ENC 1101 (25040) -VCC West campus
Spring 2015 term
instructor: Dr. Neal Phillips
Classroom: 4-103
FRESHMAN Composition I
Course meeting times: Mondays 5:30pm – 8:15pm
WITHDRAWAL Deadline: Friday, March 27, 2015
CREDIT HOURS: 3
FINAL EXAM DATE: Monday, April 27, 7:45pm – 10:15pm
Course Description:
Development of essay form, including documented essay; instruction and practice in expository writing. Emphasis
on clarity of central and support ideas, adequate development, logical organization, coherence, appropriate citing
of primary and/or secondary sources, and grammatical and mechanical accuracy. Gordon Rule course in which the
student is required to demonstrate college-level writing skills through multiple assignments. Minimum grade of C
required in ENC 1101 is used to satisfy the Gordon Rule and general education requirements. This course includes
a learning activity designed to ensure competence in the basic use of computers
Description of assigned computer-based learning activity: On all formal papers
students must use Microsoft Word or a similar computer-based software to show
computer competency and usage; this is also required so that students may save
their work to simplify changes and reproduction.
Description of method of assessment: Papers will not be accepted in any other
format other than Microsoft Word format. Papers will be critiqued according to
MLA style and appropriate writing style for the respective assignment.
Description of impact on percentage of the final course grade: Formal essays
make-up a large portion of the course grade; failure to submit them in the proper
computer-based format could result in failure of the course.
It is a course expectation that all students participate in Blackboard discussions. Failure to do so could impact your
course grade. For each discussion thread, provide feedback on all the topics the advisor posts and give positive
feedback to at least two of your classmates’ postings on each topic.
How to Post to Blackboard:
Step 1: To access the Blackboard tutorial to learn how to create a discussion, view the video below (click
on You Tube link):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxjOU5sXmns
Step 2: In Blackboard platform for this course, click on the Discussions link to read and respond to posted
discussions
TEXT: 75 Readings plus, 10th edition
Buscemi & Smith
Supplemental materials: notebook paper, computer/laptop, pencils, pens, blank paper,
notebook paper, sticky notes, video camera, and a good attitude!
ULTIMATE COURSE GOAL: For you to develop the strengths and overcome the
weaknesses of your communication skills.
The course will challenge you in each of the four areas of Valencia’s Core
Competencies:
1) THINK critically: analyze, synthesize, integrate, and evaluate in many
domains of human inquiry (Students will accomplish this by regarding collegial writing,
taking ideas presented and implementing them accordingly in their own work, and
revising writing continually)
2) VALUE judgments: make them reasonable while making responsible
commitments (Students will accomplish this through their review of sources and
databases and via persuasive and compare/contrast writing)
3) ACT purposefully, reflectively, and responsibly in your personal,
professional, and community life (Students will accomplish this by completing
assignments in a timely manner, organizing research so as to accomplish it easily, and
create a literary devices presentation that both entertains and informs)
4) COMMUNICATE with different audiences using varied means by speaking,
listening, reading and writing (Students will accomplish this through many essay
mediums and through critiquing themselves and others)
ATTENDANCE POLICY
1. You may miss ONLY ONE CLASS. If you miss more
than 30 minutes of any other class after an
absence, YOU WILL BE WITHDRAWN.
2. There is NO make-up work with the exception of very
extreme circumstances as determined by the
professor.
3. If you are more than 30 minutes late for a class, you
will be marked ABSENT for that class session.
4. The instructor may withdraw you if you do not attend
the first day of class!
Link to Current Withdrawal Policy
http://catalog.valenciacollege.edu/academicpoliciesprocedures/courseattemptscoursewithdrawal/
Course Attempts/Course Withdrawal
Agencies and organizations which provide financial assistance/scholarships (federal and state government,
businesses, etc.) may have requirements relative to withdrawal, course repeats and grade forgiveness which are more
stringent than those described below. It is your responsibility to verify the effects of enrollment and/or withdrawal
upon your financial assistance (financial aid, scholarships, grants, etc.).
