ENGL 1020 – FALL 2013
MOTLOW STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Fridays 9:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Instructor: Milton Stanley, M.F.A.W., M.Div.
Office hours: By appointment
Weblog
Assignments, helpful information, and special notices will be posted each day on the course weblog: http://mscc-engl-1020.blogspot.com/. Be sure to check the site frequently for important information about the course. I’ll be checking the weblog daily, so it’s also a good way to send me messages. Please see me if regular Internet access is a problem for you.
I am not yet up and running with online campus communications systems, so until I am, please do not turn in assignments in Motlow drop box.
Required Materials
- Practical Argument: A Text and Anthology, 2nd Ed.
- The Little, Brown Handbook, 12th Ed.
- College dictionary
- Paper for freewriting, written responses, and quizzes
Course Description
English 1020 builds upon the basic skills covered in ENGL 1010. This course is designed to help you enhance and build your critical thinking skills through an emphasis on argumentation essays, literary analysis, and the completion of a research paper. For a comprehensive list of course goals and objectives, see the ENGL 1020 weblog.
Class Requirements
- Do all assigned readings in time for quizzes and class discussions.
- Always come to class ready to write.
- Participate in class discussions.
- Complete and turn in all writing assignments on time.
- Do all in-class assignments in dark ink on wide-ruled paper.
- Turn in both printed and electronic copies of out-of-class assignments (please talk to me if you do not have access to word processing and printing services).
Essays
To complete this course, you’ll write three out-of-class papers:
- Essay 1 Rhetorical analysis essay (4-6 pages)
- Essay 2 Arguing a position essay (4-6 pages)
- Essay 3 Arguing a position essay (5-10 pages)
Several of your in-class papers will also receive a letter grade.
Grading
Grades in this course will be assigned according to the following scale:
- A = 90-100
- B = 80-89
- C = 70-79
- D = 60-69
- F = 0-59
Remember that, according to academic convention, a C is an average grade. The grade of B indicates above-average work, and an A is given only for outstanding performance. I want you to make the best grade you honestly can. I’m willing to work individually with you through the semester to help you improve your grade. I urge you also to take advantage of a wide range of services offered by Motlow State. Late-term begging, however, is a very bad idea.
Your final grade will be determined according to the following formula:
- Rhetorical analysis essay, 20%
- Arguing a position essay 1, 20%
- Arguing a position essay 2, 30%
- Quizzes, 15%
- In-class writing, 10%
- Class participation, 5%
In short, 30 percent of your final grade is determined by what you do in class. No matter what your other averages may be, however, you must have an average of D or better on your out-of-class essays to pass this course.
Essay Format
For all out-of-class papers, use a 12-point standard font. Double space your essays on plain white paper with one-inch margins. See The Little, Brown Handbook for manuscript guidelines. Please follow MLA format. Also, you are required to submit an electronic copy of each essay by email or flash drive.
Major Error Policy
During this course you’ll be reminded how to eliminate these major grammatical errors:
Fused sentence (fs) Dangling or misplaced modifier (dm, mm)
Comma splice (cs) Lack of subject-verb agreement (agr, sva)
Sentence fragment (frag)
Each instance of one of these errors in an essay will result in a one-half letter grade penalty.
Attendance Policy
You are expected to attend classes regularly, and attendance is sometimes critical for mastering the skills developed in this class. Please remember that quizzes and in-class writing assignments will be given almost every day and cannot be made up. Also, I will be following the college’s requirement that I track attendance for financial aid purposes.
Classroom Deportment
Please keep in mind we’re all adults here. Texting, talking on the telephone, web browsing during class, or getting up to leave before class is over is simply rude and shows disrespect to your teacher, your fellow students, and yourself.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is copying someone else's work without giving proper credit to the author. It's cheating, and a single instance of flagrant plagiarism will cause you to fail the course if you're caught. Even inadvertent plagiarism, such as failing to cite a source, is a serious academic offense. Make sure you avoid plagiarism with everything you write. If you're not sure what plagiarism is or how to avoid it, review your Little, Brown Handbook. I am available to help you in person or by e-mail, provided you come to me before turning in your paper.
Current Events
A critical element of writing intelligently about the events and issues shaping our lives is to know something about those events and issues. If you have not already done so, please begin to acquaint yourself with some of these issues and events in the news. If you don’t know where to start, see the “Web sites for current events” link on the top right of the course weblog.
Other Information
I accept late work only in unusual circumstances. In no circumstance will I give make-ups for daily quizzes or in-class writing assignments. Late work will be lowered at least one letter grade. I do not accept very late work (e.g., saving all your essays till the end of the semester).
In most cases, in-class essays will be graded pass/fail. For the in-class average, every passing essay will be averaged as a grade of 100 and every failing essay as a 50. A missed assignment is averaged as a 0. That said, the vicissitudes of life are sometimes outside our control, so I'll cut you some slack. I will drop your two lowest quiz grades and your two lowest in-class essay grades. You will also be given the option of rewriting one out-of-class paper. For rewrites, I will accept only papers that have already been graded and returned.
Please see me if you need special accommodations in keeping with the Americans With Disabilities Act.
You’ve paid money for this course, and I want you to get what you’ve paid for. Should the McMinnville campus be closed due to unforeseen circumstances, we will, if possible, soldier on using the course weblog and other online resources.
Disclaimer
This syllabus hits only the high points and cannot include everything you need to know during the semester. Stay tuned for more, both in class and on the weblog.
A Final Note
Don't let all these dos and don'ts get you down. If you've made it this far, you probably have what it takes to make it through this course. I want you to do as well as you can, and I'll do my best to help you. But remember that you're the one in charge of your education, so take the initiative in doing the work, asking questions, and seeking help when you need it.
