| English 120
Syllabus Instructor: Jeff Houldsworth Contact Information E-Mail: [email protected] Telephone: 965-3931 ex 2290 Office Hours: I have office hours in The Learning Place, and they vary by semester. Contact me by e-mail to arrange an appointment or meeting. Course Description: This course is designed to improved basic writing skills. Writing assignments emphasize grammar, usage, punctuation, and composition of paragraphs and short expository papers. A student who meets all class requirements and shows significant progress over the course of the semester will receive a corresponding grade and be recommended for English 151. Prerequisite: COMPASS writing range 38-77 or a �C�grade or higher in ENGL 97. Text and Materials: � Resources for Writers with Readings, 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. � Class notes and various handouts throughout the semester. � Internet research and use will be required throughout the semester, and is available for no cost at several locations on campus. Competencies: 1. Strengthen use of Standard English grammar and mechanics. 2. Write effective paragraphs and short essays. 3. Proofread paragraphs correctly. 4. Demonstrate vocabulary usage in writings. 5. Develop critical thinking skills. 6. Pass the required written grammar exam (32/43 points) 7. Pass the required written paragraph exam. 8. Demonstrate the ability to use the computer effectively for writing assignments. Requirements for Passing the Course: To successfully complete English 120, there are three components that must be met. 1. Receive a C or higher in course work. 2. Pass the Exit Test with a 74% or higher (32/43 questions) 3. Write a paper with five or less errors according to departmentally mandated standards. This may require several revisions and a great deal of effort on your part. Grading scale for all assignments: Passing Failing A 100-93% C- 72-69 A- 92-89 D+ 68-67 B+ 88-87 D 66-65 B 86-83 D- 64-63 B- 82-79 F 62 and below C+ 78-77 C 76-73 You will be evaluated on the following: Grammar Quizzes (5 @ 30/40 points each) 180 points Papers (4 @ 100 points each) 400 points Process Points (4 @ 25 each) 100 points In-Class Assignments 100 points Attendance/Participation 50 points Homework 80 points Exit Test 100 points Exit Essay 100 points 1110 points GRADING CRITERIA Grammar, Punctuation, and Spelling Placement in ENG 120 presupposes a desire to increase student competence in English grammar, mechanics, punctuation, and spelling. Hence, these elements play a role in determining your grade on any of the writing assignments. However, a writing assignment will not receive a perfect grade merely because it is grammatically error-free; to earn a perfect score, writing assignments must also display a mastery of the structural components that are appropriate at that point in the course. Assignment of Grades The grades on your writing assignments reflect both the number of grammar errors and my evaluation of how well the assignment demonstrates your mastery of the composition skills appropriate at that point in the course and your level of writing skill based on the following criteria: CONTENT contain a central idea, developed with originality and careful thought, and supported substantially and concretely ORGANIZATION follow a plan that progresses by clearly ordered and necessary stages STYLE contain sentences that are unified and developed with unusual effectiveness, transitions between sentences that are clear and effective, and sentences that are coherent and effective DICTION utilize language that is appropriate, fresh, and accurate Attendance Requirements/Missed and Late Course Work: � Your successful completion of the course, as well as your mastery of the material, depends on regular attendance and on diligence in completing the assignments both in and out of class. However, it is understood that students may have to miss class due to illness and/or unforeseeable scheduling conflicts. Therefore, four absences during the semester are permitted, but after the fifth absence the student may be withdrawn from the class. If you are no more than twenty minutes late, this will count as a � class absence. In addition, you are responsible for obtaining your own missed work. Please contact me as soon as possible if you have missed a class, so you know what needs to be done and won�t fall behind. Failure to keep in contact with me during absences may result in an administrative withdrawal. � Writing assignments and tests are scheduled well in advance; therefore, you are responsible for completing these tasks on time. If you miss a test, it will need to be made up on the day you return. I will NOT track you down to get you to make up work- it is your responsibility to get it to me! Papers should be e-mailed to me in the event of an absence; otherwise, they are considered late. � Late papers will be accepted, but will drop 10% points everyday that they are late. Thus, if a paper is due on Monday and you turn it in on Wednesday, the highest grade attainable is an 80% - and that�s for a perfect �A� paper. � Keeping in contact with your instructor throughout the semester is vital. If you miss a day or an assignment, or if you have any questions, please contact me via e-mail or telephone as soon as possible. I am available for questions and extra help in The Learning Place (O-207) most days, several hours a week. If you are struggling with the material in this class or are having problems with your writing, please make some time to stop in and work with me on the material with which you are struggling. Your personal effort will help you pass this class. Cell Phones: Through experience in the classroom, I have found that cell phones and pagers are a distraction, so please turn them off while in class. (Note: I did not say turn to vibrate, but actually turn them off.) If at any time during the course of the semester, your cell phone goes off, you will need to write an additional two-page paper on a topic of my choosing. This paper will be read aloud to the class upon its completion. Failure to complete this assignment in its entirety will result in the immediate dropping of a student�s total grade by 10%. This could vary well be the difference between passing and failing for some of you. You have been warned! Academic Honesty: Each student must be honest and do his/her own work. Students caught cheating will receive a zero on the test or assignment on which they cheated. Cheating can be considered anything from sharing answers on a test/quiz to copying information from the internet and submitting it as your own. Academic dishonesty can also be grounds for administrative withdrawal or expulsion from the college. Further details can be found in the student handbook. Disability Statement: KCC does not discriminate in the admission or treatment of students on the basis of disability. KCC is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. DISCLAIMER: This was correct and complete when distributed. This is not a contract between KCC and the student or between the instructor and student. The instructor may change content/instruction without notice or obligation to the student. |
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