ENGL 1301: Composition I (Fall 2017)
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.
[Rev. Fall 2012 THECB] .
Prerequisite: Satisfactory placement test score or passing grade in ENGL 0305.
Office Hours:
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Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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Office 10-11
Office 12:30-2
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Office 5:30-6:30
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Office 10-11
Office 12:30-2
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Available via the CANVAS INBOX in real time from 8 a.m. till 10 a.m. |
Available via the CANVAS INBOX in real time from 8 a.m. till 10 a.m.
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Contact me any time, 7 days a week, via the CANVAS INBOX. It might be a few hours, but I will check at least daily throughout the semester--especial when major assignments are due.
Textbooks:
All readings, research materials, and style manuals will be available online via links in the assignments and discussions.
Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete English 1301 will meet the following learning outcomes:
1. Demonstrate knowledge of individual and collaborative writing processes.
2. Develop ideas with appropriate support and attribution.
3. Write in a style appropriate to audience and purpose.
4. Read, reflect, and respond critically to a variety of texts.
5. Use Edited American English in academic essays.
[Rev. Fall 2017 THECB]
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 [Rev. 5-2014 THECB]
Core Objective Focus: While each Core Objective listed herein is important, NCTC is particularly interested in emphasizing Personal Responsibility in this course on writing the academic essay: "the ability to connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision making." This Core Objective will be assessed in a variety of assignments having to do with the ethical use of information in reading, writing, and arguing from research.
Grading Policy and Procedures (Categories of Assignments)
- Discussions and Attendance/Participation: 40%
- Written Assignments: 20%
- Midterm, Major Papers, Final: 40%
______________________________________________
Grades are holistic, based on the following rubric:
- A: Clearly superior
- B: Excellent
- C: Good
- D: Passable
- F: Not appropriate for a college level-writing course
The last day to withdraw is November 9
Course Expectations
The course requires frequent participation in online discussions, with an expectation of at least three hours weekly, engaged in reading the materials, researching as necessary, and writing with the community.
Research and the writing of required papers is a separate block of time, easily equal to another three-to-six hours weekly. Be sure to plan enough time to stay current in the discussions as well as to produce the required compilations of notes and major papers.
Papers must be submitted in docx format. Not other formats will be accepted. Regardless of your computer or word processor, always save course submissions as docx files.
Tablets and smart phones are not sufficient as writing instruments. You should have full-time access to your own computer and internet. Do not contact the Professor for technical support of your tools.
Scholastic Integrity
Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but not be limited to cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion. SeeStudent Handbook“Student Rights & Responsibilities: StudentConduct [FLB- (LOCAL)]” #18.
Disciplinary Actions [Student Handbook, #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 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:
1.Turning in someone else's ideas, opinions, theories, or work as your own;
2.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;
3.Copying words, ideas, or images from someone without giving credit; Failing to put a quotation in quotations marks;
4.Giving incorrect information about the source of information, quotations, or images;
5.Changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit;
6.Copying so many words, ideas, or images from a source that it makes up the majority of the student's work, whether or not the student gives credit. [Rev. 3-20-2012–Plagiarism text added cb]
Attendance Policy
Regular and punctual attendance is expected of all students in all classes for which they have registered. All absences are considered to be unauthorized unless the student is absent due to illness or emergencies as determined by the instructor. It is the student responsibility to provide documentation as to the emergency for approval and judgement by the faculty member. Approved college sponsored activities are the only absences for which a student should not be held liable and only when provided by a college official ahead of the absence. Valid reasons for absence, however, do not relieve the student of the responsibility for making up required work.Students will not be allowed to make up an examination missed due to absence unless they have reasons acceptable to the instructor. A student who is compelled to be absent when a test is given should petition the instructor, in advance if possible, for permission to postpone the exam. Student will be dropped from a class by the Registrar upon recommendation of the instructor who feels the student has been justifiably absent or tardy a sufficient number of times to preclude meeting the course’s objectives. Persistent, unjustified absences from classes or laboratories will be considered sufficient cause for College officials to drop a student from the rolls of the College. From Board Policy FC (LOCAL)
Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is posted in the Course Calendar.
