English 101+: Freshman English

 Ticket # 3012  (Fully Online) – Fall 2021

 Class Theme: Our Multicultural Selves

This is a fully online class.

To see a printable version of our syllabus, click here.

Instructor Information

Instructor: Elizabeth Bryer                                          

Instructor email: ebryer@glendale.edu      

Instructor Zoom room: https://cccconfer.zoom.us/j/4695199086  

Live Online ("Synchronous") Office Hours will be held over Zoom on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at this link: https://cccconfer.zoom.us/j/4695199086.  If you don't like Zoom, feel free to contact me during those hours over Pronto, Canvas Chat or email. Also, if those times don't work for you, contact me about setting up another time to meet.

Class Co-requisite: English 101+ Lab

Course Description

ENGL 101+ is an introduction to college composition that begins to prepare students for writing in the university setting and for a variety of contexts beyond the classroom. Students practice critical thinking, reading, and writing by applying a variety of strategies. Through reading and discussion of selected works, students learn to identify arguments and analyze texts for purpose, audience, context, and overall composition. Through writing, students contribute to an academic conversation and learn to position their ideas in relation to the ideas of others. Students also develop skills in argumentation, source integration, analysis of evidence, college-level research methods, information literacy, and citing according to academic conventions. In the writing process, students learn to generate original ideas through writing and to revise their work according to audience expectations. Note: Students attempting English 101 for third time will be required to enroll in English 101+. 

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to

1) critically read materials from a variety of perspectives in order to draw logical interpretative conclusions based on textual evidence;

2) write thesis-based essays that demonstrate critical thinking skills through a variety of rhetorical and analytical strategies appropriate to the academic context, and that incorporate appropriate tone, style, evidence and semantics; and

3) prepare an essay organizing, synthesizing, evaluating, and applying research materials, employing quotation, paraphrase, and summary, as effective means of support and using proper documentation and format.

Required Texts and Supplies

Most readings for this class will be posted on Canvas, but you should have this book:

Dumas, Firoozeh.  Funny in Farsi.

Make sure to download Zoom so that you can use it for office hours and for class assignments.

You should get some Post-It Notes for notes on texts if you prefer not to write in your book or if you are renting your copy of the book.

How Your Grade in This Class Will Be Calculated

Assignments	Points Possible	Percentage of Final Grade
Essay One (1st draft and second draft, both graded)	100	10%
Essay Two (1st draft and second draft, both graded)	100	15%
Essay Three (a research paper)	100	20%
Quizzes, Reading Logs, and Class Work	100	15%
Discussion Posts on Canvas and Perusall	100	15%
Final Exam Essay	100	15%
Final Reflective Essay	100	10%
Total	700	100%

Grading Scale

90-100%: A

80-89%: B

70-79%: C

60-69%: D

59% or less: F

Canvas

To log-in to Canvas for the first time, use your GCC Student ID # under the username. The initial password will be your first name first initial and last name first initial in CAPITAL LETTERS followed by an "@" sign and by your six-digit date of birth (mmddyy) as the password. For example, the password for Jane Smith born January 23, 1990 would be JS@012390

You will be asked to change your password the first time you login. If you can’t log in a second time, you will have to reset your password. Remember to check your student.glendale.edu email to get the password reset code numbers.

When you log-in to Canvas, you’ll see our class materials as we progress through the semester. Everything course related will be posted here. This is also the interface in which you will submit your assignments and interact with the class/instructor.

Canvas Help:

If you have problems go to the HELP button on the Canvas global navigation menu (in red). You can also check out the Canvas Knowledge Base (https://support.canvaslms.com/s/?c__role=student&c__accountId=001A00000086eR7IAI) or ask questions with the chat feature.

Attendance and Participation

In an online class, the only way your instructor knows you are attending is through the modules you are completing and the assignments you are turning in.  Most assignments for this class will be due on Wednesdays and Sundays by 11:59 p.m. each week.   On some of these deadlines, you will have more than one assignment due.  You should estimate that these assignments and the other work for this class will take you about twelve hours a week, though it isn't always even - some weeks the work might only take ten hours, but the next week it might take thirteen. Make sure to complete these assignments regularly so that I know you are still participating in the class. If you are unable to complete these assignments on time but still want to continue in the class, please email me or see me during my office hours to let me know what's going on.  Glendale College policy is that students cannot continue in a class if they miss two full weeks of classes.  In an online class, that means  If you do not complete these assignments for two weeks, you may be dropped from the class.  Remember: there is no shame in falling behind - it happens to all of us sometimes! - but please reach out to me if you are having trouble getting all the work done on time so that we can work together to get you back on track!

