Sample Syllabus1102

Note: This syllabus is a work in progress and is not official. Official syllabus will be available 8/28/06.

ENC 1102-703 Online Syllabus Fall 2006

CourseInfoSection: TBA -- Instructor: List Your Name-- email: yourusfedmailplease-- IM Screenname: rmeehanENC1102 -- Office Hours Web conferencing by appointment

Course Description

This course emphasizes argument, research, and style. Through its emphasis on thinking rhetorically, providing evidence for assertions, creative thinking, and writing as a process, this course will prepare you for argument and research-based writing in academic settings. Students will compose multiple drafts, respond to peers' drafts, sharpen their research skills, and improve their revising and editing skills. In terms of thematic issues, this course engages students in writing as social action then invites students to think rhetorically about the many modes of writing and persuasion. Note: This is a Gordon Rule course, so all students must write at least 6000 words over the course of the semester.

Required Texts/Tools

Lester Faigley's The Penguin Handbook and Inventing Arguments (Paperback) by John Mauk and John Metz.

MajorProjects and Assignments

The table below provides links to the major course projects and activities, the weeks assigned to each (may be adjusted), and anticipated grading weights (please note that the instructors reserve the right to adjust grade distribution to account for special activities). NOTE: Projects 1-3 will require an Annotated Bibliography.

Description	Week	Percentage of Grade
ProjectOne	2-4	14%
ProjectTwo	5-7	14%
ProjectThree	8-10	14%
ePortfolio	14-16	14%
Writing Assingments	1-16	25%
Participation	1-6	15%

Grading

Using your USF NetID, you will be able to access your grades on Blackboard.

Your instructor may grade you on a 1 to 100% basis or a letter grade basis. The Blackboard Grading rubric will be used for the mathematical breakdown on a 100 point scale to a letter grade scale.

Letter grades, including plus and minus grades, will be given on major writing projects. To determine final grades, the individual grades will be converted to points according to the Grade Point Average grading system as follows:

A+	(96-100)	4.00
A	(93-95)	4.00
A-	(90-92)	3.67
B+	(86-89)	3.33
B	83-85)	3.00
B-	(80-82)	2.67
C+	(76-79)	2.33
C	(73-75)	2.00
C-	(70-72)	1.67
D+	(66-69)	1.33
D	(63-65)	1.00
D-	(60-62)	0.67

For final grades, averages within the range between these points will go to the higher grade (e.g., 3.68-4.0 = “A”; 3.01-3.33 = “B+”; etc.).

A final grade of C- satisfies specified minimum requirements for grades of C (e.g., Gordon Rule and Composition I requirements). Student exemptions for the writing portion of CLAST require a 2.5 combined GPA in Composition I & II.

Policy for Making up Missed Work

All assignments must be completed on time. Your instructor will not accept late in-class assignments or late out-of-class homework assignments. Your instructor may accept late Projects (for a list of Major Writing Projects see above); however, late projects will be penalized. For each school day that the project is late, one-third grade will be taken off its final grade (e.g., for one day late, what might have earned a “B” will receive a “B-”, etc.).

Plagiarism and Academic Honesty

Plagiarism includes the use of a quotation, that is, the exact words of a text (interview, lecture, periodical, book, or website) without quotation marks and documentation; the paraphrasing of ideas or passages from a text without documentation; the inclusion from a text of information not generally known to the general public without documentation; and the following of the structure or style of a secondary source without documentation.

Because plagiarism is a problem at USF (as well as at other universities), you will be asked to review Avoiding Plagiarism, accessible at http://collegewriting.us/FrontPageDocuments/Plagiarism.aspx. After reading this page, you will be

1. required, at the beginning of the semester, to print and sign the Classroom Policies Agreement Form, which your instructor will keep on file.

2. required in ENC 1101 to complete an annotated bibliography on Plagiarism.

3. required to pass the Plagiarism Self Test. Your instructor may also ask you to complete this exercise in MLA documentation.

For more information about plagiarism policies see:

· USF Plagiarism Policy http://www.ugs.usf.edu/catalogs/0405/adadap.htm

· First Year Composition Plagiarism Policy CompositionProgramPlagiarismPolicy.htm

Incomplete Grade Policy

The grade of “I” (Incomplete) will be given for only very compelling reasons. Assigning a student the grade of “I” for Composition I or II must be approved by the instructor and the Director of Composition. According to the USF Undergraduate Catalog:

An “I” grade indicates incomplete coursework and may be awarded to graduate and undergraduate students. (Undergraduate rules apply to non-degree-seeking students.) It may be awarded to an undergraduate student only when a small portion of the student’s work is incomplete and only when the student is otherwise earning a passing grade. Until removed, the “I” is not computed in the GPA for either undergraduate or graduate students. The time limit for removing the “I” is to be set by the instructor of the course. For undergraduate students, this time limit may not exceed two academic semesters, whether or not the student is in residence, and/or graduation, whichever comes first. “I” grades not removed by the end of the time limit will be changed to “IF” or “IU,” whichever is appropriate. If an instructor is willing, he or she may accept work from a student after an I grade has changed to an IF or IU grade, and assign the student a final grade in the course, unless the student has graduated. Whether or not the student is in residence, any change to “IF” grades will be calculated in the cumulative GPA and, if applicable; the student will be placed on appropriate probation or academically dismissed. Students are not required to re-register for courses in which they are only completing previous course requirements to change an “I” grade. However, if a student wants to audit a course for review in order to complete course requirements, full fees must be paid.

