Massasoit Community College English Composition I Fall 2011 TR 9:30-10:45 Middleboro

Nicole Williams Online Hours: Friday 10:00-11:00 Email: nwilliams@massasoit.mass.edu Website: http://www.nicoleannwilliams.com Text Required: Kirszner, Laurie G. and Stephen R. Mandell. Patterns for College Writing: A Rhetorical Reader and Guide. 11th edition. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin, 2010 ISBN: 0-312-48841-6 Hacker, Diana. Rules for Writers, 6th Edition. 2009 MLA Update. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin, 2009. ISBN: 0-312-59339-2 Materials: 2 folders, stapler, notebook. Course Description: English Composition I is a course designed to help students develop and organize extended pieces of writing. Students will focus on the correct and appropriate use of language and the organization and development of paragraphs and essays. Research techniques, documentations of sources, and a short research will be included. Constant reading and frequent writing will be required. Course Outcomes: English Composition I is a course designed to help you become a better writer. It can help you to think more clearly, plan more efficiently, write with more ease and fluency, and communicate more effectively. By the end of this course you should be able to: Gather information from personal experience as well as reading and research in order to generate ideas and support for essays that will serve in academic settings and help prepare for writing in career and community settings. Assess information and ideas in order to discover connections and develop a clear purpose/thesis for an essay. Write logically organized, analytical essays that will appeal to an audience through introductions that gather attention and provide focus, unified body paragraphs that support a thesis/purpose, and conclusions that reach a satisfying close. Revise drafts of essays with an awareness of audience to improve organization, development, and clarity. Edit essays according to the rules Standard American English so that the reader is not distracted from the essays purpose/thesis by grammatical and mechanical errors. Write essays that analyze and interpret ideas generated by non-fiction readings and thoughtfully integrate material from those readings. Compose essays that apply fundamental techniques of research and documentation. Compose outside of class largely correct, word-processed essays that are written through a process of gathering information. Reflecting, crafting, and multiple drafting. Compose a satisfactorily correct in-class essay that demonstrates an ability to write independently and to focus expression within the time constraints of classroom writing across disciplines.

Course Policies: Successful Completion: In order to successfully pass this course you must attend class, participate in class discussions, complete in class writings, outside readings, homework, and complete all four formal writing assignments. Successful completion of the four formal assignments includes turning in all required drafts and attending workshops and conferences. Electronic Note: In an effort to do our part to help the environment, a majority of our course will be electronic based. Assignments will be posted online and some work will be handed in electronically. Together we can save hundreds of pounds of paper this semester and, essentially, a lot of trees. Attendance: What happens in class each day only works if everyone is here to participate as much as possible; therefore, attendance is mandatory. You are allowed three absences for the semester free and clear. I dont need to know where you were or what you were doing. However, each absence over three will lower your grade by 1/3 of a letter grade. For instance a B will go down to a B-. Tardiness: I value the time we have together in class to accomplish our goals for the semester. I do not appreciate students that interrupt class by habitually coming in late. It is distracting to me and to your peers. Please come to class on time. Participation: This course depends heavily on your readiness and willingness to contribute to class discussions and activities daily. I expect each of you to work with me and each other to make this a real community of learners. Therefore, you must come to class each day fully prepared having done all assigned readings and work ready to participate in class. Additionally, class activities are designed to build off of outside work; therefore, I will know if you are unprepared and your grade will reflect it. In addition keep in mind: 1 Being absent is not an excuse for turning in late work. All assignments are expected to be turned in at the beginning of the class period they are due. If you are not going to be in class e-mail your work to me by the beginning of class time. Late assignments will not be accepted. 2 In class work cannot be made up so it would be wise to come to class prepared each day.

Format for Assignments: All formal writing (except multimodal compositions) should be: 1 Computer generated/typed 2 Double-spaced in 12 point font 3 1 inch margins on all sides 4 Name, instructor, course, and date should be listed on the top left, double-spaced. 5 Do not double space between paragraphs 6 Do not include cover sheets unless specified 7 Documented using MLA Style Classroom Behaviors: 1 You will have computers in front of you during class, which may pose several distractions. Checking e-mail and surfing the web during class time is both rude and inappropriate. This behavior will not be tolerated. You will be asked to leave class and marked absent for the day if you fail to abide by the rule. 2 Please remember to turn off and put away all cell phones, ipods, mp3 players, and other communication devices that pose a distraction to our class. I do not want to see using any of these devices during class. You will be asked to leave class and marked absent for the day if you fail to abide by the rule. 3 Class time is not a time for private discussions amongst each other. Such behavior is rude and disruptive to the class. Please save such conversations for after class.

