Engl 1302 Composition II Spring 2019
L. Coolen Office: Room 502 E
Telephone: (940) 668-7731 ext. 4306 E-Mail Address: lcoolen@nctc.edu
Class schedule and office hours: Posted in Canvas in “Files” and next to my office door (Room 502 E
COMPOSITION II SYLLABUS
PREREQUISITE: Credit for Engl 1301 or the equivalent
REQUIRED TEXTS:
Kingsnorth, Paul. Confessions of a Recovering Environmentalist and Other Essays. Graywolf P, 2017.
Palmquist, Mike. Joining the Conversation: A Guide for Writers at North Central Texas College, 3rd ed.,
MacMillan Learning, 2017.
Recommended Texts: A standard college dictionary (recently published) and thesaurus
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.
See Learning Outcomes and Core Objectives listed in the class syllabus below Grade Distribution.
UNIT I Introduction to the course/Collaborative Interview (January 22-February 21)
(Monday, January 21, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day—no classes)
Jan. 22-24 Getting started: syllabus, student card, department standards, Prerequisite
Completion Verification Form, student ID, class folder, signed contract, texts
Assign reading: Kingsnorth Part I: Collapse “A Crisis of Bigness”
Jan. 28-31 Discuss Kingsnorth “A Crisis of Bigness”/Collaborative Interview (Joining the Conversation pp. xliii-xlv.)
Form teams for collaborative interview. Focus on chapters in Kingsnorth. Decide on a team leader. Make a tentative plan. Develop a rough draft outline.
February 4-12 Develop a readable collaborative rough draft, revising your outline as you develop your paper. Make sure each team member clearly identifies his/her contribution. Work with your professor and tutors as you work on the project.
Feb. 13/14 Rough drafts due
Unit I cont’d Collaborative Interview
Feb. 18/19 Revise the rough draft
Feb. 20/21 Collaborative Interview due/Submit your typed notes to VeriCite; give me the hardcopy. The
team leader must submit the final draft to VeriCite and to me.Read JC Ch. 6 for next class
Unit 2 Writing the Annotated Bibliography
Feb. 25/26 Discuss JC Ch. 6
Read for next class JC Ch. 8
Feb. 27/28 Discuss JC Ch. 8/Discuss Research Topics
March 4/5 Library Orientation
Assign JC Ch. 7
Mar. 6/7 Assign Annotated Bibliography JC pp. xxxvii-xl
Discuss JC Ch. 7
March 11-15 Spring Break
Mar. 18/19 Complete Annotated Bibliography
Mar. 20/21 Submit rough draft of Annotated Bibliography
Mar. 25/26 Revise Annotated Bibliography rough draft and submit the final draft to VeriCite as well as
a hardcopy to me/Assign JC Chapts. 10-11
Unit 3 Writing the Research Essay
Mar. 27/28 Discuss JC Chapts. 10-11/Begin work on Research Essay rough draft, JC pp. xxxix-xliii
Assign JC Ch. 12
April 1/2 Discuss JC Ch. 12/Work on Research Essay/Develop a rough draft topic outline which you will
revise as needed/Assign JC Ch. 13
April 3/4 April 4 Last day to withdraw with a grade of “W.”
Discuss JC Ch. 13/Continue working on Research Essay. Seek assistance from your professor,
tutors, and library staff./Assign JC Ch. 14
April 8/9 Discuss JC Ch. 14 (Ethos, Pathos, Logos)/Continue working on Research Essay/Assign JC Ch. 15
April 10/11 Discuss JC Ch. 15/Check Research Essay documentation with professor/tutors
April 15/16 Revise your Research Essay/Get help as needed
April 17/18 Research Essay Due: Submit the final draft to VeriCite and a hardcopy to me.
April 22-25 How to survive on less than you can imagine—Lessons from passages in Walden by Thoreau.
Prepare a visual to illustrate something you learned.
May 1-2 How to take back your life in today’s tech world—Lessons from Jedediah Bila
Class discussion of your own experiences.
Unit 4 Writing the Reflective Letter
May 6/7 Write the letter in class (JC pp. xlvi-xlvii). I will also provide a handout of instructions.
May 8/9 Revise the Letter of Reflection/Submit the final draft
May 13-16 Final Exams/May 16 Commencement Ceremonies
Special Speaker:
You are all invited to hear Dr. Jayson Lusk speak when he visits NCTC this spring.
Be looking for posted information concerning this important lecture.
