Course Syllabus
English 1301.3700/Spring 2016 Second Start Instructor: Michael Berberich Phone: 409-944-1323/Office: N-317 (feel free to visit)
Email: Use Canvas Learning Management System Office Hours: see Whitecaps Portal syllabus
Catalog Description: Intensive study of and practice in writing processes, from invention and researching to drafting, revision, and editing, both individually and collaboratively, Emphasis on effective rhetorical choices, including audience, purpose, arrangement, and style. Focus on writing the academic essay as a vehicle for learning, communicating, and critical analysis.
Required Books, Materials and Supplies:
Steps to Writing Well with Additional Readings 12th/9th edition, required by Wyrick, Jean ISBN: 9781133311294 Cengage
Learning Outcomes
Course Requirements
Catalog Description: The study of principles and techniques of written, expository, and persuasive composition; analysis of literary, expository and persuasive texts; and critical thinking.
Instructor's statement: Approximately half of the writing of the course will be comprised of a writer’s journal/portfolio in a three-part notebook. The first part will consist of five full-page (225 words) journal entries per week; the second part will contain class notes from chapter readings and related feedback; the third part will be for assigned homework discussion writing. The portfolio will be turned in and responded to several times during the semester. There will be several required online discussion postings on our new Canvas Learning Management System that can be taken from your writer's portfolio, polished up and posted in this portfolio. The writer's journal/portfolio will be scored as Complete or Incomplete but will not be assigned a letter grade. This ungraded aspect of the course is a long-recognized best practice in the teaching of composition. (See Peter Elbow's work, especially Writing with Power among other works.) Since these journal and portfolio writings comprise just over half the work of the course, a score of Incomplete on your notebook work will earn an automatic failing grade for the semester regardless of any other grades for the course.
Graded Projects: There will be four graded writing projects of between 400-1,000 words each. Prewriting and rough draft material must be turned in with each assignment. There will be a grammar/ punctuation test and a required final exam, which will contain a fifth short essay. Required notebook and journal writing will fill out the completion of 6,000 words of writing in the course. The journal/notebook is required to pass the course. Online postings for the public audience of your classmates will also be part of the assigned journal writing for this course.
Evaluation Criteria
Grading Philosophy Statement: Each grade in this course measures a standard of accomplishment. Grades are not awarded for showing up or for effort; they measure accomplishment. Graded assignments will be accompanied by a grading rubric that will inform students of the targeted knowledge, skills, or the application of skills that are measured along a continuum of accomplishment.
Each essay, test, or exam will be assigned an A through F letter grade using a 4 point scale: A=4.0; B+=3.5; B=3.0; C+=2.5; C=2.0; D=1.0; and F=0. All letter graded assignments will be weighted equally. For mathematically scored assignments, the translation of mathematical grades into letter grades will be as follows: 100-93=A; 92-88=B+; 87-83=B; 82-78=C+; 77-70=C; 69-63=D; <63=F. (As a point of merit, the Fall 2006 edition of the National Education Association journal Thought & Action contains a well-supported discussion of grading theories titled “Common Errors in Calculating Final Grades” by Richard W. Francis {15}. My system as delineated above is consistent with best practices as discussed in that article.)
Final Grades: I use the letter grading system (A-F) to determine final grades for the semester. I am consistent with the College's delineation of grades as set forth in the catalogue; however, I include half-grade measured weights (B+/C+) in assessing individual graded work within the semester, which I believe maintains a rigorous grading standard while giving students the benefit of a doubt in the weighting of grades that might be just shy of the higher grade. At the end of the semester an average of 4.0-3.6 will garner a final semester grade of A; an of 3.5 will require a look at class attendance, meeting or exceeding the minimum requirement in the writer's portfolio, plus improvement over the semester. Accomplishment over and above the stated expectations in the journal or steady improvement over the semester areas will be recognized by awarding the final semester grade of A. Effort that merely meets the expectations in these areas will earn a semester grade of B. It is not the policy of Galveston College to recognize (+) and (-) as transcript grades, which is also why a 92, 91, or 90 gets counted as a B+. (Many instructors grade a 92, 91, or 90 as an A-, but minus means "less than," which is why I assigned a properly scaled grade of B+; I will note as well that many instructors also record a B+ as an unweighted B, as a B that just wasn't quite up to A level but counts as a B nonetheless. But as you see from the scale above, I assign a higher weight (3.5) to a B+ when averaging final grades for the course.)
