English Composition I, ENGL 111

Fall 2014- Spring 2015 English Composition I, ENGL 111

Instructor Name: Argie Kantilierakis, M.Ed

Catalog Description: English Composition I is the first in a two-course composition sequence. The central purposes of English Composition I is to develop critical reading and thinking skills and to write thesis- driven, text-based essays. The course takes a process-oriented approach to writing that incorporates prewriting, drafting, reviewing, and revising. Students in English Composition I learn basic research skills and apply them to at least one text-based research essay.

Required Texts: Graff, Gerald, Cathy Birkenstein, and Russel Durst, eds. They Say I Say with Readings. 2nd ed. New York: Norton, 2011. Print.

Other Learning Materials:  Multiple ways to back up your work on a computer because computer problems are not an appropriate excuse for handing a paper in late. You will be asked to create a Gmail account if you do not already have one at some point in the year.  A binder with three sections. One section will be labeled RVCC, the second section will be labeled Do Now’s and Classwork, and the third section will be labeled Writing Resources.

Course Learning Outcomes: Writing: Students will be able to: 1. write clearly, grammatically and fluently with focus and continuity in standard American English in out-of-class and in-class writings. (Goal 1) 2. exhibit the ability to organize information in order to develop and support a main idea in both in-class and out-of-class papers. (Goal 1, 2, and 3)

Reading: Students will be able to: 3. identify thematic connections among and between various texts. (Goal 2, 3, and 5) 4. explicate readings carefully in both written work and during class discussion and/or group work. (Goal 2, 3, and 5)

Information Literacy: Students will be able to: 5. access, evaluate, and use information effectively and ethically at an introductory level. (Goal 4) 6. compose and revise essays using responsible documentation and research. (Goal 4)

1 Grading Policy: English Composition I requires: 1. 25 pages of text-based, graded writing 2. 4 out-of-class essays of 4-8 pages 3. A minimum of 3 in-class timed essays (including the final in-class essay) 4. At least one out-of-class essay involving text-based research 5. A common departmental final in-class essay synthesizing 2 or more texts 6. Requirement that at least 80% of the student’s final grade be derived from graded essays, with the following ranges: 50% of the final grade should be out-of-class essays, 30% should be in-class timed essays, and 20% should be class participation and preparation. 7. Class preparation and participation

The grades you receive towards the end of the course are weighed more heavily than the grades you receive at the beginning of the course:  Out-of-class essays: 50% (total) Essay 1: 5% Essay 2: 10% Essay 3: 15% Essay 4 (Research essay): 20%  In-class essays: 30% (total) Your best 2 in-class essays out of 4: 7.5% each Final in-class essay: 15%

Plagiarism Policy: The Student Handbook states the following: Raritan Valley Community College requires independent, honest work on the part of its students, and students are expected to conduct themselves with scholarly integrity. Each confirmed incident of academic dishonesty, cheating or plagiarism must be reported by the faculty member, in writing, to the Dean of Academic Affairs.

Examples of plagiarism include, but are not limited to: 1) Copying answers from a textbook to submit for a grade. 2) Quoting text or other works without citation when requested by the faculty member to present one’s own work. 3) Submitting a paper or essay obtained from a term paper service or taken from the Internet. 4) Submitting a paper or report written by another student, a spouse, or a colleague as one’s own. 5) Submitting another student’s project, essay, research paper, or computer program as one’s own. 6) Submitting a paper wholly or in substantial part using the exact phrasing of source material. 7) Submitting a paper closely paraphrased from source material, where the original source material is simply edited with perhaps minor word changes occurring. 8) Submitting a paper closely paraphrased from source material, splicing together sentences from scattered segments of the original.

2 Essay Requirements: Essays should follow the assignment guidelines. All out-of-class essays (including rough drafts) should be word-processed. Due dates for rough and final drafts are listed on the assignments. When a rough draft is due for an out-of-class essay, three copies of the rough draft must be brought to class, one for me and the rest for the peer workshop. If you come to class without three copies, or do not participate in the peer workshop, then that essay’s grade will be dropped a full letter grade, and you will lose the opportunity to revise. An exception might be made due to an emergency; if that occurs, email me as soon as you can. An emergency does not include a computer problem; you need to back up your work in multiple places to avoid losing it.

When the final draft is due for an out-of-class essay assignment, if it is late, the essay’s grade will be dropped a full letter grade for every day (that’s every single day, not every class meeting) a final draft is late. An exception might be made due to an emergency; if that occurs, email me as soon as you can. Again, an emergency does not include a computer problem.

Revisions: You have the option of revising out-of-class Essays 1, 2 and 3. You can revise as few or as many of these essays as you would like. To take advantage of this option, you must meet all of the following criteria for that particular essay:  Come prepared to the peer workshop for that essay  Submit that essay on time  Submit your revision with your original essay. Revisions are due no later than the last day of class, but you may submit them earlier. Please let me know if you want help revising.

Class preparation and participation: Come to every class prepared. Preparation involves doing and bringing the assigned reading and writing assignments; be ready to discuss and write about the assigned readings in class. Class participation involves paying attention in class, contributing to the discussion, and listening to your peers. It can also involve free writing exercises, group work, and pop quizzes. Use of technology unrelated to the course (cell phones, laptops, etc.) can negatively impact your participation grade. Come to class ready to share your ideas, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.