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Spring 2020
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 for regular course work because their performance can become
erratic in CANVAS. 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 Spring Quarter 2020 Instructor: Jim Roth Contact
Information: PLEASE USE CANVAS EMAIL ONLY 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, April 15th, 2020. 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, April 15th. 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. 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 Toward the end of the quarter, please plan to visit the SCC Testing
Center to write a short final essay having to do with the novel 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 and practice. Regarding the journal and other
non-graded assignments, please remember that practicing on your own is the
most important key to improving your writing. Please go to this link to
read more about the Journal
Assignment. THE WRITING I READ I will read only student writing that clearly demonstrates an honest attempt to apply the principles presented in the course (organization, thoughtfulness, mechanics, etc.). In addition, to be acceptable, writing must reflect careful revision and editing. Student writing that appears quickly assembled or lacks evidence of revision and editing will be returned with a grade of “zero" with no rewrite opportunity. 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. 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. PLEASE READ In an adult learning
environment, such as Spokane Community College, it is
to be expected that controversial and sometimes potentially upsetting subject
matter may be covered and discussed in the classroom setting pursuant to the
learning objectives of the class. It is also to be expected that the
discussion and exchange of ideas regarding such subject matter may be robust
and spirited, but it should never cross over into speech acts or other acts
that are overtly threatening or harassing of a student or faculty member,
disruptive to the classroom environment, or otherwise inconsistent with the
level of civil discourse that is the norm in higher education circles.
The instructors of this college have a moral and legal obligation to maintain
a safe and welcoming learning environment for all students, and thus expect
and require that all students will comport themselves in accordance with the
mandates of the student code of conduct, and with the norms of civil, learned
discourse appropriate to a collegiate setting. In addition, please remember that SCC is not a continuation of high school (the 13th grade), but rather a college that offers courses and activities designed to benefit adults who choose to be here. Because of this, I expect all of my students, regardless of their age and/or academic background, to interact with others as adults. Also, I do not disclose any information about my students without their permission nor do I, as a rule, discuss a student's progress with parents. I ask that students contact me directly if they have concerns about anything regarding the course. Any student who has
difficulty affording groceries or accessing sufficient food to eat every day,
or any student who lacks a safe and stable place to live and believes this
may affect their performance in the course, is urged to contact the
Associated Student Government (ASG) or the Associate Dean of Student Development
for support. Furthermore, please notify the professor (if you are comfortable
in doing so). This will enable him or her to put you in touch with any other
resources that may be available here at Spokane Community College. 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 CANVAS gradebook
average 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.
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