Syllabus
English Composition II
3 Credit Hours
“Writing is harder than anything else; at least starting
to write is. It’s much easier to wash dishes. When I’m writing I set
myself a daily quota of pages, but nine times out of ten I’m doing
something else first... But once I get flowing with it, I wonder what took me
so long.”
Kristin Hunter (b. 1931)
Term/Year: Fall 2008
Instructor: Professor
Susan Slavicz
Office Area: T241, South Campus
Phone Number: (904) 646-2348
E-mail: sslavicz@fccj.edu
Web Page: http://www1.fccj.edu/sslavicz/
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course focuses on studying nonfiction writing in its
many forms. The student will develop a
proficiency in evaluating texts and writing analytically about these
texts. The course provides a solid
introduction to research writing as well as the CLAST writing skills. This
course serves to meet the “Gordon Rule” writing requirement for
Theme
English Composition I may have begun a personal journey of discovery where you learned writing skills to relate your ideas to the academic audience. That journey now continues in English Composition II as you learn to gather materials from various sources, conduct research, and analyze those sources to support your own opinions.
Late Papers and Make-up
Papers should be submitted by the beginning of
class. Late papers will receive a letter
grade off. Papers that
are more than two weeks late will lose 30 points. If a student misses an in class essay, that
student will have two weeks to make up the assignment.
Grade Policies
All major assignments must be completed for the student to receive a grade for this course.
Participation will be 10% of your
grade for this class. Each homework assignment,
group exercise and peer evaluation will be considered in the final grade point
average; each of these activities will receive 5 points. If you complete all of
these assignments, you will have more than 100 points; any extra points will be
extra credit.
REQUIRED TEXTS AND INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
Trimbur, John. The Call to Write. Houghton Mifflin: New York, 2008.
Each student will choose one text from the list below to read this semester. These are common books which can be purchased from most bookstores or from Amazon.com.
The
Souls of Black Folks by W. E. B. Du
Bois and Farah Jasmine
The
Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean
The
Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger
Fast
Food Nation by Eric Schlosser
Happy
Isles of Oceania: Paddling the Pacific
by Paul Theroux
Hell’s
Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga
by Hunter S Thompson
Bury My
Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown
A Long Way Gone
by Ishmael Beah.
Gifted
Hands by Ben Carson
Welfare Brat
by Mary Childress
Note: Mary Childress will be coming to our campus in March to speak to students.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
On completion of this course, learners should be able to
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Attend and actively participate in class
Participate in the in-class group work
Participate in class discussions/activities
A student’s class attendance directly affects his or her grade. Non-attendance results in missed assignments, incomplete work, and confusion. Since much of this class will be discussion and workshop, students should make every effort to attend class. Two absences will be considered reasonable after which I will deduct a point from a student’s final grade for every absence.
Tardies are distracting to the class; students who are habitually tardy will accrue one absence for every two tardies. I will speak to a student before subtracting these points.
Students should know that their papers will be run through
the plagiarism program Turn-it-In.com.
Skills
to bring to class
Computer/typing skills Long
term organization skills
Basic grammar and twelfth
grade vocabulary An open, questioning mind
Careful and attentive
reading skills Personal
initiative
Persistence Social
adaptability
Working Cooperatively
Talk quietly
Listen carefully to others
Make sure everyone contributes
Be positive and constructive
Seek accuracy
MLA
MLA refers to the Modern Language Association. This association’s rules for documentation are the only acceptable form of documentation for this class. These rules for documentation may be found in your text and also through the library research link on the schedule.
GROUP
ACTIVITIES
Working with other people on projects can be
challenging, but also very rewarding.
You will have many opportunities this semester to work on assignments
with other students, and you will also have the opportunity to read and
evaluate other students’ papers and have your three major papers evaluated.
We know that in the work place today
employees are often asked to work on teams, and that some employers are
actually giving tests to potential employees to determine the level of their
ability to work with other people. I
urge you to use our group activities to help other people and to hone your own
skills. I can guarantee that your final
product will be improved when you get feedback from another student.
Common
Courtesies:
1. Be CLEAR when communicating in class and online. Observe “netiquette” in discussions and e-mails.
2. Read everything in the course syllabus and calendar before you ask for more information.
3. Format your papers for easy reading: Double space; use one inch margins; put a
title on the papers; put your name, the date and instructor’s name on the upper
left hand corner; use 12 point Font Size and Times New Roman Font.
4. Observe the due dates listed in the calendar.
5. Cell phones should be turned off before entering the classroom; if you must have one on for a job or for children, please put the phone on vibrate.
6. All students are expected to show respect for one another. Upon entering the classroom, turn off all cell phones, radios, pagers, IPods, DC players, etc. All cell phones are to be placed in a book bag, purse or pocket. Under no circumstances are cell phones to be utilized in any manner during class. If you are expecting an emergency call, please advise me in advance.
