Enc 1101 Freshman Compostion I

Enc 1101 Freshman Compostion I

ENC 1101 FRESHMAN COMPOSITION I
COURSE SYLLABUS
Fall 2010 : Aug 30, 2010 - December 19, 2010
INSTRUCTOR: Iris Belen
By accepting this syllabus, you agree to try your best to meet class requirements.
This syllabus and schedule may be changed at the instructor’s or college’s discretion by announcement in class or by email.
OFFICE LOCATION: / Building 2, Room 229;
OFFICE HOURS: / 12:00 pm – 2 pm; Monday and Wednesday
Email for appointment
OFFICE PHONE: / Email is the preferred contact method.
E-MAIL ADDRESS: /
Preferred contact method
CLASS LOCATION AND HOURS: / O C Port Bldg K 100 9:00 am - 10:15 am / Monday and Wednesday
A. COURSE DESCRIPTION
Development of essay form, including documented essay; instruction and practice in expository writing. Emphasis on clarity of central and support ideas, adequate development, logical organization, coherence, appropriate citing of primary and/or secondary sources, and grammatical and mechanical accuracy. This course includes learning activity designed to ensure competence in the basic use of computers. Gordon Rule course in which the student is required to demonstrate college-level writing skills through multiple assignments.
B. COURSE OBJECTIVES
To facilitate the writing process by learning different techniques, styles, and provide exercises and practice that will make college writing a manageable and hopefully a pleasant experience. This course will explain and clarify doubts regarding essays, research papers, plagiarism, grammar, citing and MLA documentation. The main focus of the course is to write as much as possible in order to become comfortable with the process.
C. COURSE TOPICS
  1. The descriptive essay
  2. The persuasive/argumentative essay
  3. The comparison essay
  4. The impersonal essay
  5. The five paragraph essay
  6. The narrative essay
  7. The Research paper
  8. Plagerism and MLA documentation
  9. Grammar
D.TEXTBOOK(S) AND REQUIRED TOOLS OR SUPPLIES
Writing Today, by Pharr and Buscemi, McGraw Hill. 2nd edition
You must have your own textbook and bring it to class every day. It is not acceptable to share textbooks in class
E. GRADING PLAN
  1. The course assignments, quizzes, and final test are all worth 1000 pts.
  2. Component 1 - Essays - 350 points
  3. Component 2 - Reading quizzes (15) 150 points (one per week)
  4. Component 3 - Writing portfolio – 350 points
  5. Component 4 - Final Exam – 100 points
  6. Component 5 - Attendance/participation – 30 points
  7. Component 6 - Literary essay – 20 points
To pass ENC 1101, you must have a minimum grade average of 70%. The final grade for this course will be determined as follows:
GRADING SCALE:
900 – 1000 points A 90 – 100% = A
800 – 899 points B 80 – 89% = B
700 – 799 points C 70 – 79 % = C
600 – 699 points D 60 – 69 % = D
0 – 599 points F 0 – 59 % = F
F. EVALUATION GUIDELINES: The following are general guidelines for evaluation of essays in this course:
The "A" essay has a strong thesis, abundant and relevant detail, a clear structure, and few mechanical errors.
The "B" essay has a recognizable thesis, relevant detail, a clear structure, and some mechanical errors.
The "C" essay has a thesis, some detail, a structure that sometimes deviates from that implied by the thesis, and frequent mechanical errors.
The "D" essay has a vague thesis, little detail, frequent structural problems, and multiple mechanical errors.
The "F" has no recognizable thesis, little detail, frequent structural problems, and many mechanical errors.
Your recorded grades will be available for your review at any convenient time. Keep all tests and quizzes returned to you so that any discrepancies can be easily and fairly straightened out. Except in cases of actual error, final grades are permanent
Essays will be grading with a rubric. The grading rubric will be explained and provided before the essay submissions begin.
G. FINAL EXAMINATION
The final examination will consist of a number of short answer questions, definition questions, and a reflexive essay all of which will stem from assigned readings and class discussions. Thus, you will want to take careful notes and keep them throughout the term.
H. VCC STUDENT COMPETENCIES:
This class will focus on the following:
Think
  • Analyze data, ideas, patterns, principles, and perspectives
  • Integrate ideas and values from different disciplines
  • Draw well-supported conclusions
Value
  • Recognize values as expressed in attitudes, choices, and commitments
  • Distinguish among personal, ethical, aesthetic, cultural, and scientific values
  • Employ values and standards of judgment from different disciplines
  • Articulate a considered and self-determined set of values
Communicate
  • Identify your own strengths and needs for improvement as a communicator
  • Employ methods of communication appropriate to your audience and purpose
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of your own and other’s communication
Act
  • Apply disciplinary knowledge, skills, and values to educational and career goals
  • Implement effective problem solving, decision-making, and goal setting strategies
