Frederick Community College

 

English Composition

EN 101 ONL-2

Spring 2012

 

Class begins: 1/30/2012

Class ends: 5/18/2012

Last Day to Withdraw: 4/16/2012

 

 

 

 Instructor Information:

 

 

Name:   Betty Holton

Office:  H 238

E-mail:  Bholton@frederick.edu

Phone Number:  Office: 301-846-2551

                             Home: 301-271-4216

Contact Hours:                                                      Campus Mail Box #:  262

Email—expect a reply within 24 hours

Office Hours:

    M       10:00-12:15

    Tu/Th   9:15-10:15         And by appointment

  I tutor in the Writing Center, L 106, W 10:00-12:00; you are welcome to see me there.

 

Course Information:

 

Credits:  3

On-campus Meetings:  None required

On-campus Essay: one

Prerequisites:  EN 50A and EN 52 OR ESL 95 and ESL 99

 

Course Description:

 

EN 101 develops students’ ability to use writing, reading, research, and thinking processes to create documented essays that demonstrate the conventions of academic writing.

 

Core Learning Outcomes:

 

By the end of the semester, the student will demonstrate

1.    College-level communication skills by writing effective, organized, clear, concise, grammatically correct English.

2.    Critical thinking skills by evaluating evidence, generating and evaluating alternative solutions to problems, researching, analyzing, comparing, synthesizing, and drawing inferences from readings and other materials.

3.    Social and educational values by identifying and evaluating moral issues and conflicts, displaying academic honesty, properly documenting source material, valuing the responsibility of the individual, and understanding the need for lifelong learning.

4.    Cultural competence by acknowledging a plurality of cultural and personal values, demonstrating respect for the right of others to express their viewpoints, and working cooperatively in groups with diverse membership. 

5.    The use of technology by formatting papers and conducting research. 

 

 

 

 Instructional Methods:

 

 

Online presentations (lectures, links, handouts), Discussion Board postings and responses, peer evaluation of students' writing, grammar exercises, instructor's written comments on students' writing, individual conferences with instructor (by phone, email, or in person)

 

 

How This Course Is Organized

 

 

This is NOT a self-paced course.  All assignments have due dates that must be met.

 

This course is divided into six workshops, but the first is called Workshop 0 because it does not follow the pattern of the others. Workshops 1-5 repeat a six-part cycle of activity, with a few variations.  For example, in Workshop 3, students will create an annotated bibliography instead of writing an essay. I will provide specific details about each workshop.

 

The first part of a workshop is the Content from our text, my lectures, other handouts and links.  The content provides the foundation for all other activities in a workshop.  You will be asked to respond to the content on the Discussion Board or in some other way.

 

The second part of the workshop is the You Be the Judge (YBTJ) exercise. This exercise requires you to read about a workshop’s concept, think about that concept, and put it into practice with some written examples or exercises. YBTJs help prepare you to complete essay assignments.  YBTJ assignments are completed individually, and then you will compare your responses to those others have written in a Discussion Forum. Give each a good attempt (which means you need to explain why you think what you think) and finish it by the deadline.

 

After the YBTJ exercise, and prior to submitting each essay, we will have a Grammar Corner Assignment or other exercise. This is the third phase of each workshop.

 

The fourth phase in the cycle is the written Essay. The essay assignments are designed to help you apply that workshop’s concept in a complete essay. The essay requirements are simple at first, but they grow in complexity as the term proceeds.  Essays should be carefully revised, edited, and proofread. 

 

You will be able to revise your essay draft (except for the second essay, which is written in the Testing Center, after you have received comments from me or from your peers, depending on the assignment.  The revised essay must be turned in by the assigned date or the essay receives zero credit.

 

The fifth phase of the workshop is the Draft/Response.  For the first essay, I will respond to your rough draft with suggestions for revision.  For the second essay, I will respond to your outline.  For the remaining essays, you will be responding to one of your peer’s drafts with your comments.  I will provide specific instructions for response.

 

Finally, the workshop ends with a Self-Assessment assignment (sixth phase).  The questions will vary, but usually these assignments ask you to reflect on your progress as a writer.

 

NOTE: You will compose four essays and an annotated bibliography this semester.  The second essay will be written in the Testing Center.  The annotated bibliography and two of the essays will be part of the research paper project and will focus on a current controversial issue.

 

Submitting Assignments: Each assignment will have specific submission instructions. You Be the Judge, peer evaluations, and some other assignments will be posted on the Discussion Board.  Other assignments, including final essays, will be submitted as Assignments—a Blackboard function that allows me to give you written feedback on your work.  You will be asked to submit some assignments through SafeAssign, a service that allows you to see if you have used the words of a source without attribution.  All assignments will be returned within a week of the assignment’s due date.

