Course Syllabus

Spring 2025 | ENG-1061-VO14 - English Composition

Online Class

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

Faculty

Christine Brooks
View Faculty Credentials
View Faculty Statement
Hiring Coordinator for this course: Cindy Swanson

General Education Requirements

VSCS 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 computer recommendations Support page.

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 course uses one or more textbooks/books/simulations.

Spring 2025 textbook details will be available on 2024-12-06. On that date a link will be available below that will take you to eCampus, CCV's bookstore. The information provided there will be specific to this class. Please see this page for more information regarding the purchase of textbooks/books.

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.

Artificial Intelligence(AI) Policy Statement

CCV recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI tools are widely available and becoming embedded in many online writing and creative applications.

Allowed: This course's generative AI policy acknowledges technology, including generative AI, plays a supportive role in learning and feedback. During our class, we may use AI writing tools such as ChatGPT in certain specific cases. You will be informed as to when, where, and how these tools are permitted to be used, along with guidance for attribution. Any use outside of these specific cases constitutes a violation of CCV's Academic Integrity Policy.

Methods

As an instructor, I would like to assist you in improving your ability to actively read, accurately write, effectively speak, and critically listen. This course will help students develop skills necessary for successful college level writing and in their chosen careers. Use the Syllabus and always check Canvas Announcements and Modules. The Calendar is on the left-hand side of Canvas. Look at the Calendar often. We will use Discussions, Assignments, and the Files. You can access your Grades in Canvas. They are updated continually.

Please note there are AI detectors for all assignments. Please do your own work. The use of AI violates the Community College of Vermont’s Academic Integrity Policy. Using AI and trying to pass it off as your own work will result in an F Grade.

Evaluation Criteria

Criteria for Evaluation

Introduce Yourself to Class 30 pts.

Thesis Statement for Essay #1 20 pts.

Rough Draft for Essay #1 50 pts.

Essay #1Final Copy 100 pts.

Thesis Statement for Essay #2 20 pts.

Rough Draft for Essay #2 50 pts.

Essay #2 100 pts.

Thesis Statement for Essay #3 20 pts.

Works Cited page for #3 40 pts.

Rough Draft for Essay #3 80 pts.

Research Essay #3 150 pts.

Reading Responses 80 pts.

Video Responses 60 pts.

Discussions 200 pts.

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

Weekly Schedule –

Tuesdays - Reading Responses 11:59 pm

Wednesdays – Video Responses 11:59 pm

Fridays – Discussions due by 11:59 pm

Fridays – Thesis Statements due by 11:59 pm (The Research Essay dates are a little different so be sure to click on the Calendar on the left-hand side of Canvas.)

Mondays – Rough Drafts and Final Essays due by 11:59 pm

Mental Health – Please take care of your mental health. Keep in mind that anything you share with me, I am required, by law, to report. Contact your academic advisor to check in for help and for instructions on how to receive Academic Accommodations. I cannot diagnose mental health, but I do have to report it.

Textbook and other sources -The Brief Bedford Reader 15th ed. X.J. Kennedy, Dorothy M. Kennedy, Jane E. Aaron, and Ellen Kuhl Repetto. ISBN 978-1-319-33286-0. Bedford/St. Martin’s. c. 2023.

Online resources include, but are not limited to Purdue Owl and VSC Library. Feel free to use Grammarly or any other website that helps you.

CCV online or in person tutors are available. Here are the links:

• Grammar resources at Purdue OWL can be helpful: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/

• CCV Online Writing Center: https://libraries.vsc.edu/CCV-writing

Guidelines for Essays - – If using Google Docs to turn in assignments, please DO NOT continue to edit past the due date. This will result in the Late Paper Policy. If you use Google Docs change your work to Word or a PDF. Most of you will be amazing and turn your work in and on time. A few students will take advantage of Google Docs and keep editing or deny me access to their document. This cannot happen. Please review the Late Paper Policy.

All essays are to be submitted typed and double spaced. Your name, the instructor’s name, the class, and the date should be in the upper left-hand corner of page one. The title will be centered. Do not Bold, italicize, or underline your own titles. Use 12 font and Times New Roman for the entire paper. Please use MLA style. Note that your writing in this class is public and will be used for peer review, as well as faculty outside of class.

