Pierce College at Joint Base Lewis-McChord Course Syllabus Summer 2017 Online Session Course dates: July 5, 2017 September 1, 2017 COURSE TITLE: Introduction to Composition ABBREVIATION: ENGL 099 CREDIT HOURS: 5 INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS: 50 LAB HOURS: INSTRUCTOR: Kimberly Cummings INSTRUCTOR INTRODUCTION: Hello, my name is Kimberly Cummings, and I will be your instructor this term. For 10+ years I worked as a writer and editor in Texas and Japan. I have a B.A. in English from the University of Texas and a M.S. in English/Professional from Utah State University. I live in Northern California with my husband, 3 children, 2 hamsters, 1 cat, and an insanely cute Australian Shepherd puppy. My hobbies include practicing yoga, reading, cooking, kayaking, traveling, and playing dominoes with good friends and family. This year marks 12 years that I have been teaching at Pierce College; I love teaching English, and I look forward to working with you this term and to helping you hone your writing skills. COMMUNICATIONS: Through the course Inbox. PRE-REQUISITE: Satisfactory placement test score or ENGL 096 and 097, or completing ENGL 098 with a grade of at least 2.0. CATALOG DESCRIPTION: An introduction to college-level composition focusing on effective strategies for reading and writing academic essays, the writing process, sentence structure, grammar, and mechanics. REQUIRED TEXT AND MATERIALS: This course uses Open Educational Resources, meaning all material will be made available to you at no cost. I will provide instructions on accessing the material in the course. COURSE GUIDANCE: 1. Proctoring: This course may have online proctoring required for assessments. I will furnish proctoring information very early in the course so you can make necessary arrangement well in advance of the proctored assessment(s). 2. Course Expectations: As a student, you can expect that I will respond to your e-mail within 48 hours and will grade assignments/tests/quizzes within four (4) days. Please contact me immediately if you have not heard from me within these timelines. 3. Introductions: Students may be expected to post a short (one paragraph) introduction to the course s Area during the first week of the course. I have guidelines within the course for the introduction. 4. s: This course may have discussions as part of the curriculum. Students may also desire to discuss topics with other students in an unscheduled manner. I, as part of the course, may publish discussion questions/topics and require your input. Should you desire to hold a discussion with other students enrolled in your course, you may be authorized to create your own discussion topics.
5. Course Incompletes: are not automatic and must be requested from me. Incompletes must be approved and arranged with me before the course end date. 6. Student Responsibilities: Please remember that it is your responsibility to notify me of major changes in your circumstances (e.g. deployment) that affect your ability to complete all course work within the course timeline. 7. Plagiarism software will be in use during your course. If you plagiarize (use another person s words as your own) in this course, you will receive a zero on the assignment and potentially fail the course. If you are unsure what plagiarism is, please watch the video on the website below: http://www.pierce.ctc.edu/staff/cspano/plagiarismmla/plagiarismquickguidemla.swf 8. Etiquette for classroom and online courses is the same. Treat others as you would like to be treated, respectfully and compassionately. 9. Grades will be assigned based on the following criteria: A: Excellent work, strong sense of the writer s voice, well organized, complete, focused, clear, coherent, easily understood, holds reader s interest, fulfills assignment criteria, error free, clean copy. B: Very good work, strong sense of audience and purpose, clear, focused, easily understood, fulfills criteria, may have some minor errors, needs some additional work. C: Good work, fulfills criteria, may need clarification of ideas, may lack supporting detail, needs fuller discussion, and needs proofreading. D: Below standard paper, needs extensive revision, difficult to follow, errors in mechanics, lacks focus or clear organization, shows lack of audience. F: Unsatisfactory, fails to fulfill assignment criteria, needs significant expansion and/or revision, contains numerous mechanical errors. 9. Important English 99 course & assignment information: Assignments should be submitted in a Word document (.doc or.docx file). Include your last name and the title of the assignment when you name your documents. Example: Cummings Process Essay.docx Adhere to the recommended 9-week schedule. Assigned readings and assignments will be completed per recommended schedule. To find instructor feedback on graded assignments, click on the file I return to you with the word feedback in the file extension. For example: Jones Process Essay Feedback. I will use Word s Track Changes tool to insert my comments and suggested editing revisions in blue. Use the following sample heading in the upper left corner of the first page on all assignments: Mary X. Smith English 99/Pierce College Process Essay July 5, 2017 Title Your Work 10. Tips for success in English 99: Use your textbook it will be a valuable resource to you in this course. Read, read, read, and emulate good writing. Avid readers make good writers. Don t procrastinate. Dedicate at least 3-4 hours a week to this class. Read the assignment descriptions carefully; your grade will be determined by if you ve fulfilled the assignment criteria. Please communicate with me throughout the course and do not hesitate to ask for help!