 

Texts and Course Materials:

 

Kennedy, X.J., Dorothy Kennedy, and Marcia F. Muth.  The Bedford Guide for College Writers

     with Reader, Research Manual, and Handbook. 9th ed.  Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2011.

     (required)

 

A college dictionary and thesaurus.  A good online dictionary and thesaurus is available at

   m.w.com

 

A variety of texts, available through links on our Blackboard site

 

Progress Report:

 

By the end of the 6th week of the semester, I will have returned your first paper and graded several other assignments.  At this point you can evaluate your progress in this course and decide if you need to make any adjustments (additional study, tutoring, conference with instructor) to assure your success in this course.

 

Evaluation Methods:

 

 

Point

Value

Final Grade

 Scale

First Essay

  50 points

675--750---A

Second Essay (comparison/contrast)-written in the

    Testing Center

  75

600--674—B

525--599---C

Annotated bibliography-- First Phase of Research Project

100

450--525—D

Second Phase of Research Project

100

 

Final Research Paper

200

 

5 You Be the Judge activities

  60

 

3 Grammar quizzes

  15

 

Draft/Peer Evaluation assignments

  35

 

4 Reader response entries

  35

 

5 Self Assessments

  40

 

Other activities and exercises

  40

 

                      TOTAL

750

 

 

Student Services

 

A variety of services is available to assist students in succeeding at FCC. Students can learn more about these services by visiting the Student Services web page: http://www.frederick.edu/student_services/index.aspx.

Students with disabilities who are in need of accommodations or who have questions related to disabilities services should contact the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) office at 301-846-2408. Students can learn more about these services by visiting the Services for Students with Disabilities web page: http://www.frederick.edu/student_services/disability.aspx.

 

 

 Participation Policy:

 

For each workshop, there are several graded assignments and these assignments have deadlines.  No late work is accepted in this class unless you have made prior arrangements with the instructor.  Therefore, if you will be unable to complete an assignment on time because of an emergency or serious illness, it is your responsibility to let me know about the problem and to work with me to make up missed work. This course does require one in-class writing assignment, so you will need to come to the Testing Center during the week this assignment is due.

 

 

 Email Policy:

 

With the exception of MOL students, all FCC students will receive and are expected to use their FCC email addresses for correspondence with faculty and staff at the college. Students can establish and access their FCC email accounts at https://myfcc.frederick.edu. Email is an instructional tool essential to student-instructor and student-student communication. In the Blackboard environment by default, your email address is available to all students in this course.

However, students are permitted to use email addresses of other students in this course only for the purpose and the duration of this course.

The instructor can be expected to respond to regular student email inquiries within 24 hours.

 

Academic Integrity:

 

Work in this course is subject to the provisions of the FCC Code of Academic Integrity. Plagiarism in any form will not be tolerated. As a student, it is your job to practice academic honesty at ALL times.  Make sure that all sources, including Internet sources, are given proper credit for quotations, paraphrases, and ideas. More information about this and the Student Conduct Code are available at http://www.frederick.edu/student_services/studentpolicies.aspx

You must send your Academic Integrity Pledge to the instructor.

The form is available at http://courses.frederick.edu/_utilities/regform.htm

 

Topical Outline

EN 101-ONL-2

Spring 2012

 

 

See Weekly Assignment Folder for details and due dates of all assignments (under Assignment button).

 

BG indicates an assignment in your text, The Bedford Guide for College Writers.

 

Every effort will be made to keep to this schedule; however, the instructor reserves the right to alter or amend it as necessary.

 

Online courses have no inclement weather make up dates as we are not cancelled for inclement weather.

 

Week

 

 

Subject

 

Assignment

 

 

Minimum time required

 

 

1

 

Workshop 0

Explore Course

Review Syllabus

Get to know participants

The writing and reading

     processes

 

Explore course site

Letter to instructor

Syllabus Activity

Getting Acquainted Activity

Read: BG 6-34

Respond to Reading (Workshop 0)

 

 

2 hours

1 hour

1 hour

1.5 hours

1 hour

1 hour

7.5 hours total

 

 

2

 

Workshop 1: The Basic Essay

Critical thinking

Academic Writing

MLA format

 

 

Study Lecture and Bb handouts on first

     workshop

Study: BG 36-54

Study: BG: Gelernter, “Computers Cannot

     Teach  Children Basic Skills,” 590-593

You Be The Judge 1 (YBTJ W1): What Is

     an Essay?