  • Assess the effectiveness of personal behavior and choices
  • Respond appropriately to changing circumstances
I. CLAST COMPETENCIES: This class will focus on the following:
I. Students will read with both literal and critical comprehension.
II. Students will write compositions suitable to their purpose and audience using standard American English.
III. Students will listen with both literal and critical comprehension.
IV. Students will speak in a manner suitable to their topic, purpose, and audience (generalizing, providing adequate supporting details, demonstrating careful word choice).
J. MAKE UP POLICY
No make up quizzes, essays or tests will be accepted except in the case of a documented medical or legal absence.
K. QUIZZES
There will be written quizzes (probably one every class period) to evaluate the students comprehension of the class material. Quizzes will relate to current and previous topics. Quizzes will be given at any time during the class period. There will be no make up quizzes. Quizzes will be given only to those students who are present when the quizzes are passed out.
L. ESSAYS:
All essays must be submitted online by the due date. Essays must be submitted to WebCT. No exceptions. No late work will be accepted.
ALL ESSAYS MUST BE SUBMITTED TO MEET GORDON RULE REQUIREMENTS. NO STUDENT WILL RECEIVE A PASSING GRADE (C OR ABOVE) UNLESS EVERY ESSAY IS SUBMITTED.
SUBMITTING PAPERS
All papers MUST be submitted electronically through WebCT as a MICROSOFT WORD attachment. NO PAPER COPIES WILL BE ACCEPTED. Papers are due by 11:59 PM on the date listed on the syllabus and course calendar.
In order to use WebCT, you will need to log in to the online course page. You can access the course page by visiting You will be prompted to enter your ID and PASSWORD (these are the same as the ID and Pin that you use to access your ATLAS account). Once you have entered the appropriate ID and PASSWORD, you will see all courses that have online components that you are currently taking; clicking on the course name will take you to the course page.
On the online course page, you will find a link to ASSIGNMENTS on the left-hand side of the page. By clicking on the link, you will be able to view graded assignments and submit assignments.
In order to submit a paper, follow the instructions included in the assignment description. Please be aware that some computers have virus scanners that interfere with Blackboard. Please disable any popup blockers or virus scanners (temporarily) while attempting to attach a paper if you experience any technical problems. Papers are due by 11:59 PM on the date listed on the syllabus and course calendar.
All out of class writing assignments must be typed, double-spaced, in a standard font (Times New Roman) and type size (12). All papers must also have the following information in the top left hand corner of the first page.
Name
Course Name and Section Number
Assignment Number (denoted as WA#)
Date of Submission
A creative and interesting title should be centered at the top of the page, just below the heading info.
*If a student’s paper does not follow any of the above rules, I will not accept it, and it will be counted as a late assignment when it is revised and resubmitted.
M. PLAGIARISM
Plagiarism is the use of others' work without adequate acknowledgment. When writers use the efforts of other writer's minds without indicating the source, they are guilty of dishonesty. Plagiarism will be cause for failure and disciplinary action.
The instructor reserves the right to fail any student who is guilty of plagiarism. Plagiarism includes copying information or paraphrasing ideas from outside sources without properly citing that information by using quotation marks (when appropriate) AND including a parenthetical reference and a Works Cited page. All papers will be submitted by your instructor to SafeAssign (a service that checks for plagiarism). If SafeAssign finds that your paper is partially or wholly plagiarized, I will supply you with a copy of the report and your paper will receive the appropriate penalties. Plagiarism is stealing; it is unethical. You WILL receive the appropriate penalties. NO EXCEPTIONS!
N. ATTENDANCE
You are expected to attend all classes. Three unexcused, unexplained absences, barring extraordinary, documented circumstances, will result in your withdrawal from the course. Acceptable reasons for absence given to me in advance may be excused. You will be marked tardy if not present when I record attendance. Students who arrive late are responsible for notifying the instructor at the end of class on the same day to ensure that the attendance record is accurate. Three tardies will equal one absence. Students who are not in the room at least 60 minutes of a 75 minute class period may be marked absent instead of tardy. Students with more than three absences may be withdrawn.
Absences for which a medical or court excuse is provided (professional letterhead required) will be recorded but not figured in the attendance record. Any significant tardy or early departure from class (20 minutes late or leaving early) will be recorded and calculated for absence.
