Course Number:	ENGL 1101
Course Title:	English Composition I
Prerequisite:	None
Semester:	Fall 2007
Instructor:	Mark D. Anthony, Sr.
E-Mail:	mdanthony@ngcsu.edu
Websites:	http://info.ngcsu.edu/~mdanthony http://www.markdavidanthony.com
Office Hours:	MW 2:30–5:00 and 7:00–7:30  Other times available by appointment.  I’m also available online via IM and email
Office:	Barnes 21C
Office Phone:	Office 706.867.3530 (no voicemail)  Cell 770.715.9194  Email is almost always better than phone. Use my cell with discretion, but feel free to call, and be sure to leave a voicemail if I don’t answer.
Instant Messaging:	AIM: neoblogical MSN: neoblogical GMAIL: markdavidanthony

Required Texts

1. Axelrod, Rise B, and Charles Raymond Cooper. The St. Martin's Guide to Writing. 8th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2008. 
2. Lunsford, Andrea A. The St. Martin’s Handbook. 6^th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2008.
3. The American Heritage Dictionary or a reliable collegiate dictionary.

[Note: A handbook and dictionary are also required in ENGL 1102. Ideas Accross Time is NOT required for this class.]

Catalog Description 

A composition course that focuses on skills required for effective writing and reading in a variety of diverse nonfiction contexts. This course emphasizes exposition, analysis, and argumentation, and also includes an introduction to research skills.

Course Objective

Students will demonstrate knowledge of the writing process by studying and practicing several kinds of writing: expository, analysis, and argumentation. Students will demonstrate logic, coherence, organization, development, and clarity of written material. Students will use appropriate grammar, diction, punctuation and mechanics.

To meet this objective, our specific goals for this course are:

1. To develop a vocabulary of key rhetorical terms that enable you to analyze and discuss your own writing process and the rhetorical strategies employed by your fellow students and other writers effectively and intelligently.
2. To learn and practice effective composing strategies, including flexible strategies for generating and developing ideas, the ability to focus on and articulate a purpose/thesis, the ability to evaluate and respond appropriately to different audiences and contexts, and the ability to revise critically and thoroughly, so that you may become a more cogent, expressive, and persuasive writer.
3. To learn to manage the basics of research, integrate your own ideas with those of others, and document sources accurately.
4. To understand and control writing conventions such as paragraphing and transitioning, as well as surface features such as syntax and grammar.
5. To develop and improve your critical and analytical reading skills so that you can effectively evaluate written texts for their use of rhetorical strategies, identify key points of argument and discussion, and articulate your responses to readings both orally and in written form;
6. To learn what makes for a good discussion and how to participate thoughtfully, provocatively, and considerately in peer response groups and whole class discussions.

Minimal Requirements for Completion of English 1101

The faculty of English has approved the following minimal standards for passing English 1101.  Students must demonstrate their ability to

1. The faculty of English has approved the following minimal standards for passing English 1101. Students must demonstrate their ability to
2. Compose first-year level essays that are logical, engaging, and informative;
3. Develop essays that include a controlling idea or thesis, provide adequate supportive evidence, and make use of effective organization;
4. Demonstrate and apply an understanding of basic rhetorical concepts including ethos, pathos, and logos, and the relationship among audience, purpose, and context;
5. Compose both single-draft and multi-draft essays, using prewriting, drafting, and revision, as well as editing;
6. Cite and document material taken from sources;
7. Construct clear, precise, grammatically correct sentences, using Standard Edited American English, and avoiding awkward phrasing and errors, including but not limited to the following: fragments, comma splices, run-on sentences, subject-verb and pronoun-antecedent disagreement, faulty pronoun reference, misuse of possessives, and misspellings.

[Note:  Achievement above the minimal passing level of C results from exceeding minimum expectations in terms of essay development and quality of content.]

Methods of Instruction

During the first week of the semester, you will write an in-class diagnostic essay which will be graded but which will not count toward the course grade. All ENGL 1101 students will write 5000 words during the semester of evaluated writing. Assignments will be distributed evenly throughout the semester and will demand exposition, analysis, and/or argumentation. If revision is a part of the 5000 words, it must be truly revision and not just edited or rewritten versions of earlier pages. Consult the handbook for more details about revision.

There will be a significant research component to the 1101 class, including both the discussion of research methods and an assignment that reflects application of those methods.

A minimum of two of your assignments will be in-class essays, requiring you to demonstrate single-draft writing skills required by Regents’ essay testing. In addition, the final examination will include a two-hour in-class essay. You will also be given frequent reading assignments and will be given tests on those reading.

