Syllabus
This syllabus for an online community college freshman composition course focuses on introducing students to the course expectations, as well as providing an outline for the work they will need to complete. All pertinent contact information and college policies are listed as well.
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English 1—Reading and Composition Online (Section 73059)—Fall 2015
Class Website (https://canvas.instructure.com/courses/938639)
Professor: Lisa Fitzgerald
Office: P-119B
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 562-938-4841
Office Hours: T 7:00-7:30, 12:00-2:00
Th 7:00-7:30
Available for online synchronous chat Mon. and Wed. 11:30-12:30
Welcome to English 1!
English 1 is a course that focuses on expository, persuasive, and argumentative essay writing, reading, and analysis. Emphasis is on critical thinking skills, close textual analysis, clear writing, and reasoned support.
The essays you produce will need to be written in an academic and scholarly tone, appropriate for a college audience, but that does not mean dry, dull, boring prose. This class will concentrate on you creating strong essays that are interesting to read.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
To complete this course successfully, students must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the following areas:
• Read and analyze college-level texts.
• Write academic prose with a clear purpose and effective, logical, relevant support from sources.
• Locate, evaluate, organize, and synthesize research material from a variety of sources.
• Compose essays that demonstrate consistent control of academic discourse and rhetoric.
Getting Started
Please visit the navigation links on the left to get started. Become familiar with the layout and navigation of the course. Pay particular attention to the “Syllabus” and “Announcements” links. You should check the Announcements page each time you log on, just to be certain that nothing has been added/deleted/adjusted. As a good rule of thumb, I suggest that each time you log on to the class, you check the “Announcements” page, and then go to the “Modules”--both links are on the left.
After reading the Module One introductory information and the syllabus, be sure to take the Introduction Quiz by clicking on this link--you can also access it from Module One. Please take the quiz as many times as needed until you get a 100%--this is just to help you sift through the required information.
Modules
We will be using Modules in this class, and one module mimics a week of class; therefore, there are sixteen modules. Each module begins on Monday of that week, but I will make it available on Sunday, in case you would like to get a jump on the week. Keep in mind that each module closes on Saturday at 11:59 p.m., although the information will still be available to you if you would like to refer back to it at any time.
ONLINE SUCCESS
Learning online is both a great educational opportunity and challenge. Although you can better schedule your course time around your needs, you also must take a greater responsibility for managing your time and getting your work done.
This course is not self-paced. You will have work to complete each week: discussions, assignments, and other activities. This class should be engaging and challenging, but the ultimate success of the course rests on your participation.
REQUIRED MATERIALS
• The reading materials will be provided to you each week via the “Modules” link on the left-side of the page. We will also be reading from College Writing (http://collegewriting.org/), a free text made available by the Community College Consortium for Open Educational Resources. Hover over "Open Text" to see a list of topics.
• You may also want to access a style guide, like Strunk and White's The Elements of Style, which can be viewed for free here: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/37134
• If you do not already have a documentation guide, like Diana Hacker's Writer's Reference, you can find answers to your MLA, writing, and grammar questions at many online writing labs (OWLs); I think Purdue University's Online Writing Lab (OWL): https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/ is particularly easy to navigate and full of information.
COURSE ESSAYS
There are four major essays required to pass this course: an Education Analysis Essay (3-5 full pages), a Synthesis Essay (4-5 full pages), and two Argumentative Essays (4-5 full pages). The final Argumentative essay includes a Prospectus (1-2 full pages) introducing your Essay 4 topic and research progress. You will also have a midterm exam approximately midway through the semester.
Each essay that you write will be a process, and you will demonstrate that process in your ePortfolio (see below). Along with the final draft you turn in to me, you will add to your ePortfolio the prewriting, drafting, revising, and reflecting you did on the essay.
ePORTFOLIO
A portfolio is a collection of the work you have done over the semester--it shows both your process as well as the final product. Since writing is recursive (you prewrite, draft, and revise and move back and forth between these elements), the portfolio allows you to illustrate and reflect on this process. You can begin to create your portfolio by following the steps listed here. I will also walk you through the process in much more depth in Module Three.
At the end of the semester, instead of taking an essay examination, you will finish and submit your portfolio (including Essay Four) for final evaluation.
CLASS EXPECTATIONS AND LATE WORK
• Your work must adhere to MLA (Modern Language Association) guidelines for all essays and posts.
• All essays submitted after the due date will be subject to a penalty of 5% for each day that the work is late. Points are earned by participating in class discussions, writing activities, discussion postings and other related homework assigned throughout the semester. I will not accept any weekly assignments (like discussions, writing exercises, etc.) late.
