ENC 1102
Welcome!
This course is designed to accommodate the Douglas Anderson senior who takes
this elective in order to fulfill the Twelfth Grade Language Arts graduation
requirement and who also desires to earn college credit for ENC 1102/Writing about
Non-Fiction. This Douglas Anderson course is a college course designed to meet the
requirements established by Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ). Students
should be aware of the rigor, intensity, and scope required of this course. The
students will be required to complete a college research paper using legitimate
sources and MLA documentation. This course will further develop students' abilities
as skilled readers of prose written in a variety of periods, disciplines, and rhetorical
contexts and as skilled analysts and writers who can compose in a variety of modes
and for a variety of purposes. The writing content will focus upon both brief and
lengthy narrative, exposition, analytical, argumentative, and synthesis essays.
Readings will include works written by famous authors of fiction, autobiographers,
biographers, diarists, critics, essayists, journalists, and writers of history, politics,
science, and nature. Because of the level of difficulty, the grade for this course is
weighted. Students are required to take mid-term and final exams designed by
FSCJ.
Teacher Jon Nerf
Course Number and Title
Teacher Information
Teacher:
Office Hours:
Office Location:
Office Phone:
Email:
Jon Nerf
M-F 7:15-8:15 AM, by appointment only
Room 112
904-346-5620, ext. 160
nerfj@duvalschools.org
Conference Periods

4th period on A and B days
Help Day Sessions/Tutoring
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Generally speaking, it will be more convenient for tutoring and make-up work sessions to be conducted prior to the start
of the school day. I will be available from 7:15-8:15 AM by appointment only. Students must register on my
appointment calendar prior to the tutoring/makeup day. I am willing to schedule after school sessions with students
who have transportation home from the session. I am not able to stay at school with any student and wait for his or her
transportation to arrive. Students must talk to me in person to see if I am available for an after-school help session. Do
not count on my availability in the PM. I will rarely be available.
Telephone Accessibility
You may leave me a voicemail message at 346-5620, ext. 160. I will return your call within 24 hours.
Internet Accessibility
Find helpful information on my class website: http://teacherweb.com/FL/DouglasAndersonSchooloftheArts/JonNerf .
You may email me directly at nerfj@duvalschools.org. I will return your email within 24 hours, usually on the same day I
receive it.
Dual Enrollment Coordinator Information
Coordinator:
Office Hours:
Location:
Phone:
E-mail:
Kym D. Johnson
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
South Campus, Building N, Room 121
(904) 646.2304
kym.d.johnson@fscj.edu
Campus Information
This course is offered by the Florida State College at Jacksonville. For technical assistance, please
contact the Online Support Center (904-632-3151).
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Course Number and Title
Course Description
The following course description comes from the FSCJ required course outline:
This course focuses on studying nonfiction writing in its many forms. The student will develop a proficiency
in evaluating texts and writing analytically about these texts. The course provides a solid introduction to
research writing as well as college-level writing skills. This course includes reading and writing competencies.
Course Information
Course Number/Title:
Number of Credit Hours:
Course prerequisites:
Course textbook(s) :
ENC 110s/Writing about Non-Fiction
3
ENC 1101 with a grade "C" or better
TBD; I will order the textbook(s) as soon as I possible
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the course, the student will be proficient in the following areas:
I. Nonfiction Prose Genres
A. Essays/Articles
1. Audience
2. Purpose
3. Point of view
4. Structure
5. Development
6. Logic
a. Methods of reasoning
(1) Inductive
(2) Deductive
b. Fallacies
c. Semantics
7. Sources/Support
8. Tone
9. Style
B. Diaries/Journals
1. Audience
2. Purpose
3. Point of view
4. Structure
5. Personal Response
6. Social/Historical Context
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Course Number and Title
C. Autobiography/Biography
1. Audience
2. Purpose
3. Point of view
4. Structure
5. Content
6. Objectivity/Subjectivity
7. Primary/Secondary Sources
8. Social/Historical Context
D. Nonfiction Narrative
1. Types
2. Audience
3. Purpose
4. Point of view
5. Structure
6. Development
7. Primary/Secondary Sources
II. Paraphrase/Summary
A. Paraphrase
1. Definition
2. Documentation
B. Summary
1. Definition
2. Types
a. Precise
b. Abstract
c. Annotated Bibliography
3. Documentation
III. Research Process
A. Using a Research Library and the Internet
1. Using Indices including computer databases
2. Locating books, magazines, newspapers, reference texts, pamphlets, and A-V materials
3. Accessing computer reference tools
4. Evaluating web sites and sources
B. Recognizing types of sources
1. Primary sources
2. Secondary sources
C. Taking Notes
1. Types
2. Format
3. Organization
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Course Number and Title
D. Using correct documentation: MLA style
1. In-text Citations
2. Works Cited
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Course Number and Title
Important Dates
Class Begins
January 21, 2014
Drop without Penalty
TBA *not yet available from FSCJ
Withdraw with “W” Deadline
T BA *not yet available from FSCJ
Class Ends
June 6, 2014
These dates are critical for this course.
