Course Information
Course ID:	ENGL001A
Course Name:	ENGLISH COMPOSITION
Section Number:	32811
Units:	3
Instructor Name:	LANG
Course Type:	Online
Course Description: The techniques of English Composition with emphasis on the process of learning to write clearly and effectively and to read analytically. Fulfills the English requirement for the Associate degree; a baccalaureate course.
Instructor Contact Information
Email Address:	david_lang@wvmccd.cc.ca.us
Phone Number:	408-855-5178
Campus Office Location: W3-601 D
Other Information
Orientation Schedule: The orientation is mandatory: Friday, February 4, 2005, noon to 2 pm, room E2 - 202. If the class is full and you want to add, you can try your luck by coming to the orientation. If someone who has registered hasn't turned up by the end of the orientation, the instructor will drop him or her and then run a lottery for the newly available seat(s).
Exam Requirements and Location: Midterm Exam: Friday, March 25, noon to 2pm. Location at Mission College to be announced. Final Exam: Friday, May 27, time to be announced (probably 1 - 3 pm, but this will be confirmed). Location at Mission College to be announced.
Prerequisites: Engl 108A or qualifying score on placement test.
Required Books & Materials: Axelrod, Rise, and Charles Cooper. Reading Critically, Writing Well: A Reader and Guide. 6th ed. Boston: Bedford, 2002. Pham, Andrew. Catfish and Mandala. New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 1999. Raimes, Ann. Keys for Writers: A Brief Handbook. 4th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2004.
Outline of Topics to be Covered: Objectives: * practice distinct elements of the writing process as you compose your writing assignments * develop your reading, writing, critical thinking, and research skills * write different types of essays which satisfy different purposes * write essays incorporating information from a variety of sources * respond to ideas in essays and in literature in writing which clearly and accurately expresses your own thoughts * select and use sources to support your own ideas * learn and use standards of academic documentation (Modern Language Association format) * prepare yourself for success in future coursework and other environments in which you will be expected to write * develop your confidence in your writing ability as you develop your competence * think critically and work cooperatively as you analyze readings, write essays, and advise each other on your compositions * develop an appreciation for and usage of creative, concrete, evocative language
Notice on Disabilities: Any student who feels s/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact me privately to discuss your specific needs. Please contact DISC (Disability Instructional Support Center) in S2-201, (408.855.5085 or 408.727.9243 TTY) to coordinate reasonable accommodations for students with verifiable documentation.
Additional Information: Grading Policies A. Assignments and Points Each of your assignments will receive points. Here is a list of the assignments you will do and the total points possible for each assignment: 1. Autobiographical Essay 100 2. Evaluation Essay 100 3. Essay Explaining a Concept 100 4. Position Paper 100 5. Reader Response Papers 100 6. Midterm Exam 150 7. Final Exam 200 8. Participation 150 Total Points Possible 1000 My explanation of each assignment will include the criteria I use to evaluate the writing you submit.   B. Grades: I will compute grades according to the following percentages of total points earned:  90 - 100%    A  80 - 89%   B  70 - 79%   C  60 - 69%  D  Below 60%   F You will receive an evaluation from me for each assignment that you submit. I will also record your grade in the grade record, which you can access through the Tools and Check Grade buttons.   C. Participation You should submit all assignments by the due dates. Late assignments incur penalties. I will subtract three points for each calendar day that an assignment (#1 - 4) is late and two points for each calendar day that the other assignments (e.g. reader response essays, discussion postings, feedback postings in small groups, module assessment postings) are late. I will accept late essay assignments up to but not more than one week after the due date. Exception: I will not accept late papers during or after finals week. I will subtract any negative points (earned by missing due dates) from the Participation points. I will also at the end of the term assess your overall participation in terms of the quality of your postings--especially the clarity and thoughtfulness of your feedback in your small groups. Thus the Participation grade is composed of both negative points (penalties for late assignments and postings), which I will try to record as the term progresses, and positive points (rewards for quality postings, especially peer feedback on classmates' essay in small groups), which I will assess at the end of the term.   D. Exams You must complete both the midterm exam and the final exam to be eligible to pass the course. The exams will be essays based on Catfish and Mandala.   D. Plagiarism Plagiarism will result in an F. Plagiarism means “to steal and pass off the ideas and words of another as one’s own” (Webster’s New World Dictionary). Mission College takes plagiarism very seriously and considers it grounds for failure. Turning in someone else’s work will result in an F and can result in disciplinary action, including suspension or expulsion, by the college administration. Plagiarism includes using words from a published (including published on the Internet or in databases) article or book or from another student’s work without acknowledging the source; allowing another student to use your own work; or having a tutor, friend, family member, or anyone else write your paper for you. If you are unsure if you’re plagiarizing or not, ask me before submitting your work. See “Academic Standards and Regulations” in the college catalog for further details on plagiarism.