Course Name & Number – NCBR & NCBW
Semester & Year – Fall 2018
Catalog Description
Intensive study of and practice in writing processes, from invention and researching to drafting, revising, and editing, both individually and collaboratively. Emphasis on effective rhetorical choices, including audience, purpose, arrangement, and style. Focus on writing the academic essay as a vehicle for learning, communicating, and critical analysis.
Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in Composition 1 (1301).
Instructor’s Name - Jacob Arnold
Office Phone # - 940-498-6282 Ext. 6513
Instructor’s Office # - COR 324
E-mail Address - jarnold@nctc.edu
Office Hours
Mondays and Wednesdays: 8:30-9:30 AM and 2:00-3:00 PM
Tuesdays and Thursdays (Online): 12:00-3:00 PM
Please know that I will meet you at other times if at all possible at your emailed request. We can chat or message on Canvas, and you can leave me a message on my office phone for me to return it as soon as I can. My goal is your success, and I will help in whatever way I can. Just contact me and let me know how.
Important Dates
https://www.nctc.edu/catalog/academic-calendar.html
Classes Begin – August 27, 2018
Official Date of Record – September 10, 2018
Last day to drop with a “W” – November 8, 2018
Thanksgiving Holiday – November 21-24, 2018
Final Exams – December 8-13, 2018
Commencement Ceremonies – December 14, 2018
Textbooks & Materials: CP CONV 3E NCT&LPSACS6M&DEL&ENV
• Package Components
o Custom Textbook--Joining the Conversation
o Custom LaunchPad Solo for Readers and Writers (with eBook) Access Code
o Unnaturally Delicious, Jayson Lusk
o Confessions of a Recovering Environmentalist, Paul Kingsnorth
o ISBN-13: 978-1-319-22941-2
Evaluation Criteria
• Pass/Fail
Institutional Learning Goals
A quality general education curriculum in all associate degree programs.
• Quality freshman and sophomore level courses in arts and sciences which parallel the lower division offerings of four-year colleges and universities.
• Quality technical programs leading directly to careers in semi-skilled and skilled occupations, and quality technical education programs up to two years in length leading to certificates and associate degrees.
• Quality programs and services in support of adult literacy and basic skills development as a mean of workforce enhancement and expanding access to higher education.
Program Purpose Statement
NCTC seeks to implement its goal of providing quality freshman and sophomore level courses in arts and sciences that parallel the lower division offerings of four-year colleges and universities by offering a coherent sequence of courses with appropriate breadth and depth to prepare a student for transfer to a university.
Departmental Purpose Statement
The Department of English, Speech, and Foreign Language provides quality instruction to students pursuing their academic and career goals.
Foundational Component Area: Communication
Grading Policy & Procedures
All grades taken will be weighted equally and entered into Canvas under the same category. Everything that we do is important to me (and hopefully to you). The average reflected in Canvas will be the accurate and sole average for the course as it develops. Everything will be graded on a 100 point, percentile based scale. Most final drafts/projects are rubric assessed. At the end of the semester, your grade in Canvas will be your final average for the course. It is your responsibility to keep up with your grades in Canvas. Please contact me first with any issues/discrepancies you might come across. There will be no extra credit given at any time. The course’s work and attendance will determine your final grade of pass/fail.
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).
Prompt attendance is an expectation for this course. Please be ready to start class at the intended time if it is a face to face course. Please prepare time daily to work online. Don’t make a habit of being late to scheduled classes or committed time online. I understand that there are unavoidable instances that arise in life, but through all action, reaction is born. After four (4) absences or two weeks of missed assignments, we will have a conversation about your performance thus far and likelihood of success in the future. No decisions will be made without first consulting with one another. Each issue concerning absences that presents itself will be handled individually and ALWAYS after we discuss everything together. If you remain in the course with an exceptional amount of absences or late work, please continue to do work and give more effort than you previously have.
