Course Policy Sheet
English 1C: Section: 6595
Critical Thinking and
Composition
Fall 2016
Class Meeting Times and
Location: Mon/Wed
4:15-5:40; Humanities 212
Instructor:
Élice Hennessee
Office
Hours: by appointment only
Contact
Information: Email: literary.pros@gmail.com
Course Materials
Required: Current
Issues and Enduring Questions. Tenth Edition. Barnet & Bedau
They Say, I Say: The Moves that Matter in Academic
Writing. Third Edition. Graff & Birkenstein
Twelve Angry Men. Reginald Rose. Penguin Classics.
Recommended: 3-ring
binder to keep handouts from class
Loose
leaf notebook paper for in-class writing assignments that may need to be
turned in
Course
Catalog Description:
This course focuses
on the development of critical thinking skills.
Students will apply these skills to the analysis of written arguments in
various forms and genres, both classic and contemporary, and to the writing of
effective persuasive essays. Students
will learn to evaluate and interpret data, to recognize assumptions, to
distinguish facts from opinions, to identify and avoid logical fallacies, to
employ deductive and inductive reasoning, and to effectively assert and support
argumentative claims.
Course Objectives:
1. Evaluate
arguments in terms of bias, credibility, and relevance.
2. Assess
an argument's claims by examining assumptions, by differentiating between facts
and inferences, by recognizing errors in logic, by analyzing support, and by
identifying both explicit and implied conclusions.
3. Recognize
and assess argumentative claims embedded in literary works, advertisements,
political tracts, and presentations in other media.
4. Express
critical viewpoints and develop original arguments in response to social,
political, and philosophical issues and/or to works of literature and literary
theory.
5. Demonstrate
the ability to evaluate electronic sources and databases, to incorporate
research from on-line and print media, and to compose unified, coherent, fully
supported argumentative essays that advance their claims by integrating primary
and secondary sources, and by employing the tools of critical interpretation,
evaluation, and analysis.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this course,
students will:
1.
Compose an argumentative essay that shows an
ability to support a claim using analysis, elements of argumentation, and
integration of primary and secondary sources.
2.
Identify and assess bias, credibility, and
relevance in their own arguments and in the arguments of others, including
primary and secondary outside sources.
3. Write an essay that is correct in MLA format, paragraph
composition, sentence structure, grammar, spelling, and usage.
Students with Disabilities:
It is the policy of the El
Camino Community College District to encourage full inclusion of people with
disabilities in all programs and services.
Students with disabilities who believe they may need accommodations in
this class should contact the campus Special Resource Center (310) 660-3295, as
soon as possible. This will ensure that
students are able to fully participate.
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism:
El Camino
College places a high value on the integrity of its student scholars. When an instructor determines
that there is evidence of dishonesty in any academic work (including, but not limited to cheating, plagiarism,
or theft of exam materials), disciplinary action appropriate to the
misconduct as defined in BP 5500 may be taken.
A failing grade on an assignment in which academic dishonesty has
occurred and suspension from class are among the disciplinary actions for
academic dishonesty (AP 5520). Students
with any questions about the Academic Honesty or discipline policies are
encouraged to speak with their instructor in advance.
Attendance
Policy:
Students are expected to attend their classes regularly.
Students who miss the first class meeting or who are not in regular attendance
during the add period for the class may be dropped by the instructor. Students
whose absences from a class exceed 10% of the scheduled class meeting times may
be dropped by the instructor – this
amounts to 4 classes for this course. However, students are responsible for
dropping a class within the deadlines published in the class schedule. Students
who stop attending but do not drop may receive a failing grade.
Classroom Policies
Midterm and Final Exams: Because many of your classes
will ask you to write during in-class midterms and finals, you will be required
to write in-class essays in this class as well – including your midterm and
final exams. Please refer to the class schedule to see when the midterm and
final will take place. IMPORTANT: You CANNOT make-up or reschedule the midterm
or final. Look up the dates of the mid-term and final exam and be sure you are
able to be in class during those times.
Participation & Homework
Assignments: This class will focus largely on discussion;
therefore, I expect you to engage with the readings during class. Because of
this, I expect you to complete the readings by the day they are assigned under
the “class schedule.” We will discuss the readings in class on the due dates,
and by participating, you will garner percentage points for participation. Your
participation, however, should go beyond “I liked the text,” or “It was good,”
or “I don’t know,” as such answers will garner no percentage points since they
tell me and your fellow students nothing about your understanding of or
reaction to the reading. To facilitate productive discussions during class,
every student is required to come to each class with a minimum of 2 discussion
questions or topics ready for conversation – whether I ask for, collect, or
call on you for your questions or not. Your participation will also be based on
attendance and on group responses to readings and assignments that you will
submit in class and for homework, such as quick writes, discussion posts and
other writing assignments listed in the syllabus.
Research
Paper Proposals: All Research topics must be approved. You will receive credit for turning in your
proposal on time, but even if you do not turn in a proposal by the due date,
you must, at some point before the Research Paper is due, consult with me on
your research topic/thesis so that I may approve it. I will not accept Research
Papers with topics that did not receive my prior approval.
Attendance and Tardiness: Repeated absences will significantly
interfere with your progress as a writer; therefore, you are allowed three
unexcused absences without an adverse effect on your participation grade. Upon
your fourth unexcused absence, you may be dropped from the class. If you think you will be absent when an
assignment will be due, the assignment is STILL DUE, and I expect you to turn
in the assignment via email or posted to the course site by the date and time
due. I also expect you to be ON TIME for all classes. I will take
attendance as follows: A = Absent; T = Tardy; P = Partial; L = Late. You will
receive partial attendance if you leave class early or if you show up more than
20 minutes late. Keep in mind, however, if you must be significantly late, a
partial attendance is still better than an absence, and, because important
information is shared, I strongly encourage you to come to class, even if you
will receive a partial attendance. TWO partial attendances count toward ONE
absence.
