COURSE SYLLABUS AND CALENDAR
Composition I Fall - 2017
ENGL 1301.421 Dr. White
Catalog 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.
[Rev. Fall 2012 THECB]
Instructor: Emily White, PhD Office Phone: (940) 498-6431
Email: ewhite@nctc.edu, or through Canvas Office: 339
Office Hours: Mon & Wed 8:00-9:30; 1:00 – 3:00
Tues & Thurs 8:00 – 9:30; 2:00 – 3:00
Friday – Programming/Tutoring
Or by appointment
Required Textbooks and Materials:
Lundsford, Andrea, et al. Everyone’s an Author w/Readings, W.W. Norton, 2nd Ed.
ISBN: 978-0-393-265293.
Access to internet and Canvas on a daily basis
Access to a writing guide and dictionary
Learning Outcomes:
Students who successfully complete English 1301 will meet the following learning outcomes:
- 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.
Calculating Your Grade:
Writing Assignment I 30%
Writing Assignment II 30%
Writing Assignment III 30%
Final Exam 10%
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.
Scholastic Integrity:
Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but not be limited to cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion. See 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 [or her] 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:
- 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 the majority of the student's work, whether or not the student gives credit.
*Note* Students who plagiarize in ENGL 1301 will fail the course.
Tobacco Policy:
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.
Attendance Policy:
Because each day of instruction is important, attendance to each class meeting is imperative and mandatory. Students who miss more than 6 classes will fail the course, regardless of your writing ability or current GPA. No exceptions. I will consider weather and traffic issues on a case-by-case basis. Remember that you have enrolled in a class for which consistent and habitual attendance is vital to your passing the class. It is your responsibility to be a member of the class for which you enrolled.
Please arrive to class on time. Students who arrive to class more than 10 minutes late two times throughout the term will be counted absent on their 3rd tardy. If late behavior becomes a problem, the door will be locked so as to not distract from students entering the room after class has begun.
Disability Accommodations:
The 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 the Administration (100) Building 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).
ACCESS Program:
The ACCESS Program provides accommodations for students who have a documented disability. A disability is anything that can interfere with learning, such as a learning disability, psycho-logical challenge or physical illness or injury. Accommodations may include extra time on tests, tests in a non-distracting environment, a note taker in class, etc. On the Corinth Campus, contact: Wayne Smith, ACCESS Coordinator, at (kwsmith@nctc.edu), 940-498-6207 or Penny Cogbill, Departmental Assistant, at (pcogbill@nctc.edu, 940-498-6212) or William Leija, Departmental Assistant, at wleija@nctc.edu, 940-498-6224 in Suite 170. For the Gainesville, Bowie, or Graham Campuses, contact Yvonne Sandmann, ACCESS Specialist, at (ysandmann@nctc.edu, (940) 668-7731 ext. 4321) in Room 110 on the Gainesville Campus. NETWORKS is a childcare reimbursement program that may assist technical students with partial childcare reimbursement for those who apply and qualify. Contact Yvonne Sandmann, ACCESS Specialist, for more information.
Student Success Center:
The Student Success Center is designed to help all students at NCTC develop tools to achieve their academic goals. This program also links students to FREE tutoring, including a Writing Center, a Math Lab, and free 24/7 online tutoring and helps new students acclimate to college by providing computer lab services for prospective students. All students are invited to visit the Student Success Center on the Corinth Campus go to rooms 170, 182, or 188; on the Gainesville Campus go to rooms 114 or 111; on the Flower Mound Campus go to room 111, on the Bowie Campus go to room 124.
TRIO Program:
TRIO Programs are federally funded programs which offer services designed to assist students in achieving their academic goals. Services include educational workshops, academic advising, tutoring, personal counseling, career counseling, cultural enrichment, and financial aid information. Students may be eligible for TRIO if they are currently enrolled at North Central Texas College, have academic need, and meet at least ONE of THREE criteria which include: 1) first generation status—neither parent has graduated from college, 2) income level is within federal low income guidelines, and/or 3) has a documented disability. TRIO is located in Room 170 on the Corinth Campus, Room 112 on the Gainesville Campus, and Room 124 on the Bowie Campus. Contact Jessica DeRoche, TRIO Coordinator, at jderoche@nctc.edu, 940-498-6212 on the Corinth Campus for more information.
