English Reading

Plagiarism tends to happen most often when:

· Students wait until the last minute to do an assignment

· Students do not know how to properly cite someone else’s work

· Students erroneously believe that simply putting someone else’s idea into their own words (paraphrasing/summarizing) makes it their own idea (it doesn’t)

· Students do not understand the assignment

All three of these problems can be avoided if:

· Students do not wait until the last minute to begin a writing assignment

· Students closely read the assigned pages in A Writer’s Reference. Pages 445-447 explain how to properly find, use, and cite sources. This section also contains a sample essay at the end that has both in-text citations and a Works Cited page. Please read these pages!

· Students use the textbook, online writing help (such as the Purdue OWL website: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/ ), MCCC’s Tutorial Services (located on the bottom floor of College Hall next to the cafeteria and library computer lab; online help is also available - http://www.mc3.edu/campusLife/student-resources/lal ) or the MCCC library website ( http://www.mc3.edu/campusLife/student-resources/lrc ) as resources for questions about citation methods

· Students ask their classmates and/or teacher questions about things that they don’t understand

Plagiarism will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis because every kind of plagiarism is unique. There is a huge difference between a student who incorrectly cites a source and a student who copies and pastes an entire paragraph (or more) from a website into his/her essay without citations. Please note that depending on the severity of the event, one or more of the following actions may be applied:

· You may be told to re-do the assignment

· You may earn a ZERO on the assignment with no opportunity for a make-up assignment

· You may earn an XF grade for the course and will not be given the chance to withdrawal

MCCC Withdrawal Policy (“W”): Students are encouraged to consult with their instructor and/or an academic advisor when initiating a Course Withdrawal. The instructor’s permission must be requested and received if requesting a withdrawal after 60% and before 75% of the course is completed. After 75% of the course is completed, students may apply for an Excused Withdrawal due to medical, catastrophic, or other circumstances beyond the student’s control.

As a reminder withdrawals are date sensitive and must be completed before the deadline specified on the Registration Calendar. No refund will be issued during this period, refer to the Tuition Refund Policy.

Information about withdrawal can be found at: https://mymccc.mc3.edu/allcampusresources/studentaffairs/srr/Pages/withdraw.aspx

Important dates to remember:

· Last day to drop: 12/26/15

· Withdrawal period without faculty signature: 12/27 – 1/7/16

· Withdrawal period with faculty signature: 1/8/16 – 1/12/16

· Excused withdrawal only (Dean’s permission): 1/13/16 –

Student Services

Tutorial Services: Tutorial Services is located on the ground floor of College Hall (Suite 168) – next to the cafeteria and library computer lab. These services are available to all students if additional one-on-one writing help is required.  Tutorial Services is staffed by faculty members and professional tutors. Tutoring is available every day of the week on a walk-in basis, and online tutoring is available as well. See https://mymccc.mc3.edu/allcampusresources/academicaffairs/lal/Pages/tutor-online.aspx for more information on tutor schedules and online tutoring.

MC3 Library: The MC3 main campus library is located on the 2nd floor (main entrance floor) of College Hall. The library offers assistance with research and information literacy both face to face and online (chat). You can also access online tutorials here: http://mc3libraries.ask.libraryh3lp.com/questions/380

Services for Students with Disabilities: Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) welcomes qualified students with disabilities and endorses the principles of nondiscrimination and reasonable accommodation as described in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). To see if you are eligible for services and reasonable accommodations in this course please review the policy on the Disabilities website at: http://www.mc3.edu/campusLife/student-resources/disabilities

Services for Veterans: Student veterans may be eligible for benefits and services related to military service. For the veteran’s resources available at the College please go to the Veterans Affairs Office website at: http://www.mc3.edu/campusLife/student-resources/veterans

Expectations for Online Course Work

By registering for a Web-based course, you have made a commitment to participate in your course conferences, as well as in other on-line activities. This course may be the first online course experience for you. A certain amount of uncertainty and frustration is to be expected as you learn to use the technology during the first weeks. It's important you recognize that this online asynchronous classroom retains many of the requirements of the traditional classroom, such as lectures, class discussions, assignments, and required readings, while offering you greater control over your time as well as access to the all instructional resources available through the World Wide Web. Please always remember that the course is tied to an academic calendar, with weekly required activities, clear due dates for assignments, and an end to the semester.

