Instructor: Edward R. Coursey Instructor office: DHUM 215 Instructor e-mail address: ecoursey@hccfl.edu Instructor telephone: 813-253-7352 Office Hours: Course textbooks: M & W: 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (M); 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. (W) T & R: 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and by appointment; also available by e-mail daily The Longman Reader; Nadell, Langan, and Comodromos; Pearson, Longman, 9 th ed. The Little, Brown Compact Handbook with Exercises, Aaron; Pearson, Longman, 7 th ed. any good compact pocket dictionary Course internet sites: Syllabus Freshman English I: ENC 1101 Blackboard (WebCT): My Comp Lab (MCL): Or copy and paste https://hcconline.blackboard.com/webct (tests and readings) http://www.pearsoncustom.com/fl/hcc_english/ (tests) hillsboroughenglish.com Course description: The course focuses on the writing process of various expository methods with consideration of the writer s purpose, limitations of time, and audience. Students must write unified, coherent essays that include theses and introduction, body, and conclusion paragraphs. Students must demonstrate effective sentence structure and observe conventions of standard English grammar and usage. Course objectives: These objectives have been created consistent with the Florida Department of Education requirements. 1. Demonstrate critical thinking in the research and preparation of a well-developed essay, the final work product: a. Analyze texts to discern meaning and understand and critique the arguments b. Consider diverse, social, legal, and political issues and/or problems from a variety of points of view or perspectives c. Recognize fundamental concepts in logical and critical thinking and reasoning, including recognizing and avoiding the use of fallacious arguments Page 1
2. Demonstrate understanding the strategies and techniques used in planning an essay: a. Invention i. selecting a subject which lends itself to development and to the assignment ii. determining the purpose of the essay iii. arranging ideas and details according to a rhetorical mode (an appropriate pattern (or patterns) of development iv. providing adequate support which reflects the ability to distinguish between generalized and concrete evidence b. Arrangement i. formulating a thesis statement which is unified, precise, and restricted ii. generating a logically unified outline of ideas and details used in developing a thesis 1. preparing an effective introduction and an effective conclusion 2. using effective transitions to reinforce the organizational pattern and the relationship of the supporting main and sub points 3. composing topical paragraphs that are unified and coherent c. Diction/Style i. writing coherent and unified prose in which all supporting material is relevant to the thesis 3. Demonstrate ability to use correct and effective writing skills: a. Using correct and effective diction (including spelling and word choice), b. Using effective sentence structure (including using correctly written compound and complex sentences), and featuring an appropriate balance among the types of sentences c. Applying conventional sentence syntax (including placing modifiers correctly, using coordinating and subordinate elements appropriately, and using parallel structure when appropriate), d. Following the basic rules of grammar and punctuation, and e. Following the conventions of standard American English in written prose. i. Under no circumstances is the use of contemporary "emoticons or other non-grammatical symbols" accepted, even in e-mails. 1. its not ok 4 u 2 use em sory :-( f. Apply appropriate editing, revising, and proofreading skills Student Responsibilities When students enroll in the College, they commit to following the guidelines stated or implied in the student handbook, the College catalog, and other College publications. Students are also expected to fulfill the requirements of the courses in which they enroll, as indicated by policies and procedures in the course syllabus. In simple terms, students are responsible for preparing for each class meeting, participating in class meeting, and completing assignments required to successfully complete the course by the requisite due date. Page 2
Attendance Policy Students are required to attend class regularly and punctually. If students miss classes, regardless of the cause, their opportunities for learning and academic success will be adversely affected.... It is the student s responsibility to read the syllabus, comply with the instructor s policies, and arrange to make up work missed because of absence or lateness.... Students receiving financial aid are advised to discuss the impact of not attending classes on their financial aid or veterans benefits. It is each student s responsibility to notify the instructor in a timely way of an absence or anticipated absence. An e-mail or voice message in advance of, or immediately following, an absence will suffice, but without timely notification, the result is an unexcused absence. A student may be extended an excused absence for extreme personal illness or an injury requiring physician-prescribed bed rest and/or hospitalization (a common cold is no excuse for missing class), because of a death in the immediate family, for a required court appearance (as noted above, especially for a call to jury duty), when representing the College on official College business (to participate in Collegeauthorized co-curricular and extracurricular activities if, in the instructor's judgment, this does not impair the student's ability to succeed in the course) or for religious holidays or religious practices; however, each student must notify her or his course instructor at least one week before any anticipated absence. The instructor will consider other requests for an excused absence in advance for other reasons, but there is no guarantee