Michelle Abbott
Mabbott@highlands.edu
404-545-8676
Skype ID: michelle.abbott.1
Spring Semester 2012CRN # 20560
Office Hours: http://www.highlands.edu/site/faculty-mabbott-current-schedule
COURSE OBJECTIVES: Through writing short essays students will demonstrate their ability to conceive ideas about a topic, synthesize and arrange them logically, and express them clearly in written standard English. Through written assignments, students will demonstrate their understanding of development and argumentation. Through writing and revision, students will demonstrate their mastery of proofreading skills developed through an understanding of the principles and mechanics of standard English usage. Through research exercises students will demonstrate an awareness of basic research techniques. Through discussion and/or writing, students will demonstrate appreciation and understanding of assigned readings. Through discussion and writing, students will demonstrate their recognition of differing perspectives and points of view, as well as their ability to form hypotheses and anticipate consequences.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Communication: Students will demonstrate their ability to express ideas logically and clearly in standard written English. Critical Thinking: Students will be able to recognize differing perspectives and points of view. Students will be able to construct arguments. Technology: Students will demonstrate ability to prepare course assignments in a variety of courses using computer technology.
REQUIRED MATERIALS:
Required Textbooks:
- Harbrace Essentials (ISBN 978-0-495-90836-4)
-
short Norton Reader, 12 ed. (ISBN:
978-0-393-93173-0)* -
They Say/I Say, 2nd ed.(ISBN:
978-0-393-93361-1)*
- Internet Access—at home or school
- Microsoft Office 2007/2010 or equivalent**
*These two texts can be purchased from the GHC bookstore or the W. W. Norton website as a discounted package.
**If you will be using Microsoft Works, you will need to save files in a .doc, .docx, or .rtf format rather than the program’s default of .wps as this format cannot be opened by any GHC computer. If you will be using Open Office or any other free shareware word processor, you may have to come to campus and use Microsoft Office to complete the formatting of your assignments.
PREREQUISITES/COURSE DESCRIPTION: Completion of English 020 or English 0099 with a grade of C or better, or SAT Verbal score of 480, COMPASS score of 60, CPE score of 78, or BSE of 68. These prerequisites constitute minimum requirements for projected satisfactory performance in the course. English 1101 is the first credit-level course in college composition. The course provides instruction in the mechanics and principles of standard usage while emphasizing the argumentative and expository modes, providing practice in both clear thinking and effective communication. In some cases, English 1101 is the only course in expository communication that students are required to take. It is necessary, therefore, to ensure that any student receiving a passing grade for the course be able to demonstrate college-level essay skills.
This course proudly supports the mission of IC @ GHC. To learn more about this program, please visit our website: www.highlands.edu/ic/Site/IC_Home.html.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.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: Policies on student conduct and academic integrity are located in the college’s “Student Rights and Responsibilities” document. This can be accessed via the following URL: http://www.highlands.edu/site/student-rights.
DISABILITY STATEMENT: Students who feel they may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should make an appointment with Student Support Services (706-295-6336) to coordinate reasonable accommodations. Students are also welcome to contact the instructor privately to discuss specific needs.
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 students receiving a 0.00 GPA will be required to prove that the 0.00 GPA was earned by attending classes or completing course 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.
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. Many activities cannot be made up, so poor attendance may endanger a student’s ability to pass this course. Please remember: deadlines for assignments completed outside of class do not change when a student is absent. It is the student’s responsibility to get assignments turned in even if they are not present on the day an assignment is due. Assignments may be turned in early if the student chooses.
This course will adhere to the Humanities Division Attendance Policy. Any student who misses FIVE class meetings may not return to the class without appealing to the division chair or his representative. This appeal must be made within 3-5 days, excluding holidays and weekends. Otherwise, the student may not return to the class and no appeal will be allowed, resulting in failure of this course. Meetings with the Humanities Division Chair, Dr. Jon Hershey, or his representative, may be made by calling 678-872-8064. Only absences due to serious emergencies AND supported by documentation will be considered for possible exemption from the five absence rule.
Students, who have circumstances that prevent them from continuing to attend classes over an extended period of time, sometimes request that the faculty member permit them 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.
EARLY WARNING PROGRAM: Georgia Highlands College requires that all faculty members report their students' progress throughout the course of the semester as part of the institution-wide Early Warning Program (EWP). The objective of the program is to support academic success by reviewing early indicators of satisfactory student progress. In accordance with EWP, faculty members provide the Registrar's Office with academic reports of each student enrolled in their course(s) at checkpoints staggered throughout the semester. The following success factors are reported at their corresponding checkpoint:
Week 2: Notification of Non-attendance (1/20)
Week 5: Evidence of Course Pursuit (2/14)
Week 8: Mid-term Grades (3/1)
Last Day to Withdraw with a "W" is March 19th.
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. An electronic version of this syllabus will also be posted on this site. The contents of this bulletin board are wiped out at the end of each semester. It is the student’s responsibility to keep copies of anything posted on this site. 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.
**Any assignments sent via email should be .rtf, .doc, or .docx files only (.wps files cannot be opened by GHC computers!!) Also, if you cannot open MS Office 2007 files, you can download a patch @ http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=941b3470-3ae9-4aee-8f43-c6bb74cd1466&displaylang=en.
ACTIVITIES/QUIZZES: Unannouced quizzes will be given over the reading assignments from time to time. In-class activities such as practice writings will receive participation points.
