TECHNOLOGY AND TIME REQUIREMENTS

Computer Hardware and Software

• Link to the Technology Requirements provided by the NCTC helpdesk for complete and up-to-date information.
• Students are REQUIRED to have access to a working computer with Internet access and word processor throughout the semester. You should also make a backup plan for when problems with the computer occur, as they surely will. NCTC has computer labs. Area libraries offer free access to computers. Perhaps you have friends or family members who will be able to help out.
• MS Word or another word processing program (Windows open documents or Google docs are both free programs). Whatever program you use, you MUST be able to save documents with a doc or docx file extension. These are the only extensions accepted in this class.
• A webcam and/or headset for online conferencing (optional?)

Respondus Lockdown

When you need to access an exam or quiz in this course, you will need first to download Respondus Lockdown. You will be prompted to do so when you click on the quiz. From the helpdesk are the following links to information on downloading and using Respondus:

• IMPORTANT: Respondus LockDown Browser 

Required Skills

• Basic Computer skills (how to format, type, and save documents, how to copy and paste text, how to convert file extensions, how to open documents). You will save files throughout the semester with doc or docx file extensions ONLY!
• Basic Internet navigation skills. Make sure you choose a browser compatible with Canvas: Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox should work.
• Basic facility using email (originating email with an appropriate RE [subject] line, opening, reading, writing, attaching documents, and sending emails)
• Basic Canvas navigation skills (Using Canvas's internal email, writing and editing discussion posts, taking online tests, attaching documents to drop assignments and/or email, checking grades, locating materials, using links, etc.)
• Ability to READ and FOLLOW written instructions.

Required Time

• Fall and Spring terms—The rule of thumb in college is 2 hours of outside study time per week for every hour a course is worth. This is a three-hour course, so 6 hours per week would be your "outside" time, and 3 hours per week would be your "in class" time in a long semester. Even though we don't meet as a class, you still have to read assigned works and my lectures, complete discussions, write papers, and take quizzes and exams. Doing all of this independently is going to require a significant time investment. Realistically, you should expect to devote 6-9 hours per week to this course. If you do not have time to take this course, you should withdraw from it.
• Summer terms—In summer school ONE CLASS DAY is the equivalent of ONE WEEK of classes in a long semester. Another way to understand this time compression is that ONE WEEK of summer school is the equivalent of ONE MONTH of the long semester. I DO NOT reduce the number of assignments you are required to complete during the summer semester. I compress them into the time allowed. If you were taking this course in the classroom, your time commitment would be 2 hours and 20 minutes per day (9 hours and 10 minutes per week in a five-week semester [M-R]). In addition, you would be expected to complete readings and "homework" assignments on your own time–easily another 9-18 hours per week dedicated to your summer course. Realistically, you should expect to devote 9-27 hours per week to this course. If you do not have time to take this course, you should withdraw from it.

ENGL1302 OVERVIEW

Course 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. 8-2012 THECB]

Prerequisite: ENGL1301 or its equivalent

Core Objectives

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. 

1. Critical Thinking Skills (CT)--to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information 
2. Communication Skills (COM)--to include effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through written, oral, and visual communication 
3. 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 
4. Personal Responsibility (PR)--to include the ability to connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision-making      

[Rev. 1/19/2015 KW]

Course Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to

1. Demonstrate knowledge of individual and collaborative research processes (LO1);
2. Develop ideas and synthesize primary and secondary sources within focused academic arguments, including one or more research-based essays (LO2);
3. Analyze, interpret, and evaluate a variety of texts for the ethical and logical uses of evidence (LO3 );
4. Write in a style that clearly communicates meaning, builds credibility, and inspires belief or action (LO4); and
5. Apply the conventions of style manuals for specific academic disciplines (e.g., APA, CMS, MLA, etc.) (LO5).

[Rev. 1/19/2015 KW]

Course Purpose  

The purpose of this course, as I teach it, is to sharpen students' ability to recognize and analyze argument whether it is written or visual. The main emphasis will be on improving students' ability to read critically, to think critically, and to express their opinions in writing about subjects that are at issue. The emphasis is on argument as it appears both in academic environments and in society. Since argument can be found everywhere, the material students learn in this course will be useful in all of their college classes, as well as on the job, at home, at school, and in a variety of other private and public spheres. --CB  

Course Structure

This course is divided into daily modules.

