Miami Dade College
English & Communications Department
Kendall Campus
Independent Studies Program
IMPORTANT
Please read and print all pages
ENC 1101
English Composition 1
3 Credits
SPRING Term (2011-2)
Spring “A” Term (January 2nd – March 1st, 2012)
Spring “B” Term (March 2nd – April 27th, 2012)
Reference #s 667791, 673422, & 667839
(305) 237-2284 (English & Communications ofc.)
(305) 237-2709 (meeting ofc.)
Meeting Office: Room 2201-01
Welcome to Independent Studies!
Students must see their professor and sign a contract no later than the first week of classes, or they may be dropped from the course.
We welcome you to our program and look forward to working with you throughout the semester. This handbook provides written directions to guide you through your course. Please read it carefully.
Learning as an Independent Study student places primary responsibility for that learning on you, the student. That is not to say that you are alone. Your Independent Studies instructor is your partner and guide. Keeping in contact with the instructor is very important. You will submit written assignments to your instructor and you will receive feedback, information and study suggestions from your instructor.
Completing this course will involve reading the textbook, completing all assignments and discussing your questions with your instructors. There are no regularly scheduled lectures, review sessions, or appointments.
Each student is responsible for designing his or her own study and testing schedule that satisfies the course requirements and meets the semester's deadline dates.
A successful Independent Studies student is self-motivated, self-disciplined, has good reading and comprehension skills and seeks out an instructor whenever there is a question. Taking a course via Independent Studies means that the work is scheduled differently, but there should be about as much work of about the same difficulty as if you were taking the course in a classroom.
Plan to spend about the same amount of time studying as you would spend in lecture plus homework in a lecture course. We highly recommend that you establish a personal study schedule at the very beginning of the semester. By studying every day, you may complete the course in the shortest amount of time.
The option of finishing your course early is one of the benefits of Independent Studies.
We are aware that each student has his/her unique learning style. Our department provides various strategies for the accomplishment of the assigned learning objectives and satisfactory completion of the course. The course description lists the criteria for determining your final grade.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Statement
Students who have a disability that might affect their performance in the class are encouraged to contact Access Services, in confidence, as soon as possible. The office will aid in appropriate accommodations for the student. Also please inform your professor. This is in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the American with Disabilities Act of 1990.
The following are some departmental rules and guidelines:
Withdrawals and Incompletes
A student’s withdrawal from a course is his/her responsibility. If you do not complete the course work and do not officially withdraw from the course, you will receive a grade of “F” for the course.
Incomplete grades are given only for illness or exceptional circumstances, and only under the following conditions: 1) the student has completed more than half of the course work, is up to date on all assignments, and is passing with at least a “C” average at the time of the emergency; 2) the instructor is notified at the time of the emergency and agrees to the “I” grade; 3) the student has a doctor’s verification or other documentation; and 4) an “Agreement for Grade of Incomplete” form is signed by both student and instructor, and states the dates by which assignments must be completed.
No cell phones are allowed in the Independent Studies Department while visiting and/or taking an exam.
See the next pages for important dates and deadlines
Important Dates – Spring “A” Term (2011-2)
January 4th – March 1st, 2012
**These dates are subject to change. Please verify them with your instructor throughout the semester.
Wed. Jan. 4 Classes begin
Friday Jan. 6 Last day to drop with refund
Fri.-Mon. Jan. 14-16 Holiday – MLK, Jr. Day
Wed. Feb. 8 Last day to drop with “W”
Tues. Feb. 14 Last day for instructor
withdrawal, “IW”
Sat. March 3 Last day to input grades
(Before 12 noon)
Students who are not up to date with their class work/tests and/or are not performing satisfactorily in the course by Tuesday, February 14th, 2012, may be instructor-dropped from the course. However, it is always the student’s responsibility to withdraw from the course if (s)he is unable to complete the work.
No work will be accepted after February 28th, 2012.
