ENC 1101: Digital Edition Course Syllabus Fall 2013

Transcription

1 ENC 1101: Digital Edition Course Syllabus Fall 2013 Instructor: Section: Skype user name: Office: Virtual Office Hours: First-Year Composition Website: fyc.usf.edu Required Course Resources My Reviewers, the FYC web-based resource and assessment tool (Prior to their first time using My Reviewers, students will purchase online access to this resource/assessment tool at Yirinec, Jennifer, Ed. Network, Collaborate, Compose: New Media Writing in the Digital Age (This etext is available through Canvas and may be available in other platforms.) Course Description ENC 1101 is designed specifically to introduce you to academic writing and the associated conventions, styles, and qualities. Throughout the semester, you will develop information literacy skills through reading comprehension and research, refine your critical thinking processes through exploring historical perspectives and visual images, and critically reflect upon your own visual and textual compositions. Regardless of the type, writing is personal and it is a process, and this course is designed to respect these truths. It is critical to that you as students participate fully in the writing process as it is laid out for this course, and your instructor, in turn, will work with you as much as possible to facilitate your growth as writers. Course Outcomes Outcomes for ENC 1101: Digital Edition are adapted from the First-Year Composition course website, the Writing Program Administrators (WPA) Outcomes Statement, and the information literacy standards for higher education developed by the Association of College and Research Libraries and USF libraries. Objectives 1-8 in the course outcomes linked here unite USF's General Education Objectives with student outcomes in the First-Year Composition program. START HERE Competency Module Students will be asked to complete an introductory START HERE competency module during the first week of classes as part of the online course requirements. Please note that this assignment must be completed by Wednesday of the first week of classes.

2 Major Projects and Assignment Weights The table below provides links to the major course projects and activities and the proposed weeks assigned to each. Individual instructors may make revisions to this schedule in order to improve learning outcomes, and all instructors reserve the right to adjust grade distribution to account for special activities unique to a given course section. The following percentages will be used to determine your final grade: Assignment Percentage of Final Grade Weekly Assignments 10% Peer Review (Projects 1, 2, and 3) 10% Conferences (You will attend at least two individual conferences with N/A your instructor to help in the development of your writing.) Project 1: Bibliographic Essay 20% Project 2: Thesis-Driven Essay 30% Project 3: Remediation Analysis 30% Major Project Revision and Peer Review Good writing normally requires substantial collaboration, reflection, and revision. Students therefore will receive feedback on each of the major projects by both their instructor and their peers. After each feedback cycle, students will revise their work based upon instructor and peer suggestions and on their own subsequent reflection. All intermediate and final drafts must be submitted to TurnItIn (via Canvas) and then uploaded to My Reviewers by 11:59 p.m. on the day each project draft is due. Uploading to TurnItIn Your instructor will require you to submit each final draft to a plagiarism detection site called TurnItIn, which is accessed through Canvas. In order to comply with federal (FERPA) and state privacy laws, you are not required to include personal identifying information such as your name, SSN, and/or U# in the body of the work (text) or use such information in the file naming convention prior to submitting. Please follow your instructor s instructions carefully regarding what identifying information to include. Your submission will be placed in the course grade center in your account and can be accessed by the instructor and attributed to you. Uploading to My Reviewers My Reviewers is the companion site to the University of South Florida s First-Year Composition Program and General Education writing courses. At My Reviewers, students can upload essays for review; learn more about grading criteria; conduct peer review; and access instructor s feedback and grading. For Projects 1 through 3, this course requires you to upload the intermediate and final drafts of your projects to My Reviewers. My Reviewers organizes papers by student ID, and the peer review process is predicated on the assumption of anonymity, so your papers will be uploaded without identifying information.