Courses earning three credits require a minimum of three hours in the Web classroom each week and a minimum of two additional hours of preparation for each classroom hour. That’s nine hours of work per week. Weeks with more difficult reading assignments and papers often require more time. You should allow for those requirements in planning your study schedule.

If your time is limited, you need to be very self-disciplined as a class member. Be prepared to visit the online classroom three times each week and to fulfill each of the assignments your instructor requires. During your preparation time outside the classroom, study the readings carefully and engage in any research or writing activities assigned. And of course, avoid the temptation to procrastinate: not preparing for or not logging in to class each week—or postponing that research project!—will almost certainly lead to unnecessary stress later and probably be reflected in your final grade.

Although online courses do retain many of the same schedules and requirements of a classroom-based course, there are some important differences. In an online course such as this one, class members may literally be scattered around the world, and instructors and students are not simultaneously logged in to the class. The class discussions deserve your particular attention, as you'll have the time to contribute in a thoughtful and reflective manner.

I will log in regularly to respond to e-mail and to grade submitted assignments, as well as to participate in class discussions.  Note: I am not online 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and I need time to read and grade assignments before returning them to you. Please be patient and any questions you might ask will be answered and your work graded.

General Information on ENG 101 ONLN Grading Policies and Coursework

Major Writing Assignments: There will be three major essays and one reflective letter assigned this semester. Essay #3 is a research paper and has multiples parts, and these parts are mandatory and are GRADED assignments.

Your writing assignments are being graded on the following criteria:

· Ability to establish a critical argument (Thesis Statements)

· Ability to substantiate that argument using evidence that is properly cited (Support)

· Ability to keep each paragraph on one topic at a time, and the ability to keep all paragraphs connected to the thesis (Unity)

· The ability to write logical sentences that transition smoothly from one to the next, and the ability to write logical paragraphs that transition one to the next (Coherence)

· The ability to produce thoughtful analysis of texts and issues (Critical Thinking Skills)

· The ability to produce writing free of grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors (Sentence Skills)

· The ability to properly use and cite sources both in-text and in a Works Cited page (Information Literacy)

Expectations/Rubrics: For every essay assignment, I have included a grading rubric in the assignment folder on Blackboard to help you better understand my grading system. You should read this rubric before starting your essay assignments and before submitting them to me. Allow them to be your guide for understanding my expectations.

Grading for Major Writing Assignments (total = 345 points):

· Essay #1 (narration/illustration) = 100

· Essay #2 (analysis/exemplification) = 100

· Essay #3 (research project) = 125 (total)

· Annotated Bibliography (15 points)

· Proposal (10 points)

· Research essay (100 points)

· Final Letter (narration/illustration/analysis/exemplification) = 20

Grading for Discussion Boards (total = 40 points): We will be using the Black Board Discussion Board function to discuss our class readings and writing assignments as well as for peer review for all major essays; therefore, you should be checking DB a few times per day. Participation on the Discussion Boards is MANDATORY and will be graded.

Other HW Assignments (total = 5 points):

· Syllabus Scavenger Hunt HW Assignment: This HW assignment will familiarize you with the syllabus, the technology, and the course expectations. This assignment is worth 5 points.

Final grading note: In order to pass this course with a C or better, your FOUR ESSAY GRADES must AVERAGE out to a 70% or higher regardless of additional points you may earn on Discussion Boards or other homework assignments. Meaning, if your essay grades average out to a 65%, but you earned perfect scores on all of your discussion boards, you still CANNOT pass the course because YOU HAVE NOT SUCCESSFULLY PASSED THE CENTRAL FOCUS OF THE COURSE (ESSAY WRITING).

Grade Scale: A = 100-95; A- = 90-94; B+ = 89-87; B = 86-84; B- = 83-80; C+ = 79-75; C = 74-70; D = 60-69; F = Below 60

Directions for ENG 101 ONLN Homework and Essay Assignment Policies

HW and Major Writing Assignment Requirements:

· Format: All assignments will be typed and in standard MLA (Modern Language Association) format. Please see pages 511-516 in Hacker and Somers’s A Writer’s Reference for a sample paper in MLA format. Make note of the proper heading, placement and style of title, and the font type and size and spacing of the rest of text.

· Submission of work: ALL assignments must be completed on Google Docs and shared with me at the following email address: [email protected] . Your MCCC student email account is provided to you through GMAIL, so you already have a Google account here at the college.

