Heartland Community College: Liberal Arts & Social Science
(LASS) Course Syllabus for Students—Fall 2014
Course Prefix and Number: ENGL 101.17 Course Title: Composition I
Credit Hours: 3
Lecture Hours: 3
Laboratory Hours: 0
Days and times the course meets: Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:30-10:45am, ICN 1002
Catalog Description:
Prerequisite: ENGL 095 with a grade of C or better or satisfactory score on English placement
exam. Placement in ENGL 101 presupposes competence in English grammar, mechanics,
punctuation, and spelling. ENGL 101 is an introduction to college-level writing, with training in
the skills needed at each phase of the writing process, including generating ideas about a topic,
determining a purpose, forming a controlling idea, analyzing the needs of your audience,
organizing and planning your writing, and composing effective sentences, paragraphs, and
essays. ENGL 101 is intended to prepare students to write effectively for a variety of audiences
and purposes. A final portfolio that includes research papers is required. This portfolio
constitutes the majority of the grade for this course.
Instructor Information:
Instructor name: Jeremy Scott
Phone: 268-8670—please use email whenever possible!
E-mail: jeremy.scott@heartland.edu
Office: ICB 2421
Office hours: Monday 11am-1pm; Tuesday and Wednesday 11am-12:30pm (I will be in
my office at these time if you need to talk with me, but I will be check Blackboard and
email often Monday-Friday)
Textbook: No official Text. The instructor will choose some readings, the students will choose
others. English 101 Course Guide: Provided on Blackboard
Highly Recommended, Not Required:
USB drive (aka Thumb drive, jump drive), MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, plus
any handbook that will help you with citation styles, grammar, etc.
Relationship to Academic Development Programs and Transfer:
ENGL 101 fulfills 3 of the 9 semester hours of credit in Communication required for the A.A. or
A.S. degree. ENGL 101 should transfer to other Illinois colleges and universities as the
equivalent of the General Education Core Curriculum course C1 900R, described in the Illinois
Articulation Initiative. However, students should consult an academic advisor for transfer
information regarding particular institutions. Refer to the IAI web page for information as well at
www.itransfer.org.
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Course Objectives (Learning Outcomes):
Course Outcomes
General
Range of Assessment Methods
Education
Outcome
PS4
Process Assignments, which may include
but are not limited to, invention exercises
(e.g., listing, concept mapping, claim
CO5
structure outlining, etc.), topic proposals,
annotated bibliographies, drafting, peer
review, documentation practice, revision,
editing, in-class assignments (individual
DI1
and collaborative), class discussion of
writing or readings, attendance, and
quizzes.
Establish and maintain a voice that is
appropriate to the selected rhetorical context
Demonstrate theoretical and practical
understanding of the relationship between
audience and purpose, and produce texts that
address a variety of audiences effectively
Engage inquiry in evaluating differences in
perspectives and opinions—including critical
self-assessment of one’s own perspective and
its relationship to the perspectives of others
Develop an essay that demonstrates effectively
organized and presented reasoning and
supporting evidence
Interact effectively with multiple sources,
CT2
subordinating them to the writer’s purpose;
creating confidence that they have been
represented fairly; and documenting them in
MLA style
Develop an effective writing process that
CT3
includes successful strategies for inventing,
choosing, and narrowing a topic; exploring
and developing ideas through research and
critical reading; and employs global and local
revision and editing strategies
Final Portfolio
PS 4 (Problem Solving Outcome 4): “Student analyzes the situation, explores different outcomes
from multiple frameworks, applies the appropriate solution, analyzes the results, and refines the
solution.”
DI 1 (Diversity Outcome 3): Domain Level—Valuing; “Students reflect upon the formation of
their own perspectives, beliefs, opinions, attitudes, ideals, and values.”
CO 5 (Communications Outcome 5): “Students communicate ethically through monitoring their
behavior and interactions with others.”
CT 2 (Critical Thinking Outcome 2): “Students determine value of multiple sources or strategies
and select those most appropriate in a given context.”
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CT 3 (Critical Thinking Outcome 3): “Students generate an answer, approach, or solution
through an effective synthesis of diverse sources and arguments, and provide a rationale.”
Course/Lab Outline:

Introduction to the course and computers

Introduction to the writing process

Elements of the writing process: Planning and drafting strategies

Defining thesis and organizing

Defining purpose and audience

Shaping paragraphs

Effective introductions and conclusions

Revision strategies

Writing for a work environment

Writing for a college setting.

