking to the Discussion Board is restricted to sites pertinent your online course assignments.

Use of material supplied by you. Postings to and communications with the Discussion Board are not private. You grant NCTC the unrestricted right to use, reproduce, archive, translate, transmit and distribute any material you supply or communicate to the Discussion Board.
Materials posted by others. You agree that the Instructor is not responsible, and shall have no liability to you, with respect to any information or materials posted by others, including defamatory, offensive or illicit material.
Indemnification. You agree to indemnify NCTC and its affiliates, agents and representatives, and to hold them harmless, from any and all claims and liabilities (including attorneys fees) which may arise from your submissions, from your unauthorized use of material obtained through the Discussion Board, or from your breach of this Agreement, or from any such acts through your use of the Discussion Board.

COURSE COMMUNICATION POLICIES AND EMAIL ETIQUETTE

One of the disadvantages of an online class is students and instructors rarely get to meet each other. Because we get to know each other dominantly through email, our impressions of each other are formed purely by writing. We should all take care in writing emails to avoid creating misunderstandings and hostilities. Following are a few guidelines to keep in mind as we exchange emails over the course of this semester.

Communication is key to your success in this course. Students should make important issues known to me ASAP. If you miss assignments, then check with me as to your overall progress in the course and how best to proceed.
Questions about an assignment or course policy. Make sure you have read carefully and thoroughly the course syllabus, the assignment specs/prompt, and the resources I have made available to help you complete an assignment. Usually, the answers you seek are in these materials. If, however, you still cannot find them, you should send me an email asking for what you need. I am happy to speak with you over the phone when necessary—sometimes lengthy responses/questions are more quickly addressed this way. Non dual credit students may email inquiring about phone conversations.

Dual Credit Students: Your high school counselor can reach me by phone and transfer that call to you if you need to speak with me. I will be happy to take your calls M-F during the hours of 8-2.

Send CANVAS emails to a specific person. When you send an email, be sure you choose the specific person before you send. If you send a global email to all classmates to get help on an assignment or to "rag" on your instructor, be aware that those emails arrive in my inbox too.
Email communication/composition is a rhetorical act. Be aware of your audience, purpose, context, and goal when you send me an email. Provide specific information. Ask specific questions. It is unnecessarily time-consuming to send clarifying emails back and forth.
Email structure, content, font. Be sure to organize your thoughts. Use paragraphs. Use complete sentences. Use correct grammar, spelling, capitalization, and punctuation. Use size 10/12 font, preferably sans serif (Arial, Verdana, etc.). DO NOT write in all caps. You might notice here that when I use all caps and bold, you may feel yelled at, though I intend just to be emphatic. An email composed in all caps (and bold) is offensive to look at and very difficult to read. Spell check and edit before you send. What I am saying here is that an email to the instructor is a formal writing occasion. It is more like writing an essay than texting a friend.
Emailed assignments. I DO NOT accept assignments by email. When you are ready to ATTACH an assignment to a drop box, you can add a message with any concerns you may have in the message box. DO NOT use the message box to copy and paste your finished papers. DO NOT use email to submit your work.

WHEN THINGS GO WRONG

Sometime during the semester, you will undoubtedly encounter some kind of problem—a broken link, a DB you cannot access, a grade that does not appear in your gradebook, etc. If the issue is on my end, I will fix it as soon as it is discovered. Students will never be penalized for my mistakes.

While one requirement for this course is that students have access to a working computer throughout the semester, we all know that computers can develop problems at the most inopportune times. If you have an issue with accessing course content or with your own computer, contact me immediately. If something in the CANVAS course is malfunctioning, be sure to notify me of the folder you were in, the materials you were accessing, the action you took, and the result you got. I cannot troubleshoot without this detailed information. I will acknowledge receipt of your email, and I will notify you when repairs have been completed.

Broken links. The dynamic nature of the Internet means that a course link that worked one day may not be working later the same day or same week. If you have tried a link in two different browsers and cannot get it to display, email me with a description of the problem.
Videos removed. I have embedded videos from different sources in this course. Sometimes, however, online videos are removed without warning. If you try to watch an assigned video and cannot successfully access it, notify me at once. I will make a decision to replace the video, if possible, substitute a different element, or simply remove the requirement.
Assignment specs, quiz, or other items not available. If a course item you are assigned is not available, take the following steps: (1) Check the due dates to make sure you have not missed the time period for availability. (2) Check the course schedule to make sure you are working in the current week and not working too far ahead in the course. If both of these check out correctly, notify me immediately so I can remedy the problem.
Computer crashes, page closes, electricity goes out, etc. If a problem occurs that is an NCTC/CANVAS system issue, you will not be penalized. Course content will be made available as soon as the issue is resolved. If, however, the technical issue you experience is not global, affecting the CANVAS system or the electrical grid where you live and work, then it is not an excuse for missing assignments.

You should have a backup plan for WHEN (not if) your PC stops working. Computers are available at NCTC campuses. They are available in public libraries. Most area colleges have "public" computers available for limited use. Consider friends, parents, or other relatives who may have a computer you can use temporarily. You are responsible throughout the semester for having access to a working computer. Also, remember that quizzes are timed. They often shut down if there is no activity. They automatically submit when the time expires. They may malfunction if you try to use the back button or open other windows while you are actively testing.

