Course Syllabus: English 1101

Departmental Guidelines for ENGL 1101

Individuals with disabilities who need to request accommodations or to obtain this document in an alternative format, please contact the Disabilities Coordinator, Student Center 214, 678-466-5445, or email disabilityservices@clayton.edu.

Students are responsible for obtaining and for being aware of all of this information.

Semester: Spring 2008
Instructor:    Ms. Flo Walsh
University email address:     flowalsh@clayton.edu
Office: G 116 in the Arts and Sciences building
Office Phone: 678-466-4712 (during specified office hours only)
Office Hours: A&S 116 TR 12:00-1:15, 3:00-3:45, and by appointment
Teaching Schedule: TR 10:30-11:45 T 201 (CRN 85320) and TR 1:30-2:45 A&S 213 (CRN 85325)
Course Website: http://a-s.clayton.edu/walsh  link to ENGL 1101

Here at Clayton State University, college-level writing instruction begins in ENGL 1101 and continues in ENGL 1102 but does not end with these courses. In fact, these are just the initial stages of the writing program at CSU. Many of your classes--not just in English and other humanities disciplines but also in the social and natural sciences, business, technology, health sciences, and many other fields--will require you not only to write but to write with the competence which befits your status as a college-educated person. The faculty who teach ENGL 1101 encourage you to work hard in order to meet the course standards outlined below, because these standards reflect the abilities which will be expected of you not only in the rest of the college curriculum but also in your career and other lifelong pursuits.

CSU expects its students to be responsible adults and adhere to university policies as outlined at http://a-s.clayton.edu/BasicUndergraduateStudentResponsibilities.htm .

Catalog Description: ENGL 1101 - English Composition I (3-0-3): A course focusing on skills required for effective writing in a variety of contexts, with emphasis on exposition, analysis, and argumentation, and also including introductory use of a variety of research skills.

Required Instructional Materials for your class are listed below Your instructor may require texts, films or online resources in addition to those listed below.

Textbooks

Hacker, Diana. A Writer’s Reference. 6th Ed. New York: Bedford St. Martin’s, 2007. (white cover)
Wood, Nancy W. Perspectives on Argument, 5^th Ed. Upper Saddle River , NJ : Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2007. (white cover)

Websites
http://www.dianahacker.com/writersref/

http://a-s.clayton.edu/walsh/

Learner Outcomes:

The core curriculum outcomes for this course are located at http://a-s.clayton.edu/campbell/Outcomes/Core/CoreCommunicationsOutcomesAreaAMaster.htm.
To pass this course, students will:

· Effectively communicate ideas related to assigned material in written form

· Write well-defined and adequately developed expository and argumentative essays

· Demonstrate a comprehension of assigned readings

· Demonstrate the use of proper format, grammar, sentence structure, diction, and mechanics

Course Requirements:

In ENGL 1101 students will be expected to write at least six papers, of 2-3 or 3-5, pages each as assigned, in response to a variety of academic and "real world" writing tasks. At least two of the papers will be written under monitored conditions, including a practice Regents' Essay and the final examination. A student must pass one of these in-class papers to pass the course with a C or higher. Also, In order to receive a C in the class, a student must have a C average on four writing assignments, one of which must be written under monitored circumstances.

All assignments must be completed in order to pass the class. Students will be expected to complete activities in addition to the essays as assigned by the instructor. These include but are not limited to a participation grade, a cumulative grade for Hacker exercises, a cumulative grade for stages in the research process, and an MLA grade related to the research paper. Failure to complete assigned work can be grounds for failure in the course.

Since the prerequisite to ENGL 1102 is a grade of C or higher in ENGL 1101, students earning final grades of D or F in ENGL 1101 will be required to repeat the course before going on to ENGL 1102. Along with repeating ENGL 1101, students may also be advised to enroll in the individualized writing skills improvement course WLAB 1999.

Essay Grading:

Instructors will grade students' writing using the following writing guidelines:

Content: 35% of the paper grade

· Fulfillment of the assignment's content requirements.

