English Comp 101

Waubonsee Community College

1

ENG 101 First Year Composition I

ENG 101.934 (11353)

Fall 2021 12-Week Late Start (9/20/21-12/18/21)

Asynchronous Online Course Instructor Name: Sarah Magin

Waubonsee Email: [email protected]

Phone/Text Number: (708) 606-9223

Office Hours: By Appointment

Welcome to First-Year Composition I at Waubonsee Community College!

My name is Sarah Magin, and I am looking forward to a productive and enjoyable

semester. I’m excited to work with you on your assignments as you learn to more fully express

your ideas in critical essays, to support your ideas with evidence, to appreciate reading a variety

of texts, and learn to critically engage with the texts you will encounter.

This is a reading and writing intensive course, so get ready for an intense experience of

reading, writing, and critical thinking! Since this is an Online Asynchronous course, Homework

will be assigned on a weekly basis. Each Week's assignments and coursework will be provided

online on Canvas.

Homework will be posted on Canvas under "Announcements" on the Monday of each

week. Unless otherwise stated, all homework will be due by noon on the Sunday of that

week. For example, homework assigned for Week 1 will be due by noon on Sunday 9/26.

For additional assistance, contact the Canvas Support Hotline: (833) 201-9762 as needed.

For Technical Assistance, contact the Technical Assistance Center (TAC): (630) 466-4357 as

needed.

Required Class Materials and Resources:

Required Textbooks

Bullock, Richard, and Maureen Daly Goggin. The Norton Field Guide to Writing with

Readings, 5th Ed. W. W. Norton.

Bullock, Richard, Michal Brody, and Francine Weinberg. The Little Seagull Handbook, 4th

Ed. W. W. Norton.

OR purchase the bundle of the above two books with “They Say/I Say”: The Moves That

Matter In Academic Writing with Reading, 5th Ed. (for use in ENG 102).

Waubonsee Community College

2

*Students will have options to buy bundled textbooks on or off campus, print or electronic, new

or used. Todd Library will keep textbooks on reserve for student use.

Additional Required Class Materials and Resources

Use of computer—please contact TAC or Student Services for availability of

hardware or software if needed.

Use of Canvas learning management system for course material, assignment

giving and submission, feedback and grading

Familiarity with Todd Library in person or online

Use of Microsoft Word. There is a free version of Microsoft Word available

for download.

Access to a comprehensive college dictionary and thesaurus either in print or

online.

Use of the myWCC to find online support and student services.

Disclaimer

This course syllabus and schedule are subject to change. Updates and other revisions to

course policies will be communicated via college (waubonsee.edu) email.

Course Description

This course focuses on the writing and revising of academic essays or writing projects and is the

first in a two-course sequence. First-Year Composition I develops awareness of writing

processes; provides strategies for inventing, organizing and editing; stresses a variety of uses for

writing while analyzing audiences, purposes, or contexts in texts; and emphasizes critical skills

in reading, thinking and writing. Academic writing is distinguished from various discourse

communities by formality, conventions, and multi-sourced content.

Enforced Prerequisite: C or better in ENG085 or ENG095, Transitional English in high school,

or college placement measures.

IAI General Education requires a C or better in this course for transfer.

Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI Code):

Gen Ed Code: C1 900

Major Code: None

Course Objectives

Throughout this course, the student will learn to:

1. Comprehend, analyze, and articulate a well-reasoned response to a variety of texts, from student writing to published writing to academic discourse;

Waubonsee Community College

3

2. Evidence an understanding of how topic, audience, purpose, voice, and levels of formality interact and vary in different rhetorical situations, in academic disciplines, and

discourse communities;

3. Utilize various invention, drafting, and revising/editing strategies to meet the purposes of different writing situations, materials available to the student, and length of time available

for the task;

4. Engage a topic in which the student explores writing as a means of self-discovery and produces a text that is designed to persuade the reader of the student’s commitment;

5. Establish a voice appropriate to the topic selected and rhetorical context; 6. Clarify major aims, arrange material to support aims, and provide sufficient materials to

satisfy expectations of readers;

7. Select, evaluate, and interact effectively with sources, subordinating them to the student’s purpose and creating confidence that the sources have been fairly represented and

acknowledged with academic integrity;

8. Demonstrate a satisfactory control over the conventions of edited American English and competently attend to the elements of presentation (including layout, visual elements,

format, printing, and consistent style of documentation) appropriate to the academic

discipline or discourse community;

9. Ethically employ appropriate computer-generated technology to the production of a writing project;

10. Recognize the importance of writing as essential to inquiry, learning, thinking, communicating, life-long learning, and as a career skill.