Grade Grievance Policy

The English Department follows the CAS Grade Grievance Policy outlined at http://www.ugs.usf.edu/catalogs/0506/arcsagp.htm Following Step III A, the student should submit the statement of the particulars to the Director of Composition. Other copies should be distributed as outlined in the Undergraduate Catalog. In addition, the student should submit his or her writing portfolio to the Director of Composition.

Course Technology Requirement

From web-based assignments and material to email and Blackboard, ENC 1101 requires consistent access to the Internet, word-processing, desktop publishing programs, and a printer. As quoted at http://usfweb2.usf.edu/compustore/studentpolicy.asp USF's Technology Policy is as follows:

USF expects students entering the university to possess significant computer skills and have ready access to computer hardware and software appropriate to their degree programs. Competency in the basic use of a computer is essential for success in many majors at the university as well as in a number of general education and elective courses. Class assignments for courses, including some of those taken in the first semester, may require extensive computer use. Each year, increasing proportions of courses offered throughout the university are adding computer use requirements. Students who come to the University without necessary computer skills are provided access to numerous free computer training classes. Training in various software applications and web languages is offered throughout the year, including the summer session. Students may find information about these valuable computer training opportunities at http://www.acomp.usf.edu/training.html.

Not having access to a computer will be not be an acceptable excuse for not having checked the syllabus for homework, not having checked your USF email address for class announcements, or not having made the required online journal posts. Students are required to check their USF email account (use of this account is mandatory). If you use an email address other than your USF address, you will be required to forward your USF mail to your regular email address so that you do not miss any announcements.

Student Conduct Policy

In group work and large class discussions, please conduct yourself in a cooperative and orderly manner.
Posting deliberately inflammatory material to discussion forums, blogs, wikis, or in emails is unacceptable. Derogatory comments about the subject matter of the course (e.g., "I hate English so much!") are inappropriate and reflect poorly on the poster.

Note: We strive to make the course as interesting as possible for everyone, and we welcome any constructive suggestions for improvement that are written in a respectful tone.

If any behaviors interfere with instruction, whether in the classroom classroom or online your instructors will then follow these policies from the USF Handbook:

Disruption of Academic Process

Disruption of academic process is defined as the act or words of a student in a classroom or teaching environment which in the reasonable estimation of a faculty member: a. directs attention from the academic matters at hand, such as noisy distractions; persistent, disrespectful or abusive interruptions of lecture, exam or academic discussions, or b. presents a danger to the health, safety or well being of the faculty member or students.
Punishment Guidelines for Disruption Of Academic Process

Punishments for disruption of academic process will depend on the seriousness of the disruption and will range from a private verbal reprimand to dismissal from class with a final grade of "W," if the student is passing the course, shown on the student record. If the student is not passing, a grade of "F" will be shown on the student record.

If we all work hard to treat each other respectfully, we will find ourselves in a wonderfully positive learning environment. You'll come away with a rich educational experience, and your teachers will be delighted to have had you as a student.

Disability Accommodations

Any student with a disability should be encouraged to meet with the instructor privately during the first week of class to discuss accommodations (See Student responsibilities: http://www.sds.usf.edu/Students.htm). Each student must bring a current Memorandum of Accommodations from the Office of Student Disability Services that is prerequisite for receiving accommodations. Accommodated examinations through the Office of Student Disability Services require two weeks notice. All course documents are available in alternate format if requested in the student’s Memorandum of Accommodations. (See faculty responsibilities: http://www.sds.usf.edu/faculty.htm).

Archiving

For archiving purposes, your instructor may require you to submit electronic copies of your assignments in addition to paper copies. Your instructor may require you to archive your work at Blackboard or print copies.

Part of a process-driven writing course is seeing how your writing evolves from draft to draft as well as over the semester. As a result, you are required to submit all drafts, peer reviews, relevant class notes and research including Xeroxes of all paraphrased and cited sources along with the final draft. At the end of the semester when you submit your portfolio you are required to include your previous final drafts, the ones with your instructor's comments, in your portfolio.

You must keep all your written work until you have received your final grade for the course. You may archive your work on a disk/CD, a website, or in printed format. If you have questions regarding the grade for an English Composition class, you will be asked to produce all the written work completed during the semester. Also, you need to keep your work that your instructor marks up so that you can submit these at the end of the semester when you turn in your Portfolio. At the end of the semester if your instructor requires paper documents, you may want to submit a self-addressed stamped envelope/folder when you submit your Portfolio so that the instructor can mail back your documents. You should also keep a digital copy for your records. Please keep in mind that your instructor is not responsible for archiving your work after the final week of the semester.

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