[Rev. 5-2014]
ADA Statement
North Central Texas College does not discriminate on the basis of disability for admission or access to its programs. The College is committed to providing equal access to its students with disabilities by providing appropriate accommodations; a variety of services and resources are made available through the ACCESS Department. Students are responsible for notifying the ACCESS Department of their need for assistance. Students with documented disabilities, such as mobility impairment, hearing or visual impairment, learning, and/or psychological disorders are eligible for services. Disability AccommodationsThe Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides accommodations for students who have a documented disability. A disability is anything that can interfere with learning, such as a learning disability, psychological challenge, physical illness, or injury. Accommodations may include extra time on tests, tests in a distraction-reduced environment, volunteer note taker in class, etc. On the Corinth Campus, go to room 170 or call 940-498-6207. On the Gainesville Campus, go to room 110 in theAdministration Building (100) or call 940-668-4209. Students on the Bowie, Graham, Flower Mound, and online campuses should call 940-668-4209 to arrange for an intake appointment with OSD. 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/DisabilitiesFacultyResources.aspx
[Rev. 7/25/2012 per Brent Wallace/Mary Martinson]
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.
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.[Rev. 5-2014]
Calendar
(Tentative: See Modules for Real-time Assignments, Discussions, Due Dates, etc.)
Week One: August 28-September 3
Required Notices
Welcome to the Course
Introduce Yourself
Major Assignments of the Semester:
- The Book of the Course
- The Annotated Bibliography
Discussion Forum: Ötzi: The World of 5000 BP
Week Two: September 4-10 Labor Day Holiday
Reading/Research: Psyche and Eros (Sometime referred to by the Latin name as Psyche and Cupid) Links to an external site.
Week Three: September 11-17
Reading/Research: Star Cave/Homo Naledi and Neanderthal stone rings
DISCUSSION: The Archetypes of the Underworld
ASSIGNMENT: Annotated Bibliography for all readings and research to date
Week Four: September 18-24
Reading/Research: Chauvet, Pech Merle, Lascaux
DISCUSSION: Calendar of the cave arts
Week Five: September 25-October 1
Reading/Research: The Neolithic Revolution: Ötzi, The Ice Cap, Global Warming, and the Great Flood
DISCUSSION: Evidence and Narrative and The World Before Writing
Week Six: October 2-8
Reading/Research: The Kesh Temple Hymn
DISCUSSION: Evidence, Metanarrative, and Finding a Fine Thesis Sentence
Week Seven: October 9-15
Reading/Research: The Epic of Gilgamesh
DISCUSSION: Gilgamesh, His World, and the Bull of Heaven
ASSIGNMENT: Ten Excellent and Polished Sentences from Your Discussion Posts, complete with citations of their sources.
Week Eight: October 16-22
MAJOR WRITING ASSIGNMENT DUE FRIDAY BY 5:00 PM.
Research Paper making use of materials from the readings, research, discussions, and collaborative contemplation of the Thesis.
Week Nine: October 23-29
Major Research Document (Part One): Annotated Bibliography in preparation for discussions and essays focused on The Carolina Backcountry between 1763 through 1773.
DISCUSSION: Who were the populations involved in the population explosion in the Carolina Backcountry? What were the economic, religious, racial, political, and other aspects that characterized this population? As time shifted, how did these populations shift? In your discussions, identify at least three separate groups of people and compare and contrast the issues important to each group.
Week Ten: October 30-November 5
Major Research Document (Part Two): Continued additions to your Annotated Bibliography in preparation for discussions and essays focused on The Carolina Backcountry between 1773 through 1779.
DISCUSSION: What were the issues that affected at least three different groups of people during the escalating Revolutionary War? Continue your exploration into the diversity of the frontier population, the economics, the religious and racial and political tensions of these populations.
Week Eleven: November 6-12
Major Research Document (Part Three): Continued additions to your Annotated Bibliography in preparation for discussions and essays focused on The Carolina Backcountry between 1780 and 1783.
DISCUSSION: The final years of the Revolutionary War were particularly brutal on the citizens of the Carolinas, with many Americans dying at the hands of other Americans. Building on the background you've collected in the research of the past two weeks, examine the battles and the people of the Patriots and the Loyalists in the Carolina Backcountry.
As before, we are examining at least three separate groups of people with a lot of different issues. As the War of Independence came to its conclusion, what were the effects on these different backcountry groups?
November 9: last day to withdraw
Week Twelve: November 13-19
DISCUSSION: Finding a Thesis that rises above the obvious. We know about the Pilgrims and we know about the Declaration of Independence. When we turn our focus away from the Pageant Events and look beyond the BIG TEN, what does the American Revolution look like for the population actually building America out of the swamps and forests of the frontiers?
Week Thirteen: November 20-26 Thanksgiving Holiday
Finish the Annotated Bibliography, The Final Book of the Course, and the Major Paper on The First American Civil War, due Sunday November 26 at 11:59 pm.
Week Fourteen: November 27-December 3
Discussion of the future of written communications and the evolving workplace.
Week Fifteen: December 4-10
Final Conclusions
Week Sixteen: December 11-14 Final Exams