7. If you must take a call, please step outside to hold a discussion.
8. Be on time to class; important instructions concerning the calendar or assignments will be given during the first five minutes of class. If tardiness to class becomes excessive, a student may lose points for the semester on his or her grade average.
LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (COURSE PLATFORM)
The online components of the course are delivered in Blackboard. You may access Blackboard through Artemis. The id and password for Blackboard are the same as your Artemis id and password.
Some parts of this course will be on Blackboard. If you do not have access to the following equipment and software, we have computer labs on every campus which are available for student use. These labs also have computer technicians to answer your questions.
§
Please use the
following checklist to determine your computer readiness. You should own or
have access to:
a.
Computer with personal
access to the Internet (e.g., computer with a modem or cable modem connection)
b.
An e-mail account
c.
Web-browser software -
at least Internet Explorer 5.0 or Netscape 4.7
d.
Windows 2000 operating
system (or MAC OS 9 or higher)
Technology that
will be helpful:
e.
Virus-checking
software
f.
Plug-ins including
Acrobat Reader and Flash Player
g.
Additional hardware
including speakers and microphone
ACCESSIBILITY
If you require specific accommodations to complete this course, notify your instructor.
LEARNING COMMUNITIES
People learn through interactions with each other, with the
instructor and with written, auditory and visual learning materials. To
facilitate interactive learning among learners and between learners and
faculty, a major goal of this course is to encourage the development of
learning communities—i.e., help learners and faculty get to know and better
understand each other.
DISCUSSION
We will have both classroom discussions and online discussions. In the classroom setting we almost all know the rules for discussion. You would raise your hand to be noticed; you would not shout but speak in a tone loud enough for everyone to hear. You would also try to be polite in your responses to other people, whether in whole classroom discussions or in group discussions. At times, I will ask you to participate in online discussions. There are some rules of etiquette for discussion boards also. First, your initial postings should be as substantial as possible. For instance, if you are asked to discuss the traffic problems in your city you would not simply state that “traffic is awful.” The class and instructor would want to know how you defined awful. Do you live in a small rural town where awful traffic might be tractors going ten miles an hour in front of your SUV or do you live in a major city where traveling five miles takes thirty minutes during rush hour?
The answers to these discussion questions should be thorough, thoughtful and express some critical thinking skill. The instructor will decide on the method by which to evaluate student answers.
After your initial posting, you will often be expected to respond to fellow students’ answers. Again, you should be thorough. Stating that you agree that traffic is bad is not enough; you should add your own examples or perhaps ask the student what he or she meant.
Another part of etiquette for online work is the words and tones you use. Don’t type in capital letters – THIS MEANS YOU ARE ANGRY – and since this is an academic course you should always use a formal, unemotional tone. There should also never be personal attacks in a class setting – you may disagree with the ideas but don’t call someone stupid for having those ideas.
In your Composition II course you will be asked to answer several types of discussion questions. Sometimes these questions will be simple content questions such as:
Considering what this
lesson has said about the genre of nonfiction, identify the primary subject
matter of each of the readings. For
instance, a piece might have some description of nature but might primarily be
a memoir. Give support for your answer
with quotes from the readings.
Other times you will be asked to relate your answer to the outside world with questions such as:
What types of music
do you enjoy? What are the basic strategies
you use to select music for your iPod®?
If you don’t have an iPod®, how do you choose which music you purchase?
Finally, at the end of each chapter you will be asked to apply the knowledge from the chapter by answering a question such as:
In this chapter you have studied particular elements that writers use
to communicate with their readers. Find a review of a recent movie that you
attended. What elements does the
reviewer consider – the plot? Characters?
Setting? Tell us whether you agree or
disagree with the reviewer.
ASSESSMENTS
Several essay assignments will be used to assess your progress in this course:
§ Interpretative Essay Assignment
§ Critical Analysis Essay Assignment
§ Thematic Synthesis Essay Assignment
You will write a research paper, which includes argumentation. In preparation for the research paper, you will create a research portfolio. The instructions for the portfolio are in your text.
Composition II papers will be graded using the standards listed under the grading criteria link.
Timed essays will be graded using the standards listed under the timed essay
scoring criteria link.
Other Major Assignments:
Sample paper
A research portfolio
A midterm from the research portfolio
Final essay
Multiple Source Exam
Additional Assignments:
Participation in forums:
Group discussions and projects
Peer evaluations for major papers
GRADING
Your
final letter grade will be determined by totaling the points for all of the
above activities as indicated below:
Research
Paper: 300 points
Research
Portfolio: 100 points
Research
Portfolio Exam: 100 points
Interpretative
Essay: 100 points
Critical
Analysis: 100 points
Thematic
Synthesis: 100 points
Final:
100 points
Participation:
100 points
* Please note that the Gordon Rule in Florida requires a student who makes a D or F in Composition II to repeat the course.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. What learning management system is used at FCCJ for the online portions
of this course?
