Course Policy Sheet

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, 2^nd 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.