Syllabus, ENF 1, Fall 2020

Rick Dollieslager, Asst. Professor of English

I. Materials

• ENF Fall 2020 class resource page
• Little Seagull Handbook & InQuizitive registration site: https://digital.wwnorton.com/littleseagull3 You will need an access code from the bookstore (cost is $20), or you will need to purchase the products with a credit card for less: $15.
• Access to Google Drive storage for all of your course documents, through your MyTNCC login.
• Remind App: Send a text to 81010, text this class code message: @enf1fa

II. e-Books & Software

We will use "OER's"--i.e., Open Educational Resources--in this class, which is to say free, available material on the Internet, so you will not need to purchase a textbook for this course. Microsoft Word is our primary word processing system. You need not purchase Word since it is available on campus, and you get a free download of the Microsoft Office products (including Word) provided to you by the college. We will also use Google documents and various Google applications, which are also provided without additional charge to all TNCC students through your MyTNCC login.

III. Catalog Description and VCCS Student Learning Outcomes for ENF

The cornerstones of classroom deportment and academic and professional success: The three R's--Respect, Responsibility, Resourcefulness. These are qualities that are expected of professionals. The responsibility of college educators is to educate the whole person, develop critical thinkers and good citizens, and prepare people for their professional lives. As such, you and I will conduct ourselves professionally by showing respect to others, and thereby gaining the respect of others; we will take personal responsibility for the work we are to do and for the outcomes we attain; and we will be resourceful in order to achieve the results and successes that we wish to enjoy. In short, your success depends on what you do, not on what others do, or do "to you."

Read the objectives and learning outcomes of English Fundamentals at the link above. The intent of ENF is to help students develop and improve their reading, writing, study and critical thinking abilities for success in college-level courses.

IV. Instructional Methods and Attendance

Read: "Did I Miss Anything?" a poem by Canadian professor and poet, Tom Wayman, and his explication of it. Ours is a "synchronous" on-line class, meaning that twice a week we will meet together on Zoom for regular class meetings.

The course will be conducted in workshop fashion, requiring individual work at the computers, small group discussion and exercises during class or outside of class times, 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 lot of of in-class activities and projects, so you should expect to and be prepared to work in class at every scheduled meeting.

Homework/class preparation: ENF 1 is an 8-credit course, and students assigned to take ENF 1 meet four days a week, Monday-Thursday starting at 9:30. Our regular class meetings will take place on Tues. and Thurs., and our "office hour" meeting times will be 9:30-10 on Mon. and Weds.

• This class will require you to do on-line research. This course will not require a printed reader or textbook.

Absences: English Department policy stipulates that I should fill out a drop form for any student who has missed 20% of the scheduled classes or who does not attend the first three classes. I can't help you to achieve your goals if you aren't in class to work toward them. Attendance means one is present for the entire class. Anyone who misses six twice-a-week classes will be dropped. There are no exceptions and no excuses will be accepted. I have found that anyone can succeed who tries hard enough. If you must miss class, it is your responsibility to contact your instructor, your classmates and to check Canvas and college email for your assignments. Missed in-class quizzes and other in-class assignments may NOT be made up.

Tardiness: If life intervenes, and you are going to be late, contact me via Remind.com. Excessive tardies will be recorded as absences, with two tardies equaling one absence.

Grading: Students must accrue better than 75% on all work for the semester in order for their writing portfolios to be submitted to the evaluation committee. Your placement next semester will depend on the recommendation of the evaluation committee, based on (1) your attendance and tardiness records, (2) the timely submission of all required work, (3) the quality of the work in your writing portfolio and (4) reading comprehension testing. You will earn credit for completing assignments on time and for the quality of the projects you complete, and that credit will be recorded in Canvas Gradbook so that you can be aware of your progress at all times during the semester. The points you total must surpass 75% for your final portfolio to be submitted for evaluation. No more than two projects will be accepted after due date, and no late project will be accepted more than one week later than the original due date.

Keep electronic copy of all handouts and assignments that you receive or do this semester. That way, you have copies of everything of importance. All final drafts of paragraphs, journals, discussion posts, and essay assignments will be typed. In order to receive timely feedback for revision, all work will be submitted on time. If papers miss deadline for final drafts, they will not be included in the semester portfolio, which means the student cannot pass the class.

You are required to have ALL of your work with you at all times that the class meets. This is easily accomplished by using your two paper folders for handouts and printouts, and by storing all of your drafts and projects "in the cloud" through use of Google Drive (available to you in your MyTNCC login).

Progress toward completion. As stipulated in paragraph 1 of this section (Grading), "Students must accrue better than 75% on all work for the semester in order for their writing portfolios to be submitted to the evaluation committee." If, prior to the final withdrawal date in Week Ten, it will be impossible for a student to reach the required score percentage by the end of the semester, I will recommend self-withdrawal or I may initiate withdrawal at that time. It is better to withdraw than to receive a failing grade.

