Syllabus, ENG 111, Fall 2012

Computer-Mediated College Composition I

Rick Dollieslager, Asst. Professor of English

Office: Templin Hall 874 Phone: 825-3543

e-mail: dollier@tncc.edu

Office Hours for Fall

• Monday-Wednesday 10 a.m-12 noon in my offfice, room 874
  • 12:30-2:00 in the classroom, 916. This is a GREAT time to meet.
• Tuesday 12:30-2:30
• Online availability: I am online all day long at school, so contact me via email
• On-line Office hours: I will do them, if you will show up, so let's discuss it and plan when or if.
• Also by arrangement. Stop past my office during my office hours or call during my office hours to schedule an appointment, or send me an email using your college email address (otherwise it is likely to be diverted to my junk mail folder and die there). You may leave a phone message only if you leave your cell phone number.

Materials

• A pocket folder to keep handouts and assignments
• A flash drive/jump drive to store documents

Books

We will use the Internet and various free publications for our readings and models. You need not buy a book unless you want hard copy of the handbook.
Optional paper handbook: Norton Field Guide to Writing

*Note: We will use Microsoft Word as our word processing system, and we will use other components of the Microsoft Office Suite as needed. You need not purchase these since they will be available on campus, but you MUST know how to use the system.

Catalog Description

Introduces students to critical thinking and the fundamentals of academic writing. Through the writing process, students refine topics; develop and support ideas; investigate, evaluate, and incorporate appropriate resources; edit for effective style and usage; and determine appropriate approaches for a variety of contexts, audiences, and purposes. Writing activities will include exposition and argumentation with at least one researched essay.

Prerequisites: Satisfactory scores on the placement exam or satisfactory completion of prerequisite writing course.

Objectives

Upon successful completion of the course, you should have a better understanding of your own writing process and should be able to apply the strategies of exposition and persuasion/argumentation appropriately in writing situations. You should be familiar with the basic form of the academic essay and other forms of written electronic and print communication, you should have an increased awareness of tailoring writing to the needs of the audience, you should have an understanding of how to use various print and electronic resources both for research and for publication of your own work, you should be able to analyze academic and professional readings to determine the main points and methods of development, and you should be able to edit your own writing to satisfactorily conform to the accepted practices of standard (American) English prose.

Instructional Methods

The course will be conducted in workshop fashion, requiring individual work at the computers, small group discussion and exercises, peer evaluation, and group or student/instructor conferences. There will be a few sessions which are predominantly lecture and discussion, but there will be a good deal of in-class writing and a number of Internet-based projects, so you should expect to and be prepared to work in class at every scheduled meeting.

For each college course that you enroll in, you should expect to spend two to three hours outside of class for every hour of seat time, in order to study and to complete your assignments. English 111 is no different. We will meet for approximately six hours per week, which means that you should plan to devote twelve to eighteen hours per week outside of class to complete the work. This class will require you to do on-line research of sample essays and reviews, and of resources for ascertaining entertainment events and venues in this area of Virginia.

Grading and Assignments

First, keep electronic and paper copy of all handouts and assignments that you receive or do this semester. That way, if there is any question of policy or of accuracy in recording a grade, you have copies of everything of importance. In order to receive full credit, all work will be submitted on time (by the posted or stated deadline). The grade for any late work, if accepted at all, will be substantially reduced.

We will use the Internet for some of our readings and research/analysis projects. All of the graded assignments will be worked on the computer and the papers will be submitted first as hard copy, then revised and edited to include in your web folio. You will publish your class papers on the Internet by developing an electronic portfolio as one of the major projects for the semester. We will use a Google webpage builder application that is new to me, so we will all learn to use it together. Likewise, off-campus access to the Internet will be convenient but not mandatory, as you will have access through the Academic Computing Lab in Wythe Hall.

