ENGLISH 101.02 ONLINE: COLLEGE WRITING I
SPRING 2016
Instructor: Dr. Bonnie T. Yarbrough
Office: 3105 MHRA
Email:
Virtual Office Hours: MW 2-3:30
Other hours available by appointment
I will make every effort to respond to your email within 24 hours, excluding weekends. Please read Guidelines for Effective Online Communication with Faculty posted on Canvas under Supplementary Materials.
Required:
· Reliable access to internet. For submissions, you will need to use a word processor that can create .doc or .docs files, such as Microsoft Word or iSpartan’s Google Docs available through your UNCG iSpartan Google Drive (https://its.uncg.edu/iSpartan/Drive ). You will not be able to submit file formats such as .odt, .odt, .ods, .pages, .html, etc.
· A UNCG iSpartan and Canvas account (checked daily)
· Text*: McGuire, Meghan H., S. Brenta Blevins, and Alison M. Johnson, eds. Rhetorical Approaches to College Writing. Plymouth, MI: Hayden-McNeil, 2016. Print. ISBN: 978-0-7380-7732-1*You must purchase this edition; the text changes every year. Available at the UNCG Bookstore online at http://bookstore.uncg.edu or in person (located in Elliott University Center).
Your book should look like this.
· All other readings will be available as PDFs or links to works online.
I. Course Description
English 101 satisfies three of the six hours of the Reasoning and Discourse (GRD) requirement at UNCG, which asserts that students “gain skills in intellectual discourse, including constructing cogent arguments, locating, synthesizing and analyzing documents, and writing and speaking clearly, coherently, and effectively” (http://uncg.smartcatalogiq.com/en/2014-2015/Undergraduate-Bulletin/University-Requirements/General-Education-Program/General-Education-Core-CategoryMarker-Descriptions).
In addition, English 101 is designed to address Learning Goal #1 (LG1) in the UNCG General Education Program. This is the ability to “think critically, communicate effectively, and develop appropriate fundamental skills in quantitative and information literacies.” (http://uncg.smartcatalogiq.com/en/2014-2015/Undergraduate-Bulletin/University-Requirements/General-Education-Program).
The following are English 101 Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs), each of which corresponds to both the GRD goals and to LG1:
II. English 101 Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
At the completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Analyze the content and structure of complex texts (written, oral, and/or visual in nature);
2. Compose cogent, evidence-based, argumentative texts;
3. Identify and employ the rhetorical triangle, the canons, and the appeals in both formal and informal discourse;
4. Summarize, quote, paraphrase, and synthesize source material in support of an argument;
5. Employ drafting, peer review, and revision techniques in order to improve content, style, and structure of their own writing;
6. Appraise their own composing abilities and composing processes through critical reflection.
III. English 101 Course Requirements
1. Writing (SLOs 1-6)
You will write 20-24 pages, which includes a 4-6 page critical rationale, of polished (revised) prose, completed across three to four formal assignments, each of which engages with outside sources (primary and/or secondary). All of these assignments focus on developing argumentative and/or analytical discourse using the principles of rhetoric and employ peer review as part of the drafting and revising process.
You will also complete other assignments that may not be formally evaluated. These may include: prewriting, brainstorming, journaling, participation in asynchronous discussion threads, or other writing completed individually or in small groups online (e.g., on Canvas).
The culminating assignment for the course is a portfolio of your work, worth 30-40% of the final grade. The portfolio includes an argument-based, 4-6 page rationale essay which analyzes your writing processes and learning in relation to the student learning outcomes of English 101. In addition, it articulates, for the portfolio reader(s), the reasoning behind the choices made/selections included that demonstrate both processes of learning and polished writing. In this portfolio, you further revise the formal essays and make choices about the informal writing included. The portfolio also contains a demonstration of your writing processes for one or more formal essay as I direct: the assignment, activities, peer comments, drafts, and revisions as well as any other material I require. This demonstration provides the proof of your specific writing practices as referred to in the rationale. The rationale essay is included in the 20-24 pages of polished prose required for the course.
