ENC 1101: Freshman Composition I

SYLLABUS

 

You can access a print version of the syllabus here: ENC 1101 Fall Online Syllabus

 

Course Overview

Course Information

ENC 1101 - 11010 - W56

Fall 2020 Online

August 24 - December 11, 2020

Credit Hours: 3

 

Instructor Information

Instructor: Mailin Barlow

Email: Canvas or mbarlow@valenciacollege.edu

Phone:  407-582-1439 (This is the school phone. Leave a voice mail with your name and phone number, and I will return the call.)

Office:  West Campus, Building 5, Room 154 (This office will not be used in Fall 2020.)

Office Hours: Online Mon-Fri 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (These are the times you can most likely find me online reading emails and grading work. I will be online other times, so you can email me at any time. On weekends, I check email once each day.)

 

Course Description

ENC 1101 is designed to introduce students to the essay form and to provide instruction and practice in expository writing, including the documented essay. The emphasis is on clarity of central and support ideas, adequate development, logical organization, coherence, appropriate citing of primary and/or secondary sources, and grammatical and mechanical accuracy. (3 credit hours)

In short, this class is about ESSAYS. You write them, and I grade them.

 

Course Prerequisites

Score of 103 on writing component of PERT or equivalent of other state-approved entry test or minimum grade of C in ENC 0027 or minimum grade of C in ENC 0025C or EAP 1640C, and a score of 106 on reading component of PERT or equivalent score on other state-approved entry test or minimum grade of C in REA 0017C or EAP 1620C.

 

Gordon Rule

ENC 1101 is a Gordon Rule course in which the student is required to demonstrate college-level writing skills through multiple assignments. Minimum grade of C is required if ENC 1101 is used to satisfy Gordon Rule and General Education Requirements.

 

Learning Outcomes

The specific learning outcomes designated for this course are as follows:

• Students will compose expository essays.
• Students will write in standard American English.
• Students will write a documented essay.
• Students will demonstrate information literacy.
• Students will develop critical reading skills.

 

Course Structure

The course is organized into modules based on specific types of essays. For each module, you will complete daily work to prepare for writing a type of essay, and the module will end with the submission of the essay.

The modules are listed below:

• Module One: Personal Narrative
• Module Two: Definition
• Module Three: Comparison/Contrast
• Module Four: Argument/Persuasion
• Module Five: Professional Writing

 

Meet Your Instructor

 

My name is Professor Mailin Barlow. And, no, I am not a cat. 

I am, however, a cat lady -- one who likes dogs, too, so you dog lovers can hold off on the inflammatory emails!  

The cat pictured above is named Jack. Jack is  member of our feral colony here on the West Campus, one of the cats I help feed as a member of the West Campus Kitty Committee. Jack is one of my personal favorites, so I have adopted him as my spirit animal. 

As for other information about me: I have been teaching at Valencia since (drum roll, please) 1987. Yes, you read that right: nineteen eighty-seven! I have seen and heard it all, and I still love teaching -- even online! 

I'm an "almost" native of Florida, having lived here since I was two years old. I went to Edgewater High School (go Eagles!) the University of Central Florida (go Knights!), and Florida State University (go, `Noles!). 

I look forward to getting to know much more about you this semester! 

Contact Information

Email: Canvas or mbarlow@valenciacollege.edu

Phone: (407) 582-1439 (leave voice mail)

Office:  West Campus, Bldg 5 Rm 154 

 

Course Work and Grades

Essays

Five essays will be assigned. Below is a brief description of each essay assignment. A lot more information, including possible topics and sample essays, will be provided. 

• Essay One: Personal Narrative (500-700 words):  The essay should reflect on a personal experience in support of a thesis.
• Essay Two: Definition (500-700 words): The essay should provide a documented definition of a term.
• Essay Three: Comparison/Contrast (500-700 words): The essay should compare or contrast two things in support of a thesis.
• Essay Four: Argument/Persuasion (800-1000 words): This documented essay should argue for one side of an issue, using support from designated sources.
• Essay Five: Professional Writing:  Instead of an essay, the fifth assignment will require students to compose two professional writing pieces.

(A documented essay is one that requires outside sources.)