Thesis Statements – All essays need to be guided by a thesis statement where the topic will be clear.

Rough Drafts for Essays – All rough drafts are graded, so please turn in quality work. I’ve never thought it good practice to fix all the errors and then have the student fix everything I already fixed. There are so many tools available to help do quality work. Use them. CCV has online or in person tutors and Purdue Owl has grammar guidelines. Please use them.

Reading Responses - All the readings are listed on the syllabus. Each Reading Response is worth 5 points. They will be graded as Complete or Incomplete, and I will keep track of the points. When you have 80 points, I will email you to let you know you have completed the Reading Responses, and you won’t have to do any more. This way, if you miss a few Reading Responses, you’ll still be okay. There is a total of 20 Reading Responses. Doing 16 will earn all the points. You cannot do extra Reading Responses for a higher grade. Most of you who do them won’t need extra credit. I will pose a broad question you can answer from your point of view for the Reading Responses. The Reading Responses will stop a little after mid-way through the semester. You will have to read to respond. Reading Responses close at 11:59 pm on Tuesdays.

Video Responses – There will be five “How To” videos to watch and respond to. Video Responses close at 11:59 pm on Wednesdays.

Discussions - Please be willing to share your ideas with the class in the Discussions. Critical Thinking is highly encouraged. Sometimes there will be a brief YouTube video for you to watch and comment on. You will also be commenting, in a positive way, about other students' work.Discussions close at 11:59 pm on Fridays.

Makeup Policy - There are no makeup Discussions, Reading Responses or class assignments. It defeats the purpose of the assigned work; however, you can afford to miss a few Reading Responses and still earn a good grade. If you miss Discussions and class work all the time it will hurt your grade. See Attendance Policy.

Attendance Policy - You will be graded for regular, prepared attendance and for active participation. Attendance will be taken from the Discussions, Video Responses, and Reading Responses. Please do the work on time so you are not marked absent. All work has deadlines. You cannot make up Discussions, Video Responses, or Reading Responses once they have closed. If you are having difficulty, it’s always a good idea to let your professor know at least 48 hours before Assignments are due. Please submit a doctor’s note for an excused absence.

Academic Dishonesty - Plagiarism is the unacknowledged use of information or words from someone else’s writing. This can happen intentionally when you use someone else’s words as your own, or unintentionally, when you fail to properly cite your sources. If you have questions about how to cite a source, please ask or consult Purdue Owl. If you plagiarize, you are liable to penalties, including failing the course.

Missing & Late Work Policy

Guidelines for Essays -If using Google Docs to turn in assignments, please DO NOT continue to edit past the due date. This will result in the Late Paper Policy. If you use Google Docs change your work to Word or a PDF.Most of you will be amazing and turn your work in and on time. A few students will take advantage of Google Docs and keep editing or deny me access to their document. This cannot happen. Please review the Late Paper Policy. There is a video in the Announcements to show you how to upload Files in Canvas. Please use it. You can use Word or a PDF too.All essays are to be submitted typed and double spaced. Your name, the instructor’s name, the class, and the date should be in the upper left hand corner of page one. The title will be centered. Do not Bold, italicize, or underline your own titles. Use 12 font and Times New Roman for the entire paper. Please use MLA style. Note that your writing in this class is public and will be used for peer review, as well as faculty outside of class.

Late Papers - You will need to plan accordingly to get your paper or other work in on time. Late work can receive an “F” grade. On occasion, true emergencies do arise. Please email me in the event of an emergency at a minimum of 48 hours before the paper is due. I will decide whether you have a true emergency. Each paper is to be submitted on time in the Assignments in Canvas. A 10 point drop will be taken for the first day late. If by chance you do turn in a late paper (which I strongly discourage) and the Assignment has closed, please email with your paper as an attachment as soon as possible. Each day that you do not email your paper to me is an additional 5 point drop. Please Note: A late paper is allowed one time only. Continuous late papers are a problem and will earn an automatic 0.

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

Apply Now for this semester.