Students can also access the Department of Student Success’ website by going to www.nctc.edu and clicking on the red button in the middle of the page labeled “Tutoring and Other ACADEMIC SUPPORT SERVICES” or by going directly to http://www.nctc.edu/Student_Services/Access/AcademicandStudentSupportServices.htm.
Units of Study
Students will read and analyze a variety of selections from the adopted textbook.
- Block II: Quizzes, Examinations, and the Final Exam
Students may be required to take quizzes or tests over assigned readings and/or related materials. The class MUST meet during the final exam week. A final exam, if given, may count no more than 25% of the semester grade.
Students will write a minimum of 5,000 words (20 pages) in a variety of compositions—formal and informal. As part of this required writing, students will produce a minimum of four graded assignments. At least two of these must use the complete writing process, which may consist of the following:
- Invention
- Drafting
- Peer Review
- Revision
- Final Draft
- Block IV: Grammar and Mechanics
Students will study grammar and mechanics in the adopted handbook in order to meet departmental standards. This study may be done by examination of units in the handbook or through writing as a process, according to the discretion of the instructor.
Students will utilize library and electronic resources. They will submit a written assignment, such as an annotated bibliography, a documented essay, or several short compositions, using MLA style documentation. Pages generated as part of this research block are included in the required writing stipulated in Block III.
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.
Etiquette/Professionalism Policy:
Often, we will read material from a diverse group of thinkers and writers. Always, we will be sharing a variety of ideas and values, many with which you may not agree. Polite debate is welcome, insults and denigration of the ideas of another student or myself is not welcome, and will not be tolerated. Any student who mocks or scoffs at anyone else in the class will be promptly dismissed, counted absent, and may not return to class until the offensive student has experienced a conference with me and the chair of the Department of English, Speech, and Foreign Language. Please conduct yourself as a professional in our classroom. Consider your academic audience, purpose, and occasion at all times.
Important Policies:
Do not: text, accept incoming calls, or use your cell phone, ipod, ipad, laptop, or any electronic device during class. Please place all electronics under your desk, in your backpack, or in your purse, and do not use them during class. This includes: leaving class, going to the bathroom, and listening to music or texting from the bathroom during class time. Students who use their phones in class for any reason will be asked to leave class, and will be counted absent for the day.
Do not wear ear buds to class, even if your stereo device is turned off.
You may bring a small, odorless snack or covered container of drink to class. Do not bring a meal to class. Do not bring wet foods to class. Do not bring any food item possessing an odor to class.
Sleeping students will be awoken, asked to leave class, and counted absent for the day. A conference with me may, or may not follow the incident involving the sleeping student.
Our classroom is a safe environment for all learners. Be kind to each other at all times.
NOTE: If you are asked to leave class because of the above-mentioned behavioral issues, you will automatically be counted absent for the day. Consider your adult classroom audience, purpose, and occasion before making poor choices in our classroom.
