Course Name: Introduction to College WritingSemester and Year Fall 2018Course Number and Section ENG 091 BC 10

Number of Credits: 3

Days Class Meets: Mondays and

Wednesdays

Meeting Times: 11:00-12:23 p.m.

Location: WA 116

Instructor: Dr. Geri Jacobs

Office: BW 243

Contact Phone: 517-796-8587

Contact Email: jacobsgeraldii@jccmi.edu

Office Hours: 8-9 Mondays-Thursdays; 12-3

Tuesdays and Thursdays

Course Description

This is an intensive writing course in composition for students who need supplementary help in writing. A

personal approach helps students enhance their writing abilities, resolve writing problems and explore

writing strategies. An end-of-semester portfolio is required.

PrerequisiteENG 080

Course GoalsThis is a workshop-focused composition course. You are expected to practice the recursive process that includes prewriting, drafting, and revising. You are also expected to think about your process as a writer and consider ways in which that process can be revised or enhanced.

You will be expected to complete formal and informal writing assignments, participate in small and large group discussions, and provide and receive feedback during workshop sessions. You will be expected to read and write about material that is moderate to difficult in complexity.

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Course Objectives

Critical thinking, reading, and writing processes

Students will

1. Practice discipline-specific active reading strategies 2. Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision)

and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences

3. Introduce a topic; organize complex ideas, concepts, and information according to specific academic genres and convention

a. extended definitionsb. concrete detailsc. examplesd. quotations

4. Write narratives to develop real experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequence

5. Use a variety of techniques to sequence events so that they build on one another to create a coherent whole, with a particular tone and a clear resolution

6. Provide a conclusion that follows from and reflects on what is experienced, observed, or resolved over the course of the narrative

7. Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information

8. Use appropriate, varied transitions and syntax to link the major sections of the text and create cohesion

9. Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone, according to discipline-specific conventions

10. Provide a focused thesis with appropriate support for articulating implications or significance of topic

11. Conduct research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject; and demonstrate understanding of the subject under investigation

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Rhetorical knowledge and Conventions

Students will

1. Use precise words and phrases, telling details, and sensory language to convey a vivid picture of the experiences, events, setting, and/or characters

2. Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience

3. Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, description, and reflection to develop experiences, events, and/or characters

4. Use domain-specific vocabulary to manage the complexity of the topic.5. Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, for a

specific purpose and audience6. Practice correct grammar usage7. Demonstrate communication skills such as listening carefully, respecting other

viewpoints, sharing written work, and providing feedback in peer review groupsIn summary, you will compose texts that are focused, organized, and well-developed. Your writing must demonstrate awareness of purpose, audience, and genre as well as acceptable procedures for incorporating research material. Additionally, your compositions must reflect accepted conventions of essay-writing.

Electronic Environment

Students will

1. Use Microsoft Word to compose, revise, and save documents2. Use college learning management system

a. use technology, including the Internetb. produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products in response

to ongoing feedback3. Use digital searches effectively

a. gather relevant information from authoritative print and digital sourcesb. assess the strengths and limitations of each source c. integrate information into the text selectively to maintain the flow of ideasd. avoid plagiarism e. follow a standard format for documentation and citations

TextbookWriting: Today—Third Edition by Richard Johnson-Sheehan ISBN: 13: 978-0—321—98465-4 This text is available in a digital format. It can be rented or purchased in digital format through

the JC Bookstore.

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SuppliesAccess to a computer (with Internet access) and a printer Soft cover folders (with pockets), loose leaf paper, penFlash Drive

Grading ProcedureYour grade for the course will be assessed in the following ways:

Class Work: Revision of drafts, daily writing, and homework. 40%Each essay must be revised at least once before it is submitted in the portfolio.Portfolio: (40%)

Participation: Attendance, in-class participation, group work, conferences, and peer review

(20%)

Grading Scale

GPA GRADE RANGE

4.0 94-100%

3.5 89-93%

3.0 84-88%

2.5 78-83%

2.0 72-77%

1.5 66-71%

1.0 60-65%

0.5 55-59%

0.0 0-54%

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Course RequirementsENG 091 BC focuses on narrative and informative writing. Here are your major writing assignments:

The MemoirThe ReportThe ProfilePre- and Post- Reflective EssaysEach assignment will be discussed and explained as we progress throughout the semester.Revision of drafts, daily writing, and homework.Each essay must be revised at least once before it is submitted in the portfolio.You will be assigned daily writing assignments/exercises that must be completed in class. Points will be assigned to each of these assignments.Homework assignments must be handed in on the due date in the format required. To receive credit, homework assignments must be done outside class and handed in on the assigned date.

Portfolio Submission

Your ENG 091-BC portfolio is the same as your ENG 131 portfolio. It contains revised, polished drafts of your major essays. Essays that I have not read during the semester cannot be placed in the portfolio. The Department of Language, Literature, and the Arts has outlined guidelines and requirements for the Writing Portfolio. You will receive a copy of this handout the first week of class.

The ENG 131-091 BC portfolio requires a minimum of ten full pages; in addition, each paper must be at least two full pages. Keep in mind that a substantial grade reduction is given to a portfolio that does not meet the minimum page requirements. Please consult the Department’s guidelines.

Attendance, in-class participation, group work, conferences, and peer review

You will be asked to participate in group and individual activities while in class. Please note that class participation points cannot be made-up. Failure to be present or to participate will result in a deduction of points.

On assigned days, you will also be required to read each other’s essays and provide feedback.

Please have available soft cover folders for the following assignments:

1. Homework and in-class writing assignments 2. Class handouts; peer-critiqued drafts3. Revised drafts4. The Portfolio

Please note that all assignments must be typed and submitted to me in a soft cover folder.

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FailurePlagiarism Policy: “Plagiarism, the submission of another’s writing, whether directly copied or paraphrased, will result in a failing grade for the assignment and can be grounds for removal from the class. Cases of plagiarism are dealt with by the instructor on an individual basis; the instructor will make decisions regarding the student's ability to correct the problem. All cases of plagiarism are reported to the Office of the Academic Dean.”

Failure: Plagiarized work will be assigned 0.0.

Academic Honesty is expected of all students. It is the ethical behavior that includes producing their own work and not representing others’ work as their own, either by plagiarism, by cheating or by helping others to do so.

Faculty members who suspect a student of academic dishonesty may penalize the student by taking appropriate action up to and including assigning a failing grade for the paper, project, re-port, exam, and the course itself. Instructors must document all instances of academic dishonesty beyond those of a very minor nature, in writing to the Academic Dean.

The Office of the Academic Deans will record and track students who have been reported as having cheated. If the same student cheats in other courses, the Dean will enact sanctions appropriate to level of infraction. The sanction will be selected in consultation with the involved faculty. The Dean can administer consequences up to and including suspension.

Academic Honesty PolicyAcademic Honesty is defined as ethical behavior that includes student production of their own work and

not representing others' work as their own, by cheating or by helping others to do so.

Plagiarism is defined as the failure to give credit for the use of material from outside sources.

Plagiarism includes but is not limited to:

Submitting other's work as your own

Using data, illustrations, pictures, quotations, or paraphrases from other sources

without adequate documentation

Reusing significant, identical or nearly identical portions of one’s own prior work

without acknowledging that one is doing so or without citing this original work (self-

plagiarism)

Cheating is defined as obtaining answers/material from an outside source without

authorization. Cheating includes, but is not limited to:

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Plagiarizing in any form

Using notes/books/electronic material without authorization

Copying

Submitting others' work as your own or submitting your work for others

Altering graded work

Falsifying data

Exhibiting other behaviors generally considered unethical

Allowing your work to be submitted by others

Course ManagementPlease consult e-services for information about withdrawal, audit, and incomplete policies.

Withdraw: After the Add/Drop period, a student may withdraw from a course in accordance with the dates published in e-services.

Incomplete Policy: In accordance with JC policy, an Incomplete or “I” grade is only issued to “students who have demonstrated good standing in the class and hold a passing grade at the time of an extenuating circumstance that precludes completion of the class. Documentation validating the circumstance may be required.”

Makeup PolicyAssignments are to be handed in on the due date and in the format required; late assignments are not accepted. Accommodations regarding late work will only be considered in documented instances concerning bereavement, hospitalization, and legal and military matters.

HelpThere are many available learning services and opportunities for students seeking help with their course work. When opting for help with your writing, bring the following:

A copy of the assignment;Your draft or work thus far;Specific areas with which you need help.

Available resources include: Instructor Support: Please schedule a conference with me to discuss your essays. Writing Fellows: Writing Fellows can help you on all stages of the writing process,

including prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and citing sources—no matter what JC class you are enrolled in. You may drop in during their working hours, generally 9-4 Monday through Thursday, or you may set up an appointment in advance. Students may also submit a draft for review online via the Writing Fellow link in the Student Union on JetNet.

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Research librarians and staff in the library (William Atkinson Hall): You will receive help locating digital and print sources.

Writing Faculty and Tutors located in the Center for Student Success (CSS), Bert Walker, first floor. For more information about the CSS go to http://www.jccmi.edu/success/

Message from the Center for Student Success:

“Tutors and additional free services for academic success can be accessed by calling (517) 796-8415 or by stopping by the Center for Student Success, Bert Walker Hall. Faculty and tutors in the CSS will help you with writing, study skills, test anxiety, math, and reading. Students requiring special assistance (including those affected by the Americans with Disabilities Act) should contact the Center for Student Success. This is the first step in acquiring the appropriate accommodations to facilitate your learning.

It is important to contact a Center for Student Success professional prior to the start of the semester in order to receive accommodations in a timely manner. While we will make every effort to coordinate accommodations in a timely manner, failure to self-identify prior to the start of the semester may delay notification to instructors and timeliness of acquiring accommodations. Accommodations do not automatically carry over to the next semester.”https://www.jccmi.edu/center-for-student-success/accommodations-for-students-with-

disabilities/

If you have opted to receive accommodations for this course, please schedule an office visit with me. Together, we will plan teaching and learning strategies intended to support your learning and success.

Course PolicyPlease refer to me as Dr. or Mrs. Jacobs. Please try and maintain a positive, encouraging attitude in class.I ask that all members of the class be considerate and respectful.

Do not speak while I am addressing the entire group.Please communicate with me and your classmates in a polite, professional manner.Please refrain from using profanity in your essays and in your conversations during class.Please turn off or silence all cell phones during the entire class session. Do not conduct telephone conversations or text during class.Please take note: Being involved with your cell phone while in class (unless instructed to do so) is not a wise choice. You will miss important information and instruction, and you will lose class points for lack of participation.

Do not speak while a class member is addressing the entire group.Do not participate in any behavior that is distracting or unprofessional.

Distracting and disrespectful behavior creates an unhealthy learning environment and will not be tolerated.

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I am aware that some of you have young children. However, I must ask that children not be brought to class since often they are a distraction to the parent as well as the other members of the learning community.

Please listen carefully to my directions; if something is not clear, please ask.To avoid getting behind, please be aware of the pace of the class.If you have a problem regarding the class, please let me know during the break, after class, or during an office visit.Please keep all handouts and papers until the end of the semester.If you must leave or enter the room during class, please do so discretely.Please limit eating and drinking in class since these hinder your participation in class activities.Please come prepared to be in the classroom for the entire class period. Please limit the number of times you leave and re- enter the classroom. Not only is this behavior distracting to other members of the class, it also places you at a disadvantage since you will miss important instruction and opportunity to practice your writing skills.

In-class Writing: You must be prepared to write, share, and revise your writing in class. You must be able to transport your electronic text to the classroom. Please consider purchasing a flash drive or e-mailing your compositions to your JC account.

During class, you will use the computers for composing and research. You may not use the computers for other activities including non-course related e-mailing and playing games. I will warn individuals who participate in such activities during class. After the initial warning, I will deduct class participation points.

All assignments must be typed. Please note that using a word processor facilitates the revision process.

All assignments must be handed to me.

Please do not leave assignments in my mail box unless I have given you prior permission to do so.

Please do not e-mail assignments to me.

Calendar (Subject to change)Below are the major writing assignments. Detailed descriptions will be given throughout the semester.

WEEK # DATE TOPIC HOMEWORK

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1 September 4-6

The Memoir

Prewriting strategiesPractice of descriptive and narrative writing conventionsMaintaining central impressionDevelopment of central impression, using concrete, sensory details, examples

TBA

2September 10-

13

The Memoir

Essay-writing support—paragraphing, cohesion strategies, transitionsDialog conventions

TBA

3September 17-

20

The Memoir

Peer-review and RevisionGrammar and mechanics supportIndividual conferences

TBA

4September 24-

27

The Report

Prewriting StrategiesReading comprehension strategiesFinding and evaluating sources

TBA

5 October 1-4 The Report

Practice with maintaining the focus of informational writingDocumentation strategies, following MLA guidelines

TBA

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6 October 8-11

The Report

Structure and purpose of the ReportParagraphing, cohesion strategies, transitionsOrganization strategies

TBA

7 October 15-18

The Report

Development of thesisAnalysis, interpretation, integration of research material with writer’s insights

TBA

8 October 22-25

The Report

Peer Review and RevisionVoice and tone Grammar and mechanics supportIndividual conferences

TBA

9October 29-

November 1

The Profile

Prewriting StrategiesOrganization strategiesReview of descriptive and narrative writing conventionsMaintaining focus

TBA

10 November 5-8The Profile

Development of thesisDocumentation strategies, following MLA guidelines

TBA

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Voice, tone, and style

11November 12-

15

The Profile

Grammar and mechanics supportIndividual conferences

TBA

12November 19-

20

The Profile

Revision Strategies

Portfolio Develpment

TBA

13November 26-

29Revision and Conferences TBA

14 December 3-6 Revision and Conferences TBA

15December 10-

13

Portfolios Due Date December

12Portfolios are due.

16December 17-

20

Final Reflection

Portfolios returned; Grades

assigned

Mandatory Class Attendance

and Conference

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Important Dates: Fall 2018

DATE EVENT

SEPT. 4, 2018 DAY AND EVENING CLASSES BEGIN

SEPT. 4 – DEC. 20, 2018 SEMESTER DATES

SEPT. 18, 2018 IN-SERVICE DAY. NO CLASSES

OCT. 5, 2018 PATHWAY SHOWCASES DAY. NO CLASSES

NOV. 21 – 25, 2018 THANKSGIVING BREAK. NO CLASSES

DEC. 20, 2018 END OF FALL SEMESTER

Dec. 22, 2018 Grades Due

Attendance PolicyIn compliance with Federal Title IV funding requirements, as well as college initiatives, reporting of

student participation in classes will occur at three designated times each semester. Instructors will assign

one of three non-transcripted letter symbols to each student during each reporting period (see below).

Students identified as no longer participating will be dropped or administratively withdrawn from the class,

and students identified as needing academic assistance will be contacted.

Participation/Progress SymbolsH – The student is not doing acceptable work and needs Help to be successful. Q – The student has not participated and the instructor believes he/she has unofficially withdrawn (Quit). These students will be dropped/withdrawn from the class. V – The instructor Verifies that the student is participating and doing acceptable work.

Writing as a Process

Where do we begin as writers? When we choose a topic, generate ideas, find the point we need to make, and decide on a plan of organization, we are in the early stage, often called

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the prewriting stage. Many writers do a lot of this early work in their heads; others go through a series of writing exercises as a way of preparing themselves.Somewhere along the way, we will begin to engage ourselves in a more formal stage of the process, often called the writing or drafting stage. Here, among other things, we will work to create examples of effective writing that

Has a clear, personable, engaging, and believable voice;Uses diction and syntax that are appropriate to the

writing situation;Is well developed with carefully chosen reasons, supporting details, examples, and source material;Has a focal point (thesis) that is maintained throughout;Moves smoothly;Targets a specific audience;Pays appropriate attention to the conventions (grammar, spelling, punctuation) given the audience, purpose, and genre.Documents secondary sources, using accepted guidelines.

The final revising (revision) stage allows us to look back at what we have written and to make changes that will allow us to communicate more effectively with our audience. During this stage, you will receive feedback from your instructor and peers.Although this process appears to be linear, it is, in fact, recursive, since as we move forward through the process we are constantly looking back (and often revising) what we have written.

Caveat

Please Note: The contents of this syllabus are subject to revision during the course of the semester.

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