This course is delivered in the Blackboard© online course platform.
2. Do I have to
have Internet access at home?
The College can provide you with Internet access (no ISP needed). You may choose to use your own ISP; however, the college’s ISP services are free to enrolled students. The College also has many student computer labs available to students who wish to use them.
3. What if I
need special accommodations to take the course?
If
you require specific accommodations to complete this course, notify your
instructor and contact Services for Students with Disabilities at: www.fccj.edu/resources/disabilities/index.html
6. How long will I have to wait for a response
from the instructor to my e-mail?
Faculty respond to
e-mails within 48 hours.
7. What is proper e-mail etiquette?
E-mail to other learners and the
instructor needs to be addressed in a manner appropriate to polite
interactions.
8. What will help me succeed in this course?
§
Strong discipline and desire to succeed.
9. What are “I” grades and when are they used?
§ An “I” grade may be assigned at the instructor’s discretion
upon request by the student to permit the student time to complete required
course work, which he/she was prevented from completing in a timely way due to
non-academic reasons. The instructor may require the student to document the
request to assist in the decision. The instructor may choose not to grant the
request. The “I” grade should be considered only when the student has the
potential to earn a passing grade if the missing work is made up
§
The instructor shall
prescribe in a written agreement with the student the remaining course work
required for completion and removal of the “I” grade. A copy of this agreement
will be kept on file in the office of the appropriate dean. All work must be completed
within the first eight weeks of the subsequent term, unless the instructor
agrees to a longer timeframe extension of time (not to exceed one year). When
the work is completed, the instructor will submit a grade change form with the
grade earned. If the work is not completed within the prescribed timeframe, the
“I” will automatically change to an “F” grade. The student will be informed of
the final grade assigned
§ To be eligible for an “I” grade, the student must be
passing the course at the time of the request, and must have completed at least
90 percent of the course work
10. What is the FCCJ Code of Ethics?
Consistent with The Code of Ethics of the Education
Profession in Florida, 6B-1.06, Principles of Professional conduct for the
Education Profession in Florida, an obligation to the learner requires that an
individual shall not harass or discriminate against any learner on the basis of
race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs,
marital status, handicapping condition, sexual orientation, or social and
family background and shall make reasonable effort to assure that each learner
is protected from harassment or discrimination.
11. What about academic dishonesty?
Academic
dishonesty, in any form, is expressly prohibited by the rules of the District
Board of Trustees of Florida Community College at
a. Cheating which is defined as the giving or taking of any information or material with the intent of wrongfully aiding oneself or another in academic work considered in the determination of a course grade.
b.
Plagiarism which is defined as the act of stealing or passing off as one’s own
work the words, ideas, or conclusions of another as if the work submitted were
the product of ones own thinking rather than an idea or product derived from
another source.
c.
Any other form of inappropriate behavior which may include but is not limited
to: falsifying records or data; lying; unauthorized copying, tampering, abusing
or otherwise unethically using a computer or other stored information; and, any
other act of misconduct which may reasonably be deemed to be a part of this
heading.
Any student alleged to have committed any act
of academic dishonesty as defined herein, shall be entitled to due process as
defined in District Board of Trustees’ Rule 6Hx7-2. 18, prior to the
administration of disciplinary action, including
suspension and dismissal
12. May I repeat this course?
Learners repeat a course in an
attempt to improve a grade previously earned.
State Board Rule 6A-14.0301 limits such attempts to courses where a “D,”
“F,” or “FN” grade was earned. A learner has only three total attempts in any
course, including the original grade, repeat grades and withdrawals. Upon the third attempt in a course, the
learner must be given an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” or “F”.
When students
repeat a course at
A WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT
While Comp II has a reputation for being difficult, you will find that if you keep up with assignments this semester the work will not usually be overwhelming. It is important that you acquire skills as we go along since the final research paper relies on combining the skills worked on throughout the semester. Much of your time will be spent at your computer doing research. It’s important that you plan time in busy schedules for this!
I will at times give you the opportunity to work with other students to develop a skill before having to use it on your own. I encourage you to make the most of these opportunities, as past students have indicated that these were particularly helpful.
Syllabus Quiz – If you have read this
far congratulations! Complete the
answers to this and bring them with you to class. Let’s keep quiet about this and see how many
people read the syllabus, ok?
1.
How many major papers will you write?
2.
What is the penalty for late papers?
3.
How many points will your research paper be worth?
4.
How many points will your research portfolio be worth?
5.
List one of the objectives for the course.
6.
What is the attendance policy?
7.
What is turn-it-in.com?
8.
What is plagiarism?
9.
What kind of papers will you write for this course?