English 101, First Year Composition
Fall2016
Section 22323
Course Syllabus
Instructor:Mrs. Valerie Best
Office Hours:7:30-8:00a.m.;3:00-3:30 p.m. M, T, Th, Friandby appointment.
Email:
Phone:(480) 472-2018
Class Meeting
Class Days:Mon-Fri,August 10 to December 20, 2016
Class Time:4th5th Hours
Course Information
Credit Hours:½ Mountain View; 3 MCC
Course Title:English 101
Course Description:English 101emphasizes rhetoric and composition with a focus on expository writing and understanding writing as a process. The course encourages the development of effective college-level writing through the writing of at least four or more writing projects comprising at least 3,000 words in total.
Text Book
Roen, Duan, Gregory R. Glau, and Barry M. Maid. The McGraw-Hill Guide: Writing for
College, Writing for Life. 3rd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2013.
Writing utensils-pencils black and/or blue pens
Colored Pencils or Highlighters (for editing)
Composition Book
Loose-leaf Paper
Daily planner/calendar
Glue Stick & Scissors
*Bring your supplies every day!
CANVAS
Canvas is the online learning management system that will be used throughout the course. This LMS is a requirement for English 101. You will participate in class discussions, submit homework, receive announcements, and collaborate with other students on CANVAS. In the case of an absence, you are to check CANVAS to get any work missed and come prepared upon your return. Please do not return to class asking “What did I miss?” The LMS is your partner throughout the course so that you are supported throughout the semester. Login instructions will be given in class. There is also an app for both iOS and Android devices that you are encouraged to use as well.
Course Competencies
MCCCD Official Course Competencies
ENG 101: First Year Composition
1.Analyze specific rhetorical contexts, including circumstances, purpose, topic, audience, and writer, as well as the writing’s ethical, political, and cultural implications. (I, III)
2.Organize writing to support a central idea through unity, coherence, and logical development appropriate to a specific writing context. (II, V)
3.Use appropriate conventions in writing, including consistent voice, tone, diction, grammar, and mechanics. (I, V).
4.Integrate sources through summarizing, paraphrasing, and quotation from sources to develop and support one’s own ideas. (III, IV)
5.Use feedback obtained through peer review, instructor comments, and/or other sources to revise writing.(II)
6.Assess one’s own writing strengths and identify strategies for improvement through instructor conference, portfolio review, written evaluation, and/or other methods.(II)
7.Generate, format, and edit writing using appropriate technologies. (II, V)
After completing this course, you should be able to:
- Understand that writing and critical reading is interrelated to critical thinking.
- Understand the rhetorical situations of communication (including purpose, audience, and role of writer) and respond to them effectively in their writing tasks.
- Use appropriate conventions of format, structure, voice, and tone according to the rhetorical situation.
- Critically read and respond to texts.
- Use multiple strategies to explore and develop ideas.
- Compose in several genres.
- Understand that writing is a process that involves multiple drafts, including prewriting, composing, reviewing, revising, and editing.
- Understand the collaborative value of the peer review process to help writers address the needs of readers.
- Compose a focused and clearly stated thesis for a paper or presentation.
- Develop an informal outline for organizing an academic paper or presentation.
- Use electronic environments to develop their essays and projects, research their topics, and present their texts.
- Use Standard English in your own academic writing.
Course Requirements/Expectations
- Class participation:A large part of understanding the concepts comes from discussing them with others and engaging in in-class activities. Therefore, participation is essential to success in class. To effectively participate, you will need to complete the assignments before class begins.
- Reading assignments: You will be responsible for completing the reading assignments prior to the class period. If there is any material that you do not understand, please see me, email me, or make a note so that it may be discussed in class. Remember that other students may have similar questions, so sharing your questions is as important as sharing your ideas.
- Quizzes: In-class quizzes make up a portion of your final grade. These quizzes will be based on reading assignments, class discussions, and homework assignments. They will be given at any time with or without notice.
- Writing assignments:Throughout the course, you will write at least four formal assignments/projects.All formal assignments must be typed and formatted according to MLA/APAstyle guidelines. You must save all writing assignments on a computer, flash drive, Google Docs, or any other method in which they are easily retrieved again. All papers must be completed to pass this class with a grade of C or better.
- Group work: There will be group exercises and peer reviews of all formal assignments. In all activities, please be helpful, honest, and respectful in all comments to your classmates. Please know that all rough drafts and peer review sheets are submitted with final drafts and are graded separately from the class participation grade.
- Classroom Behavior: Be respectful and mindful of others and the space you are using.
- Plagiarism & Turnitin.com: Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, the use of paraphrase or direct quotation of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment. It also includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling or sharing of term papers or other academic materials. Information gathered from the Internet and not properly identified is also considered plagiarism. We expect every student to produce his/her original, independent work. Any student whose work indicates a violation of the MCCCD Academic Misconduct Policy (including cheating and plagiarism) can expect sanctions as specified in the college catalog (2.3.11), or online at the following site:
Plagiarism, cheating, or other forms of academic dishonesty on any assignment will result in failure (a grade of zero) for that assignment. You are required to submit all writing assignments to Turnitin.com. Failure to do so will result in a grade of zero.