According to State Rule 6A-14.0301, you may attempt the same course only three times at Valencia including the
original grade, repeat grades and withdrawals at any point in the term. Students in Bachelor’s degree programs are
limited to two attempts. The same course usually means the subject prefix and course number are the same when
posted on a Valencia transcript. Courses that have been deemed equivalent will all count as attempts even if the
current course number is not the same as your previous attempt(s). Being enrolled in a course for credit beyond the
Drop/Refund Deadline counts as an attempt. The Drop/Refund Deadline for each term is listed in the Academic
Calendar in the online official catalog.
Notice to Students Seeking to Withdraw from a Course(s)
Before you withdraw from a course, you should be aware that course withdrawals:
 Will increase the cost of your education
 May affect your financial aid status
 May affect your transfer grade point average
 May result in your having to pay the full cost of instruction fee to retake the course
 May affect your anticipated graduation date
 May result in your being denied access to limited access programs
 May affect your eligibility for the Honors Program
 May affect your immigration status if you are attending Valencia on a nonimmigrant visa
 Will result in your required repayment of course fees paid by a Bright Futures scholarship.
To withdraw from a course(s) you must access registration on Atlas. The Withdrawal Deadlines for each term are
published in the Academic Calendar in the online official catalog. All requests for withdrawals must be submitted by
11:59 p.m. on the Withdrawal Deadline date.
Before you withdraw:
 Talk with your professor to discuss your progress in the course
 See a Student Services staff member to discuss how a withdrawal will affect your career and education
plans and/or the status of your financial aid
Conditions That Apply to a First or Second Attempt in a Course
On or Before the Withdrawal Deadline
During a first or second attempt in the same course at Valencia, if you withdraw, or are withdrawn by the professor,
you will receive a W (Withdrawn). You will not receive credit for the course, and the W will not be calculated in
your grade point average; however, the enrollment will count in your total attempts in the specific course.
Following withdrawal, you may, with the professor’s approval, continue to attend the course for the remainder of the
term.
After the Withdrawal Deadline
A student is not permitted to withdraw after the withdrawal deadline. A professor may withdraw you up to the
beginning of the final exam period for violation of the class attendance policy, as published in the faculty member's
syllabus, in which case you will receive a grade of “W”. If the professor does not withdraw you, your grade will be
what you had earned.
Academic Honesty: Under no circumstances is a student to use another person’s
work or ideas without giving credit to the source. This includes using a paper you
have written for another course! Doing so will result in a failure, not only on the
work, but possibly in the course as well. Refer to College Policy # 6Hx28:10-16.
Student Code of Conduct: - Certain conduct is expected of students. Please refer to
the College’s Policy of Student Code of Classroom Conduct Policy Number:
6Hx28:10-18.
Valencia College is interested in making sure all our students have a rewarding and successful college
experience. To that purpose, Valencia students can get immediate help with issues dealing with stress,
anxiety, depression, adjustment difficulties, substance abuse, time management as well as relationship
problems dealing with school, home or work. BayCare Behavioral Health Student Assistance Program (SAP)
services are free to all Valencia students and available 24 hours a day by calling (800) 878-5470. Free face-toface counseling is also available.
FINAL GRADE DETERMINATION:
Your final grade will be determined by a total amount of points achieved divided by the total amount of
points eligible. Points will be earned based on activities inside and outside of class, the documented
essay, 500 word essays, and any additional assignments. You may periodically track your progress on the
class Blackboard site by clicking the “My Grades” tab.
I will use these percentages to compute your final grade:
90-100
80-89
70-79
60-69
Below 60
A
B
C
D
F
Students with disabilities***
Students with disabilities who qualify for academic accommodations must provide a letter from the
Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) and discuss specific needs with the professor, preferably
during the first two weeks of class. The Office for Students with Disabilities determines
accommodations based on appropriate documentation of disabilities (Winter Park Campus, Room 203,
407/ 582-6887).
