PRINCE GEORGE'S COMMUNITY COLLEGE
EGL 1000: Introduction to Composition
Fall 2010
INSTRUCTOR:
OFFICE:
PHONE NUMBERS:
EMAIL ADDRESS:
OFFICE HOURS:
Jeffrey Snodgrass, Associate Professor, English
M3064
301.322-0603
(Dept.=301.322.0562/-63)
SNODGRJL@PGCC.EDU
7-8 AM, M through TR, or by appointment, or if I’m in M3064
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
A writing course designed for students who have progressed
beyond the development level but who need more writing practice before entering
English 1010.
The course focuses on expository essays and paragraphs and provides
direct instruction in major rules of grammar, punctuation, and sentence rhetoric.
This course will not fulfill the English requirements for transfer or graduation.
Prerequisites: a satisfactory score on the placement test or a P1 grade in DVE 001 or
placement by essay at the time of placement testing.
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course, a student
will be able to:
(1.) Write, using Standard English, well-developed paragraphs of at least 150 words and essays
of at least 500 words that have unified, restricted, and precise thesis statements; clear topic
sentences that support the thesis; adequate development of the topic sentences in paragraphs; and
a variety of sentence patterns or lengths.
(2.) Write prose with essential meaning unimpaired by grammatical errors, including fragments,
run-ons (comma splices and fused sentences), faulty subject-verb agreement, and incorrect verb
forms.
(3.) Use a handbook/dictionary to correct marked errors of grammar, punctuation, mechanics,
usage, and spelling.
(4.) Write a summary or analysis of an assigned text.
TEXTBOOK: Odyssey: From Paragraph to Essay, 5th edition, Kelly/Lawton, 0-205-59891-9
OTHER REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS: Jump (Flash) Drive/Memory Stick
GRADING CRITERIA GRADING
PERCENTAGES:
I will observe these percentages:
Essays 1-3 (500-550 words/paper)
2 Paragraphs
3 Grammar Tests
Analysis
Midterm
Final Exam
Participation
Many factors determine your final grade.
20%
10%
25%
10%
5%
5%
25%
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And while your official grade report does not reflect "shaded" grades, the grading
scale does. My grading scale is as follows:
A+
A
AB+
=
=
=
=
96.7-100
93.3-96.6
89.9-93.2
86.5-89.8
B
=
83.1-86.4
B=
79.7-83.0
C+
=
76.3-79.6
C
=
72.9-76.2
C=
69.5-72.8
The final grade is calculated as follows:
D+
D
DF
=
=
=
=
66.1-69.4
62.7-66.0
59.3-62.6
00.0-59.2
FINAL GRADE = ((20 * Pa)+(10 * PP)+(A * 10)+(25 * GT)+(5 * M)+(5 * F)+(25 * P))
100
Pa
PP
A
GT
M
F
P
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
Average of paper grades
Average of paragraph grades
Analysis
Average of Grammar Tests
Midterm
Final exam grade
Participation
HOW ASSIGNMENTS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED:
DUE DATES:
Written assignments are due on the assigned date, at the beginning of
class. If for any reason you cannot turn an assignment in to me on time, make other
arrangements no later than the due date. Late essays will be lowered one letter grade
per class each class period over the assigned due date. You must turn in all written
assignments to receive a passing final grade. Submit all written assignments, even if
they fail due to missing a due date.
An "F" counts more than a "zero."
I would
rather assign a failing grade than a place holder.
PAPER FORMATS:
All formal written assignments should be typed or word-processor
printed. Use 8 ½ by 11" white paper. Your margins should be one and one-half inches
on left and right sides and one inch on top and bottom. At the top left of the first
page, list your name (last, first), assignment (paper) number, and the date; Do not
use a title page of any kind (save a tree), nor any form of binder. Please doublespace your texts on one side of the page only (in other words, do not print on the
back of the page, too). If you discover errors after printing your final copy, hand
correct the errors in blue or black ink. If you find more than five errors per pageor that extensive corrections are needed-correct and reprint the paper.
Staple all
work together in the upper left-hand corner before coming to class.
DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES
Students requesting academic accommodations are required to contact the Disability Support Services Office (M1042) or call (301) 322-0838 (voice) or (301) 322-0122 (TTY) to establish eligibility for services and
accommodations. Students with documented disabilities should discuss the matter privately with their
instructors at the beginning of the semester and provide a copy of their Student/Faculty Accommodation Form.
