 - Academic General Education Course (from ACGM, but not in NCTC Core)

X - Academic NCTC Core Curriculum Course

 - WECM Course

COURSE SUBJECT OUTLINE_______________________________           ______                                                __________ 

All students are responsible for gaining access to Canvas, reading all uploaded Documents/Assignments under Modules and completing all work by due dates. See Tentative Course Schedule Document posted in Canvas for all Assignment due dates. Failure to meet deadlines due to technological issues, online connectivity disruptions and any other access issues will not be accepted as legitimate excuses. This is a college level course and proficiency in technology and self-discipline in following scheduled due dates is 100 percent accountable to the enrolled student.  All questions should be answered by the Syllabus, Tentative Course Schedule, posted documents, Lecture Notes, PowerPoints, Reviews and the ability to use cognitive skills.  

There will be 4 Exams, 1 per Unit, due throughout the semester. These are posted in Canvas, under Modules and worth 60 percent of student’s final overall grade. The Exams will consist of true false, matching and multiple-choice questions. The information is provided from face to face classroom discussions, Unit Lecture Notes/PowerPoint/PDF slides posted within McGraw-Hill Connect/E-Book/Textbook and from reviewing completed US History 1302 Homework Assignments under Modules in Canvas, though neither will be available during exam window. Exams are timed at 2 hours (120 minutes) and Reviews may be provided and posted in Canvas no sooner than one week prior to Exam. Reviews are optional resources left up to instructor’s discretion. Make-up Exams are only allowed for extreme circumstances and no make-up opportunity for Final Exam (4). Students will be allowed 1 submission attempt and once they begin, it cannot be paused or closed until completed.

There will be 8 multiple choice US History 1302 Homework Assignments, 2 per Unit, due during the semester. These are posted in Canvas, under Modules and are worth 25 percent of student’s final overall grade. Refer to Unit Lecture Notes/PowerPoint/PDF slides posted within the McGraw-Hill Connect/E-book/Textbook to complete Canvas Homework Assignments and these questions will be included on each Unit Exam. The Homework Assignments must be completed before the due date in order to open and study before the Unit Exam becomes available. The Unit Lecture Notes/PowerPoint/PDF slides posted within the McGraw-Hill Connect/E-Book/Textbook are where 100 percent of the information for the Homework and exams are found. The Review covers the other information, from same Lecture Notes/PowerPoint/PDF slides, that will be on the exams that is not located in the Homework Assignments.  The Lecture Notes/PowerPoint/PDF slides are meant to simplify and enhance the learning process and cover the chapters in the McGraw-Hill Connect/E-Book/Textbook required for the Course. Late work is not accepted and students not completing the Assignments by the due date, 11:59pm, will receive a zero. Only exception to this rule is for extreme circumstances, primarily a medical situation, and 1 late attempt may be allowed. Work must be completed individually, as it is not group work. Students will be allowed 2 submission attempts, with highest score recorded. Students will have 60 minutes, timed, once they begin and it cannot be paused or closed until completed.   

