English 0099 - Syllabus
Spring 2011
Instructor: Connie H. Watjen
Email: cwatjen @ highlands.edu
Office: Room 270C - Cartersville Campus
Text: 678-910-3459
Phone: 678-872-8058
Campus hours: Tuesday and Thursday: 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Room 270C (Cartersville)
Monday and Wednesday: 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
CRNs: 20384 9:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
20385 5:00 p.m. – 6:15 p.m.
TEXTS AND MATERIALS: (REQUIRED FOR ALL CLASS MEETINGS)
- The Least You Should Know about English, Writing Skills, Form A. Paige Wilson and Teresa Ferster Glazier (10th Edition)
- GHC Student I.D. (with funds available)
- USB storage device (or other storage device), notebook or binder, pencils
- Access to a computer outside of class
COURSE OBJECTIVES:Upon completion of this course, students should be able to recognize and write sentences that reflect standard written English. Students should also be able to proofread and edit by recognizing and correcting errors in mechanics and grammar. More importantly, students should be able to write effective short essays focused on clearly written main ideas, including examples, explanations, concrete details, reasons, and other methods.
LEARNING SUPPORT RULES AND REGULATIONS: http://www.highlands.edu/academics/support/rules-and-regulations.htm (Please read all of the regulations posted on this website.)
WITHDRAWING FROM ENGL 0099:The last day to withdraw and receive an automatic grade of W is posted on the class schedule. However, you cannot withdraw from a learning support course and remain enrolled in credit-level courses. If you are considering withdrawing from this course, please see the instructor, a site administrator, or Dr. Diane Langston in Academic Support first.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: ENGL 0099 is designed to help students prepare for college-level composition through short writing assignments, practical grammar review, and emphasis on proofreading skills. Students are required to pass a departmental written examination as well as the system-wide placement examination. Approximately one third of the total semester hours will be devoted to a review of basic grammar and proofreading; the rest of the semester will focus on more advanced composition skills.
GRADING:
The final grades that may be assigned in English 0099 are A, B, C, and F. Since competence in writing is basic to success in most college courses, the grade of D is not considered a valid grade in English 0099 and may not be assigned as a final grade in this course.
- 89.5-100 total points = A
- 79.5-89.4 total points = B
- 69.5-79.4 total points = C
- 0-69.4 total points = F
- W = Withdraw (must be before midpoint of semester)
- WF = Withdraw/Failing (after midpoint of semester)
- IP = In Progress (69.5 points or more, but failure of Departmental Written Exam or COMPASS)
Assignments Percentage
Essays 50%
Punctuation and Grammar Test 20%
Class Participation (Includes quizzes, in-class assignments, , essay revision) 10%
Homework 10%
COMPASS prep 10%
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
HOMEWORK: Homework assignments are due at the beginning of class. Completed assignments will receive full credit. Partially completed assignments and late assignments turned in within one week of the due date will receive half credit.
COMPASS PREP: Students participating in all sessions of COMPASS review/preparation will receive full credit. Those who participate in a portion of this preparation will receive partial credit. This activity cannot be made up if missed.
IN-CLASS ESSAY REVISION: Revision and proofreading are an integral part of the writing process. Therefore, students will have an opportunity to practice both skills and receive feedback from their peers twice during the semester. Each time a student participates in this activity, he or she will receive a grade.Revisions will be completed during class time and cannot be made up.
FORMAL WRITING ASSIGNMENTS WRITTEN AND SUBMITTED IN CLASS: Each student will complete six timed, in-class writing assignments. ALL writing assignments must be typed, double-spaced and formatted with standard 1-inch margins and 12-point font. Do not staple or fold down corners and no title page please. In-class essays can only be made up with a documented excuse. Essays that do not meet all specific assignment criteria, including correct rhetoric form, will receive a penalized grade.
TESTS:Two multiple choice tests will be given. Make-ups require prior arrangement or a documented emergency.
DEPARTMENTAL WRITTEN EXAMINATION AND COMPASS TEST: English 0099 students are required to pass a departmental writing exam. Three readers (from the college faculty) will rate the student’s writing sample. The readers will indicate whether the student should be eligible to go on to English 1101 or should remain in 0099. Any student who fails to pass the essay exam will be ineligible to receive a passing grade, regardless of the quality of course work. Students who pass the Written Examination must then take the COMPASS exit test (a computerized exam). A passing score on the COMPASS is 60 for English. However, passing both of these exams is no guarantee that the student will pass the course unless that student has also completed ALL course work.STUDENTS WHO FAIL TO PASS ANY OF THESE WILL BE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE ALL OF THE COURSEWORK AND TESTS AGAIN.
GeorgiaVIEW Vista (Electronic Bulletin Board): This class is NOT an online course, and it is NOT a correspondence course. However, as a supplement, this class will have an active online electronic bulletin board. This site will be used for certain assignments, messaging, and updates. Important class and assignment information will be posted here. Students are REQUIRED to check it often. GeorgiaVIEW Vista login and help links are available on the GHC homepage.
