COURSE SYLLABUS and CALENDAR
First Year Composition
ENGL 1302.403 / COR
Fall – 2017
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.
Textbooks & Materials: (Required)
Everyone’s An Author by Andrea Lunsford, Michal Brody, Lisa Ede, Beverly J. Moss, Carole Clark Papper, and Keith Walters. 2nd Edition.
ISBN: 978-0-393-26529-3.
The Little Seagull Handbook
Access to internet and Canvas for updates and emails.
Learning Outcomes: Upon successful completion of English 1302, students should be able to accomplish the following:
- 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.)
Instructor’s Name: Emily White, PhD Office Phone #: (940) 498-6431
Instructor’s Office #: COR 339 E-mail Address: ewhite@nctc.edu
Office Hours: Mon & Wed 8:00-9:30; 1:00 – 3:00
Tues & Thurs 8:00 – 9:30; 2:00 – 3:00
Friday – Programming/Tutoring
Or by appointment
Grading Policy & Procedures:
Here is how to calculate your grade:
Writing Assignment I 25% A= 90-100
Writing Assignment II 25% B = 89-80
Writing Assignment III 25% C = 79-70
Rhetoric in the Workplace 15% D = 69-60
Final Exam 10% F = Below 60
*note* If, any time, I suspect students are not reading the required material, I will administer quizzes.
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, 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)] 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, 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.
*Note* Students who plagiarize in ENGL 1302 will fail the course.
Attendance Policy: Because each day of instruction is important, attendance to each class meeting is imperative and mandatory. Students who miss more than 6 classes will fail the course, regardless of your writing ability or current GPA. No exceptions.
Please arrive to class on time. Students who arrive to class more than 10 minutes late two times throughout the term will be counted absent on their 3rd tardy. If late behavior becomes a problem, the door will be locked so as to not distract from students entering the room after class has begun. I will consider weather and traffic issues on a case-by-case basis.
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 (100) Building 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).
ACCESS Program: The ACCESS Program provides accommodations for students who have a documented disability. A disability is anything that can interfere with learning, such as a learning disability, psycho-logical challenge or physical illness or injury. Accommodations may include extra time on tests, tests in a non-distracting environment, a note taker in class, etc. On the Corinth Campus, contact: Wayne Smith, ACCESS Coordinator, at (kwsmith@nctc.edu), 940-498-6207 or Penny Cogbill, Departmental Assistant, at (pcogbill@nctc.edu, 940-498-6212) or William Leija, Departmental Assistant, at wleija@nctc.edu, 940-498-6224 in Suite 170. For the Gainesville, Bowie, or Graham Campuses, contact Yvonne Sandmann, ACCESS Specialist, at (ysandmann@nctc.edu, (940) 668-7731 ext. 4321) in Room 110 on the Gainesville Campus. NETWORKS is a childcare reimbursement program that may assist technical students with partial childcare reimbursement for those who apply and qualify. Contact Yvonne Sandmann, ACCESS Specialist, for more information.
Student Success Center: 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 go to rooms 170, 182, or 188; on the Gainesville Campus go to rooms 114 or 111; on the Flower Mound Campus go to room 111, on the Bowie Campus go to room 124.\
TRIO Program: TRIO Programs are federally funded programs which offer services designed to assist students in achieving their academic goals. Services include educational workshops, academic advising, tutoring, personal counseling, career counseling, cultural enrichment, and financial aid information. Students may be eligible for TRIO if they are currently enrolled at North Central Texas College, have academic need, and meet at least ONE of THREE criteria which include: 1) first generation status—neither parent has graduated from college, 2) income level is within federal low income guidelines, and/or 3) has a documented disability. TRIO is located in Room 170 on the Corinth Campus, Room 112 on the Gainesville Campus, and Room 124 on the Bowie Campus. Contact Jessica DeRoche, TRIO Coordinator, at jderoche@nctc.edu, 940-498-6212 on the Corinth Campus for more information.
Students can also access the Department of Student Success’ website by going to www.nctc.edu and clicking on the red button in the middle of the page labeled “Tutoring and Other ACADEMIC SUPPORT SERVICES” or by going directly to http://www.nctc.edu/Student_Services/Access/AcademicandStudentSupportServices.htm (Links to an external site.).
Units of Study:
Students will read and analyze a variety of selections from the adopted textbook.
- Block II: Quizzes, Examinations, and the Final Exam
Students may be required to take quizzes or tests over assigned readings and/or related materials. The class MUST meet during the final exam week. A final exam, if given, may count no more than 25% of the semester grade.
Students will write a minimum of 5,000 words (20 pages) in a variety of compositions—formal and informal. As part of this required writing, students will produce a minimum of four graded assignments. At least two of these must use the complete writing process, which may consist of the following:
- Invention
- Drafting
- Peer Review
- Revision
- Final Draft
- Block IV: Grammar and Mechanics
Students will study grammar and mechanics in the adopted handbook in order to meet departmental standards. This study may be done by examination of units in the handbook or through writing as a process, according to the discretion of the instructor.
Students will utilize library and electronic resources. They will submit a written assignment, such as an annotated bibliography, a documented essay, or several short compositions, using MLA style documentation. Pages generated as part of this research block are included in the required writing stipulated in Block III.
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.
Etiquette/Professionalism Policy: Often, we will read material from a diverse group of thinkers and writers. Always, we will be sharing a variety of ideas and values, many with which you may not agree. Polite debate is welcome, insults and denigration of the ideas of another student or myself is not welcome, and will not be tolerated. Any student who mocks or scoffs at anyone else in the class will be promptly dismissed, counted absent, and may not return to class until the offensive student has experienced a conference with me and the chair of the Department of English, Speech, and Foreign Language. Please conduct yourself as a professional in our classroom. Consider your academic audience, purpose, and occasion at all times.
