1. a brief description of the course including each major course requirement, assignment and examination;
2. the learning objectives for the course;
3. a general description of the subject matter of each lecture or discussion; and
4. any required or recommended readings. 

Contact information for the instructor is also provided. The Course Syllabus also provides institutional information to indicate how this course supports NCTC’s purpose and mission. Information specific to a particular section of the course will be included in the Class Syllabus and distributed to enrolled students. 

Course Name & Number: ENGL 1301 (Composition I)

Semester & Year: Fall 2020

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.

Textbook and Materials

• This I Believe vol 1 & 2
• The Hub by Peter Adams for NCTC, ISBN 13:978-1-319-38254-4

Instructor's Name: Gabrielle Fletcher 

Email Address: via  Canvas first; gfletcher@nctc.edu

Teaching Schedule: 

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday
ENGL1301.100 8-9:20 AM	ENGL1301.104 8-9:20 AM	ENGL1301.100 8-9:20 AM	ENGL1301.104 8-9:20 AM
ONLINE: 3 courses

Office Hours: 

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday
2-5 PM	10:30 AM-12 PM	10:30AM-12 PM	10AM -12PM
	7-9 PM

Last day to drop a class with a grade of “W” is Nov. 1st.

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:

Emergency situations require immediate instructor contact and valid documentation .  A student will be dropped from a class by the Registrar upon the recommendation of the instructor who feels the student has NOT been engaged in the course work to preclude meeting the course’s objectives. Persistent, unjustified absence/non engagements 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)

 I reserve the right to drop any student who hasn't turned in any assignments after two weeks.

 

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 a grade of “W” is Oct. 30th

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 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.

Syllabus Addendum – Fall 2020 – Student Services

 

Student Success Center

The Student Success Center is designed to help all students at NCTC develop tools to achieve their academic goals. The center links students to FREE tutoring, including a Writing Center, a Math Lab, and free online tutoring.  The program helps students acclimate to college by providing free interactive online workshops. For more information, please visit your nearest Student Success Center.

 

Student Success offers academic coaching, tutoring, including a Writing Center, and a Math Lab to assist new students acclimate to college by providing computer lab services for prospective students. http://www.nctc.edu/student-services/student-success/tutoring/index.html

First generation students can also participate in TRIO which offers specialized services.

http://www.nctc.edu/student-services/trio-student-support-services.html

 

Completion Center

The NCTC Completion Center is a comprehensive student engagement program that increases retention and completion rates of first-time, low income students. Services include:

Success coaching to address students’ academic and non-academic challenges and issues; Success Seminars, and a centralized career readiness and job placement program.

http://www.nctc.edu/student-services/completion-center/index.html

 

Career Services Center

The NCTC Career Services Center is the place you can go for educational and career planning. Services include: Career/Degree Exploration, Job Search Tools and Resources, Resume and Professional Portfolio Development, Interview Skills and Preparation. Our Career Advisors partner with you in making your educational journey an efficient process towards a rewarding career. http://www.nctc.edu/career-services/index.html

 

Counseling and Advising

Support Services, Counseling and Advising staff offer a variety of services to current and prospective students, such as College 101, placement testing, academic advising and course registration, transfer assistance, and College Success seminars (Time Management, Study Skills, Test Anxiety, Choosing a Major, Learning Style Strategies, Career Exploration) and much more.  http://www.nctc.edu/counseling-advising/index.html 

 

Testing Service Center

The mission of NCTC Testing Services is to provide high-quality testing services that adhere to the professional standards and guidelines to meet the needs of students, faculty, and community members. http://www.nctc.edu/testing-center/index.html

 

Early Alert and CARES          

The NCTC Early Alert program assists students who are at risk of failing or withdrawing from a course. Faculty and staff may refer students through the Early Alert process at any point in the semester in an effort to provide appropriate intervention and access to support services. Examples of behaviors that could prompt an Early Alert referral could be missing assignments, failing tests, excessive absences, or personal circumstances impacting academic performance. A student submitted as an Early Alert will be contacted by an academic advisor or success coach through text, phone, and/or via their NCTC e-mail address to discuss any current challenges as well as helpful resources and success strategies-we want our students to finish strong and know that education is a partnership!

 

The NCTC CARES (Campus Assessment Response Evaluation Services) Team is concerned not only about our students' academic success, but also their emotional and physical well-being. The CARES Team promotes a safe learning environment for students, faculty, and staff and is committed to taking a proactive approach in helping our students succeed by addressing the mental, emotional or psychological health and safety of the NCTC community. As a student, you have the ability to report concerning behavior which could impact your own safety or the safety of another NCTC student, such as stalking, harassment, physical or emotional abuse, violent or threatening behavior, or self-harm. Visit the NCTC CARES site to also locate campus and community resources, or email counseling@nctc.edu to get in touch with a member of the CARES Team directly.  As always, if you feel there is an immediate threat to your own safety or welfare (or to another student), please call 911 immediately.