Grade Distribution
Collaborative Interview 25%
Annotated Bibliography 15 %
Research Essay 35%
Letter of Reflection 10%
Earned 100 points 15 % Points may be earned by class attendance, submitting daily
assignments on time, quizzes, and a portfolio. The portfolio will contain
all evidence of the major written projects for the semester.
Frequent opportunities which may not be announced in advance enable
students to earn points.
A=90-100 B=80-89 C=70-79 D=60-69 F=grades below 60
Learning outcomes and core objectives will be met through the writing, revising, and rewriting of a collaborative interview, a bibliography, a research paper, and a reflective letter. In addition, students will be expected to participate in a variety of activities including oral and written discussions of questions related to the assigned readings, quizzes, critical reading of assignments, and note taking. An emphasis is placed on research techniques and strategies.
English Department Outcomes for Engl 1302
- 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.)
Core Objectives
- Critical Thinking Skills (CT) - creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information
- Communication Skills (COM) - effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through written, oral and visual communication
- Empirical and Quantitative Skills (EQS) - manipulation and analysis of numerical data or observable facts resulting in informed conclusions
- Teamwork (TW) - ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal
- Social Responsibility(SR) - intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities
- Personal Responsibility (PR) - ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to ethical decision-making
Attendance Regulations: College Catalog
The NCTC attendance policy is published in each course syllabi. NCTC faculty are expected to keep up to date attendance records. However, general regulations regarding class attendance are as follows:
- 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 sickness or emergencies which are approved by the instructor, or due to participation in an approved college-sponsored activity (which requires written approval from the appropriate Instructional Dean).
- The instructor is responsible for judging the validity of any reasons given for 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.
- Students may be dropped from a class by the Registrar upon recommendation of the instructor who feels the student has been unjustifiably absent or tardy a sufficient number of times to preclude meeting the course's objectives.
- Persistent, unjustified absences from classes or laboratories may be considered sufficient cause for College officials to drop a student from the rolls of the College.
- Students may be dropped from a developmental course required for the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) purposes for non-attendance. Official NCTC TSI rules state that students not passing all sections of the THEA, Compass, or new statewide TSI Assessment test must be enrolled in at least one area of remediation each semester they are enrolled or until all sections are passed or all remedial requirements have been met. Students who are dropped twice for non-attendance in a required developmental course will receive a registration hold limiting enrollment in the subsequent semester.
- Simply logging into an online course does not constitute attendance. The Department of Education calculates "last date of attendance" by the last time a student participated in an online discussion or made contact (interacted) with a faculty member.
Grading System: Note the previously identified grading rubric.
Makeup Work: Makeup work is rarely accepted. In case of an emergency, contact me immediately to ask about making up the work. I must be notified no later than the due date. No daily assignments may be turned in late.
Attendance Policy: Students are required to attend class. Realizing that circumstances may prevent attendance, I allow students to miss up to two weeks. Students who miss even one class risk making a lower grade than students who do not. Students who miss more than two weeks may be dropped from the course. Note that students have the responsibility to withdraw from the course if they wish to drop it.
Classroom Etiquette: Always be considerate of your professor and classmates. Do not do anything to disrupt the class including using discourteous language, coming late to class or leaving early, leaving and returning to the room, talking out of turn, using crude or abusive language. Do not wear earbuds in class. Make sure cell phones are not on your person or desk. If you take notes on a PC, sit at the back of the room where the computer is less distracting.
Plagiarism: Students who plagiarize may receive a grade of F on essays or research papers. (See “Plagiarism” Arguing about Literature pp. 198-99.) Additionally, students who plagiarize risk being dropped from the class and being suspended from the college.
Cheating: Cheating in any form, including collusion, is unacceptable and may result in an F for the course.
Help on Assignments: You may make an appointment to see me, see me during office hours, call me, or email me through Canvas. My office hours are listed in Canvas and posted near my office door. You should also take advantage of tutors on campus (Library Lyceum).
Syllabus Revisions: The professor reserves the right to make changes in the syllabus. For example, some of the selections in the units may be omitted or treated in an order other than the one listed. Assignments are clarified during class time. You should have contact information with two or more students in the class so that if you have to clarify an assignment, you will be able to do so. Do not contact me about an assignment outside of class.
Also, check your NCTC email daily and pay attention to announcements. I often send messages about class assignments during the week.
VeriCite: You must submit all major writing assignments to VeriCite so that I have a record of your paper.
STUDENT SUPPORT 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 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
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.