Michelle Abbott
Mabbott@highlands.edu
404-545-8676
Skype ID: michelle.abbott.1
Spring Semester 2012CRN # 20564
Office Hours: http://www.highlands.edu/site/faculty-mabbott-current-schedule
GENERAL INFORMATION
COURSE OBJECTIVES: English 1102 helps to fulfill Learning Outcomes 1 & 5. Communication: Students will demonstrate the ability to write and speak logically, clearly, precisely, and the ability, through accurate reading and listening to acquire, organize, present, and document information and ideas. Critical Thinking: Students will demonstrate that they have developed dimensions of critical and analytical thinking.
REQUIRED TEXT: Literature: Approaches to Fiction, Poetry & Drama (2nd ed.)
SUGGESTED TEXT: Harbrace Handbook (17th ed.) or Harbrace Essentials
PREREQUISITES/COURSE DESCRIPTION: English 1102 is the second of two, three-hour freshman courses required of all students who receive transfer degrees from Georgia Highlands College. In accordance with college regulations, students must have a grade of at least C in English 1101 before they can take English 1102, and they must pass the two courses with an average of at least C.
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.
IN-CLASS ACTIVITIES/READING QUIZZES: Students will complete a variety of in-class activities over the course of the semester that will help prepare them for writing the research paper and literary analysis essays. In addition, students will have several unannounced quizzes over reading assignments. These activities cannot be made up.
LITERARY ANALYSIS ESSAYS: All essays will be typed and utilize correct MLA format. They should be 3-4 pages in length. Essays bound in folders of any kind will NOT be accepted. Any student earning less than 70 out of 100 points on the first essay may rewrite it after meeting with the instructor. The revised essay grade will replace the original one. 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 ½ credit only. Late essays will be accepted for up to one week and will earn ½ credit only.
RESEARCH PAPER: Students will be writing a 6 to 7 page research paper. Because our focus is on the process of writing a research paper, each stage of the process will be turned in and graded separately. All sections will be typed in MLA format. Late assignments will be accepted for up to one week and will earn ½ credit only.
Annotated Bibliography with Tentative Thesis Statement 150 points
Draft /Conference* 100 points
Completed Research Paper 250 points
*See research paper info on Vista for conference grading info.
PRESENTATIONS: Professionals are often called upon to make presentations to their peers, clients or other audiences. To help prepare for this eventuality, students will be asked to choose one of the following options and present it to the class. All presentation choices must be approved by the instructor. This assignment cannot be made up.
1. Prepare a 5-7 minute presentation on one of your analysis essays utilizing some type of visual aid: handout, Power Point, etc.
2. Memorize and present a 2-3 minute monologue from one the plays we’ve read or a poem from our syllabus.
3. As a group, memorize and present a 7-10 minute scene from one of the plays we’ve read.
EXTRA CREDIT: Students may complete 1-3 extra credit assignments worth up to 30 points each. Details are listed on Vista.
Final grades earned in English 1102 may be A, B, C, D and F. Grades will be calculated as follows: A (1350-1500points), B (1200-1350 points), C (1050-1200 points), D (900-1050 points), F (less than 900 points).
Assignments Points Possible
In-Class Activities/Quizzes 400
Literary Analysis Essays (2 @ 150/each) 300
Research Paper (see assignment description) 500
Presentation (Dramatic/Power Point) 100
Final Exam 200
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 Course Introduction, Classmate Trivia Contest
1/12 Library Research
1/17 The Dreaded Research Paper
1/19 Introduction to Literature
1/24 Poetry
1/26 Grammar Review
1/31 DUE—ANNOTATED BIBLEOGRAPHY/TENTATIVE THESIS
More Poetry
2/2 Even More Poetry
2/7 Analysis Essays
2/9 Poetry...Again
2/14 DUE—POETRY ESSAY
The Dreaded Research Paper: Part II
2/16 Drama
2/21 Movie Day I
2/23 Movie Day II---Bring your own popcorn!
2/28 CONFERENCES—No Class Meeting
3/1 CONFERENCES—No Class Meeting
3/13 Drama
3/15 Drama
3/20 Movie Day III
3/22 DUE—RESEARCH PAPER
Movie Day IV
3/27 Drama
3/29 Women's History Month Poetry Reading/Open Mic Event
4/3 Drama/Short Fiction
4/5 Short Fiction
4/10 Short Fiction
4/12 Short Fiction
4/17 Work Day
4/19 DUE--DRAMA/SHORT FICTION ESSAY
Final Exam Review
4/24 PRESENTATIONS
4/26 PRESENTATIONS
5/1 NO CLASS--Reading Day
5/8 FINAL EXAM @ 10:00am* *Students with an "A" average at the end of the semester and no more than 3 absences will be exempt from the final exam.