Fall 19 - ECTC Online ENG 102

Course Syllabus
Erin Faherty, Instructor of English/Online Coordinator
efaherty0001@kctcs.edu
Virtual Office—Bb Collaborate, VM (615) 669-0445
Elizabethtown Community & Technical College

Table of Contents
Course Overview 1

Description 1

What Should I Know Already? 2

What materials will I need? 3

What are the work expectations 3

What are the Paper Expectations 4

How is work graded? 5

Course Environment 6

What is the Classroom Environment 6

What if I miss class? 6

What are technological expectations 7

How do I contact my professor? 8

What are my instructor’s office hours? 10

Course and Campus Policies 11

What are the academic expectations? 11

How do I withdraw from the course? 12

Overview
Welcome to English 102, where the goal is to communicate effectively using standard written English. This class is
fully online. Catalog description: Emphasizes argumentative writing. Provides further instruction in
drafting and systematically revising essays that express ideas in Standard English. Includes
continued instruction and practice in reading critically, thinking logically, responding to texts,
addressing specific audiences, and researching and documenting credible academic sources.
NOTE: Credit is not available by special examination.
Prerequisites: You must have successfully passed English 101.
ENG 102 Course Competencies:

Upon completion of this course, the student can:

1. Research topics to support an effective argument.

2. Write with a fluent, versatile prose style.

3. Analyze critically an assigned text.

4. Document sources in formal academic writing without plagiarism.

What General Ed Competencies Should I Gain?

 Students should prepare for twenty-first century challenges by gaining:
 Knowledge of human cultures and the physical and natural worlds through study in the sciences
and mathematics, social sciences, humanities, histories, languages, and the arts
 Intellectual and practical skills, including
 Inquiry and analysis
 Critical and creative thinking
 Written and oral communication
 Quantitative literacy
 Information literacy
 Teamwork and problem solving
 Personal and social responsibility, including
 Civic knowledge and engagement (local and global)
 Intercultural knowledge and competence
 Ethical reasoning and action
 Foundations and skills for lifelong learning
 Integrative and applied learning, including synthesis and advanced accomplishment across
general and specialized skills

What is a “No Show” Date?

Financial Aid rules no longer permits a student to just log in during that period to be counted as having
attended the class. As a student, you must complete an academic activity before the report date for “no
shows.”

The academic activity in this class is the syllabus quiz. This quiz must be completed within the first three
days of class. I’m required to report any student who does not complete this activity on the no show
report, which may have an impact on your financial aid.

What Should I Already Know?

ENG 102 focuses on college writing and research, specifically argumentative writing. Students entering
ENG 102 will need an understanding of the basics of punctuation, grammar and spelling as well as the
ability to write standard English sentences, paragraphs and essays. Students should also be proficient in
word processing and other basic computer tasks, such as searching the internet, uploading and
downloading files, and sending/receiving emails. If you are not proficient in these tasks, the website
www.youtube.com has tutorials for almost any computer skill or program you will need.
What Materials Will I Need?
Course Requirements

Keys for Writers, 8th edition by Ann Rimes. This is an e-text available within Mintap in the
course. You can also purchase a photocopy version from the bookstore.

Regular access to a computer for composition, e-mail communication, and access to course
content and documents through the class Blackboard website and Cengage Mindtap.

Students MUST be able to compose their assignments and save them as one of the following
file types: .doc (Word 1997-2003); .docx (Word 2007), OR .rtf (Rich Text Format or .odt).

Outside readings to be provided by the Instructor via the class Blackboard website. Students
must be able to open and read ALL of the following file types: .rtf, .pdf, .html, .jpg, and .ppt.

How is the Course Organized?

Almost all work for the course is completed in Cengage Mindtap. The course uses a competency-based
approach. This means that the focus is on learning, developing and demonstrating writing skills.

To accomplish this task, the course is organized into modules. Go through the work in each module in
order. You can use the Course Schedule as your guide for all work in the course. You may also use the
Learning Guide for each Module for more details on each assignment.

What are the Homework/Test Requirements?

There are a variety of assignments in the class. You may have quizzes, homework, tests and papers. All
assignments will be submitted either in Cengage Mindtap or Bb. Your Learning Guide will tell you where
they should be submitted.