Classroom Deportment section--agreed to by acclimation on -----

• Mr. D's Rule: Turn your cell phone to vibrate or off, and do not take or make unauthorized calls or texts during class. Consequences for violations are described below. The only authorized calls or texts will be when directed by the professor to contact an absent class colleague to ascertain why he or she is absent. Other uses are subject to consequences.
• Show up on time
• Come to classs prepared

• Turn off your cell phone
• Have all your materials in class all the time
• Turn in homework at the start of class
• Be polite
• Develop and practice our professional/academic vocabulary
• Help each other to speak professionally by constructively suggesting “proper” grammar
• Do not disrupt your colleagues
• “Simmah down now!”
• Be respectful of colleagues, professor, self
• Participate
• Listen actively
• Make eye contact with whomever is talking
• Raise your hand
• Be involved in your own learning
• Ask questions
• Pay attention
• Stay on task
• Take legible and clear notes
• Be organized: Always have everything you need for every class
  • Save work to jump drives
  • Email work to myself as an attachment
  • Make hard copy
  • Save to my Google account
• Get all the pertinent information before leaving class
• Practice professionalism
• Dress for success
• Work, think, produce!!!
  
  

Expectations of students in order to foster success

• Turn work in on time
• Eat well
• Get adequate rest
• Have good health habits
• Do your work first
• Make a to-do list, prioritize your activities
• Get homework done on time
• Keep a routine and a schedule
• Get needed supplies
• Use time wisely: develop a schedule
• Set short-term and long-term goals and achieve them
• Develop supportive relationships
• Network with colleagues: We support each other!
• Stay positive! Motivate yourself with your own end goals.
• Study 2-3 hours for each hour of “seat time” per week
• Complete assignments by due dates
• While doing homework, make note cards/take good notes from resources
• Bring all your materials to class all the time
• Take legible and clear notes
• Turn in homework at the start of class
• Go to the library for study and research as needed
• Check email and class web pages
• Get extra help when needed:
  • Go to the Writing Center, room 258 in the library bldg.
  • Put together a study group
  • Go to the ACL
  • Stay in touch with your professor (dollier@tncc.edu)
  • Consult with colleagues

Expectations of Instructor in order to foster individual success

• Mr. D’s responsibility:  Maintain a brain-friendly, learning-centered classroom environment in which all who are present benefit.

  • Respect students
  • Be compassionate: meet us at our level and bring us up; consider life circumstances
  • Be patient
  • Make sure web page is accurate and up to date
  • Provide relevant handouts, etc.
  • Go over homework before leaving class
  • Push us to succeed: stick to policies and deadlines
  • Explain assignments carefully
  • Answer questions patiently when we don’t understand something
  • Return work in a timely fashion
  • Keep us advised of how we are doing in class
  • Show up on time
  • Keep posted office hours
  • Return phone calls and emails
  • Bring us snacks (occasionally)
  • Play music while we are working (unless it bothers colleagues)
  • Have a party at the end of the semester

Absences: Communications Division policy stipulates that I must fill out a drop form for any student who has missed over 20% of the scheduled classes. I can't help you to achieve your goals if you aren't in class to work toward them. Anyone who misses more than six classes will be dropped. I have found that anyone can succeed who tries hard enough.

Plagiarism: In accordance with provisions published in the TNCC Student Handbook, disciplinary action will result if plagiarized work is turned in. The TNCC Student Handbook describes plagiarism thus: "To steal and pass off as one's own the ideas or words of another; to use without crediting the source; to present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source; to commit literary theft." Whether intentional or inadvertent, plagiarism is a serious academic offense, and the consequences for intentional plagiarism are severe, as stipulated in the TNCC Student Handbook: "The action may involve a grade reduction for the work in question, the assignment of a failing grade for the course, and /or a recommendation for possible dismissal from the College." (p. 68)

Repeat Policy: Enrollment in a course is limited to two times. If a student needs to enroll for a third and final time, he or she must submit a written petition to the Vice President of Academic Affairs (or her designee) for approval.

ADA Compliance: If you have any diagnosed physical or learning disabilities please see Professor Richard Hurst in the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities (Hastings Hall, room 323) to register for support services or accommodations covered under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA).

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