Thus an average of 3.0-3.5 will normally earn a final semester grade of B, with exceptions as noted above.
An average of 2.0 to 2.9 will normally earn a grade of C. An exception of an awarded B for a 2.9 for an effort over and above stated expectations as noted above. Attendance that is weak and/or writing effort in the journal and CANVAS postings that merely meets expectations without exceeding them will be recognized by the awarding of a grade of C. A grade average of 1.5-1.9 will earn a grade of D. A final grade point average of less than 1.5 will earn a failing grade for the course because I do not believe in supporting a wide range of mediocrity. If three of the graded papers are not turned in, the earned grade for the course will be F.
Note about Incompletes: Any final grades turned in as Incomplete will be for exigency situations where approximately ¾ of the work of the course has already been completed. An Incomplete must be arranged in advance, have the student’s signature or email arrangement, the instructor’s signature, and the program director's signature, plus contain a written plan and timeline for completing the required work, papers, and testing.
Works Cited:
Elbow, Peter. Writing with Power: Techniques for Mastering the Writing Process. New York: Oxford University Press, 1981.
Francis, Richard W. “Common Errors in Calculating Final Grades.” Thought and Action. 22. (2006) 15-22.
"A Conversation with Kathleen Blake Yancey, Kellogg W. Hunt Professor of English at Florida State University." Lee College English Department Fall 2014 Colloquium. 21 Aug. 2014. Interview.
Special Services
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute which provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with documented disabilities be guaranteed reasonable accommodation for those disabilities. If you believe that you have a disability requiring such accommodation, please contact Ms. Jayne Withers at the Galveston College Counseling Center or call (409) 944-1223.
Course Outline
Time Frame for Covering Content of the Course:
Week I (February 29-March 6, 2016) Topics: Introductions, review of this syllabus, learning the mechanics of Canvas, first journal writings, writing as note taking/annotating, overview of academic methodology and the culture of higher education; discussion of reading apprenticeship theories for college students (as part of GC's Read Deeper QEP project related to accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools [SACS]); Writing during this segment of the course will be plentiful and required but will be graded only as complete/incomplete. Journal writing and homework writing under the Assignments/Journals and Assignments/Homework bars will be reviewed and responded to. Reading Assignments: Wyrick chapters 8, 31, 1. On Pages bar read Scholarly/Academic Methodologies. Start Graded Writing Project #1 (Writing for public audiences/writing about methodologies/using college resources On Assignments bar).
(Note: March 8th = last day to drop without a grade of W assigned to your transcript)
Week II (March 7-13, 2016) Topics: Pump Priming Techniques (prewriting and invention strategies). Kinds of published writing, intellectual property, literary vs. nonliterary, some basic structures and strategies in writing and drafting. Reading Assignments: Wyrick chapters 6, 3. Continue Graded Writing Project #1 (Writing for public audiences/writing about methodologies/using college resources).
Week III (March 14-20, 2016) Topics: vocabulary, styles, tone, introduction to grammar/ punctuation. Reading Assignments: Wyrick chapter 7, 5. Complete Graded Writing Project #1.
Week IV (March 21-27, 2016) Topics: Organizing the argumentative essay; thesis defined and explained in detail; basic paragraph development. Reading Assignments: Wyrick chapters 9,11. Complete Graded Writing Project #1.
Week V (March 28-April 3, 2016) Topics: Start grammar, mechanics, punctuation; emphasis on more on drafting. Reading Assignments: Wyrick chapters 2, 3, 4. Start Graded Writing Project #2 (organizing argument/writing to persuade a public audience/defining and considering ethics) on Assignments bar. Start review of grammar and mechanics on Assignments bar.
Week VI (April 4-10, 2016) Topics: Advanced revision strategies (for content, style, organization, proofreading); continue grammar, mechanics, punctuation. Reading Assignments: Wyrick chapters 10, 28, 20, 21. Complete Graded Writing Project #2.
Week VII (April 11-17, 2016) Topics: Wrap up grammar, mechanics, punctuation. Reading Assignments: Wyrick chapters 11, 12, 22. Start Graded Writing Project #3.
