1.
Course Title: English Composition 1113
2.
Objectives
Upon completion
of this course the student will be able to:
global problems.
3.
Instructor Information:
·
Office: NOC-Stillwater Campus
·
Website: www.geocities.com/mycompprof.html
· Email Address: [email protected]
·
Office Hours: by
appointment
4. Textbook
and Materials
VanderMey, Randall, Verne Meyer,
John Van Rys, and Pat Sebranek. The
College Writer: A Guide to Thinking Writing, and Researching. 2nd ed. Boston: Houghton-Mifflin Company, 2007.
Dictionary recommended.
5. Course Policies:
·
Assignments:
o
Essays: Each essay must be a minimum of
500-750 words in length and must demonstrate original thought, development, and
organization. For
each essay assignment, you will be given a schedule of readings, exercises, and
drafts required. All essays must be typed, double spaced, and in MLA format.
Grading criteria for each essay will be reviewed in class.
Instructors will determine the specific scope of each assignment. Toward the middle of the semester, there will
be a progressive shift from the development of personal style to academic prose
with a persuasive emphasis.
If a student fails to hand in a
major essay on the due date, the paper will receive a ten-point deduction per
calendar day (NOT per class period) if handed in within the week. Remember, a fifty is always better than a
zero. After one week from the date due,
the paper will not be accepted. Students
will be expected to revise most graded essays.
These revisions can result in additional points. Failure to complete corrections will result
in a grade reduction of 5 points unless the instructor indicates that
corrections are optional.
o
Other Work:
Students are
responsible for getting missed lecture notes from classmates, and must complete
work assigned on the days they were absent, regardless of the reason. Students are responsible for all information
announced in the classroom: explanation
of assignments, hand-outs, possible changes in due dates, etc whether present
the day discussed or not. To avoid
penalty, students who know that they will miss a class should turn in
assignments before the absence. Late
daily work will not be accepted and in-class writings and quizzes will not be
made up except in extenuating circumstances as determined by the instructor.
Homework assignments and readings are to be completed before
class. The student should be prepared to
ask and answer questions related to the assignment. If students miss a major exam, they will have
until the next class period to complete the missed exam. After that, if the exam has not been
completed, a zero will be recorded.
·
Attendance: Regular attendance is required to be
successful in the
class. Instructors
will use the administrative warn and drop system. After three(3) absences, the instructor will issue
a warning and after six (6) accumulative absences, the instructor may withdraw
the student. You are absent if you arrive in class after I have taken roll.
With Your
total points earned will be
0-1 absences raised
three points
Absence #4 lowered
three points
5 or more absences lowered
two more points for each
·
Plagiarism: If you submit work other than your own, I will consider the
work plagiarized. Plagiarism may result
in any or all of the following penalties:
a zero for the assignment, an “F” for the
course, or an administrative
withdrawal from school.
6. Evaluation and Assessment of Course:
Grading:
The final
course grade will be based on total points possible. Instructors evaluate students’ work according
to standard requirements:
A—90-100% - A
paper in this grade range demonstrates exemplary work. “A” work goes above and
beyond the basic requirements. It is organized, clear, effective, eloquent, and
insightful writing. It has an original, convincing, and inventive thesis,
specific and well-constructed evidence and support, seamless organization, and smooth
transitions. There are sporadic or rare mechanical errors.
B—80-89% - A paper in this grade range demonstrates solid,
high-quality work. “B” work has a clear, concise, and interesting thesis. This
essay will also show thoughtful efforts that go beyond the basic requirements,
but there may be holes in the essay where organization and use of evidence
could have been more effective. Organization and transitions are handled
capably. There are few mechanical errors.
C—70-79% - A paper in this grade range fulfills the requirements
of the assignment, but does so in a way that is merely adequate. “C” work is the measure against which all
other grades are determined. The essay meets the minimum basic requirements of
the assignment, but little else in terms of presentation and attention to the
potential of the task is achieved. A thesis is stated, but may be clichéd or
unfocused. The essay attempts to answer the question or address the
instructor’s expectations. The essay shows evidence of a competence with
paragraphing and a rudimentary sense of organization.
D—60-69% - A paper in this grade range demonstrates a minimal
engagement with and mastery of the concepts and skills being presented in the
course. “D” work meets only some of the requirements of the assignment, or the
assignment was misunderstood. The thesis is difficult to determine, if it
exists at all. There is little organization and poor use of transitions.
F—below 60%
- <A grade in this range indicates either work that is not done at all or
work that is done so poorly that the only conclusion is that a student has not
learned or applied the concepts and skills of the course. “F” work does not meet any of the
requirements for the assignment. There is no thesis, no organization, no
supporting evidence, and numerous grammar, punctuation, and usage errors.
Standards used for paragraph/essay grading:
a. Content and Organization Penalty
1. Subject choice
appropriate 5-10
pts.
2. Topic sentence
adequate 2-10
pts.
3. Unity 2-10
pts.
4. Coherence and
logical order 2-10
pts.
5. Development of
ideas adequate 2-20 pts.
6. Material
significant and interesting 5-10 pts.
b. Sentences
1. Fragment, comma
splice, run-on 5
2.