Important Policies:
Do not text, accept incoming calls, or use your cell phone or ipod during class.
Do not wear ear buds to class, even if your stereo device is turned off.
You may bring a small, odorless snack or covered container of drink to class. Do not bring a meal to class. Do not bring wet foods to class. Do not bring any food item possessing an odor to class.
If you are asked to leave class because of behavioral issues, you will automatically lose 10 points from your Daily Writing/Professionalism grade. Consider your classroom audience, purpose, and occasion before making poor choices in our classroom.
Sleeping students will be awoken, asked to leave class, and counted absent for the day. A conference with me may, or may not follow the incident involving the sleeping student.
Our classroom is a safe environment for all learners. Be kind to each other at all times.
COURSE CALENDAR
Events subject to change; check email regularly for modifications and updates.
MONDAY, AUGUST 28:
ACTIVITY: Welcome! Syllabus; Course Calendar; Class Expectations.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30:
ACTIVITY: Discuss Assignments.
READ FOR NEXT TIME: James Herrick A History and Theory of Rhetoric (Provided for you)
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4:
ACTIVITY: Labor Day! No Classes.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6:
ACTIVITY: Writing purposes; Discuss Herrick’s text
READ FOR NEXT TIME: Chapters I and II (Everyone’s an Author) “Thinking Rhetorically” and “Rhetorical Situations” pp. 5-24.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11:
ACTIVITY: In-class reading of Horace Miner’s Body Ritual among the Nacirema (Provided for you); Discuss Chapter I
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13:
ACTIVITY: Analyze “Letters from Birmingham Jail” (Provided for you)
READ FOR NEXT TIME: Chapter III (Everyone’s an Author) “Reading Rhetorically” pp. 25-39
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18:
ACTIVITY: Discuss topics for research
READ FOR NEXT TIME: Chapter XXIII (Everyone’s an Author) “Annotating a Bibliography” pp. 500-504
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20:
ACTIVITY: Discuss Chapter XXIII, Review Annotated Bibliographies.
ASSIGN: Writing Assignment I – Annotated Bibliography
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25:
ACTIVITY: Declare rhetorical issue for semester study.
READ FOR NEXT TIME: Review Chapter XXIV (Everyone’s an Author) “MLA Style” pp. 407-445; Chapter XV (Everyone’s an Author) “Starting Your Research” pp. 329-336
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27:
ACTIVITY: MLA format; discuss research.
READ FOR NEXT TIME: Chapter XXIX (Everyone’s an Author) “How to Write Good Sentences” pp. 551-569
MONDAY, OCTOBER 2:
ACTIVITY: Discuss Chapter XXIX
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4:
ACTIVITY: Peer Review – Writing Assignment I
READ FOR NEXT TIME: Chapter XVII (Everyone’s an Author) “Analyzing and Constructing Arguments” pp. 379-418
MONDAY, OCTOBER 9:
ACTIVITY: Introduction to Logical Fallacies
READ FOR NEXT TIME: Provided additional material regarding logical fallacies
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11:
ACTIVITY: Discuss logical fallacies found in topic for research
READ FOR NEXT TIME: Stephen’s Guide to Logical Fallacies (This is a website; you are begin asked to review the material for next class)
ASSIGN: Writing Assignment II – Informative Essay of Logical Fallacies Found in Rhetorical Issue
MONDAY, OCTOBER 16:
ACTIVITY: In-class writing exercise about introduction and thesis statement for Writing Assignment II
NEXT TIME: Find three logical fallacies surrounding your topic.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18:
ACTIVITY: In-class discussion and free-writing workshop about logical fallacies found in your topic for research.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 23:
ACTIVITY: Workshop
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25:
ACTIVITY: Peer Review – Writing Assignment II
MONDAY, OCTOBER 30:
ACTIVITY: Discuss Writing Assignment III
ASSIGN: Writing Assignment III – Persuasive Essay of Rhetorical Issue
READ FOR NEXT TIME: Chapter XVIII (Everyone’s an Author)”Strategies for Supporting an Argument” pp. 419-441
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1:
ACTIVITY: Discuss XVIII; Discuss argument model
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6:
ACTIVITY: Discuss argument model; discuss Chapter XVIII
READ FOR NEXT TIME: Chapter XXI (Everyone’s an Author)” Synthesizing Ideas” pp. 381-387
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8:
ACTIVITY: Discuss Chapter XXII
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 13:
ACTIVITY: Peer Review – Writing Assignment III
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15:
ACTIVITY: Presentations
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20:
ACTIVITY: Presentations
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22:
ACTIVITY: Thanksgiving Break. No Classes.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 27:
ACTIVITY: Discuss final project
ASSIGN: Rhetoric in the Workplace
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29:
ACTIVITY: Rhetoric in the Workplace
MONDAY, DECEMBER 4:
ACTIVITY: Presentations
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6:
ACTIVITY: Presentations
FINAL EXAM
Monday, December 11
11:00 – 12:50
Important Dates:
August 27 Last Day of 100% Refund for Courses Dropped
September 28 Last Day to withdraw from a class with a grade of 'W' for 1st 8 Week
October 23 Last Day of 100% Refund for Courses Dropped 2nd 8 Week Semester
November 9 Last day to withdraw from a class with 'W' for regular semester 16 Week Session
November 23 Last Day to withdraw from a class with a 'W' for 2nd 8 Week Session