Week VIII (April 18-24, 2016) Topics: Grammar, mechanics, punctuation test. Reading Assignments: Wyrick chapter 13 plus selected readings from chapters 23-32, e.g. "Once More to the Lake" by E. B. White." Continue Graded Writing Project #3
Week IX (April 25-May 1, 2016) Topics: More complex kinds of reading and writing, plus writing about writing (e.g., interpretation of written texts, analysis of tone and style, writing about ethical dilemmas; writing as literature; evaluating good prose. Reading Assignments: Wyrick chapter 13, plus selected readings from chapters 23-32, e.g. Thoreau, Martin Luther King, Jr. Complete Graded Writing Project #3; Start Graded Writing Project #4.
Week X (May 2-4, 2016) Topics: review and preparation for final exam. Complete Graded Writing Assignment #4.
Week XI (May 5-10, 2016) Topic: Final Exam
Week XI (May 10-11, 2011) Topic: Instructor Grading.
Week IX (May 12, 2016, 10:00 a.m.) Final Grades Due to Admissions
Attendance Policy
For online courses, completion of any assignment turned in during the week or communication with instructor will count as attendance.
Classroom Courses: Students are expected to attend all lectures and laboratory periods, and an accurate record of each student's class attendance is kept by each instructor for the duration of the course. Moreover, students learn from one another in the course; it is not solely a matter of what the student takes from a course. Any student, who misses 10% of the total clock hours of instruction, i.e., 3 class days in a two-meetings-per-week class (two days in summer school), without excused clearance by the instructor may be withdrawn from class by the instructor with a grade of "AWN." Students and the instructor are expected to report to class on time. At the discretion of the instructor, tardiness may be treated the same as an absence and the AWN policy may be applied. If an AWN is processed before a student completes the drop procedures, the "AWN" will become the grade of record. The student, instructor, and financial aid office will receive copies of the AWN form. Programs with special attendance requirements mandated by local, state, or national accrediting or professional agencies will observe the agency attendance requirements which affect student certification, registry, or licensure, as well as those of the College. All special attendance requirements must be approved in writing by the Vice President of Instruction. Absences that are part of special services to the college such as when a student represents the college in some way are automatically excused, though students are responsible for learning what they missed on that day.
Academic Integrity
Each student is charged with the responsibility of maintaining scholastic integrity. When written assignments require excerpts from material published by others, the student must give full credit to the author to avoid the possibility of plagiarism. For more information refer to "Students Rights and Responsibilities section (F) Student Code of Conduct." Any student violation of scholastic integrity for plagiarism or cheating falls properly within the realm of student/faculty relations and is subject to a faculty recommendation to the college administration for loss of credit for a particular assignment, examination, or unit of work; failure in a course; or, dismissal from the college.
Cell Phone / SmartPhone Use
Cell phones need to be turned off. If you anticipate the need to take an important call, inform your instructor prior to class and find a seat near the front door of the class. Restricted use of phones and pads that access online resources will be allowed such as specific occasions warrant.
Computer Usage
Galveston College provides computer resources for the purpose of accomplishing tasks related to the mission of the college. Authorized users are allowed to use the college's computer resources for school related and incidental purposes, subject to the College’s Computer Use policy and other applicable college policies, and state and federal law. For additional information concerning the College’s computer usage policy and/or procedures, please consult the Galveston College Catalog and/or Galveston College Student Handbook.
Late Work
Late work turned in without permission for reasonable exigency situations can earn a maximum grade of C+. Special exigency circumstances should be cleared in advance with your instructor.
Library Usage
A library tour will be included as part of the course to familiarize students with the full range of resources the college and the state of Texas has provided for the success of students.
Tutoring
Tutoring is available in the Student Success Center in room N-119, or by arrangement with your instructor.
Visitors
Guests are allowed provided you have cleared it with your instructor.
Accessing and Using Canvas
Students will be required to use Galveston College’s new online Canvas Learning Management System. There are three types of courses which may be accessed through online at http://www.gc.edu. The first is a fully online course, indicated in the schedule as ARR (arranged). The second is a hybrid or blended course, in which some of the instructional coursework is done face-to-face while a substantial portion is done through Angel. The third is a web-enhanced course which meets face-to-face in a traditional classroom format. This course will be a web-enhanced course. On the top right menu bar click on e-Learning.
Syllabus prepared February 9, 2016, late pm.
Course Summary:
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