English 01, Spring 2000

English 01, Fall 2000

Rick Dollieslager, Asst. Professor

Office: Wythe Hall 246, Phone: 825-3543

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Office hours: Mon. 8-10 a.m., 12-2 p.m.; Tues. 8-9:30 a.m.; Weds. 8-10 a.m., 12-1 p.m.; Thurs. 8-9:30 a.m. Also by arrangement (Call for appointment.)

Materials

A (paper copy) college writing handbook of your choice
A folder or binder with pockets to keep all handouts and assignments.
A 3.5" computer disk

Catalog Description: English 01 "Preparing for College Writing" helps students discover and develop writing processes needed to bring their proficiency to the level necessary for entrance into their respective curricula. Guides students through the process of starting, composing, revising, and editing. Helps students learn the fundamentals of grammar, mechanics, and punctuation.

Prerequisites: Appropriate placement based on standardized test scores

Learning Objectives: Upon successful completion of the course you should be able to start, compose, and revise well developed paragraphs and essays; you should have an understanding of the basic parts of the academic essay; you should be able to recognize and correct major sentence errors; you should have a basic understanding of contemporary English grammar and punctuation; and you should be able to edit your own writing to satisfactorily conform to the accepted practices of standard English prose.

Instructional Methods: In addition to class discussion of the assigned material, much of the course will be conducted as a workshop, requiring small-group discussion and exercises, peer evaluation, use of the internet and computer-mediated instruction, and individual student/instructor conferences. As this course is primarily a workshop, expect to and be prepared to work in class at every scheduled meeting. You will be encouraged, but not required, to compose, revise and edit your papers by use of the word processor.

Assignments: First, keep all paper handouts and assignments that you receive or do this semester and bring them with you daily. You will find them useful, in that, throughout the semester, I will refer you to the handouts I have given you and to the assignments you have completed. Several of your writing assignments may be "linked"; that is, they may be about different aspects of the same topic or subject matter. Some will be revised to consider for inclusion in your exit portfolio, which is discussed in the evaluation section below. In addition to the writing assignments, you will generate sentences and combine sentences, work editing exercises, study interactive computer programs, and take quizzes on the conventions of grammar and punctuation. Expect to have a reading and a writing assignment every day.

Evaluation: Near the end of the semester, you will submit a portfolio consisting of your best writings to be evaluated by a panel of graders from the English Department. I will be one of the evaluators, and I will have at least two other readers from among the English faculty. This is the fairest method of evaluating a person's writing skills since it is mostly anonymous and completely impartial. The panel will recommend your placement for the next semester. The recommendation can be to re-enroll in ENG 01, to take ENG 03, or to take curricular composition, ENG 111. Your portfolio cannot be considered for evaluation at the end of the semester unless you have also successfully completed all of the work, both in class and outside of class, which I have assigned. Refer to the attendance policies below.

Attendance: Make a commitment to attend every class. The Communications, Humanities and Nursing Division attendance policy stipulates that I may drop any student who has missed 20% of the scheduled classes. If we meet twice per week, 20% of the scheduled meetings equates to six classes. If we meet three times per week, 20% equates to nine classes. I would never drop a student to be hard-nosed or vindictive, but I will drop a student whose irregular attendance makes success in the course unlikely. Much of the work for the course will be conducted or due in class, so you'll have to be here in order to get credit for it. Schedule no appointments of any sort which will conflict with the meeting times for this class. There are no excused absences; if you can't or don't make class, it is simply an absence. Please don't tell me why you have missed a class. Since college students are adults, I won't treat you like a child by asking for an excuse. If you make class and turn in the work by deadline, you optimize your chances of success, but I can't help you to achieve your goals if you aren't in class to work towards them. So, please, no excuses for missing class or missing work deadlines. I have found that anyone can succeed who tries hard enough.

Plagiarism: In accordance with provisions published in the TNCC catalog, disciplinary action will result if plagiarized work is turned in. The TNCC Student Handbook describes plagiarism thus: "To steal and pass off as one's own the ideas or words of another; to use without crediting the source; to present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source; to commit literary theft" (2000-2001, p. 173). Whether intentional or inadvertant, plagiarism is a serious academic offense, and the consequences for intentional plagiarism are severe: "Plagiarism at Thomas Nelson Community College will constitute a dismissable offense..." (2000-2001, p. 173).

ADA Compliance: If you have any diagnosed physical or learning disabilities please go to the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities (Griffin Hall, room 201) to register for support services or accomodations covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

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