NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE 

COURSE SYLLABUS

Course Title:

 Composition I

Course Prefix & Number: 

 ENGL1301

Section Number: 

 410

Semester/Year:

Spring 2017-2018

Semester Credit Hours: 

 3

Lecture Hours:

 48

Lab Hours:

 none

Course Day, Time, Dates, and Location

TR

5:00 - 6:20 pm

8/28/2018 - 12/15/2018
(16 wks)

Cor 312

Course Description (NCTC Catalog):

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. 48 lecture hours. Meets NCTC Core Curriculum Requirement.                                                       

Course Prerequisite(s): Satisfactory placement test score or passing grade in ENGL 0305

Required or Recommended Course Materials: 

  • Lundsford, Andrea, et al. Everyone’s an Author w/Readings, W. W. Norton, 2nd edition. ISBN: 978-0-393-61746-7Make sure this book is stamped "2016 MLA UPDATE" on the front cover (see the arrow in the picture on the right)..
Everyones an Author_Cover.jpg
  • A college dictionary of recent publication. An acceptable online dictionary is the Merriam-Webster Dictionary
dictionary.jpg

A note about accessing books:

  • The textbooks are on reserve in the Corinth and Gainesville libraries. You can go to the library to read assignments or you can Xerox copies of assigned pages to take with you. You can also use your cell phone to take pictures of pages to take with you. 
  • Check any area library (public or academic); you may be able to locate a copy of the textbook and check it out.  
  • Check online for used or rentable books.   

 INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Name of Instructor:

 Ms Chris Bishop

Campus/Office Location:

 Corinth, Rm. 320 

Telephone Number:

 940-498-6241

E-mail Address:

 cbishop@nctc.edu

 OFFICE HOURS

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

 

 12:30-2:00

 

 12:30-2:00

 

 

 3:30-5:00

 

 3:30-5:00

 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (From Academic Course Guide Manual/Workforce Education Course Manual/NCTC Catalog)

At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:

 LO1

Demonstrate knowledge of individual and collaborative writing processes.

 LO2

 Develop ideas with appropriate support and attribution.

 LO3

 Write in a style appropriate to audience and purpose.

 LO4

 Read, reflect, and respond critically to a variety of texts.

 LO5

 Use edited American English in academic essays. 

GRADING CRITERIA

# of Graded Course Elements

Graded Course Elements

Percentage or Point Values

 multiple

Participation -- includes all in-class activities, e.g., quizzes, group work, peer reviews, discussions, etc.
Students must be in class to earn participation credit. This category splits 5% for attendance roll call and 15% for participation.

 20%

1

 Rhetorical Analysis (All LOs, CM, CT -- RG)

20%

 1

 Research-Based Report (All LOs, CM, CT -- RG)

20%

1

 "Allegory of the Cave" / Personal Responsibility Essay (PR -- RG)

10%

1

 Researched-Based Position Paper (All LOs, CM, CT -- RG)

 20%

1

 Pro/Con Presentations / Teamwork (TW -- RG)

 5%
1

 Final Exam

 5%

COURSE SUBJECT OUTLINE (Major Assignments, Due Dates, and Grading Criteria)

 WEEK 1

Tuesday, January 16 

  • First class day 
  • Student/Instructor Introductions
  • Review of the course syllabus

Thursday, January 18

 

 WEEK 2

Tuesday, January 23

  • Everyone's an Author -- Textbook Introduction (pp. xxix-xxxiv)
  • Everyone's an Author -- Part I (Introduction): The Need for Rhetoric and Writing (pp. 1-4)

Thursday, January 25

  • Everyone's an Author -- Chapter 1: Thinking Rhetorically (pp. 5-17)
  • Everyone's an Author -- Chapter 2: Rhetorical Situations (pp. 18-24)
 

 WEEK 3

Tuesday, January 30

  • Everyone's an Author -- Chapter 3: Reading Rhetorically (pp. 25-39)

Thursday, February 1

  • Rhetorical Analysis assigned -- due in its dedicated dropbox at the start of class Tuesday, Feb. 20 

 

 WEEK 4

Tuesday, February 6

  • Everyone's an Author -- Chapter 4 (pp. 40-52): Academic Writing
  • Everyone's an Author -- Chapter 7 (pp. 79-89): The Writing Process

Thursday, February 8

  • Locating and assessing credible sources

 

 WEEK 5

Tuesday, February 13

  • Documenting Sources -- MLA Style

Thursday, February 15

  • In-class Writing/Peer Review day -- the Rhetorical Analysis

 

 WEEK 6

Tuesday, February 20

  • Rhetorical Analysis due
  • Everyone's an Author -- Part III: Chapter 10 -- Genres of Writing (pp. 105-115)

Thursday, February 22

  • Everyone's an Author -- Chapter 14: Reporting Information (pp. 253-296)
  • Genre acquisition: Report Writing
  • Research-based report assigned.
  • Topics must be approved by the end of class today

Completed rhetorical analysis is due in its dedicated dropbox at the start of class Tuesday, Feb. 20 

 WEEK 7

Tuesday, February 27

  • Report Writing, cont.

Thursday, March 1

  • Report Writing, cont. 
 

 WEEK 8

Tuesday, March 6

  • Report cont.