 

 

Financial Aid

Financial Aid offers financial resources for students that qualify, visit the financial aid offices for more information.   http://www.nctc.edu/financial-aid/index.html

 

Student Success

At NCTC, student success​ is progress towards collegiate goals, reached in an affordable and timely manner, under professional guidance, empowering students to serve skillfully in their chosen role within their community

 

Equity

NCTC defines equity as encompassing the practice of acknowledging individual differences and systemic disparities when developing new programs and resources for our campus community, which may sometimes challenge our own beliefs and assumptions, in order to ensure balanced educational opportunities toward completion.

 

Affinity Groups

Staff and faculty representing the Employee Resource Groups (ERG’s), along with academic advisors, counselors and success coaches, serve as mentors for NCTC’s student-centered ​Affinity Groups​.

 

An ​Affinity Group​ is a population of students who have specific needs, barriers or systems they are needing to navigate not only within college, but within life. Providing mentorship, support and resources for identified Affinity Groups such as Black/African American students, veterans and active military, single parents, students with disabilities, adult learners, Latinx, LGBTQ+ and students who have experienced foster care and/or homelessness, enables us to make more impactful, meaningful connections with students who are in dire need of equity and understanding.

 

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.

ADDITIONAL COURSE INFORMATION

Basic Needs: Any student who faces challenges securing their food or housing and believes this may affect their performance in the course is urged to contact the Dean of Students for support. Furthermore, please notify me if you are comfortable in doing so. This will enable me to direct you to additional resources for support.

Email Correspondence: I reserve 24 hours to respond to students’ emails. 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, remember your audience when sending me emails.  I do not check emails on Saturday & Sunday, so be sure to ask your questions during the week and not wait until the last minute to look over assignments.

Evaluation:

• • “A” Work: This writing is excellent and demonstrates excellence in development, organization, style and tone, and 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 of 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 development and is not effectively organized to facilitate the 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

Gender Identity: This course affirms people of all gender expressions and identities. If you prefer to be called a different name than is what on the class roster, please let me know. Please advise me of this preference early in the semester so that I may make appropriate changes to my records, and so I may call you by your preferred name and pronoun. 

Late-Work Policy:  All  assignments/tasks are due on the day listed on Canvas.  I do NOT take late work. Occasionally, you will find extra credit opportunities that you can "bank" in case of an emergency.  It is your choice whether to do them or not.  Do not ask for more extra credit at the end of the semester.  If emergency circumstances warrant consideration, you will need to speak to me on an individual basis.  Documentation for emergency type situations must be presented to the instructor for consideration.  If an extension is granted for an emergency situation, I reserve the right not to evaluate any work submitted more than two days (48 hours) late.

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 online discussion boards.
  • 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 in your handbook or a credible, online source—such as The Purdue Owl or the LaunchPad 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 several rough drafts. If you do not show evidence of the writing process, I will not evaluate your work.

Writing Assignments Alignment: 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/fail any student who does not submit all major assignments: This I Believe Essay, Research Riddle, Rhetorical Listening Essay, Collaborative Project 

Confidentiality: The college complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. For more information about FERPA, please visit https://www.nctc.edu/current-students/ferpa.html  (Links to an external site.)

Grade Appeals and Incomplete Grades: Students can read more about the college's grade appeal processes and procedures for assigning incomplete grades by visiting the Academic Catalog: https://www.nctc.edu/catalog/academic-policies/grades-reports/student-grade-appeal.html  (Links to an external site.) and https://www.nctc.edu/catalog/academic-policies/grades-reports/incomplete-grades.html  (Links to an external site.)

Withdrawing from a Course: Students can learn more about the withdraw policy and procedure by http://www.nctc.edu/current-students/drop-withdraw-class.html  (Links to an external site.)

 

Calendar:

WEEK 1 (LO1,2,4) (CT, COM, TW)

 8/24-30 Read Syllabus online & Navigate Canvas; Start Course Bookkeeping Module

READING:  HUB Part 2 “Writing”/Topic 8: The Writing Process pp 3-10;

Course Bookkeeping Google Docs Link due; Course Bookkeeping: Quiz due; Verification Form due

AND Find, read,  “X Factor in College Success” by Bryan Goodwin & Heather Hein (Professional Development Collection database) Education Leadership volume 73 issue 6  published  March 6, 2016.

*Do not ask me how to find this article: use your resources!