Research for a college environment
Course Policies:
All students have been provided a Heartland Community College email. You should access
my.heartland.edu and set up your account. This is the same system use to access IRIS and Blackboard.
Please use email for personal correspondence, and post any course related questions to the appropriate
discussion board in Blackboard. My use of email is not limitless; you need to allow an appropriate
length of time for me to answer email...i.e. don’t email and expect a response in less than 5 minutes.
You can reach me most of the time from 8am-5pm , Monday through Friday and even sometimes
outside those parameters, and on some occasions I will get back to you in 5 minutes…but make it a
practice to email/post any questions ahead of any assigned due dates, and I’ll promise a 24-hr
response time. You also have access to Backpack, an online storage space. You can access this from
any computer with internet. As such, I will not accept “electronic” excuses for missing work.
Method of Evaluation (Tests/Exams, Grading System):
Assignments
Online Education Readiness Assessment
Weekly Participation Journals
Discussion boards
Reading assignments (post)
Topic proposals*
Rough Drafts*
Advisory Drafts*
Self-Analyses*
Peer Reviews*
1,000 Portfolio Draft*
1,500 word Portfolio Draft*
Final Portfolio self-analysis*
Total
points
each
10
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
15
100
150
100

Total
10
160
120
120
40
40
40
40
90
100
150
100
1000
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Part of Final Portfolio* (60% of grade)
Student assessment will be based on the following:
Portfolio of revised writings: 60%
The final portfolio will include production of documented, multi-source writing in one or two
papers for a combined total of no fewer than 10 revised pages (2500 words). The final research
papers that make up the final portfolio must receive a grade of “D” or higher in order for the
student to pass the course with a grade of “C” or higher.
Process Assignments: 40%
Process assignments may include but are not limited to invention exercises (e.g., listing, concept
mapping, claim structure outlining, etc.), topic proposals, annotated bibliographies, drafting, peer
review, documentation practice, revision, editing, in-class assignments (individual and
collaborative), class discussion of writing or readings, attendance related participation, and
quizzes.
Final grades will be determined according to the following scale:
92 to 100% = A
83 to 91% = B
74 to 82% = C
65 to 73% = D
Below 65% = F
Grading Policies:
Attendance: Since there is no meeting place, attendance will be considered how “active” you
are on Blackboard. You should log into the class at least twice a week (probably at least once
every day during the first week of class) and participate in all of the discussion boards. If you do
not log on frequently and if you fail to attempt most of assigned work, I must withdraw you from
the course at mid-term as the policy below outlines. Students withdrawn at midterm for failure
to progress in the course will not be reinstated.
MIDTERM WITHDRAWAL POLICY:
HCC Withdrawal Policy
Due to the distribution of Financial Aid to students, and apportionment of state funds to the college, the Illinois
Community College Board (ICCB) requires that all schools report student attendance at midterm. According to
ICCB, “A student is ‘in attendance at midterm’ in a course” only “if the student is currently enrolled in and actively
pursuing completion of the course.”
Heartland Community College’s policies regarding attendance are meant to encourage academic success. Students
are therefore responsible to their instructors in matters regarding attendance as it is expected that students regularly
attend class and complete course work in order to “actively pursue completion of the course.”
As such, instructors are required to certify attendance rosters at midterm, when instructors will withdraw students
who are no longer actively pursuing course completion as defined in their student syllabus.
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While instructors have the flexibility to use their own criteria for a midterm withdrawal policy, it must minimally
meet the standards defined below:
Students will be withdrawn at midterm if they meet any of the following conditions:
8-week &
Hybrid
Hybrid &
16-week
12-week
4-week
Course
Online Courses
Course
Course
Course
Has completed less than
60% of
assignments/activities
•
•
•
Has unexcused absences
totaling more than 30%
of the course contact
hours1
(7 hours)
(7hrs)
(7hrs)
(4hrs)
Has consecutive
unexcused absences
totaling more than the
equivalent of 1/4 the
number of weeks in
semester at midterm
(2 weeks)
(1.5 wks)
(1 wk)
(2 days)