ESSAYS: All essays will be typed and utilize correct MLA format. Length will vary. Essays that do not meet all specific assignment criteria will receive a penalized grade and a rewrite may be requested. If a student fails to turn in a requested revision, the original essay will receive half credit only. Late essays will be accepted for up to one week and will earn ½ credit only.
Any student earning less than 70% on the Definition or Analysis essay will have the opportunity to complete a revision of ONE essay after conferencing with the instructor. The revised essay grade will replace the original one.
COVER LETTER: Each student will write a cover letter for his or her "dream job" that will utilize the student's best writing mechanics and analytic/persuasive skills.
EXTRA CREDIT: Students may complete up to 3 extra credit assignments worth up to 30 points each. Details will be listed on Vista.
GRADES: Final grades earned in English 1101 may be A, B, C and F. Writing skills are essential to success in college and the professional arena; therefore, a D will not be assigned as a final grade in this course. Grades will be calculated as follows: A (1350-1500points), B (1200-1350 points), C (1050-1200 points), F (less than 1050 points).
Assignments Points Possible
Activities/Quizzes 350
Timed Diagnostic Essay (#1) 50
Definition Essay (#2) 150
Analysis and Persuasive Essays (#3 & #4, 200 points each) 400
Cover Letter 100
Midterm Exam 200
Final Portfolio (#5 plus two revisions) 250
Total 1500 points
Please Note:
Your continued enrollment in the course constitutes agreement with all assignments, requirements, policies, etc. described in this syllabus. It is YOUR responsibility to keep all original copies of graded assignments for purposes of grade validation. Keeping TWO electronic backups of everything is also recommended.
** The instructor reserves the right to alter the dates, material covered or format of any exam for the benefit of the class. Notification of any changes will be made as soon as possible and posted on GeorgiaVIEW Vista.**
Reading assignments should be completed BEFORE class.
1/10 Syllabus Review, Learning Positive Associations for Writing
1/12 The Writing Process, Basic Essay Structure, Pre-writing
1/17 TIMED DIAGNOSTIC ESSAY (#1) (written in class)
1/19 Audience, Rhetoric Srategies, Different Types of Writing
READ: The Norton Reader, "Introduction" (xxv-l) Start with "Writing in College" and read the rest of the chapter.
Harbrace Essentials Chapters 12, 13, and 14 (120-138)
1/24 Grammar Review
READ: Harbrace Essentials Chapter 2 "Sentence Fragments" (25-29)
Chapter 3 "Comma Splices and Fused Sentences" (29-34)
Chapter 4 "Verbs" (34-57)
Chapter 5 "Pronouns" (57-75)
Chapter 15 "The Comma" (138-49)
1/26 Grammar Review continued
1/31 Strong Paragraphs, Thesis Statements
READ: They Say/I Say, "Introduction" (1-15). You do not have to complete the exercises.
2/2 Content Revision vs. Proofreading
READ: Harbrace Essentials Chapters 24, 25, and 26 (198-217)
2/7 Revision Practice
2/9 Definition Essays
2/14 More Definition Essays
READ: Norton Reader Gloria Naylor, “Mommy, What Does ‘Nigger’ Mean?” (279-81)
Nancy Mairs, “On Being a Cripple” (30-40)
Alice Walker, “Beauty: When the Other Dancer Is the Self” (47-53)
They Say/I Say Chapter 8: "As a Result" Connecting the Parts (105-118)
2/16 More Definition Essays
2/21 Midterm Exam Review
2/23 DUE--DEFINITION ESSAY ( #2)
GRAMMAR JEOPARDY--EXTRA CREDIT
2/28 MIDTERM EXAM
3/1 Analysis Essays
3/13 More Analysis Essays
READ: Norton Reader Henry David Thoreau, "The Battle of the Ants” (464-66)
Virginia Woolf, "The Death of the Moth” (697-99)
George Orwell, "Shooting an Elephant” (512-518)
Annie Dillard, "Sight into Insight” (699-709)
They Say/I Say Chapter 7 "So What? Who Cares?" Saying Why It Matters (92-100)
3/15 More Analysis Essays
3/20 Library Orientation
3/22 DUE--ANALSIS ESSAY ( #3)
MLA, Avoiding Plagiarism
READ: They Say/I Say "They Say" (19-28, 30-40, 42-50)
3/27 Persuasive Essays
3/29 Women's History Month Poetry Reading/Open Mic Event
4/3 More Persuasive Essays
READ: Norton Reader Brent Staples, “Why Colleges Shower Their Students with A’s” (260-261)
Jonathan Swift, "A Modest Proposal” (518-25)
Katha Pollitt, "Does a Literary Canon Matter?” (636-43)
4/5 Presentations vs. Essays
4/10 Presentation/Persuasive Essay Work Day
4/12 DUE--PERSUASIVE ESSAY (#4)
PRESENTATIONS
4/17 PRESENTATIONS
4/19 Cover Letters
4/24 Processes and Self-Reflection
READ: Norton Reader “Learning to Read” (228-233)
“Learning to Write” (233-37)
“Thinking as a Hobby” (266-72)
4/26 DUE--COVER LETTER
Revision Revised
5/1 NO CLASS--Reading Day
Class will NOT meet during the scheduled final exam period.
- Final Portfolio (Essay #5 included) must be submitted to Turnitin.com no later than 11:59pm on Tuesday, 5/8.
- NO extensions will be given because final grades must be submitted to the registrar on time, but early portfolios will cheerfully be accepted.