                                   WEEK 2 (LO 1,2,4) (CT, COM, TW, PR)

 8/31-9/6 READING:  HUB Part 2 “Writing”//Topic 9: Preparing to Write pp 11-19; TIB vol 1: Fwd xvii-xxiii & Introduction 1-6.

READING:  HUB Part 2 “Writing”/Topic 10: Finding a Focus; Topic 11 pp 21-40: Developing Ideas pp 41-59; This I Believe Essay- Brainstorm Discussion due

                                    WEEK 3 (LO1,2,3) (CT, COM, TW, PR)

 9/7 -9/1 READING:  HUB Part 2 “Writing”/Topic 12: Organizing Ideas pp 62-74; Topic 15: Revision pp 99-120: TIB vol. 1: pp. 25, 71,75,87 vol. 2: 215

This I Believe Workshop due; Upswing Feedback due

                                                  WEEK 4 (LO 1-5) (CT, COM, PR)

9/14 -9/20 Have a typed draft of This  Believe Essay for class to complete individual revision; READING: TIB vol. 1: pp 34, 65, 150,153,159,162

Library Orientation due, Personal Responsibility Assignment due

                                                   WEEK 5 (LO 1, 4) (CT, COM, TW, PR)

 9/21-9/27 READING:  TIB  vol. 2: 97, 194, 233; Plagiarism Lecture

This I Believe Essay due; ICITE & Anxiety Paragraph Assignment due

             

WEEK 6 LO 1-5) (CT, COM, TW, PR)

 9/28 -10/4  READING:  HUB Part 4 “Research & Documentation” /Topic 22: Research Research pp 305-335; Topic 23: MLA Research pp 336-360; TIB vol. 1: 28, 97

MLA Boot Camp Assignment due; Commitment Assignment due

 

WEEK 7 (LO1-5) (CT PR)

 10/5-10/11   READING:  HUB Part 3 “Reading”/Topic 19 Active Reading & 20 Reading Strategies pp 248-285;

SCRAAP Web Evaluation Worksheet due

 

WEEK 8 (LO 1,4,5) (CT, COM, TW, PR)

10/12-10/18 READING:  HUB Part 3 “Reading”/Topic 2:1 Critical Reading pp 248-285; TIB vol. 1:109, 144  vol. 2:  47, 118, 200, 224

 Rhetorical Listening Essay Peer Draft Review/Workshop due; Revising for BE Verbs Assignment due; Grit/Determination/Tenacity/Perseverance: Overcoming Obstacles due

                                                     

WEEK 9 (LO2,4,5) (CT, COM, TW, PR)

 10/19-10/25   READING: TIB vol.2 : 11, 44, 65; Essay Revision/Editing Stations

Research Riddle due, Upswing Feedback due

 

                                          WEEK 10 (LO 1-5) (CT, COM, TW, PR)

10/26-11/1   READING:  HUB Part 5 “Balancing School, Work, and Life”/Topic 28: College Knowledge pp. 435-440; TIB vol. 1: 90, 115, 138

 Rhetorical Listening Essay due; Courage & Sacrifice: Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone Assignment due.

WEEK 11 (LO 1-5) (CT, COM, TW, PR)

11/2-11/8  Find & Read “Promoting a Culture of Academic Integrity” in American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, vol. 74, no. 6, Nov. 2010, pp. by Peggy Piascik and Gayle A. Brazeau in the Academic Search Complete database.

Collaborative Project Worksheet due

WEEK 12 (LO1-5) (CT, PR)

11/9-11/15  READING: Find & Read McCabe, Donald L., and Gary Pavela. “Ten [Updated] Principles of Academic Integrity.” Change, volume. 36, issue 3 on  May 2004 in (Professional Development Collection database);  TIB vol. 1:  100, 103, 156

Comma Paper due;  Integrity in Decision Making and Leadership Assignment due

WEEK 13 (LO 1-5) (TW, PR)

 11/16-11/22   READING:  HUB Part 5 “Balancing School, Work, and Life”/Topic 27: Staying the Course pp. 431-434; TIB vol. 2: 20, 140, 167

Sub/Coord exercises 30.1 & 30.2 due; Project Update due

WEEK 14 ((LO 1-5) (CT, COM)

11/23-11/29  Research Riddle Expiration; Citizenship & Service Assignment due; READING: TIB vol. 1: 112,119,141 vol 2. 215, 233

(Top Ten & Context EC DUE)

Happy Thanksgiving!

                      WEEK 15 (LO 1-5) (CT, COM, PR)

11/30- 12/6 Collaborative Project final touches

Collaborative Project Due

WEEK 16

FINAL EXAM -  online