North Central Texas College Course Syllabus Fall 2018
Course: Composition II ENGL 1302.508 TR 11am-12:20pm
Instructor: Danielle Wagner
Office: 107
Email: dsearles@nctc.edu or through Canvas (preferred)
Office Hours:
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MONDAY
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TUESDAY
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WEDNESDAY
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THURSDAY
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FRIDAY
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7:30-8AM
11AM-2PM
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10:30-11AM
2-3PM
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7:30-8AM
11AM-2PM
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10:30-11AM
2-3PM
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By appointment only
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Please feel free to stop by any time during my office hours with questions/concerns whether or not you have an appointment. If your schedule makes it difficult for you to stop by during office hours, we can set up a time to meet that works with your schedule.
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.
Prerequisite: English 1301 or its equivalent.
Required Textbooks/Materials: CP CONV 3E NCT&LPSACS6M&DEL&ENV
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- Custom Textbook--Joining the Conversation
- Custom LaunchPad Solo for Readers and Writers (with eBook) Access Code
- Unnaturally Delicious, Jayson Lusk
- Confessions of a Recovering Environmentalist, Paul Kingsnorth
- ISBN-13: 978-1-319-22941-2
Grading Criteria:
Annotated Bibliography 20% A= 89.5- 100
Synthesis Essay 25% B=79.5-89.4
Research Essay 30% C=69.5-79.4
Group Project 10% D=59.5-69.4
Attendance/ Writing and 15% F=59.4 or below
Class Activities
CLASS POLICIES
Grading Policies:
- Annotated Bibliography (20%) must be submitted to an online drop in Canvas by the beginning of class in one of the accepted file formats (pdf, doc, docx, rtf). No other submission type will be accepted. Each drop box will be connected to Vericite to check for plagiarism. This is an ongoing assignment that will be submitted multiple times over the course of the semester with revision built into subsequent rubrics. Submissions will be averaged.
- Synthesis Essay (25%) and Research Essay (30%) must be submitted to an online drop in Canvas by the beginning of class in one of the accepted file formats (pdf, doc, docx, rtf). No other submission type will be accepted. Each drop box will be connected to Vericite to check for plagiarism.
- Group Project (10%): Students will collaborate in small groups to select and reflect on passages from the common read, develop a dialogue, and supply an interview question for Paul Kingsnorth, author of Confessions of a Recovering Environmentalist
- Writing and Class Activities (15%): These are mostly low stakes writing assignments and activities designed to practice skills in preparations for major essays. This category will also include points for attendance. THESE ASSIGNMENTS CANNOT BE MADE UP unless prior arrangements have been made. I will drop 1-2 of these assignments at the end of the semester (excluding the revision memo and final exam) Any writing/activity that you miss, show up late for, do not complete, will be averaged as a 0.
Online Drop Box: All writing assignments will be connected to a drop box in Canvas where students must submit their work for grading. When you submit an assignment to a Canvas drop box:
- The file you upload must be in one of the following formats: rtf, doc, docx, pdf. No other file type will be accepted
- You must verify that your assignment uploaded and actually appears in the drop box
Late Work: Students may submit ONE writing assignment (excluding In class Writing Activities) late, no questions asked, no penalty. This is your one freebie, so save it for when you might really need it. The last day to submit a late assignment is Monday, December 3rd. NO OTHER LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED. All writing assignments completed outside of class will be due online at the beginning of class. Any assignment not submitted to the drop box by the beginning of class is considered late—even if it is only one minute, late is late.
Revision and Extra Credit Opportunities:
- Students will be given opportunities to revise some writing assignments for a higher grade over the course of the semester. Details will be provided at that time.
- Students may earn extra credit on the Argument Overview Essay and/or the Argument Evaluation essay by working with one of the NCTC writing tutors (you must supply documentation of this work) or by working on a draft with me. Points will be awarded based on the student’s effort in the meeting and subsequent revision of the assignment.
ANY MISSING WORK WILL BE AVERAGED AS A ZERO
Attendance Policies
Regular and punctual attendance is expected of all students in all classes for which they have registered. All absences are considered to be unauthorized unless the student is absent due to illness or emergencies as determined by the instructor. It is the student responsibility to provide documentation as to the emergency for approval and judgement by the faculty member. Approved college sponsored activities are the only absences for which a student should not be held liable and only when provided by a college official ahead of the absence. Valid reasons for absence, however, do not relieve the student of the responsibility for making up required work. Students will not be allowed to make up an examination missed due to absence unless they have reasons acceptable to the instructor. A student who is compelled to be absent when a test is given should petition the instructor, in advance if possible, for permission to postpone the exam. Student will be dropped from a class by the Registrar upon recommendation of the instructor who feels the student has been justifiably absent or tardy a sufficient number of times to preclude meeting the course’s objectives. Persistent, unjustified absences from classes or laboratories will be considered sufficient cause for College officials to drop a student from the rolls of the College. From Board Policy FC (LOCAL)
In this class your attendance accounts for a portion of the Writing and Class Activities category, which comprises 15% of your semester grade.
- To be counted as present and receive full points for the day, students must attend the entire class.
