English 1A L20/L21: Composition and Reading

English 1A L20/L21: Composition and Reading

Hybrid Course

Fall 2017

“There are only two options: Make progress or make excuses.” –Tony Robbins

Instructor: Libra Howard

Email:

Work Phone: (559) 925-3622

Class Hours:

Mondays: 10:00am-10:50am Room 276

Wednesdays: Assignments due online by 10:50am

Fridays: 10:00am-10:50am Room 276

Office Hours:

Mondays: 12:00pm-1:00pm in Room 234

Tuesdays: 11:00am-12:00pm in Library Office 429

Wednesdays: 9:00am-10:00am in ACE (Library Room 459)

Thursdays: 11:00am-12:00pm in Library Office 429

Fridays: 12:00pm-1:00pm in Room 234

Requirements:

●REQUIRED TEXTBOOK: The book is an Open Educational Resource (OER), and it’s free. Please click on the above link and download it. We will be using it in class, and you will also be using it for various out-of-class assignments.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of this 1A course, a successful student will be able to:

1. Construct a typed, minimum 2000-word essay that has a clear and appropriate beginning, development, and conclusion. Paragraphing and transitions will also be clear and appropriate.
2. Create a typed, minimum 2000-word essay that thoughtfully and accurately covers the assigned topic in which assertions are supported by evidence.
3. Design a typed, minimum 2000-word essay that has no major errors in word selection and use, sentence structure, spelling, punctuation, and/or capitalization.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of proper MLA Format in a typed, minimum 2000-word essay.

Course Objectives:

This course is designed to help students improve their writing, reading, and research abilities. The course involves the writing process—everything from generating ideas to revising them again and again—and requires an incredible amount of thought, time, and interest. While writing is crucial to this course, reading is just as important. Students will utilize both writing and reading to critically analyze personal writing as well as the work of others. Through all of these elements—reading, writing, analyzing, and researching—students will increase their vocabularies, develop personal writing styles, and further understand the power of communication needed for transfer-level English.

Upon completion of the course the student will be able to meet the following objectives:

1.read, analyze, and evaluate a variety of primarily non-fiction texts for content, context, and rhetorical merit with consideration of tone, audience, and purpose.

2.apply a variety of rhetorical strategies in writing unified, well-organized essays with arguable theses and persuasive support.

3.develop varied and flexible strategies for generating, drafting, and revising essays.

4.analyze stylistic choices in their own writing and the writing of others.

5.write timed essays in class exhibiting acceptable college-level control of mechanics, organization, development, and coherence.

6.integrate the ideas of others through paraphrasing, summarizing, and quoting without plagiarism.

7.find, evaluate, analyze, and interpret primary and secondary sources, incorporating them into written essays using appropriate documentation format.

8.proofread and edit essays for presentation so they exhibit no disruptive errors in English grammar, usage, or punctuation.

Additional Responsibilities/Requirements:

Follow-through. This is essential to your success.

Since you’re enrolled in a hybrid course, please be aware of compatibility issues, technical components, and computer responsibilities. It is your responsibility to make sure your system meets minimum standards and compatibility requirements.

Use your West Hills’ email account for all work/correspondence. Please be sure your sent items are being stored. That way, if you need to re-send something, you have record of the original time/date. In each of the emails you send, please have a clear and logical subject line with the class name and section number. This is important to our communication.

Be aware of your face-to-face interactions, emails, postings, and other communication you might have in this class. It’s really easy to be misunderstood. Think about your tone and others’ perceptions. As you do so, demonstrate mutual respect. Any disturbances, inappropriate criticisms, or unsuitable use of communication will not be tolerated. You will be asked to withdraw from the class if any of these occur.

All file attachments are required to be sent in RTF, DOC, or DOCX. I cannot open other files, and your work will not receive credit for your work if I cannot access it.

Keep copies of all work that you turn in.

If you need technological assistance, you can contact the Help-Desk. It’s not my responsibility to attempt to explain any technological issues/solutions to you.

No cell phone use (unless an emergency). Please step outside to communicate if necessary.

No texting or internet use for non-classroom related information during face-to-face class.

Ask me questions. Questions are essential to understanding. If you still don’t understand after you ask a question, ask another one.

Be positive and challenge yourself. Accomplish more than you expect.

Assignments: Reading assignments will include selections from Writing Spaces, your free, online textbook and other supplemental materials provided to you. Course work includes in-class and out-of-class essay writing, quizzes, analysis of various readings, group communication, library work, reading exercises, and other various assignments connected to learning. Students will develop the skills necessary to differentiate the various writing modes and support strategies while further developing and exploring communication.