Has not signed
into the course
for more than
the equivalent of
1/4 the number
of weeks in
semester by
midterm
Policy for this class:
Students are expected to attend all classes and meaningfully participate each day. Any student
who does not make reasonable attempts to successfully complete all course activities (exams,
homework, quizzes, etc.), may be withdrawn from the course at midterm.
However, if any of the following situations apply, the student will be automatically withdrawn
by the end of week 8:
 was absent for any 2 consecutive weeks without appropriate documentation
 has more than 5 unexcused absences
 Did not complete at least 60% of assignments
Class Participation: My classrooms are not places where some students participate while others
do not. All Students will participate in small and large group discussions that occur during the
course of the semester. Logging into Blackboard and participating in class activities and
discussion is an easy way to boost a student’s grade. I have no due dates on the weekends, as I
may go two days without checking in electronically then as well, so if you plan to do a lot of
work at that time, please preview the assignments and post/email questions before Friday 5pm.
Incompletes: I will only assign a grade of “Incomplete” if the circumstances are dire and then
only after consultation between the individual student, Division Chair Bethany Kreigsman, and
myself.
The official college policy, from the college catalog is as follows: An incomplete grade may be
given to a student who, by the withdrawal date, can reasonably be expected to pass the course.
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Incompletes may be granted only when justified by extreme circumstances (e.g., serious illness,
accident, death or serious illness in the immediate family). Incomplete grades are not given for
such reasons as unjustified failure to appear for the final examination. A written agreement,
outline the requirements to be met, must be signed by the instructor and the student. The agreed
upon requirements must be completed no later than the end of the following semester (spring
semester for incompletes granted during the fall, and the following fall for incompletes given
during the spring and summer semesters). By the agreed upon date, the instructor will assign a
grade or the incomplete will be changed to an ‘F’ if the requirements are not completed
Make-up of assignments/Deadlines: I have structured paper deadlines around the time it takes
me to read and respond to student texts. Therefore, late papers will be marked as “late” and read
when I have time. Late papers go to the very bottom of my reading/work pile. Late papers will
not receive the same level of commentary as those submitted on given deadlines. Since your final
portfolio requires drafts that have my written responses, submitting late papers means you run
the risk of running out of time for required revision. In addition, I will only accept and penalize
late papers, because you cannot pass the course without drafts of these papers. Quizzes and daily
assignments must be turned in on-time (or before if you must miss)—no make ups.
Required Writing and Reading:
Students will write 2-4 major papers, including a research paper of at least 6 pages in length and
with the inclusion of at least 4 sources. From these assignments, a final portfolio with a
minimum of 10 pages is required. This final portfolio paper (or papers) constitutes the majority
of the grade for this course.
Readings from the textbook and other sources are assigned.
Specifications for written materials: Everything for the course must be processed on
Microsoft Word and submitted via your Heartland email account and/or on Blackboard. It is your
responsibility to keep at least one electronic backup.