 

Essay Requirements

All essays must be typed, double-spaced, in Times New Roman 12 point. They should have a title. They will be submitted as file uploads: .doc, .docx, or .pdf. The essays should follow MLA rules for formatting.  A video demonstrating MLA format will be provided. 

 

Late Essays

You are allowed to turn in one essay one day late with no grade penalty. This is your late freebie. You get only one late freebie, so save it for when you need it. 

After the freebie deadline passes, the essay will be docked five points for every day it is late up to the absolute deadline.

An essay's absolute deadline is the day before the due date of the next essay. This is the absolute last day an essay can be turned in. 

Essay Five (Professional Writing) cannot be turned in late. 

 

Revisions

You can revise one essay to improve the grade. Revisions must be emailed to the instructor by December 9, 11:59 p.m. 

The revision option cannot be used to repair a zero for an essay not turned in.  The revision option is only for essays that have been turned in and graded.

Essay Five (Professional Writing) is not eligible for revision. 

 

Daily Work

Daily work consists of discussions, exercises, and quizzes. 

 

Exercises

Exercises include a variety of assignments: answering questions after a reading, analyzing a piece of writing, composing writing, and completing grammar work.  You have a choice of completing the exercises as file uploads or text entry. A video demonstrating the two methods will be provided at your first exercise assignment. 

Exercises are graded on completion and time only.  Turn them in complete and on time, and you will receive 10 points.  Due dates will be posted. 

 

Quizzes

Quizzes will be multiple choice. They will be worth 10 points each. Due dates will be posted. 

 

Discussions

You can review the how-to's for using the Discussion feature on Canvas:   Discussions on Canvas

Instructions for Posting to Discussions:

You will be asked a question. Your answer should be posted as a Reply to the question. Type in your response in the box. Preview the post: proofread, check length and substance, make sure there is nothing offensive. Then and only then hit Post Reply. 

The length should be a minimum of one paragraph (five sentences). Grammar will not be graded. Post the discussions and responses complete, on time, and on topic, and you will receive 10 points. Due dates will be posted.

 

Instructions for Posting Discussion Responses:

For some discussions, you will also be asked to respond to classmates' posts via "Reply."  Responses should say more than "I agree" or "disagree."  Responses should be a minimum of three sentences.  

 

Late Daily Work

Daily work (quizzes, discussions, exercises) will not be accepted late.  "Oops I forgot to attach or insert," "Oops the file was corrupt," and "Oops I uploaded the wrong file,"  "Oops I swear I hit submit/reply but it didn't take" will not be accepted as excuses, along with old classics like "My hard drive crashed" or "My dog ate my computer."  You should confirm the uploads, posts, submissions, and/or attachments before you send. 

If you lose access to Canvas or lose power or whatever in mid-quiz, discussion, or exercise, email me or call me  immediately to request an alternative quiz , discussion topic, or exercise (which will be different from originals) . The date/time of the email or voice mail will be used to determine if an alternative is merited. If the email or voice mail is sent after the original was due, an alternative will not be provided. 

The lowest four daily work assignments will be dropped. 

 

GRADES

 

 Grading Scale

 

Grading Scale

Percentage	Grade
90% - 100%	A
80% - 89.9%	B
70% - 79.9%	C
60% - 69.9%	D
0% - 59.9%	F

Final Grade 

Final Grade

Assignments	Percentage of Final Grade
Essays One, Two, and Three	50%
Essay Four	25%
Essay Five	5%
Daily Work (quizzes, discussions, exercises)	20%
TOTAL	100%

Course Policies

 

Important Dates

Start Date: August 24, 2020

End Date: December 11, 2020

Final Exam Week: December 7 - 11, 2020

Withdrawal Deadline: October 20, 2020

College Closed: September 7 (Labor Day); November 11 (Veterans' Day); November 25 - 27, 2020 (Thanksgiving)

Other Dates: See College Calendar

 

Attendance Policies

No Show

Class attendance is required for online classes. If you do not log in to the course during the first week and complete the Required Attendance Activity (Quiz: Orientation), you will be withdrawn from the class as a "no show." If you are withdrawn as a  no show, you will be financially responsible for the class and a final grade of  "WN" will appear on your transcript for the course.