Paper Format

All essays must be typed, double-spaced, and follow MLA format.  

Here's a link to a video that shows you how to put your essay in MLA format in Microsoft Word: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnhksX29HL0

And here's a link to a video that shows you how to put your essay in MLA format in Google Docs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QFn71wKI0s

Course Policies

The Student Code of Conduct can be found at this link: 

GCC Student Conduct Code: https://www.glendale.edu/students/student-policies/student-conduct-policy

Last Days to Withdraw from the Course with an EW

If you end up having trouble in this class and don't think you can pass, check in with me to see if you're right.  If it is too late to bring your grade up to passing, however, you don't need to take an "F" in the class if you realize this before the Last Day to Withdraw Date.  If you withdraw before the Last Date to Withdraw, you will get an "EW" ("Excused Withdrawal") instead of an "F." It's not great to have a bunch of "EWs" on your transcript, but 3-4 shouldn't hurt you too badly, and they won't affect your GPA at all. The last day to withdraw without an “EW” ("Excused Withdrawal") notation (so the class won't show up on your transcript at all) and to be eligible for a refund is Saturday, September 11. The last day to withdraw with an “EW” notation on your transcript is Saturday, November 20.  The last day to submit a Pass/No Pass Petition is also Saturday, November 20. Feel free to check with me before those dates about your progress in the class.

Due Dates

In order to be fair to all students, I cannot give the same full credit for late work that I give for on-time work.  I will deduct 3 points per day for all late work whether it is essays or journal entries. However, please note: the check-in assignments, all discussion board posts, outlines, rough drafts, freewrites and other preparatory work for essays and the final draft of the research paper (Essay Four) will NOT be accepted late.  The only way to get any credit for these assignments is to turn them in on time.  If you need an extension on an assignment because of extenuating circumstances, please reach out to me before the due date.  Extensions will be granted on a case-by-case basis.  **Please note: documents in Pages CANNOT be read on Canvas, so if your document is in Pages, you must convert it to Microsoft Word or upload it from Google Docs in order for it to be read. **

Quizzes

Reading quizzes are given frequently, and essay outlines and rough drafts count as quiz grades and will not be accepted late.  However, I will drop your one lowest quiz grade at the end of the semester.  Grammar quizzes may also be given as needed.  

Academic Honesty

Plagiarism is not acceptable in any circumstance.  It is an academic crime.  Those found guilty of plagiarism are given an automatic zero on any plagiarized assignment.  Plagiarism includes downloading an essay from an internet source, turning in an essay written by someone else, falsely presenting someone’s ideas as your own (even if written in your own words), not correctly documenting your sources, and falsifying research sources. Even if you copy only one sentence or phrase, that is considered plagiarism.

Getting in Touch With Me By Email

I check my GCC email Mondays through Fridays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.  I generally do not check GCC email on weekends.  If you have questions or concerns about assignments or the class as a whole, please feel free to email me as needed, but keep these times in mind. 

Library Workshops and Services

Since your Essay Three is a research essay, attendance at three library workshops is required for this class and will be counted as part of your quiz grade.  You will get 100 on a quiz for each workshop you attend, and a zero on a quiz for any of the three workshops you do not attend.  Details about these workshops will be given in class, and all workshops must be completed by Sunday, November 14. Workshops are free and fully online (“asynchronous”) just like our class. To see the workshop schedule, log in to MyGCC, then go to Main Menu > Workshops > Library Workshops.  The dates and times listed for the workshop indicate only when the workshop materials will become available to you online.  After that time, you have a full week to complete the work independently on Canvas in order to get credit for the workshop.  Most workshops take about one hour to complete.  You can find more details about the workshops here.

