Course Syllabus
Course Name & Number: ENGL 1301 (Composition I)
Semester & Year: Fall 2018
Catalog Description. Intensive study of and practice in the strategies and techniques for developing research-based expository and persuasive texts. Emphasis on effective and ethical rhetorical inquiry, including primary and secondary research methods; critical reading of verbal, visual, and multimedia texts; systematic evaluation, synthesis, and documentation of information sources; and critical thinking about evidence and conclusions. [Rev. Fall 2012 THECB]
Instructor's Name: Marcia Little
Office Phone #: 940-521-0720
Instructor's Office #: Faculty Offices
Email Address: mlittle@nctc.edu (using Canvas is preferable)
Office Hours: Mon: 9-10 and before and after class
Tues: 9-10 and before and after class
Weds: Before and after class, and online 7-9 pm
Thurs: 9-10 and before and after class
Textbook and Materials:
Package Components
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
COURSE AND COLLEGE INFORMATION
Learning Outcomes. Upon successful completion of this course, students will:
Demonstrate knowledge of individual and collaborative research processes.
Develop ideas and synthesize primary and secondary sources within focused academic arguments, including one or more research-based essays.
Analyze, interpret, and evaluate a variety of texts for the ethical and logical uses of evidence.
Write in a style that clearly communicates meaning, builds credibility, and inspires belief or action.
Apply the conventions of style manuals for specific academic disciplines (e.g., APA, CMS, MLA, etc.) [Rev. 8-2012 THECB]
Foundational Component Area: Communication
Core Objectives. 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]
Institutional Learning Goals. A quality general education curriculum in all associate degree programs.
Quality freshman and sophomore level courses in arts and sciences which parallel the lower division offerings of four-year colleges and universities.
Quality technical programs leading directly to careers in semi-skilled and skilled occupations, and quality technical education programs up to two years in length leading to certificates and associate degrees.
Quality programs and services in support of adult literacy and basic skills development as a mean of workforce enhancement and expanding access to higher education.
Course Type: Academic General Education Course (from Academic Course Guide Manual but not in NCTC Core). Academic NCTC Core Curriculum Course. WECM Course
Program Purpose Statement. NCTC seeks to implement its goal of providing quality freshman and sophomore level courses in arts and sciences that parallel the lower division offerings of four-year colleges and universities by offering a coherent sequence of courses with appropriate breadth and depth to prepare a student for transfer to a university.
Departmental Purpose Statement. The Department of English, Speech, and Foreign Language provides quality instruction to students pursuing their academic and career goals.
College 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 (or dual credit as it applies) 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)
STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES:
Disability Accommodations: 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 psychological disorders are eligible for services.
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/student-services/disability-services/index.html
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.
Financial Aid, Scholarships, and Veterans Services: The Financial Aid Office is responsible for administering a variety of programs for students who need assistance in financing their education. The first step for financial aid is to complete a FAFSA. For more information, please visit your nearest Financial Aid Office: http://www.nctc.edu/financial-aid/index.html.
Last day to Withdraw: Last day to drop a class with grade of “W” is November 8, 2018.
Scholastic Integrity – Plagiarism: 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 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 the majority of the student's work, whether or not the student gives credit.
Please be aware that I take plagiarism very seriously. You may not have another person write, type, edit, or revise any parts of your Writing Assignments. You may not use someone else’s Writing Assignment or buy one from a “professional” source. You may not use the material on the internet or in print sources without documenting it. Failure to follow the proper guidelines for documentation constitutes plagiarism.
Considering the severity of the issue, if you ever have any questions or concerns regarding plagiarism, please consider this an open invitation to visit with me about the issue. If I discover that a student has committed intentional plagiarism, the Writing Assignment that has plagiarized materials will receive a zero, and I will recommend to the English Department Head that the student fails the course.
Student Rights & Responsibilities: NCTC Board policy FLB (Local) Student Rights and Responsibilities states that each student shall be charged with notice and knowledge of the contents and provisions of the rules and regulations concerning student conduct. These rules and regulations are published in the Student Handbook published in conjunction with the College Catalog. All students shall obey the law, show respect for properly constituted authority, and observe correct standards of conduct.
Student Success: 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, rooms 170, 182, or 188; on the Gainesville Campus, rooms 114 or 111; on the Flower Mound Campus, room 111; and on the Bowie Campus, room 124.