Thursday, March 8

  • Report finished and submitted

Completed report is due Thursday, Mar. 8 at the end of class.

SPRING BREAK: MARCH 12-16

 WEEK 9

Tuesday, March 20

  • Plato's "The Allegory of the Cave"
  • Genre acquisiton: allegory/parable

Thursday, March 22

  • Writing to the prompt -- instruction
  • Reader-response (personal responsibility) essay assigned

 

 WEEK 10

Tuesday, March 27

  • Rough draft reader-response essay due for peer review

Thursday, March 29

  • Essay due at the end of class

Completed essay is due Thursday, Mar. 29 at the end of class.

 WEEK 11

Tuesday, April 3

  • Chapter 11 (pp. 116-158): Arguing a Position
  • Controversial issue must be approved for research/writing by the end of class today

Tuesday, April 5

  • Position, cont. 
  • Last day to withdraw with a grade of "W"

 

 WEEK 12

Tuesday, April 10

  • Position paper, cont. 

Thursday, April 12

  • Position paper cont.

 

 WEEK 13

Tuesday,  April 17

  • Position, cont.

Thursday, April 19

  • Final Peer Reviews of Position Paper
  • Edit final draft of the Position Paper as homework
  • Position Paper is due at the start of class Tuesday, April 24.

 

 WEEK 14

Tuesday, April 24

  • Everyone's an Author -- Chapter 8 (collaboration)
  • In-class collaboration (TW-RG)
  • Teamwork -- prepare presentations for Week 15

Thursday,  April 26

  • Teamwork -- prepare presentations for Week 15

Finished researched position argument is due at the start of class Tuesday, Apr. 24

 WEEK 15

LAST WEEK OF CLASSES

Tuesday May 1

  • Rro/Con presentations 

Thursday, May 3

  • Pro/Con presentations 

Presentations in class as scheduled.

 WEEK 16

WEEK OF FINAL EXAMS

  • Final for this class is Tuesday, ???

TBA

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 9 November 2017.
  • Week 16 -- week of final exams 9-15 December 2017
  • Term ends 15 December 2017
  • Grades and rolls due 16 December 2017 @ noon

DISABILITY SERVICES (Office for Students with Disabilities)

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides support services for students with disabilities, students enrolled in technical areas of study, and students who are classified as special populations (i.e. single parents).

Support services for students with disabilities might include appropriate and reasonable accommodations, or they may be in the form of personal counseling, academic counseling, career counseling, etc.  Furthermore, OSD Counselors work with students to encourage self-advocacy and promote empowerment. The Counselors also provides resource information, disability-related information, and adaptive technology for students who qualify.

If you feel you have needs for services that the institution provides, please reach out to either Wayne Smith (940) 498-6207 or Yvonne Sandman (940) 668-4321.  Alternative students may stop by Room 170 in Corinth or Room 110 in Gainesville.

CORE CURRICULUM FOUNDATIONAL COMPONENT AREA (For classes in the Core)     

  • Communication
  • Mathematics
  • Life and Physical Science
  • Language, Philosophy & Culture
  • Creative Arts
  • American History
  • Government/Political Science
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences
  • Component Area Option

REQUIRED CORE OBJECTIVES (for classes in the Core) 

  • Critical Thinking -- to include create thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information
  • Communication -- to include effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through written, oral, and visual communication
  • Empirical and Quantitative
  • Teamwork-- to include the ability to consider different points o view and to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal
  • Personal Responsibility -- to include the ability to connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision-making
  • Social Responsibility 

COURSE TYPE

  • Academic General Education Course (from ACGM but not in NCTC Core)
  • Academic NCTC Core Curriculum Course
  • WECM Course

STUDENT HANDBOOK

Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the student handbook and published online. Scroll to the bottom of the page to access the hyperlinks Section I and Section II.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, academic falsification, intellectual property dishonesty, academic dishonesty facilitation and collusion.  Faculty members may document and bring charges against a student who is engaged in or is suspected to be engaged in academic dishonesty.  See Student Handbook, “Student Rights & Responsibilities: Student Conduct ([FLB(LOCAL)].” The complete path to locating this source online is as follows:

  1. Page: Academic Catalog 
    1. Choose link: North Central Texas College Student Handbook (NCTC Student Handbook
      1. Scroll to the bottom of the NCTC Student Handbook page; choose the link: Section II
        1. On the page Section II, choose the link: "Students Rights and Responsibilities: Student Conduct
        2. On the page "Student Rights and Responsibilities: Student Conduct," choose the link  "Specific Conduct Regulations/Restrictions"
  2. You can also use this link to access the Student Handbook (inside the Academic Catalog for 2017-2018) directly.

Consequences for academic dishonesty may include:

  1. [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)]
  2. 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.”

Please noteScholastic dishonesty should be avoided at all costs. 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 for the semester. Students MUST be diligent in avoiding scholastic dishonesty of all kinds. 

QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS

Name of Chair/Coordinator:

 Dr. Rochelle Gregory

Office Location:

 

Telephone Number:

 

E-mail Address:

 

Name of Instructional Dean:

 Dr. Bruce King

Office Location:

 

Telephone Number:

 

E-mail Address: