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ENGLISH COMPOSITION I (Spring 2013)

COURSE DESCRIPTION
English Composition I allows the student to study and apply rhetorical principles of writing in developing effective sentences, paragraphs, and essays, with particular emphasis on analyzing and writing expository prose. Students’ essays will be based upon their readings of a variety of texts on various topics. The course includes the use of various computer applications, including word-processing and the Internet. Prerequisites: Successful completion of IVCC’s English placement exam; official, submitted ACT English subscore of 22 or higher; or passing grade in ENG 0900. In addition, Accuplacer reading exam score of 68 or higher; official, submitted ACT reading subscore of 23 or higher; or successful completion of RED 0900.

EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. Read a variety of texts with understanding and appreciation.
2. Understand invention as a part of the writing process.
3. Organize and develop ideas effectively and logically in essays.
4. Develop effective, logical, and well-supported arguments.
5. Understand and use a variety of rhetorical methods for developing ideas.
6. Maintain a consistent and appropriate viewpoint, tone, and voice.
7. Strengthen essays through the revision process.
8. Write essays free of common stylistic weaknesses.
9. Write essays free of excessive errors.
10. Use word-processing software and the Internet to assist in the writing process.
11. Understand documentation and plagiarism.

REQUIRED TEXTS AND MATERIALS
Barnet, Sylvan, Pat Bellanca, and Marcia Stubbs. A Short Guide to College Writing. 5th ed. Boston:
        Pearson, 2013. Print.
Stylebook. Illinois Valley Community College, n.d. Web. (Available at www.ivcc.edu/stylebook or at the IVCC
        bookstore.)

GRADED ESSAYS (800 POINTS)
You will be required to write four essays this semester: three out-of-class essays and one in-class essay.

      Essay 1--200 points: Introductory Analysis Essay (3-4 pages) 
      Essay 2--200 points: Advertisement Analysis Essay (3-4 pages) 
      Essay 3--300 points: Literary Analysis Essay (3-4 pages) 
      Essay 4--100 points: In-class Analysis Essay (2-3 pages)

You will have an opportunity to rewrite Essays 1-3. The due dates for the rewrites will be announced in class. The Essay 1 rewrite grade will replace the original grade. The Essay 2 and Essay 3 rewrite grades will be averaged with the original grades. NOTE: Before I will grade a rewrite, you must submit the original graded essay and grade sheet.

You may turn in print versions of Essays 1-3 and their rewrites in class. However, you also are required to submit them through Blackboard. These essays and rewrites are due at the beginning of class on the scheduled due dates. If an essay or rewrite is late, it will be penalized 5% for each 24 hours, starting at the beginning of class on the scheduled due date. Late penalties on Essays 1-3 also will be applied to rewrites of those essays. NOTE: Essays submitted through Blackboard that cannot be opened because of technical problems will be considered late.  Essay 4 must be hand-written in class on the scheduled due date. You will not have an opportunity to resubmit Essay 4.

Your essays will be graded according to the standards outlined in the Stylebook and based on the following scale: 

You must turn in final drafts of all four essays to pass this course (though doing so does not guarantee a passing grade). In addition, in the case of consistently below-average writing (D or F level), I do reserve the right to base your course grade solely upon the quality of your graded essays. 

ROUGH DRAFTS (75 POINTS)
Because we will be emphasizing the whole writing process, including invention and rewriting, you will be required to write a rough draft for Essays 1-3 (25 points each). A rough draft must be typed and at least two full pages. You will earn the points for each rough draft if it is complete and submitted by the beginning of class on the due date. Late or incomplete rough drafts will earn partial or no points. I will check these drafts in class, and you will use your ideas and those of your classmates to improve your essays before turning them in to be graded. You’re also welcome to talk to me about your rough drafts before or after class or in my office.

QUIZZES AND EXERCISES (50 POINTS)
Quizzes may be announced or unannounced. Missed quizzes may not be made up. Exercises may include discussion questions, grammar exercises, and other short assignments. Out-of-class exercises will be due at the beginning of class on their due dates. Incomplete or late exercises will not receive credit. An in-class exercises may be completed for credit only during the class when it is assigned.

FINAL EXAM (100 POINTS)
The final exam will be a cumulative, objective exam. Students with only one absence or no absences throughout the semester will not be required to take the final exam.

MAKE-UP POLICY
You may earn back up to 30 missed points. To do so, you must attend an IVCC cultural event and, within two weeks of the event, provide evidence of your attendance and turn in a typed, one-page summary/critique of the event . Each summary/critique must be written carefully and thoughtfully and is worth 5 points. The last day to turn in a summary/critique is the last class meeting before the final exam.

ATTENDANCE POLICY
Regular attendance is important to passing this course. When you are absent, you are still responsible for what is covered in class during your absence and for all assignments, regardless of why you are absent. Though I do not penalize you directly for missing class, being absent more than a few times will almost certainly affect your grade because of the material you will miss.

PARTICIPATION AND CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS
In addition to completing the course requirements discussed above, you are expected to participate regularly in all course activities, including the following:

• Reading a variety of college-level texts
• Reading and responding to one another’s writing
• Contributing to class and group discussions
• Collaborating with other students at all stages of the writing process

To give everyone an equal opportunity to learn, it’s vital that your participation and actions in class contribute to an effective learning environment. Because the following activities detract from such an environment, they will not be tolerated during class:

• Arriving to class late, leaving and coming back during class, or leaving class early  
• Checking Facebook or e-mail, playing online games, or visiting any non-course websites
• Using the printer during class presentation or discussion
• Texting, allowing your phone to ring, or using your phone or other electronic device
• Studying for other courses
• Participating in conversation unrelated to class

Your course participation not only affects your learning, but that of other students, as well. In addition, your participation may affect your overall grade in the course if your grade is borderline at the end of the semester. At all times in class, your participation and actions should demonstrate respect for the class, your classmates, and the instructor.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Some of the work you complete this semester will include borrowing and documenting information from other texts, or sources. We will spend adequate time as a class discussing using and documenting sources. Proper documentation, that is, giving full credit to the original source, is an absolute requirement. Failure to do so is plagiarism, which can destroy your credibility as a writer and is grounds for failing an assignment or this course. See the Stylebook for more information on plagiarism and the current IVCC catalog and Student Handbook for the college’s academic integrity policy. Please feel free to discuss with me any concerns you have about these issues.

WITHDRAWAL POLICY
You may withdraw from this course through April 11. Students have the ability to initiate a withdrawal from classes. By completing the form in the Records Office or through the form located within WebAdvisor, the student is authorizing IVCC to remove him/her from the course. Entering the student ID number serves as the student’s electronic signature. IVCC has the right to rescind a withdrawal in cases of academic dishonesty or at the instructor’s discretion. Students should be aware of the impact of a withdrawal on full-time status for insurance purposes and for financial aid. It is highly recommended that students meet with their instructor or with a counselor before withdrawing from a class to discuss if a withdrawal is the best course of action for that particular student. 

DISABILITIES AND ACCOMMODATIONS
If you are a student with a documented cognitive, physical or psychiatric disability (anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, AD/HD, post-traumatic stress, and others) you may be eligible for academic support services such as extended test time, texts on disc, note taking services, etc. If you are interested in learning if you can receive these academic support services, please contact either Tina Hardy (tina_hardy@ivcc.edu or 224-0284) or Judy Mika (Judy_Mika@ivcc.edu or 224-0350) or stop by the Disability Services Office in B-204. 

OUT-OF-CLASS INSTRUCTION AND ASSISTANCE
Please take advantage of my office hours and my availability before and after class to talk to me about a specific writing assignment or the class in general. Get your money’s worth out of your instructor and this class. I’m available outside of class, and I’m pleased to help you with the class in any way I reasonably can. If necessary, we can arrange to meet at my office during times other than my scheduled office hours.