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.
Grading Policy & Procedures.
Evaluation of Writing Assignments: For you to get anything out of this course, you will have to apply the writing and strategies we work on in class to your own writing. Therefore, when I evaluate your writings in class, I will evaluate them by a clearly laid out set of “evaluation criteria,” which will be attached to each assignment. Please take note of these because they are what I am looking for when I am grading your writing.
Writing assignments will be presented in small groups and you will receive your grade the same day you hand in the assignment. Failure to present to the group will result in a lower score. On presentation day, come to class at your appointed time, with 3 copies of the essay, and be prepared to share your essay with the group. Groups will be assigned in the first weeks of class.
Rough Drafts: For all writing tasks, you will be required to show evidence of the writing process by presenting several rough drafts, which is considered to be part of the writing assignment. I may require you to submit them to CANVAS and/Upswing. If you do not show evidence of the writing process, I will not evaluate your Writing Assignment.
Submitting Writing Assignments: The final copies of all writing assignments must be submitted to Canvas.
Since each writing assignment builds on the previous one, you may not skip any writing assignments and still pass the course. In other words, all writing tasks are required.
Grades and Assignments:
Here is how you can calculate your grade:
Writing Assignment One 100 points
Writing Assignment Two 100 points
Writing Assignment Three 100 points
Annotated Bibliography 50 points
Minor Writing Assigntments 25 points/each
Group Project 100 points
Final/Letter of Reflection 50 points
Email Correspondence: I reserve 24 hours to reply to students’ emails. Emails constitute correspondence between instructor and student; therefore, remember your audience when sending emails. Email correspondence may contribute positively or negatively to your professionalism grade.
Professionalism: Your college courses are also opportunities for you to learn what it means to be a “professional” in your field. Therefore, I expect you to act like a “professional” student in this course. This means that you should consider:
— The quality of your participation in and preparedness for class (including your other classmates and me).
— Your assertiveness. (An assertive student exhausts all available resources of information before contacting me. In other words, read the assignment sheet closely before emailing me to ask how many sources are required in your paper, and if you are unsure how to cite a source, look it up in your handbook or a credible, online source (such as Purdue Owl)).
— The quality (and effort) of your required drafts, notes, and daily assignments.
— Turning in your writing assignments on time as assigned.
— Your class attendance and tardiness
Calendar or Course Outline:
Writing Assignment One: Weeks One – Five:
Week 1: Discuss Syllabus and Structured support services
Week 2: Discuss major Writing Assignment One and begin mini writing assignments. Discuss Readings. Learning outcomes.
Week 3: Discuss Readings and Writing Assignment 1. Features of Academic Essays. Developing and Organizing Academic Essays. Student support services tour. Library lecture. Learning outcomes.
Week 4: Discuss Reading and Writing Assignment. Discuss cohesion and tone. Peer review
Week 5: Essay presentations.
Writing Assignment Two: Week Six –Eight:
Week 6: Discuss Readings. Reading Academic Texts. Interpreting Visual Media. Discuss Writing Assignment 2 and Learning Outcomes.
Week 7: Discuss Readings and Writing Assignment. Features of Academic Essays. Developing and Organizing Academic Essays. Learning Outcomes 2,3,4. Peer Review. Functional Sentence Review. Fragments and Run-Ons. Annotated Bibs and Group Projects
Week 8: Essay Presentations.
Writing Assignment Three: Week Nine-Twelve:
Week 9: Discuss Readings. Reading Academic Texts. Interpreting Visual Media. Discuss Writing Assignment 2. Learning Outcomes 1,2.
Week 10: Discuss Readings and Writing Assignments. Features of Academic Essays. Developing and Organizing Academic Essays. Learning Outcomes 2,3,4.
Week 11: Peer Review and Group Projects
Week 12: Essay Presentations.
Writing Assignment Four: In-class Writing Exams – Week Thirteen – Fifteen:
Week 13,14: Discuss In-Class Exams. Discuss Writing Assignment 3. Learning Outcomes 1,2. Discuss Features of Developing, Studying, and Organizing in-class essays. Complete In-Class Exam. Learning Outcomes 2,3,4.
Writing Assignment Five: Final Exam:
Week 15: Self-reflective essay and In-Class Essay