Important Dates – Spring “B” Term (2011-2)
March 2nd – April 27th, 2012
**These dates are subject to change. Please verify them with your instructor throughout the semester.
Friday March 2 Classes begin
Tuesday March 6 Last day to drop with refund
Thursday April 5 Last day to drop with “W”
Thursday April 12 Last day for instructor
withdrawal, “IW”
Friday-Sunday April 6-8 SPRING BREAK
Sat. April 28 Last day to input grades
(Before 12 noon)
Students who are not up to date with their class work/tests and/or are not performing satisfactorily in the course by Thursday, April 12th, 2012, may be instructor-dropped from the course. However, it is always the student’s responsibility to withdraw from the course if (s)he is unable to complete the work.
No work will be accepted after April 24th, 2012.
ENC 1101 Deadlines – Spring “A” Term (2011-2)
**These dates are subject to change. Please verify them with your instructor throughout the semester.
Week # Deadlines Assignments Due
1 Week of Jan. 4th Come to see your professor
During scheduled hours to sign
the contract.
#1 Introductory Paragraph
3 Week of Jan 15th #2 Read chapters 1, 2, 3, 4
and answer questions.
#3 Read chapters 5, 6 and 7
and answer questions.
#4 First at-home essay.
5 Week of Jan. 29th #5 Pick up first at-home essay
and make corrections.
#6 First in-class essay.
#7 Read chapters 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12
and answer questions.
6 Week of Feb. 5th #8 Second at-home essay.
#9 Read chapters 13, 14, 15, 16
and answer questions.
#10 Second in-class essay.
7 Week of Feb. 12th #11 Third at-home essay.
#12 Third in-class essay.
No work will be accepted after February 28th, 2012.
No emailed or faxed assignments will be accepted.
Each assignment is due by the last day of the week that your instructor is scheduled to work. The exams must be started at least one hour before the testing center closes. See testing guidelines for more information.
ENC 1101 Deadlines – Spring “B” Term (2011-2)
**These dates are subject to change. Please verify them with your instructor throughout the semester.
Week # Deadlines Assignments Due
1 Week of March 2nd Come to see your professor
During scheduled hours to sign
the contract.
#1 Introductory Paragraph
3 Week of March 11th #2 Read chapters 1, 2, 3, 4
and answer questions.
#3 Read chapters 5, 6 and 7
and answer questions.
#4 First at-home essay.
5 Week of March 25th #5 Pick up first at-home essay
and make corrections.
#6 First in-class essay.
#7 Read chapters 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12
and answer questions.
6 Week of April 1st #8 Second at-home essay.
#9 Read chapters 13, 14, 15, 16
and answer questions.
#10 Second in-class essay.
7 Week of April 8th #11 Third at-home essay.
#12 Third in-class essay.
No work will be accepted after April 24th, 2012 .
No emailed or faxed assignments will be accepted.
Each assignment is due by the last day of the week that your instructor is scheduled to work. The exams must be started at least one hour before the testing center closes. See testing guidelines for more information.
ENC 1101 - Independent Studies
Required Text: Strategies for Successful Writing by Reinking, Hart,
and Von Der Osten, 9th Ed.
Random House Webster’s Pocket Grammar, Usage and
Punctuation, 2nd edition
Required supplies: Three (3) blue/green exam booklets, letter size (8 1/2 x 11 inches) from the bookstore, dictionary, thesaurus and pens.
Instructors: At the beginning of the term, you will be assigned to a specific professor. Testing and/or consultation related to your course must be done only with your professor during his/her hours.
Scheduling: You must allow one hour and a half for an exam or an in-class essay. Plan to arrive when your teacher has more than an hour before he/she is scheduled to leave. You will not be allowed to take a test or write a paper unless you have an hour to do so before your teacher’s scheduled hours end.
Test/essays: Once you have been given a test or a list of topics for an essay, you must complete the assignment before leaving. Students are not permitted to leave the room during an essay or to return at a later time to finish a test or essay. BOOKS ARE NOT ALLOWED WHEN TAKING EXAMINATIONS, but you may use a dictionary and thesaurus.