Your Course Participation
Required Materials
You are solely responsible for being prepared for class (paper, pen, book, etc.). You may not disrupt class by
asking a peer or your teacher for supplies. Students will need the following: a collegiate dictionary and a thesaurus (at
home), regular access to a word processor, a printer, and the internet, dark black or blue ink pens for all written
assignments, reams of paper, a sturdy 3-ring binder with dividers in which to keep class materials, good time management
skills, and the assigned literary work which must be brought to class every day. Because we live in an era in which access
to the internet is no longer a luxury, each student should be able to access my classroom website in order to obtain
handouts, assignments, deadlines, notices, and other information pertinent to his or her success in this course. Any student
who does not have access to the internet at home must consider one or more of the following options:

Use the computers in the school library before school, after school, or during lunch time;

Call a friend who has internet access and get the required information from him or her;

Bring your own printer paper to my class before the 1st period warning bell and print the handout material.
NOTE: You MAY NOT print any required handouts in my classroom immediately prior to or during our scheduled class time
Work Load
This is a college course which affords students the opportunity to earn credit for ENC 1102/Writing about NonFiction. Students should be aware of the rigor, intensity, and scope required of this course. The students will be required to
complete a college research paper using legitimate sources and MLA documentation. This course will further develop
students' abilities as skilled readers of prose written in a variety of periods, disciplines, and rhetorical contexts and as skilled
analysts and writers who can compose in a variety of modes and for a variety of purposes. The writing content will focus
upon both brief and lengthy narrative, exposition, analytical, argumentative, and synthesis essays. Readings will include
works written by famous authors of fiction, autobiographers, biographers, diarists, critics, essayists, journalists, and writers of
history, politics, science, and nature. Because of the level of difficulty, the grade for this course is weighted. Students are
required to take mid-term and final exams designed by FSCJ. Students who enter the course with deficiencies in reading
and/or writing will experience difficulties. Each student who does not read at or above grade level will find some of the
reading assignments difficult. Students who experience difficulty passing the tests, essays, and other assignments should
take every opportunity to complete revisions and other makeup assignments and to attend tutoring sessions offered by the
teacher during RED days and before school.
Student Expectations, Progress toward Standards, and Safety Nets
In this course, a student’s quarterly grade will be determined primarily by his or her success in the following types of
assignments: essays (first drafts are worth 300 points each; revisions replace first draft grades AND are worth 300 points), tests
(100 points each), research paper assignments (100 points each for quarters 1-3; ½ of 4th quarter grade), class work and
homework (50 points each), and projects/seminars (50 or 100 points). During the 4th quarter, the research paper will be due
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Course Number and Title
and will count approximately ½ of the total 4th quarter grade. Class work/ homework assignments are designed to help
students learn the skills and concepts required to master the course objectives. Such assignments, by their design, will be
graded more leniently. Students will receive full credit (50 points) for following teacher’s directions and attempting all
requirements to the best of their abilities. Students may receive ½ credit (25 points) or no credit (0 points) if I determine that
the student did not make a legitimate attempt to complete the assignment and/or follow my instructions. Quarterly grades
will be determined by the percentage of points earned.