3 Please plan ahead for submission of project drafts to My Reviewers to allow for potential technical difficulties. Visit the Help Center at and/or refer to the Student Instruction Manual. Grading Instructors will record your grades, absences, and tardies in Canvas throughout the semester. Instructors may grade assignments on a percentage or a letter-grade basis. Letter grades, including plus and minus grades, will be converted to points according to the Grade Point Average grading system, as follows: A+ (97-100) 4.00 B+ ( ) 3.33 C+ ( ) 2.33 D+ ( ) 1.33 A ( ) 4.00 B ( ) 3.00 C ( ) 2.00 D ( ) 1.00 A- ( ) 3.67 B- ( ) 2.67 C- ( ) 1.67 D- ( ) 0.67 A final grade of C satisfies specified minimum requirements for Gordon Rule and Composition. Exemptions for the writing portion of CLAST require a 2.5 combined GPA in ENC 1101 and If any student has missed enough class work to prevent him or her from successfully completing the course requirements, (e. g., has failed to turn in one or more major assignments), instructors will recommend that the student drop the course. Attendance Policy This class meets exclusively online, but you will be expected to observe course attendance by completing weekly assignments and participating in other scheduled course activities during the week each learning event is scheduled. Students must affirm course participation by completing a Start Here Competency Module no later than Wednesday of the first week of classes. Students who fail to acknowledge class participation by that time will be dropped from the class. Given the flexibility of an online class, missing a due date because of a major religious observance should be extremely rare. Students who anticipate the necessity of being unable to complete a scheduled assignment by the due date because of the observation of a major religious observance must provide notice of the date(s) to the instructor, in writing, by the second week of class. Classroom Policies Agreement You will be asked to post a formal statement of agreement (Classroom Policies Agreement) to the terms and conditions of this syllabus in a designated Canvas forum during the first week of class. This submission is mandatory if you wish to remain enrolled in the course. Assignment Due Dates All assignments are due by the posted date and time indicated on Canvas or on the alternate date announced in advance on Canvas. No late assignments will be accepted. Weekly assignments from the appropriate module must be submitted during the week they are due.

4 Your instructor will accept late final drafts of major projects (Projects 1, 2, 3); however, late projects will be penalized. For each day the project is late, one whole letter grade will be deducted. For example, if the final draft is due on a specific Sunday by 11:59 p.m., and the paper would have received a grade of B, the grade will be reduced to a C if the project is submitted on Monday and to a D if the project is submitted on Tuesday. Do not sabotage your grade with late submissions! Course Technology Requirement Students enrolled in this online course should have moderate to high literacy with computers, computer software, and Web-browsing and should have readily available, dependable access to a computer for class assignments. You should be familiar with Canvas (including the Modules, Discussions, submitting online assignments, and TurnItIn) or agree to become familiar enough with Canvas during the first few weeks of class to enable you to successfully submit assignments. Failed computer technology is not an excuse for missing an assignment due date. Some instructors ask that you be prepared to set up and maintain a blog using tumblr, blogger or blogspot for this course. Other technology requirements may include The Symposium (at fyc.usf.edu), My Reviewers, YouTube, Sound Cloud, Skype, Prezi, Garage Band/Audacity, and SmartThinking. Online Format This section of ENC 1101 Online is predicated on the assumption that literacy in the twenty-first century is measured by an individual s ability to communicate and conduct research in both traditional print-based formats and in a variety of electronic and web-based media, including e- mail, Internet searches and navigation of online databases, web-based educational and collaborative tools, and other communication media emerging in today s global society. While online classes offer attractive advantages in terms of time management and eliminate transportation concerns usually associated with the traditional classroom, you should not consider these advantages as the primary reason for taking this course. Our work will be rigorous and unique in structure, form, and content, and writing projects go beyond the traditional "student or professor as audience" and challenge authors to write for a much broader readership, particularly readers of various online, Internet communities. Ultimately, this course will prepare you to analyze and participate in the creation of new online writing genres to read, interpret and write in the multiple literacies life requires today in both academic and workplace environments. Write and Think Rhetorically As undergraduates move from one disciplinary community (e.g., business, engineering, science, medicine, architecture, law, etc.) to another, they are challenged to adopt different points of view, employ new research methodologies, and write with a variety of voices. An important aspect of a university education, therefore, is learning how to assess and think rhetorically about one s rhetorical (communication) situation. Practice Diverse Modes of Inquiry ENC 1101 focuses on three dominant forms of inquiry textual research, historiography, and rhetorical analysis.