Syllabi disclaimer: The instructor reserves the right to change the syllabus, at any time, to better
serve the course objectives—another reason to not miss class!
Course Calendar: see next page
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Week
#
Week
1
Week
2
Week
3
Week
4
Week
5
Week
6
Week
7
Week
8
Week
9
Week
10
Week
11
Week
12
Week
13
Week
14
Week
15
Week
16
Calendar tentative at this point…we’ll discuss things we might change together.
Readiness Assessment /Read Syllabus/Self Intros/ NY Times
Article/Respond to Classmates Posts
Reason Article/ Rhetoric/MLA/Respond to Classmates Posts
PJ#1
Rhetoric/MLA/Topic Prop. Due/Respond to Classmates Posts
PJ#3
TP PR due/Gabrenya reading/Rhetoric/MLA/Respond to Classmates
Posts
Rhetoric/MLA/RD due/Respond to Classmates Posts
PJ#4
RD PR due/Rhetoric/MLA/Respond to Classmates Posts
PJ#6
Rhetoric/MLA/AD due/SA Essay Due
PJ#7
AD PR due/Midterm conferences
PJ#8
Rhetoric/MLA/Respond to Posts/TP2 due
PJ#9
TP2 PR/Rhetoric/MLA/Respond to Classmates Posts
PJ#10
RD2 due/Rhetoric/MLA/Respond to Classmates Posts
PJ#11
RD2 PR/Rhetoric/MLA/Respond to Classmates Posts
PJ#12
AD due/SA2 due/Rhetoric/MLA/Respond to Classmates Posts
PJ#13
AD2 PR/Rhetoric/MLA/Respond to Classmates Posts
PJ#14
Work on Portfolio
PJ#15
Portfolio Due
PJ#16
PJ#2
PJ#5
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Important Dates for Fall 2014
Apr 1....................Enrollment Begins
Aug 5...................Tuition Due for Fall 2014 Courses
Aug 18.................Classes Begin for 16-Week and 1st 8-Week Sessions
Aug 22.................Final Day to Drop with Refund for 1st8-Week Session
Aug 29.................Final Day to Drop with Refund for 16-Week Session
Sep 1...................Labor Day (College Closed)
Sep 8...................Classes Begin for 12-Week Session
Sep 16.................Last Day to Drop with Refund for 12-Week Session
Sep 19.................Midterm Grades Due by Midnight for 1 st 8-Week Session
............................Students can start viewing midterm grades online once submitted by Instructors
Sep 26.................Final Day to Withdraw for 1st 8-Week Session
Oct 10.................Classes End for 1st 8-Week Session
............................Final Exams for 1st 8-Week Session are scheduled on Last Day of Class
Oct 13 ................Classes Begin for 2nd 8-Week Session
............................Final Grades Due By Midnight for 1st 8-Week Session
............................Students can start viewing midterm grades online once submitted by Instructors
Oct 16.................Midterm Grades Due by Midnight for 16-Week Session
............................Students can start viewing midterm grades online once submitted by Instructors
Oct 17.................Final Day to Drop with Refund for 2nd 8-Week Session
Oct 27.................Midterm Grades Due by Midnight for 12-Week Session
............................Students can start viewing midterm grades online once submitted by Instructors
Nov 5...................Final Day to Withdraw for 16-Week Session
Nov 10.................Final Day to Withdraw for 12-Week Session
Nov 12.................Midterm Grades Due by Midnight for 2nd 8-Week Session
............................Students can start viewing midterm grades online once submitted by Instructors
Nov 18.................Final Day to Withdraw for 2nd 8-Week Session
Nov 26.................Thanksgiving Break Begins (No Classes, College Open)
Nov 27-28...........Thanksgiving Break (College Closed)
Dec 5...................Classes End for 16-Week, 12-Week and 2nd 8-Week Sessions
Dec 8-12.............Final Exam Week for 16-Week, 12-Week and 2nd 8-Week Sessions
Dec 15.................Final Grades Due by Midnight for 16-Week, 12-Week and 2nd 8-Week Sessions
............................ Students can start viewing final grades online once submitted by Instructor