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On-line English 101 Jim Roth
Greetings and welcome to online
English 101! I know it may seem abrupt
to begin with mandatory prerequisites, but being aware of these requirements
at the beginning of the term can save you from taking a course you are not
ready for. To that end, please read the following CAREFULLY and ask if you
have any questions.
The following ten
prerequisites are REQUIRED to BEGIN and to be successful in English 101: 1.
An approved minimum writing assessment score and/or
successful completion of English 99. 2.
The ability to understand and follow written directions. 3.
The ability to write clear, correct sentences (an absence of
sentence fragments and comma splice errors). 4.
The ability to recognize and use Standard Written English
grammar, usage, and punctuation. 5.
The ability to critically read and respond to college-level and
professional writing. 6.
The ability to write unified, coherent paragraphs and clear
thesis statements. 7.
The ability to sequence paragraphs to create essays. 8.
The ability and willingness to devote an average of at least 12
to 15 hours per week to the course. 9.
The willingness to share your writing with others and
constructively comment on others’ writing. 10. A trustworthy Internet connection as well as
general experience using the Internet and copy-and-paste word processing
programs. Smartphones and tablets are NOT recommended. Students who can
answer yes to ALL of the above
requirements, please read on. If the answer is no to any of them, please drop the
course immediately and, instead,
consider enrolling in a preparatory English course. Please remember that English 101 is a college-transfer level course and requires a certain
level of written competence to receive a grade of 2.0 or higher. Effort alone
may not be enough, nor will, in only one quarter, trying to learn the
many skills presented earlier in a student’s educational history. Before continuing,
please complete the following exercise: Beginning Exercise: To help you determine if you are ready to
begin English 101, please complete the exercise at the following link: Entry-level English 101 Example. If, after some thought and self-assessment, you believe you are
ready for this course, please return here. Online English 101 Winter Quarter 2016 Instructor: Jim Roth Contact
Information: PLEASE USE CANVAS EMAIL for all course
communications. School
website:
http://ol.scc.spokane.edu /jroth Required at the beginning of the course Ø Minimum English 101 entry-level writing skills
demonstrated on a timed diagnostic essay completed no later than midnight Wednesday, January 6, 2016. If you fail to
meet this deadline regardless of reason, you will be dropped from the
course to make room for students on the waiting list. Ø
The text What Matters in America, third edition, by Gary Goshgarian in hand by the beginning of the
second week. Ø
The novel Montana 1948 by Larry Watson in hand by the
beginning of the third week. Ø
A reliable Internet connection with regular access to the
Internet. (Smartphones and tablets are NOT recommended
because their performance can become erratic in CANVAS) Ø
Assuming your skills are at 101-entry level, 12 to 15 hours per
week for study and writing. IMPORTANT: To continue in the course, this
timed diagnostic writing assignment must be completed satisfactorily by no later than midnight Wednesday, January 6th,
2016. WHAT THE COURSE IS
ABOUT English 101 is a
college-level writing course designed to make you a better writer. The
college catalog describes our course as a study of the basic principles of writing
with a series of writing experiences designed to help students improve their
ability to write detailed prose. Student writing with teacher evaluation is
the primary method used in teaching basic course content. Competence in
mechanics and edited English is assumed of all students taking English 101. Please keep in mind
that, as a student in English 101, you are taking a course that is
transferable to Washington’s public four-year colleges and universities as
well as many private colleges and universities. This course meets the content
level and expectations of a comparable university course in basic
composition. Because of this, in order
to receive a final course grade above 1.9 (regardless of your overall CANVAS
gradebook average), the body of your writing must meet or exceed
transfer-level English 101 exit standards. Please remember that this
restriction applies even if your Canvas gradebook average is higher. COURSE ACTIVITIES 1. Use a writing process that involves strategies of prewriting,
drafting, revising, editing, and proofreading. 2. Apply various rhetorical elements and strategies to
particular writing assignments. 3. Complete a variety of text and web
assignments, many with quizzes. 4. Read and discuss others’ writing as well as
learn to revise your own. 5. Write well developed and clearly organized college level
essays using standard American English sentences. 6. Respond thoughtfully and critically to substantive
college-level and professional readings. 7. Use correct methods of documentation as required by the
Modern Language Association (MLA). 8. Keep
a Writing Journal for informal writing practice, including assignments from
the text and free-writing exercises. 9. Write a satisfactory end-of-the-quarter
Portfolio essay at an approved testing center. SCC ENGLISH DEPARTMENT COURSE OUTCOMES—please
read THE WRITING YOU
SUBMIT All submitted writing becomes
property of the course and may be used as an example in this and future
courses. If your writing is used, it will remain strictly
anonymous. CONTACTING ME Please use CANVAS email for all
course-related information. Please do
NOT use college email or leave messages on my office phone. GETTING BACK TO YOU I
will do my best to respond within 24 hours to emails that I receive between
7:30 to 2:30 on school days. If you
have a question over the weekends or holidays, please allow 48 hours. The best thing to do is preview the new
CANVAS module early in the course week and ask questions as soon as possible YOUR
PORTFOLIO Please keep all course writing, including
rough drafts of essays. Be sure to save each draft as a new file so
that it does not overwrite an earlier draft. THE COURSE WEEK Our course week
usually runs from Tuesday morning through Monday at midnight. ON-CAMPUS ESSAY Later in the quarter, please plan to visit the SCC Testing Center to
write a short final essay having to do with the book Montana 1948. The dates will be announced later in the
quarter. MAKING UP LATE ASSIGNMENTS There is NO MAKE-UP OPTION regardless
of reason so please don’t ask.
