taking over eng 2 online class

English 2

Prof. John Lynch [email protected]

Online 8 Weeks. Transfer: UC, CSU    •   IGETC AREA 1B (English Composition- Critical Thinking)    •  

 Prerequisite: English 1 C-ID: ENGL 105.

This course helps students to develop their critical thinking and writing skills beyond the level achieved in Reading and Composition 1. The course emphasizes the application of logical reasoning, analysis, and strategies of argumentation in critical thinking and writing, using literature (both fiction and non-fiction) and literary criticism as subject matter.

Overview: Welcome to English 2. The class will be held in an online workshop format, and will consist of discussions, peer editing, group work and individual instruction. We will discuss literature as an art form through close analytical readings of selected short stories, poems, and a play. Reading literature requires our full attention. Organize your time so that you may read each text carefully and more than once.

Storytelling and oratory are as old as humanity; through our exploration of assigned works, we will deepen our understanding of these two activities, and enrich our reading experiences. This class is also designed as an introduction to college argumentation and critical thinking. Learning to read literary texts attentively and across several layers and dimensions of meaning will help achieve that requirement. As you know from English 1, the more conscientiously and broadly you read, the more depth you achieve as a writer.

You will be responsible for all readings, essays and quizzes, along with peer evaluations and a final research paper to be discussed with me beforehand. Discussions take the place of SIX HOURS AND FIFTY MINUTES A WEEK OF CLASS TIME. ALL STUDENTS MUST POST AN INTIAL POST BY TUESDAY NIGHT AND AT LEAST TTHREE FULL RESPOONSES BY FRIDAY NIGHT AT 11:59 PM. READ RUBRIC FOR DETAILS.

Text:

BACKPACK LITERATURE Author: KENNEDY ISBN: 978-0-134586-44-1

Publisher: ; Edition: 5

I recommend you do not spend a lot of money on the book - try to find the readings online or in a used bookstore first.

I also recommend a handbook with updated MLA and a good grammar explanation: Rules for Writers or Diane Hacker is fine.

COURSE COMMUNICATION

Announcements

Announcements will be posted in CANVAS on a weekly basis. They will appear on your CANVAS dashboard when you log in and/or will be sent to you directly through your preferred method of notification from CANVAS. Please make certain to check your announcements regularly, as they will contain any important information about upcoming projects or class concerns.

Communication'

In this course we will use the INBOX feature of CANVAS available by clicking on INBOX in the help corner (located in the upper right hand navigation links) to send email for private messages. You can either check your messages in the CANVAS system, or you can set your notifications to your preferred method of contact. Please check your messages regularly. When submitting messages through CANVAS or through backup email (when CANVAS is down), please adhere to the following guidelines:

Please have a picture uploaded to your CANVAS profile http://guides.instructure.com/s/2204/m/4212/l/41956-how-do-i-add-a-profile-picture.

Include a subject in the first line that describes the email content with your name, week, and message subject. In CANVAS you can do this by writing something like this: *****ENG 2 Section X, Question about...****

Send messages through CANVAS Inbox and not to my preferred email account.

Do not send messages asking general information about the class. Please post those in the Q&A Forum.

Do not submit your assignments by message or by attachment to email unless specifically asked to do so.

Make certain to check your messages frequently

You can expect a response from me within 24 hours during the weekdays.

Questions

In online courses it is normal to have many questions about things that relate to the course, such as clarification about assignments, course materials, or assessments. Please email me anytime in canvas with any questions. before you ask though, read the must reads and the schedule for the week in modules.

Discussion Forums

Discussion Forums are a way for you to engage with each other about the course content. Each week we'll have a discussion forum that you'll need to post to by TUESDAY and respond to two others by Friday. Discussions take the place of SIX HOURS AND FIFTY MINUTES A WEEK OF CLASS TIME. ALL STUDENTS MUST POST AN INTIAL POST BY TUESDAY NIGHT AND AT LEAST TTHREE FULL RESPOONSES BY FRIDAY NIGHT AT 11:59 PM. READ RUBRIC FOR DETAILS (yes I am repeating myself).

You can access all forums by visiting the Modules.

In general, in order to get full credit for each discussion, you will need to post a thoughtful, well-written response to the question and will need to respond to at least TWO of your classmates' postings.