ACADEMIC HONESTY/RESPONSIBILITY: As a student you have certain responsibilities as outlined in the College Catalog. Plagiarism is the use of another person’s distinct ideas or words without acknowledgement. The integration of another person’s work into your own requires appropriate identification and acknowledgement. All work, whether it has a research component or not, MUST be yours. If you use someone else’s ideas, thoughts, or exact words, you are required to give that author his/her due. Please take time to read about Academic Honesty on page 31 of the College Catalog. Know that plagiarism, depending on the severity of the case, may result in an F for the course and must also be reported; “the consequences of cheating are severe and may include the possibility of expulsion” (LBCC College Catalog 31).
COURSE GRADING
I will calculate your grade based on the following criteria:
Essays 1-4 40%
Participation in all writing exercises, quizzes, discussions, and drafting deadlines 30%
Exam 15%
ePortfolio 15%
COURSE GRADING SCALE: Below is the class grading scale. During the course, you will receive percentages on your assignments. Since LBCC does not allow final grades with plusses or minuses, your final course grade will be a full letter grade only.
A+ 100-97 C 76.9-73
A 96.9-93 C- 72.9-70
A- 92.9-90 D+ 69.9-67
B+ 89.9-87 D 66.9-63
B 86.9-83 D- 62.9-60
B- 82.9-80 F Below 60
C+ 79.9-77
DISCUSSION POSTS
Each week, you will be asked (to some degree) to use the Discussion Forum. Your primary post must be completed no later than Wednesday at 11:59 p.m. You also must respond to a minimum of two students (on two separate days of the week) no later than Saturday at 11:59 p.m. I will grade your participation points by assessing the following criteria:
1. Your primary post is of appropriate length (aim for at least 100 words per post unless requirements ask for more).
2. Your post makes a genuine attempt at grammatical correctness.
3. Your post is respectful, professional, thoughtful and reflects your ability to think critically about the topic at hand, referencing the course reading (and your own research). You should always aim to supply examples, paraphrase, and/or direct quotations from the reading in order to strengthen your responses. MLA citations should be provided, as well as a Work(s) Cited entry at the end of the post.
4. Your replies are far more substantial than "great" or "I agree."
5. You post and reply more than one day per week.
6. You reply to at least two classmates' posts (see specific discussion prompt for weekly changes to this one).
I will monitor these discussions carefully and will also contribute to them.
Questions
I have created a Q&A discussion forum at the top of the discussion board for posting questions about course content or assignments. Please post all questions to the course Q&A Discussion Board before emailing me unless it regards a private matter. If you have a question, it is likely others do as well, and everyone will see the answer as soon as you do when we use the public Q&A forum. Even better, your colleagues may have the answer for you! If someone knows the answer to a question, please jump in and help each other. Don't be shy; if you have a question, it's likely that others do as well.
I'm looking forward to having you all in class!
Class Website (https://canvas.instructure.com/courses/938639)
Professor: Lisa Fitzgerald
Office: P-119B
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 562-938-4841
Office Hours: T 7:00-7:30, 12:00-2:00
Th 7:00-7:30
Available for online synchronous chat Mon. and Wed. 11:30-12:30
Welcome to English 1!
English 1 is a course that focuses on expository, persuasive, and argumentative essay writing, reading, and analysis. Emphasis is on critical thinking skills, close textual analysis, clear writing, and reasoned support.
The essays you produce will need to be written in an academic and scholarly tone, appropriate for a college audience, but that does not mean dry, dull, boring prose. This class will concentrate on you creating strong essays that are interesting to read.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
To complete this course successfully, students must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the following areas:
• Read and analyze college-level texts.
• Write academic prose with a clear purpose and effective, logical, relevant support from sources.
• Locate, evaluate, organize, and synthesize research material from a variety of sources.
• Compose essays that demonstrate consistent control of academic discourse and rhetoric.
Getting Started
Please visit the navigation links on the left to get started. Become familiar with the layout and navigation of the course. Pay particular attention to the “Syllabus” and “Announcements” links. You should check the Announcements page each time you log on, just to be certain that nothing has been added/deleted/adjusted. As a good rule of thumb, I suggest that each time you log on to the class, you check the “Announcements” page, and then go to the “Modules”--both links are on the left.
After reading the Module One introductory information and the syllabus, be sure to take the Introduction Quiz by clicking on this link--you can also access it from Module One. Please take the quiz as many times as needed until you get a 100%--this is just to help you sift through the required information.
Modules
We will be using Modules in this class, and one module mimics a week of class; therefore, there are sixteen modules. Each module begins on Monday of that week, but I will make it available on Sunday, in case you would like to get a jump on the week. Keep in mind that each module closes on Saturday at 11:59 p.m., although the information will still be available to you if you would like to refer back to it at any time.
ONLINE SUCCESS
Learning online is both a great educational opportunity and challenge. Although you can better schedule your course time around your needs, you also must take a greater responsibility for managing your time and getting your work done.
This course is not self-paced. You will have work to complete each week: discussions, assignments, and other activities. This class should be engaging and challenging, but the ultimate success of the course rests on your participation.
