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English 0301
L. Lennie Irvin, San Antonio College
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Syllabus English 0301

San Antonio College Fall 2013
Mr. Lennie Irvin

Office: GH223-D,  phone #210-486-0672, e-mail: llirvin AT gmail.com
Web: http://www.alamo.edu/sac/english/lirvin/
Office Hours: MWF 9-10, MW 12-1, TR 9:30-10:30, 1:30-3:00  

 

I. Catalog Description: Development of fundamental writing skills such as idea generation, organization, style, utilization of standard English, and revision. A developmental composition course providing practice in developing short essays including writing effective paragraphs, organization styles, construction of topic sentences, generation of thesis statements, revision, editing, and basic research.

II. REQUIRED BACKGROUND: A student must have an Accuplacer score of 50-79 on the Sentence Skills section, and 5 on the writing sample and placement in Reading 0303 or concurrent enrollment in Reading 0302. Alternatively students who have taken 0300 must have received a grade of C or better. (Note: Students whose first language is not English or who speak English but have limited experience in writing Standard English are encouraged to enroll in the ENGA sequence of courses through the Department of Foreign Languages instead of 0301.)

III. TEXT AND/OR REFERENCE MATERIALS:

The Scott, Foresman Handbook for Writers, 9th ed.
Elbow, Peter. Writing Without Teachers.

IV. METHODS OF INSTRUCTION
These include lecture, assigning frequent readings from required texts, directed class discussions, and use of the library. They may also include guided collaborative or cooperative learning, media-assisted instruction, and computer-based or online instruction. Instruction may also be supplemented with laboratory, writing center, or other student support services.

V. COURSE CONTENT:

THE WORK OF THE COURSE

Portfolio (40%)
You will turn in a collection of your work in the form of a portfolio at the end of the semester.  The graded portion of the portfolio will be one revised essay, a special writing piece about your own writing and writing growth, and a final essay written during the final exam.  Portfolios are due at the final exam time. More details about this portfolio will be provided.

Essays (25%)  
You will write four essays and the grade for each of these will be averaged together for this portion of your grade.

Book Project (10%)
We will begin the class by putting together a collection of writing. This project is intended to get your started in the class. See "The Book Project" description for more information.

Daily Work, Journals and Discussion Forums (25%)
After our initial project, we will be responding to a weekly topic in our Discussion Forum.  You will be graded on your participation in the discussion.  In addition, we will have various exercises, journals, homework assignments, and quizzes which will be counted within this daily work category.  Keeping up with your assignments and participating well should yield high returns in this area.  In addition, I may require you to work via a web site on grammar exercises. Much of the activities in this category count toward your one hour lab requirement (which really is two hours).

  1. Reinforcing the idea of writing as a process
  2. Writing effective essays which use a variety of rhetorical methods
  3. Determining purpose, audience, and occasions for reading and writing
  4. Evaluating short readings to make connections between reading and writing
  5. Selecting and organizing ideas
  6. Limiting topics for writing thesis statements
  7. Using effective grammar, spelling, and vocabulary in the context of class reading and writing
  8. Introducing academic library research into the writing process

VI. LEARNING OUTCOMES AND PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES with their methods of measurement as used to determine the students' mastery of those outcomes:

  • Learning Outcome 1: The student will be able to recognize and apply the principles of writing as a process, including pre-writing, drafting, revising, and editing, to produce essays as basic units of writing.

    Performance Objective and Measurement: The student will write a minimum of four essays, excluding the final examination, that show awareness of audience and purpose and writing as a process. The essays will constitute at least 60 percent of the course grade, and minimum competency requirements for the course will be a grade average of 70 or better.)

  • Learning Outcome 2: The student will be able to make connections between reading and writing skills by recognizing audience and purpose through the study of a variety of texts.

    Performance Objective and Measurement: The student will demonstrate competency by reading a variety of texts to include works that address global awareness and civic responsibility, participating in discussions about the texts, and modeling an understanding of audience and purpose through written assignments.

  • Learning Outcome 3: The student will recognize the importance of using a variety of rhetorical strategies to write essays that have precise controlling ideas, clear thesis statements, coherent topic sentences developed through appropriate supporting details, sufficient transitions and other cues to help the reader connect ideas, and a logical overall structure containing an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

    Performance Objective and Measurement: The student will demonstrate an understanding of rhetorical strategies in essay writing by composing a minimum of four essays totaling 2000 words or more and a final in-class exam essay of 500 words or more. An average grade of 70 or better on essays will demonstrate competency.

  • Learning Outcome 4: The student will achieve basic competency in edited Standard American English as expected in the local and national communities.

    Performance Objective and Measurement: The student will demonstrate increased competency in using effective grammar, spelling, punctuation, and discipline-standard formatting in academic written assignments.

  • Learning Outcome 5: The student will be able to utilize basic research skills in the writing process.

