Syllabus

Instructor Information

  • Instructor: Dr. Alisa Cooper
  • College: South Mountain CC
  • Term: Fall 2007
  • Class: ENG102: Freshman Composition
  • Section: 2533
  • Class Time: MW 9:30-10:45am
  • Online Office Hours: MW: 12:15-1:15pm; TR: Online 8-9am & 9-9pm

 Contact Information

Course Materials Required:

  • Writing, Reading and Research, 7th Ed. Richard Veit & Christopher Gould.
  • 3 ring binder notebook,
  • 8 1/2 X 11 white notebook paper,
  • Email address, Delicious account
  • 3X5 index cards

Recommended:

  • USB thumb drive, ear phones and microphone headset

Course Description
This course further emphasizes critical reading and essay writing. Students write short essays as well as an extended research paper. Course work engages students in the reading, thinking, and writing processes central to academic research: paraphrase, summary, critical analysis, synthesis, argumentation. The course also utilizes current technology to aide in researching and writing.

Course Objectives
1. Students will exit the course having further developed their ability to read critically, generate original ideas, and present these ideas persuasively in academic, college-level essays. This includes writing well-supported, coherent, original arguments.

2. Students will refine strategies of academic research, including selecting a topic, generating an original thesis, understanding and evaluating sources, and planning and developing an extended documented research paper.

3. Overall, students will refine their reading and writing processes as they further develop confidence in their ability as readers, writers, and critics.

Grading Policies
Grades for completed written work are given in percentages:
90-100 = A, 80-89 = B, 70-79 = C, 60-69 = D
Below 60 is a failing grade on an individual assignment; however, a score of below 60 does reflect credit for the work done and certainly is more valuable than a zero (0), which is a score when no work is turned in.

Grades:

A = 1000-895 pts
B = 894-795 pts
C = 794-695 pts
D = 694-595 pts
F = 594-0 pts

Final Note: 60% of your grade in this class is dependent on your essay writing skills. That’s over half of your grade. You are guaranteed to not do well if you do not complete any one of the essay assignments. To give you a fair opportunity to do well in ENG 102, please complete ALL essay assignments.

Attendance Policies

You are expected to attend all class sessions. Attendance is also measured by your activity in the class. You should plan to participate at least 3 days a week. Should you miss more than that you may be withdrawn from ENG102 due to excessive absences. You may also lose class participation/attendance points for excessive absences.

You are expected to participate cooperatively, constructively, and to the best of your ability in all class and online activities. These activities may include class or small group discussion, peer-editing, in-class writing assignments and online discussion forums and writing assignments. In order to participate, you must be prepared–complete all class assignments before coming to class. If you come to class unprepared, you may be counted absent, and you will lose class participation points. Remember if your work is late for whatever reason (slept in, sick, emergency at home), you have to be willing to accept the consequences. One late assignment won’t kill your A. So plan accordingly and keep up with your assignments and attend class regularly.

Course Policies
Late Work: You must turn in all assignments complete and on time. Complete means everything specified in the assignment. Incomplete assignments will not be graded. On time means at the beginning of class on the date the assignment is due. The grade for any late assignment will be reduced 10% each day it is late, 5% if turned in later the same day it is due. Late papers and assignments will be accepted up to one week following the due date. Papers and assignments over a week late will not be accepted.
NOTE: The final draft of the research paper may not be turned in late.

Plagiarism: It is important that you become familiar with the plagiarism policy of the English Division. Credit must be given where it is due. Creators of ideas deserve to be recognized for them. If you present material without acknowledging an outside source, readers will assume that you are its author. When writers deliberately present another author’s work as their own, they are guilty of plagiarism. When you write for others to read, as in an essay, you are bound by certain rules of fair play. Specifically, unless you quote directly, you must completely restate material borrowed from your sources using your own words and your own style. Failure to do so is called plagiarism, an act of dishonesty. If you plagiarize in any assignment in this course, you will receive zero (0) points for the plagiarized assignment.

Paper Format:
All papers and writing assignments handed in on paper should:
1. be typed (double-spaced); 12pt font
2. have 1″ margins on top and bottom and 1.25″ on the sides;
3. include the writer’s name, course title/time, assignment # & name, and date in upper left corner of the page.
4. be saved as either MS Word (.doc) or Rich Text Format (.rtf)
5. be saved with the following named format: first name and Assn.# (Tracy A1.doc)Assignments that do not follow these format guidelines will be penalized no less than 5% and no more than 10% of the grade.

Tutoring:
The Learning Assistance Center provides help with study skills, writing, basic computer skills and content areas. Tutorial software, websites, study guides, videos and tutors are available in many subject area. A computer lab, study rooms and make-up testing are also available. Online tutorials and resources can be found at My Course Help
This service is FREE to students.

  • Contact the Learning Assistance Center, located in room SS-100.
  • Online: http://www.southmountaincc.edu/Support/Learning_Center/
  • Phone: 602-243-8189

    • Hours:

    8:00am-8:00pm, M-TH

    8:00am-2:00pm, F

    9:00am-2:00pm, S

Disability Services and Resources
If any of you has a disability, including a learning disability, please contact me as soon as possible to discuss any potential accommodation needs.The DRS office is here to assist you in:

  • Accessing and using resources that will help make you more independent and self-sufficient.
  • Developing skills needed for academic and personal success.
  • Creatively overcoming obstacles.
  • Achieving your maximum potential. Disability Services and Resources (DSR)

The DRS office is presently located in the Student Enrollment Services Building, Rm. 130.

  • Fall & Spring office hours are: 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursdays, and Fridays 10 - 4.
  • Appointments available by calling 602-243-8027. Otherwise, please visit the Advisement desk to make an appointment.

Final Statements

  • Information provided in the syllabus and due dates are subject to change due to the exigencies of the real world. Keep informed of any changes by attending class regularly and taking note of any announcements made in class. Students will be notified by the instructor of any changes in course requirements or policies.
  • As a registered student in this class you are responsible to know and understand the syllabus. The instructor is willing to answer any questions you may have concerning the syllabus. It is recommended that you keep this syllabus in the front of your notebook for this class to have easy reference.
  • Students are responsible to know their rights and responsibilities. You can find these in the College Catalogue and the Student Handbook
  • Lastly, a word to the wise: don’t waste your absence on minor problems. You never know when a real emergency will occur, and one absence is one absence. Also, don’t let the procrastination bug bite you. Get the work done early and avoid the last minute panic. You’re guaranteed to do a better job on your assignments. Good luck this semester, and I really hope you enjoy the class.