We will utilize a variety of online methods in this class (possibly including online chat, discussion, reading responses, email, instant messaging, blogging, wikis, search engines, etc.). You agree by taking this class to check your NGCSU email daily for updates from me. Please see me within the first week of class if you have any questions or need for assistance with the technologies. If you have doubts about your ability to utilize the required technologies, be sure to see me prior to the end of drop/add (5 p.m. August 19th).

You don’t have to be a techno whiz to participate in this class. Though you will be required to use the technology, I will provide you with the support and help you need to do so.

Keeping up with the readings is very important to this class. I will utilize reading quizzes and online reading response journals to verify your reading.

You may also be required to participate in group work and oral presentations in this class. Group work may be in person or online and may include group projects and/or peer review of writing drafts. Oral presentations may be individual or group oriented at my discretion.

Evaluation

You are by definition in the upper echelons of your high school class simply by the fact that you have been accepted to this university. Whatever work you did in regular high school classes to earn an “A” grade will probably earn you a “C” grade in college. Some honors and AP coursework “A” work might rise to the level of a “B” here in college.

The course grade is largely determined by performance on the various writing assignments, tests, and homework assignments. During the semester, your knowledge of rhetoric terms will be evaluated through testing and will help determine your ability to pass on to English 1102. Class participation and will also be graded. At least two-thirds (2/3) of the final grade will be based upon essay grades.

Feedback:

You will receive significant feedback concerning your academic performance and grades prior to the last day to withdraw from a class with a grade of “W.” Specifically, you will receive a mid-term grade via Banner that will consist of at least 20% of your grade for the semester.

Online Grades:

I will provide feedback regarding grades and attendance online via a password protected delivery system that complies with FERPA. Any students wishing to opt out of this may do so by presenting me a written and signed request.

Grading Scale:

• A+=100-98, A=95, A-=90
• B+=88, B=85, B-=80    
• C+=78, C=75, C-=70
• D+=68, D=65, D-=60
• F=59-0  
  

Final Grade Formula:

Class Participation / Attendance	5%
Quizzes / Online Reading Responses	5%
Essay 1: In Class Diagnostic	0%
Essay 2	10%
Essay 3	15%
Essay 4	20%
Essay 5	20%
Portfolio	10%
Final Exam: Concepts Exam	10%
Final Exam: In-Class Essay	5%
Total	100%

Format Guidelines

The format of all essays will follow MLA guidelines (students may request to use APA, Chicago, or CSE).

General Expectations

Academic Integrity: To plagiarize is to use another’s words or ideas as if they were your own.  Please consult your handbook for more details about what constitutes plagiarism. You are responsible for reading and following the guidelines in the North Georgia College & State University 2006-2008 Undergraduate Bulletin: “Academic Integrity Policy” (81-84). The student who plagiarizes will be given a zero for the assignment, typically an F for the class, and should expect disciplinary action by the college.

Further, NGCSU has purchased a license for Turnitin.com, an online service for detecting plagiarism: Students agree that by taking this course all required papers may be subject to submission for textual similarity review to Turnitin.com for the detection of plagiarism. All submitted papers will be included as source documents in the Turnitin.com reference database solely for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of such papers. Use of the Turnitin.com service is subject to the Terms and Conditions of Use posted on the Turnitin.com site. Still further, students understand that other methods of plagiarism detection may be employed at the discretion of the instructor including but not limited to online search engines and intratextual analysis.

Absence and Withdrawals: The University’s policy is, in order to allow for illness and other unforeseeable misfortunes, that a student may be permitted a limited number of absences. If a student’s absences exceed 14% of the scheduled classes, the instructor may drop the student from the class with a “WF.” This means that I may and probably will drop you with a “WF” upon your fifth absence without consulting you. You will be allowed a make-up examination or essay only for valid and documented reasons (e.g. sickness). If you miss an essay or examination without a documented excuse, you will receive a grade penalty (usually a “0”). Foreseeable problems must be discussed with me before the absence. You are also responsible for reading and following the guidelines in the North Georgia College & State University 2006-2008 Undergraduate Bulletin: “Class Attendance” (72).

Late Assignments: All assignment due dates will be clearly stated in writing. Late papers as a rule are unacceptable.  In order to account for emergencies, you may have ONE late assignment without penalty this semester, as long as you communicate with me prior to or within one class period of the assignment, or provide adequate documentation for unforeseeable emergencies. Note that this does not apply to workshop or conference drafts: not having a draft on your scheduled workshop or conference day may result in an “F” on the finished assignment and will cost you at least an entire letter grade.  If you know you will be absent on the day something is due, you must make arrangements with me to turn it in ahead of time.  I will expect documentation to accompany excuses. Do not ask me to make exceptions to this policy—it makes me cranky.