Course Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. rhetorical knowledge: analyze audiences, purposes or contexts in creating or comprehending texts;

2. critical thinking, reading, and composing: evaluate ideas and information within rhetorical situations of varied texts in multiple contexts;

3. knowledge of processes: adapt writing strategies for composing varied texts in multiple contexts;

4. knowledge of conventions: apply patterns of formatting in composing varied texts in multiple contexts utilizing edited U.S. English.

College Learning Outcomes

This course contributes to the following college learning outcomes:

☒ Critical Thinking Examine information in order to propose or develop solutions or construct arguments.

☒ Communication Use clear language to communicate meaning appropriate to various contexts and audiences.

☐ Quantitative Literacy Make judgments or draw appropriate conclusions based on the quantitative analysis of data.

Waubonsee Community College

4

☐ Global Awareness Describe the interconnectedness of issues, trends or systems using diverse perspectives.

☐ Information Literacy Use technology to ethically research, evaluate or create information.

Evaluation of Student Learning, Grading Criteria, and Scale

Your performance in this course will be evaluated based on the following components:

Grading Scale

• 90 – 100% A

• 80 - 89% B

• 70 - 79% C

• 60 - 69% D

• Below 60% F

Course Grade Calculation

Writing Projects: There will be six graded writing projects in this course, including a resume and

cover letter project, as well as weekly writing assignments. Each of your major grade

components will count as follows:

Grading Components % of Final

Grade

Writing Project #1: Narrative Essay 10%

Writing Project #2: Written Report 15%

Writing Project #3: Position Argument Essay 15%

Writing Project #4: Resume and Cover Letter 10%

Writing Project #5: MLA Style Research Essay 20%

Writing Project #6: Self-Assessment Reflection

Essay

10%

Graded Assignments: Homework, Reading

Responses, Discussion Board Posts, Drafts, Peer

Response, Participation etc.

20%

My grade book is maintained in Canvas, where you can review all your grades at any time. You

are also encouraged to check with me to review your progress.

Essays will be graded based on the rubric you will receive. It is expected that all work

will be done on a computer (typed). Your work must be submitted on or before the date due to

receive full credit. Please keep copies of your essays, electronic and/or hard copy. Also, keep all

of your graded assignments, along with drafts and peer reviews so that we can discuss them

when you come for conferences to discuss your progress. It is important that you verify that the

grades noted in Canvas match those noted on your papers. If there are any discrepancies, we will

then be able to resolve the matter quickly.

Since this is a writing course, you will, of course, be writing every day. There will be

Waubonsee Community College

5

written work turned in every class period (e.g., homework, in-class writing, drafts, peer reviews,

etc.) These assignments must be submitted on time or they will receive no credit.

Attendance policy

I will take attendance so that I learn your names as quickly as possible. If you must miss class,

please ask a classmate for notes or information. It is your responsibility to find out what you

missed. As much as possible, I will post assignments, handouts, and other helpful materials on

Canvas. I will, however, not re-teach a class that you missed.

Routine attendance is one key to success in this and any course at Waubonsee

Community College. Therefore, students are expected to attend the vast majority of course

sessions and be both on time and prepared to discuss the material. Absences will result in the

student missing important course information, interaction with peers and in-class writing

exercises. The instructor will, however, make all reasonable accommodations for situations that

arise that are beyond the student’s control or those situations covered by applicable state and

federal laws.

If attendance to class becomes a bigger issue (including, but not limited to, family and health

issues), a withdrawal may be considered.

Chronic tardiness will be counted as an absence. Please refer to the WCC Student Handbook for

school policy on attendance. Extenuating circumstances will be given consideration.

The BEST thing to do regarding attendance is stay in communication with your teacher.

Late work and make-up policy

All of the work assigned in this course is designed and given for an enriching purpose. Simply

translated: it is worth doing! I believe in conversation before consequence, so if you need an

extension to a due date, let’s talk about why and how I can help you. Otherwise, Late Work

will not be accepted.

Participation

As a matter of routine students are expected to come to class prepared and ready to learn.

Distractions such as electronic devices should be set aside before class begins, though students

may use technology in class to take notes, share writing and edit writing projects. However, if

the instructor observes a student using devices for anything unrelated to class activities the

student will be asked to leave the classroom and will receive an absence for the day.

Both the physical classroom and virtual classroom (Canvas) deserve respect as places for

learning, engagement and exchange. Any behavior such as unauthorized recording or sharing of

another student’s writing that violates the integrity of either space will not be tolerated and the

student will be referred to either Student or Academic Conduct Board.

Students are expected to contribute to class in a variety of ways. Conversations occur in

groups of varying sizes: sometimes small groups, large groups, or whole-class. Being an active

member of the class insures you are not only sharing what you know so others may benefit, but

you are also receiving what you need from the course and your classmates.