All work completed outside class will be typed in 12 point Times New Roman font and double-spaced.
This will be submitted in an appropriate file format like (pdf, docx, rtf or odt).

All assignments should be composed in Standard Written English. This means that students should
adhere to the conventions of grammar, punctuation, and usage for all papers, quizzes, email, and other
writing. It would be wise to write a first draft of all assignments and edit and proofread that draft before
submitting it for a grade. All assignments must be submitted in Blackboard or Cengage Mindtap using the
appropriate link. It is the student’s responsibility to check to make sure assignments are submitted
correctly—NOT the instructor’s.
This course does not accept late work, regardless of the circumstances. Students who do not turn in
outlines or other planning activities on time will forfeit instructor feedback. Assignments will not be sent
to your professor via email.

What are the Requirements for the Course?

Paper Requirements
In this class, students will compose and submit a major paper (s), which must be original to this ENG 102
class. This means that you cannot submit a paper you have written for another class. A detailed
assignment description, including Requirements and a Grading Rubric, is provided for the paper. All
papers are to be composed in standard APA format and style. The paper is to be typed in doubled-
spaced, 12 pt, Times New Roman font only.

The paper must meet the length requirement in order to earn a passing
grade.

Final drafts for major assignments will be uploaded into Mindtap for this class by 11:59pm on their due
dates. Failure to upload the paper to TurnITin will result in a zero for that paper. Although most papers
will be submitted to Mindap and TurnItin, if for some reason I require you to submit it in Bb, you will
need to submit it through TurnitIn (InSite in Mindap) or it will receive a zero.

There are several “forbidden topics,” about which you are not allowed to write. Forbidden topics are
topics that are either so worn out that they require no critical thinking in order to come up with an
argument (and as a result are extremely boring), or are pseudo-arguments in the sense that both sides
are so entrenched in their position that there is no chance for a reasonable approach. Some of them are
simply too large or broad to address in a paper of the length and depth of an ENG 102 paper. These
topics are:

gun control bullying illegal immigration

dress codes common core teen pregnancy

gay marriage Obamacare abortion

social media smoking ban obesity welfare

Paper Length and APA

Because the paper you write in this class will be composed of many different elements that work
together to create an academic argument, each element is very important. The minimum length
requirements are not arbitrary; they are an estimate of the minimum amount of writing a student should
do in order to sufficiently fulfill the requirements of the assignments. For this reason, papers will receive
a failing grade if they do not meet the minimum length requirement when written in 12 pt. Times New
Roman font and using APA style formatting. Always look at a sample APA paper to make sure your
paper meets the formatting standards.
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How is the Work Graded?

For each assignment, you will receive a score, which translates to a letter grade. The course works on
total points, which means every activity and assignment is worth a set amount of points. See the details
of this process below.

English 102 Grade Chart

Grades are determined on a TOTAL POINTS system. This means that all assignments will have a points
value. Each module in the course will have a set number of points. Please see the grade chart for the
current total points for the course.

Please note that while all major assignments for each module will maintain their points value, I do
reserve the right to add quizzes or assignments or edit assignments, which may impact the total points
for the course. Sometimes, I also switch a graded assignment to a bonus assignment, which will also
impact the total points for the course.

You can always check the Progress App in MT for a running total grade any time during the semester.

At the end of the semester you will have a score: (points earned) out of (points possible).

This score will translate to a letter grade at the end of the semester. For example, if the class has 1717
total possible points and a student earns 1650 points, then the student’s score is 1650/1717 = 96 A

See grading scale below:

The final grading scale is as follows: 90-100=A, 80-89=B, 70-79=C, 60-69=D, 59 and below=E
If you have any questions about the grading system in the class, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Grading Descriptors
Written assignments do not begin with a perfect 100, from which points are “deducted” for errors.
Please read the following grading guidelines to better understand how your papers will be graded:

The A Paper. The A paper is a superior piece of work that is a pleasure to read and a temptation to show
colleagues. Usually the A paper excels the B paper in content, diction, and style. The A student generally
treats his subject in some original manner, revealing perception, mature judgment, and sound logic. This
student also uses language with sensitivity and vitality.