Incompletes: Incompletes are awarded only when a student is doing satisfactory work, but for non-academic reasons beyond the student’s control, is unable to meet the full requirements of the course. Documentation may be required.

Class Evaluations:  Class evaluations at NGCSU are now conducted on-line through Banner.  Evaluation of the class is considered a component of the course and students will not be permitted to access their course grade until the evaluation has been completed.  The evaluations will be accessible beginning one week prior to Final Exam week.

Study and Preparation: Good students typically study 2-3 hours per week for each hour in class.  This means a student carrying 12 hours would study 24-36 hours per week, for a total time commitment to academic pursuits of 36 to 48 hours. This is a very similar ratio to the typical work week and should leave more than adequate time for extra-curricular activities. Just like in a professional position some weeks will require more, even 70 to 80 hours, and some less. But the bottom line is that you simply will not succeed if you don’t put in the time. 

Resources

Conferences: I encourage you to seek out, and I may require, group or individual conferences with me over the course of the semester.  Conferences are a great resource for you, and my pleasure.  If you cannot make my office hours and would like to schedule a conference, please let me know and we will make arrangements. I will ALWAYS make time for you if you will only ask.

The Writing Center:  North Georgia has a staffed Writing Center in Dunlap 111.  Writers working at ANY level and at any stage of the writing process are encouraged to use The Writing Center.  The staff will not write, revise, or edit papers FOR students, but they will respond thoughtfully to students’ essays and help students employ effective writing and revision strategies.  Email writingcenter@ngcsu.edu or call 867-2979.

Equal Access: Disabilities and Accommodations.  North Georgia College and State University is committed to equal access to its programs, services and activities for people with disabilities.  If you believe that you have a disability requiring an accommodation, reasonable prior notice needs to be given to the instructor and the Office of Student Disability Resources.  In this case, contact Elizabeth McIntosh, Coordinator, Student Disability Resources at 122 Barnes Hall, 867-2782, emcintosh@ngcsu.edu. Further information can be found in the North Georgia College & State University 2006-2008 Undergraduate Bulletin: “Disabilities Services” (73-74).

Learning Outcomes and Standards

NGCSU General Education Outcomes 1-3: (1) The student will communicate effectively using multiple literacies and forms of expression; (2) The student will demonstrate analytic, contextual, and holistic thinking; and (3) The student will engage in integrative learning.

Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia’s Common Student Learning Outcomes for the Core Curriculum 1 and 3: (1) Communications: Oral and written communication will be characterized by clarity, critical analysis, logic, coherence, persuasion, precision, and rhetorical awareness; and (3) Cultural and Social Perspectives: Cultural and social perspective will be characterized by cultural awareness and an understanding of the complexity and dynamic nature of social/political/economic systems; human and institutional behavior, values, and belief systems; historical and spatial relationship; and, flexibility, open-mindedness, and tolerance.

Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) Information Literacy Outcomes 1-5: (1) Know, (2) Access, (3) Evaluate, (4) Use, (5) Ethics.

National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Standards:  This class has been designed to meet NCTE standards 1-8 and 12.   (1) Students will read fiction and non-fiction; (2) they will encounter different periods and genres; (3) they will apply various strategies of comprehension; (4) they will practice active and effective communication; (5) they will employ a range of writing strategies; (6) they will apply detailed knowledge of language conventions; (7) they will conduct focused research; (8) they will use technological and information resources; (12) they will use language to accomplish their own purposes.  

National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) Standards 3.1-3.5: (3.1) Candidates demonstrate knowledge of, and skills in the use of, the English language; (3.2) Candidates demonstrate knowledge of the practices of oral, visual, and written literacy; (3.3) Candidates demonstrate their knowledge of reading processes; (3.4) Candidates demonstrate knowledge of different composing processes; and (3.5) 3.5-Candidates demonstrate knowledge of, and uses for, an extensive range of literature.

Policy Contract

You must sign and return to me the policy statement contract that I will provide you. The policy statement will be provided in class on Monday, August 27^th. If you do not sign and return the contract to me by the close of drop/add, you must withdraw from this class.

Assignments and Schedule

I will provide you with the list of assignments and detailed schedule for the semester by the beginning of class on Monday, August 27^th, two days prior to the closing of drop/add. The assignments and schedule are not part of the syllabus/contract, and are subject to change. Although I will announce changes in class and via email, ultimately you are responsible for keeping up with any changes in the schedule by visiting my website and viewing it.