Withdrawal 

This is an online course, available 24/7, managed through Canvas.  Your online attendance will be checked based on your participation in the course and submission of coursework.

If you are unable to participate in the course due to illness, family emergency, etc., please communicate with me as soon as possible to create a plan for complete missed assignments so your learning can progress in the course. In the case of prolonged online absence, please communicate with me as soon as possible to create a plan for the best course of action.

If you do not access the course website or contact me  for a period of seven consecutive weekdays, you will be contacted and if there is no communication within 48 hours, you will be withdrawn from the course up until the withdrawal deadline. 

Per Valencia policy, a student who withdraws from class before the withdrawal deadline  will receive a grade of “W." A student is not permitted to withdraw after the withdrawal deadline. 

The withdrawal deadline for this semester is October 20, 11:59 p.m.

 After the withdrawal deadline, faculty will not withdraw a student and the student will receive the grade earned at the end of the course. Any student who withdraws or is withdrawn from a class during a third or subsequent attempt in the same course will be assigned a grade of “F.” 

 

College Student Conduct Policy

Valencia is dedicated not only to the advancement of knowledge and learning but also to the development of responsible personal and social conduct. As a registered student, you assume the responsibility for conducting yourself in a manner that contributes positively to Valencia’s learning community and that does not impair, interfere with, or obstruct the orderly conduct, processes, and functions of the college as described in the Student Code of Conduct.

 

Academic Integrity Policies

All forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited at Valencia College. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, acts or attempted acts of plagiarism, cheating, furnishing false information, forgery, alteration or misuse of documents, misconduct during a testing situation, facilitating academic dishonesty, and misuse of identification with intent to defraud or deceive.

Of particular concern to this class is plagiarism.  PLAGIARISM is the use of someone else's words, ideas, pictures, designs, and/or intellectual property without the correct documentation and punctuation. This includes but is not limited to the following:

• Use of an author's words or phrases without quotations marks
• Use of information from a source without documentation

Self-plagiarism is also plagiarism. All work for this class should be original to this class.

Any essay that contains plagiarized material will receive a grade of zero.

One plagiarized essay can be redeemed through the Revision option of the course. A second plagiarized essay will not be able to be revised and will keep the grade of zero, which will have a big impact on the final grade for the course. A third plagiarized essay will result in a grade of "F" for the entire course. 

 

Students with Disabilities Policy

Valencia is committed to ensuring that all of its programs and services are accessible to students with disabilities. The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD). determines reasonable and appropriate accommodations for qualified students with documented disabilities based upon the need and impact of the specific disability.

Any student requiring course accommodations due to physical, emotional or learning disability must contact the instructor and provide a Notification to Instructor form by the end of the second week of class. To obtain a letter of accommodation, contact OSD at 407-582-2229.

 

College Policy Links

College Catalog.

Valencia Policy Manual.

Student Handbook.

 

Copyright Policy

To avoid copyright infringement, any materials produced specifically for this class can ONLY be used during this term for this class.

 

Third Party Software & FERPA Policy

Valencia College has a firm commitment to protecting the privacy rights of its students. Third party software privacy policies will be provided at the point of use within the course.

Valencia College has a firm commitment to protecting the privacy rights of its students. In making this commitment, the college wants to ensure that all faculty and staff are familiar with state and federal laws pertaining to student privacy, as well as College policies and procedures that have been implemented to help guarantee student privacy.

 

Disclaimer

Changes to the syllabus and course calendar may be made at the discretion of the professor, and students will be notified of any changes in class and/or via the Canvas Inbox conversations tool.

 

 

Course Communications

 

Contact with Instructor

You may contact the instructor various ways during this semester.

Email

The first option is to email the instructor through Canvas. If there are issues with Canvas, you can reach the instructor through Outlook at mbarlow@valenciacollege.edu. The instructor will be checking email several times a day, Monday through Friday, until 5 p.m., and at least once on Saturday and Sunday. The instructor will reply to all emails within 48 hours. 

In emails,  please provide your full name and course number (CRN).  