The quarter grades are determined based upon DCPS grading guidelines: A=90-100%; B=80-89%; C=70-79%; D=6069%; F=0-59%. I do not automatically round up a grade that is within .5 or higher of the next higher letter grade. Instead, I
determine if the student has completed all assigned work AND submitted all essay revision opportunities. If the student has
done so, I will round up a quarter average that is within .5 points or higher of the next grade.
Safety nets designed for this course include, but are not excluded to, the revising of essays (the revision process
includes class sessions of peer evaluations, self evaluations, modeling, and teacher commentary), the repeated practice of
necessary AP skills through in-class and homework assignments, “completion grades” that allow the student to earn
relatively “easy grades” while learning how to acquire and use the rhetorical skills required of this course, dropping of low
test/essay grades (the number of which will be determined by me each quarter).
Students who have a D or F average in my course are expected to attend RED sessions to receive extra help.
Formal Typed Assignments
MLA Writing Style
Writing assignments, where applicable, must adhere to MLA style guidelines. MLA writing resources will be
provided. This first semester course will provide a foundation upon which the student will produce a college
research paper in the second semester.
Note: Please refrain from using websites that claim to format your paper without reviewing the official MLA style
guide. Never use Wikipedia or similar sources as a reference in your assignments and papers.
Composition Format
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

Some homework assignments, formal research assignments, and essay revisions must be typed. They must be doublespaced with standard 1” margins and have a 12-point Times New Roman font. At the top left of the first page, use the
MLA format for headings: on four separate lines in the upper left-hand corner of the first page, list your name, your
instructor's name, the course and period, and the date. All successive pages must have your last name and page
number at the top right.
Two valuable bits of advice: keep a copy of each assignment and always have a rough draft of some type. Many tears
have been shed over computers that have crashed, wiping out days worth of work. Prepare for potential problems.
All in-class essays, including timed writings, must be legibly written on one side of the page in dark black or blue ink with
the appropriate MLA heading at top left of the front page. If I can’t read your writing, I can’t properly evaluate it. You
may be asked to take the assignment home and type it for me. If so, your grade will be reduced by 10% because I
could not read it when it was originally submitted
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Course Number and Title
Calendar of Activities
The Calendar of Activities is a summary of the weekly lessons and course activities.
Special Note: The instructor reserves the right to modify this syllabus. You will be notified of any
changes.
Week
Topic(s) and Reading
Assignments and Activities
Due
Dates
Paraphrase/Summary
Direct Quotation
Week 1
1/21-1/27 MLA Documentation
Test
TBA
Week 2
TBD
TBA
Test
TBA
TBD
TBA
In-class Timed Essay
TBA
First draft of Research Paper
TBA
TBD
TBA
TBD
TBA
In-class Timed Essay
TBA
TBD
TBA
1/28-2/3
Week 3
2/4-2/10
Week 4
2/11-2/18
Week 5
2/19-2/25
Week 6
2/26-3/4
Week 7
3/5-3/11
Week 8
3/12-3/25
Week 9
3/26-4/1
Week 10
4-/2-4/9
Research Process
Research Process
Essays/Articles
Essays/Articles
Essays/Articles
Diaries/Journals
Diaries/Journals
Diaries/Journals
Autobiography/Biography
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Course Number and Title
Week
Week 11
Topic(s) and Reading
Assignments and Activities
Due
Dates
Final Draft Research Paper
TBA
In-class Timed Essay
TBA
TBD
TBA
TBD
TBA
In-class Timed Essay
TBA
Week 16
TBA *Special Senior
5/16-5/22 Schedule
TBD
TBA
Week 17
TBA *Special Senior
5/23-5/30 Schedule
TBD
TBA
Week 18
TBD
TBA
4/10-4/16
Week 12
4/17-4/24
Week 13
4/25-5/1
Week 14
5/2-5/8
Week 15
5/9-5/15
6/2-6/6
Autobiography/Biography
Autobiography/Biography
Nonfiction Narrative
Nonfiction Narrative
Nonfiction Narrative
TBA *Special Senior
Schedule
Course Grade
Your final letter grade will be determined by totaling the points earned on all graded coursework.