2. Reading/Textual Analysis: (SLOs 1,4)
Over the semester you will read, on average, 25-50 pages per week from either the course reader/anthology or readings posted on Canvas, which may include internet-based texts. or other text documents. Texts may also be read multiple times for different rhetorical purposes, and multiple, comparable texts may be under discussion at any given time. Occasionally, student drafts and revisions for peer review may be included in this number. Other online videos such as advertisements and YouTube videos work from the premise that 2 minutes equates to a page.
Course readings are primarily non-fiction prose, including argument-based essays and other examples of scholarly, socio-cultural/media/communications, or journalistic-based writing. English 101 is a course in rhetoric and writing; therefore, when course texts include literature or film(s), work on these texts (including essay assignments) will be explicitly rooted in rhetorical analysis.
3. Conferences: (SLOs 1, 5-6)
You will have at least one conference during the semester, as scheduled on Canvas. You will be able to sign up for a conference time on Canvas through the Scheduling feature under Calendar. Procedures are listed under Conferences and are scheduled according to available time slots. These conferences are short (10 minutes) and are designed to begin a conversation about your work in development. Please do not be late for your appointment or you run the risk of forfeiting this score. The conference will give us an opportunity to discuss your work and any questions you may have about the assignments. Conferences will be conducted either through video conference on Google Hangouts or through an individual phone call.
4. Peer Reviews: (SLOs 1, 3-5)
Peer review is an essential part of the writing process and central to the work we do here on essays. You are required to complete peer reviews on each essay before submitting that essay for a formal grade. You will read and comment on drafts of 2 of your classmates’ papers. Answer all of the peer review questions and submit these along with your review on the appropriate Discussion boards. You can also communicate with one another via email, chat, or Skype, as long as you conference before the assigned deadline. Your peer review is important not only to me as an assessment but also to your peers so that they can revise their work. They depend on you to offer a unique response to their ideas, and you might help guide them to a more insightful and substantive essay. Remember: peer review is a two-way street. If you fail to give a thoughtful or thorough review, you risk receiving a poor one in return.
If you fail to provide feedback to your review partners by the assigned deadline, the highest grade you can receive on a formal assignment (Essays 1-3) is a B.
5. Final Portfolios: (SLOs 1-6)
As stipulated by university policy, all English 101 classes will state the final exam day and time on the syllabus. The final exam session may take the form of a final exam or engagement in a teaching and learning-related activity during this time slot. Examples of such activities include presentations, conferences, and return or receipt of course portfolios. University policy states that “Final examinations may be required at the discretion of faculty and must be scheduled in course syllabi with information available to students on the first day of class” (http://uncg.smartcatalogiq.com/en/2015-2016/Undergraduate-Bulletin/Academic-Regulations-Policies/Grading/Final-Course-Examinations).
Our final exam consists of submission of the final portfolio.
IV. Course Policies
Academic Integrity Policy: “Academic integrity is founded upon and encompasses the following five values: honesty, trust, fairness, and responsibility. Violations include, for example, cheating, plagiarism, misuse of academic resources, falsification, and facilitating academic dishonesty. If knowledge is to be gained and properly evaluated, it must be pursued under conditions free from dishonesty. Deceit and misrepresentations are incompatible with the fundamental activity of this academic institution and shall not be tolerated” (from UNCG’s Academic Integrity Policy). To ensure that you understand the university’s policy on academic integrity, review the guidelines and list of violations at http://academicintegrity.uncg.edu.
