Course Name & Number: ENGL 1301.702 (Composition I)

Location/Day/Time: Bowie 117 - T/R - 1:00 p.m. - 2:20 p.m.

Semester & Year: Fall 2019

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.

Prerequisite: Satisfactory placement test score or passing grade in ENGL 0305.

Required Textbooks & Materials:  [must be purchased from NCTC bookstore (Links to an external site.)]

• Package Components
  • Custom Textbook--Joining the Conversation, 2019-2020
    
  • RedShelf Access Card: ebook of NCTC Joining the Conversation and additional readings (mobile friendly)
  • Unnaturally Delicious, Jayson Lusk
  • Confessions of a Recovering Environmentalist, Paul Kingsnorth
  • ISBN-13: 978-1-319-22941-2

Also required: Google account (for Google Docs)

Instructor's Name: Alisha Dietz

Email Address: adietz@nctc.edu (Always use Canvas email. Use the NCTC address only if Canvas fails.)

Office Phone: 940-872-4002 Ext. 5213

Office Location: Bowie 116

Office Hours:

• Mon - 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
• Tuesday - 8 a.m. - 10 a.m. (online only)
• Tues/Thurs - 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
• Wed - 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.
• Sunday – 8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. (online only) [Unless the Dallas Cowboys play a night game, in which case office hours will be moved earlier to 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. An email reminder will be sent notifying students of office hour change.]

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.

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.

Student Learning Outcomes. Students who successfully complete English 1301 will meet the following learning outcomes:

1. 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.

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]

STUDENT SUPPORT/SERVICES

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 judgment 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. A student will be dropped from a class by the Registrar upon the 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 adequate cause for College officials to drop a student from the rolls of the College. From Board Policy FC (LOCAL) [See Mrs. Dietz's Attendance Policy]

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 (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

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 1, 2019. If you intend to drop the course and do not do so by this date, you will be on the instructor's roster at the end of the semester, and the instructor will have to award you the grade you earned.

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:

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.

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 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 the student will fail 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 accumulates 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.

ADDITIONAL COURSE INFORMATION: EVALUATION OF MAJOR WRITING ASSIGNMENTS

• “A” Work: This writing is excellent and demonstrates excellence in development, organization, style and tone, and grammar/mechanics. There is clear evidence of the writing process (invention, drafting, revision, editing, and proofreading).  
  • A = 95  
  • A- = 92  
  • A-/B+ = 90

• “B” Work: This is good work and delivers substantial information—that is, substantial in both quantity and interest-value. It is well-developed and unified around a clear organizing principle that is apparent early in the piece. There is evidence of the writing process.  
  • B+ = 87  
  • B = 85
  • B- = 82
  • B-/C+ = 80
• “C” Work: This is an average piece that is generally competent in its development, organization, style and tone, and mechanics.  It meets the needs for the assignment, has few mechanical errors, and is reasonably organized and developed. This piece also shows some evidence of the writing process. 
  • C+ = 77
  • C = 75
  • C- = 72
  • C-/D+ = 70

• “D” Work:  This is below-average work that lacks develop and is not effectively organized to facilitate reader’s understanding.  The paper also shows little or no evidence of the writing process. 
  • D+ = 67
  • D = 65
  • D- = 62

• “F” Work:  This work fails in all aspects of the evaluation criteria.  There is no evidence of the writing process, and the paper fails in all aspects of development, organization, style, and mechanics.
  • F (work submitted and attempted) = 55
  • F (no work submitted or attempted) = 0

Semester Grade Criteria  

A=90-100%, B=80-89%, C=70-79%, D=60-69%, F= 59% or below.

• Quizzes/Grammar and Mechanics/Peer Reviews/Proof of Writing Process = 10%
  • Quizzes are random and are intended to check your reading/understanding.
  • Quizzes are administered in class and cannot be made up.
  • Handwritten notes are allowed on all reading quizzes. Notes may not be shared with classmates or written in class before the quiz. No photocopied or electronic versions of notes allowed. [Fun Fact: Research shows that writing something on paper is the equivalent of reading it seven times.]
  • Grammar will be assigned on an as-needed basis.
  • Peer Reviews will be performed in class on Writing Assignment 2 & 3.
• Daily Writing (Reflections & Miscellaneous Writing Assignments) = 25%
  • In order to receive full credit, your submissions MUST address the lesson prompt AND meet the required word count.
  • Ideas about texts MUST BE supported with specific reference to/details in the text.
• Major Writing Assignment = 60% [Reminder: All Major Writing Assignments must be completed to pass the course.]
  