VI. Other Course Policies

Respect: We will discuss a variety of topics in class. It is mandatory that we treat each and every person’s prerogative to express their thoughts and ideas with respect. You don’t have to agree with each other, but you do have to listen and respond respectfully to one another. Opinions themselves are not always worthy of respect; however, in our society a person's right to express them is protected. That protection extends to the classroom. Disrespectful comments will not be tolerated and are grounds for being removed from the class. Because this course is about communicating professionally, gratuitous foul language is not acceptable and the consequences for use of foul language for gratuitous reasons will be addressed as is stipulated in the Student Handbook and Code of Conduct. Because foul language is, nevertheless, a part of our wider culture in this country, study of the nature of the use of foul language as it is sometimes used in context is both non-gratuitous and is germane to the content of a course in rhetoric and public discourse.

VII. Instructor Responsibilities

It is my responsibility to guide and support each student’s learning in this course. This means that I do my best to provide clear instructions for all assignments, to identify additional resources as necessary, and to provide rubrics and other criteria for evaluation of assignments. I am here to help you, so do not hesitate to ask me questions.

It is my responsibility as your instructor to:

• Support your learning in this course
• Fairly assess your progress in this course
• Return assignments to you in a timely manner
• Communicate with you in a professional and respectful manner
• Provide clear instructions for all assignments
• Answer questions about the assignments and identify additional resources as necessary
• Provide rubrics and other criteria for the evaluation of assignments and projects
• Maintain an environment which is conducive to learning for all students, in accordance with the policies and stipulations in the Student Handbook and Code of Conduct.

---------------------------------------------------------------

VIII. Rules for Success

• “A” is for Achievement.
  • “A” is for Attitude.  “A's" come from your attitude.
  • Visualize yourself doing well in every situation.
  • Believe you can achieve. Attitude and work equal 100% of success.
• Network.
  • Surround yourself with positive people who support your success:  supportive family members, class colleagues, faculty members, advisors.
  • Connect to the college: participate in activities, meet new people, want to be here.
• Collaborate, cooperate, and participate.
  • No one gets through college alone.
  • Learning only results from stimulation; if you are bored, you are not learning.
  • Devise ways to learn from each other and to stay engaged with the learning material during class.
• Stay focused on the long run. Don’t let personal setbacks or downturns in personal or family relationships affect your studies.
• Create the results you wish to experience. Your happiness and your success depend on you, not on other people or outside forces.
• Persevere.
  • Faced with difficulty, don’t give up.
  • Understand that success results from hard work, not luck or circumstances.
  • You can pull your grade up from a D to a C, or from a C to a B, but you can’t “work up to” an A.  
  • An A for the semester requires consistently superior work turned in on time. There are no short cuts to a superior grade.
• Aim high.
  • You’ll never earn an A by accident.
  • You’ll never earn an A if you’re shooting for a C.
  • Don’t hold vague hopes for good outcomes; rather set specific goals.
  • The more concrete your goals, the more likely you are to achieve them.

IX. Success Habits and Behaviors

• Plan ahead. If you earn a bad grade, understand why, and make a plan for “the next time.”
• Don’t procrastinate. Do assignments first then the other things. Reward yourself in some way for each task you accomplish.
• Prioritize. The most important tasks come first. Make “to do” lists and schedule tasks in a daily planner and weekly calendar.
• Manage time; don’t let time manage you.
  • Make a regular daily study schedule and stick to it.
  • Identify, in your weekly schedule, at least six hours of available study time for each class.
• Stay focused. Important things happen in class.
  • Stay engaged with the material.
  • Put away cell phones and other electronic devices which aren’t being used for class purposes.
  • Distractions destroy grades.
• Take notes during class!!
  • You will stay engaged, prevent boredom, know important material, and avoid distractions.
  • You will NOT remember information which you do not record, and ears are not recording devices.
• Show up for class. There are no excused absences. You are either in class or you are not.
• Show up on time. Don’t miss important instruction.
• Submit work on time. Your professors have no obligation whatsoever to accept late work.
• Use your tools. Embrace communication technology and use assistive technology apps.
• Read! Don’t skim.
  • That’s high school stuff—just looking for answers rather than absorbing useful knowledge.
  • Google has all the answers, but the world needs knowledge, wisdom, critical thinking.
• Think! Professionals have knowledge and know how to connect it to create worthwhile outcomes
• Communicate! My job is to help you be successful, not to weed you out of college, so be proactive in seeking help and support.
• Talk to me!
  • See me during office hours; that is why we schedule them.
  • Talk to me during class.
  • Ask questions about things you don’t understand during class.
  • Pay attention to me so that I know when to pay attention to you.
  • Email me.
  • Text me through Remind.

I care about the future of my country. You ARE the future of this country. Meet me half way: CARE, WORK, SHOW UP, SUCCEED!

------------------------------------------------------------