Respect: Respect for others in our classroom is non-negotiable. We will be discussing many ideas and concepts that may challenge your current thinking. This is the fun of college! Have respect for one another and be open to new ideas. You do not have to agree with anyone but you must listen respectfully. Plagiarism: Presentation of someone elses work as your own is dishonest and unacceptable. If I find out that you have plagiarized you will receive a zero for the assignment and, possibly, fail the course. Be assured that I will find out if you have plagiarized, therefore it would be wise for you to do your own work and cite any and all material you take from other sources. Plain and simple-if it isnt your own words or idea than tell me where you found it. If you are ever unsure of whether or not you are committing academic dishonesty please come speak to me, and I will be happy to assist. I take academic honesty and integrity very seriously and will follow all steps outlined by Massasoit Community College if I find a student plagiarizing. This could result in a meeting with the Dean. Course Adaptations: Students with disabilities who believe that they may need accommodations in the classroom are encouraged to contact a disability counselor as soon as possible. Students at the Brockton Campus with learning disabilities should contact Andrea Henry at extension 1805. Students with physical disabilities at the Brockton Campus should contact Mary Berg at extension 1425. All students at the Canton Campus should contact Mary Berg at extension 2132. Course Requirements Formal Essays: For this class you will write four essays that are 3-4 pages each outside of class. Each essay will require a draft that will be responded to by me and your peers. Assignments will be discussed throughout the semester as the time for each approaches. Detailed assignment sheets can be located on my website. Assignments are due at the beginning of class as stated on the course schedule. Blogs: You will be required to create and maintain a blog throughout the semester. We will create the blogs together in class. Each week you will be required to write at least one blog post on your own blog and respond to at least one of your classmates blog posts. Your blog entries each week should discusses your thoughts and ideas on any of the assigned reading for that class week and how they may relate to your own writing. This is your chance to reflect on the reading and writing you do each week. We will discuss the conventions of blog writing in class. Your blog can be thought of as your electronic journal to track your learning and progress during the semester. It is also a tool to communicate and share ideas with your peers and the world. We will use your blog posts to generate discussion in class each Friday so be prepared. Blog posts must be completed by the start of class. In-class Writing: During class time you will be asked to write on a variety of issues, ideas, and prompts that relate to readings and class material. These writings will assist in class discussion and serve as a tool for both of us to reflect on the work you are doing. These will be completed on Blackboard during class time. You will find that each of you has your own section on the discussion board where you will produce these assignments. This will allow you to view them all in one place when it comes time to put together your portfolio. Portfolios: The best way I have found to help students understand and appreciate what it means when I say writing is a process is to include a portfolio component in my writing classes. Twice this semester, once at midterm and once at the end of the semester, you will be responsible for collecting and revising the work youve done in and outside class. You will turn in both formal and informal writing, some of it revised, some of it not. You will also include an introduction that discusses what youve learned and provide a self-

evaluation of your writing. These portfolios will be returned with formal letter grades attached that evaluate the work in the portfolio as well as your success in the class. Group Project: Once this semester you will get together with a group of your peers to deliver a power point presentation on a variety of topics related to writing rhetorically. A detailed assignment sheet will be handed out and posted on my website. Readings: Outside readings will be assigned for each class period. They are listed on the schedule. It is vital to your grade that you complete all readings and come to class prepared to discuss them. Conferences: You will be responsible for meeting with me twice during the semester outside of class. One conference will be at midterm to talk about the progress of your portfolio revisions. The meetings will be about fifteen minutes long and I will cancel class for the week to accommodate these conferences. I will tell you very specifically what you should bring to the meeting at the time we schedule it. Failure to come to these conferences and/or failure to come to these conferences prepared with a draft to work on will count as one week of absences-furthermore, do not waste my time or your own by not showing up or showing up unprepared. I am just as busy as you are, but if you are prepared to invest time in your writing then I am too. A sign up sheet will be passed around as time the time approaches for conferences. I will hold second conferences at the end of the semester during class time. Note: All writing you do in this class-drafts, revisions, in-class writing, blogs-should be saved so you have a wide selection to choose from when putting together your portfolio. It is imperative that you save all your writing so you can see how you have developed as a writer throughout the course of the semester. Evaluation and Grading Policies In this course you will not receive letter grades on individual drafts and assignments but rather you will graded holistically. This means I will evaluate your work overall throughout the semester. I know many of you are probably thinking that I am completely crazy for doing this. I also know not receiving a letter grade on each paper will make some of you nuts however; it really is for the best. Using this portfolio system of evaluation allows me the opportunity to give you credit for the things that grading individual papers does not: such as effort and revision and improvement. Although you will not receive individual letter grades on each draft you turn in, you will receive extensive comments and feedback from me that will help you understand the quality of the work you are doing as well as assist you in improving your writing. You will receive a letter grade at mid-term and at the end of the semester when you turn in your portfolio. These two grades will be based on the following criteria: 1 Meeting all of the requirements described above including turning in all formal and informal assignments. 2 The quality of your written work, including how successful your revision work is. 3 The quality of your effort in class, in workshops, in discussion, in groups, in conferences, and in general. 4 Your demonstration of a willingness to try new things, think in new ways, and explore different perspectives as both a reader and a writer. My comments should provide you with a clear understanding of your progress in the class; if you ever feel as though you are unsure, come see me and we will discuss it. Grading Percentage Breakdowns Different assignments in this course require different levels of effort. The following breakdowns should provide you with an idea of the amount of time and energy needed for each. Blogs 10% In class writings and quizzes 10%

Group Project Formal Writing Assignments 4 essay Drafts (10% each) Portfolio (mid-term 10% and final 15%) Final Exam Fall 2011 Academic Calendar September 7, 2011 (Wednesday) September 13, 2011 October 10, 2010 November 9, 2010 (Wednesday) Classes begin

10% 40% 25% 5%

Last day to drop/add without a grade Columbus Day (No classes) Registration Day for Spring 2011 (Cantonno day classes in Canton)

November 11, 2010 November 14, 2010 November 16, 2010 (Wednesday)

Veterans Day (No Classes) Last day to withdraw from a class Registration Day for Spring 2011 (Brockton-no day classes in Brockton)

November 24-26, 2010

Thanksgiving Recess (No Classes) Starting at 4:00pm on Wed Nov 23rd

December 14, 2010 December 15-21, 2010

Last day of classes Final Exams for all classes (Day, Night, Weekend, and Online)