NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Course title: Composition II

Course prefix, number, and section number: 0344

Semester/Year of course: SPRING 2024

Semester start and end dates: Jan. 16, 2024 - May 11, 2024

Modality (Face to face/Synchronous or Asynchronous online/Hybrid): Asynchronous Online

Class meeting location, days, and times: N/A

Lab meeting location, days, and times: N/A

Semester credit hours: 3

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. [Rev. Fall 2012 THECB] 

Course prerequisites: English 1301 or its equivalent.

Required course materials: For both ENGL 1301 and ENGL 1302, you will use the textbook bundle that is available at the NCTC bookstore that includes The Hub 2023 Revision for North Central Texas College & CM Achieve for The Hub (2-Term Access) for North Central Texas College with The Address Book by Dierdre Mask & Factfulness by Hans Rosling. (ISBN-13: 9781319551254)

Name of instructor: Lia Schuermann

Office location: N/A

Telephone number: N/A

E-mail address: lschuermann@nctc.edu

Office hours for students: Fridays 1-2 pm

SYLLABUS CHANGE DISCLAIMER

The faculty member reserves the right to make changes to this published syllabus if it is in the best interest of the educational development of this class. Any such changes will be announced as soon as possible in person and/or writing.

SUMMARY OF COURSE ASSIGNMENTS

List of graded assignments: See Course Summary below.

Final grade scale:  See right column (Group and Weight).

Late work policy: A major writing task is due on the day listed on Canvas. However, if you need an extension, please contact me via email before the assignment is due to make those arrangements. I reserve the right not to evaluate any work submitted more than five days late.

SEE CANVAS FOR THE COMPLETE COURSE CALENDAR, OUTLINE, DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF GRADED WORK, AND OTHER RELATED MATERIAL.

COURSE POLICIES

Academic Integrity Policy: 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.”

AI Writing and Acceptable Use: Using ChatGPT, or any other AI language tool, is considered academic dishonesty, even if cited as a source.  NCTC's English Department uses AI detectors to enforce this policy.  The writing assignments in NCTC English courses require generating new knowledge, rather than just recombining existing information.  AI does not generate original research, and the information may contain factual errors. 

However, AI may be used in brainstorming, or developing a research question.  Generally speaking, students are not authorized to use artificial intelligence and related products like large language model applications, to produce work for this class EXCEPT on assignments that the instructor has identified and for which the student will have received significant guidance on the appropriate use of such technologies.  Students should not, however, construe this limited use as permission to use these technologies in any other facet of their coursework. Grammarly (or other grammar tools) can be used to assist in the correction of grammar and/or sentence structure errors, but it is not acceptable to use Grammarly to revise/rewrite student writing.  Students who submit AI generated content as original work will be subject to the same disciplinary actions listed above in the college's academic integrity policy.

Attendance Policy: Attendance, in both online and face-to-face courses, 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. 

Withdrawal Policy

A student may withdraw from a course on or after the official date of record. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate and complete a Withdrawal Request Form.

Last day to withdraw from the course with a “W” is: April 1, 2024

Student 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.) [Rev. 8-2012 THECB]

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]

COLLEGE POLICIES

STUDENT HANDBOOK

Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the Student Handbook.

ADA STATEMENT

NCTC will adhere to all applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the Office for Students with Disabilities to arrange appropriate accommodations.  See the OSD Syllabus Addendum. 

STUDENT SERVICES

NCTC provides a multitude of services and resources to support students.  See the Student Services Syllabus Addendum for a listing of those departments and links to their sites.

QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS

The student should contact the instructor to deal with any questions, concerns, or complaints specific to the class.  If the student and faculty are not able to resolve the issue, the student may contact the chair or coordinator of the division.  If the student remains unsatisfied, the student may proceed to contact the instructional dean.

Name of Chair/Coordinator: Kristen Weinzapfel

Office location: Gainesville 502

Telephone number: 940 668 3343

E-mail address: kweinzapfel@nctc.edu

Name of Instructional Dean: Crystal Wright

Office location: Denton

Telephone number: (940) 380-2504, ext. 2504

E-mail address: cwright@nctc.edu