Netiquette and Etiquette

When posting on the discussion boards and in the chat rooms and in collaboration environments, it is important to understand how to interact with one another online--netiquette. You can read more about the rules of netiquette by clicking here: http://www.albion.com/netiquette/index.html

Office Hours

I will hold virtual office hours through CANVAS. You can access virtual office hours through CANVAS CHAT. Click CHAT in the COURSE NAVIGATION LINKS.

I will be in the chats every Wednesday from 9-10pm or by appointment. Weeks 1 and 8 I will have extra office hours. See module schedules.

COURSE PARTICIPATION POLICY

Participation is essential to your success in this class. You are required to participate online by completing your assignments, contributing well-thought out and prepared postings to the discussion board. In distance education courses you are required to participate just as if you were in a face-to-face course.

COURSE ASSIGNMENTS

Weekly Assignments

Each week you can preview our lesson and topics in CANVAS by clicking on MODULES.

You need to complete most of the discussion boards of your assignments by the following Friday at midnight. Some assignments require postings earlier in the week, so you should plan to visit CANVAS at least twice per week--once to review the unit and weekly assignments, and perhaps make your first posts, and a second time to complete your assignments and postings. 

In general, your INITIAL DISCUSSION POSTS will be due on Tuesday, 11:59 PM.

RESPONSES will be due the following Friday at Midnight.

Grading Criteria

You will be provided with clear completion criteria and course rubrics for each of the assignments for our course. You can check your grade at any time by clicking the GRADES button on the left hand navigation menu.

Attendance

Attendance is essential to your success and will be recorded as a measure of your participation in the course as it is constructed. The online class is still a class where attendance is recorded and you are supposed to be putting in 10 hours a week of class time.

Papers and Other Assignments

All drafts and final versions must be formatted this way: Typed, double-spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font, no cover sheet, MLA Format, stapled.

Late Work

Talk with me in advance if there is a problem with getting your work done.

Missing Work

A student will receive one letter grade reduction on each rough draft that is not posted on the class. Discussions and peer corrections are not allowed to be submitted late; your partners’ needs their papers back to address your notes in time to submit their final.

In emergency circumstances, assignments may be taken or turned in late with instructor approval, but these will result in a reduction in points regardless of the reason for the absence or lateness.

Computer

It is best to have a desktop/laptop computer (or other device — iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, smartphone) that is less than three years old and have one of the following operating systems:

Windows XP SP3 and newer

Mac OSX 10.6 and newer

Linux – chromeOS

Internet

A satellite, cable, or DSL connection is faster than dial-up service and will not cause you major stress while waiting for data and pages to load.

Web Browsers

Because it’s built using web standards, Canvas runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, or any other device with a modern web browser.

Canvas supports the last two versions of every browser release. We highly recommend updating to the newest version of whatever browser you are using as well as the most up-to-date Flash plug-in. For more information go to: http://guides.instructure.com/s/2204/m/4214/l/41056-which-browsers-does-canvas-support

Additional Plug-ins

For some courses, you may be required to have one or more plug-in application programs such as:

Adobe Reader

Windows Media Player

QuickTime

Java

Shockwave/Flash Player

Generally, plug-in software is already present on your computer. Your instructor should give you the minimum plug in requirements for your class.

Grading

Students must receive at least a grade of “C” to pass this course. Assignment values are as follows:

There will be a chance for extra credit. This will possibly move you up three grade points (i.e. 87 +3 = 90 grade goes from B to A).

Assignments are weighted by group:

Group Weight:

Assignments 50%

Discussions 25%

Quizzes and Final Exam 10%

Final Research Paper 15%

Total 100%

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS STATEMENT:

The safety of students at SMC is a priority. Please note that emergency procedures are posted in this classroom and every classroom. Also, procedures for various emergencies are delineated on the SMC website:

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:

I encourage students requesting disability-related accommodations to contact Disabled Student Services as soon as possible. I will work with you and the Center for Students with Disabilities to provide appropriate and reasonable accommodations. An early notification of your accommodations is necessary to ensure that your disability related needs are addressed appropriately; testing accommodations cannot be applied retroactively. The DSPS office is located in the Admissions/Student Services Complex, Room 101, and the phone numbers are (310) 434-4265 and (310) 434-4273 (TDD).The safety of students at SMC is a priority. Please note that emergency procedures are posted in this classroom and every classroom. Also, procedures for various emergencies are delineated on the SMC website:

 

http://www.smc.edu/StudentServices/EmergencyPreparedness/Pages/Emergency-Preparedness.aspx

 

Please take the time to familiarize yourself with these procedures today, when knowledge of what to do can be the most effective." 