5 Textual Research: ENC 1101 provides an introduction to information literacy, including the ability to locate, assess, quote, paraphrase, and summarize textual research. Historiography: Writing is a social practice, and knowledge-making is a sociallyconstructed, rhetorical activity. When researching events, people or concepts, academics often employ a historical perspective. They question how interpretations of events, people, and concepts have changed over time and how interpretation is interwoven with materialistic practices and ideology. ENC 1101 introduces historiography as a method of inquiry. In particular, you will evaluate how interpretations of events, people, and concepts evolve (or do not change) over time; you will also explore scholarship and research as conversation embedded in cultures or discourse communities. Rhetorical Analysis: Writers in the humanities often practice rhetorical analysis; they question how they need to reshape a message when they push the message via multiple media (texts, blogs, video, tweets, etc.). Qualities of Academic Writing Professors and expert readers have high expectations for academic writing. For example, when assignments call for textual research, professors typically are concerned with the quality of the thesis and the way in which students integrate their sources. ENC 1101 provides a thorough introduction to the common elements of effective writing. In the textbook that has been developed for the course, as well as in the pedagogical support materials for My Reviewers, definitions and illustrations of the following elements of effective academic writing have been provided: Focus, Evidence, Organization, Style, and Format. By the end of the semester, you will have learned to think rhetorically, to understand and employ a variety of writing strategies, to conduct research, and to interpret, critique, summarize, and paraphrase texts. Etiquette Check your USF at least once daily; twice a day is strongly recommended. is the best (and preferred) way to communicate with your instructor. s will be answered within 48 hours (or less in most cases). If you do not receive a response within 48 hours, please resend your , as technology is not foolproof. All s are to be sent through the Help link on Canvas. Begin with a salutation (Dear Instructor Doe), and then clearly state the reason for your . Be sure to relate your question(s) to a specific assignment, project, or activity. Use correct grammar, spelling, and capitalization. An is not a text message. Keep the tone of your positive, and proofread your text before submission. Required Reading Reading full chapters, appropriate passages, and Web pages from the course text and other online resources are required as part of the weekly assignment modules. Additionally, all course s and announcements are considered required reading. Failure to read this material may compromise your ability to successfully complete or submit course assignments.

6 Since this course does not meet in a face-to-face, traditional classroom setting, reading and following detailed assignment directions closely and carefully is essential. Students are responsible to access and review all sample course files and documents to support success with weekly assignments. Printing the weekly To Do List, setting personal completion goals, and checking off each assignment when completed is strongly recommended. Online Conferences Conferences will be held twice during the semester in a digital setting, and all students are required to attend. Students are expected to sign up for two conference meetings at specified times. Missing a scheduled conference with your instructor may result in a grade penalty at the discretion of the instructor. What You Can Expect From Your Online Instructor The role of the instructor is to facilitate student learning processes and to offer consultancy on resources for this course and the larger campus community. Your instructor will assess student work in a timely manner and provide careful and thoughtful feedback. Students are, of course, entitled and encouraged to discuss your assessment and progress with their instructor. Please feel free to discuss course materials with your instructor privately, either in his or her office on campus or via Google chat or Skype. MLA Format All major writing assignments in this course must be composed and submitted in compliance with Modern Language Association (MLA) format and style (unless otherwise instructed). Attention to document design includes a proper MLA header and heading at the top of the page, 1 margins on all four sides, Times New Roman font, 12 pt., double-spacing, and an indent at the beginning of each new paragraph. Other course assignments must also adhere to MLA stylistic conventions unless otherwise specified. All references to outside sources that have been quoted, summarized, or paraphrased must be cited with proper in-text citations and be listed on a works cited list at the end of the document or post. Major projects and course not submitted in proper MLA format may be subject to a grade penalty. MLA style guides are available at Purdue On-line Writing Lab (OWL) and other reputable college writing websites. Writing Center USF's Writing Center offers assistance to any student who wants to improve his or her writing skills. Rather than offering editing assistance, Writing Center consultants and students work together to enhance the organization, development, grammar, and style of any type of writing across the disciplines. Students are encouraged to visit the Writing Center at any stage during the writing process, from brainstorming and pre-writing to final polishing. The USF Writing Center is conveniently located in the Library Learning Commons. Walk-ins are welcome dependent on availability, but students are encouraged to make an appointment by visiting the Writing Center during office hours or setting up an appointment by phone ( ). Additional feedback is available via SmartThinking, an online tutoring center, which is accessible through Canvas. First-Year Composition (FYC) Website