Required "Participation"

Students are accountable for their behavior. Students are expected to check announcements daily and stay abreast of any changes made to class assignments or requirements. Students should also check email daily—especially within a day of submitting assignments. If problems occur with student files, I will notify students as soon as I discover said problems. Students then have 24 hours from the time I send an email to contact me and make arrangements to fix the problem. If students fail to contact me within that 24 hour window, I will not accept the assignment, and the grade will record as a zero.

Required "Attendance"

To be successful in this online course, students must be regular and active participants. Students who do not complete assignments for two or more weeks in the fall and spring semesters (two days in summer school) will be blocked from further participation in this course. Students who are blocked MUST contact the registrar's office and withdraw from the course, or they will receive a semester grade of F.  

Course Concerns or Complaints

Students who have concerns/complaints about this course or the instructor should make an appointment with the instructor to discuss those concerns. Very often, "issues" that arise are simple misunderstandings that with additional dialogue and clarification can be easily resolved. If we cannot satisfactorily resolve the issue, the student should then contact the department chair. Students who try to circumvent this process will be redirected to the instructor as NCTC has a clearly stated protocol for dealing with student dissatisfaction. 

Course Disclaimer

This SYLLABUS and the work outlined in the WEEKLY SCHEDULE serve as a guide. At any time at the discretion of the instructor, readings, assignments, materials, due dates, and/or grading criteria may be modified. Further, COURSE ANNOUNCEMENTS take precedence over all other materials.

• Students are REQUIRED to check ANNOUNCEMENTS daily for updates, corrections, clarifications and/or changes.
• Students are also REQUIRED to check EMAIL daily.

GRADING POLICIES

Semester Grade Criteria

Student alert: You will write a great deal in this class, but not all of your writing will be graded. You will be able to accumulate up to 100 points on the following assignments. For those that are read, but not graded, you will be assigned points simply for doing them in an adequate manner. Notice also that you can significantly lower your grade by not doing them. 

• Participation Grades 
• Course Introduction (1%)
  • Completed PVF
  • Quiz: Course Policies (Syllabus)
  • Discussion: Getting Acquainted. 
• Activities (24%)
  • Quizzes
  • Discussions
  • Journals
  • Reflective Essay -- Personal Style of Argument 
  • Argument Analysis Paper
• Research Project
• Researched ten-item annotated bibliography (20%)
• Researched position paper   
  • Writing process (15%)
    • worksheets
      • rhetorical situation worksheet 
      • audience analysis worksheet
      • research plan worksheet
      • research evaluation worksheet
      • claim development worksheet
    • prewriting using the Toulmin model
    • invention activity
    • two peer critiques -- all work must be completed and submitted as scheduled in order to participate in peer critiques. 
    • revisions w/ student - instructor conference
  • Finished position argument (15%)
• Researched Visual argument and report (10%) 
• Student Research Presentation (5%)
• Comprehensive Final Exam (10%)

Letter/Numerical Grade Values

• A = 90-100
• B = 80-89
• C = 70-79
• D = 60-69
• F < 59

Grade Posting/Feedback 

1. Objective assignments will be graded automatically when you submit them. You must notify me within 24 hours of completing the assignment of any issue; thereafter, the grade stands.
2. Written assignments (discussions, papers, exams, etc.) will be assessed as quickly as I am able to. I will use Announcements to keep you apprised of my grading progress. Please follow Announcements closely and refrain from sending emails about grades, since all that does is slow me down. When I have completed grading an assignment, I will post an announcement that will tell you I have finished and ask you to review my comments on your work and check your grade in the grade book. Once this Announcement has posted, you will have 24 hours to check your grade and notify me via Canvas email of any problems. Thereafter, the grade stands.

Examination Policy

If exams are given in this course, students will take them online at scheduled dates and times. It is the responsibility of students to make arrangements to be available for these exams. Please note that currently, the only exam that is scheduled in this course is the final exam in week 16.

Assignment Submission

Unless otherwise specified on the specs for a particular assignment, all work must be saved with a doc or docx file extension.

Please note: I suggest you complete and save your work in your word processor and then copy and paste or attach (whichever the assignment directions say) your completed work to Canvas. This way, you will have a copy of your work when (not if) bad things happen.