Assignments: In order to earn a passing grade for the course, all assignments listed in this document must be completed to the professor's satisfaction. All at-home assignments should contain the student’s name, course number, and the assignment number.
Working
together: Although you and a friend may discuss the reading assignments, your choice of questions and your answers should clearly show that you have done your own work. Instructors will check the work of all students periodically to be sure all work is original.
Late
Assignments: Each school day an assignment is late, one (1) point will be deducted from your grade for that assignment unless prior arrangements are made with your professor.
The grading system for ENC 1101 includes a total of 100 possible points. Your final course grade will be determined as follows:
Points
Answers for chapters 1, 2, 3 and 4 2.5 points
Answers for chapters 5, 6 and 7 2.5 points
First at-home essay 10 points
First in-class essay (Test 1) 15 points
Answers for chapters 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 2.5 points
Second at-home essay 10 points
Answers for chapters 13, 14, 15 and 16 2.5 points
Second in-class essay (Test 2) 20 points
Third at-home essay 10 points
Third in-class essay (Final test) 25 points
Grading Scale
90 - 100 A
80 - 89 B
70 - 79 C
60 - 69 D (Must repeat course)
Below 60 F (Must repeat course)
Learning Outcomes
1. Communicate effectively using listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.
2. Use quantitative analytical skills to evaluate and process numerical data.
3. Solve problems using critical and creative thinking and scientific reasoning.
4. Formulate strategies to locate, evaluate, and apply information.
5. Demonstrate knowledge of diverse cultures, including global and historical perspectives.
6. Create strategies that can be used to fulfill personal, civic, and social responsibilities.
7. Demonstrate knowledge of ethical thinking and its application to issues in society.
8. Use computer and emerging technologies effectively.
9. Demonstrate an appreciation for aesthetics and creative activities.
10. Describe how natural systems function and recognize the impact of humans on the environment.
Miami-Dade Community College
ENC 1101 - English Composition 1
Course Description:
This is a required general education core course in college level writing. Students will write unified, coherent essays using various methods of development and review sentence and paragraph structures and writing fundamentals. English Composition I is required for both the Associate of Science (A.S.) and Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree programs.
3 credits
This course fulfills the Gordon Rule requirement.
Note: This course must be completed with a grade of "C" or better.
Prerequisites: Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) score of 440 or more on the verbal test; American College Testing (ACT) score of 17 or more on the English subtest; or MDC Computerized Placement Test (CPT) score of 83 or more on the English subtest.
Course Competencies:
Competency 1: The student will present writing which focuses attention on himself or herself (personal writing).
Competency 2: The student will present information in writing on a given subject (informational writing).
Criteria: To achieve this competency, the student must:
• Support the thesis or central idea with facts;
• Use graphs, charts, pictures, tables, or other visual aids for support when appropriate;
• Use a standard form to document all phrasing and ideas which are not your own.
Competency 3: The student will demonstrate proficiency in using techniques that enhance reading skill.
Criteria: To achieve this competency, the student must:
• Identify main ideas, purpose, overall organizational pattern, supporting details, and elements of coherence in assigned readings;
• Demonstrate ability to define words by examining context using a dictionary, or applying the root-affix method.
Competency 4: The student will present writing based on specific readings.
Criteria: To achieve this competency, the student must:
• Summarize and/or paraphrase passages;
• Respond to explicit and implicit content.
Competency 5: The student will demonstrate proficiency in using research strategies. (Becoming familiar with the campus library is assumed as part of this competency.)
Criteria: To achieve this competency, the student must:
• Assemble research sources on a designated subject;
• Take effective notes from research source.
Assignments
All assignments must be completed and must be done in order. All at-home assignments must be typed and double spaced. Please note that regardless of the number of points you earn, you will be assigned a passing grade (C or better) only if your teacher is satisfied that you can write a college-level essay. You should be able to do this at least twice, which means you may be asked to write a 4th in-class essay if, by the end of the course, you have written only one college-level essay.
#1. Write a paragraph in which you discuss the qualities/abilities you possess or will need to develop in order to succeed in this course.