Course Name & Number

Composition II

ENGL 1302.312

Semester & Year

 Summer 1 2018

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.

Prerequisite:  English 1301 or its equivalent.

Textbooks &  Materials

Required / Recommended

Schib, Arguing about Literature. Bedford/St. Martin's.           ISBN #978-1-4576-62096

Lunsford. Everyday Writer with Exercises, 2016 MLA Update, Bedford St. Martin’s, 6^th Ed.  ISBN: 978-1-319-083441.

A recent standard college dictionary

Instructor’s Name

Sandi Brackeen

Office Phone #

940-453-0703

Instructor’s Office #

Office Fax #

E-mail Address

sbrackeen@nctc.edu or misticat@verizon.net

Office Hours

7:30 to 9:30 online/via email or appointment Sunday night

Learning Outcomes

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.)

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.

• 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     

Grading Policy & Procedures

Exercises will make up 20 percent of your grade, papers 30 percent, discussion boards 20 percent, and your final will be 10 percent.

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, #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.

[Rev. 3-20-2012–Plagiarism text added cb]

Attendance Policy

More than three unexcused absences will result in lowering your grade.

ADA Statement

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/or psychological disorders are eligible for services. 

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 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/StudentServices/SupportServices/Disabilityservices/DisabilitiesFacultyResources.aspx

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.

Calendar or Course Outline (REQUIRED)

• The instructor must indicate general blocks (or units) of study or supply a detailed calendar of activity.
• Numbers of the specific Learning Outcomes and individual Core Objectives associated with each unit of study must accompany each unit of study or appropriate calendar activity.

Units of Study

• Block I: Readings

     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.

• Block III: Compositions

          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.

• Block V: Research

     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.

Other Pertinent Information

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.

Schedule

All Assignments are due by midnight on Sunday, of the week they are assigned

Wed Jun 6, 2018

 Information

Fri Jun 8, 2018

 Drop Box for Prerequisite form

Sun Jun 10, 2018

 Activity 1.3 Defining your Research Topc

 Activity 1.4: Getting To Know Each Other

 Activity 2.1 -- Discussion Board

Sun Jun 17, 2018

 Activity 4.2: Discussion Board

 Appropriate Quotation (MLA Style)

 Drop Box for submitting your Final Research Paper

 Identifying an Acceptable Paraphrase (MLA Style)

 Identifying Common Knowledge

 MLA Quiz

 MLA Style in Text

 MLA Works Cited

Thu Jun 21, 2018

 Activity 5.2: Discussion Board

 Activity 6.2: Discussion Board

Thu Jul 5, 2018

 Final Exam Discussion