No “computer” excuses will be accepted in this course. Computers are available on all GHC campuses, in the Kennesaw State Library, in Cobb County and other public libraries, and 24/7 at Kinkos. In addition, the instructor will be happy to assist students with computer-related questions BEFORE assignment deadlines.
ATTENDANCE:
Students are expected to be present for all class sessions. When this is not possible, it is the student’s responsibility to find out what was missed and be prepared for the next class meeting.
You are allowed four unexcused absences. However, every class is important; every class contributes to your education. Your presence is desired not only for your own edification, but for what you can contribute as well. A student who misses five classes must speak to the division chair before any make-up work will be accepted. Seven absences will result in a grade of “F” for the class.
Students, who have circumstances that prevent them from continuing to attend classes over an extended period of time, may request permission to submit work in absentia to receive credit to complete the course. If the concurrent absences will constitute more than 15% of the class sessions for the term, then written permission from the Division Chair is required before any course assignments can be completed while missing class. The student must be in good academic standing in the course to make the request. All approved coursework must be completed by the end of the semester in which the course was begun.
UNEARNED “F” INFORMATION:
*This message applies only to students receiving financial aid.*
Federal regulations state that if a student did not attend classes and received failing grades, then the grades were not earned and financial aid needs to be reduced accordingly. Please be advised that any student receiving a 0.00 GPA will be required to prove that the 0.00 GPA was earned by attending classes or completing requirements for each class. Students who have earned at least one passing grade for the semester will not be affected by this regulation. If a student has properly withdrawn from all classes, the student’s financial aid should be adjusted from the time they signed the withdrawal form.
STUDENT CONDUCT:
You are expected to conduct yourself like an adult college student. Specifics about your rights and responsibilities are found at: http://www.highlands.edu/site/student-rights.
CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE:
- Class starts at a specific time. It disrupts the class when people come in late, so be considerate of others and do not do it.
- Classroom computers are not to be used during lectures and discussions. Please do not use laptops or computers to take notes.
- While in class, cell phones should be off and stored away from desktops.
- Absolutely no food or drinks are allowed in the computer classrooms.
- Students that do not participate in classroom discussions or disrupt the learning of others will be asked to leave.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
Presenting another person’s ideas or words as your own is plagiarism, a flagrant violation of academic integrity, and will be dealt with to the fullest extent of the College’s policies when the instructor obtains evidence of such. You are expected to do your own work. Plagiarized work will result in a grade of zero (0) for that assignment; a repeat of the offense could result in an “F” for the course. Any such incident requires that paperwork be filed with the Office of Student Life. This class uses Turnitin.com as a resource.
Students are encouraged to read the GHC Academic Integrity Code at http://www.highlands.edu/academics/academicaffairs/academicintegritypolicy.htmand be familiar with policies concerning plagiarism, student conduct, and academic integrity.
DISABILITY STATEMENT:
Students who feel they may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should make an appointment with the Student Support Services (678-872-8004) to coordinate reasonable accommodations. Students are also welcome to contact the instructor privately to discuss their specific needs. This should be done as early in the semester as possible.
HARDSHIP WITHDRAWAL POLICY:
To apply for a hardship withdrawal, students must complete the “Withdrawal After Mid-Semester” form. These forms may be obtained in the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs in Rome or from a center coordinator at any other campus. If a student is considering dropping a course because of a hardship situation, but needs advice, that student should contact the Advising Office (706-802-5103) or an Off-Campus Center Administrative Office.
Other Important Information:
- Reading and homework assignments are to be completed by the date they appear on the syllabus for class discussion and potential quizzes.
- Homework assignments are due at the beginning of class on due date unless otherwise instructed, and must be turned in as a hard copy. If you write in your workbook, please make copies to be turned in.
- In-class essays must be turned in at the end of class. NO ELECTRONIC COPIES WILL BE ACCEPTED!
- All assignments should be saved on disks/CDs, hard drives and user drives.
- If you miss class, please refer to syllabus and confer with a fellow classmate for lecture notes.
- Make-up work: Quizzes may not be made up. Late homework must be turned in within one week of due date and will be lowered one letter grade unless you can suitably document (in writing) your reason for missing the work. Tests and in-class essays may be made up at the discretion of the instructor.
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The instructor reserves the right to alter the dates, material covered or format of any assignment for the benefit of the class. Students will be notified well in advance of any change.
This course proudly supports the mission of IC @ GHC. To learn more about this program visit our website at www.highlands.edu/ic
The mission of the Georgia Highlands College (GHC) Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) is to create a curriculum-wide culture of information competency (IC) among students, which will be demonstrated through writing or other modes of communication. To learn more about this program visit our website at www.highlands.edu/ic