Please note: All assignments should be submitted to their dedicated discussion forums or drop boxes as specified in assignment instructions.

• I do NOT accept assignments by email.
• I do NOT accept text copied and pasted to the text or message box when instructions for that assignment state that it is to be ATTACHED.

Help ensure your success in this class by reading instructions closely and following them. Ask me if you are unclear. 

Make-up, Extra-credit, and Late Work

• College students are expected to work independently and complete assignments within the time allotted. It is important to look ahead in order to understand when assignments are due. Most successful students mark due dates on a planner or calendar.
• Please note--Make-up work: Make-up work is NOT accepted.
• Please note--Extra-credit assignments: As the words imply, "extra-credit" means to extend assignments -- to do more in terms of content and complexity than is assigned. If you students are not able to keep up or be successful with course level assignments, they certainly are not candidates for "extra credit." When students request "extra credit," what they really mean they want is a "do-over" or "make-up" opportunity for an assignment they did not complete successfully or did not submit. Extra-credit assignments are antithetical to the stated purposes and goals of this course. Thus, extra-credit assignments are not available.  
• Please note: Late work is NOT accepted.
• Students must stay abreast of assignements and deadlines (announcements, emails, the course syllabus, and the course calendar) and submit their work as scheduled in order to receive credit and be successful in this online class.

Grade Disputes

If you disagree with any grade you receive, you should take the following steps:

1. Verify, first, that a recording error has not been made.
2. To challenge a specific grade, you should first determine the grade you think your work should have received based on the assignment criteria. This means you must take the criteria for the assignment you wish to challenge and decide how, in fact, the work you submitted DOES meet those criteria.
3. Within 24 hours of receiving the graded work, you must make an appointment to speak with me via phone or video conference. At the appointed time, we will discuss your concerns and your work. I will then make a decision to keep or modify the grade.

Grading Conferences

If you want feedback from me BEFORE you turn in your paper for a grade, you may schedule a "grading conference" any time while you're working on your paper (except the day it is due). I will tell you the grade it would receive in its current condition, and make suggestions for revisions. You may choose to submit the paper with that grade attached to it, or you may choose to revise with the intention of raising that grade.

Conferences are conducted online and can be scheduled during or outside my announced office hours. To take advantage of a grading conference you will need the following:

1. A g-mail address
2. A computer
3. A phone/web cam (phone is fine)

We (student and instructor) will set up your paper in Google docs, where we will both be able to work on the document. 

To schedule a conference, you may phone me or send me an email.

What constitutes an "A" paper?

Getting an A on an English Paper, by Jack Lynch

Generic Grade Rubric

In this module I have provided a page titled Elements of Writing. This page provides a generic rubric. It identifies and comments on the salient elements of writing: ideas and their development, organization and structure, voice, word choice (diction), sentence fluency, conventions, presentation, and research components. You should review this page frequently throughout the semester as you complete various writing tasks and assignments.

Grade of Zero

Available in the MODULE GRADE CRITERIA: GENERIC RUBRIC is the page Grade of Zero (linked here) that presents the criteria that govern a grade of zero on an assignment. Be sure you closely examine these criteria. 

Scholastic Dishonesty

Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but not be limited to cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion. See the NCTC Student Handbook, “Student Rights & Responsibilities: Student Conduct [FLB- (LOCAL)]” #18.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism 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;
4. Failing to put a quotation in quotations marks;
5. Giving incorrect information about the source of information, quotations, or images;
6. Changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit;
7. 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.

Disciplinary Actions

1. [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)]
2. 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 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.”

Please note: Scholastic dishonesty should be avoided at all costs. The consequences of scholastic dishonesty in this course may range from a zero on the assignment to expulsion from the course with a grade of F for the semester. Students MUST be diligent in avoiding scholastic dishonesty of all kinds. 

