Welcome to Composition 1302!

Professor Richards

SRichards@nctc.edu

Office Hours: By appointment via Canvas chat or Google. I will also be on Ponder's campus at 9:00 MWs. Office hours vary as I am off campus. MW 4-6 PM online TR 9-11 AM online. I respond to emails within 24 hours (usually within a few hours). 

This class is an 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. Prerequisite: English 1301 or its equivalent.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of individual and collaborative research processes.

2. Develop ideas and synthesize primary and secondary sources within focused academic arguments, including one or more research-based essays.

3. Analyze, interpret, and evaluate a variety of texts for the ethical and logical uses of evidence.

4. Write in a style that clearly communicates meaning, builds credibility, and inspires belief or action.

5. Apply the conventions of style manuals for specific academic disciplines (e.g., APA, CMS, MLA, etc.)

Scholastic Honesty and EEOC Statement

Do not plagiarize in this class.

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 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:

    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.

“Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.”- Anton Checkov

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 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/SupportServices/Disabilityservices.aspx

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 assist 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/StudentServices/SupportServices.aspx

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

Early Alert/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 advisor or counselor to discuss possible strategies for completing your course successfully.

 The NCTC CARES (Campus Assessment Response Evaluation Services) Team addresses behavior which may be disruptive, harmful or pose a threat to 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 which 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 CARESTeam@nctc.edu.  As always, if you feel there is an immediate threat to your own safety or welfare (or to another student), please call 911 immediately.

Classroom Policies that will ensure that you are awesome and successful in this class, college, and in life.

1. Cell phones, technology, ear buds, etc. should be hidden and ignored when in class. You paid a lot of money to see me and hang out with your peers. Appreciate that.
2. Attendance is vital to your grade. So is participation. If you are on technology, you are not attending nor are you participating. Therefore, you will be marked absent. If you are marked absent, your grade goes down. Your grade goes down, it’s a bummer. Don’t let your grade become a bummer because you *had* to check in on SnapChat.
3. Attendance is required for peer edits.
4. Be an active participant in your education. Ask questions, foster debate, challenge your own thoughts and ideas. Be bold, creative, and open to new ideas.
5. Have all class readings prepared prior to class beginning. Pop quizzes are a necessary evil that I will implement.
6. Be courageous and try to write in a way that scares you a little.- Holly Garth
7. Understand that we will discuss a number of “hot topic” themes and topics in this course. I do not police the class. I do not play the role of the nanny state. If you have an opinion, feel free to express it- even if you are going against the grain.
8. I do not police language or topics in the class. This is a college class. You are expected to behave in an adult-ish fashion. As such, listen to your peers, engage intellectually, and avoid mud-slinging.
9. I do not accept late work. I know, the important thing is that you learn the material- and that is important! However, I want you to learn real life skills and that includes responsibility, maturity, and timeliness. Are there extenuating circumstances? Of course, email me and let’s chat.
10. Review the modules, lectures, and readings diligently.
11. Review all feedback on graded work.
12. Do not wait until the last minute to complete

• 
  assignments, reading, work. (See # 9)

13. Participation is elemental in this course. This class is heavily focused on critical thinking skills. Have an open mind, be willing to listen to your peers, and plan to engage in discussions that are relative to the world around us, our readings, and our experiences.
14. When emailing me, you MUST use Canvas or LionMail. I cannot and will not respond to emails from your personal email accounts.

We are here to learn how to communicate effectively. Our core objective is to communicate. We are going to hone these skills:

*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 

Dual credit students: I cannot and will not discuss your grades, your work, etc. with your parents. I cannot respond to emails from them, nor can I have a chat, meeting, etc. As college students, you are responsible for your success or failure in this class and others. I look forward to your success in this class! This will be a great semester!

Important Dates:  1/29 Date of Record
3/12-3/17 Spring Break 4/5 Last day to drop with a “W”

Tentative Course Calendar