Dr. Susie Crowson
Course SyllabusDepartment of English and Philosophy
Del Mar College
Office: CB 248
Phone: 361-698-1432Email: scrowson@delmar.edu
English 1302 Composition II Online
Spring 2009Students registered for the course should
- Click here for a general information letter about English 1302 online
- Look for a letter mailed to the address on record at the Registrar's office from Del Mar College's Distance Learning Department containing your user name and password. If you have not received the information by January 12, contact the Help Desk at 698-2330.
- Expect to be dropped from the course if not logged in to the course by January 17.
Students should realize that an online course requires as much or more time as a traditional classroom course.
6 - 10 hours per week 6 - 10 hours per week Students who are new to WebCT and online courses should also contact Distance Learning at (361) 698-1379 for information about a separate WebCT orientation. Information about WebCT can also be found at http:www.delmar.edu/webct
Students must provide their own computer and internet service provider. Before signing up for an online course, students should be fluent in navigating the web, operating email, managing files (saving, uploading, downloading, and installing). Students are responsible for configuring and maintaining their own equipment. Students who are new to using computers should reconsider registering for an online course.
Plagiarism Instructor Contact Info
Office Hours:
MW 10-11 a.m. online
TTh 7:30-8:00 a.m.; 11-11:30 a.m. on campus
Friday by appointment
Course Description: Composition course focusing on writing analytical essays, literary analysis, and investigative papers. Success in this course depends heavily on on-line interaction among the students.
Required Textbooks and Supplies:
James, Missy and Alan P. Merickel. Reading Literature and Writing Argument. 3rd edition
Garcia Marquez, Gabriel. Strange Pilgrims.Trans. Edith Grossman. Penguin
Lunsford, Andrea. Easy Writer. 3rd edition
working knowledge of your MyDMC.delmar.edu email accountEducational Objectives:
The objective of the composition component in the core curriculum is to enable the student to communicate effectively in clear and correct prose in a style appropriate to the subject, occasion, and audience.Upon successful completion of this course, the student should
1. Understand and demonstrate writing and speaking processes through invention, arrangement, drafting, revision, editing, and presentation.
2. Understand the importance of purpose and audience analysis and make appropriate communication choices.
3. Understand and appropriately apply means of expression in written communication.
4. Participate effectively in groups with emphasis on listening, critical thinking, and responding (writing and speaking).
5. Understand and practice basic principles of critical thinking, problem solving, and technical proficiency the development of exposition and argument.
6. Possess the ability to research and write a documented paper.Instructional methods:
English 1302 Composition II will be conducted as an online workshop with discussion, possibly collaborative activities, and frequent formal and informal writing assignments. Reading quizzes will be given to reinforce the importance of class preparation.
Class requirements and instructor policies:
Regular participation in discussion lists is mandatory.Assignments must be turned in on time. Students should start early in the assignment week in order to have enough time to read, think, and respond on the discussion lists. Late postings will not count toward your class discussion grade. Students should keep electronic backup copies of their work in the unlikely case that submissions are lost, misplaced, or destroyed. WebCT is available from any computer with internet access twenty-four hours a day. Plan your schedule so that you can adhere to the timelines given. The flexibility that an online course allows also eliminates the need for sick or personal days that would cause work to be late. Natural disasters or widespread internet outage will, of course, cause exceptions to be made. Disruption of your personal internet service is not reason to submit work late. Students who feel they cannot adhere to the established timelines should contact the instructor immediately. As a matter of equity to all students after the first week of class, late work will not be accepted.
All essays must be typed in MS Word using MLA format. Because we will exchange text files, a common word processing format is necessary. MSWord is installed on many of the computers on campus for your use if your home computer does not have MSWord. You may also use word processors such as Works, Word Perfect, or Open Office, but your files must be saved as MS Word .doc files. Review your word processor's HELP files concerning the SAVE AS feature. You may download a 60 day free trial version of MS Word by clicking here.
For information concerning MLA format see your Lunsford, Easy Writer handbook. Do not use a separate cover sheet. The first page of your essay must contain your name, course and section number, and the date in the upper left corner. All formal essays must be submitted to the WebCT drop box in MSWord format. Rough and edited drafts should be kept in separately named files in an electronic portfolio file (and backed up to a disk for safety's sake).
Students must do their own work. Presenting someone else's work as your own is plagiarism. Having someone else write all or part of your paper, quoting directly from books, web sites, magazines, or newspapers without giving credit to the source, or representing someone else's ideas as your own is considered plagiarism.
Plagiarism is cause for disciplinary action, which will include a zero on the assignment in question and may include further action such as a failing grade in the course, being dropped from the course, or suspension from the college. See Del Mar College's policy on Scholastic Dishonesty. If you use material found in print or on-line, be sure to give credit to that source in your paper. Student work may be submitted to the plagiarism detection service Turnitin.com. Work submitted to Turnitin.com will become a part of their database.
20% Discussion lists
20% Reading quizzes, collaborative, peer responses, informal assignments
40% Formal Essays and Research projects
20% Final ExamThe final exam will be completed April 24-30.
The last day to drop a course is April 20. 2009. You must go to the Registrar's Office and complete a drop slip if you choose to withdraw from a course and want to avoid an "F" grade on your transcript.
Students who do not participate regularly and actively in the course may be dropped by the instructor. Failure to participate in 2 consecutive weeks' discussions or assignments could result in the student being dropped from the course. Failure to turn in major writing assignments could result in the student being dropped from the course.Free tutoring is available on campus or online from the Writing Center. Online tutors are available at http://www.delmar.edu/wrtctr.
Contact Del Mar College's Help Desk for problems or assistance with WebCT or MyDMC mail. Email them at helpdesk@delmar.edu or call 698-2330. http://www.delmar.edu/itdept/helpdesk/
For information on services available at Del Mar College, see the office of Student Services at http://www.delmar.edu/studentlife/
Students requiring disability accommodations or information are encouraged to contact the office of Special Services, 188 Harvin Center, 698-1298, http://www.delmar.edu/specserv/disability.html. If the office of Special Services has documented that you have any special needs, please provide me with that notification at the beginning of the semester.
Good communication is imperative for success in this course. Please feel free to come to me (in person, by phone, or via email) with questions or problems that may arise during the semester. If you have questions about an assignment, problems with a paper, or difficulties with any part of the class, do not hesitate to let me know.
Suggestions and Advice
- Save and archive all your email pertaining to the class.
- Learn how to copy and paste text from your word processor to WebCT and to email messages. Using the word processor this way allows you to take advantage of spell-check and other features that might not be available in the other media.
- Learn how to use the Save As feature on your word processor.
Learn how to use your Word processor's Help files.- Learn how to copy and paste URLs instead of typing them. It is extremely easy to make a mistake when manually typing each character of a URL. Use the bookmark capabilities of your browser.
- Stay in contact with the instructor and classmates. Frequent communication can minimize frustration and unrealistic expectations for the instructor and students.
- Recognize this course as an opportunity to hone communication skills. Avoid sending overly emotional or "flaming" emails. Take some time away to think before responding to discourse that might at first appear to be negative or confrontational.
- Be generous in extending the benefit of the doubt and assuming good intent when reading postings. Expect that the same courtesy will be extended to you if your moments of frustration or confusion.
- Try to have fun!
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Contact me
Email scrowson@delmar.edu
Phone: 361-698-1432
Office: CB 248Tentative Office hours for Spring 2009:
MW 9-10 a.m. online
TTh 7:30-8:00; 11:00 - 11:30 a.m. on campus
Friday by appointment
updated: 12-12-2008