  • Writing Assignment 1: Collaborative Project = 10%
  • Writing Assignment 2: Argument Overview = 20%
  • Writing Assignment 3: Argument Analysis = 30%
• Final Exam = 5%
  
  • Letter of Reflection

Note: You will have the opportunity to revise some assignments for re-grading. This will be discussed in further detail in class.

Note: Daily writing exercises and quizzes completed during class cannot be made up if you are absent; one or two daily writing grades or quizzes will be dropped at the end of the semester. [See attendance policy]

Note: If you miss class on Peer Review day, you will receive a zero for peer reviews in addition to being without the benefit of feedback and constructive criticism from peers regarding your major writing assignments.

Note: Students who visit the Writing Center or UpSwing for help with writing assignments will earn ten points on their lowest quiz grade for each visit. Documentation of visit must be provided to instructor. The Writing Center is located in Room 124.

ATTENDANCE & LATE WORK POLICIES

Because each day of instruction is important, attendance to each class meeting is imperative. Students who miss seven (7) classes will fail the course, regardless of classroom ability or current GPA. No exceptions.

Note: There are no excused/unexcused absences in college. An absence is an absence, unless a student is attending a college-sponsored event.

If you do miss class, it is your responsibility to learn from the course calendar, or from other students, what you missed. Do not contact your instructor asking to be “caught up” because you were unable to attend class. Furthermore, I do not accept late work. Make up work will be honored only for students who miss class due to extraordinary circumstances. Extraordinary circumstances may include a death in your immediate family, hospitalization, car accident, etc. and will require documentation. If you know in advance that you will be missing class, it is your responsibility to submit any assignments due that day prior to missing class. Dual Credit Students: Be prepared to honor this rule if you are a high school athlete or participate in extra-curricular activities.

Please arrive to class on time. If tardy behavior becomes a problem, the door will be locked when class begins so as not to distract students who arrived on time.

OTHER IMPORTANT POLICIES & INFORMATION

Email Correspondence: I reserve 24 hours to respond to students’ emails during the weekdays and 48 hours on weekends, although response times are typically much quicker. Emails sent to me become my personal property, and I may disclose them to third parties if I determine it’s necessary. Emails constitute correspondence between instructor and student; therefore, consider your audience when sending me emails. Email correspondence should be professional and mechanically sound. [See article on how to email your professor in the Helpful Information Module.]

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. Consider these suggestions:

• • Prepare and participate meaningfully in class discussions.
  • Be assertive. (An assertive student exhausts all available resources of information before contacting me. In other words, read the assignment sheet carefully before e-mailing me to ask how many sources are required in your paper, and if you are unsure how to cite a source, look it up on a credible online source (such as The Purdue Owl or a handbook).
  • Consider the quality (and effort) of required drafts, notes, and daily assignments.
  • Turn in writing assignments on time and as assigned.
  • Mind the quality and tone of email correspondence.

Rough Drafts: For major assignments, you will be required to show evidence of the writing process by presenting pre-writing and rough drafts. If you do not show evidence of the writing process, I will not evaluate your work.

Major Writing Assignments: All major writing assignments are required. If you fail to turn in one of the major tasks, you cannot pass the course. I reserve the right to administratively drop any student who does not submit all major writing assignments.

File Extensions of Assignment Submission: All work in this course should be submitted using ONLY .doc or .docx file extensions, unless otherwise stated.

Miscellaneous:

• Do not use your cell phone (or any other electronic device) during class unless instructed or in instances where you have finished your work and are waiting on other students to complete theirs.
• Do not bring food to class. Drinks with lids are allowed.
• Sleeping students will be awoken, asked to leave class, and counted absent for the day.
• Our classroom is a safe environment for all learners. Be kind to each other at all times.