*** Please see the Student Handbook for other course policies and procedures.

Waubonsee Community College

6

Withdrawal

You may elect to withdraw from the class any time before the deadline of November 19th, 2021.

Please refer to the following link for other important college dates:

https://calendar.waubonsee.edu/

Waubonsee Community College reserves the right to administratively withdraw students who are

not actively attending.

Students may withdraw themselves from this course until the date noted on the Tuition

Refunds page.

*** Please see the Student Handbook for other course policies and procedures.

Email:

I will use your Waubonsee email address to contact you, so please check this account for

messages. Also, I check email regularly and try to respond within 2 business days (not over

weekends). If you send me an email and do not receive a response from me within 48 hours, it

probably means that I have not received the message, so please check the address and try again

or contact me by phone/text.

Names and Pronouns: If you wish to be called by a shortened form of your name or a different

name than what appears on the class roster, please inform me on the first day of class or as soon

as a change is made during the semester. If you wish to have me use a particular pronoun or

recognize a different gender for you, please advise me of your preference.

Electronics in class: Please silence your cell phones upon entry to the classroom, and refrain

from using them to talk, text, surf, or watch videos during class time. Exceptions will be made

for those on an emergency alert like birth, death, or illness. Also, you may bring your laptop or

tablet to class. I find this to be a useful tool, but please use it for class work only. If the electronic

devices are disruptive, I reserve the right to ask you to put it away until the end of the class.

Important Institutional Policies:

Accessibility and Disability Statement

Accessibility is a value of our institution. We are committed to creating environments that are

welcoming and that support all students' learning. If you experience barriers to your learning in

this course please notify the instructor as soon as possible to discuss options. Students who

experience barriers due to disability may contact the Access Center for Disability Resources to

begin this conversation or establish accommodations.

Academic Integrity

Waubonsee Community College believes that all members of the community (students, faculty,

staff, and administrators) have a responsibility to participate in learning with honesty, respect,

and integrity. We must commit to engage in learning both in and out of the classroom, value

Waubonsee Community College

7

each member in our learning community, demonstrate original thought, and help foster ethical,

open, safe learning environments for all. For more information, please see the Waubonsee

Community College Plagiarism Statement section in the Student Handbook.

Cheating/Plagiarism Policy

Waubonsee firmly upholds sound principles of academic integrity and responsibility. Plagiarism

and cheating are serious infractions of academic integrity, and, as such, are considered breaches

of the Code of Student Conduct. If a student has violated this policy, I will report the infraction

to the Dean for Student Success and Retention and the student may fail the assignment or the

course, depending on the severity or the number of infractions.

Student Support Services and Resources

Waubonsee Community College is committed to your success, and has many free supports,

services, and resources available to you. Please see the Student Experience page for more

information and to get connected with Academic Support, Career Development, Counseling and

Advising, Disability Resources, Student Life, Student Services, Technical Assistance Center, the

Veterans Program, and many more! If you’re not sure what type of assistance you need, please

talk to me and I will help get you connected.

Resource Links

The following are useful resources that are available to students at Waubonsee Community

College:

• Access Center for Disability Resources

• Bursar

• Campus Police and Authority

• Career Development Center

• Counseling, Advising and Transfer Center

• Financial Aid and Scholarships

• Learning Assessment and Testing Services

• Library

• Online Support for Students

• Registration and Records

• TRIO/Student Support Services

• Tutoring Centers

Waubonsee Community College

8

WCC Fall 2021

12-Week Late Start

ENG 101-934 Major Due Dates Overview

This overview provides a summary of major due dates, organized by week. All other

assignments, homework, coursework, etc. will be posted on Canvas.

*This overview is subject to revision. Revisions will be communicated via Canvas and

email. Please consult the current Waubonsee Academic Calendar for important dates.

Week Date Major Due Dates

1 9/20-9/26

2 9/27-10/3

3 10/4-10/10 Writing Project #1: Narrative Essay Initial Draft Due

4 10/11-10/17 Writing Project #1: Narrative Essay Final Draft Due

5 10/18-10/24 Writing Project #2: Written Report Initial Draft Due

6 10/25-10/31 Writing Project #2: Written Report Final Draft Due

7 11/1-11/7 Writing Project #3: Position Argument Essay Initial Draft Due

8 11/8-11/14 Writing Project #3: Position Argument Essay Final Draft Due

9 11/15-11/21 Writing Project #4: Resume and Cover Letter Final Draft Due

10 11/22-11/28 Thanksgiving Break—No Class

11 11/29-12/5 Writing Project #5: MLA Style Research Essay Initial Draft Due

12 12/6-12/12 Writing Project #5: MLA Style Research Essay Final Draft Due

13 12/13-12/18 Writing Project #6: Self-Assessment Reflection Essay Final Draft Due