English Composition I Syllabus

Summer Session
Mary Ann Tobin

Required Texts


Hacker, Diana. A Writer’s Reference. 4th ed. Boston: Bedford, 1999.
The McGraw-Hill Reader: Issues Across the Disciplines. 7the ed. Ed. Gilbert H. Muller. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2000.

Additional Materials Required

One 8" x 11" folder for my files (submit with first assignment)
Loose-leaf paper for in-class assignments

Course Objectives

This course presents methods to plan, draft, revise and proofread the short expository essay, with special attention given to developing coherent and concise paragraphs in several modes of composition.

Course Requirements

Attendance Policy: I expect your regular attendance, and I will not do make-up work with students absent without a satisfactory explanation or a doctor’s excuse. Three absences of any kind are the acceptable maximum. Any absences beyond that maximum will impair your ability to earn a high grade on assignments, and I will deduct one third of a grade per absence above that maximum from your final participation grade. This policy also applies to online class sessions. Computers with high-speed Internet access are readily available on campus in its computer labs and in many public libraries.

You are responsible for reading and following the course schedule. Refer to this schedule daily, either in print or online for information regarding readings, assignments, and in-class activities. Peer edits and in-class exercises will be collected, graded, and counted toward class participation. Unless otherwise indicated, you may skip over the exercises in the textbook, some of which will be done in class. You will not receive credit if you are absent on a day on which one of these exercises is due or takes place, and in-class assignments will not be accepted after the event has taken place.

Course Projects: Submitting all assignments is a minimum requirement, but not a guarantee, for passing the course. All projects are due by 3 p. m. on the scheduled date. Any late projects will be subject to a penalty of one full later grade per day it is late. Thus, if your project is not in my hands by 3 p. m. on the scheduled date, your grade for that paper will be dropped by one full letter grade for each day it is late. Projects can be handed in during class, placed into my mailbox (located in B-379) or emailed as an attachment to matobin@att.net. Campus personnel will not be held responsible for forwarding your assignments to me. If found, any paper or assignment left with anyone other than me, in any office or classroom, will be considered late and made subject to the penalties listed above. All papers must be typed double-spaced, fully proofread, and in full compliance with MLA format and style, as presented in class. After three warnings, papers that do not conform to these standards will be returned to you with no grade and will fall under the same penalty as that which applies to late papers.

Course Web Site

For your convenience, I have created a web site for this course, on which you will find the following documents and helpful information.

Special Circumstances

Extensions: At my discretion and under special circumstances, one extension per student may be made during the entire semester. You may request this extension on one assignment at one class period in advance of the due date. Use this option wisely.

ABSOLUTELY NO EXTENSIONS WILL BE GRANTED FOR THE FINAL PROJECT.

Conferences

If you experience problems with completing an assignment, or if you would like to discuss your progress in the course, see me during my office hours or arrange a special meeting. I am most easy to reach by email, to which messages I typically respond within 24 hours.

Tutoring: The Learning Assistance Center (L-547) is available to help you with your papers. Call (412) 469-6284 or stop by to make an appointment. The online tutoring center is also available to you. See www.ccac.edu for details.

Grading Policy

Your final grade will be calculated according to the following formula. There will be no extra credit.

Grade Scale

A+ 98-100

B+ 88-90

C+ 78-81

D+ 68-71

F 59 and below

A 94-97

B 85-87

C 75-77

D 65-67

  

A- 91-93

B- 82-84

C- 72-74

D- 60-64

  

Academic Integrity Policy

All course assignments must conform with the academic integrity standards outlined in the college’s Student Responsibility Statement. In order to assess student compliance with those standards, all assignments are subject to Internet keyword searches, which may include submission to www.turnitin.com.

OUTSIDE RESEARCH IS UNNECESSARY AND IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED FOR THIS CLASS.

Should you choose to include quotes, paraphrases, or data from sources outside of your own brain for any paper in this class, you must cite those sources correctly using both parenthetical and bibliographic citations. Ignorance of citation format is no excuse, and unacknowledged citations in any form will be considered plagiarism and will result in an F for that assignment.

If you are thinking about submitting someone else’s work as your own, consider that students who violate the college’s standards of academic integrity will, necessarily, fail the assignment in question, and, at the administration’s discretion, may receive further academic sanctions, such as failing the course or expulsion.

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Questions? Comments? Concerns? Email me!

matobin@att.net

©2007, Mary Ann Tobin