Late work will not be accepted without a formal cover letter explaining why the assignment is late. Please do not include a personal address in the letter. The content is what I’m after. In a face to face course, both letter and the late assignment must be printed off and brought to me during normal class time. Online, a separate email must be sent including both documents in a digital format. If work is not turned in to me at the previously posted/discussed date, it will be considered late. I will accept late work over one week late only in dire circumstances, and it is at my discretion as to whether or not it will be formally graded. After two cover letters, we will have a conversation about how to solve whatever environmental stressors have arisen. I reserve the right to not evaluate late work and administratively drop students not meeting the expectations of our attendance and late work policy.
If you are going to receive a zero for an assignment, I still expect to read and view your work. Please do not give up if you miss a due date. Have grit. Again, all situations will be evaluated on their own and acceptance for a grade is up to my personal evaluation of the reasoning provided.
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
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, which should be avoided at all costs, includes the following student actions:
1. Turning in someone else's ideas, opinions, theories, or work as your own;
2. 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;
3. Copying words, ideas, or images from someone without giving credit; Failing to put a quotation in quotations marks;
4. Giving incorrect information about the source of information, quotations, or images;
5. Changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit;
6. 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.
Please don’t cheat on an assignment. Ever. If you are struggling, contact me and we can work through any issue together. Even if you get away with it and fool me, you’ve gained nothing. Email me if you’re feeling the urge to cheat on any assignment, big or small.
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.
Etiquette/Professionalism Policy
We will read material from a diverse group of thinkers and writers. There will be a constant sharing of ideas and values, many with which you may not agree. Polite debate is welcome and will be required from time to time. Insults and denigration of the ideas shared is not welcome and will not be tolerated. Any student who mocks, scoffs, or is aggressive in any way towards another student or me will be promptly dismissed, counted absent, and may not return to class until said student has experienced a conference with the chair of the Department of English, Speech, and Foreign Language and me. Please conduct yourself as a professional in our classroom. Consider your academic audience, purpose, and occasion at all times. Listen and be kind to one another.
Gender Identity
This course affirms people of all gender expressions and identities. If you prefer to be called a different name than what is 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, and so I may call you by your correct name and pronoun(s).
Support Services
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
Early Alert/CARES
The NCTC Early Alert program has been established to assist students who are at risk of failing or withdrawing from a course. Your instructor may refer you to this program if you are missing assignments, failing tests, excessively absent, or have personal circumstances impacting your academic performance. If submitted as an Early Alert you will be notified via your NCTC e-mail address and then contacted by a Counseling and Testing advisor or counselor to discuss possible strategies for completing your course successfully. The NCTC CARES (Campus Assessment Response Evaluation Services) Team addresses behavior which may be disruptive, harmful or pose a threat to the health and safety of the NCTC community-such as stalking, harassment, physical or emotional abuse, violent or threatening behavior, or self-harm. As a student, you have the ability to report concerning behavior which could impact your own safety or the safety of another NCTC student. Just click the NCTC CARES Team logo posted on MyNCTC, or send an e-mail to CARESTeam@nctc.edu. As always, if you feel there is an immediate threat to your own safety or welfare (or to another student), please call 911 immediately.
Student Life!
At NCTC, we are working hard to provide an array of fun opportunities for students to come together in a social setting with their classmates and other members of the college community. These opportunities range from student organizations, student activities, leadership retreats, service learning trips, intramural sports, outdoor pursuits and everything in between. It’s all aimed at providing a place for students at NCTC to learn and grow outside of the classroom. Contact Brisa Chavez in Room 173 (bchavez@nctc.edu) for more information. Get connected with Student Life on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram “lifeatnctc” or Snap Chat “lifeatnctc5.”
For Service Learning Trip information you can visit:
http://www.nctc.edu/StudentServices/StudentLifeHousing/ServiceLearning1.aspx
Calendar or Course Outline
This will be a class-paced course. My goal is to support, enhance, and grow your reading. I also want you to fall in love with it again (or for the first time). We will work on daily strength building exercises when we don’t have specific tasks to conquer. You must feel free to bring questions about your course reading(s) into the class so we can go over them and build understanding, appreciation, and excitement. We will move as slowly or quickly as needed and work towards success in your ENGL 1301 composition course.