Eng111:  College Composition I
Text:  The College Writer, 2^nd ed.

Fall ‘08 Syllabus Additions
Instructor: Tondalaya VanLear

Office:  Warren Hall, Room 413
DSLCC Campus: 540-863-2854
DSLCC E-mail: tvanlear@dslcc.edu

 

Welcome to College Composition!  This course will challenge you to write what you think and will help you develop written expression that is not just “correct” but provides a clear presentation of your ideas.  The key to success in this course is a commitment of your time and thought.  Writing is a process that demands a focused portion of your thinking on a daily basis.  If you short-change the time you spend on your assignments, your lack of effort will be reflected in the work you submit.  The level of success you achieve in this class is up to you.

Course Description: 

This course provides opportunity for you to explore personal voice/style and increase critical thinking skills through a focus on writing as a reading/thinking/response process.  Through experiences in the writing process, peer-evaluation, reading analysis and discussion, and informal oral presentation, you are challenged to build skills that enable clear written communication of your ideas and analyses.  

Course Requirements:

Ø  This course requires that you satisfactorily complete a minimum of 15-20 pages of formal, evaluated composition, which equals a series of writings, including responses, formal essays, and a research essay.  For the purposes of your essays, each with an assigned focus, you will need at least 4 pages of critiqued, formal response, and for your documented research essay, you will need 4 to 6 pages of the same.  Specific due dates will be given with each essay assignment.  These writings will become your completed portfolio for this class.

Each final essay must be submitted in MLA format and accompanied by ALL rough draft work, AT LEAST one workshop draft, AND a revision (Final) draft.   I will not accept your work otherwise and your submission, when complete, will be subject to late grade penalties.

Ø  Re-write policy:  In order to give you opportunity to improve your writing skills, you may choose to re-write your first two writing responses and your first formal essay for re-evaluation, but your rewrite must be submitted to me within one week from the day I return the graded writing to you, and it must be accompanied by the original graded piece.

Ø  Late Policy:  If you do not turn in your essay on the required date, at the beginning of class, you automatically loose one letter grade.  Each day you delay in submitting your work, an additional deduction of up to one letter grade will be applied to the final evaluation.  A late paper also loses the re-write option.

Ø  At various, unannounced times during the semester, I will give in-class writings on the readings assigned for the week.  No make-up writings will be given. If you are absent, you will have a 0 on the writing for that day. Grades for these writings will be averaged at the end of the semester and be counted as an additional essay grade.

Ø  Other assignments will include responses to various articles, assigned text readings, and other media.  Each of these assignments will be from 1 to 1 ½ pages in length and will also need to be in MLA format, with standard font and margins.  A guide for this format is located in your Little Brown Handbook.  

Ø  Please read the DSLCC syllabus that is located on your Bb course link.  Be sure to examine the section on writing development, evaluation, and grading expectations.  This information gives specifics for various graded levels and should serve as a guide for you in developing your final writings.

Ø  Be prepared!  The reading assignments in your text are not “busy work” but provide you with examples of rhetorical styles, ways of examining information, and good paths to analysis, all of which you are required to know for this course.  These tools serve as resources for you to improve your writing.  Read these assignments with a pencil/pen and mark sections that stand out or seem confusing.  This “muscle reading” will prepare you for class discussions as well as help you in writing your essays.

Ø  Assignments for reading, journals, and writings will be posted weekly on my faculty web page: http://faculty.dslcc.edu/tvanlear/default.htm

Click on the link (at the left of the screen) for “Course Links” and then on the link to “Eng 111” to see your assignments.   I will post new assignments at the end of each week for the following week.  You can also access this page through your Bb link for this class, on the “External Links” option.

For Reading assignments—be sure to have read through the assigned pieces at least once by Monday and more thoroughly by Wednesday.

     Writing assignments will have a specific due date noted with the directions.

Journal assignments, when noted on your weekly page, will be posted on Blackboard under the “Discussion Board” link.  You will have an expected posted date for this work, noted on the Eng 111 Assignment page. This journal writing is NOT an option but a requirement of this class.

Ø  Two exams will be given in this class: a mid-term and a final exam.  I do not give make-up exams.  Dates for these tests are announced ahead of time—plan to be in class. If you miss the exam day, you will have a 0 on the exam.

Ø  Keep ALL of your graded assignments in a portfolio.  You will be responsible for turning in ALL writings as a complete portfolio at the end of the semester.  An incomplete portfolio will affect your final average by a deduction of .5 to 1.0.

**Please note that the specific requirements of this class MUST be met in order for you to receive a passing grade.  Failure to turn in ANY written assignment, regardless of its weight in grading evaluation, is grounds for a failing grade in this course.  No exceptions. **

Ø  Attendance in class is also not an option.  In order for you to benefit from class discussions and activities, you must be present.  I realize that emergencies can come up and allowances are made for 2 absences during the semester, but to miss more than 2 additional class periods (a total of 4) from this course will be considered grounds for a failing grade.  If you must miss a class, you are responsible for any assignments or work due on that date. 

**Absence from class on a due date does not excuse you from late penalties, work assigned on that day, or work due on that day.**

A Word on Plagiarism:  DSLCC takes an act of plagiarism seriously, and I fully support their policy.  ANY work you hand in as your own should be just that—YOUR OWN.  Plagiarism of any work in this course will not be tolerated and will result in your failing this course, regardless of your current grades in this class, and I will pursue disciplinary action by the college for that offense if warranted.

**Special Needs:  If you have a special educational need, either through a learning or physical challenge, please see me to discuss how I can best help you with those challenges for you.

**Electronics in class:  Unless directed by me, you need no electronic “additions” in class.  Shut your laptop, turn off your cell phone, unplug your iPod…and if you have an “emergency” and must be available for a call, turn your phone on vibrate and leave the room when you need to answer that call.  Please note:  The word “emergency” implies a rare occurrence—not a frequent situation.

Grading Scale:

3.6 to 4.0=   A                          

3.0 to 3.5=   B                          

2.0 to 2.9=   C                          

1.0 to 1.9=   D

0.0 to 0.9=   F

Final Course Grade Evaluation:

Essays/Assigned Writings                =40 % of final course grade

Research paper/Presentation          =25% of final course grade

Class Participation/Attendance       =20% of final course grade

Journals/Exams                              =15% of final course grade