ATTENDANCE, DROPS AND WITHDRAWAL POLICY:

This is an online class that takes attendance. Students are expected to engage in “substantial participation” in all activities. Lectures and other class-work will not be recreated for individual students. You are responsible for notifying me, the instructor, in advance of any conflict, via email.

Although I retain the right to drop you given the above circumstances, it is nevertheless your responsibility as a student to withdraw from class if you do not intend to complete it. You must NOT expect faculty to initiate withdrawal procedures for them. If you wish to drop this class, you may do so through Corsair Connect. Students may process a drop for themselves through 75% of the class, which is through the 12th week in a regular semester. Data regarding the withdrawal parameters for each class are provided within each student’s individual Corsair Connect account.

General information regarding drop dates, withdrawals, and other enrollment matters may be found at the Admissions section of the SMC website: http://www.smc.edu/EnrollmentDevelopment/Admissions/Pages/default.aspx

INCOMPLETES:

A grade of “Incomplete” may only be granted at the very end of the term, when 90% of the course work has been satisfactorily completed by the student, but an unforeseen event or illness prevents the student from completing the coursework. “Incomplete” grade situations are extremely rare, and are entirely at the discretion of the instructor, within the parameters set above. I do not usually grant incompletes.

ACADEMIC HONESTY:

The SMC Honor statement, signed by each student upon enrollment, reads: “In the pursuit of the high ideals and rigorous standards of academic life, I commit myself to respect and uphold the Santa Monica College Honor Code, Code of Academic Conduct, and Student Conduct Code. I will conduct myself honorably as a responsible member of the SMC community in all endeavors I pursue.” It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with The Code of Academic Conduct, which is printed in the General Catalog and available online through the website:

http://www.smc.edu/StudentServices/HonorCouncil/Pages/Honor-Code.aspx

Please be extremely careful that you do not engage in any behavior that could even be construed as cheating. Violations could result in failing grades, reports to the Campus Disciplinarian, and subsequent academic disciplinary action. Examples of behaviors that are not permitted include but are not limited to: Copying another student's homework, using any writing (even sentences) that are not your own.

If I suspect you are doing this you will be called in to the English Department where you will present a PHOTO IDENTFICATION and then perform a written diagnostic including a quiz on your paper. You may meet with me or another member of the department. FAIRNESS & RESPECT:

Honest and ethical students are protected in this class.

No matter who you are, what you do, or where you come from outside our class, you have entered an environment (our classroom) that is fair, where everyone begins and works on the same level playing field. I will show no favoritism for any reason. If you ever feel that I have treated you unfairly or have disrespected you in ANY way, please let me know so we can quickly fix the problem. My job is to work with you so that you will learn as much as possible in our class. Your success and future is solely your responsibility.

DISCLAIMERS: Some elements of the syllabus may be changed at the instructor’s discretion. INSTRUCTOR ERRORS:

Please let me know, promptly and courteously, if I have made a mistake in class, or if I have made a mistake in grading or in posting your grade to eCompanion. I appreciate the feedback, because I want to correct errors as soon as possible. If there is any aspect of this syllabus which you do not understand, or to which you take exception, please let me know within the first week of class.

Your continued attendance in this course constitutes an acknowledgement and acceptance of the requirements delineated in this syllabus.

Schedule: Check modules on a weekly basis for reading and assignment lists and documents.

Papers: You will be doing multiple drafts of your papers. You are responsible to bring in two copies of the required draft on the required date. If you fail to bring your draft to class you will receive a zero for the day and be downsized one grade on your paper (B to C etc.), two zeros and you’re downsized one half grade on your final grade (B to B-). Three zeros and you could fail the class. Late final drafts without a valid excuse (my printer failed or my disk doesn’t open is not valid) will receive the same reduction. All papers are to be MLA style.

Okay, if you have read this far it is time to make out your contract in the modules!