REQUIRED MATERIALS
• The reading materials will be provided to you each week via the “Modules” link on the left-side of the page. We will also be reading from College Writing (http://collegewriting.org/), a free text made available by the Community College Consortium for Open Educational Resources. Hover over "Open Text" to see a list of topics.
• You may also want to access a style guide, like Strunk and White's The Elements of Style, which can be viewed for free here: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/37134
• If you do not already have a documentation guide, like Diana Hacker's Writer's Reference, you can find answers to your MLA, writing, and grammar questions at many online writing labs (OWLs); I think Purdue University's Online Writing Lab (OWL): https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/ is particularly easy to navigate and full of information.
COURSE ESSAYS
There are four major essays required to pass this course: an Education Analysis Essay (3-5 full pages), a Synthesis Essay (4-5 full pages), and two Argumentative Essays (4-5 full pages). The final Argumentative essay includes a Prospectus (1-2 full pages) introducing your Essay 4 topic and research progress. You will also have a midterm exam approximately midway through the semester.
Each essay that you write will be a process, and you will demonstrate that process in your ePortfolio (see below). Along with the final draft you turn in to me, you will add to your ePortfolio the prewriting, drafting, revising, and reflecting you did on the essay.
ePORTFOLIO
A portfolio is a collection of the work you have done over the semester--it shows both your process as well as the final product. Since writing is recursive (you prewrite, draft, and revise and move back and forth between these elements), the portfolio allows you to illustrate and reflect on this process. You can begin to create your portfolio by following the steps listed here. I will also walk you through the process in much more depth in Module Three.
At the end of the semester, instead of taking an essay examination, you will finish and submit your portfolio (including Essay Four) for final evaluation.
CLASS EXPECTATIONS AND LATE WORK
• Your work must adhere to MLA (Modern Language Association) guidelines for all essays and posts.
• All essays submitted after the due date will be subject to a penalty of 5% for each day that the work is late. Points are earned by participating in class discussions, writing activities, discussion postings and other related homework assigned throughout the semester. I will not accept any weekly assignments (like discussions, writing exercises, etc.) late.
ACADEMIC HONESTY/RESPONSIBILITY: As a student you have certain responsibilities as outlined in the College Catalog. Plagiarism is the use of another person’s distinct ideas or words without acknowledgement. The integration of another person’s work into your own requires appropriate identification and acknowledgement. All work, whether it has a research component or not, MUST be yours. If you use someone else’s ideas, thoughts, or exact words, you are required to give that author his/her due. Please take time to read about Academic Honesty on page 31 of the College Catalog. Know that plagiarism, depending on the severity of the case, may result in an F for the course and must also be reported; “the consequences of cheating are severe and may include the possibility of expulsion” (LBCC College Catalog 31).
COURSE GRADING
I will calculate your grade based on the following criteria:
Essays 1-4 40%
Participation in all writing exercises, quizzes, discussions, and drafting deadlines 30%
Exam 15%
ePortfolio 15%
COURSE GRADING SCALE: Below is the class grading scale. During the course, you will receive percentages on your assignments. Since LBCC does not allow final grades with plusses or minuses, your final course grade will be a full letter grade only.
A+ 100-97 C 76.9-73
A 96.9-93 C- 72.9-70
A- 92.9-90 D+ 69.9-67
B+ 89.9-87 D 66.9-63
B 86.9-83 D- 62.9-60
B- 82.9-80 F Below 60
C+ 79.9-77
DISCUSSION POSTS
Each week, you will be asked (to some degree) to use the Discussion Forum. Your primary post must be completed no later than Wednesday at 11:59 p.m. You also must respond to a minimum of two students (on two separate days of the week) no later than Saturday at 11:59 p.m. I will grade your participation points by assessing the following criteria:
1. Your primary post is of appropriate length (aim for at least 100 words per post unless requirements ask for more).
2. Your post makes a genuine attempt at grammatical correctness.
3. Your post is respectful, professional, thoughtful and reflects your ability to think critically about the topic at hand, referencing the course reading (and your own research). You should always aim to supply examples, paraphrase, and/or direct quotations from the reading in order to strengthen your responses. MLA citations should be provided, as well as a Work(s) Cited entry at the end of the post.
4. Your replies are far more substantial than "great" or "I agree."
5. You post and reply more than one day per week.
6. You reply to at least two classmates' posts (see specific discussion prompt for weekly changes to this one).
I will monitor these discussions carefully and will also contribute to them.
Questions
I have created a Q&A discussion forum at the top of the discussion board for posting questions about course content or assignments. Please post all questions to the course Q&A Discussion Board before emailing me unless it regards a private matter. If you have a question, it is likely others do as well, and everyone will see the answer as soon as you do when we use the public Q&A forum. Even better, your colleagues may have the answer for you! If someone knows the answer to a question, please jump in and help each other. Don't be shy; if you have a question, it's likely that others do as well.
I'm looking forward to having you all in class!