COURSE CALENDAR
All information subject to change; check Canvas for updates.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 29:
ACTIVITY: Welcome! Syllabus; Course Calendar; Class Expectations
THURSDAY, AUGUST 31:
ACTIVITY: Discuss Assignments
READ FOR NEXT TIME: James Herrick A History and Theory of Rhetoric (Provided for you)
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5:
ACTIVITY: Writing purposes; Discuss Herrick’s text; Helpful websites and resources for Comp I
READ FOR NEXT TIME: Chapter I – Everyone’s an Author (Thinking Rhetorically) pp. 5-17
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7:
ACTIVITY: In-class reading of Horace Miner’s Body Ritual among the Nacirema (Provided for you); Discuss Chapter I
READ FOR NEXT TIME: Chapter II – Everyone’s an Author (Rhetorical Situations) pp. 18-24; Chapter XVII (Analyzing and Constructing Arguments) pp. 379-418
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12:
ACTIVITY: Discuss Chapter II; Ethos, Pathos, and Logos; Narration in Song
READ FOR NEXT TIME: Chapter III – (Everyone’s an Author) “Reading Rhetorically” pp. 25-39
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14;
ACTIVITY: Discuss Chapters II and III
READ FOR NEXT TIME: Chapter XII (Everyone’s an Author) “Writing a Narrative” pp. 159-200
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19:
ACTIVITY: Discuss Writing Assignment I
ASSIGN: Writing Assignment I – Descriptive Narrative
READ FOR NEXT TIME: Chapter XXVI (Giving Credit, Avoiding Plagiarism) pp. 539-546
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21:
ACTIVITY: Plagiarism Workshop
READ FOR NEXT TIME: Chapter XXVII (MLA Style) pp. 547-602
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26:
ACTIVITY: Descriptive narrative in film
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28:
ACTIVITY: Descriptive narrative in film
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2:
ACTIVITY: Discuss narrative elements of film; apply elements of Chapter XII
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5:
ACTIVITY: Peer Review-Writing Assignment I
READ FOR NEXT TIME: Chapter XIII (Writing Analytically) pp. 201-227
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10:
ACTIVITY: Documentary
READ FOR NEXT TIME: Chapter XXV (Quoting, Paraphrasing, Summarizing) pp. 524-538
ASSIGN: Writing Assignment II
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12:
ACTIVITY: Documentary
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17:
ACTIVITY: Discuss Writing Assignment II; Discuss Rhetorical Analysis; Discuss Chapter XIII
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19:
ACTIVITY: Declare film for analysis; The Bee’s Knees
READ FOR NEXT TIME: Chapter XVIII – Everyone’s an Author (Strategies for Supporting an Argument) pp. 419-441
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24:
ACTIVITY: Discuss informative and persuasive elements of rhetorical analysis.
READ FOR NEXT TIME: Chapter XIV (Reporting Information) pp. 252-286
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26:
ACTIVITY: Discuss Chapter XIV
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31:
ACTIVITY: Morgan Spurlock and Argument
READ FOR NEXT TIME: Chapter XXII (Evaluating Sources) pp. 498-508
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2:
ACTIVITY: Internet Detective Show; Snopes
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7:
ACTIVITY: Peer Review Writing Assignment I
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9:
ACTIVITY: Denton County Friends of the Family
READ FOR NEXT TIME: Chapter XXIV (Synthesizing Ideas) pp. 515-523
ASSIGN: Writing Assignment III – Research Project of a Non-Profit Organization
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14:
ACTIVITY: View and Discuss Model Essay of Writing Assignment III
READ FOR NEXT TIME: Chapter XXIV (Synthesizing Ideas) pp. 515-523
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16:
ACTIVITY: Discuss Informative and Persuasive Writing in Academia and in Real Life
READ FOR NEXT TIME: Chapter VI (Writing and Rhetoric in the Workplace) pp. 58-74
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21:
ACTIVITY: Peer Review – Writing Assignment III
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23:
Thanksgiving Holiday – No Classes
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28:
ACTIVITY: Presentations
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30:
ACTIVITY: Presentations
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4:
ACTIVITY: Discuss Informative and Persuasive Writing in Academia and in Real Life
READ FOR NEXT TIME: Chapter VI (Writing and Rhetoric in the Workplace) pp. 58-74
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7:
ACTIVITY: Review for Final Exam
FINAL EXAM
Thursday, December 14
9:30 am
Important Dates:
August 27 Last Day of 100% Refund for Courses Dropped
September 28 Last Day to withdraw from a class with a grade of 'W' for 1st 8 Week
October 23 Last Day of 100% Refund for Courses Dropped 2nd 8 Week Semester
November 9 Last day to withdraw from a class with 'W' for regular semester 16 Week Session
November 23 Last Day to withdraw from a class with a 'W' for 2nd 8 Week Session