STUDENT OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to: 1. Write a minimum of three academic essays that support, develop, and prove a thesis. 2. Write one in-class essay. 3. Read a variety of analytical, evaluative, persuasive, and argumentative texts. 4. Summarize, analyze, synthesize, and respond to academic texts in writing. 5. Use the writing process (prewriting, organizing, drafting, revising, and proofreading). 6. Write essays that demonstrate unity, coherence, focus and clarity. 7. Integrate readings through effective paraphrasing, quoting, and citing in an essay. 8. Use grammar, mechanics, syntax, and sentence variety appropriately. COURSE REQUIREMENTS: In this course there are (4) sets of discussion questions, (8) writing exercises, (2) quizzes, and (3) essays. You will quickly find that this course is writing intensive, however, do not be overwhelmed! You will do well in the course if you read all of the assigned reading selections, apply yourself, and pace yourself over the 9-week term. is a process that can be arduous at times, but it can also be quite rewarding. GRADING: Each assignment and assessment will be given a specific point value. The earned value of all possible points will determine grade, per Pierce College published policy: WEIGHT OF ASSIGNMENTS/ASSESSMENTS: Component # per module # per course Value Questions (4 X 25 pts.) 1 4 100 pts. Exercises (8 X 50 pts.) 1 8 400 pts. Essays (3 X 100 pts.) 1 3 300 pts. Quizzes (2 X 50 pts.) 1 2 100 pts. 900 pts. Total points for all coursework = 900 points Multiple your total points by.1 to calculate your %.
GRADE SCALE: See http://www.pierce.ctc.edu/about/policy/grading for District Grading Policy) Grade Point: 4.0-3.9 Letter Grade: A Percentage: 100 95% Grade Point: 3.8-3.5 Letter Grade: A- Percentage: 94 90% Grade Point: 3.4 3.2 Letter Grade: B+ Percentage: 89 87% Grade Point: 3.1 2.9 Letter Grade: B Percentage: 86 84% Grade Point: 2.8 2.5 Letter Grade: B- Percentage: 83 80% Grade Point: 2.4 2.2 Letter Grade: C+ Percentage: 79 77% Grade Point: 2.1 1.9 Letter Grade: C Percentage: 76 74% Grade Point: 1.8 1.5 Letter Grade: C- Percentage: 73 70% Grade Point: 1.4 1.2 Letter Grade: D+ Percentage: 69 65% Grade Point: 1.1 1.0 Letter Grade: D Percentage: 64-60% Grade Point: 0.0 Letter Grade: F Percentage: < 59% COURSE SCHEDULE: You will accomplish each module's learning objectives, which align with the course outcomes, by completing the readings and assessments as listed in the schedule, below. Week Module Chapters Requirements Outcomes Week 1 Module 1: Intro to Chapter 1: Introduction to 1.1 1.4 (*all of the assigned reading selections and exercises in this syllabus are in course textbook, for Success) Post your introduction in the Module 1 Forum 3, 4 7 & 8 Week 2 Module 2: The Process Chapter 8: The Process 8.1 8.5 Chapter 10.1 : Rhetorical Modes: Narration 10.1 10.3 My College Education 15.1 15.2 Narrative Essay Assignment (*the Narrative Essay assignment description is in Module 2) Module 2 1, 3-8 Week 3 Module 2: The Process Chapter 6: Paragraphs: Separating Ideas and Shaping Content 6.1 6.3 Module 2 Exercises 3-5, 7 & 8
Week 4 Module 3: What Makes a Good Sentence? Chapter 2: Basics: What Makes a Good Sentence? 2.1 2.8 Sentence Fragments & Commasplice/ Run-on Sentence Quiz Module 3 3-5, 7 & 8 Week 5 Week 6 Module 3: What Makes a Good Sentence? Module 4: Developing a Strong, Clear Thesis Statement Chapter 3: Punctuation 3.1 3.9 Chapter 9: Essays From Start to Finish 9.1 9.5 Process Analysis 10.5 How to Grow Tomatoes from a Seedling 15.6 Module 3 Exercises Comma Quiz Process Analysis Essay Assignment Module 4 2-5 & 7 1, 3-8 Week 7 Module 4: Developing a Strong, Clear Thesis Statement Getting a Coffee is Hard to Do by Stanley Fish see link in Module 4 Get it Right: Privatize Executions by Arthur Miller see link in Module 4 Module 4 Exercises 3-5, 7 & 8 Week 8 Module 5: Refining Your Chapter 7: Refining Your : How Do I Improve My Technique? 7.1 7.4 Chapter 9: Persuasion 10.9 Persuasion Essay Assignment Module 5 1, 3-8 Summarizing Sources and Paraphrasing Sources 12.1 Week 9 Module 5: Refining Your Universal Health Care Coverage for the United States 15.10 Letter from Birmingham Jail by Dr. Martin Luther King see link in Module 5 Module 5 Exercises 3-5, 7 & 8 Syllabus Format as of March 4 th, 2016