    Performance Objective and Measurement: The student will demonstrate research skills by attending a library orientation and using library search tools to access at least one academic source relevant to a written course assignment.

VII. COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

  1. College Requirements:
    1. "While other examinations are given at the discretion of the instructor, a written comprehensive final examination, not to exceed two and one-half hours in length, shall be given at the end of each semester for each course at the regularly scheduled time. Any exceptions to these requirements must be approved by the appropriate dean. Other examinations are given at the discretion of the instructor. Students who must be absent from a final examination must petition their instructor for permission to postpone the examination. Students absent without permission from a final examination are graded "F." Postponed examinations result in a grade of "I." The final examination must be taken within 120 calendar days from the end of the semester or the grade automatically becomes an "F." See the Final Exam Schedule in the current SAC Class Schedule for final exam dates and times (which differ from normal class meeting dates and times)" (San Antonio College--Student Handbook, 2009-2010, pg. 7).
  2. Departmental Requirements:
    1. The final examination must include a sequence of related paragraphs or short essay, which must account for at least 15 percent of the total grade in the course.
    2. All students are required to achieve an average grade of 70 (C) or better on their paragraphs, including the essay portion of the in-class final exam, in order to advance to English 0301. Individual instructors may present exigent circumstances regarding this requirement through an appeals process with the department chairperson.
    3. An in-progress "IP" grade may be assigned if the student needs more than one semester to achieve the competencies. The "IP" grade is assigned if the student meets the following criteria:
      • Turn in all assignments;
      • Takes the final exam;
      • Attends classes regularly with no more than two weeks of absences;
      • Makes substantial progress toward accomplishing the departmental competencies of the course for that semester.
    4. This course cannot be substituted for any part of the college-level English sequence.
    5. A student in English 0300 must receive a grade of "C" or better before being permitted to take English 0301.
  3. Instructor Requirements:

    Attendance:
    The college policy is that students missing more then two weeks of class may be dropped. Since we are an eight week class that means missing ONE week of class could result in your being dropped. For an internet class, I consider participation in the class through turning in work on time as constituting attendance. Not participating in the class for over a week may result in you being dropped from the class. I encourage you to keep me informed about matters that may affect class attendance and/or class performance. Come to class! The consequences for dropping classes have in recent years become much larger (the six drop rule), so come to class!

    Late Daily Work: 
    Late work in just about everything except essays will not be accepted, unless otherwise stated. Late work gets no credit.

    Late Essays Drafts :
    Essays and essay drafts are due anytime during the date they are due.  Late drafts lose -10 points from the Essay grade. Late drafts MUST be turned in within four days of the original due date or the grade is a zero.

    Essay Rewrites:
    I reserve the right to require you to rewrite an essay draft if you have not turned in acceptable work. These rewrites will be due no later than four days after the request for the required rewrite is made (due date specified by instructor). The policy on late essays will apply to rewrites that are not turned in within four days.

    Final Exams
    This exams will be conducted on campus. You will turn in your Final Portfolio at this time. Make-up exams will not be available unless set up in advance with the instructor.

    GRADING SCALE:  A=  90-100; B=  80-89; C=  70-79; IP/D or F = <70

    IP Grade represents "In Progress" and means you are not ready yet for English 1301 and will need to retake English 0301. It does not count in your GPA or hurt your financial aid status.

Online Appropriateness/Privacy:
I will expect that you communicate with your peers and your teacher in a respectful and decent way. The general guideline we will follow is that anything that would be considered inappropriate in a face-to-face encounter is just as inappropriate online. I will also expect you to honor the privacy of your classmates by not sharing without their permission any personal information (including their email address or writing). Problems with online behavior could result in your being asked to leave the class.

VIII. College Policies:

  1. Equal Opportunity: "The Alamo Colleges are equal opportunity colleges and do not discriminate in access, admission, campus activities, education, employment, public accommodation, or public service on the basis of age, race, color, national origin, religion, disability, handicap, height, marital status, political affiliation, gender, sexual orientation, or veteran's status. No person shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of or be subject to discrimination under any program or activity sponsored or conducted by the Alamo Colleges" (Alamo Colleges--San Antonio College, 2009-2010 Catalog, pgs. 92-93).
  2. ADA Statement: "Persons with disabilities who plan to attend the Alamo Colleges, who may need reasonable accommodations as per the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the American with Disabilities Act of 1990, should contact the designated Disability Support Services office at the college at least four (4) working days prior to the program or activity so appropriate arrangements can be made" (Alamo Colleges-- San Antonio College, 2009-2010 Catalog, pg. 93). If accommodation is needed, contact the office of DisABILITY Support Services, CAC 124, Phone: (210) 486-0020.
  3. Children on Campus Policy: "Students are urged not to bring children to classes, labs, or other facilities such as libraries. Minors under the age of 12 must not be left unattended on- campus at any time" (Alamo Colleges--San Antonio College, 2009-2010 Catalog, pg. 89).
  4. Emergency Response Plan: Click Here for The Emergency Response Plan website. iIf you have a disability that will require assistance in the event of a building evacuation, notify Disability Support Services, Chance Academic Center (CAC) 124, Phone: (210) 486-0020.
  5. Emergency Contact Information:
    ACCD DPS Emergency Phone (210) 222-0911
    ACCD Police at San Antonio College: (210)486-0995
    24-Hour Dispatch: (210)485-0099
    ACCD DPS Weather Phone (210) 485-0189 (For information on college closures)
    SAC College Health Center: (210)-486-0222
    SAC General Information: (210) 486-0000
    For Alamo Colleges Police Department Web Site, click Here
  6. Plagiarism/Scholastic Dishonesty: For various reasons, the number of incidents of scholastic dishonesty in the classroom has increased throughout the nation in recent years. It is in the student's best interest that scholastic dishonestly not be tolerated and that the Alamo Colleges' policies and procedures be followed so as to provide consistent college-wide enforcement. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on exams, tests, and quizzes; plagiarism; and collusion. See the Student Code of Conduct for more detailed information.