Computer and Cell Phone Policy: I discourage the use of laptops and other
electronic devices in class. I will not, however, prohibit students from using
laptops or notepads in order to take notes. With this in mind, those using
these devices must refrain from visiting sites that do not pertain to the class
discussion during class time. Facebook, Twitter, Sports updating websites, etc.
do NOT pertain to class discussions and are STRICTLY prohibited. If I feel a
student is abusing this policy, I will kindly ask that the laptop be put away,
and in extreme cases, I may ask students to leave. Please turn off all cell
phones during class.
Essay and Assignment Format: ALL ASSIGNMENTS, including essays, should
be typed with Times New Roman 12 pt font, 1” margins all around, and
double-spaced, unless otherwise noted. Please put your last name and the page
number on the top right-hand side of each sheet of your essay (otherwise known
as a header). Your name, my name, the course title, and the due date of the
assignment should all go on the left of the first sheet only. Your unique title
should go in the center of your first sheet and should not be underlined,
italicized, in quotes, or in bold lettering. See MLA formatting in any MLA
Style reference guide or online for examples and more information.
IMPORTANT: IT IS
YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP ALL GRADED PAPERS UNTIL AFTER YOU HAVE RECEIVED
YOUR FINAL GRADE FROM THE UNIVERSITY.
Grading:
Click here to enter text.
|
ASSIGNMENT
|
WEIGHT
|
YOUR GRADE
|
|
Essay 1
|
5%
|
|
|
Essay 2
|
10%
|
|
|
MIDTERM
|
15%
|
|
|
Essay 3
|
25%
|
|
|
Essay 4
|
25%
|
|
|
FINAL EXAM
|
10%
|
|
|
Other Assignments/
Participation
|
10%
|
|
Late
Assignment Policy: Any work turned in late, but within 3 (three) days of
the due date, will be deducted 10% of your earned grade. Electronic essay
submissions cannot be turned in in lieu of hard copies, BOTH are required. I
WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY WORK TURNED IN MORE THAN THREE DAYS AFTER THE DUE DATE. In
short, turn everything in on time. That said, if you are, for some reason,
unable to meet a deadline, please email or meet with me at least 72 hours (3
days) before the due date and I may consider granting an extension.
Rewrite Policy: I DO NOT allow essay rewrites. The writing
assignments are weighted progressively to allow for your writing to improve
throughout the semester. The assignment
weights increase as your writing should improve, which allows for the opportunity
for this improvement to reflect in your overall grade. Only I will decide any
adjustments to this policy on a holistic level, and, in that event, it will be
announced in class, and offered to all students who choose to participate –
thus, there is no need to ask on your specific behalf.
Important
Dates:
All
Web Registration Ends (Full Semester Classes): Friday, August 26, 2016
Saturday
Classes Begin: Saturday, August 27,
2016
Weekday
Classes Begin: Monday, August 29, 2016
Online
Add Period and Program Change Period Begins: Monday, August 29, 2016
Labor
Day Holiday - Campus Closed: Monday, September 5, 2016
Last
Day to Add Classes (Full Semester Classes): Friday, September 9, 2016
Last
Day to Drop Without Notation on Permanent Record: Friday, September 9, 2016
Last
Day to Drop for an Enrollment Fee Refund (Full Semester Classes): Friday, September 9, 2016
Mid-Term
Classes Begin: Saturday, October 22,
2016
Veteran’s
Day Holiday - Campus Closed: Friday, November 11, 2016
Last
Day to Drop with a “W”: Friday,
November 18, 2016
Thanksgiving
Holiday - Campus Closed: Thursday,
November 24 - Sunday, November 27, 2016
Last
Day of Fall Semester: Friday,
December 16, 2016
Winter
Recess - Campus Closed: Friday,
December 23, 2016 - Monday, January 2, 2017
Student
Resources:
·
Reading Success Center (East Library Basement
E-36)
Software and tutors are available for vocabulary development & reading
comprehension.
·
Library Media
Technology Center - LMTC (East Library Basement)
Computers are available for free use. Bring your student ID # & flash
drive. There’s a charge for printing.
·
Writing Center (H122)
Computers are available for free use. Free tutoring is available for writing
assignments, grammar, and vocabulary.
Bring your student ID & flash drive to save work. Printing is NOT available.
·
Learning Resource Center
- LRC
(West Wing of the Library, 2nd floor)
The LRC Tutorial Program offers free drop-in tutoring. For the tutoring schedule, go to www.elcamino.edu/library/lrc/tutoring .The LRC also offers
individualized computer adaptive programs to help build your reading
comprehension skills.
·
Student Health Center (Next to the Pool)
The Health Center offers free medical and psychological services as well as
free workshops on topics like “test anxiety.” Low cost medical testing is also
available.
·
Special Resource Center
– SRC (Southwest
Wing of Student Services Building)
The SRC provides free disability services, including interpreters, testing
accommodations, counseling, and adaptive computer technology.
Detailed Weekly Schedule provided via a Google document. A link to this
document will be emailed to you. This document is ALIVE and should be checked
regularly, at the very least before and after each class.
NOTE:
The instructor reserves the right to make changes in the schedule and course
policy if necessary.
