English 130= 1

Composition= and Rhetoric

Course Information

Instructor: Diane Collum

Office: = Room A 230

Phone: 903-675-6312

Office Hours: <= /span>As Posted

Required Texts:

Patterns for College Writing, 11^th e= d. Laurie G. Kirszner and Stephen R. Mandell, Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2007= . The ISBN # is 978-0-312-48841-3.

A Writer’s Reference, 6^th ed. = Diana Hacker, Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2007. The ISBN # is 978-0-312-45025-0.<= /p>

You can order these books from the bookstore. The bookstore number is (903)-675-6223. Please be sure to let the bookstore know that you wan= t the texts for English 1301.

“Life i= s so rich, if you can write down the real details of the way things were and are, you hardly need anything else.&= #8221;

Natalie Gold= berg, Writing Down the Bones<= /p>

Course Desc= ription

Composition 1301 is a writing course designed to help = the student develop and/or improve their writing skills using the conventions of Edited American English to meet the requirements evident in both the academ= ic and professional world. The s= tudent will be instructed in and guided through the composition process, encourage= d to find and improve his/her own writing style, and guided in the analysis and evaluation of his/her own writing and the writings of others.

“There&= #8217;s one characteristic that sets writing apart from most of the other arts—its apparent democracy, by which I mean its availability to almo= st everyone as a medium of expression.”

Margaret Atwood, Negotiating= with the Dead: A Writer on Writing

Course Obje= ctives

Upon successfully completing English 1301, the student should be able to:

“The go= al of the course is to develop thinking abilities and the knowledge and understan= ding that result from their use in the study of questions and issues.”
     Kenneth Bain= , The Promising Syllabus<= /p>

Course Requirements

In this course, you are ex= pected to:

·         attend class on a regular basis

·         submit your assignments on time and correctly formatted

·         write a minimum of five essays, with all dra= fts

·         complete other written work, group work, exercises and tests

·         critically and closely read non-fiction pros= e

·         conduct library research

Course Access on WebCT.

To access your e-course, please go to https://eco= urses.tvcc.edu or click on e-Courses on the Trinity Valley Community College homepage. You= can also get information regarding TVCC Blackboard at http.//www.tvcc.edu/depts./dist.learning/. Your login ID and password= are case sensitive. In other words, if your Login ID or password contains lowercase and /or capital letters, you must type in exactly what you see.&n= bsp; The login and password information has changed. The new login and password will now be the same. (Example login: doej1234 Password: Doej1234), except the first letter will be capitalized on t= he password. Upon initial login, the student will have to create an 8-di= git password that conforms to the strong password security requirements. = If the password does not conform, the student will get the following error mes= sages until they comply.
1. Please enter a password w= ith at least 8 characters.
2. Your password does not me= et the strong password requirement. It must include 3 of the follow= ing types of characters: Uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbe= rs, and symbols. For example: Pa55w*rd <= /span>
Assignment Format:

All essays are double-spaced, in Times New Roman, and in font size 12. All essays must follow MLA guidelines for all headings and page numberings.&nbs= p; When you submit assignments, please use Blackboard and email as a Word Docu= ment or as a Rich Text Format attachment.

Plagiarism:

By registering and taking this course, the officially enrolled student declares that he/she will be the author of ALL work submitted for the course. Allowing another individual to complete writing assignments constitutes fra= ud and academic dishonesty. Should such behavior come to the attention of the instructor, the student will be dropped from the course and receive a grade= of “F.”

Limitations to the Number of Withdrawals from Courses

A new THECB Rule has been established to address a new law enacted by the legislature regarding the number of withdrawals (“W’s”) t= hat a student may have during their academic career (TEHCB Rules: Chapter 4, Subchapter A,4.10). The law states that any student whose first semes= ter in college is Fall 2007 or later may not have more than six unexcused withdrawals (W’s) during their academic career. This applies to= a student’s academic record from all higher education institutions atte= nded. If a student has six unexcused withdrawals, they will no longer be allowed = to withdraw from a course without receiving a grade in the course (which will = be an “F”). To determine if a withdrawal is excused, a stude= nt must initiate a withdrawal request through the guidance services office or,= in special circumstances, through the faculty member. It is the student’s responsibility to officially withdraw from a course and to verify that the withdrawal has been posted to their transcript.

Late Assignment Policy

It is inevitable that life will interfere and that unforeseen circumstances wi= ll arise. An assignment may be submitted within two days of the due date with a one-letter grade deduction. No assignment may be submitted aft= er two days from the original due date. For example, this means that an assignment due on July 20^th and submitted on July 21^st will receive a one letter grade deduction. An assignment due on July = 20^th and submitted on the 22nd will receive a zero.

Grading Policy

All essays must be written and turned in for a grade, and all tests must be tak= en in order as scheduled before you can receive credit for the course. T= he research project is required. You cannot pass the class if you mis= s an essay and do not complete the research project. There is not extra credit work. The grade in the class will be determined as follows:

Essay 1            =             &nb= sp;     100

Essay 2            =             &nb= sp;     100

Essay 3            =             &nb= sp;     100

Essay 4            =             &nb= sp;     100

Essay 5            =             &nb= sp;     200

Journals, etc.         &= nbsp;           150 (5 journal entries)

Projects             =             &nb= sp;   150

Mid-Term            =         =     100

Final               &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;      100

Grading Scale

A=3D90% and above

B=3D80-89%

C=3D70-79%

D-60-69%

F+59% and below

Grading Policy

Communication is essential to ensure a successful distance learning experience. Instructor comments and suggestions are vital to the learning process. Each assignment submitted will be read, graded, and returned to you in a ti= mely manner. You may submit an assignment in advance of the deadline after= you have received feedback and a grade on the previous assignment.

Attendance

According to the current College Catalog, “Responsibility for the class attendance rests with the student. Regular and punctual attendance at= all classes is expected”

(64). Absences will be excused at the discretion of the instructor. If you know that = you have to be absent, please let me know ahead of time and try to complete your assignments in advance. Make-= up work will be allowed at the discretion of the instructor. Attendance and the ability to meet deadlines are important qualities in the classroom and beyond. Teachers and future employers take= note of both.

Student Responsibilities

As a student, you are expected to:

·         attend class regularly and punctually

·         do all assignments and meet all deadlines

·         do your own work (Plagiarism will not be tolerated)

·         be prepared for the work of the day

·         be attentive in class and refrain from being disruptive

·         participate in class discussion and group assignments

·         shut off all cell phones, I-pods, laptops and other such devices during class (If cell phones, I-pods, etc. are used in class, a pop quiz might

      be administered.)

(Plagiarism is the use of= work that is not one’s own (without documentation) or work in which unauthorized assistance has been given by another person. Students found guilty of plagiaris= m will fail this course.)

&n= bsp;

Instructor Responsibilities

As an instructor, I will

·         attend class faithfully

·         be prepared for the work of the day

·         explain all assignments clearly and complete= ly

·         read and respond to essays in a timely manne= r

·         set limits and explain rules and procedures<= /p>
·         be attentive to students’ needs and concerns

·         listen and facilitate and encourage, rather = than manage and control student progress

·         evaluate fairly and honestly students’ achievements and progress

·         be professional in all dealing with students=

Evaluation<= /p>
=

Your grade will be determined in the following manner:=

Essay 1            =             &nb= sp;     10%

Essay 2            =             &nb= sp;     10%

Essay 3            =             &nb= sp;     10%

Essay 4            =             &nb= sp;     15%

Essay 5            =             &nb= sp;     20%

Journals, etc.         &= nbsp;           15= %

Projects             =             &nb= sp;     5%

Final            =             &nb= sp;         10%

Folder            =             &nb= sp;       5%

Class Participation

Our classes will include a discussion of your writing. We share our writing and comment on these writings.

This is a writing intensive course. It is important that = you do not get behind on any of your assignments.= Time has been built into the syllabus for you to work on some of the assignments.

Working with your peers in= small groups will also be an important part of this class.

Equal Access

If you have a disability, including a learning disability, for which you request an accommodation, pl= ease contact Student Services so that the appropriate arrangement can be made. The telephone number is (903)-675-= 6220.

Limitations to the Number of Withdrawals from Courses

A new THECB Rule has been established to address a new law enacted by the legislature regarding the number of withdrawals (“W’s”) that a student may have dur= ing their academic career (THECB Rules: Chapter 4, Subchapter A, 4.10). The law states that any student wh= ose first semester in college is Fall 2007 or later may not have more than six = unexcused withdrawals (“W’s”) during their academic career. This applies to a student’s academic record from all higher education institutions attended. If a student has si= x unexcused withdrawals, they will no longer be allowed to withdraw from a course without receiving a grade in the course (which will be an “F”).= To determine if a withdrawal is excused, a student must initiate a withdrawal request through the guidance services office or, in special circumstances, through the faculty member.= It is the student’s responsibility to officially withdraw from a course and to verify that the withdrawal has been posted to their transcript.

Further information, and/or updates to this procedure will be posted online at http://www.tvcc.edu/i= nstruction/withdrawal.

“This is the practice school of writing. Like running, the more you do it, = the better you get at it. Some da= ys you don’t want to run and you resist every step, but you do it anyway. You practice whether you want to or not. You don’t wait aro= und for inspiration and a deep desire to run.&= nbsp; It’ll never happen, especially if you are out of shape and have been avoiding it. But if you = run regularly, you train your mind to cut through or ignore your resistance. You just do it. And in the middle of the run, you = love it.”

     Natalie Goldberg= , Writing Down the Bones<= /p>