Course Name & Number: ENGL 1301.230 (Composition I)

Semester & Year: Wintermester 2018

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.

Textbooks & Materials: 

·     Package Components

o     Custom Textbook--Joining the Conversation

o     Custom LaunchPad Solo for Readers and Writers (with eBook) Access Code

o     Unnaturally Delicious, Jayson Lusk

o     Confessions of a Recovering Environmentalist, Paul Kingsnorth [this common read will be used for Comp II] 

o     ISBN-13: 978-1-319-22941-2

** Google account (for Google Docs)

Instructor's Name: Lisa Smart

Email Address:  lsmart@nctc.edu  (Always use Canvas email. Use the NCTC address only if Canvas fails.)

Online Office Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. (Monday – Thursday)

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.     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

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 grade of “W” is December 27, 2018. If you intend to drop the course and do not do so by this date, you will be on the instructor's roster at the end of the semester, and the instructor will have to award you the grade you earned.

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 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 the student will fail 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.

Student Success: 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, rooms 170, 182, or 188; on the Gainesville Campus, rooms 114 or 111; on the Flower Mound Campus, room 111; and on the Bowie Campus, room 124.

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 accumulates 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: EVALUATION OF MAJOR WRITING ASSIGNMENTS

·     “A” Work: This writing is excellent and demonstrates excellence in development, organization, style and tone, and grammar/mechanics. There is clear evidence of the writing process (invention, drafting, revision, editing, and proofreading).  

o     A = 95  

o     A- = 92  

o     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.  

o     B+ = 87  

o     B = 85

o     B- = 82

o     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 for the assignment, has few mechanical errors, and is reasonably organized and developed. This piece also shows some evidence of the writing process. 

o     C+ = 77

o     C = 75

o     C- = 72

o     C-/D+ = 70

·     “D” Work:  This is below-average work that lacks develop and is not effectively organized to facilitate reader’s understanding.  The paper also shows little or no evidence of the writing process. 

o     D+ = 67

o     D = 65

o     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.

o     F (work submitted and attempted) = 55

o     F (no work submitted or attempted) = 0

Semester Grade Criteria  

·     Quizzes/Grammar and Mechanics = 15%

o     Quizzes are either objective or short answer essay and are intended to check your reading/understanding.

o     Quizzes are often timed.

o     You will take quizzes independent of your book, online lectures, notes, or other people, unless instructions indicate otherwise.

·     Daily Writing (Discussion Forums and Journals) = 20%

o     In order to receive full credit, your discussion post MUSTaddress the lesson prompt AND meet the required word count.

o     Comments MUST BE thoughtful and based on careful analysis.

o     Ideas about texts MUST BE supported with specific reference to/details in the text.

·     Major Writing Assignment = 60% [Reminder: All Major Writing Assignments must be completed to pass the course.]

o     Writing Assignment 1 = 10%

o     Writing Assignment 2 = 20%

o     Writing Assignment 3 = 30%

·     Final Exam = 5%

o     Letter of Reflection

OTHER IMPORTANT AREAS OF CONSIDERATION

Class Attendance & Participation Policy: Because this in an online course, there is no "attendance policy," per se, but regular participation is required. Because this course progresses very quickly, I reserve the right to block from this course students who fail to complete assignments for more than one week. Students who are blocked MUST contact the registrar's office and withdraw from the course, or they will receive a semester grade of F. 

This is NOT a self-paced course. During Wintermester sessions, ONE WEEK OF CLASS is the equivalent of ONE MONTH of classes in a long semester. Please do not be under the illusion that, because this class is only four weeks, it will be easier or less work than a traditional 16-week course. I do NOT reduce the number of assignments you are required to complete during the Wintermester. Instead, I compress them into the time allowed. Therefore, you are completing in four weeks everything that a student would complete in sixteen weeks in a fall/spring course. This is a writing course; therefore, the time demand will be significant. If you do not have time to take this course or do not feel that you manage time wisely, you should withdraw.  NOTE: All students must complete the "Bookkeeping" activities by the afternoon of the third day of class.

Students are accountable for their behavior. Students are expected to CHECK ANNOUNCEMENTS DAILY and stay up to date on any changes made to class assignments or requirements. Students should also CHECK EMAIL DAILY—especially within a day of submitting assignments. If a problem occurs with a student’s assignment submission, I will notify the student as soon as I discover the problem. Students then have 24 hours from the time I send an email to contact me and make arrangements to correct 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. To be successful in this online course, students must be regular and active participants.

Email Correspondence: I reserve 24 hours to respond to students’ emails during the weekdays and 48 hours on weekends. 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, consider your audience when sending emails. Email correspondence should be professional and mechanically sound. Canvas email comes directly to my phone, so in most cases, you can expect a quick response.

Late-Work Policy: All assignment due dates are explicitly posted on Canvas. I expect assignments to be submitted on time; therefore, I do not generally accept late work. However, due to the extremely fast past of this course, coupled with the holidays, my policy is this: Assignments should be submitted by their due dates, but so long as the assignment is submitted by the time I get ready to grade it, even if it was submitted after the due date, you will not be penalized. So, for instance, let's say an assignment was due on Mon., Jan. 7, but I didn't grade the assignment until Wed., Jan. 9, and you turned yours in on Tues., Jan. 8...you're good. On the flip side, if I go to grade that assignment on Jan. 9, and your assignment has not been submitted, you will receive a zero. The moral of the story is: To be on the safe side, submit your work by the posted due date! With all that being said, if you need an extension due to an extenuating circumstance beyond your control (car accident, death in immediate family, major illness, etc.), please email me. I reserve the right to grant (or not grant) an extension based on each individual student's circumstances. Please consider, though, that in most cases, late work is not accepted once I have begun grading an assignment.

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:

o     Prepare and participate meaningfully in online discussion boards.

o     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 on a credible online source (such as The Purdue Owl or a handbook).

o     Consider the quality (and effort) of required drafts, notes, and daily assignments.

o     Turn in writing assignments on time and as assigned.

o     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 pre-writing and rough drafts. If you do not show evidence of the writing process, I will not evaluate your work. The rough drafts are a requirement for this course.

Major Writing Assignments: 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 any student who does not submit all major writing assignments.

Information for Assignment Submission: All work in this course should be submitted using ONLY .doc or .docx file extensions. The one exception is the Collaborative Project, which will be submitted using Google Docs.

 

Course Calendar: