Spring 2023 | ENG-1061-VO05 - English Composition

Online Class

Online courses take place 100% online via Canvas, without required in-person or Zoom meetings.

Faculty

Michelle Demers
View Faculty Credentials

Hiring Coordinator for this course: Cindy Swanson

General Education Requirements

Introductory Written Expression

Note

Many degree programs have specific general education recommendations. In order to avoid taking unnecessary classes, please consult with additional resources like your program evaluation, your academic program catalog year page, and your academic advisor.

Courses may only be used to meet one General Education Requirement.

Course Description

In this course, students develop effective composition skills and research techniques. Students learn strategies for organizing, evaluating, and revising their work through extensive reading of a variety of essay styles and literary texts; apply writing and research techniques to their papers; and demonstrate proficiency in first-year college-level writing and information literacy.

Essential Objectives

1. Consistently apply an appropriate writing process that includes planning, drafting, revising, and editing.
2. Demonstrate in written work an awareness of the relationship among writer, subject, audience, and purpose.
3. Demonstrate writing proficiency with a range of rhetorical approaches to include narration, exposition, argument, and critical analysis and recognize the stylistic and structural strategies in the writing of others.
4. Discuss writing by authors from diverse (such as racial, ethnic, socioeconomic and gender) backgrounds to explore how perspectives and experiences may shape voice in composition.
5. Focus written work around an explicit central thesis, a position statement or proposition advanced by the writer that is arguable and supportable and develop the thesis systematically, using specific details and supporting evidence.
6. Compose written work that demonstrates effective use of sentence structure, paragraphing, grammar, syntax, punctuation, and spelling.
7. Demonstrate proficiency in research writing skills by completing one or more papers that:
a) Develop and support an arguable thesis;
b) Locate, evaluate, and incorporate appropriate scholarly and professional sources, including primary and secondary evidence as needed, to address an academic research question;
c) Appropriately acknowledge and document sources, using standard MLA or APA styles.

Required Technology

More information on general computer and internet recommendations is available on the CCV IT Support page. https://support.ccv.edu/general/computer-recommendations/

Please see CCV's Digital Equity Statement (pg. 45) to learn more about CCV's commitment to supporting all students access the technology they need to successfully finish their courses.

Required Textbooks and Resources

*** This is a no cost textbook or resource class ***

The last day to use a Financial Aid Advance to purchase textbooks/books is the 3rd Tuesday of the semester. See your financial aid counselor at your academic center if you have any questions.

Methods

Methods and/or content:

Instructional methods will include drafting, revising, and editing exercises, brief lectures, class discussion and activities, and readings of required and outside texts. You will be asked to do peer review, conduct library research, and participate in all discussions.

Students will write four essays that employ various rhetorical strategies (e.g., narrative, descriptive, comparison/contrast, and argument, to name some possibilities). Each essay will go through a number of drafts, receive feedback from peers, the instructor, Tutor.com, or the CCV Learning Center tutors, and be revised by the student before receiving a final grade. Students will practice peer editing.

Quizzes on reading assignments are given to ensure that you are keeping up with your assignments and class work. If you fall behind, it will be difficult to catch up and will be reflected in your work.

Evaluation Criteria

Due Date Policy

Students will be expected to complete each assigned task by its due date. Late class discussion posts will not be accepted. The quality of your discussion posts will be determined by the discussion prompt’s instructions. For assignments other than discussion posts, such as drafts of essays, late work will be penalized 10% for each day past the due date. If there are extenuating circumstances that will make it impossible to meet an assignment’s due date, you must communicate with the instructor prior to the assignment’s due date.

Failure to complete work in a course will result in an absence for that week.Once a student has received two absences, they will be sent a warning. They will have seven days to respond to their instructor and are not allowed any more absences. If the student receives a third absence they will receive a failing grade.

Letter Grade Criteria:

An “A” Grade:The student not only meets the essential objectives but has gone beyond them to achieve excellence and originality. The student has completed all reading and writing assignments and has gone beyond the instructor’s suggestions in completing revisions. The student’s contributions in discussions are thoughtful and demonstrate intellectual risk-taking: i.e., he or she not only has good answers but raises interesting questions. The student has put as much effort into peer editing and helping his or her fellow students to grow as writers as he or she has put into his/her own work. The student has gone beyond the textbook in gathering sources for written work and class discussion. The student has participated consistently. The research paper tackles a challenging topic, is clear, well documented, and virtually error-free.

A “B” Grade:The student meets the essential objectives and has done so beyond the level of mere competence. The student has completed all reading and writing assignments and has shown improvement in the ability to think critically. The student has incorporated the material from the textbook and lectures, as well as feedback from peers and the instructor, into his or her writing. The student has made use of the textbook beyond the assigned reading. The student has participated in class discussions regularly and completed weekly assignments. Written work contains few errors and is presented in a clear, organized manner.

A “C” Grade:A grade of C has traditionally represented average work, and it will continue to do so in this class.There is no shame in receiving a C. The C student makes an effort to meet the essential objectives and, for the most part, succeeds. He or she has a fair understanding of the course materials and tries to incorporate instructor and peer feedback into his writing. The student turns in all assignments on time and participates in class discussions. Essays contain few errors, show effort, and are clear.

A “D” Grade:D is below average and does not constitute a passing grade for this course: The D student turns in poorly prepared work, turns in work late, or fails to turn in work. He or she rarely participates in discussions, does not make an effort to assist fellow students with their work during in-class workshops, and does not incorporate feedback and suggestions into his or her revisions. The student fails to make use of outside resources to get help with writing. Essays contain many errors, lack structure, and are difficult to read.

An “F” Grade:The student did not meet the essential objectives. The student missed several weeks of classes and/or was unprepared, failed to participate in discussions and did not complete assignments in a timely fashion – if at all. (Not doing homework can result in failure). The student has failed to make any progress in understanding the reading, writing, and critical thinking skills that were to be mastered during this course. Little or no effort has been made to get outside help. The student shows no interest in feedback or suggestions from the instructor or peers. Essays show no understanding of basic writing skills, no effort, and are incomprehensible.

Some advice on grades:Sometimes grades are borderline. For example, the difference between moving up to a B- or down to a C+ may depend on whether you made a noticeable effort to improve in this class. I do notice such things as thoughtful and enthusiastic participation in class discussions, careful attention to revisions in your writing, and a willingness to work hard consistently. Sometimes these qualities could make the difference between a passing grade and a failing one.

Grading Criteria

CCV Letter Grades as outlined in the Evaluation System Policy are assigned according to the following chart:

	High	Low
A+	100	98
A	Less than 98	93
A-	Less than 93	90
B+	Less than 90	88
B	Less than 88	83
B-	Less than 83	80
C+	Less than 80	78
C	Less than 78	73
C-	Less than 73	70
D+	Less than 70	68
D	Less than 68	63
D-	Less than 63	60
F	Less than 60
P	100	60
NP	Less than 60	0

Weekly Schedule

Attendance Policy

Regular attendance and participation in classes are essential for success in and are completion requirements for courses at CCV. A student's failure to meet attendance requirements as specified in course descriptions will normally result in a non-satisfactory grade.

• In general, missing more than 20% of a course due to absences, lateness or early departures may jeopardize a student's ability to earn a satisfactory final grade.
• Attending an on-ground or synchronous course means a student appeared in the live classroom for at least a meaningful portion of a given class meeting. Attending an online course means a student posted a discussion forum response, completed a quiz or attempted some other academically required activity. Simply viewing a course item or module does not count as attendance.
• Meeting the minimum attendance requirement for a course does not mean a student has satisfied the academic requirements for participation, which require students to go above and beyond simply attending a portion of the class. Faculty members will individually determine what constitutes participation in each course they teach and explain in their course descriptions how participation factors into a student's final grade.

Participation Expectations

Class Participation Policy:

The class experience is an essential component of your education, and your participation

is vital to successful class discussions and activities. Students who enroll in online classes at CCV are expected to actively participate in class functions on a regular basis. Logging into the online system is not sufficient to establish or maintain participation.

To maintain active participation, students must submit assignments, interact in class discussions, do group work, and participate in other activities specified by the instructor in the week assigned including tests and quizzes.

Students should expect to log into the online class at least 4-5 times per week, and spend at least 8-10 hours per week involved in activities for this course. Due to the fast-moving nature of the course, it can be very difficult to catch up once you fall behind. If you foresee an issue that might impact your ability to turn in your work on time, it is always a better idea to discuss it with the instructorprior to the due date.

Missing & Late Work Policy

Due Date Policy

Students will be expected to complete each assigned task by its due date. Late class discussion posts will not be accepted. The quality of your discussion posts will be determined by the discussion prompt’s instructions. For assignments other than discussion posts, such as drafts of essays, late work will be penalized 10% for each day past the due date. If there are extenuating circumstances that will make it impossible to meet an assignment’s due date, you must communicate with the instructor prior to the assignment’s due date.

Failure to complete work in a course will result in an absence for that week.Once a student has received two absences, they will be sent a warning. They will have seven days to respond to their instructor and are not allowed any more absences. If the student receives a third absence they will receive a failing grade.

Accessibility Services for Students with Disabilities:

1. Provide disability documentation to the Accessibility Coordinator at your academic center. https://ccv.edu/discover-resources/students-with-disabilities/
2. Request an appointment to meet with accessibility coordinator to discuss your request and create an accommodation plan.
3. Once created, students will share the accommodation plan with faculty. Please note, faculty cannot make disability accommodations outside of this process.

Academic Integrity