North Central Texas College Course Syllabus 

Spring Minimester 2021

 

Course:   Composition II  ENGL 1302.201                                            

Instructor: Danielle Wagner                    

Office: 107

Email: dsearles@nctc.edu or through Canvas (preferred)

Office Hours: To access virtual office hours, click here

 

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: Custom NCTC Textbook Bundle, including

• The Hub, custom NCTC version

• This I Believe and This I Believe II

• Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts

• Online Access code for Achieve

• ISBN-10: 1319383351  ISBN-13: 9781319383350

For 1302, we will use The Hub and Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts, specifically.

 

Grading Criteria:

Discussions/Writing Activities    30%             A= 89.5- 100

Evidence of Writing Process      15%             B=79.5-89.4

Annotated Bibliography            15%             C=69.5-79.4

Research Essay                       30%              D=59.5-69.4

Collaborative Project                10%              F=59.4 or below

 

 

CLASS POLICIES

Grading Policies:

• Discussions/ Writing Activities : These are mostly low stakes writing assignments and activities designed to practice skills in preparation for major writing assignments. Some writing activities will be assessed as completion grades, and others will be assessed for quality of content. Some tasks will be completed in class, and others will be completed outside of class. 

• Evidence of the Writing Process:This category will include drafts for the research essay, annotated bibliography, and collaborative project. Students will be required to submit drafts of writing assignments for feedback. 

• Annotated Bibliography: This assignment will document your research for the Research Essay

• Research Essay: must be submitted to an online drop in Canvas by the beginning of class in one of the accepted file formats (pdf, doc, docx). No other submission type will be accepted. Each drop box will be connected to TurnitIn to check for plagiarism. These essays constitute the majority of your semester grade. 

• Collaborative Project: students will work in small groups to complete a social media project. This group project is required to complete the course

 

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: doc, docx, pdf. No other file type will be accepted

• Verify that your assignment uploaded and actually appears in the drop box

 

Late Work:  Due dates vary throughout the week, so pay close attention to the dates assigned in Canvas. All deadlines are set for 11:59pm on the designated due date. If you upload an assignment to the drop box and it reads LATE, the assignment will not be accepted for credit and will receive a 0.

• All students get ONE extension on an assignment. No penalties, no questions asked. If you need an extension on an assignment, you must email to let me know which assignment, AND you MUST schedule your own due date so that I can open up the assignment for you. You tell me when you will complete and submit the assignment. If you miss your own deadline, the assignment will be given a 0. 

 

ANY MISSING or LATE WORK WILL BE AVERAGED AS A ZERO

 

Attendance Policies

 The college requires attendance be taken daily. Submitting your assignments in an online class counts as your attendance. Failure to submit assignments for more than two days in a row may result in you being dropped from the course. 

  

Last Day to Withdraw: May 26th is the last day to withdrawal with a “W”

 

Withdrawing from a Course: Students can learn more about the withdraw policy and procedure by http://www.nctc.edu/current-students/drop-withdraw-class.html. 

 

  

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. Prepare and participate meaningfully in online discussion boards.

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

• Turn in writing assignments on-time and as assigned.

• Mind the quality and tone of email correspondence.

 

 

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.

 

Basic Needs: Any student who faces challenges securing their food or housing and believes this may affect their performance in the course is urged to contact the Dean of Students for support. Furthermore, please notify me if you are comfortable in doing so. This will enable me to direct you to additional resources for support.

 

Confidentiality: The college complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. For more information about FERPA, please visit https://www.nctc.edu/current-students/ferpa.html. 

 

Grade Appeals and Incomplete Grades: Students can read more about the college's grade appeal processes and procedures for assigning incomplete grades by visiting 

the Academic Catalog: https://www.nctc.edu/catalog/academic-policies/grades-reports/student-grade-appeal.html

 and https://www.nctc.edu/catalog/academic-policies/grades-reports/incomplete-grades.html

 

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.)

 

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

 

College Attendance Policy

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)

 

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.

 

Student Success Center

The Student Success Center is designed to help all students at NCTC develop tools to achieve their academic goals. The center links students to FREE tutoring, including a Writing Center, a Math Lab, and free online tutoring.  The program helps students acclimate to college by providing free interactive online workshops. For more information, please visit your nearest Student Success Center.

