North Central Texas College
Course Syllabus Fall 2018
Course: Composition I ENGL 1301.501 MW 8-9:20am
ENGL 1301.502 MW 9:30-10:50am
ENGL 1301.510 TR 12:30-1:50pm
Instructor: Danielle Wagner
Office: 107
Email: dsearles@nctc.edu or through Canvas
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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7:30-8AM
11AM-2PM
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10:30-11AM
2-3PM
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7:30-8AM
11AM-2PM
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10:30-11AM
2-3PM
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By appointment only
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Please feel free to stop by any time during my office hours with questions/concerns whether or not you have an appointment. If your schedule makes it difficult for you to stop by during office hours, we can set up a time to meet that works with your schedule.
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.
Required Textbooks/Materials: CP CONV 3E NCT&LPSACS6M&DEL&ENV
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- Custom Textbook--Joining the Conversation
- Custom LaunchPad Solo for Readers and Writers (with eBook) Access Code
- Unnaturally Delicious, Jayson Lusk
- Confessions of a Recovering Environmentalist, Paul Kingsnorth
- ISBN-13: 978-1-319-22941-2
Grading Criteria:
Annotated Bibliography 25% A= 90-100
Argument Overview Essay 25% B=80-89
Argument Evaluation Essay 25% C=70-79
Group Project 10% D=60-69
Attendance/Writing and Class 15% F=59 or below
Activities
CLASS POLICIES
Grading:
- Annotated Bibliography (25%) must be submitted to an online drop in Canvas by the beginning of class in one of the accepted file formats (pdf, doc, docx, rtf). No other submission type will be accepted. Each drop box will be connected to Vericite to check for plagiarism. This is an ongoing assignment that will be submitted twice over the course of the semester with revision built into subsequent rubrics. Submissions will be averaged.
- Argument Overview and Argument Evaluation Essays (25% each): must be submitted to an online drop in Canvas by the beginning of class in one of the accepted file formats (pdf, doc, docx, rtf). No other submission type will be accepted. Each drop box will be connected to Vericite to check for plagiarism.
- Group Project (10%): Students will collaborate in small groups to select and reflect on passages from the common read, develop a dialogue, and supply an interview question for Jayson Lusk, author of Unnaturally Delicious
- Attendance/ Writing and Class Activities (15%): These are mostly low stakes writing assignments and activities designed to practice skills in preparations for major writing assignments. This category will also include points for attendance. THESE ASSIGNMENTS CANNOT BE MADE UP unless prior arrangements have been made. I will drop 1-2 of these assignments at the end of the semester (excluding the revision memo and final exam) Any writing/activity that you miss, show up late for, do not complete, will be averaged as a 0.
Online Drop Box: All writing assignments will be connected to a drop box in Canvas where students must submit their work for grading. When you submit an assignment to a Canvas drop box:
- The file you upload must be in one of the following formats: rtf, doc, docx, pdf. No other file type will be accepted
- You must verify that your assignment uploaded and actually appears in the drop box
Late Work: Students may submit ONE writing assignment (excluding In class Writing Activities) late, no questions asked, no penalty. This is your one freebie, so save it for when you might really need it. The last day to submit a late assignment is Monday, December 3rd. NO OTHER LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED. All writing assignments completed outside of class will be due online at the beginning of class. Any assignment not submitted to the drop box by the beginning of class is considered late—even if it is only one minute, late is late.
Revision and Extra Credit Opportunities:
- Students will be given opportunities to revise some writing assignments for a higher grade over the course of the semester. Details will be provided at that time.
- Students may earn extra credit on the Argument Overview Essay and/or the Argument Evaluation essay by working with one of the NCTC writing tutors (you must supply documentation of this work) or by working on a draft with me. Points will be awarded based on the student’s effort in the meeting and subsequent revision of the assignment.
ANY MISSING WORK WILL BE AVERAGED AS A ZERO
Attendance Policies
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)
Attending class is mandatory. The college requires attendance be taken daily, and your attendance accounts for a portion of Attendance/Writing and Class Activities category, which comprises 15% of your semester grade.
- To be counted as present and receive full points for the day, students must attend the entire class.
- Students who are absent will not receive attendance points for the day, even if the absence is excused.
- Students will lose attendance points for tardiness and/or leaving class.
- Instructor reserves the right to drop a student who has missed more than two weeks of class (4 class meetings). After the drop date (11/8), students who miss more than two weeks of class may receive an F in the course.
