Winter
Quarter 2014
Engl& 101: English Composition I Instructor:
James Torrence
Office Location: R230 S
Office Phone: 425-564-2168
Office Hours: M/W 4:00-6:00, T/Th 3:00-5:00, or by appointment
Contact: Please e-mail me via our Canvas
site. I typically answer e-mail in less than 24 hours on weekdays and in
less than 48 hours on weekends.
If the course site is down,
e-mail me at jtorrenc@bellevuecollege.edu.
Textbooks:
The Complete Persepolis, by Marjane Satrapi
The Complete Maus, by
Art Spiegelman
Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic, by
Alison Bechdel
Course description:
Welcome to English 101 online. In this class you will have
opportunity to be exposed to and reflect upon a series of graphic novels,
further explore ideas through developing and completing your own essays using
the writing processes all writers employ, and provide constructive and supportive
feedback to essays composed by other class members. Since good reading and good
writing are intimately linked, be prepared to READ and RE-READ the assigned
books carefully and participate in discussion with the whole class.
Here's a list of typical English 101 activities you'll
participate in during the course:
· Read
the assigned texts, at least twice. Though it may seem counter-intuitive to
some, graphic novels tend to be rather complex, so allow extra time to re-read
them. In another words, read the books at least twice and take notes (or
use whatever mnemonic method of works best for you).
· Join
other students in regularly scheduled group discussions about your shared
responses to the readings where you will be graded on your posted responses and
comments.
· Begin,
revise, and then post with your peer review group two major essays during the
course of the quarter.
· Provide
constructive evaluations, for which you will be graded, for other peer review
group members' essays.
· Submit
your rough and final drafts of each essay to your instructor, via Canvas.
Course Outcomes:
· Demonstrate
various invention practices: brainstorming, free writing, outlining, and
journaling.
· Demonstrate
ability to write in various modes: personal narrative, expository, analytical,
descriptive, and argument.
· Demonstrate
the phases of writing: brainstorming, drafting, revision, final copy.
· Explore
sources of writing: reading, thinking, analyzing, and discussion.
· Create
a thesis statement that expresses the focus of the paper, does not point out
the obvious, and is written as a complete sentence.
· Develop
and include enough details and examples to support the identified thesis and
reinforce the essay's focus.
· Demonstrate
various patterns of organization and use the organization pattern that suits
your identified purpose and audience.
· Demonstrate
awareness of Audience in your writing.
· Artfully
combine Audience, Purpose, and Tone in compositions written in and outside of
class.
· Write
in a vocabulary appropriate to your subject and identified audience.
· Begin
and conclude a paper effectively.
· Show
effective control of mechanics: paragraphing, punctuation, and spelling.
· Differentiate
between key ideas and supporting details in reading.
· Locate
the thesis statement in reading assignments.
· Practice
good group skills: i.e. give useful feedback and make use of feedback you
receive.
· Develop
self-assessment skills.
Assignments:
100 points = Essay #1
100 points = Essay #2
150 points = Essay #3
5 points = posting
intro
5 points = Why study
English? discussion
50 points =
Self-evaluation essay
30 points = Sample
Essay Evaluation
150 points = Completing peer evaluation forms (50 points per
evaluation cycle)
90 points = Posting
rough drafts before deadlines for peer evaluation (30 points per draft)
240 points = Posting responses in weekly discussions (30
points per discussion)
80 points = Posting comments in weekly discussions (10 points
per discussion)
Grade scale:
A 940-1000 points C+ 770-799
points
A- 900-939 points C 740-769
points
B+ 870-899 points C- 700-739
points
B 840-869 points
D 660-699
points
B- 800-839 points F 0-659
points
Grade-related Policies:
In order to receive a passing grade for this course, you must
complete all four essays before the last day of class.
Late
Work:
Assignments submitted after that date will lose 10 points per 24-hour period
that they are late. I will not accept assignments more than three days late.
Extra Credit: There will be no extra credit
assignments offered for this course.
Dropping a course: If you decide to drop a
course, you are responsible for doing the required paperwork online or at the
Student Services Center. Should you fail to do so, your name will appear
on the final roster and your instructor will be required to assign a grade for
you—in most cases, that will be an "F."
•
Through the tenth day of the
quarter, the dropped course does not become part of the transcript.
•
After the tenth school day and
through the end of the seventh week of the quarter, the “W” grade will become
part of the student’s transcript record, regardless of grade status at the
time.
•
No official withdrawal will be
permitted after the start of the eighth week of the quarter.
HW (Hardship Withdrawal): HW indicates a withdrawal
request made because of extenuating circumstances after the official withdrawal
period is over and before the course has ended. The student must proactively
contact the instructor to request this withdrawal option, or the faculty member
may initiate the contact. Hardship withdrawals are only appropriate when
extenuating circumstances (i.e. hardship) prevent the student from completing
the course. HWs must be negotiated in advance.
I (Incomplete): An “I” grade indicates that
the student has not completed specific prescribed requirements for a course,
usually for unforeseen reasons beyond the student’s control. The student is
responsible for requesting the assignment of an “I” grade and for demonstrating
why the “I” is appropriate. Granting the request and assigning the “I” grade is
the prerogative of the instructor. If a student has performed at a passing
level during the quarter but for some reason is unable to complete the course
requirements, he/she may be assigned an “I” grade at the course instructor’s
discretion. Typically an “I” grade is appropriate when a student has
successfully completed the entire course minus one required assignment.
In such cases, an “I” will be posted to the transcript when
submitted by the instructor with a contractual form, which specifically
indicates the work the student must complete to make up the deficiency and the
date by which the deficiency must be resolved. Both the instructor and the
student must sign the contract. The work for the course must be completed
before the end of the next quarter (by the end of the following fall term if
the “I” is given in the spring term), and an extension can be granted only with
the instructor’s approval. If the student fails to complete the designated
assignment(s), an “F” grade will be posted.