Draft the first essay (W1)

 

 

 

1 hour

1 hour

 

2 hours

 

1.5 hours

2 hours

7.5 hours total

 

 

3

 

Using evidence to support a

     thesis

 

 

 

Study Bb handouts on first workshop

Grammar Corner (W1)—Commonly

     Confused Words

First Essay (W1) due

Self-assessment (W1)

 

 

1.25 hours

 

1 hour

4 hours

1.25 hours

7.5 hours total

 

 

4

 

Workshop 2: Essay Unity—

     Sticking to One Idea

Writing a Comparison/Contrast

 

Study Bb handouts on second workshop

Study: BG: 116-132, including Brit, “Neat

     People Versus Sloppy People” and Chabot, “Take Me Out to the Ball

    Game, but Which One?”

Respond to reading (W2)

YBTJ (W2): Thesis?

Outline the second essay (W2)

 

 

 

1.5 hours

 

 

 

1.5 hours

1.25 hours

1.25 hours

2 hours

7.5 hours total

 

5

 

Thesis and planning strategies

Drafting, editing, proofreading

 

Study Bb handouts on second workshop

Study: BG: 400-437

Study BG 864-873 on commas

Grammar Corner (W2)—Using Commas

Revise outline

Second Essay (W2) due—Write in Testing

     Center

 

 

 

1 hour

1.5 hours

1 hour

1 hours

1 hours

2 hours

7.5 hours total

 

 

 

6

 

Complete Workshop 2

 

Workshop 3: Beginning

    Research

Choosing a topic:  Issues in the

     2012 presidential election

Locating Resources

 

 

Self-assessment (W2)

 

Study Bb handouts on Workshop 3

Explore issues website

Respond to issues (W3)

Examine: BG: 658-704

Virtual Library Orientation

 

 

1 hour

 

1 hour

1.5 hours

1 hour

1.5 hours

1.5 hours

7.5 hours total

 

 

 

7

 

Constructing an Annotated

     Bibliography

 

 

Study Bb handouts on Workshop 3

Study: BG: 705-716

Grammar Corner (W3)

Examine: BG: 717-742

Conduct research and begin constructing

     annotated bibliography

Peer evaluation of one annotated

     bibliography entry

 

 

1 hour

1 hour

1 hour

1.5 hours

 

2 hours

1 hour

7.5 hours total

 

 

 

8

 

Evaluating Sources

Summarizing

 

 

Study Bb handouts on Workshop 3

YBTJ (W3): Evaluating Sources

Continue research and construction of

    annotated bibliography

Annotated Bibliography due

Self-assessment W3

 

 

1 hour

1 hour

 

4.5 hours

 

1 hour

7.5 hours total

 

 

9

 

Workshop 4: Taking a Stand

Taking Notes

Using Documented Evidence to

     Support Points

Paraphrasing

Integrating borrowed material

Avoiding plagiarism

 

 

Study Bb handouts on Workshop 4

Study: BG: 220-250

Study: BG: 155-179, including Harjo, “Last

     Rites for Indian Dead” and Garretson,

     “More Pros Than Cons in a Meat-Free

     Life”

Respond to reading (W4)

Begin researching issue

 

 

1.5 hours

1 hour

 

 

 

1.5 hours

1 hour

2.5 hours

7.5 hours total

 

 

 

10

 

Ethos

Using cause and effect to develop

     an argument

 

 

Study Bb handouts on Workshop 4

Continue research; outline and begin

     drafting second phase of research

     project

YBTJ (W4): Is It an Argument?

 

 

1 hour

 

 

5 hours

1.5 hours

7.5 hours total

 

 

11

 

Logos

Developing support

Avoiding logical fallacies

Writing the introduction

 

 

Study Bb handouts on Workshop 4

Draft Second Phase of Research Project

Study: BG: 438-458

Avoiding plagiarism post test

Peer evaluation

 

 

1 hour

3.5 hours

1 hour

1 hour

1 hour

7.5 hours total

 

12

 

Global revision

 

 

Study Bb handouts on Workshop 4

Study: BG: 459-476

Revise second phase of research paper

Second phase of research paper ( Essay

    W4) due

Self-assessment (W4)

 

 

1 hour

1.5 hour

4 hours

 

 

1 hour

7.5 hours total

 

13

 

Workshop 5: The Final

     Research Paper

Opponents’ view

Refutation

 

 

Study Bb handouts on Workshop 5

Continue research

Revise second phase of research paper

YBTJ (W5): Refutation

 

 

1.5 hours

 

2.5 hours

2 hours

1.5 hours

7.5 hours total

 

 

14

 

 

Writing the conclusion

Pathos

 

 

Study Bb handouts on Workshop 5

Continue research and writing

Peer evaluation of final paper

 

 

1 hour

5 hours

1.5 hours

7.5 hours total

 

 

15

 

What have you learned?

 

 

Study Bb handouts on Workshop 5

Final Research Paper due (W5)

Final self-assessment (W5)

 

 

1.25 hours

5 hours

1.25 hours

7.5 hours total