- Turning in Assignments: Unless specified otherwise, all assignments are due at the beginning of class on the due date.If it is turned in later in the hour, it is late and will earn half credit. If an assignment is one day late, it will earn half credit; after one day late, the assignment cannot be turned in. If you miss a quiz, it must be made up the next class period. If you have an UNEXCUSED absence, you cannot make up the work. Remember that this is a college class. If you are on campus for even 1 hour the day a major assignment is, you must turn it in, or it will be late. If you are not going to be here on the day a major assignment is due, please email me with your explanation for the absence and attach the assignment to the email, or you can have someone else turn it in for you. As well, I do not accept emailed assignments without prior approval (usually only granted to students who will not be in class that day due to an excused absence). If you do email me an assignment due to extenuating circumstances, it must be in an attachment, not in the body of an email. It must be in a file compatible with Microsoft Word. Lastly, if any part of the writing process is not submitted with the final, there will be a 10% reduction of the essay grade.
- Printing Requirements: It is your responsibility to print your assignments. I will not print them for you or write you a pass to go the library. We do have a working computer lab in the library (that is offered to students before school, at lunch, or after school), and there are always public libraries imbedded within this community that provide such services. Please note that there will be a .05 charge per page in our library for printing.
- Attendance: Daily attendance is essential to the successful student. The Mesa Public Schools attendance policies and procedures will apply. Students will be dropped fromMCC's roll at 10 unexcused absences. After three tardies, a lunch detention will result. Again, this is a college class; I expect punctuality.It is the student's responsibility to find out and make up missed work.
Grading Information and Scale
The majority of your grade willcomefrom essays thatyou produce.Inanessay, you candemonstrateyourunderstandingof concepts. Writing willbeassessed ona rubric thatcorrespondsto thetask.
Gradeswill be calculated on the following scale for the entire semester:
►Skill Practice -25%
►Skill Process – 20%
►Skill Assessment – 45%
►Final Exam – 10%
Grading Scale
A90-100
B80-89
C70-79
D63-69
F59 or below
In-class and self-motivation are required to properly prepare for the requirements of this course. A lack of preparation directly affects class success.
To earn college credit, students enrolled withMCC must fulfill all admission requirements and earn a C or higher. This is a regular, unweighted grade for Mesa Public Schools.
The first quarter gradewillcarry overtothe second quarter, and thecombination of the twoquarters,alongwith the final,will determine thefinal semestergrade.Gradeswillnot “startover” at the secondquarter.
MPS/MCC Policies
The district and college policies can be found in the MPS Student Handbook and the MCC Student handbook. These policies include, but are not limited to: disciplinary standards, civility policies, and withdrawal procedures. It is your responsibility to understand the policies detailed in the catalogue and handbook.
Extra Credit Policy: Extra Credit is not available for this class. It is the belief ofMCC that all work done for a class should receive regular credit and is more than sufficient to assess the understanding of material presented in the course.
Refund Policy: Refunds are not automatic. Students who drop courses within the refund period are eligible for a reimbursement of appropriate tuition and fees. Please see the refund policy online for deadlines and details.
Disability Statement: MCC as well as Mountain View High School will make reasonable accommodations for persons with documented disabilities. Students with disabilities must have an equally effective and equivalent educational opportunity as those students without disabilities. Students experiencing difficulty accessing course materials because of a disability are expected to contact the course instructor so that a solution can be found that provides all students equal access to course materials and technology.
Information for Students with Disabilities: If you have a documented disability, including a learning disability, and would like to discuss possible accommodations, please contact the MCC Disabilities Resources and Services Office at 480-461-7447 or .
Civility Policy: The faculty ofMCC places a high value on the importance of general ethical standards of academic behavior and expects that communication between students and instructors or among students shall maintain the level of formality and mutual respect appropriate to any college teaching/learning situation. Language or behavior that is rude, abusive, profane, disruptive, or threatening will not be tolerated. Activity of this type is Academic Misconduct as defined in MCCCD Policy AR 2.3.11. Students engaging in such behavior will be removed from the course with a failing grade. Additional sanctions may be applied pursuant to AR 2.3.11.
Technological Devices
During class, you should use electronic devices only to further your work in the class with permission. Students who use electronic devices for other purposes will have their devices confiscated.
Schedule
Student Responsibility for Syllabus
As a registered student in this class you are responsible to know and understand the syllabus. I am willing to answer any questions you may have concerning the syllabus. It is recommended that you keep this syllabus in the front of your notebook for this class to have easy reference. In order to be successful in this class,it is required that you read and understand the syllabus and class schedule of assignments. It is also required that you successfully complete all of the formal writing assignments in order to pass the class. If you have questions or are unclear about any of the information here or at any point in the course, you are responsible for seeking out answers. As a Mesa Community College member, you are automatically responsible for knowing and understanding college policies, the policies of this class, and adhering to the MCC Code of Conduct at all times. If you require assistance obtaining this information in another form, please contact Disability Services (see above).
Please be advised that the information included in the syllabus may/will be subject to change, and students will be notified by the instructor of any changes in the course schedule, requirements, or policies.
Photocopy/Backup Assignments
It is important to keep a copy of all assignments that are submitted. This is for your protection. If any work is lost, you can submit a copy for grading. Keep all graded assignments until the end of the semester. Do not turn in your only copy of brainstorming and outlining homework assignments.
MLA Formatted Heading
Your NameLast Name 1
Mrs. Best
Course/Hour
Due Date
Title
All writing assignments will follow this format. They should be in 12 pt. font (Arial or Times New Roman). Assignments should be double spaced with 1 inch margins. All printing should be completed prior to arrival to class. No assignments will be printed from my computer, and no passes will be given to the library.
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Please sign this sheet, detach from the course description, and return it to Mrs. Best to signify that you have read and understand the course policies and procedures.
Student Name (Print):
______
Student Signature:
______Date: ______
Parent/Guardian Name (Print):
______
Parent/Guardian Signature:
______
Parent/Guardian e-mail address:
______
Parent/Guardian telephone contact number:
______