Instructor: John Timmons Office: N/A Office Hours: By appointment only *E-mail is the best way to contact me. E-mail: jtimmons@worwic.edu Phone: 410-334-2999 x3222 ENGLISH 101-D06: Fundamentals of English I, Fall 2016 M/W 9-10:30am, BH 208 Texts: McWhorter, Kathy T. Successful College Writing Sixth Edition: Skills, Strategies, Learning Styles. 6th ed., Bedford/St. Martin's, 2015. MLA Handbook. 8th ed., New York, The Modern Language Association of America, 2016. Blackboard: This class will have a supplementary Blackboard component where you can download the syllabus. Above Quick Links on the college homepage (www.worwic.edu), click on mywor-wic. Enter your username and password to login to your mywor-wic student portal. In the My Blackboard Classes box, click on our class, and you will be directed to our Blackboard site. Computers with an internet connection are available on campus in FOH 305, HH 100, GH 204, and AHB 108. All students logging into Blackboard affirm that they understand and agree to follow Wor-Wic Community College policies regarding academic integrity and the use of College resources as described in the college catalog. Wor-Wic Community College considers the following as violations of the computer usage policy: o Using the campus computing network and facilities to violate the privacy of other individuals. o Sharing of account passwords with friends, family members or any unauthorized individuals Violators are subject to college disciplinary procedures. Course Description: This course is designed to help students develop their college-level writing skills with an emphasis on the writing process. This course includes an introduction to research skills. Students write summary assignments and a series of essays in various modes, culminating in an argumentative research paper. Students must earn a grade of C or better in this course to enroll in English 151. Hours: 39 lecture. Prerequisites: ENG 095 and ENG 096, or ENG 097, with grades of C or better, or acceptable reading and writing placement test scores. Usually offered in the fall, spring and summer. Spring 2017, 1
Course Objectives Objective: What should I be able to do by the end of this course? 1. Evaluate effective characteristics of essays written in various modes (GEO 3 and 4) 2. Compose expository and argumentative essays (synthesis) which meet or exceed the Maryland C Standard (GEO 1, 3 and 4) 3. Employ information literacy skills ethically and correctly according to MLA style (GEO 3, 4, and 5) Assessment Goals: What are the specific skills I must learn to meet the course objectives? 1. Distinguish characteristics unique to essays written in specific modes 2. Identify characteristics of effective essays 3. Analyze effectiveness of authors rhetorical strategies (for addressing purpose, audience, constraints) and logic 1. Develop thesis statements for expository and argumentative essays 2. Develop adequate support for various types of essays 3. Organize ideas and connect them coherently between paragraphs 4. Organize ideas and connect them coherently within paragraphs 5. Use appropriate rhetorical strategies 6. Employ precise diction and sentence structure 7. Apply conventions consistent with standard written English 1. Use multiple forms of media to identify, gather, and synthesize information from a variety of sources # 1a. Identify the nature and extent of the information needed 1b. Locate sources effectively and efficiently 2. Critically determine the credibility, accuracy, and utility of source information 3. Demonstrate ability to quote, paraphrase, summarize, and cite all sources accurately 4. Employ correct MLA format for essay, the in-text citations, and the works cited entries # These items are also Information Literacy Competency Standards. Assessment Strategies: How will my skills be assessed? Reading quizzes, in-class writing, final exam Formal essays, in-class writing. The ultimate assessment of Objective 3 is the final exam. These items will also be assessed through quiz items, prewriting forms, annotated articles, informal exercises, and formal essays. Spring 2017, 2
Grading Since the most important measure of your success in English 101 is how you apply good writing skills to different situations, your essay grades will weigh the most heavily in determining your final average. Illustration essay 10% Cause/Effect essay 15% Grading Scale: Extended Definition essay 15% 90-100 A Argumentative essay 20% 80-89 B Participation/Class Work 10% 70-79 C Quizzes 10% 60-69 D Informal Writing Assignments/Learning Logs 10% Below 60 F Final exam 10% Total: 100% Extra Credit: Extra credit may be available later in the semester. Extra credit is never meant to take the place of missed work. Only those who have completed all major assignments will be eligible for possible extra credit. Major Essays You will write four major essays for this course. Specific assignment sheets will be handed out as each essay is introduced. Format All essays should be typed and follow the Modern Language Association (MLA) guidelines. You can find these guidelines in the MLA Handbook and Successful College Writing. Additionally, there is an entire handout devoted solely to MLA linked on Blackboard. Be certain that every essay and draft is typed, double-spaced, and on one side of the paper. Essay Submission You will submit final essays in a two-pocket folder that includes: your essay and parts of the writing process (e.g., workshop draft, peer conferencing, research used). I will not accept essays that are missing these materials. Draft Requirements Each essay will go through either a peer review draft workshop or a one-on-one conference with your instructor. If you miss your draft option, you must use the drop-by tutoring service, drop by the Reading and Writing Center, or make a writing conference. In all cases, a full draft (meeting the minimum page requirement) is required. Making an appointment ahead of time is your responsibility. Late Work All assignments are expected to be submitted on time. If you know that you will not be able to turn in an assignment on the due date, the best policy is to inform me ahead of time to discuss when you will turn in the work. Essays, informal writing assignments, and homework assignments are due in class on the date specified on the schedule. Failure to submit an assignment on time without prior approval will result in a zero for that assignment. Spring 2017, 3