The Case for Torture by Michael Levin see link in Module 5 The Case for Torture Warrants by Alan Dershowitz see link in Module 5 The Case Against Torture by Alisa Solomon by Alisa Solomon see link in Module 5 * Note: Outcomes are listed above in the section titled STUDENT OUTCOMES. CONSENT AGREEMENT: A Pierce College course requires frequent interaction with your instructor. It is, therefore, essential that you agree to the conditions set forth in the course syllabus. After you have read the course syllabus, let us know (do not wait) if you do not agree with the course conditions and requirements. If we do not hear from you within three (3) days from the start of the course, we will assume you agree with the conditions set forth in this syllabus. ACCESS AND DISABILITY SERVICES (ADS): Your experience in this class is important to me, and it is the policy and practice of Pierce College to create inclusive and accessible learning environments consistent with federal and state law. If you experience barriers based on disability, please schedule a meeting with the ADS manager to discuss and address them. ADS offers resources and coordinates reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations are established through an interactive process between you and the ADS manager, and I am available to help facilitate them in this class. If you have already established accommodations with the ADS manager, please provide your approved accommodations to me at your earliest convenience so we can discuss your needs in this course. If you have not yet established services through ADS but have a temporary or permanent disability that requires accommodations (this can include but is not limited to mental health, attention-related, learning, vision, hearing, physical or health impacts), you are encouraged to contact ADS at 253-840-8335. POLICIES AND PROCEDURES: Your experience in this class is important to me, and it is the policy and practice of Pierce College to create inclusive and accessible learning environments consistent with federal and state law. If you experience barriers based on disability, please seek a meeting with the Access and Disability Services (ADS) manager to discuss and address them. If you have already established accommodations with the ADS manager, please bring your approved accommodations (green sheet) to me at your earliest convenience so we can discuss your needs in this course. ADS offers resources and coordinates reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations are established through an interactive process between you and the ADS manager, and I am available to help facilitate them in this class. If you have not yet established services through ADS, but have a temporary or permanent disability that requires accommodations (this can include but not be limited to: mental health, attention-related, learning, vision, hearing, physical or health impacts), you are encouraged to contact ADS at 253-964-6526 (Fort Steilacoom) or 253-840-8335 (Puyallup and JBLM). Access Pierce College at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and Pierce College District s Policies and Procedures here: www.pierce.ctc.edu/military/canvas/policies/index.html Syllabus Format as of March 4 th, 2016