Timed essays will be completed online through CANVAS, but any revisions or out-of-class essays must betyped and turned in via the face-to-face deadlines. You’re also required to turn in rough drafts and workshops with each final paper (unless otherwise stated). I will not grade any essays without all requirements (including length). You will receive 0 points if you fail to follow the guidelines. I am happy to provide feedback, as many times as you request, for each process writing.

It is important that you view your progress from the beginning to the end of your writing process. The papers need to be complete and thorough in their revision. Besides the writing and reading, there may also be grammar exercises, quizzes, responses/postings, in-class group assignments, and homework.

You will have homework that’s due in class on face-to-face class days. You will also have assignments due on Wednesdays via CANVAS. Those are available to you after Monday’s class, and they’re due by Wednesday’s deadline. We’ll discuss specifics in class. You need to remain organized. Keep track of everything that’s expected of you. Any time you have questions, or want feedback, please communicate. Without communication, there will be a lack of evolution.

Attendance/Late Work:I do not accept late assignments due to job obligations, sports, or other responsibilities outside of class. Stay focused and aware of in-class and online turn-in obligations. You can always turn your assignments in early. However, I do not give credit for late work. If you have a documented emergency, communicate with me, and we will assess the situation.

I expect to hear from you if you won’t be in class. It’s your responsibility to notify me through email, phone, or face to face. Since it’s not possible to make-up any work, get it in advance if possible. Please understand that it still needs to be turned in by the assigned date/time. This is true for athletes as well. Turn your assignments in PRIOR to the class you cannot attend in order to be eligible for credit.

After missing six classes, you may be dropped from the course. This includes logging-in and completing your online CANVAS work by the Wednesday deadlines. If you neglect to do so, you will be considered absent. You will be expected to sign in at the beginning of each face-to-face class. You may be considered absent if you’re more than five minutes late. Students are responsible for dropping courses they no longer wish to be enrolled in, so don’t assume any instructor will drop you if you simply stop attending class.

Final Exam: You will not be able to take your Final Exam on a date other than what has been assigned by West Hills College. I cannot make special arrangements for early end dates. Your Final Exam is online. It will be emailed on Monday, December 11 at 7am. The Final Exam will be due online by the traditional Wednesday, December 13 deadline.

Grading:

●Personal IntroductionLetter 50 points

●Timed Essay #1(online) 100

●Character Essay100

●Timed Essay #2(online) 100

●Comparison/Contrast Essay 100

●Works Cited/Research Practice 50

●Research Paper (Argument)200

●Midterm 50

●Final Exam 100

●Face-to-face homework collections 100

●Online assignments 200

1150 points total

Please note: There will be one extra credit assignment at the end of the semester. Criteria, specifics, and requirements will be provided.

Grade Scale:

90-100% A

80-89%B

70-79% C

60-69%D

59% and lowerF

Your grade will be determined, at the end of the semester, by adding up how many points you could have earned and determining what percentage of those you did earn. You can view your grades in the online grade book for our class. In addition, I’m happy to discuss your grade with you at any time during the semester. It’s up to you to ask.

Computer and Network Use Policy Link:

Academic Honesty Policy Link:Anyone caught passing off someone else’s work, words, or ideas as his or her own can be failed. Additionally, students working together on assignments, quizzes, or examinations when they are expected to work independently (whether face-to-face or online) are violating academic honesty policies. (The Academic Honesty policy is on the myWestHills login page.)

Academic Accommodation: If you have a verified need for an academic accommodation or materials in alternate media (i.e.: Braille, large print, electronic text, etc.) per the Americans with Disabilities Act or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, please give me your accommodation requirements as soon as possible. If you believe you are entitled to accommodations, please contact Maria Gonzalez at 559-925-3244 or at

Confidential Counseling: If you need help managing depression, stress, relationships, or any other life skill issue, you are entitled to free confidential counseling through our DRAW (depression reduction achieving wellness) program. For a referral, you can contact your academic counselor or advisor or Seng Leang (DRAW counselor). 559-380-6690 or at

Title IX: WHC Lemoore is committed to eliminating all forms of unlawful discrimination and sexual harassment. If you feel that your Title IX rights are or have been violated by anyone on campus, please contact Sylvia Dorsey-Robinson at 559-925-3331 or at For more information on Title IX, visit

Remember that West Hills College provides tutoring in the library via ACE, and online,for many subjects, including English. If you want/need extra assistance, or you’re having challenges in your courses, let me know. I can provide you with further explanations of the above. There are options.

If you need any additional explanations, insights, or feedback throughout the semester, please don’t hesitate to ask. Autonomy is important, so you need to take the lead on using your voice. Work hard on behalf of you. Follow-through of behalf of you. Exude effort on behalf of you. You can do anything. On behalf of you, succeed in our course.

“We do not learn from experience. We learn from reflecting on experience.” –John Dewey

This work by Libra Howard is licensed Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International.