Agreement—subject/verb 2
pronoun/antecedent
3. Shifts—person,
pronoun 2
4. Verbs—form, tense,
voice 2
5. Awkward or unclear
structure 2-5
6. Misplaced modifier 2
7. Faulty
coordination/subordination 2
8. Redundancy 2-5
9. Word choice or
wrong word 2
c. Mechanics
1. Spelling 2
2.
Punctuation/capitalization 1
3. Manuscript form 1-5
d. General
1. Late paper 5
2. Paper not on assigned subject Rewrite
3. Incorrect structure Rewrite
NOTE: In all writing
assignments the student is expected to use standard English.
Proofreading: A paper must have
both content and correct mechanics if it is to communicate well. Students should proofread their work
carefully. Tutors are available in the
Tutoring Center to help with writing and editing.
·
Extra Credit—Course Policy:
While extra credit is seldom given,
writing assignments can be revised at instructor discretion.
7. Writing Component:
Northern Oklahoma College is committed to helping students improve writing. The college expects all courses to contain a writing component as part of the evaluation of student progress. We expect students to produce written work that is focused, well developed, organized, and relatively free of grammatical, punctuation and spelling errors. Papers that fall short of this standard will not be accepted; the work will be returned to the student for revision within a reasonable time.
8. Academic Dishonesty or Misconduct:
Academic dishonesty or misconduct is not tolerated at
Northern Oklahoma College. Whether in
the form of plagiarism or cheating, it is a serious matter that can result in
expulsion from the institution.
Representing someone else’s ideas as one’s own or using unauthorized
notes, aids, or other means to improve scores on an assignment, a project, or
an exam will result in disciplinary action against the student. The disciplinary procedures are as described
in the NOC Student Handbook.
Disciplinary action for students who are enrolled in both OSU and NOC classes will follow the OSU policy on Academic Misconduct and Dishonesty (http://comp.okstate.edu).
9. Use of Cell Phones & Electronic Devices:
The use of cell phones, palm
pilots, walkie-talkies, pagers, cameras, or other communication devices
will not be permitted during in-session classes at Northern Oklahoma
College. If brought to class, these
devices must be turned off and stored out of sight. In the event a student is caught using an
electronic device of any nature during exams, quizzes, or other confidential
circumstances, the student will receive a zero grade for that portion of the
coursework. It will be at the discretion
of NOC to determine additional consequences, which can include removal from the
course and/or removal
from the institution for the dishonest act or acts. (Refer to the NOC Student Handbook for additional information.)
The use of laptop computers is permissible in
Northern Oklahoma College classes only upon prior approval by the specific
instructor for that course. Any use of
laptop computers or any other similar learning aids that are used in a
dishonest manner by the student will result in forfeiture of the privilege to
use such items in class and the student will receive a zero grade for that
portion of the coursework. It will be at
the discretion of NOC to determine additional consequences, which can include
removal from the course and/or removal from the institution for the dishonest
act or acts. (Refer to the NOC Student
Handbook for additional information.)
10. Assessment of Student Learning:
Assessment is an ongoing process aimed at understanding and improving student learning. It involves making the course objectives measurable and explicit. It is our intent to systematically measure the process of student learning within each course being taught at Northern, by setting appropriate high standards for learning quality and interpreting evidence to determine how well student performance matches the course objectives and standards, then utilizing the resulting information to improve student performance.
The following examples are measures
that will provide evidence of student learning: written and oral assignments and
projects, unit, chapter, mid-term, and comprehensive examinations, pre- and
post-tests, quizzes, competency based projects, observation of student
behavior, internally and externally juried reviews, portfolios, internships,
case studies, research papers, journals, essays, large and small group
projects, one on one communications between faculty and students, standardized
or national licensure tests, capstone projects, student satisfaction surveys,
national standardized tests, employer surveys on the quality of program
graduates, and others.
11. Identification of
Student Learning Styles:
The Northern faculty believes that all students should have
the opportunity to learn in an environment conducive to their dominant learning
style. It is our goal to provide diverse
pedagogy within each course to address the identified learning styles for the
visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners.
12. Statement
of Student Support
If you have a disability, please let me know so I can work
cooperatively with you and the counseling office to provide reasonable and fair
opportunities for you to be a productive and successful learner.
13.
Additional Information:
I believe you must play an active, rather than a passive, role in your education. Students are expected to participate in class. This participation includes promptness, politeness, and preparation. Please understand that class discussions are intended to inspire thought that precedes writing.
Because I firmly believe everyone can learn – and teach – by voicing ideas out loud, I will call on you, as often as possible, to speak in class. And because I still remember what it feels like to be called on, you will always have the option of saying “I pass.”
Students should be on time for each class meeting and remain in class until dismissed. Exits for drinks, meeting roommates, reading newspapers, listening to Ipods, text messaging and other such behaviors are NOT acceptable. Tardiness may be noted by the instructor as a class absence.
My website contains a link to a calendar that represents a more specific representation of the Outline provided below. The instructor reserves the right to make changes as necessary. All coursework must be completed prior to the week before final exams. Late work will not be accepted after that time.
14. Course
Outline
Weeks 1-2 Narrative/Descriptive Essay
Weeks 5-6 Classification Essay
Weeks 7-8 Cause-Effect
Essay/ Essay Exam
Weeks 9-10 Comparison
Essay
Weeks11-12 Definition Essay
Weeks 13-14 Argument Essay
Week 15 Final Exam