 

Student Success offers academic coaching, tutoring, including a Writing Center, and a Math Lab to assist new students acclimate to college by providing computer lab services for prospective students. http://www.nctc.edu/student-services/student-success/tutoring/index.html

First generation students can also participate in TRIO which offers specialized services.

http://www.nctc.edu/student-services/trio-student-support-services.html

 

Completion Center

The NCTC Completion Center is a comprehensive student engagement program that increases retention and completion rates of first-time, low income students. Services include:

Success coaching to address students’ academic and non-academic challenges and issues; Success Seminars, and a centralized career readiness and job placement program.

http://www.nctc.edu/student-services/completion-center/index.html

 

Career Services Center

The NCTC Career Services Center is the place you can go for educational and career planning. Services include: Career/Degree Exploration, Job Search Tools and Resources, Resume and Professional Portfolio Development, Interview Skills and Preparation. Our Career Advisors partner with you in making your educational journey an efficient process towards a rewarding career. http://www.nctc.edu/career-services/index.html

 

Counseling and Advising

Support Services, Counseling and Advising 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/counseling-advising/index.html 

 

Testing Service Center

The mission of NCTC Testing Services is to provide high-quality testing services that adhere to the professional standards and guidelines to meet the needs of students, faculty, and community members. http://www.nctc.edu/testing-center/index.html

 

Early Alert and CARES           

The NCTC Early Alert program assists students who are at risk of failing or withdrawing from a course. Faculty and staff may refer students through the Early Alert process at any point in the semester in an effort to provide appropriate intervention and access to support services. Examples of behaviors that could prompt an Early Alert referral could be missing assignments, failing tests, excessive absences, or personal circumstances impacting academic performance. A student submitted as an Early Alert will be contacted by an academic advisor or success coach through text, phone, and/or via their NCTC e-mail address to discuss any current challenges as well as helpful resources and success strategies-we want our students to finish strong and know that education is a partnership!

 

The NCTC CARES (Campus Assessment Response Evaluation Services) Team is concerned not only about our students' academic success, but also their emotional and physical well-being. The CARES Team promotes a safe learning environment for students, faculty, and staff and is committed to taking a proactive approach in helping our students succeed by addressing the mental, emotional or psychological health and safety of the NCTC community. As a student, you have the ability to report concerning behavior which could impact your own safety or the safety of another NCTC student, such as stalking, harassment, physical or emotional abuse, violent or threatening behavior, or self-harm. Visit the NCTC CARES site to also locate campus and community resources, or email counseling@nctc.edu to get in touch with a member of the CARES Team directly.  As always, if you feel there is an immediate threat to your own safety or welfare (or to another student), please call 911 immediately.

 

 Financial Aid

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

 

Student Success

At NCTC, student success​ is progress towards collegiate goals, reached in an affordable and timely manner, under professional guidance, empowering students to serve skillfully in their chosen role within their community

 

Equity

NCTC defines equity as encompassing the practice of acknowledging individual differences and systemic disparities when developing new programs and resources for our campus community, which may sometimes challenge our own beliefs and assumptions, in order to ensure balanced educational opportunities toward completion.

 

Affinity Groups

Staff and faculty representing the Employee Resource Groups (ERG’s), along with academic advisors, counselors and success coaches, serve as mentors for NCTC’s student-centered ​Affinity Groups​.

 

An​Affinity Group​ is a population of students who have specific needs, barriers or systems they are needing to navigate not only within college, but within life. Providing mentorship, support and resources for identified Affinity Groups such as Black/African American students, veterans and active military, single parents, students with disabilities, adult learners, Latinx, LGBTQ+ and students who have experienced foster care and/or homelessness, enables us to make more impactful, meaningful connections with students who are in dire need of equity and understanding.

 

SEMESTER OVERVIEW

*Please check Canvas modules for detailed daily schedule. Overview is tentative

 

Unit 1: Understanding Argument (Week 1)

Readings and Discussion Topics

MLA Formatting and Source Documentation Review

Summarizing, Paraphrasing, and Quoting

Inquiry and Response

The Hub Topic 23 :

• Tutorial 23.2 MLA In-text Citations (338-343)

• Tutorial 23.4 MLA-Style Formatting (359-361)

• Tutorial 23.1 Documenting Sources in MLA Style (337-338)

• Tutorial 23.3 MLA Works Cited List (244-245)

Ten Arguments: Argument One-Argument Five

Assignments

*Writing Activities                                                      [LOs 2-5; CT/COM]

*Discussion Boards                                                                   [LOs 4-5, COM]

*Research Essay Topic, Brainstorming, Intro

 

 

Unit 2: Research Argument

Readings and Discussion Topics

Locating and Evaluating Sources

Drafting the Research Argument

The Hub 

• Topic 8: The Writing Process

• Topic 10: Finding a Focus

• Topic 11: Developing Ideas

• Topic 12: Organizing Ideas

• Topic 22: Research

Ten Arguments: Argument Six-Argument 8

Assignments

*Discussion Boards                                                                 [LOs 4-5, COM]

*Annotated Bibliography

* Research Essay     [LOs 1-5; CT,COM,TW]

                                                      

Unit III: Collaborative Project

Readings and Discussion Topics

Working in Teams

Brainstorming project ideas

Assignments

*Writing Activities                                                         [LOs 2-5; CT/COM/TW]

* Collaborative Projects: outline, drafts, revision           [LOs 1-5; CT,COM,TW]

*Semester Reflection