DUAL CREDIT
EN 130
Fall 2013
3 Credit Hours
Dual Credit – Lafayette County C-1 High School
Eric King
(660) 584-3661
COURSE DESCRIPTION
EN 130. Rhetoric and Composition – 3 hours. An introduction to the basic organizational forms of the essay. EN 130 teaches students to write in different persuasive settings, including a variety of rhetorical modes. Students are introduced to college writing using the process method of drafting and revising essays that are collected in a portfolio. EN 130 students also do intensive research writing according to MLA standards.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES—COURSE
The primary goals of EN 130 are to teach students to inform, entertain, and persuade different audiences; to use collegiate dictionaries and handbooks as writing tools; to write critical responses to reading assignments; to draft and revise essays; to sharpen their critical thinking abilities; to develop their research skills; and to compose a 1,000-word informative research paper.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES—GENERAL EDUCATION
EN 130 trains students to write effectively on the college level, to become more reflective readers, and to develop powers of logical and critical thinking.
ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
Research Presentation: Each student will create and deliver a presentation on a controversial matter of public concern, as well as a possible solution. The presentation must utilize at minimum five sources. Three sources must be from books or peer-reviewed journals, and two may be from other credible sources (Internet, multimedia, etc.). Details will be given closer to the end of the semester.
Essays: Students will compose three essays of varying word length on a topic of the student’s choice based on the in-class readings. Each essay must use at minimum two outside sources, properly cited in MLA format. Each essay will be peer critiqued and revised. Rough drafts and peer critiques are worth 10% of the essay grade; make arrangements with the instructor if you will be absent.
Short Writings: Occasionally, students will be given a prompt over which to write a short (approx. two pages) essay response. These writings will be done outside of class, and will be stored in the student’s portfolio.
Portfolio: Students will keep a working portfolio of all writings done for the course. All writing assignments (essays, journals, etc.) will be kept in a folder. At the end of the semester, a number of works to be determined by the instructor will be submitted, along with a personal reflection of growth as a writer during the semester.
Examinations: There will be a midterm and a final given. Students will have periodic reading quizzes – both announced and unannounced – throughout the semester. Students should keep up on reading at all times.
Attendance and Participation: Regular attendance is required. Absences must be documented in order to be excused. The instructor reserves the right to lower a student’s course grade by a full letter grade (10%) if more than two unexcused absences are recorded. Students missing more than six periods unexcused (three weeks of class!) will not pass the course. Also, a student who comes unprepared for class – not having done the reading or journal assignment, etc. – will be counted as absent for that class period. Scores for assignments during that period will be reduced by 50%.
Participation means always paying attention, sharing your best thoughts with the group, not carrying on private conversations, not using cell phones/electronic devices, and not doing other homework or assignments during class time.
There may be other assignments not listed on this syllabus, which will be assigned at the teacher’s discretion.
REQUIRED TEXT/S
Cohen, Samuel, ed. 50 Essays. Second Edition. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2004.
Diyanni, Robert. Twenty-Five Great Essays. New York: Longman, 2002.
Fulwiler, Toby and Alan R. Hayakawa. Pocket Reference for Writers. Second Edition. Upper
Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2005.
Strong, William and Mark Lester. Writer’s Choice Grammar and Composition. New York:
Glencoe McGraw-Hill, 1996.
GRADING POLICY AND PROCEDURES
Grades are computed on a 100-point scale (i.e. 90-100 = A, 80-100 = B, etc.). Scores will be rounded to the nearest whole number (i.e. 79.5 = B). Late work will not be accepted. If you have an extenuating circumstance, please discuss it with the instructor.
The grade breakdown is as follows:
Research presentation: 15%
Essays: 30% (10% each)
Homework, journals, “other”: 15%
Portfolio: 10%
Examinations: 20%
Attendance/Participation: 10%
Additionally, all major essays, presentations, examinations, and the portfolio MUST be submitted in order to pass the course. If these assignments are not submitted, you will not earn a passing grade. (This also includes any mandatory revisions of these assignments at the instructor’s discretion.)
TENTATIVE DUE DATES
TBA
FINAL EXAM
December 18, 2013 OR December 19, 2013
ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSION POLICY
1)Writing assignments are due at the beginning of class on the days indicated. Please check the due dates.
2)All writing submitted for a grade/portfolio must be typed using 12-point legible font (Times New Roman or Arial preferred), double spaced, and with one-inch margins.
3)MLA formatting must be followed at all times. (Refer to Pocket Reference for Writers or owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/ for assistance.)
4)Late writing assignments will be penalized 10% for each day late. After a week late, they will not be accepted for credit. (They still will be accepted to fulfill the submission requirement discussed in “grading policies” above.) If you have an extenuating circumstance, please discuss it with the instructor.
CELL PHONE USE POLICY
In one word: don’t. Students should be participating actively in class, and cell phones and other electronic devices are distractions in the classroom environment. Please turn them off, keep them put away, and be respectful of others in the class. Students that do not follow this policy may forfeit their participation/attendance credit for the class period in question, and may be asked to leave class.
STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT
It shall be the responsibility of every student enrolled at Missouri Valley College to support the academic integrity of the institution. This applies to personal honesty in all aspects of collegiate work, all student records, and all contacts with faculty and staff. Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated.
It shall also be the responsibility of every student enrolled at Missouri Valley College to be respectful of the right of other students, staff, and instructors to ensure a safe, peaceful atmosphere conducive to the educational goals of an institution of higher learning. Rude or disruptive behavior will not be tolerated.
Student actions that do not adhere to the MVC Student Code of Conduct will be addressed according to College policies regarding academic dishonesty and disruptive behavior. Students who exhibit dishonest, disruptive, or disrespectful behavior risk suspension or expulsion from the institution.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Academic integrity is expected and required of all students. Students and faculty are responsible and accountable for personally upholding that integrity. Cheating will not be tolerated, and students found guilty of cheating in any way will be disciplined according to the Academic Dishonesty Policy in the MVC College Catalog. The following penalties may be applied:
- Reprimand.
- Requirement that the student repeats and re-submits the same or alternate assignment. In such cases, the grade or mark awarded will be reduced or limited at the discretion of the faculty member.
- Completion of the Plagiarism Tutorial found at the student’s Moodle site. (Must be completed if this is the student’s first plagiarism offense)
- A mark of "0" will be given for the assignment with no opportunity to resubmit. This may result in failure of the course.
- A failing (F) grade will be awarded in the course.
- Automatic failing (F) grades in all courses in which the student is registered, and no fees will be refunded for that semester. This penalty will only be imposed by the student's program division chair or the Chief Academic Officer.
- Expulsion from Missouri Valley College, permanently recorded on the student's record. This penalty will result in automatic failing (F) grades in all courses in which the student is registered, and no fees will be refunded for that semester.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Attendance is expected and required at each class meeting.
ADA STATEMENT
The College seeks to comply fully with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The ADA Coordinator works with the programs to assist the faculty in understanding and implementing accommodations.
Students with disabilities should have documentation of their disability sent to the campus ADA coordinator, Debbie Coleman, Baity Hall, Room 206, office 7, 660-831-4170 or , and set up an appointment as soon as they arrive on campus. Students enrolled in online courses should email the ADA coordinator. Failure to do so could delay accommodations. After proper documentation, reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate students’ needs. If you have any questions about how to initiate this process, please contact your instructor.