· Clear, focused topic

· Demonstrated familiarity with the subject matter.

· Range and quality of knowledge.

· Depth of assimilation and understanding of the subject matter.

· Sufficient and suitable content to support and develop ideas.

· Awareness of audience

· Diction appropriate for the audience

Organization: 30% of the paper grade.

· Clear introductory, body, and concluding paragraphs.

· A clear and specifically worded thesis

· Unity and coherence.

· Support for focused topic

· Transitions that move the reader from key point to key point.

Mechanics, Grammar and Style: 35% of the paper grade

· Format

· Punctuation.

· Sentence Structure

· Grammar and Usage

· Competent use of standard English

· Style

Incomplete Grades: A grade of incomplete can only be granted in cases of dire hardship. Incomplete grades will only be granted by the approval of the department head and the Dean of Arts and Sciences.

Attendance and Roll Call: Students must attend classes, and roll will be taken during every class.

The participation grade for the class is based on two factors: 1) the student’s alertness and responsiveness in the classroom and 2) the student’s regular attendance at every class. If a student is not present, a key part of the learning experience is not happening.

Consequently, attendance will be graded as follows:

0 absences = A+ for the participation grade
1-2 absences = A range for the participation grade
3-4 absences = B range for the participation grade
5-6 absences = C range for the participation grade
7-8 absences = D range for the participation grade
9+ absences = F for the participation grade

If a student MUST miss a significant portion of a class, he or she should advise the instructor in writing and in advance if possible. DO come for as much of the class as possible on a day when you are just "running late."

Midterm Grade Statement: Midterm grades will be posted before the deadline for withdrawal without academic penalty. They will be calculated by the average of each student’s graded work at that time. ALL INSTRUCTORS ARE REQUIRED TO POST MIDTERM GRADES.
Please note: the midterm grade for ENGL 1101 is advisory only and is not calculated for the final average.

Plagiarism: Plagiarism involves copying another person’s words or ideas without citing the source with appropriate documentation. Any student who plagiarizes fails the plagiarized assignment. A plagiarized paper is considered an incomplete assignment. Any student who plagiarizes will fail the course. Most papers will be submitted to Turnitin.com to check for plagiarism. ALL STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE INSTRUCTION ON HOW TO AVOID PLAGIARISM AND WILL SIGN A PLAGIARISM CONTRACT IN ORDER TO STAY IN THE CLASS.

Accommodations: Individuals with disabilities who need to request accommodations should contact the Disabilities Coordinator, Student Center 214, or by e-mail at disabilityservices@clayton.edu .