Try to work ahead—when you work close to the deadline and things go wrong you do not have time to troubleshoot, make other arrangements, or use campus computers when necessary (the computer labs won’t be open at 11:30 pm for instance).

CANVAS email. During the course of the semester, you are to use CANVAS email to contact me. I will use CANVAS email to contact you. If you experience ANY problems with CANVAS email, these are likely conflicts created by the browser you are using or some security setting you have applied. You MUST immediately put in a ticket to NCTC help so that this issue can be resolved ASAP. You should notify me of problems you are experiencing, the actions you have taken to remedy them, and the timeframe NCTC has given you in which to resolve the problem.

TECHNICAL SUPPORT

Direct access to CANVAS. To access CANVAS directly, type the following into your browser’s IP bar: Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. Please note: If the NCTC website becomes unavailable, you are still required to complete course work in CANVAS as scheduled. You should put this address in your browser's "favorites" so you can find it when (not if) you need it.
Course-related questions. For questions about course-related materials, course organization, the Course Syllabus, assignments or course protocol, contact the instructor directly using CANVAS’s internal email, NOT the instructor's NCTC email, which is highly unreliable and infrequently checked.
Technical Problems. From Debbie Huffman January 2012:

Faculty and students should use the eCampus help ticket system for all CANVAS and eLearning support issues. It may be accessed at: http://CANVAShelp.nctc.edu/portal. It may also be accessed by clicking on the Technical Support link on the CANVAS login page and is available both on and off campus. Use your network login and password to access it from off-campus. Instructions for submitting a ticket are displayed on the ticket form.

Once submitted, tickets are assigned to the appropriate eCampus staff member. Use of the ticket system lessens the number of duplicate requests which are often received through email. It also results in better management and tracking of help requests, and usually produces faster response times. If a staff member is out of the office, other staff are able to pick up the tickets. If you send an email to an individual and that individual is not available, there is a delay in receiving assistance.

We have also implemented auto attendant and phone tree tools for the CANVAS support phone number, 940.668.3335. The phone call initially goes to Lemuel Sapian, User Support & Training Specialist; however, if Lemuel does not answer, the call is automatically transferred to the next staff member on the list.

All CANVAS and eLearning support issues that require a phone call should be directed to 940.668.3335, rather than individual staff in the eLearning Department.

EEOC STATEMENT

North Central Texas College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, or disability in the employment or the provision of services.

DISABILITY ACCOMMODATIONS

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 940-668-4209.

North Central Texas College is on record as being 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

Support Services

Counseling and Testing staff offer a variety of services to current and prospective students, such as College 101, placement testing, academic advising and course registration, transfer assistance, and College Success seminars (Time Management, Study Skills, Test Anxiety, Choosing a Major, Learning Style Strategies, Career Exploration), and much more. http://www.nctc.edu/StudentServices/CounselingTesting.aspx

Student Success offers academic coaching, tutoring, including a Writing Center, a Math Lab, free 24/7 online tutoring through Grade Results and assist new students acclimate to college by providing computer lab services for prospective students. First generation students can also participate in TRIO which offers specialized support services.

http://www.nctc.edu/StudentServices/SupportServices.aspx

Financial Aid offers financial resources for students that qualify, visit the financial aid offices for more information. http://www.nctc.edu/FInancialAidHome.aspx

Early Alert/CARES

The NCTC Early Alert program has been established to assist students who are at risk of failing or withdrawing from a course. Your instructor may refer you to this program if you are missing assignments, failing tests, excessively absent, or have personal circumstances impacting your academic performance. If submitted as an Early Alert you will be notified via your NCTC e-mail address and then contacted by a Counseling and Testing advisor or counselor to discuss possible strategies for completing your course successfully.

The NCTC CARES (Campus Assessment Response Evaluation Services) Team addresses behavior which may be disruptive, harmful or pose a threat to to the health and safety of the NCTC community-such as stalking, harassment, physical or emotional abuse, violent or threatening behavior, or self-harm. As a student, you have the ability to report concerning behavior which could impact your own safety or the safety of another NCTC student. Just click the NCTC CARES Team logo posted on MyNCTC, or send an e-mail to CARESTeam@nctc.edu. As always, if you feel there is an immediate threat to your own safety or welfare (or to another student), please call 911 immediately.

TOBACCO-FREE CAMPUS

NCTC restricts the use of all tobacco products including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, electronic cigarettes, and smokeless tobacco on campus property. NCTC is aware that tobacco use influences underage students, which cumulates unsightly tobacco litter and interferes with assuring clean air for all who come to NCTC. NCTC recognizes the health hazards of tobacco use and of exposure to second hand smoke. Information on a tobacco cessation program is available for students, faculty, staff who wish to stop using tobacco products. We would like to "thank you" for your help in making our campuses Tobacco-Free. For questions or concerns, please contact the Office of Vice President of Student Services at 940-668-4240.

COURSE DISCLAIMER

This SYLLABUS and the work outlined in the TENTATIVE SCHEDULE serve as a guide. At any time at the discretion of the instructor, readings, assignments, materials, due dates, and/or grading criteria may be modified. Further, COURSE ANNOUNCEMENTS take precedence over all written materials. Students are REQUIRED to check ANNOUNCEMENTS daily for updates, corrections, clarifications and/or changes. Students are also REQUIRED to check EMAIL daily.

ENGL 1301 372 - COMPOSITION I

Introduction

Syllabus File(s)