- Students who are absent will not receive attendance points for the day, even if the absence is excused.
- Students will lose attendance points for tardiness and/or leaving class.
- Instructor reserves the right to drop a student who has missed more than two weeks of class (4 class meetings). After the drop date (11/8), students who miss more than two weeks of class may receive an F in the course.
Please keep the lines of communication open regarding your attendance so that if you must miss class, we can work together to keep you on track regarding your course work.
If you must be absent, you should:
- Make arrangements to submit any work that is due on the date of your absence.
- Check Canvas to see what discussions/assignments/handouts you missed and what will be due the day you return. Get notes from another student to cover what you have missed.
- Email me with any questions about the assignments/handouts posted to Canvas. Please note, I will not answer questions about this material until you have done your part to check the calendar and handouts that have been posted to Canvas.
Last Day to Withdraw: November 8th is the last day to withdrawal with a “W”
Class Cancelations: Over the course of the semester, it may be necessary to cancel a class meeting due to bad weather or instructor illness. Any time class is canceled, I will send a class message through Canvas explaining how we will adjust our weekly schedule, due dates, and assignments. It is your responsibility to check Canvas for these instructions so that you will not be penalized for late work or missing work. Don’t assume an assignment is not due because class has been canceled.
Classroom Etiquette: Please conduct yourself as a professional in the classroom. Any disruptive or offensive behavior will result in immediate dismissal. Please also be aware that tardiness and/or leaving in the middle of class is disruptive. When it comes to cell phone use, let’s adopt a “don’t be a jerk policy.” If you have a special situation where you are expecting a call (for example, you are “on call” for a sick child) just let me know ahead of time and you can take the call out in the hallway. Otherwise, cell phones should not be heard going off during class. Paying more attention to your phone than to what is happening in class is probably not the best choice if you are interested in getting something out of the course; it can also be perceived as disrespectful. If phone use becomes distracting in the classroom, the instructor reserves the right to dismiss you from class.
Email Etiquette: Email is an excellent way for us to communicate outside the classroom, and it provides you the opportunity to ask additional questions. Given our academic environment, this form of communication should also be professional, so please observe the following rules:
- Include a greeting (such as Mrs. Wagner, or Instructor,) and a signature—make sure you sign your email with your full name.
- Write complete, coherent sentences so that I know who you are, what class you are in, and what you need
- Please allow up to 24 hours for me to respond to your questions during the week, 48 hours on weekends.
Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this course, students will:
- 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.)
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.
Core Objectives:
- *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
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:
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.
IMPORTANT STUDENT INFORMATION
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
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.
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.
Units of Study:
Students will read and analyze a variety of selections from the adopted textbook.
- Block II: Quizzes, Examination, and Final Exam
Students may be required to take quizzes or tests over assigned readings and/or related materials. The class MUST meet during final exam week.
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 produces 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 in Block III.
SEMESTER OVERVIEW
*Dates and assignments are tentative and subject to change. Daily schedules can be found in Canvas Modules and on the course home page.
Unit I: Weeks 1-3 (8/28-9/13) Writing Overview and Working with Sources
Readings and Discussion Topics
Introduction to Course, Discuss Syllabus
Joining the Conversation Chapter 1: Understanding Yourself as a Writer
Joining the Conversation Chapter 3: Reading to Write
MLA Formatting and Documentation Review
Summary Guidelines and The Art of Quoting
“from Rhetoric” by Aristotle (handout)
“The Rhetorical Stance” by Wayne Booth (handout)
Assignments
*In-class Writing/Activities [LOs 2-5; CT/COM]
*Annotated Bibliography 1 [LOs 4-5, COM]
Unit II: Weeks 4-8 (9/18-10/18) Synthesizing and Responding to Argument
Readings and Discussion Topics
Joining the Conversation Chapter 10: Developing and Supporting your Thesis Statement
Joining the Conversation Chapter 11: Organizing
Selected Readings from Confessions and E-Reader
Drafting the Synthesis Essay and Paragraph Development
Developing response to argument
Assignments
*In-Class Writing/Activities [LOs 2-5; CT/COM]
*Annotated Bibliography 2 [LOs 4-5, COM]
* Synthesis Essay—Rough Draft and Revision [LOs 1-5; CT,COM,TW]
*Reading/Grading Synthesis Essay [COM, TW]
Unit III: Weeks 9-13 (10/23-11/20) Research Argument
Readings and Discussion Topics
Joining the Conversation Chapter 6: Beginning your Search
Joining the Conversation Chapter 7: Locating Sources
Joining the Conversation Chapter 13: Using Sources Effectively
Selected Readings from Confessions and E-Reader
Assignments
*In-class Writing/Activities [LOs 2-5; CT/COM/TW]
* Research Essay [LOs 1-5; CT,COM,TW]
*Reading/Grading Research Essay [COM, TW]
*Annotated Bibliography 3 [LOs 4-5, COM]
Unit IV: Collaboration and Reflection
Readings and Discussion Topics
Joining the Conversation Chapter 5: Working Together
Assignments
*Group Project [TW]
*Final Exam Self Reflection [PR]
FINAL EXAMS: December 8-13