Course Policies and Recommendations

Academic honesty. You are expected to abide by the academic honesty policies described in the University Catalog and the Student Handbook, in particular, those regarding plagiarism. Plagiarism is the copying, extensive paraphrasing, or other use of original information from other writers or sources--including Internet sources--without proper acknowledgment or citation. While group work is sometimes encouraged, and in some cases the work of the group may be graded rather than the work of individual members, in most circumstances individuals are responsible for their own work and for the results. Any instance of plagiarism or other academic dishonesty is subject to referral to the Office of the Vice-President of Student and Enrollment Services.
Homework. Success in college usually requires two or more hours of preparation outside of class for each hour spent in the classroom. For ENGL 1101, this means approximately 6-9 hours each week of time spent outside of class (e.g., reading, writing, instructor conferences, work in the Library, in the Academic Assistance Center, or in the Writers' Studio) in addition to class time. In some cases, even more outside time may be necessary in order to reach the C standards defined above (or higher levels).
Work Ethic. Students are expected to attend all class meetings, conferences with their instructors, appointments in Academic Assistance, and other scheduled class activities, either "live" or arranged by E-mail or Internet. If you miss a class or other appointment, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed and to make up any work you are permitted to make up. Go to "Schedule and Assignments" to find the assignments due for each class. Poor attendance, tardiness, lack of class preparation, and other lapses in responsibility will very likely impede both learning and class performance. Late work and unexcused absences or tardiness incurs a grade penalty.
Roll. Roll will be taken once we are into the class work for the day. Absences result in participation grades as designated above. If a student arrives late (after roll is taken), it is his/her responsibility to confer with the instructor after class.
No-show Policy. Any paid student who has failed to attend class by the date of the final deadline for fee payment will be identified as a no-show. The no-show student will be administratively withdrawn from the class and will not be reinstated. Any requests for reinstatement must go through the Dean of Arts and Sciences.
Make-up Work: Ordinarily, tests and graded in-class activities can be made up at a time mutually convenient to the instructor and student. It is the student's responsibility to initiate a request with the instructor.
Mid-term Grades: Midterm grades are posted to the DUCK prior to the last day to withdraw without academic penalty. The choice to withdraw is always the student's, but after midterm a withdraw failing (WF) would probably be posted as the grade for the course. WF = 0 GPA points, just like an F, and is calculated in the grade point average whereas a W has no negative impact on the GPA.
Computer Policy. Students are required to have access to their CCSU mailboxes and software and must take their laptops to Student Software Support Services to be configured for service. You can make an appointment for software installation, email configuration, etc. by going to the calendar at the HUB website: http://thehub.clayton.edu/index.php?tstamp=1093275839. All fees must be paid prior to installations. Students must check their mail frequently for communications from their instructors. Essays are to be word processed using Microsoft Word. Microsoft Works documents are not acceptable because they cannot be read by the MS Word program on the standard college load. Electronic documents must be submitted as Word files (.doc).
Success in ENGL 1101 demands a basic level of computer skill. The course requires that you are able to send and receive E-mail, have a basic understanding of word processing, are able to access and use Internet resources, and have a basic understanding of file management. If you do not possess these skills prior to entry into the course, then you should enroll in a workshop sponsored by Student Software Support Services by going to the calendar at the HUB website: http://thehub.clayton.edu/index.php?tstamp=1093275839.
Since Fall 2001, every CCSU student has attested to having ready access to a laptop (notebook) computer to bring to class when required. ENGL 1101 instructors will indicate on their class information sheets (or web pages) the dates on which students will be required to bring their laptop computers to class, or will otherwise provide E-mail notice at least one week in advance of any such dates.
Online classes. Students in online classes or other distance learning classes are required to attend at least two proctored testing sessions, including the final exam, either on the CCSU campus or at another approved public meeting location. These are in addition to the orientation meeting at the beginning of the semester. If a location other than the CSU campus is to be used, the student bears the responsibility to make arrangements for the availability of the location and of a proctor.
Students in online classes are also required to submit all papers except the midterm and the final to turnitin.com, as well as submitting essays as Word attachments to the assignment drop box in the Vista online interface.
Students in online courses are to use the email in Vista rather than campus email.
Always keep copies of all important work--including print copies and electronic files--until after you receive your final grade in the course. Your instructor will retain your final exam, and may retain the originals or copies of your other papers, but the responsibility for document preservation (for grade appeals or other reasons) is yours.
From time to time, students in any educational institution may be asked to participate in surveys or testing whose primary purpose is to gather information relevant to measuring and increasing the quality of education. If your class is selected for such surveying or testing, your participation is required.
In the Fall semester, this includes participation by all freshmen in the MAPP Test (Measure of Academic Proficiency and Progress). This test measures the effectiveness of the general education curriculum in terms of reading/critical thinking, writing, and mathematics. See http://www.ets.org/mapp. Register through the Testing Center in the lower level of the library by stopping by or by phone: 678-466-4495.
Papers submitted for grading in ENGL 1101 may be reproduced anonymously either in print or electronic form for educational purposes.
If you have questions or concerns about your class, you must attempt to resolve those with your instructor as soon as possible. If your concerns remain after you have conferred with your instructor, you may see Dr. Susan Hunter, the Head of the Department of Language and Literature, in office G-210-B in the Arts and Sciences Building.