If you arrive after I have taken attendance and you fail to tell me that you were present, you will be marked as absent in my grade book (there are NO exceptions!).
O. GORDON RULE & GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
ENC 1101 can be used to help satisfy Gordon Rule and General Education requirements if the student submits a mix of assessed, substantial work of sufficient complexity to demonstrate college-level writing skills. Students must receive a grade of "C" or better in the course. All assigned essays must be submitted to meet the Gordon Rule requirement.
P. COMPUTER USE COMPETENCY
English Composition I (ENC 1101) has been designated as one of Valencia’s courses that require students to demonstrate the basic use of computers. Therefore, this course will require the use of computers for the following learning activities: All out-of-class essays must be prepared on a computer. No grades will be assigned for out-of-class hand-written or typed essays. Students must use the Internet to do research. Some class materials will be sent by Atlas e-mail. Printing out and bringing e-mailed materials to class is mandatory.
Q. EXITING REQUIREMENT
You must attend your final. If you do not, you will receive an F in this course. Also, please be aware that a final grade of “D” does not satisfy the Gordon Rule for this course.
R. CLASSROOM RULES OF CONDUCT
  1. Use of laptop computers is not allowed in class during class lectures.
Please turn of cell phones during class time. Calls must not be answered in class. Do not use phones for text messaging during class time.
  1. Chronic tardiness is disruptive and rude to your classmates and me Please be on time to
class to avoid delays or interruptions of class. If you are late please take a seat in the back of the classroom. Do not make your way to the front of the classroom. This will disrupt the lecture/activity in session.
3. FOOD & BEVERAGES: Valencia policy is that no food & beverages are to be brought to class. I will allow beverages in the classroom but they must have caps or lids to prevent spills.
S. MISCELLANEOUS:
1. SUGGESTIONS FOR SUCCESS: Read all assigned reading material and complete and hand in all assigned work. Attend classes and be an active participant in your education.
2. YOUR IDEAS, EVALUATIONS, ETC.:your ideas, comments, suggestions, questions, grade challenges, etc. are welcome. Your discretion in these matters is expected, however. No part of your grade will be based on anything other than your coursework and attendance.
T. IMPORTANT DATES:
Drop/Refund Deadline: September 7, 2010
Withdrawal Deadline for “W” Grade: November 5, 2010
Term Ends: December 19, 2010
Grades Post in Atlas: December 20, 2010
U. E-MAIL POLICY: All e-mails will be answered. If you e-mail questions to the instructor or submit any work by e-mail and do not receive a reply e-mail, then your message or work did not reach the instructor. Activate the “sent” function on your e-mail system to have a record of outgoing messages.
V. DISABILITY ACCOMODATIONS
It is the responsibility of students with documented disabilities to provide the instructor with the appropriate documents from the Office for Students with Disabilities. Accommodations will be provided as authorized by this office. Notice of needed accommodations should be given by the second week of the semester.
W. STUDENT ETHICS
You are expected to abide by the college policy as stated in the catalog.

PARTICIPANT INFORMED CONSENT FORM

A research study is being conducted to assess college level writing in ENC1101, English Composition I. Student work will be collected at random from students enrolled in this course each academic term. Your instructor may be asked to submit a paper that you have written during the course of the semester. Your identification will be removed from the work so as to preserve your anonymity and confidentiality. The work will then be holistically scored using a rubric. Those results will be used to improve instruction. You will not be asked to do anything outside of your normal class assignments. There are no identifiable risks to you. The records of this study will be kept private. In any sort of report we might publish, we will not include any information that will make it possible to identify you. Research records will be stored securely and only researchers will have access to the records. All information is subject to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, which is designed to protect the privacy of educational records.

Your participation in this study is totally voluntary and you may withdraw at any time without negative consequences. To withdraw at any time during the study, simply ask your instructor not to submit any of your work.

Please feel free to contact Roberta Brown (407-582-3421) or Kurt Ewen (407-582-3413) or if you have any questions about the study. Or, for other questions, contact the Chair of Valencia’s Institutional Review Board at .

I am at least 18 years of age and not requesting exclusion from the study constitutes my informed consent.

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