If one of the first three essays is not submitted in class, there is a 24-hour grace period with an automatic 10%-point deduction. Without prior approval, essays will not be accepted after the grace period, and the essay will receive a 0. If you know that you will need an extension for an essay beyond the grace period, you should come see me immediately for an extension request. Essay extensions MUST BE requested before the due date to receive approval. No more than one essay extension will be granted per student during the semester any additional late essay submissions will not be accepted and the student will receive a zero for the essay. No extensions will be granted for the Researched Argument Essay NO EXCEPTIONS. Original Work As English 101 is a process-based course, you may not reuse old essays from other classes, including English 101. You may reuse a portion of an old essay (up to a paragraph) and/or the research from an old essay, but these must be approved by me in advance. Reusing old essays will be treated as a violation of Academic Honesty. Academic Assistance Please see me immediately if you have questions or concerns about the course or the assignments. Since the only way to learn to write well is to write and revise often, the most important and effective writing help will come from attending all classes for instruction and feedback, thoughtfully and carefully completing all assignments, and by considering and using feedback from me as well as from your peers as you revise. If you are having difficulty with assignments, you have other tools to use: your texts are excellent resources, and you should learn to use them when you have a question. Finally, I am available outside of class to meet with you individually. Services for Students with Disabilities Wor Wic provides reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. If you are in need of accommodations, please contact the counseling office at (410) 334 2899. For more information, see Wor Wic's Services for Students with Disabilities web page. Special Needs If you have special accommodations due to a disability, please see me as soon as possible to make arrangements. Sexual Violence Disclosures Wor-Wic Community College seeks a campus free of sexual violence which includes sexual harassment, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and/or any form of sex or gender discrimination. Please be aware that if a student discloses a personal experience verbally or in writing as a Wor-Wic student to a faculty or staff member, the employee cannot maintain confidentiality and has the mandatory responsibility to notify one of the college s Title IX coordinators. However, if you d like to make a confidential disclosure of any such violence, you can contact Wor-Wic s director of counseling (X-2900) or you can contact the Life Crisis Center at 410-749-HELP or 2-1-1. Information on rights of victims of sexual violence and related resources is available in the college catalog and at the public safety page of Wor-Wic s website: http://www.worwic.edu/administration/publicsafety.aspx. Spring 2017, 4
Professionalism Classroom Civility I expect you to show up to this class prepared, awake, courteous, and with an open mind. You will treat everyone in the class with respect or you will be asked to leave. Use electronic devices only for emergency situations or instructor-directed educational purposes in the classroom. Any inappropriate use of electronic devices that disrupts the learning environment will be subject to the student code of conduct. Any other discourtesies note-passing, side conversations, or consistently leaving early or arriving late will not be tolerated. Attendance English 101 is designed so that important material is covered in every class; therefore, missing even a few classes may be detrimental to your progress in the course. You are the person responsible for finding out what you may have missed and for keeping both your reading and writing assignments current. Absence is not an excuse for being unprepared for the next class. Regular attendance and participation are the best ways to ensure your success in English 101. Please note that class participation which includes attendance is factored into your final grade. You may miss up to two class periods; for each subsequent class period missed, your Classwork/Participation grade will drop by 10%. Participation Active class participation is vital to learning. For a good participation grade, you need to do more than simply show up; you must make quality contributions consistently. To make quality contributions, you must engage in a concentrated and careful reading of the texts before class begins. The quality of your participation (respectful and analytical) is more important than the quantity. However, if you never participate in class, I can t know that you ve done the reading. Course Schedule As you will see from the attached course schedule, English 101 is a fast-paced, demanding writing course. It will place considerable responsibility on you to take the writing assignments seriously and complete them in a timely manner. Be sure to look ahead and plan your time accordingly. Also, be aware that there are plenty of resources available to you outside of class to help you on this journey. You are not alone, but the responsibility of seeking out help and completing the assignments rests entirely in your hands. Finally, some items may be added, deleted, or substituted per the needs of each class, so attendance at each class is crucial to your success. Other Writing Tasks Quizzes You may expect a number of quizzes (announced and unannounced) based on your reading during the semester. The quiz will usually be given at the beginning of the class; thus, if you arrive late, you will miss the quiz. Quiz dates are often announced during class attending class regularly and communicating with your instructor are very important. I will not be giving any make-up quizzes. Peer Review For several of your essays, you will engage in peer review sessions with your classmates. These sessions are designed to help you practice your critical reading and analytical skills as well as receive helpful feedback before you turn in your essay. Individual prompts that contain further instructions will be handed out for each essay. Since peer review depends upon other students in the class, the participation points for the in-class sessions cannot be made up. Spring 2017, 5