As we move toward the research layer of the course, the reference librarians are a wonderful resource to use. They are available this semester via Chat and Zoom (by appointment). They can help you plan your research, assist with finding credible sources, and even answer questions about how to cite your sources. Check out the GCC Library website at Glendale.edu/library for more information. You can also text a librarian at 818-873-0ASK. 

Resources

Free One-on-One Online Tutoring and Workshops at the Learning Center

Online tutoring is available at the Learning Center. For more information, call (818) 240-1000 ext. 3333 or click on "free online tutoring" on the red sidebar on the left on Canvas . You can also get extra credit for attending Learning Center Workshops.  For each workshop you attend (up to 3), you will receive 2 extra points on your lowest essay grade.  The schedule for Learning Center Workshops is posted on My GCC.

Access to Technology

If you need a Chromebook, hotspot, or a computer camera or microphone, the GCC Library is loaning them out.  Go here for more information.

Free Money

Funds to support you as you pursue your educational goals are available through the GCC Scholarship Office.  There are even scholarships to support students who are undocumented. For more information, contact the Scholarship Office at (818) 240-1000 ext. 5591 or go here.  You don't have to be a star student to get a scholarship, and it only takes a few minutes to fill out the application.  The deadline to apply for a scholarship this semester is Friday, October 23.

Free Food and Other Resources

If you are having trouble making ends meet, check out the local resources available here.

Conferences

Please feel free to come to my office hours to get any help or support you need.  If the office hours listed at the top of the syllabus are not compatible with your schedule, email me about meeting at another time.

Support for Students with Disabilities

All students with disabilities requiring accommodations are responsible for making arrangements in a timely manner through the Center for Students with Disabilities.  The Center for Students with Disabilities can be reached at (818) 240-1000, ext. 5905 and here.

Diversity Statement

In this course, each voice in the classroom has something of value to contribute. Please take care to respect the different experiences, beliefs and values expressed by students and staff involved in this course. We support GCC's commitment to diversity and welcome individuals of all ages, backgrounds, citizenships, disabilities, sexes, education levels, ethnicities, family statuses, genders, gender identities, geographical locations, languages, military experiences, political views, races, religions, sexual orientations, socioeconomic statuses and work experiences.

                                                                                   

Schedule for English 101+ (Ticket # 3012) – Fall 2021

 

Week	Topics
Week of August 30	Class Policies and Procedures Setting Norms for Our Class Syllabus Quiz Personal Introductions and Check-in Assignments Diagnostic Essay Avoiding Plagiarism
Week of September 6	Introduction to Reading Logs Introduction to Metacognitive Conversation Read and discuss "How to Tame a Wild Tongue" by  Gloria Anzaldua Possible quiz on reading
Week of September 13	Review of Academic Essay Structure Assignment of Essay One Freewrites on Essay One Topics
Week of September 20	Thesis Statements and Topic Sentences Building a Quotation Sandwich Tentative Outlines of Essay One Rough Drafts of Essay One Readings TBA Discussion, reading log, and possible quizzes on readings
Week of September 27	Final Drafts of Essay One Discussion, reading logs, and possible quizzes on readings
Week of October 4	Discussion of graded Essay Ones Required revisions of Essay Ones
Week of October 11	Discussion, reading logs, and possible quizzes on readings Assignment of Essay Two Freewrites on Essay Two Topics Tentative outlines of Essay Two
Week of October 18	Rough Drafts of Essay Two Final Drafts of Essay Two Discussion, reading logs, and possible quizzes on readings
Week of October 25	Discussion, reading logs, and possible quizzes on readings
Week of November 1	Discussion of Graded Essay Twos Revisions of Graded Essay Twos Assignment of Essay Three (Research Paper) Forming Questions to Begin the Research What Does "Research-Driven" Mean?
Week of November 8	Researching Topics for Essay Three Writing the "Works Cited" Page Writing the Annotated Bibliography Drafting a Reverse Outline Starting the Rough Draft Writing Strong Introductions and Conclusions Using Stories in Research Essays All three required library workshops should be completed by Sunday, November 14.
Week of November 15	Essay Three Rough Drafts Due Rough Draft Conferences
Week of November 22	Essay Three Rough Draft Conferences
Week of November 29	Essay Three Rough Draft Conferences
Week of December 6	Final Drafts of Essay Three Final Reflective Essay