There will be 1 Essay due during the semester that is a 100-point assignment worth 10% of student’s overall grade. This Essay must be submitted within the Drop Box Module on Canvas before due date (11:59pm) or it will be a zero. Emails are NOT accepted, and late work is NOT allowed for Essays. The Essay must be 3-5 typed pages of text, with MLA style citations or there will be substantial loss of points.  Points will be deducted if Essay is less than 3 pages and reflect the percentage short. For example, if it is only 2 pages out of minimum of 3 written, then 33.33% or 33 points deducted from 100-point assignment. It should be submitted as a Word document (.doc or docx) within the Drop Box Module on Canvas. When using Google Docs or other word processing programs, convert and save your paper as a Word doc before uploading it. The assignment requires students to analyze the predetermined primary source that is provided (see above). This writing assignment requires additional reading and comprehension of at least three more primary and/or secondary sources when writing Essay. When doing research, students should use the posted document on Canvas titled Academic Research. MLA style requires at least two citations being noted on each full written page of text. If less than a full page, at least one citation must be included on that page. Do not use general reference works, such as encyclopedias (example is Britannica), textbooks, broad surveys significant points will be deducted from Essay. Students may rely on peer-reviewed sources in the paper (books from academic presses). Do not use sources that do not have authors or there will be significant points deducted. Do not use Google/Bing/Yahoo/etc. as sources or there will be significant loss of points. Instead, search for academic journal articles and peer-reviewed sources. It can be difficult to determine whether or not sources found through a general search meets this requirement. Do not use such sources such as Wikipedia, ask.com, history.com, SparkNotes, cliff notes, etc. or Essay will be a zero. If you cannot readily identify who produced the historical source on the website, do not use it. The NCTC Library (available for virtual appointments) subscribes to many databases, as does the Library of Congress website and universities and museums are also generally reliable. https://www.nctc.edu/library/index.html At the end of the paper, include a Works Cited Page (an alphabetical listing, by author) of all the printed materials and internet sources cited. MLA citation form is required. For more on how to create your Works Cited Page, see posted document on Canvas, MLA Citation Forms: A Short Guide.  Be especially careful to avoid plagiarism (copying directly from your sources). If you use more than five words in succession that follow another writer’s words, use quotation marks, and identify your source in the text. Direct quotes and all specific information must be documented in the body of the paper, two per written page of text, using the posted document on Canvas, MLA Basic In-Text Citation Rules and MLA Citation Forms: A Short Guide. Plagiarism is considered cheating and will result in receiving a zero on the assignment and/or failing the course. The Drop Box uses the tool Turn It In that checks for plagiarism. Essays with plagiarism greater than 15% that are not documented, will result in a zero. Students may make multiple submissions to get plagiarism under 15% or less before the due date. The best way to avoid plagiarism is to write in “your own words”, be distinct and be original in thought. Do not have too many quotations in your Essay or you will crowd out your own ideas. If Essay has 50% or more quotations/insert blocks used throughout written text, the assignment will be a zero. The Drop Box uses Turn It In.com as the “fact checking tool” for plagiarism. It is fine if students want to use “other fact checkers” before uploading their paper into the Canvas Drop Box. However, Turn It In.com will be the definitive resources in determining the amount of plagiarism and the sources documented. This is NOT debatable. This paper must include a cover/title sheet/page, one inch from the top of the page, centered, starting with the title of the paper, your name, name of course, the instructor’s name, and date. There should be nothing written within one inch of the top or bottom of cover/title sheet/page. The NCTC Writing Center can  help with all grammatical, writing questions. https://www.nctc.edu/student-services/student-success/tutoring/writing-center.html Pages of text must be numbered. Center page numbers at the bottom of each page. The cover/title sheet/page and Works Cited Pages are not numbered and are not part of the text of the paper. Page number one starts on first page of written Essay text. Works Cited must be titled at top and centered on page. Citations must have indentation for second line of texted source information. The paper must be double spaced, using Times New Roman font size of 12 with margins of one inch on all sides. Do not use a font other than size 12. Failure to follow all specific instructions/directions will result in significant loss of points. Begin writing your Essay after the cover/title sheet/page at the top on line one. Write carefully and proof-read. Your paper must be well organized and written in a clear and grammatically correct style. College level work and grammar is expected, with a minimum of 3 sentences in each paragraph. Use proper capitalization and never start a sentence or paragraph with “Because”, “But”, and/or “So”. Do not put extra spacing between the paragraphs. Keep the margins of the Essay aligned left or justified, not right or centered. Late work is NOT allowed and will result in a zero. If student does not submit an Essay, they will receive a zero and a full ten points will be deducted from overall grade and earning an ‘A’ in the course will Not happen.  

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, with a doctor’s note. It is the student’s 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 (LOCA)

Attendance is mandatory, will be taken, and recorded every day. Students must attend, expected to arrive on time, as class will begin on time, every day it meets throughout this semester. Attendance, participation, punctuality and attitude will account for 5 percent of student’s overall grade. Grade reductions may include any absence, arriving late, leaving early, and/or disrupting the class, electronics violations or anything else not appropriate in the classroom. Students are required to participate in class discussions, be prepared, take and/or edit notes and have a positive attitude. Tardiness and/or leaving early will affect 5 percent of the student’s final grade. Students will lose 7 points for every absence, 7 points for being late twice and 7 points for leaving early twice and partial point reductions will be applied. Excessive absence may lead to negative attendance grade. Only students registered and enrolled in the Course are allowed to attend class and anyone not listed on the official class roster must leave immediately. After first day of class, discussion regarding attendance policy will be done in private. This is a face to face class and students are expected to attend regularly, be prepared to learn and be engaging.