Informal Writing, Learning Logs, In-class assignments, and Homework In-class assignments, informal writing assignments, learning logs, and homework assignments are designed to reinforce skills studied in class and to help me evaluate your progress. These assignments are especially important to your development as a writer since they will require you to focus on specific skills. Since in-class essays and class work depend on your reaction to or interaction with some aspect of class lecture or discussion, no informal writing, in-class writing, learning logs, or homework can be made up without prior consent of the instructor. Final Exam The multiple-choice final exam will consist of 45 questions that will require you to apply the writing skills you have learned and practiced during the semester. A review sheet will be provided along with an in-class review. The Final Exam will take place the week following the end of classes. Please refer to the Course Schedule for the date of your Final Exam. Notice the time of exam may be altered a bit from your normally scheduled class meeting time. Writing Resources MLA Research Guides This course provides instruction in the research guidelines of the Modern Language Association (MLA) which were most recently revised in 2016 in the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (8th ed.). Additionally, there is an entire handout devoted solely to MLA linked on Blackboard. Writing Conferences If you wish to have additional help on a writing assignment, you may visit the Tutoring Center or the Reading and Writing Center. Tutoring Service Tutoring for all general education courses, including English 101, is available in AHB205 & 305. All sessions are drop-in only. The Reading & Writing Center Reading and Writing Center (MTC204): You may seek writing assistance from a qualified instructor in the Reading/Writing Center. These drop in conferences are available on a first-come, first-served basis during the regular hours of the Reading and Writing Center, so do not wait until the last minute to seek writing assistance. Come prepared with your original assignment and a printed copy of your written work. Center hours are: M &Th. 8:30-6:30; T&W: 8:30-8:00; F: 10:00-1:30; Sat 10:00-1:00. Do not wait until the day before an assignment is due to seek assistance. Emergency Information Statement In the event of severe inclement weather or other emergency, information about the closing of the college will be communicated via e2campus and the College's website. Faculty will communicate with students about their courses and course requirements, such as assignments, quiz and exam dates, and class and grading policies, via Blackboard. Students will be responsible for completing all assignments in accordance with class policies. ACADEMIC HONESTY Academic Honesty Policy Academic honesty is expected of all students. Students should refer to the Student Conduct section of the college catalog for an explanation of the violations of academic values and the procedures that will be followed if a student is charged with one of these primary offenses, which include Spring 2017, 6
Cheating Plagiarism Facilitating academic dishonesty Fabrication Other forms of academic dishonesty As English 101 is a research- and process-based course, I expect you to use appropriate academic sources honestly and ethically. If you are unsure whether you are using sources correctly, please contact me. Course Schedule You are expected to have all the assignments listed for a given class completed on that date. This schedule is subject to change. SCW = Successful College Writing by Kathleen T. McWhorter MLA = MLA Handbook. 8 th ed. 1) 1/18 Date Reading Due Major Assignments Due 2) 1/23 SCW: Chs. 5-6 Log on to Blackboard, Introduction Letter Due 3) 1/25 SCW: 14 Email your instructor 4) 1/30 Article on effective Advertising distributed in class Locate and bring an effective or ineffective print advertisement 5) 2/1 SCW: Ch. 7 Prewriting Plan for Illustration Essay 6) 2/6 SCW: Ch. 8 Illustration Essay Draft 7) 2/8 SCW: Ch. 19 & 22 Final Illustration Essay Due 8) 2/13 SCW: Ch. 23 Prewriting Plan for Cause/Effect Skim MLA section of PSM 9) 2/15 SCW Ch. 9, pgs. 181-202 Cause/Effect Body Paragraphs 10) 2/20 11) 2/22 EMAIL ME YOUR DRAFT 24 HOURS BEFORE CONFERENCES BEGIN Spring 2017, 7
12) 2/27 SCW: Ch. 18 Final Cause/Effect Essay Due 13) 3/1 Prewriting Plan for Extended Definition Wor-Wic is Closed from March 6 th -March 11th 14) 3/13 SCW: Ch. 10 Extended Definition Essay Draft 15) 3/15 16) 3/20 SCW: Ch. 20 Final Extended Definition Essay Due 17) 3/22 Research for your argument essay Prewriting Plan/Proposal for Argument Essay 18) 3/27 SCW: Ch. 21 Full outline for argument essay 19) 3/29 SCW Integrating Sources p. 560-61 Full works cited and quotes for argument essay 20) 4/3 Draft for Argumentative Essay POST FULL DRAFT BY 11:59pm 21) 4/5 CONFERENCES POST FULL DRAFT BY 11:59pm 22) 4/10 CONFERENCES POST FULL DRAFT BY 11:59pm 23) 4/12 Review and revise argumentative essay Final Argument Essay Due! No Exceptions Wor-Wic Closed April 14 th -16 th 25) 4/17 Review for Final Exam 26) 4/19 LAST CLASS Re-read everything Exam Week: April 25 th -May 1 st Your Final Exam is on: Monday, May 1 st From: 9-11am. Review for Final Exam STUDY BOTH TEXTS! Spring 2017, 8
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