· Using Google Docs:

· Login to your student GMAIL account or go to https://www.google.com/docs/about/

· Click “Blank Document”

· At the top of the screen, give your document a name (put cursor in the box that says untitled document)

· Begin typing. Google saves your document as you type, so you don’t have to save it along the way.

· When you’re finished the assignment, click on SHARE (top right of screen) and type my email: [email protected]

· If you have never used Google Docs before, here is a link to a tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBh8bMC7XEU

· Due dates: Please check the syllabus for all due dates. Grading will take place ASAP, and it will never take me longer than TWO WEEKS to email your work back to you with feedback and grades.

· Feedback/Grading: I will type feedback directly onto the shared document. You may receive emails from Google that indicate someone is altering your document. That’s just me typing feedback. When I’m finished grading, I’ll “share” the document with you so you can see the feedback and grade. I’ll send a message to the entire class when I have completed grading everyone’s papers so that you all know I’m finished. If you don’t see a grade for your paper on Blackboard My Grades, then that means I never received your work.

· Late work policy: If you need an extension on an ESSAY ASSIGNMENT, please email me your request at least 24 hours in advance of the due date. If no extension is requested, essays submitted beyond the deadline will earn a zero. No late Discussion Board posts (both readings and peer review DBs) will be accepted simply because it just doesn’t make sense to post late when the DB is supposed to represent ongoing class discussion. You’re either in the discussion or you’re not; therefore, no late posts will be accepted.

· Extra credit: If you submit your essay to the online tutors, get feedback, and make corrections, your essay can earn +5 points added to your final grade. In order to get the extra credit, you must submit the tutor reviewed draft in an email to me. In that email you must also include an explanation of what you revised in your final draft (submitted through Google Docs to [email protected] ) based on the tutor’s feedback.

· Optional Rewrite: You will have the opportunity to revise ONE of the THREE MAJOR ESSAY ASSIGNMENTS that we do in this class (you may not revise the final letter assignment). When you submit your rewrite, you also have to submit a short statement (either in the email or a separate document) that explains the following: 1) Your understanding/interpretation of the feedback that I gave you on the first draft (what were the major issues that I told you to fix); 2) What you revised in the second draft (what changes did you actually make). Rewrites that are submitted without these explanations will not be re-evaluated. The rewrite is due by the final day of the semester (see syllabus for specific date). If the paper shows significant improvement, then you may earn a new grade. Your grade cannot go down. It either stays the same (if you didn’t make substantive improvements) or it goes up.

Directions for Two types of Discussion Boards (Unit Readings DB and Peer Review DB)

General Directions for Posting to the Discussion Board (DB):

· On Blackboard’s main page, there is a link on the left hand side that says Discussion Board. Click on that link. (You can also access the DB in each of the unit tabs found on Blackboard)

· Once in DB, you will see a blue link that highlights the unit FORUMS. Click on that link to enter that unit’s discussion.

· Once in the Forum, you will see THREADS that I've started. The threads contain discussion questions or topics based on the readings and/or writing assignments for that unit.

· On the thread, you will see a REPLY button. Click REPLY. A box will appear that looks like an email box. Begin typing your post in the box.

· Click SUBMIT when finished. Do not click “save” or the comment will not go through. You must hit SUBMIT. 

Directions for Posting to the Unit Readings DB:

· For discussions on the readings, you will be expected to: post at least one response to my original post (addressing any and all questions or tasks asked of you in the discussion thread), respond to any follow-up posts that come from me, and respond to at least two of your classmates’ original posts.

· When you respond to classmates’ posts, you must address these three points:

· What is something you learned from your classmates’ posts?

· What personal connection can you make to the post?

· What is a connection that could be made to OTHER texts that we’ve read?

· Please notes that an ongoing dialogue is preferred.

· Discussion Boards will take place continuously throughout the week. Each unit’s discussion board is worth 5 points (4x5 = total = 20 points). You must complete ALL assigned questions/discussions, respond to classmates, and proofread ALL posts/responses for grammar/spelling/mechanics for each unit in order to earn the full points.