    Cheating on exams, tests and quizzes includes, but is not limited to:

    1. Copying from another student's test paper;
    2. Using materials during a test that are not authorized by the person giving the test;
    3. Collaborating with another student during a test without authority;
    4. Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting, in whole or in part, the contents of a test without the consent of the instructor;
    5. Substituting for another student, or permitting another student to substitute for one's self, to take a test;
    6. Bribing or otherwise influencing another person to obtain a test not authorized for distribution by the instructor; and
    7. Reporting fraudulent research results.

    Plagiarism is the appropriation of another's work and the unacknowledged incorporation of that work into one's own coursework/assignment including the taking and using of ideas, passages, etc. Plagiarism is scholastic dishonesty and will result in disciplinary action.

    Collusion is the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing any coursework/assignment" (Alamo Colleges-San Antonio College, 2009-2010 Catalog, pg. 97).

  7. Electronic Devices in the Classroom: "Students are required to silence and store out of sight all electronic communication devices such as pagers, cellular phones, PDAs, etc. when in classrooms, laboratories, libraries, or areas where such devices would interfere with instruction and learning" (Alamo Colleges-San Antonio College, 2009-2010 Catalog, pg. 92).
  8. San Antonio College Attendance Policy:
"Regular and punctual attendance at all classes and laboratories, day and/or evening, is required. A student absent for any reason is responsible for all work missed. Both tardiness and early departure from class are forms of absenteeism. The instructor establishes the policy with regard to each. Absences of each student are recorded without exception. The counting of absences begins on the first day of class. A student absent the equivalent of two weeks of instruction in a 16-week semester may be dropped by the instructor. If a student is dropped from a class for excessive absences, the instructor may record a grade of "W' (withdraw)" (San Antonio College- Student Handbook 2009-2010, pg. 6).

NOTE: Students must also abide by the policies, procedures, and rules set forth in the "Student Code of Conduct" and all other policies set forth in the Alamo Colleges-San Antonio College e-Catalog.

Curriculum Vitae (Short Version)
--See Full Version

Education:
University of the South Sewanee, TN. B.A. English 1984.
University of Texas at Austin M.A. English 1988. Emphasis: Creative Writing. Thesis: A Map of the Homeland
Texas Tech University enrolled Spring 2005- (projected completion Fall 2010) PhD Candidate in Technical Communication and Rhetoric

Teaching Experience
San Antonio College 1994- Assistant Professor. Tenure awarded 2001.

Selected Publications "What is Academic Writing?" Writing Spaces: Readings on Writing. Vol 1. West Lafayette: Parlor Press, 2010. 3-17. http://writingspaces.org/ | "The Activist WPA in Action: A Profile of the First-Year Writing Program at Eastern Michigan University." Composition Forum 20, Summer 2009.

Recent Professional Papers and Presentations "Celebrating Writing for Learning in All Subjects: How to Integrate More Writing into Your Classroom." The Success Trifecta. Region 20, San Antonio, TX. October 2009. "Researching Rhetorical Reflection." Panel on Reflection with Kathleen Blake Yancey as respondent. CCCC. March 2009, San Francisco. "Generating a Grounded Theory of Rhetorical Reflection." CCCC Research Network Forum. March 2009, San Francisco.

Professional Associations National Council of Teachers of English Two-Year College English Association National Writing Project Council of Writing Program Administrators Other Affiliations and Positions Co-Director and Tech-Liaison, San Antonio Writing Project President, enCore Consortium Inc.

Committee Leadership Positions and Activities Chair, San Antonio College Writing Center Advisory Committee. Chair, Computer User's Committee, Department of English: 1995-2008 Chair, Program Review Committee, Department of English: 2004-2008

Last updated August 22, 2013

 

 


© Lennie Irvin 2013