INSTRUCTOR CONTACT

	Instructor: Ms. Chris Bishop Home phone: 940-381-0070 Office phone: 940-498-6241 Office address: Online – Skype, Google+hangouts; phone Phone/Office hours: Online, M,W, noon-2:00 p.m., Friday 6-7 p.m. and/or by appointment; this includes weekends and evenings as needed. Also, you can check the Chat button to see if I'm online in the class. NCTC e-mail: cbishop@nctc.edu (Students please note: Use Canvas email for course matters. Use NCTC email ONLY if Canvas email fails.) Google email: professorchris.bishop@gmail.com (This address is to be used for scheduled conferences using Google docs or Google hangouts.)
Instructor Communication and Response Times
Emails received between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., M-F  will be answered the same day they are received. Emails received on Saturday will be answered within 24 hours of receipt. Generally, I do not read my email on Sundays, so emails sent on Sunday will receive a reply on Monday. If you would rather talk to me instead of waiting for an email response, just pick up your phone and call me during my stated office hours. If you need a conference with me at a time that is outside my declared phone/office hours, you are welcome to schedule a specific day AND time to meet online with me.  .

ENGL 1302 COMMUNICATION Canvas Announcements Students, you are required to check course announcements daily. You can use the Announcements button in the left course navigation pane or simply click the icon to the right.
Canvas Email Students, you are required to check course email daily. You MUST use the Inbox icon in the left blue Canvas pane to access your course email.

 Course Communication Policies and Etiquette

One of the disadvantages of an online class is students and instructors rarely get to meet each other. Although I have a liberal phone/office/Skype contact policy, not all of my students are willing to take advantage of it. Because we get to know each other dominantly through email, our impressions of each other are formed purely by writing. We should all take care in writing emails to avoid creating misunderstandings and hostilities. Following are a few guidelines to keep in mind as we exchange emails over the course of this semester.

• Communication is key to your success in this course. Students should make important issues known to me ASAP. If you miss assignments, then check with me as to your overall progress in the course and how best to proceed.
• Questions about an assignment or course policy. Make sure you have read carefully and thoroughly the course syllabus, the assignment specs/prompt, and the resources I have made available to help you complete an assignment. Usually, the answers you seek are in these materials. If, however, you still cannot find them, you should send me an email asking for what you need. If my response is likely to be lengthy, I will send you back an email asking you to call me. This doesn't mean you are in "trouble." It usually means that I've already put information in writing. If students don't understand it, writing more of the same is not going to help, so we need to talk. I welcome your calls. You are not "interrupting" me.
• Send Canvas emails to a specific person. When you send an email, be sure you choose the specific person before you send. If you send a global email to all classmates to get help on an assignment or to "rag" on your instructor, be aware that those emails arrive in my in box too.
• Email composition is a rhetorical act. Be aware of your audience, purpose, context, and goal when you send me an email. Provide specific information. Ask specific questions. It is unnecessarily time-consuming to send clarifying emails back and forth. If you are having trouble composing a clear and specific email, CALL ME.
• Email structure, content, font. Be sure to organize your thoughts. Use paragraphs. Use complete sentences. Use correct grammar, spelling, capitalization, and punctuation. Use size 10/12 font, preferably sans serif (Arial, Verdana, etc.). DO NOT write in all caps. You might notice here that when I use all caps and bold, you may feel yelled at, though I intend just to be emphatic. An email composed in all caps (and bold) is offensive to look at and very difficult to read. Spell check and edit before you send. What I am saying here is that an email to the instructor is a formal writing occasion. It's more like writing an essay than texting a friend.
• Email during exams/quizzes/tests. If you encounter problems with an exam, quiz, or test, you should NOT send an email for help. Please call me immediately so that I can resolve the issue. The exception to this is, of course, if you are testing in the middle of the night – though usually I am up.
• Emailed assignments. I DO NOT accept assignments by email. When you are ready to ATTACH an assignment to a drop box, you can add a message with any concerns you may have in the message box. DO NOT use the message box to copy and paste your finished papers. DO NOT use email to submit your course work.

Rules for Discussion Forum Participation

• Comments by users are not endorsed by NCTC. NCTC does not necessarily endorse, support, sanction, encourage, verify, or agree with the comments, opinions, or statements posted on the Discussion Forums. Any information or material placed online, including advice and opinions, are the views and responsibility of those who post the statements.
• Use of the discussion forums. In this online course, your right to use the Discussion forum is limited to class activities. You may not give or supply your password or ID to others to use. You may not authorize others to use the Discussion Forum, and you are responsible for all use of the Discussion Forum in your name.You agree not to use any obscene, indecent, or offensive language or to place on the Discussion Forum any material that is defamatory, abusive, harassing, or hateful. Further, you may not place on the Discussion Forum any material that is encrypted, constitutes junk mail or unauthorized advertising, invades anyone's privacy, or encourages conduct that would constitute a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability, or that otherwise violates any local, state, national or international law or regulation.