Please keep the lines of communication open regarding your attendance so that if you must miss class, we can work together to keep you on track regarding your course work.
If you must be absent, you should:
- Make arrangements to submit any work that is due on the date of your absence.
- Check Canvas to see what discussions/assignments/handouts you missed and what will be due the day you return. Get notes from another student to cover what you have missed.
- Email me with any questions about the assignments/handouts posted to Canvas. Please note, I will not answer questions about this material until you have done your part to check the calendar and handouts that have been posted to Canvas.
Last Day to Withdraw: November 8th is the last day to withdrawal with a “W”
Class Cancelations: Over the course of the semester, it may be necessary to cancel a class meeting due to bad weather or instructor illness. Any time class is canceled, I will send a class message through Canvas explaining how we will adjust our weekly schedule, due dates, and assignments. It is your responsibility to check Canvas for these instructions so that you will not be penalized for late work or missing work. Don’t assume an assignment is not due because class has been canceled.
Classroom Etiquette: Please conduct yourself as a professional in the classroom. Any disruptive or offensive behavior will result in immediate dismissal. Please also be aware that tardiness and/or leaving in the middle of class is disruptive. When it comes to cell phone use, let’s adopt a “don’t be a jerk policy.” If you have a special situation where you are expecting a call (for example, you are “on call” for a sick child) just let me know ahead of time and you can take the call out in the hallway. Otherwise, cell phones should not be heard going off during class. Paying more attention to your phone than to what is happening in class is probably not the best choice if you are interested in getting something out of the course; it can also be perceived as disrespectful. If phone use becomes distracting in the classroom, the instructor reserves the right to dismiss you from class.
Email Etiquette: Email is an excellent way for us to communicate outside the classroom, and it provides you the opportunity to ask additional questions. Given our academic environment, this form of communication should also be professional, so please observe the following rules:
- Include a greeting (such as Mrs. Wagner, or Instructor,) and a signature—make sure you sign your email with your full name.
- Write complete, coherent sentences so that I know who you are, what class you are in, and what you need
- Please allow up to 24 hours for me to respond to your questions during the week, 48 hours on weekends.
LEARNING OUTCOMES AND CORE OBJECTIVES
Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this course, students 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.
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.
Core Objectives:
- *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, #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:
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.
IMPORTANT STUDENT INFORMATION
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 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 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
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.
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.
SEMESTER OVERVIEW
Weeks 1-7 (8/27-10/11) Summarizing and Synthesizing Argument
Readings and Discussion Topics
Discuss Syllabus, Introduction to Course and Expectations
Joining the Conversation Chapter 1: Understanding Yourself as a Writer
Joining the Conversation Chapter 3: Reading to Write
Joining the Conversation Chapter 4: Working with Sources
Unnaturally Delicious Chapter 1 “Overcoming Nature”
Unnaturally Delicious Chapter 10 “Food Bug Zappers
“Tomorrow’s Agriculture” by Dickson Despommier
Additional Selected Readings TBA
MLA Documentation and formatting review
Summary and Synthesis Guidelines and Drafting the Essay
Assignments
*Writing and Class Activities [LOs 1,2,5; CT/COM]
* Annotated Bibliography 1 [LOs 4-5, COM]
*Argument Overview Essay—Rough Draft, Final Draft, Revision [LOs 1-5; CT/COM]
Weeks 7-13 (10/15-11/20) Evaluating Argument
Readings and Discussion Topics
Joining the Conversation Chapter 13: Using Sources Effectively
Joining the Conversation Chapter 14: Revising and Editing
Joining the Conversation Chapter 15: Using MLA Style
Unnaturally Delicious Chapter 11: “The Case for Food and Agricultural Innovation”
Unnaturally Delicious Chapter 7: “Bovine in the Beaker”
Unnaturally Delicious Chapter 3: “Hewlett Packard with a Side of Fries”
Additional Selected Readings TBA
Evaluating and Responding to Argument
Assignments
* Writing and Class Activities [LOs 1,2,5; CT/COM]
*Annotated Bibliography 2 [LOs 4-5, COM]
*Argument Evaluation Essay—Rough Draft, Final Draft, Revision [LOs 1-5; CT/COM]
Week 14-16 (11/26-12/13) Collaboration and Reflection
Assignments
*Group Project [TW]
*Final Exam Self Reflection [PR]
FINAL EXAMS: December 8-13