CODE OF CONDUCT
The Prince George's Community College Code of Conduct defines the rights and responsibilities of students and
establishes a system of procedures for dealing with students charged with violations of the code and other rules and
regulations of the college. A student enrolling in the college assumes an obligation to conduct himself/herself in a
manner compatible with the college's function as an educational institution. Refer to the 2009-2010 Student
Handbook, beginning on page 38, for a complete explanation of the code of conduct, including the Code of
Academic Integrity and the procedure for dealing with disruptive student behavior.
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CODE OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
The college is an institution of higher learning that holds academic integrity as its highest principle. In the pursuit of
knowledge, the college community expects that all students, faculty, and staff will share responsibility for adhering
to the values of honesty and unquestionable integrity. To support a community committed to academic achievement
and scholarship, the Code of Academic Integrity advances the principle of honest representation in the work that is
produced by students seeking to engage fully in the learning process. The complete text of the Code of Academic
Integrity is in the 2009-2010 Student Handbook (39) and posted on the college's website.
STATEMENT ON CIVILITY
To promote a community of scholarship and civility, everyone at Prince George’s Community College is
expected to be respectful, tolerant and courteous towards others at all times, adhere to college policies and
procedures, and respect college property. Creating a culture of civility both inside and outside the
classroom is everyone’s responsibility.
CLASSROOM POLICIES
Attendance means that you physically*/** come to class,
complete all required assignments, and participate.
I expect you to attend every
class session. This course requires that skills build upon one another; accordingly,
your success depends upon class activities.
However, if for whatever reason you
cannot come to class, you have three (3) excused absences.
Use them at your
discretion.
I do not need to know why you were absent unless you exceed the (3)
excused absences.
On days when I ask you to bring a rough draft, an absence will
count twice.
If you accumulate more than three absences, see me at once.
If any
student misses a total of 25% of class meetings throughout the semester, that student
will fail, per departmental policy. Weather Policy: The college provides the media
with information pertaining to weather.
Please use the radio or television station
most convenient for you to check delayed opening and/or cancellation schedules.
If
the college is open, regardless of the weather, then we will officially have class.
If the college opens late-later than our class time, meaning that our class does not
meet-then we will reschedule that class. The college has reserved dates for make-up
classes.
**************Coming to class late is an absence. If you are not seated and ready to
learn by the time I finish taking attendance, then you are absent.**************
*Prior permission is required to use a tape recorder and you must be present to use
it.
DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR STATEMENT:
Disruptive behavior is any behavior that prevents
learning. Disruptive behavior includes but is not limited to arriving late for class,
leaving class early, leaving class and coming back, disruptive talking-either to
another student or on a cell phone-cell phone ringers (all cell phones should be
turned off unless your job involves saving lives), pager noise(s), music (earphones or
not), and, in general, any sound or behavior that prevents someone from learning.
Physical violence will not be tolerated.
The college has a prepared, detailed
statement concerning disruptive behavior.
If further clarification is required,
please see me.
PLAGIARISM:
Broadly defined, plagiarism is the use of someone else's writing or
ideas or work as if it were one's own.
Plagiarism occurs sometimes in researched
writing when the student uses sources without adequate documentation, and sometimes
when a student puts his or her name on another person's writing (this includes test
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answers) and submits it as original work.
Either one is dishonest scholarship and
unacceptable at this college. This is my personal statement on plagiarism. Below is
a copy of the plagiarism statement used by Prince George's Community College:
PLAGIARISM is using someone else's work (for instance, information from a book, a
magazine, a newspaper, or another student's essay) without giving credit to the
original source. Credit to the source must be given in either the text of your paper
or in a footnote or endnote.
There are five basic forms of plagiarism:
1. Copying a source word for word without using quotation marks and without
identifying the source.
2. Extensive borrowing of words and phrases from a source without using quotation
marks and without identifying the sources.
3. Too close paraphrasing.
4. Using other's ideas or information (including graphics, statistics, observations,
or research data and findings) without giving credit to the source in the text of your
paper in a footnote or endnote.
5. Submitting the work of someone else as your own.
Your instructor may wish to refine the above definition of plagiarism or add to it.
Use the space below to record any refinements or additions.
Be advised that plagiarism is dishonest and carries severe academic penalties, which
can include suspension from the college.
In cases of plagiarism, an instructor may
take such action as he or she sees fit, including giving a failing grade for the
assignment and reporting the incident to the Office of the Vice President for Student
Services for disciplinary action.