Depending on the severity of the violation and the significance of the assignment to the final grade, penalties for plagiarism, among other forms of academic dishonesty or unethical intellectual property appropriation, may range from an automatic zero on the assignment, to the student being dropped from the class or receiving expulsion from the university. Incidents of cheating and plagiarism are reported to the Dean of Students and sanctions are aligned with the policies at http://sa.uncg.edu/dean/academic-integrity/violation/plagiarism/
Note regarding academic integrity policy regarding falsification: "Falsification also includes submitting work to meet the requirements of one course when it was done, in whole or in part, to meet the requirements of another course. Exceptions to this provision must be given prior approval by the instructor to whom the work is to be submitted." For more information, see http://sa.uncg.edu/handbook/academic-integrity-policy
I expect you to abide by the Academic Integrity Policy. All written work will be evaluated against electronic sources and must be your original work. If you violate the Academic Integrity Policy a first time, you will fail the assignment; the second violation will result in automatic failure of the course. Incidents of cheating and plagiarism are reported to the Dean of Students and sanctions are aligned with the policies at http://sa.uncg.edu/dean/academic-integrity/violation/plagiarism/
Behavior Tied to this Course: I expect the online community to be a productive learning environment; thus, respect for others and their ideas is expected and problematic behavior or posts will not be tolerated. The UNCG Disruptive Behavior Policy describes words and deeds as follows: “Disruptive is behavior which the UNCG regards as speech or action which 1) is disrespectful, offensive, and/or threatening, 2) impedes or interferes with the learning activities of other students, 3) impedes the delivery of university services, and/or 4) has a negative impact in any learning environment. Disruptive behavior includes physically, verbally or psychologically harassing, threatening, or acting abusively toward an instructor, staff member, or toward other students in any activity authorized by the University. Disruptive behavior also includes any other behavior covered by the Student Conduct Code.”
For the entire policy, go to http://sa.uncg.edu/handbook/wp-content/uploads/disruptive_policy.pdf
I reserve the right to interpret inappropriate behaviors as I see fit and to address them accordingly; remaining enrolled in my class is your tacit acknowledgement of this right.
E-mail and Correspondence: E-mail is the best way to reach me. During “virtual office hours,” I will be available to communicate with you in real time (this includes responding to emails and availability on Google Chat through iSpartan). Outside of virtual office hours, I will periodically check my email between 9AM and 6PM on weekdays. I will always strive to answer email within 24 hours with the exception of weekends and university holidays; if I haven’t responded to your message within 48 hours, please re-send the message. Please keep in mind that I have other course obligations, meetings, and responsibilities that may prevent my responding as quickly as I would like. In the unlikely event that illness or personal emergencies prevent me from responding, I will post a notice to this effect on Canvas. Keep in mind that an e-mail is a unique writing situation that requires you to adhere to a certain genre. Read the guidelines for Effective Communication with Faculty posted on Canvas before composing your first email. Before emailing me with a question, please check the syllabus and assignment sheets (when applicable) first. When emailing me, please use your official UNCG iSpartan email account (not a personal account, such as yahoo or gmail) or communicate directly through Canvas mail.
If you have general questions about any aspect of the course, including requirements, assignments, readings, etc that is not already covered by the syllabus please post them in the “Frequently Asked Questions” forum under Discussions. This will enable you to have a written record of my responses and will prevent me from repetitively answering the same questions.
Late Work: I do not give partial credit for late work, and I do not accept late work. I do accept early work; if you know that you might have extenuating circumstances that could affect your timely submission of an assignment, please submit it early. Computer problems do not qualify as an excuse for turning in things late. To avoid missing assignments due to technological problems, I suggest that you submit your work as you complete it rather than waiting until close to the deadline. If you wait until the last day, you have assumed the risk of a technical problem precluding you from finishing the work on time.
Technology: In order to fully participate in this course, you must have a reliable internet connection. Some activities, including quizzes, are timed. Once you begin a quiz, I am not able to “reset” it; be sure that you have left plenty of time to complete it and that you are not disrupted. Bad internet connection is not an excuse for missing an assignment; please give yourself plenty of time to submit assignments and have a contingency plan (like a campus or a public library computer). Additionally, it is always a good practice to save your work online (such as Google Docs) as well as to your hard drive.
Note: Firefox is recommended for Canvas. If you’re having problems, I suggest you first try using Firefox. If you’re still having difficulties, you can visit 6-TECH online and 6-tech.uncg.edu or call them at (336) 256-TECH (8324).
Personal Issues
If you have extenuating circumstances such as a death in the family, chronic illness/injury requiring prolonged medical treatment, prolonged psychological issues, etc., then you should immediately contact the Dean of Students Office for advocacy (http://sa.uncg.edu/dean/). You can use that department email, () and provide your name, your UNCG ID number, a telephone number that you can be reached, and a general description of why you would like to meet with a staff member. If your situation is urgent, you may opt for a walk-in appointment (Monday – Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm), and the staff will connect you with the appropriate person as soon as possible. The Dean of Students office is located on the second floor of the Elliott University Center (EUC).