Dr. Phillips’ OFFICE HOURS:
Located in 3-241
(Building 3, Room 241)
Mondays and Tuesdays: 8:30pm – 10:00pm
Wednesdays: 6:00pm – 10:00pm
Thursdays: 9:00pm – 10:00pm
Fridays ONLY only: 9:00am – 11:00am
Appointments: I can usually accommodate your schedule. 
AND I am also available for Twiddla & Google+ hangouts!
Office 3-241, office phone 407-582-1134
Valencia College – West campus (CRN 25040)
Neal Phillips, instructor (face-to-face) Room 4-103
ENC – 1101 Spring 2015 f2f
Frosh. Composition I
Schedule of Class Topics & Assignments
(NOT all assignments! Some assignments distributed/given in class.)
Class #1: 1/12/15
-Course introduction & Pre-Test
Begin Ch. 1 -- NARRATION
HW: Reading and Short Answer questions for –
Orwell – Shooting an Elephant – page 2
Hughes – Salvation - page 10
Monday, January 19
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – NO CLASSES
Class #2: 1/26/15
CIRCLE MAP review and/or introduction
HW: Reading and Short Answer questions for –
Malcolm X – Coming to an Awareness of Language – page 21
Tuchman – The Plague – page 31
Baldwin – Fifth Avenue Uptown – page 49
Essay Assignment #1: “Under Pressure”
Class #3: 2/2/15
-
continue DESCRIPTION chapter
Descriptive writing in-class practice
Elaboration examples (notes)
HW: Reading and Short Answer questions for –
Didion – Marrying Absurd – page 60
Ortiz-Cofer – Partial Rememberance – page 65
Circle Map take-home review quiz
Class #4: 2/9/15
-
Grammar and usage review exercises in class
Begin Ch. 3 PROCESS ANALYSIS
HW: Reading and Short Answer questions for –
Ackerman – Why Leaves Turn Color in the Fall – page 86
Ehrlich – Chronicles of Ice – page 103
Class #5: 2/16/15
-
Begin Ch. 4 DEFINITION
HW: Reading and Short Answer questions for –
Goodwin Parker – What Is Poverty? – page 115
Glib – Pride – page 135
Essay assignment #2: “Beauty and Inner Beauty” rough draft
Class #6: 2/23/15
-
Essay #2 rough draft DUE in class hard copy
Critique and review submitted drafts in class
GROUP PROJECT: “Literary Devices video” distributed
Outline of material on Mid-Term will be discussed
-
GROUP WORK time in class – Literary Devices project
HW: MID-TERM Exam online in Blackboard
Class #7: 3/2/15
Monday, 3/9 – Friday, 3/13 – SPRING BREAK – NO CLASSES
Class #8: 3/16/15
-
Essay #2 drafts returned for final editing/correcting
Time given to work on Literary Devices project
Begin Ch. 5 DIVISION and CLASSIFICATION
In-Class and HW: Reading and Short Answer questions for –
Viorst – The Truth About Lying – page 168
Sante – What Secrets Tell – page 181
Class #9: 3/23/15
-
Literary Devices project presentations DUE
Class #10: 3/30/15
-
Begin Ch. 10 ARGUMENT and PERSUASION
Review MLA style/research expectations
Persuasive Documented Essay: “Convince Us” assigned
In-class: Logical Fallacies introduction and exercises
FILM ANALYSIS: Capitalism by Michael Moore
continue ARGUMENT and PERSUASION/research questions
HW: Reading and Short Answer questions for –
Hentoff – Should This Student Be Expelled? – page 373
Dershowitz – Shouting “Fire!” – page 382
Class #11: 4/6/15
-
LIBRARY RESEARCH orientation and session – room TBA
Class #12: 4/13/15
-
Writing Conferences with Dr. Phillips in 3-241 (appointments)
Class #13: 4/20/15
-
continue ARGUMENT and PERSUASION
HW: Reading and Short Answer questions for –
Dr. MLK Jr. – I Have A Dream – page 407
Brady – Why I Want A Wife – page 419
Persuasive Documented Essays due
FINAL EXAM is Monday, April 27 – 7:45pm – 10:15pm