7 Visit and utilize the FYC website as a valuable source of information about the First-Year Composition program at USF. The site provides dozens of resources intended to support the success of students in ENC 1101 and 1102 courses. Visitors to this site will find FYC policy information, course-specific resources (including sample documents and instructional videos), public writing spaces, and news about Student Success, including the announcement of each semester s Bullitzer prize winners. Incomplete Grade Policy The grade of I (Incomplete) will be given for only very compelling reasons. Assigning a student the grade of I for Composition I or II must be approved by the instructor and the Director of Composition. For more information, refer to the I Grade Policy documented in the current USF Undergraduate Catalog. Grade Grievance Policy The English Department, like other departments at USF, follows USF s Grievance Procedures. You may disagree with an instructor s grade on an assignment, yet this disagreement does not constitute sufficient evidence to warrant a change of grade. However, if an instructor made a mathematical error or based your grade on something other than his/her assessment of your performance in a course, then a grade change could be warranted. A student interested in disputing a grade needs to carefully review the Student Academic Grievance Procedure. He/she should first meet with his/her instructor, as mentioned in the grievance procedure. Thereafter, he/she should set up a meeting with Dr. Dianne Donnelly, Associate Director of First-Year Composition by contacting her at ddonnelly@usf.edu to discuss any grade disputes. Students should also file a notification letter within three weeks of the triggering incident to Dr. Donnelly, Department of English, CPR 107, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, Tampa, FL Be sure to specify precisely why you believe the grade needs to be changed based on USF s Academic Grievance Procedure. Archiving As a student in this online learning section of ENC 1101, you are required to submit electronic copies of your work both to Canvas and to My Reviewers as specifically identified in each assignment. In this manner, your work will be archived automatically by the very nature of the submission process. However, each student is responsible for ensuring access to all assignments completed for the course, and consequently, you should maintain a separate archive of your work on a flash drive, hard drive, website, digital cloud storage site (such as Dropbox), or in printed format. Part of a process-driven writing class is observing how your writing evolves from draft to draft as well as over the course of the semester. If you have questions regarding the grade for an English Composition class, you will be asked to produce all the written work completed during the semester. Plagiarism and Academic Honesty Plagiarism includes the use of a quotation, that is, the exact words of a text (e. g., book, periodical, website, interview, or lecture), without quotation marks and documentation; the paraphrasing of ideas or passages from a text without documentation; the inclusion from a text of information not generally known to the general public without documentation; and the following

8 of the structure or style of a secondary source without documentation. To facilitate your understanding of the plagiarism policy, please see the FYC Plagiarism Policies. You will be required to agree to USF policies related to plagiarism through the Classroom Policies Agreement mentioned previously. You may also be asked to complete a quiz on MLA Documentation or to complete assignments related to academic ethics and plagiarism. Student Conduct Policy In online discussion, collaboration, and group work please conduct yourself in a cooperative and orderly manner. Online communications with your instructor or your colleagues on class assignments should not make use of Internet shorthand. Make sure that you edit online communications carefully for tone as well as for grammar, style, and spelling. Posting deliberately inflammatory material to discussion forums, blogs, wikis, or in s is unacceptable. Derogatory comments about the subject matter of the course are inappropriate and reflect poorly on the author of the post. The First Year Composition Program, as part of the USF Department of English, strives to make this course as interesting as possible for everyone, and respectfully-submitted constructive suggestions for improvement are welcome. If inappropriate behaviors interfere with instruction, your instructor will then follow policies outlined in the Student Handbook. Disruption of Academic Process Disruption of academic process is defined as the act or words of a student in a classroom or online teaching environment which in the reasonable estimation of a faculty member: (a) directs attention from the academic matters at hand, such as noisy distractions; persistent, disrespectful or abusive interruptions of lecture, exam or academic discussions, or (b) presents a danger to the health, safety or well-being of the faculty member or students. Punishments for disruption of academic process will depend on the seriousness of the disruption and will range from a private verbal reprimand to dismissal from class with a final grade of "W," if the student is passing the course, shown on the student record. If the student is not passing, a grade of "F" will be shown on the student record. If students work hard to treat each other respectfully, they will find themselves in a wonderfully positive learning environment. You will come away with a rich educational experience, and your teachers will be delighted to have had you as a student. Final Course Evaluation During the final three weeks of the semester, your instructor will ask you to complete a final course evaluation (the link to the evaluation website will be made available to you near the end of the term). Your instructor may also request that you take another course evaluation specific to online classes. Disability Accommodations

9 Students in need of academic accommodations for a disability may consult with the office of Students with Disabilities Services to arrange appropriate accommodations. Students are required to give reasonable notice prior to requesting an accommodation. Students may request accommodations at any point during the semester. As accommodations are not retroactive, any grades earned before a student requests accommodations will stand. Each student must provide a current Memorandum of Accommodations from the Office of Student Disability Services as a prerequisite for receiving accommodations. Accommodated examinations through the Office of Student Disability Services require two weeks notice. All course documents are available in alternate format if requested in the students Memorandum of Accommodations (see faculty responsibilities). Emergency Plans In the event of an emergency, it may be necessary for USF to suspend normal operations. During this time, USF may opt to continue delivery of instruction through methods that include but are not limited to Canvas, Skype, and messaging and/or an alternate schedule. It s the responsibility of the ENC 1101 student to monitor the Canvas site for each class for coursespecific communication, and the main USF, College, and department websites, s, and MoBull messages for important general information. Important Campus Resources Plagiarism Information: Students with Disabilities Responsibilities: USF Counseling Center: USF Advocacy Program: