Course Title: Composition 2
Course Prefix, Number, and Section Number: ENGL 1302.380
Semester/Year of course: Fall 2025
Semester start and end dates:  8/25/2025- 10/18/2025
Modality: Online
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.

Required course materials:

For both ENGL 1301 and ENGL 1302, you will use the Everyone's an Author (Lunsford, et al) eBook bundle from Norton. We will also use Useful Delusions in the first half of the course. Here is the ISBN: 978-1-324-05896-0 

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Name of instructor: Danielle Wagner
Office location: FM 107
E-mail address: dsearles@nctc.edu or Canvas message (preferred)
Office hours: MW 8:00-9:30AM, 12:30-1:30pm and TR 9:30-11am, 12:30-1:30pm

 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 for the first 4 weeks. Additional assignments will be added over the term and can be found in the modules. 

Organization of Course Materials

• Your weekly schedules of reading and writing assignments will be housed in the Canvas modules.
• Modules will also be the place to access copies of handouts, notes, models, and other general course information.
• Your assignment due dates will be listed in Canvas. Since this an accelerated course, we must cover 2 weeks worth of material every week, which means you will have two dates every week. Assignments are due every Wednesday and every Sunday at 11:59pm.

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

Submitting your Work

• You are required to use Google Docs for this class. Some assignments will ask for an editable link; others will require a PDF upload. The required format will be specified in each assignment.
• All writing assignments must be submitted through the Canvas drop box—work sent by message, email, or comments will not be accepted.
• Always confirm your submission is uploaded before the due date and time.

Late work policy:  

• All major essay assignments are required. Failure to submit any will result in failing the course. Evidence of the writing process (drafts, revisions) must accompany all final essays and will be part of scoring.
• Canvas drop boxes close at the designated due date/time. Late or missing submissions receive a 0.
• Each student may request two extensions if needed:
  • One extension = one assignment
  • Must be requested before the due date with a specific completion date
  • Extensions cannot be granted for group work or end of term tasks. Rough draft extensions are limited by the final draft due date.
• Extra extensions may be granted in special circumstances, depending on communication and course standing. Early notice makes it more likely that we can work together to get you back on track.

Any Missing or Late Work will be given a 0 in the grade book. 

Attendance Policy

• Attendance is required. Since this is an online class, assignment submissions count as your attendance.
• Students may be dropped for missing 3 or more assignments.
• Communicate early and often if you must miss class to stay on track.

Feedback: I will provide feedback on major assignments (brainstorming, rough drafts and final drafts) and your journal entries. Feedback may come in different forms, including written comments, video comments, one-on-one discussion/conferences. Some assignments may be scored for completion or with a rubric without comment. Students can request additional feedback on assignments, if desired. 

AI Writing and Acceptable Use Policy

• Students are required to use Google Docs to create and submit editable links to writing assignments in this class. Your version history of each document must support the creation of your own work, which means no copy/pastes from other places, no "working on an assignment in some other unseen note or document and moving it into the document you submit." If your version history does not show your work, the assignment will be given a 0. 
• Submitting work generated by ChatGPT or any other AI language tool on assignments is considered academic dishonesty.  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. 

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.

Here is what that policy means more specifically in this class:

Acceptable Use
Generative AI may only be used on assignments I specifically approve. For those assignments, I will provide acceptable tasks and prompts, which may differ depending on the assignment. You must save both your prompts and AI results and be prepared to submit them with your work. Any content from AI that must be cited in MLA format.

Policy Violations
The following list are considered violation of the AI policy in this course:

• Using AI on assignments not approved for it.
• Using AI prompts or AI for tasks other than those I designate.
• Failing to cite AI-generated ideas or text.
• Entering essay assignment prompts into AI.
• Asking AI to write or rewrite any part of your assignment.
• Using AI as a substitute for assigned reading

Consequences

• Violations result in a 0 for the assignment. Repeated violations may lead to removal from the course. 
• If your work is flagged for AI use, you will need to be able to demonstrate how you created the content, including AI prompts and results. The burden of proof is on you as the writer. 

Source Use Policy: A number of your writing assignments require the use of sources. Any submission containing source/s or information from sources (like quotes, paraphrases) that cannot be located or verified will receive a 0.

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 quotation 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.

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.” Please see the preface to the textbook for a more complete description of what constitutes academic dishonesty and/or plagiarism.

Please be aware that the department takes plagiarism very seriously. You may not use someone else’s writing assignment, generate an essay using AI, or buy one from a “professional” source. 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 it will recommend to the English Department Head that the student fails the course.