ELECTRONIC POLICY                                                                                                                                                                   

Students are responsible for having access to proper technology, including electronics, internet, software and any other resources needed for successful completion of this college Course. A computer or laptop crashing, the internet going down or any other issue is not an adequate reason for failing to complete Assignments fully, accurately and by the due date. This electronics policy is non-negotiable. Students are required to manage their time effectively.

LATE WORK POLICY                      _____________                                                                                                                     

Students are required to complete all Assignments, including Exams, Homework and Essay fully and accurately by the posted due dates (11:59pm). All Assignments are listed in the Canvas calendar and in the posted Tentative Course Schedule. It is student’s responsibility to fully complete all Assignments on their own. Late work and extensions are NOT allowed on Essays for any reason whatsoever. Late work for Exams or Homework may be allowed for extreme circumstances only. This may require a reduction of points and/or allowing only 1 attempt permitted. No late work or extensions will be allowed on Essays, as it is time specific and meeting the deadline is part of the assignment. No other Assignments will be allowed during Final Exams week, regardless of circumstances.  Grades for Course are due at end of week and there is no time for any late work. 

INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR                                                                                                                                                       

Some behaviors have no place in a college classroom, such as using prejudicial or discriminatory language, cursing or bad language, inappropriate non-approved instructor group work, yelling, sleeping, snoring, not paying attention, studying for other Courses, throwing objects, bringing smelly foods or other odors into classroom, distracting electronics of any sort (texting, listening to music), writing inappropriate letters and/or notes, constantly going in and out of the classroom, talking excessively with neighboring students instead of listening to instructor, constant distracting activity and anything that disrupts the learning environment and/or causes a negative situation. Any penalties may include a significant reduction in student’s grade, being removed from Course, turned into Dean’s office for disciplinary action and/or receiving a failing grade.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY                                                                                                                                                              

Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, academic falsification, intellectual property dishonesty, academic dishonesty facilitation and collusion.  Faculty members may document and bring charges against a student who is engaged in or is suspected to be engaged in academic dishonesty.  See Student Handbook, “Student Rights & Responsibilities: Student Conduct.

COLLUSION/CHEATING/PLAGIARISM                                                                                                                                    

Collusion is intentionally aiding or attempting to aid another in an act of scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited to, providing a paper or project to another student, giving answers to a classmate during an examination, allowing a classmate to copy one’s answers, non-instructor approved group work, and/or viewing or knowing about scholastic dishonesty, plagiarism and cheating and not reporting it to the instructor. Cheating is the willful giving or receiving of information in an unauthorized manner during an examination, using someone else’s work for the Assignments as if it were one’s own, and/or any other dishonest means of attempting to fulfill the requirements of a Course. This includes non-instructor approved group work, which is not allowed. All Assignments are not to be copied, word for word, between students. Plagiarism is the use of an author’s words or ideas as if they were one’s own without giving credit to the source, including, but not limited to, failure to acknowledge a direct quotation. If collusion, cheating or plagiarism occurs, all students involved will receive a zero. 

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides support services for students with disabilities, students enrolled in technical areas of study and students who are classified as special populations (i.e. single parents). Support services for students with disabilities might include appropriate and reasonable accommodations or they may be in the form of personal counseling, academic counseling, career counseling, etc. Furthermore, OSD Counselors work with students to encourage self-advocacy and promote empowerment.

The counselors also provide resource information, disability-related information and adaptive technology for students who qualify. Students with disabilities are required to notify instructor for any accommodations that are needed, which must include a letter from OSD Office for current semester enrolled and must include all specific needs. For support, please go to one of following: Corinth Campus, Room 170 or call 940-498-6207 or Gainesville Campus, Room 110 or call 940-668-4321. Students on the Flower Mound, Bowie, Graham and/or 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/student-services/disability-services/index.html

See separate Document posted in Canvas