In this course, a student’s grade will be determined primarily by his or her success in the following
types of assignments: essays (first drafts are worth 100 points each; revisions replace first draft grades
AND are worth 300 points), tests (100 points each), research paper assignments (100 points each for
quarters 1-3; ½ of 4th quarter grade), class work and homework (50 points each), and
projects/seminars (50 or 100 points). During the 4th quarter (when the student will be enrolled in
ENC1102/Writing about Non-Fiction), the research paper will be due and will count approximately ½
of the total 4th quarter grade. Class work/ homework assignments are designed to help students
learn the skills and concepts required to master the course objectives. Such assignments, by their
design, will be graded more leniently. Students will receive full credit (50 points) for following
teacher’s directions and attempting all requirements to the best of their abilities. Students may
receive ½ credit (25 points) or no credit (0 points) if I determine that the student did not make a
legitimate attempt to complete the assignment and/or follow my instructions.
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Course Number and Title
FN Grade – Failure for Non-Attendance
A Failure for Non-Attendance (FN) grade may be assigned any time after the final withdrawal date.
Please refer to the College catalog for additional information.
Repeating the Course
You may repeat a course in an attempt to improve a grade of “D,” “F,” or “FN” previously earned as
long as your cumulative college GPA doesn’t fall below 2.0 and your high school GPA doesn’t fall
below 3.0. However, you are limited in your attempts to courses where a “D,” “F,” or “FN” grade was
earned. You have only two attempts in any course, including the original grade, repeat grades, and
withdrawals.
When you repeat a course at Florida State College, only the last grade earned is calculated in your
cumulative grade point average (GPA). If you have an excessive number of “W” or “FN” grades and
repeat courses to improve your GPA, you may jeopardize your admission to programs in the Florida
State University System (SUS) or other institutions.
Course Guidelines/Policies
Student Integrity and Decorum
All students are here to learn and make adequate progress toward meeting the course standards. Therefore,
students are expected to be active participants in the learning process and uphold the academic integrity policy. Students
are also expected to maintain an acceptable level of behavior. Since disruptive behavior is a disservice to the learning
process, those students engaging in such behavior will be dealt with according to teacher, school, and county policies.
While there will be ample opportunities for students to collaborate on some assignments, each student must be aware that
he or she is required to submit original work free from plagiarism. No electronic devices may be used during the
completion of any test or other graded assignment. More and more, electronic devices can be used for cheating.
Appropriate action will be taken if electronic devices are used; such action may include assigning a grade of zero, giving
the device to the dean, and/or writing a referral. I will require students to submit some essays and parts of the research
paper via the Turnitin web-based plagiarism detection application. Students who seem to have plagiarized their work will
have a chance to defend and explain their work to me. If I determine that any part of an assignment was plagiarized, I will
follow DCPS guidelines with regards to disciplinary actions.
Miscellaneous Class Policies and Procedures






Punctuality is essential. Late work is unacceptable; absences can be detrimental.
Some assigned work must be typed. See the composition format instructions below. If a student experiences
unavoidable technical glitches, a handwritten homework assignment will be accepted if accompanied by a note of
explanation from a parent/guardian. Essay revisions and formal research paper assignments may never be
handwritten.
Under no circumstance will I accept work written in pencil. Such work will receive a grade of zero and may not be
resubmitted at a later date.
You are solely responsible for being prepared for class (paper, pen, and book). You may not disrupt class by asking a
peer or your teacher for supplies.
Late assignments will receive a failing grade: 50% per day late. The late penalty begins immediately upon the day and
period it is not submitted. Each day of school is counted toward the penalty; therefore, a student who waits until the
next meeting date of class has already accrued a 100% penalty since it will have been two school days since the
original due date of the assignment. A student who is legitimately absent on the due date of an assignment is not
penalized. He or she must submit the assignment upon the return to my class with an acceptable note of explanation
written at the top of the page. At the top of all make-up work (tests included), the student must write a note informing
the teacher why the work is being submitted on a date later than the assignment was originally due. Failure to provide
the note will result in a 5-point grade penalty.
Long-term research paper assignments must be submitted on or before their original due dates. Even “legitimate”
absences can affect their scores. Because the assignments are long-term ones, your careful planning is required to
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Course Number and Title





avoid last-minute panics of anxiety if/when something goes wrong. Don’t come to me after the fact with a sob story. I
am warning you now that your research paper assignments must be submitted on time.
THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS IN THIS CLASS. All reading and writing assignments should be completed in order to gain the
skills necessary to pass the AP exam in May.
Due to the availability of my class website, all assignments and tests missed due to absences will be posted. Students
are required to access the site to get any missed work. Submit the assigned work upon your immediate return to class.
If computer troubles prevent you from getting the information from my website, you must call a classmate to get the
information. All absences require you to return to class with the necessary assignments ready to be submitted. I strongly
suggest that you take home all notebooks and texts related to this class because you may need them in case of an
unexpected absence. If I fail to post the necessary information on my website, you will be allowed to acquire the
assignment instructions upon your return and submit the work to me for full credit during the next class period.
If a student misses school for an extended period of time due to illness, I will work with him/her in order to alleviate the
burden brought on by the extenuating circumstances. A parent/teacher conference, in person or by telephone, must
be initiated as soon as possible. I can be reached at nerfj@duvalschools.org, or you can call the Guidance
Department and make an appointment to meet with me.
Unless you provide a doctor’s note, I restrict access to the hall pass for emergencies only. The student may not use the
pass to retrieve items from a locker. Any student who is out of the room for an inordinate amount of time may receive a
referral for skipping class.
Cliffs Notes and other analytical aides are no substitute for reading the literature. Do not bring them to class. I will
confiscate such materials.
Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty, in any form, is expressly prohibited by the rules of the
District Board of Trustees of Florida State College at Jacksonville.
As used herein, academic dishonesty incorporates the following.



Cheating, which is defined as the giving or taking of any information or
material with the intent of wrongfully aiding one’s self or another in academic
work considered in the determination of course grade or the outcome of a
standardized test.
Plagiarism, which is defined as the act of stealing or passing off as one’s own
work the words, ideas or conclusions of another as if the work submitted were
the product of one’s own thinking rather than an idea or product derived from
another source.
Any other form of inappropriate behavior which may include but is not limited
to: falsifying records or data, lying, unauthorized copying, tampering, abusing
or otherwise unethically using computer or other stored information, and any
other act or misconduct which may reasonably be deemed to be a part of
this heading.
Any student alleged to have committed any act of academic dishonesty as defined herein shall be
entitled to due process as defined in District Board of Trustees’ Rule 6Hx7–2.18 prior to the administration of
disciplinary action including suspension and dismissal.
Attendance Policy
All class work and homework assignments must be made up in a timely manner in accordance with DCPS policy in
the event of a student’s absence from class. Late work is penalized 50% per day (weekends and holidays not included).
Any absences from class caused by arts-related requirements are excused per school policy; however, the student must
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Course Number and Title
make plans with me prior to the absence with regard to any assignments that are due. Per DCPS, the attendance policy
states the following: Students have the same number of days they missed to make up the work. IN THE CASE OF A MISSED TEST OR ESSAY
DUE TO ABSENCE, the student must be prepared to make up the missed assignment on the day he or she returns to class.
Under special circumstances, I may schedule the makeup at a time convenient for teacher and student. Failure to
complete the makeup test or essay in a timely manner will result in the student receiving a grade of zero for the assignment.
Safety nets designed for this course include, but are not excluded to, the revising of essays (the revision process
includes class sessions of peer evaluations, self evaluations, modeling, and teacher commentary), the repeated practice of
necessary AP skills through in-class and homework assignments, “completion grades” that allow the student to earn
relatively “easy grades” while learning how to acquire and use the rhetorical skills required of this course, dropping of low
test grades (the number of which will be determined by me each quarter).
Electronic Device Policy
Mobile phones and other electronic devices may never be used by students during tests or when
writing in-class essays. On occasion, I may allow students to access the Internet via personal
electronic devices if a class assignment requires such access.
Late/Make Up Work
All class work and homework assignments must be made up in a timely manner in accordance with DCPS policy in the
event of a student’s absence from class. Late work is penalized 50% per day (weekends and holidays not included;
research paper assignments will be charged penalties for EVERY day late). Any absences from class caused by arts-related
requirements are excused per school policy; however, the student must make plans with me prior to the absence with
regard to any assignments that are due.