The good news is you will have plenty of “lead time” for each assignment. [ Please note: Any assignment that has a time and date stamp
later than the due date is a late assignment no matter what the reason and
will receive no credit. This late assignment rule includes technical
problems with the Internet and/or your computer. That’s one of many reasons to begin essay assignments as early
as possible. THE JOURNAL ASSIGNMENT The Writing Journal is
for informal course assignments. Please go to this link to
read more about the Journal
Assignment. PLAGIARISM
AND CHEATING Plagiarism and
Cheating: Plagiarism is knowingly using someone else's words or ideas as
your own. The temptation to plagiarize is great because writing is difficult.
Remember that plagiarism is stealing and will NOT be tolerated. Cheating
covers a variety of different methods, but generally turning in work that is
not your own. Don't cheat; you are only hurting yourself. Please read
the Arts
and Sciences Dean’s Letter before continuing. OTHERS Registered sex offenders (RSO’s) may
be enrolled in SCC classes. Persons interested in seeking the identity of
these person(s) may obtain further information from the Campus Security
Office. At all times, whether on campus or
taking online courses, be cautious of your personal safety and be very
careful of any relationships or attachments you form with others you meet
through college courses and activities. Students in online courses
must be particularly careful since there is no opportunity to screen others
in person. In
addition, online students may put too much trust in classmates because the
interaction is through a legitimate college course such as ours. Community Colleges of Spokane is
committed to the safety and well-being of students, faculty, and staff. The
entire community is responsible for maintaining a healthy and safe learning
environment. Please report any suspicious activities to the Campus Security
Office immediately. Please
read and follow the suggestions in the Campus Safety Update. PROPER ENGLISH AND COURTESY IN COURSE
COMMUNICATIONS Whether we like it or
not, others judge us by how well we use the language. In addition, the use of
Standard Written English demonstrates respect for ourselves, our
language, our readers, and our message. Because of these facts, part of your
grade this quarter will be determined by the quality of English you use in
emails to me as well as in postings and Writing Group comments to your peers. Please be aware that
I will not respond to e-mails nor will I accept or grade any
essays written in substandard English. In addition, I will not read
nor will I respond to e-mails written in Textlish
(“texting English”). Finally, I will
not read nor will I respond to communications that are impolite or
discourteous. Again, please practice
email etiquette is all course communications. YOUR FINAL
GRADE—Please read carefully Your average of the CANVAS gradebook categories (please see the chart
below) is not the only measure that
will determine your final grade. In addition, to be eligible to receive a final course grade of 2.0 or
higher, the body of your writing must demonstrate to me that it consistently
meets or exceeds college transfer-level English 101 exit writing
standards, regardless of your CANVAS
gradebook average. To have a sense for the minimum level of
end-of-the-quarter competency, please read the exit-level student essay. Also, to be eligible to
receive a final course grade of 2.0 or higher, you must submit all major
essays and complete the
end-of-the-quarter Portfolio Essay at the SCC Testing Center, regardless of your CANVAS gradebook
average. COURSE CATEGORY WEIGHTS THAT DETERMINE PART OF
YOUR FINAL GRADE
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