You agree to use the Discussion Forum only for lawful purposes of this online course, and you acknowledge that your failure to do so may subject you to academic, civil, and criminal liability. You are responsible for ensuring that any material you provide to or post to the Discussion Forum, including but not limited to text, photographs, and sound, does not violate the copyright, trademark, trade secret or any other personal or proprietary rights of any third party or is posted with the permission of the owner(s) of such rights. Music files etc. may not be distributed in this Discussion Forum or within this course. Material on the Discussion Forum is for your academic course use only.

The Discussion Forum contains copyrighted and other proprietary information. You may not in any way make commercial or other unauthorized use, by publication, re-transmission, distribution, performance, caching, or otherwise, of material obtained through the Discussion Forum, except as permitted by the Copyright Act or other law.

You agree neither to disrupt or interfere with the Discussion Forum, nor to alter of tamper with any information or materials on or associated with the Discussion Forum. You acknowledge that your Instructor may review and archive the content of all discussions and sites linked to and from this Discussion Forum and that you are responsible for the content or actions of any other sites linked to or from this Discussion Forum. Your linking to the Discussion Forum is restricted to sites pertinent your online course assignments.

• Use of material supplied by you. Postings to and communications with the Discussion Forum are not private. You grant NCTC the unrestricted right to use, reproduce, archive, translate, transmit and distribute any material you supply or communicate to the Discussion Forum.
• Materials posted by others.You agree that the Instructor is not responsible, and shall have no liability to you, with respect to any information or materials posted by others, including defamatory, offensive or illicit material.
• Indemnification. You agree to indemnify NCTC and its affiliates, agents and representatives, and to hold them harmless, from any and all claims and liabilities (including attorneys fees) which may arise from your submissions, from your unauthorized use of material obtained through the Discussion Forum, or from your breach of this Agreement, or from any such acts through your use of the Discussion Forum.  

NCTC POLICIES

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.

Disability Services (OSD)

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides accommodations for students who have a documented disability. 

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.

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/Disabilityservices.aspx 

[Rev. 25 Aug. 2012, Brent Wallace/Mary Martinson; Updated: 23 Aug. 2014, Mary Martinson] 

Support Services 

Counseling and Testing 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/StudentServices/CounselingTesting.aspx 

Student Success offers academic coaching, tutoring (including a Writing Center, a Math Lab, free 24/7 online tutoring through Grade Results) and assists new students acclimate to college by providing computer lab services for prospective students. First generation students can also participate in TRIO, which offers specialized support services. http://www.nctc.edu/Academics/SupportServices.aspx > 

Financial Aid offers financial resources for students who qualify; visit the financial aid offices for more information. http://www.nctc.edu/FInancialAidHome.aspx  

Early Alert and NCTC CARES

The NCTC Early Alert program has been established to assist students who are at risk of failing or withdrawing from a course. Your instructor may refer you to this program if you are missing assignments, failing tests, excessively absent, or have personal circumstances impacting your academic performance. If submitted as an Early Alert, you will be notified via your NCTC e-mail address and then contacted by a Counseling and Testing adviser or counselor to discuss possible strategies for completing your course successfully.

The NCTC CARES (Campus Assessment Response Evaluation Services) Team addresses behavior that may be disruptive, harmful, or pose a threat to the health and safety of the NCTC community--such as stalking, harassment, physical or emotional abuse, violent or threatening behavior, or self-harm. As a student, you have the ability to report concerning behavior that could impact your own safety or the safety of another NCTC student. Just click the NCTC CARES Team logo posted on MyNCTC, or send an e-mail to http://www.nctc.edu/StudentServices/CounselingTesting/CARES.aspx. As always, if you feel there is an immediate threat to your own safety or welfare (or to another student), please call 911 immediately.

Tobacco-free Campus

NCTC restricts the use of all tobacco products including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and smokeless tobacco on campus property. NCTC is aware that tobacco use influences underage students, accumulates unsightly tobacco litter, and interferes with ensuring clean air for all who come to NCTC. NCTC recognizes the health hazards of tobacco use and of exposure to secondhand smoke. Information on a tobacco cessation program is available for students, faculty, and 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.