The B Paper. The B paper is not only competent in the major areas, and also the minor ones, but it excels
in several. As opposed to the C paper, the B paper contains certain achievements that make it more than
satisfactory. Usually these are in the areas of content or language. Although lapses may appear in the
paper, they are usually trivial and sparse. More than compensating for them is the skill displayed in
organizing and supporting ideas, in selecting sources, in handling mechanics and treating the subject
with maturity and insight. The B paper is not outstanding, but it reveals fine work by an intelligent
student who has demonstrated proficiency in all major areas and excellence in some. Mere absence of
errors should never be rewarded with a B.

The C Paper. The C paper is an adequate piece of work, nothing more or less. The student has organized
the material ably, employed details to support generalizations, and handled mechanics satisfactorily.
Although more might have been accomplished in any one or all of these three areas, the C student has
revealed his or her competence in a clear and acceptable manner. In general, they may be labeled
satisfactory, average, or adequate, usually eliciting both favorable and unfavorable comments, and
neither pleasing nor displeasing as a reader.

The D Paper. The D paper is deficient in one major area: organization, content, support, or mechanics. If
the writer makes numerous errors in mechanics, fails to organize his paper or paragraphs adequately, or
provides insufficient support for his or her generalizations, he or she should receive a D. However, a D
paper should contain several redeeming features despite its glaring weaknesses.

The E Paper. The E paper is deficient in two or more major areas: organization, support, or mechanics.
But a paper may also receive an E if the handling of mechanical matters is so unacceptable that the
writer would be unable to do college work. Papers that do not meet the basic assignment requirement,
such as argument type, length requirement, or source requirement, will automatically receive a failing
grade.

What is the Classroom Environment?

Freedom of speech and expression is valued not only throughout society but also, and particularly, in the
academic setting. No more is this so than in the classroom. As a diverse community of learners, students
must strive to work together in a setting of civility, tolerance, and respect for each other in an
environment that does not distract from the mutual commitment to academic inquiry and reflection. To
that end, the following code of classroom etiquette has been established.

• When participating in class dialogue, no one monopolizes discussions to the exclusion of others,
either in terms of time or opinions expressed.
 • Conflicting opinions among members of a class are respected and responded to in a
professional manner.

• We will follow the standards of polite discourse and Netiquette.

• No offensive comments, language, or gestures are part of the classroom environment. This
includes language that is disparaging or stereotyping in regards to race, class, age, disability,
religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or gender presentation.

“We are sun and moon, dear friend; we are sea and land.
It is not our purpose to become each other; it is to recognize
each other, to learn to see the other and honor him for
what he is: each the other's opposite and complement.” - Hermann hesse

Adherence to this code of etiquette will enable students to receive the most from their academic
endeavors and should be seen as a regular and voluntary compact among faculty and students. Any
infraction of this code, however, that is deemed to be materially or substantially disruptive of the
learning environment is cause for removal of a student from this class, either for the day or permanently.

How Much Time Should I Spend in the Class?

Although this is an online class, your participation is a necessary component of the course. It is expected
that you will access your course at least three times per week (if not every day)—just like a face-to-face
course. This means that you should be spending 3-5 hours per week on the coursework in a 16-week
class. You will need to spend 5-8 hours for a 12-week class. You will need to spend 6-12 hours each week
for a biterm class. You may even spend more in some weeks depending on the assignment.

I advise all students to access the course on a daily basis if at all possible. You should also check your
student email daily as there are many communications that come from me each week, including an
MME (Monday Morning Email).

It is the student’s responsibility to keep up with the course work. Do not email your professor to ask
what you missed in class. You are encouraged to utilize a “buddy system”—exchange phone
numbers/email with one or two of your classmates, so they might let you know about any necessary
information. You can do this when you enroll in your peer study group. The relationships you build with
your classmates can help you be successful in the course.

It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that all assignments are submitted correctly in Bb and
Mindtap, not the instructor’s. Always double check that each assignment has been submitted
appropriately.
What are the Technological Expectations?

This is an online course, which means you are REQUIRED to have an Internet connection,
computer, tablet or smartphone in order to do the required work. If you don’t own your own computer,
you can always use the computers on campus or at your local library. You also need to have the ability to
download and upload documents in the following formats: .docs, docx, pdf, rtf, or odt.

As a student in the course, you are eligible for FREE Office 365—just click here.