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. The last day to withdraw from the course with a “W” is September 29, 2025.

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.

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 first 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 a specific 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.

For general course questions, please contact your instructor, whose contact information can be found above in the "Instructor Information" section.

Name of Chair/Coordinator: Lisa Smart
Office Location: Corinth 171
Telephone number: 940-498-6282, ext. 4961
Email address: lsmart@nctc.edu

Name of Instructional Dean: Mary Martinson
Office Location: Gainesville
Telephone number: (940) 668-7731, ext. 4377
E-mail address: mmartinson@nctc.edu

USEFUL INFORMATION AND RESOURCES

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

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.

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 centralized career readiness and job placement program.

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. 

Course Content in Canvas: All course content is housed in this Canvas shell and all work must be submitted here. While dual credit students might use a different online course management system, all NCTC coursework must be submitted here.

Disability Accommodations: The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides accommodations for students with disabilities. OSD counselors and advisors also provide strategies for academic success; individual, career, and academic counseling services; referrals to campus and community services; and assistance with admission and registration. Students with disabilities do not need to disclose their disabilities to college officials if they are not requesting any accommodations. OSD is federally funded through the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Federal Grant.

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 that 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.

Email Correspondence: I reserve 24 hours to respond to students’ emails during the week and 48 hours during the weekends. Do not expect an immediate response. Emails sent to me become my personal property, and I may disclose them to third parties if I determine it’s necessary.

Email Etiquette: Please ensure your emails are respectful and professional. Address your instructors with appropriate titles (e.g., "Professor" or "Dr." if applicable), use clear subject lines, and avoid informal language or tone. 

Writing emails like text messages can come across as terse or even rude (even when that is not your intent), as it implies a lack of formality and consideration. To avoid this, ensure your emails are thoughtfully composed, using complete sentences, proper grammar, and a courteous tone that reflects professionalism and respect for your recipient. Always maintain courtesy, and remember that effective communication reflects positively on you. Communication that is proactive rather than reactive is a more effective approach.

When communicating with your instructors, please use the Canvas inbox or send from your NCTC email address. 

Evaluation

• “A” Work: This writing is excellent and demonstrates excellence in development, organization, style and tone, and mechanics. There is clear evidence of the writing process (invention, drafting, revision, editing, and proofreading).  A = 95   A- = 92   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. B+ = 87  B = 85  B- = 8  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 of the assignment, has few mechanical errors, and is reasonably organized and developed. This piece also shows some evidence of the writing process. C+ = 77  C = 75  C- = 72. C-/D+ = 70
• “D” Work: This is below-average work that lacks development and is not effectively organized to facilitate the reader’s understanding. The paper also shows little or no evidence of the writing process. D+ = 67  D = 65  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. F (work submitted and attempted) = 55. F (no work submitted or attempted) = 0

Financial Aid. Financial Aid offers financial resources for students that qualify, visit the financial aid offices for more information.

Identity: This course affirms people of all expressions and identities. If you prefer to be called a different name than is what on the class roster, please let me know. Please advise me of this preference early in the semester so that I may make appropriate changes to my records. If you'd like your name changed in the roster, please contact the Registrar's office.

Pregnant and Parenting Students:  Any student who, because of their pregnancy or parenting status, may require special accommodations to meet course requirements should contact the Student Parent Liaison (studentparents@nctc.edu). Students may also self-report by visiting www.nctc.edu/caresLinks to an external site. and submitting a report for Pregnant & Parenting Students.

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.

Library: Students can access online and physical resources from the NCTC campus library by visiting the library website. Students can access research databases and can locate research help including tutorials and study guides, information on the hours of operation for each of the campus libraries, our online catalog, our intra- and inter-library loan services, and NCTC library policies. 

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:

• • Prepare and participate meaningfully in online discussion boards.
  • 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 in your handbook or a credible, online source—such as The Purdue Owl or a handbook.)
  • 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.

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 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 the 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 to acclimate to the college by providing computer lab services for prospective students. First-generation students can also participate in TRIO, which offers specialized services.

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. 

Timely Care. Get on-demand support from counselors, doctors, nurse practitioners, and more. 

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, and staff who wish to stop using tobacco products. 

Writing Assignments: All major writing assignments are required.  If you fail to turn in one of the major tasks, you cannot pass the course. Additionally, evidence of the writing process must be presented before any final draft is accepted. No final essay will be accepted without evidence of the drafting and revision process. I reserve the right to administratively drop any student who does not submit all major assignments.