Telephone

If you prefer to speak to the instructor directly, the Valencia office number for Mailin Barlow is (407) 582-1439. Leave a voice mail including your full name and a telephone number at which you can be reached. Calls will be returned within 48 hours. 

 

Expectations of Students

Students are expected to check their Atlas email and Canvas inbox on a regular basis throughout the week.

For guidelines on how to interact with your instructor and peers in an online learning environment, read through Our Practice of Respect and Community  from Valencia's Peace & Justice Institute. 

 

Expectations of Instructor

The Instructor will address students following the guidelines as indicated in  Our Practice of Respect and Community Building from Valencia's Peace &  Justice Institute.

The Instructor will notify students of changes to the course work via the Inbox or Announcements tools.

 

 

Textbooks and Student Support Services

 

Textbooks

Instead of textbooks, this course will use online sources and instructor-produced materials. 

Online sources include the following:

• Purdue Online Writing Lab
• The Kirkman Reader
• Grammar Bytes
• Miscellaneous websites. 

Instructor-produced materials will be posted on Canvas. They will include handouts and Power Points. 

 

Student Support Services

 

Learning Support Centers

Each Valencia campus has a Learning Center that provides resources such as tutoring, writing consultations, and skill shops to students. To locate available resources for the campus closest to you, view the Learning Support website.

Library

At each campus library, librarians and other qualified staff can assist students with searching and finding items and information, MLA and APA citations, and technologies. The library provides a variety of books, eBooks, online articles, textbooks, DVDs and streaming videos to support course-related research and other learning needs. You cab view the Library website for more information.

 Students with Disabilities

Valencia is committed to ensuring that all of its programs and services are accessible to students with disabilities. The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) determines reasonable and appropriate accommodations for qualified students with documented disabilities based upon the need and impact of the specific disability.

Any student requiring course accommodations due to physical, emotional or learning disability must contact the instructor and provide a Notification to Instructor form by the end of the second week of class. To obtain a letter of accommodation, contact OSD at 407-582-2229. 

Baycare Student Assistance Services

Valencia College strives to ensure all our students have a rewarding and successful college experience. To that purpose, Valencia students can get immediate help with issues dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, adjustment difficulties, substance abuse, time management as well as relationship problems dealing with school, home or work. BayCare Behavioral Health Student Assistance Program (SAP) services are free to all Valencia students and available 24 hours a day by calling (800) 878-5470. If needed, the counselor may refer the student to appropriate resources or to speak face-to-face with a licensed counselor.

 Smarthinking

As a Valencia student, you have free access to 8 hours of online academic support that is available 24/7 through your Atlas account. You can get live online tutoring, as well as receive feedback on your essays and research papers, among other support services. For more information, view the Learning Support  website.

 

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Course Support: onsite, online tutoring, writing help, etc.

 

Technology Requirements and Skills

Technology Requirements

Since all assignments are submitted through Canvas, access to a computer is required for this course.  Students also have free access to computers on Valencia campuses (when open). The recommended browsers are Chrome, Safari, and Firefox. Chrome works best. 

Students are also encouraged to install the Canvas app on their Android  phone or iPhone in order to receive mobile notifications and to access your courses via  mobile device.

Valencia College also provides student support and resources for general technical issues or frequently asked questions.

Students should use Word (.doc, .docx or a .pdf file) for their essays.  Valencia provides this software free to students via Microsoft Office Instructions for free software.

 

Technical Skills

Students should consider the basic computer skills needed to be successful in this course, which include:

• Reading and responding to emails
• Software application skills (PowerPoint, Word, Office365, etc.)
• Internet and library database browsing
• Copying and pasting
• Saving files in different formats
• Working with attachments
• File management

Canvas 101 is a free self-paced course available for students to learn more about using the Canvas learning management system we are using for this course.

 

Technology Privacy Policies

Valencia College has a firm commitment to protecting the privacy rights of its students.  Any use of student records and information in this course will comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), including third-party tools and services used in this course.  Privacy policies for the tools used in this course are listed below and at the point of use.

• Valencia College privacy policy
• Canvas privacy policy

If you have any concerns or issues with any of these requirements or policies, please contact your instructor.