Unit Readings DBs will be graded on:

· Completing the posts by the due dates

· Following all directions (responding to ALL of the instructor’s questions/comments/directions and responding to at least TWO classmates’ responses)

· Quality of the response (addressing the question asked, critical thinking, detailed arguments, using examples from the text, responding to classmates, and responding to responses from classmates)

· Proper use of sources/texts and MLA formatting for all in-text citations. For information on how to use and cite sources properly, please see the information contained under the Citations Resources link on Blackboard, sample student essays found in unit folders, or AWR pages 449-507

· Grammar, spelling, punctuation, and mechanics (this is a writing class!)

Here is a sample Unit Readings DB Post: In the short essay, “Eating the Hyphen” written by Lily Wong, the author explores her identity as a Chinese-American through her love of Chinese food.  In the first half of the essay, the author describes how she eats her favorite Chinese dumpling in her own specific way that she eats with fork, knife and ketchup. She loves traditional Chinese dumpling so much that she describes it in such details, but she eats it more like an American than Chinese does. For this reason, she wonders about her cultural identity whether she is being "less" Chinese. While growing up in American society as a Chinese heritage, the author felt "ostracized by American culture for looking different" (Wong 43) and felt herself being less Chinese than other Chinese people in Chinatown. Therefore, she finds out that her identity has been molded as a Chinese-American individual for being a hybrid of both cultures.  Dumpling became her comfort food which connects her with Chinese heritage that she can “cling to” (Wong 43), yet her Americanized style of eating dumplings plays a role as a "hyphen between Chinese and American in [her] identity” (Wong 43). The author believes that she doesn’t need to behave like an “authentic” to identify her ethnicity, and she is happy as a Chinese-American individual who embraces both cultures.

Directions for the Posting to the Peer Review DB:

· For peer review, you will post the first draft of your essay to the peer review DB. You must review the person’s paper that is posted BELOW your own on the Peer Review DB. The first person to post will review the LAST person’s paper. In order to ensure that everyone who posts gets a peer review, all students must wait until the 11:59pm deadline on the posting due date before giving feedback to peers.

· Use the peer review checklist that will always be posted in the folder with each essay assignment. You MAY NOT simply tell your classmate “Good job!” Your peer review MUST contain SPECIFIC information about issues that need to be revised. You must point to SPECIFIC parts of the essay that need revision. For example, if you say “You need more detail,” give an example of where in the essay more detail is necessary.

· You can review your classmate’s paper in one of two ways:

· You can comment directly on the essay itself by opening the documents and using the Track Changes and Comment Functions and then repost the essay to the DB as your response.

· You can type directly in the DB reply box and provide feedback there.

· You will earn full credit for this DB only if you post your own paper AND give QUALITY feedback to your classmates. You will earn NO credit for simply posting your paper if you do not review someone else’s paper. And, you will not earn credit if you do not give your classmate REASONABLE and USABLE feedback . Each peer review is worth 5 points (4x5 = total = 20 points).

Peer Review DB postings will be graded on:

· Posting your own essay on the DB

· Completing the review on the DB by the due date

· Providing specific constructive criticism on the DB using the peer review checklist for that assignment (note: you will not get full credit if your feedback is too simple or unhelpful or does not refer to the Peer Review Checklists)

Here is a sample Peer Review DB post: I enjoyed your essay! It comes off to me as a reader almost as if I was sitting in your living room as a guest and having a casual talk with you. It was personal and I can see that you have taken on a certain amount of pride from picking up the torch of where your grand-mom left off. For the peer review, my recommendations would be to re-read it a few times to check how it flows. Like I said above, I enjoyed the casual tone of the writing, but in some aspects, it may work against you in that it also impacts the flow. I found myself reading a line and then back tracking at times to reread them again just to make sure I was keeping up with what you were trying to get across. How we talk does not always translate well to when we write because the nuances of talking with someone in person are not there (ex. timing of words, eye contact, inflection of voice and body language). I thought your essay began beautifully in how you set the scene. The title left me a little disappointed since you may have (unintentionally) hung a carrot out there and did not talk very much about ingredients at all. By mentioning "Secret", I thought you would go into more detail...or at least elude to it and talk about all the other ingredients BUT the secret one. Since we were instructed for the essay to be a minimum of 3 pages, there is opportunity to expand on some of the great topics you brought up. I would like to see more of this overall experience fleshed out. Maybe touch on some of the time your grand-mom actually taught you how to make the pie, or specifics on how the pie was made. Again, set the scene like you did in your opening paragraph except describe how special that time was to reach across generations and learn from your grand-mom this recipe. This is a rough draft, of course, and I want to see you get the best grade possible. If I left anything I noticed unsaid, I feel like I would be doing a disservice to you as your peer. My criticism is purely constructive and I truly think you have the groundwork in place for a great personal essay. Just continue to tighten it up and build on it over the next couple of days! I've already re-read my essay a few times and already see some significant room for improvement, so I am just as critical...if not more...of myself!

