Engl& 101: English Composition I

Winter 2013, Section 1091

6:00-6:50pm TTh, R205

 

Instructor:      Jim Dicus

Email:             jim.dicus@bellevuecollege.edu

Office Location: R230
Office Phone: 425-564-2119

Office Hours: TTh 1:30-3:30pm and by appointment

 

Required Text and Material:

Hacker, A Writer’s Reference W/Exercises (ISBN: 0312601476)

A flash drive or other way to save and transport your work.

 

 

 Course Objectives:

After completing this course, students will be able to:

 

Think and read critically: carefully read, analyze, interpret and evaluate claims, beliefs, texts and/or issues.

·        frame questions, define problems, and position arguments.

·        consider multiple points of view and differentiate between assumptions, beliefs, facts, opinions, and biases.

·        read and respond to various texts critically for purposes of interpretation, analysis, synthesis, evaluation, and/or judgment.

·        demonstrate an understanding of a text’s main point/thesis and its relevant supporting details.

 

Compose and revise in context: shape written responses for different audiences and purposes.

·        consider flexible strategies for prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing.

·        develop and support thesis statements that are appropriately complex and significant.

·        construct unified paragraphs with topic sentences and supporting details that advance the thesis.

·        apply various methods of development such as illustration, comparison and contrast, and/or analysis.

·        balance their individual voices with those from other texts.

·        employ style, tone, and mechanical conventions appropriate to the demands of a particular audience or purpose.

 

Reflect and evaluate: recognize and incorporate newly acquired skills.

·        develop the ability to critique their own and others’ work.

·        gain a clearer perspective of habits that may detract from the effectiveness of their own writing.

·        respond to comments from their instructor and peers.

 

 

 

Evaluation Procedures:

Grades will be based on assignments, essays, and participation in class discussions and peer group evaluations.  Each assignment, especially essay assignments, carries a certain grade percentage.  There will be individual grading criteria listed with each major assignment in addition to what is listed generally in the syllabus. If you have questions that lie outside the scope of what either explicates, please ask me so I can specifically address your questions.

 

Major Assignments:

This course is designed upon the principle idea of a workshop-style approach to developing writing. Throughout the quarter we will be having discussions on readings in the book and online, doing short homework assignments and discussion work in Canvas, and working on essays. The approach to the essay writing is simple—multiple drafts and peer revisions will result in a better quality final product.

 

Final Grade Elements:

·        Essays

·        Homework

·        Participation/Online work

 

Paper Format Guidelines (3 general rules):

1.     All papers will be written using MLA format.

2.     No assignment will be accepted if submitted by email (we will be using Canvas).   

3.     You must STAPLE any assignment with more than 1 page before you turn it in.

 

Expectations for Assignments:

You must turn in all assignments complete and on time. Complete means everything specified in the assignment guidelines. Incomplete assignments may not be graded, or may receive a 0. This is especially true if you email an assignment. It won’t be considered as turned in, so expect the assignment to be graded with 0 for non-completion.

 

The grade for any late assignments will be reduced 10% each day it is late. Late essays and assignments will only be accepted up to one week following the due date.  Essay and assignments over a week late will not be accepted. No late in-class writing assignments or quizzes will be graded.

 

 

 

EMAILED ASSIGNMENTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

 


 

Prior Assignments:

I will not accept assignments written for another class as a final draft of an essay in this course.  Assignments completed for another class often do not meet the requirements for this course, and I will grade your papers on how well they meet the Engl 101 competencies.

 

Revision Policy:

Revision is a major part of the course.  You will be expected to revise each essay based on peer editing before you turn in the final draft.  With the pace of the course, I don’t allow assignments to be revised after the final version for credit. If you are worried about the grade you may earn on an assignment, feel free to speak with me BEFORE turning it in. I will be happy to give any feedback.

 

Attendance:

You are expected to attend class regularly, and your success in this class depends on part on that attendance. Be warned: in accordance with the BC/Arts & Humanities policy, you may receive a failing grade (F) for the class if you have 10+ absences.

 

Punctuality is also mandatory: 2 tardies = 1 absence, and so on. That means be on time and don’t sneak out early. Attendance will be taken at the beginning of class and if you’re not there at that time, you will be considered absent.

 

Should you know you’ll miss a session, please let me know by email. It is important for you to know the material in order to keep up with the rest of the class.

 

Electronic Devices:

Electronic devices may be used in this classroom for class work only. Use of electronic devices for anything other than class work is not permitted. Ringers should be silenced.

 

Mutual Respect:

We're all here for the same reason, to learn. Yes, me too. Therefore, we will all respect each other in this class. If you choose not to respect your fellow learners, then you choose not to be in this class. Repeated acts of gross disrespect will result in removal from the class. It's okay not to agree with others, but you must be civil about it. If you have any questions, please ask me or refer to the college’s “Affirmation of Inclusion” posted in this classroom and online at http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/about/goals/inclusion.asp

 

Student Code of Conduct:

“Cheating, stealing and plagiarizing (using the ideas or words of another as one’s own without crediting the source) and inappropriate/disruptive classroom behavior are violations of the Student Code of Conduct at Bellevue College.  Examples of unacceptable behavior include, but are not limited to: talking out of turn, arriving late or leaving early without a valid reason, allowing cell phones/pagers to ring, and inappropriate behavior toward the instructor or classmates.  The instructor can refer any violation of the Student Code of Conduct to the Vice President of Student Services for possible probation or suspension from Bellevue College.  Specific student rights, responsibilities and appeal procedures are listed in the Student Code of Conduct, available in the office of the Vice President of Student Services.”  The Student Code, Policy 2050, in its entirety is located at: http://bellevuecollege.edu/policies/2/2050_Student_Code.asp

 

Disability Resource Center (DRC):

The Disability Resource Center serves students with a wide array of learning challenges and disabilities. If you are a student who has a disability or learning challenge for which you have documentation or have seen someone for treatment and if you feel you may need accommodations in order to be successful in college, please contact us as soon as possible. If you are a student with a documented autism spectrum disorder, there is a program of support available to you. 

 

If you are a person who requires assistance in case of an emergency situation, such as a fire, earthquake, etc, please meet with your individual instructors to develop a safety plan within the first week of the quarter.

 

The DRC office is located in B 132 or you can call our reception desk at 425.564.2498. Deaf students can reach us by video phone at 425-440-2025 or by TTY at 425-564-4110.   .    .  Please visit our website for application information into our program and other helpful links at www.bellevuecollege.edu/drc

 

Final Notes:

We are here together for 12 weeks, and I wish for all of you to succeed. In this class we will operate from a platform of mutual respect. That being said, I expect a difference of opinion, and welcome it for understanding the perspective of others will allow us to grow as individuals. Of course that doesn’t give any single person free reign to berate or belittle anyone, and I will not tolerate that.

I’m here for you. Ask me questions. Send me emails. Whatever you do, don’t wait to the last minute to seek help.

 

Important Links:

Arts & Humanities Policies page (Student Procedures and Expectations)

http://bellevuecollege.edu/ArtsHum/policy.html

 

Arts and Humanities Commitment to Student Growth and Development
http://bellevuecollege.edu/ArtsHum/AHGdlns-StdntGrwth.htm

 

Reading and Writing labs

http://bellevuecollege.edu/asc/reading/


http://bellevuecollege.edu/asc/writing/