that a request will be honored. There are no excuses extended after the fact. Every three unexcused absences will result in a -10 point deduction from one s final point totals. Unexcused absences may have a significant negative impact on one s final grade. Classroom Etiquette Students will demonstrate respect for instructors and fellow students. Sleeping in class, being late for class, interrupting a classmate, and leaving before class has ended are a few examples of inappropriate or disruptive behavior. Students must turn off all cell phones, pagers, pda, computers, and other electronic devices before entering the classroom. If your phone rings during class, you can leave to take the call but do not plan on returning to class that day. Gentlemen, no head wear will be worn in class; remove caps, hats, rags, or whatever else may be on the head when entering the classroom. Eating and drinking and smoking are confined to designated areas. Disability Support Services: In compliance with federal and state laws, accommodations and services to students with disabilities are available through the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities (OSSD). It is the student's responsibility to contact the OSSD and submit appropriate documentation for services. An OSSD advisor will contact the instructor regarding necessary accommodations. Page 3
Course Assignments and Grade Scale: Assignments Point Value Total Essay I Critical Analysis Research 200 200 Essay II Argumentative-Persuasive Research 200 200 Essay III This I Believe A Personal Expression 100 100 In-Class Writing-on-Readings (5 x 50) * 50 250 My Comp Lab tests (all tests @ various values) est. 1,200/6 200 Final Exam Test (at Blackboard) 50 50 1,000 In-Class Writing-on-Readings are noted in the class calendar but the dates are subject to change This is a writing course; a student is not eligible for a grade of A for the term unless all out-of-class essays (Essay I, Essay II, and Essay III) are submitted. And this is a writing course stressing the improvement of one s writing skills; a student is not eligible for a passing grade of C for the term unless a) all out-of-class essays are submitted, b) 3 of the 5 in-class essays are submitted, and c) at least 75 points have been earned from the My Comp Lab tests. Grade Scale A B C D F Points Required 901 points or more 801 900 points 701 800 points 601 700 points zero 600 points Alternative Grades (I = Incomplete) The instructor is not inclined to assign the grade of "I" indicating the failure to complete all the work in the course but extending additional time to do so, unless there are extraordinary circumstances. The last date to withdraw from this course is 26 March 2012. It is a student s responsibility to complete and submit the necessary forms to the Registrar s Office. The last day of the drop-add period is 13 January 2012. Late and Missed Assignments: No assignments will be accepted late! All assignments are expected to be completed on time. The due dates for all assignments are announced in the class schedule/calendar. In-class Writing-on-Readings and all other assignments missed because of an unexcused absence will not be made up or accepted (note the attendance policy). Page 4
Academic Dishonesty (cheating and plagiarism): Academic dishonesty is an egregious and unacceptable flaw in a student s academic performance, and it is behavior incompatible with the character of students enrolled at Hillsborough Community College. Academic dishonesty on exams is using texts, notes, or other outside resource, such as phone-a-friend or conversation, when taking any exam, either in-class or online. Academic dishonesty also occurs when a student inappropriately collaborates with others on work to be presented as the work of that individual student, such as the writing of essays, the preparation of other assignments, or the taking of exams. o The exceptions are when such collaboration is inherent to the assignment or when encouraged by the instructor, such as working in groups or teams, working together in study groups in preparation for exams, or helping each other in the practice of presentations or preparation of essays. Academic dishonesty is knowingly assisting in, or being aware of, any personal act of academic dishonesty by any student(s) and failing to report any such incident(s). Academic dishonesty also occurs when a student submits work to this class that was previously submitted to another instructor in another course without the prior approval of your current instructor. Plagiarism is an act of academic dishonesty; in simple terms, plagiarism is the theft of someone else s academic or intellectual property. Plagiarism occurs when a student submits work prepared by someone other than the student whose name is on the work. Plagiarism is buying an essay from an on-line provider of such services. Plagiarism may be as much as the complete essay to as little as significant words or phrases quoted directly, paraphrased, or summarized when the original source of the material, or the ideas or concepts or words, is not given credit with appropriate documentation. o The Bedford Handbook, 7 th edition, discusses ways to avoid unintentional (or intentional) plagiarism in Part X on Researched Writing, chapter 52. o The Little, Brown Handbook, 10 th edition, covers plagiarism and suggestions to avoid plagiarizing from secondary sources in Chapter 45. o When an academic writer is informed, there is no rationalizing unintentional plagiarism. Any other conduct aimed at making false representation with respect to a student s academic performance will also be considered academic dishonesty. There are no excuses justifying plagiarism or cheating. If you are caught and the evidence is indisputable, the penalty for any form of plagiarism or cheating is an immediate grade of F for the course, even if the plagiarism is discovered during final exam week! Page 5