Navigating the Online ENG 101 Course – Important Information

Blackboard Content Tabs:

When you log in to Blackboard, you will see a menu on the left-hand side of the screen. All of the important information for this course is located in those tabs. Here is some information on those tabs:

· Announcements – Regardless of whether or not you click this tab, Announcements will appear as soon as you log in to our Blackboard site. I will post announcements frequently, so make sure to check in. Announcements will also be sent to your MCCC student email account, so make sure to check email as well.

· Syllabus – The complete course syllabus can be found under this tab. There is also a “schedule at a glance,” which just outlines the readings, assignments, and due dates but does not cover the more detailed information about the course, such as grading or course policies.

· Course Materials – Course Materials is where you will find everything you need to complete your work for this semester. All of the information that you will need for each unit is found in the Unit Folders found within the Course Materials link. Within the unit folders you will find other folders and links that contain the class readings, the writing assignments, writing resources, and links to the discussion boards. You are responsible for looking through ALL of the unit materials at the beginning of each new unit. If you don’t know where to find something, contact me or your classmates immediately.

· Discussion Board – The discussion board replaces the face-to-face conversations we would have if we were in a traditional classroom setting. Under this tab, you will find all of the various FORUMS for the semester. By clicking on the FORUM, you enter into the THREADS page where various discussions on readings and course work will take place. Directions for posting to the Discussion Board can be found above in this syllabus.

· My Grades – Please click on this tab regularly to see your grades for assignments and discussion boards.

· Email – You can email me and/or your classmates directly from this tab.

· Grammar Resources – Here you will find PowerPoint presentations and suggested AWR pages that will help you with some of the major grammatical errors seen most frequently in college essay writing.

· Citation Resources – Here you will find PowerPoint presentations and suggested AWR pages that will help you with properly using and citing sources into your own writing.

Reading the Course Schedule

· Units: The semester is divided into four units. Each unit is divided into: Required Readings, Required Discussion Boards, and Required Submissions.

· Required Readings are assigned texts that relate to the unit’s theme and readings/lessons from the AWR handbook. Also included in Required Readings are any posted materials in the unit folders, such as sample student essays, videos, and PowerPoints. There are no due dates for the unit readings; they can be completed at your own pace throughout the unit as long as they are completed before you submit an essay for that unit.

· Required Discussion Boards involve either posting about the unit readings or conducting peer review. These requirements have specific due dates that must be met. There are no extensions on the DBs.

· Required Submissions are HW or essay assignments that are to be submitted to the instructor through Google Docs. These requirements have specific due dates that must be met. If an extension is needed, the request must be submitted to the instructor via email 24 hours in advance of the due date listed in the syllabus.

· Key:

· BBS – Course syllabus can be found under the Blackboard Syllabus tab

· DB – Discussion Board questions and responses can be found under the Black Board Discussion Board tab

· CMU# – Course Materials, Unit# folder; Readings, Power Points/lecture notes can be found under the Course Materials Blackboard Units tab

· AWR – A Writer’s Reference (required handbook)

· Red Material – Required Submissions

· Blue Material – Required Discussion Boards

· Green Material – Required Readings

Welcome to English 101 ONLINE!!!

Schedule of Events, Readings, and Assignments

(Please note that this schedule is subject to change. It is your responsibility to check in with the instructor or a classmate if you are unsure of something)

Getting Started with ENG 101: Wednesday, 12/23

Required Readings:

· Click on the syllabus link on our BB menu and read through the course syllabus

· Click on Course Materials. Click on Getting Started with English 101 Online folder and read the Posting to the Discussion Boards document and read through the Syllabus Scavenger Hunt.

Required Discussion Boards:

· Introduce yourself and say hi to your classmates in the ENG 101 Café on Blackboard Discussion Board (BBDB) by 11:59pm on Thursday, 12/24

Required Submissions:

· Complete the Syllabus Scavenger Hunt and submit to instructor via Google Docs (share with: [email protected] ) by 11:59pm on Wednesday, 12/23