As a student in the KCTCS system, you have been issued a login ID and password. E-mail is an integral
part of Elizabethtown Community and Technical College. You get college activities, class registration, and
other related information on your email account. In addition, all of your KCTCS information will come
through student email.

The links at the top right-hand side of the above graphic, which you will find at the top of the main ECTC
website, will be used to set up your KCTCS account and access Blackboard, email, and student self-
service (Peoplesoft).

You will use the “student self-service” link to access Peoplesoft, the “user account center” link to set up
your account in order to establish your KCTCS username and password, the “email” link to access email,
and the “Blackboard” link to access Blackboard.
 This course, like all classes offered through ECTC, is set up on
Blackboard. To access this course on Blackboard you will need to go to
https://elearning.kctcs.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp or use the
link from the main ECTC web page.

To log onto Blackboard, you will use your student username and
password (which is the same as your student email address and
password, and which you can also use to access PeopleSoft). Once you
log in, you should see this course number listed. Click on that course
number to enter the online course. You will access all work through Bb (even the work you do in
Mindtap), so you’ll need to follow the learning guide set up for each major module.

Make sure you start the course with all the tools you need. To do so, go to Start Here on the main menu
of Bb to download all necessary course documents, including the course schedule.

You will complete work from Mindtap—the Cengage Learning Lab.

The work from the lab is fully integrated within your Blackboard
Course. This means that you will access the work by going to the
appropriate module/content folder in Bb and complete the work
assigned. The vast majority of your coursework is located in this lab. I’ve also included a course-level link
to Mindtap in the Help Section of Bb. Please watch the “Getting Started” video to learn how to access
your work using this link.

Make sure you start the course with all the tools you need. To do so, go to Start Here on the main menu
of Bb to download all necessary course documents.

What are Course Expectations?

 Be prepared, focused and ready to learn.
 Ensure all assignments are submitted according to deadline. It is the student’s responsibility to
ensure that all assignments are submitted on time and correctly.
 Engagement and participation in class is highly encouraged.
 Be respectful towards teacher and classmates.

How Can I Contact My Instructor?

My preferred method of correspondence is email. I have a virtual office rather than a
campus one; however, I am available to do a virtual conference using Bb collaborate.

As you can tell by the length of this section, email etiquette is important. We will
frequently be corresponding via email, so please abide by the following policies to
make our email communication as pleasant and productive as our in-person communication.

You should always use your KCTCS email account to email your professors at ECTC. Many professors will
not respond to your emails from non-KCTCS email accounts, and the filters on our system make it
impossible to guarantee that non-KCTCS emails will go through.
When emailing, use a specific subject line, such as “Question about English 101 Paper One.” Use an
appropriate greeting, such as “Hello Ms. Instructor.” Since your instructor may teach several sections of
the same course, identify the class to which you belong (English 102 9:00 MWF, etc.). Proofread your
email; it should be written in Standard English and should not use texting abbreviations or slang or all-
caps. Emails, just as face-to-face encounters, will be held to the ECTC Student Code of Conduct. Knowing
your instructor’s name when you email them will always start you off on the right foot. Knowing the
difference between Mrs., Miss, and Ms. is also useful for polite communication. You can use “Mrs.
Faherty.”

Be patient while waiting for a reply; it is not always possible to get a response on the same day,
especially on the weekends, during which I do not check email, so be prepared to wait 24-48 business
hours for a response. Sending the email once is enough; repeatedly forwarding the same email does not
increase the likelihood of a response. However, more than 48 business hours have passed and you have
not heard a response, it is appropriate to inquire about a response.

Finally, please make sure your email includes something to which your instructor can respond. For
example, there is no response to an email that simply says “I’m totally lost,” but “My thesis statement is
X, but I don’t know where to start looking for sources. Do you have any suggestions?” is a specific
question that can be answered.

All email correspondence with classmates and professors

should be considered professional writing and be conducted
with the professionalism you would use in the business
world. Using Caps Lock (WRITING LIKE THIS) is the
textual equivalent of screaming, and should be avoided at
all costs.

Virtual Office Hours—

Erin Faherty, Online English Instructor

VM(615) 669-0445  efaherty0001@kctcs.edu

Office Hours Sun: 5-7pm, Tues: 10-12pm, Wed: 10-1:00pm, 5-6pm, Thurs: 10-12pm & by appt.