College Resources
Florida State College at Jacksonville offers many resources to help you become successful in your
course and academic career. A brief description of some of these resources follows.
Services for Students with Disabilities
Academic adjustments are available to students who identify themselves as having a disability and
as being otherwise qualified for admission to the College. Each student is responsible for providing
documentation of his or her disability and requesting appropriate accommodations. The intent of
academic accommodations is to provide students with disabilities similar opportunities for success
and for mastery of academic skills. Each student’s case is assessed individually based on
documented evidence from appropriate medical and clinical professionals regarding the student’s
disability and a comprehensive interview with the student and the Disabilities Services Manager or
Director.
Please visit our Services for Students with Disabilities website for additional information at
http://www.fscj.edu/mydegree/disabilities-services/accommodations.php
Library and Learning Commons
The Library/Learning Commons (LLC) is an instructional area of the College designed to offer a
variety of teaching, learning and research resources to students enrolled in courses at Florida State
College at Jacksonville. LLC services include individual and small group tutoring; traditional and
virtual library services and materials; subject-specific instruction including orientations; free workshops;
study areas; and access to tutorials, computers, and multimedia technology. Please visit our Library
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Course Number and Title
and Learning Commons website for additional information at http://www.fscj.edu/mydegree/librarylearning-commons/index.php.
Online Support Center/Technical Helpdesk
If you have any problems with email or Connections, call the Florida State College at Jacksonville
Helpdesk at (904)632-3151.
Please remember that answers to questions about your course materials, tests, quizzes, or assignments
can only be provided by your instructor.
Student Rights and Responsibilities
Florida State College at Jacksonville is dedicated to maintaining an environment which fosters
student success. The College endeavors to protect the rights of students and also expects all students
to act responsibly.
Attendance at the College is a privilege, and in order to maintain the College ideals of scholarship,
character, and personality, the right is reserved by the College to establish rules and regulations to
foster these ideals and protect the interest of the College. Each student is subject to federal and
state laws, respective county and municipal ordinances, and all rules and regulations of the College.
Please visit our Student Rights and Responsibilities website for additional information at
http://floridastatecollegecatalog.fscj.edu/content.php?catoid=25&navoid=3187.
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Course Number and Title
ENC 1102/WRITING ABOUT NON-FICTION
PARENTAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM
This course is designed to accommodate the exceptional student of Language Arts who may elect this course to fulfill the Twelfth Grade
Language Arts graduation requirement. This is a college course. Students should be aware of the rigor, intensity, and scope required of this
course. The students will be required to complete summer reading assignments and a research project designated by the instructor. This
course will further develop students' abilities as skilled readers of prose written in a variety of periods, disciplines, and rhetorical contexts and
as skilled analysts and writers who can compose in a variety of modes and for a variety of purposes. The writing content will focus upon
both brief and lengthy synthesis, analytical, and argumentative essays. Readings will include works written by famous authors of fiction,
autobiographers, biographers, diarists, critics, essayists, journalists, and writers of history, politics, science, and nature. Because of the level of
difficulty, the grade for this course is weighted. Students are required to take the AP course exam in May. This class requires students to
complete an MLA-formatted research paper of college-level quality.
You and your child should read the syllabus for this course together and discuss the policies therein. If you have any questions about my
policies, please call guidance to set up a Parent-Teacher conference. We can meet face-to-face or via telephone. You may forego the
guidance office and email me directly at nerfj@duvalschools.org.
Furthermore, I require your acknowledgement of the information provided in this course syllabus. Please complete the form below.
I, __________________________________________________ , the parent/guardian of __________________________________________________ ,
Print parent’s/guardian’s name
Print student’s name
acknowledge that we have read and that we understand the information, policies, and procedures delineated in the course syllabus. We
do understand that this is a college course and that the student will be earning a grade that will be entered officially on his or her college
transcripts. We also understand the importance of the heeding the DROP AND WITHDRAWAL dates, if the need arises.
________________________________________
Parent’s/Guardian’s Signature
________________________________________
Student’s Signature
_______________________
Date
_______________________
Class Period
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