What Other Policies Apply to this Class?

This course will also adhere to the following ECTC policies:
 • Americans with Disabilities Act

• KCTCS Code of Student Conduct

• Accessing & Checking KCTCS E-mail

• Make-Up Days Due to College Closure

• Required Satisfactory Academic Standards

• Discrimination, Harassment, & Sexual Misconduct.

Students can find these ECTC policies on the ECTC website at:
https://elizabethtown.kctcs.edu/current_students/course_syllabi_information_and_related_policies.asp
x

What are the Academic Expectations?

For the full policy please see: http://www.kctcs.edu/Current_Students/Code_of_Student_Conduct.aspx

Plagiarism is the act of presenting ideas, words, or organization of a source, published or not, as if they
were one’s own. All quoted material must be in quotation marks, and all paraphrases, quotations,
significant ideas, and organization must be acknowledged by some form of documentation acceptable to
the instructor for the course. Plagiarism also includes the practice of employing or allowing another
person to alter or revise the work that a student submits as the student’s own. Students may discuss
assignments among themselves or with an instructor or tutor, but when the actual material is
completed, it must be done by the student and the student alone. The use of the term ‘material’ refers
to work in any form including written, oral, and electronic.

All academic work, written or otherwise, submitted by a student to an instructor or other academic
supervisor is expected to be the result of the student’s own thought, research, or self expression. In any
case in which a student feels unsure about a question of plagiarism involving the student’s work, the
student must consult the instructor before submitting the work.”

Note that the statement includes incomplete paraphrasing and sloppy quoting, even if you attribute
the source. It also includes submitting work done by someone else as your own, having substantial help
from a friend or relative, or copying someone else's test answers.

The KCTCS Code of Student Conduct establishes Standards of Conduct for all KCTCS students (Section 3,
page 6). The first standard reads,

“Standard 1: Students shall adhere to the highest standards of academic honesty and integrity, and
support a campus environment that is conducive to learning and scholarship.”

The Code explains, “Violations or attempted violations may include, but are not limited to . . .[c]heating,
fabrication, plagiarism or facilitating academic dishonesty.”

The KCTCS Code of Student Conduct also explains acceptable sanctions, or penalties, for academic
dishonesty, cheating, and/or plagiarism (Section 4.B.ii, page 11). Sanctions for academic dishonesty or
misconduct may include, but are not limited to:
  Requiring the student to resubmit the assignment
 A lower or failing grade on the assignment, exam, or in the course
 Removal from the course
 Referral for other disciplinary action

Plagiarism is entirely counter-productive to the expectations for this course and students cheat
themselves out of their own voices and opinions by plagiarizing work. Students will be in danger of
failing the assignment, this class, or both if they are caught plagiarizing any materials in this class.

Furthermore, I expect students to maintain academic honesty in the course and to only submit original
work. Students may not submit a paper for this class which they have previously submitted to any class
at any level of academic study.

How do I Withdraw from the Course?

Q. Why would I withdraw from a course?

A. There are many reasons to withdraw: changes in family life or work scheduling, an illness, or too many
missed assignments to catch up on. Sometimes students want to hit the “reset” button once they truly
understand the demands of college work. You do not need a documented reason to withdraw from a
class.

Q. Will it bother my instructor if I withdraw from their course?

A. Your instructor has likely withdrawn from a course or two in his or her college career, as well.
Instructors understand the many reasons that necessitate student withdrawals, and do not take it
personally.

Q. Do I need permission to withdraw from a course?

A. If you wish to withdraw from this course for whatever reason, you may do so up through midterm
either through Peoplesoft (student self service) or through the Records Office. After midterm, you will
need my permission to withdraw. I grant withdrawals on a case-by-case basis afterwards.

Q. How do I withdraw from a course?

Since this is an online course, you will have to get an email permission to drop the course once midterm
has passed. You can take that permission to the Records Office. Instructors cannot withdraw students
from classes; therefore, simply obtaining my permission will not withdraw you from the course. You
must take the withdrawal slip to the Records Office. If you stop coming to class and do not officially
withdraw, you will receive an “E” for the course, so make sure to follow up with Records.